Authors Note: I do not own Cyberpunk 2077, just an avid game fan.
Rated M for MATURE.
I'm still marching along with this story, ahead of you guys again in chapter 20! I hope you are enjoying the story and my tweaks regardless of the slow burn between Judy and V. I simply am not one to solely write or read a story based only on romance, just gives me the unrealistic ick. I like my romance developing on the side. :)
Would you rather live in peace as Miss Nobody, die ripe, old and smellin' slightly of urine? Or go down in all times with a blaze of glory, smellin' near like posies, 'thout seein' your thirtieth?"
Quiet life or blaze of glory?
My thoughts ran through Dex's conversation before the heist as I stood outside of Judy's apartment amidst the rain. I did have a Fixer in mind to call. Mr. Hands, elusive, always a shadowed figure on the halo but he worked inside Pacifica.
"Need to make contact with the Voodoo boys chief, if you can swing it." I said to on the halo.
"Hmm.. now that'd be Madom Brigitte, be tough gettin' a word into her." He held his hands together on the desk regardless of his hidden face.
"Huh, I was led to believe you could arrange anything." I mocked his words back to him.
"Hah! Now that sounded like my third wife everytime she wanted a new purse." He groaned.
"Really don't do any biz with them?" I raised my eyebrows.
"If you insist I'll ask around, try to set something up, just need detes."
"Ah-huh... Got somethin' they want." I stated carefully.
"Their isolated, insulated, got their own contracts, tech, networks…But Ok, I'll see what I can do and get back to you."
But the next several days unfolded like a relentless storm of chaos and adrenaline. The bare-knuckle boxing rings echoed with the gritty rhythm of bone against metal, a savage dance that became my routine. Amidst the relentless brawls, I did gigs for any fixer, even working my way into the notourious Wakako.
In the quiet moments between chaos, I gave Viktor a visit, he worked at his desk adjusting cyberware.
"Finally scrounged up enough eddies to pay you back in full." I interrupted him with a grin.
He turned his chair leaning an elbow on his knee as he waved back and forth, "Hold onto 'em just in case- you need 'em more than me."
I chuckled lightly, "I'm not takin' 'em all the way to my grave Vik, here."
I pointed towards him in a swift transfer before he could argue more, "'Sides I'm making' a name for myself, gonna need more upgrades." I added.
Vik smiled warmly, "Show 'em what you're made of kid. Hop on the table."
I delved into the art of self-improvement, upgrading my cyberware to transcend the boundaries of flesh and machine. Racing through the unforgiving streets, the purr of our engine intertwined as Claire from the Afterlife and I tore through the neon-lit maze, chasing adrenaline-fueled moments in deadly street races.
Eventually Mr. Hands haloed me back.
"It's like I said- whatever your peddlin' the VDB's are just not in the market. But they have another task that needs doin', so I volunteered you. Do it and do it well and you'll get an audience with Brigette."
I cursed internally, "Ok, who do I talk to and how?"
"Hit the chapel on Salone, look for the altar inside. Someone'll touch you, nod to you- somethin' spooky." He ordered.
"Got it thanks."
But meeting at the church was a literal funeral ceremony beneath a Veve and a test, to inspect my chrome and if I was alone. Now I was cryptically directed to a butcher shop for a man named Placide.
I went to the nearby Rolland butcher shop as ordered and scanned with the security camera before I went to the back of the store where Placide was cutting heads off chickens.
"What do you want?" He spoke in his native tounge that was translated per Judy's recent system update.
"Mr. Hands sent me, said you have mercwork that needs doin'." I stated.
"Not here. Come with." And with that he started walking outside as I followed cautiously.
"Where we headed?" I asked looking around for a destination.
"Dis way."
It wasn't until he lead me to an overlooking balcony in the street market he explained, "Our interest is now in de GIM- de grand imperial mall. Pacificas biggest ugliest temple of greed- but never finished."
He turned his gaze away from the nearby distant building to me, "Until last week it was deserted and empty."
"But now?" I coaxed wanting this to get to the point.
"De animals crawled in- made a nest."
Ah, the animals gang, savage beasts. But that makes no sense, middle of Pacifica, no backup- cut off.
Placide took off again through the venders, speaking to each as he apparently was well known. He dropped off the dead chicken to one vendor before we climbed up the stairs.
"You deal with animals before?" He questioned intending the gang.
"Yeah, a few times." I nodded following warily, "They tryin' to provoke you, do somethin stupid?"
"They do not leave GIM."
"How many are we talkin?" I questioned further.
"Thirty, maybe more. Vini Nan. We talk there. You sit." He ordered as he sat at a desk with a chair across.
I sat sideways resting my arm on the desk as I questioned, "When do I see Brigitte?"
"You do job. Dat is first." Without warning he gripped my wrist tightly pulling out my personal link plugging it into his computer system, "Woah- what the hell're you doin'?" I yelled trying to pull back unsuccessfully.
Johnny digitized behind Placide as he worked on the computer he remarked, "Well at least he's not likely to talk your ears bloody."
"Why not send one of your goons to the GIM?"
"Dis not our way." He continued typing, "Your chrome shaman- is it Viktor?"
I narrowed my eyes at him, "Is that at all relevant? Or just a cheap scare tactic?"
"I need you to be able. I need know. Dis chip- it have no signature, what is it?"
"Chips why I'm here, why I wanna word with Brigette. Doesn't it look familar?" Irritation grew into my tone.
He raised up his hands, "It should? why? I see only it is damaged."
"Once inside what do I do?" I questioned bringing back the topic of GIM.
A vehicle on local hacked coms passed into my vision, defiantly a custom job. But tech is pretty advanced, doesn't scream Animals meathead to me.
"I see you not know who also." Placide nodded, "They watch it very close, it is important, whatever it is."
"Animals arnt at play here are they? Theyre hired muscle, someone else needed them. Someone with a van full of netrunner stuff, that's where I'm needed. To sniff out who?" I pointed towards him briefly as he nodded.
"Mhm. Start with the kamyonette. Hide from all eyes, only see de sitiyasyon." Apparently Jude's translation wasn't completely full proof with slang, but I got the jist of what Placide was saying. Work quietly, find the van.
A glitch overtook my halo as he linked onto it, "You have now sync wid Rezo Agwe, our subnet." He echoed into the com as he leaned back in the desk chair, "You are my vessel now, through Agwe I see what you see, hear what you hear. I will guide you through GIM." He stated with eyes glowing from the connection.
"Another voice in your head, just what the ripperdoc ordered." Johnny mocked.
Need to keep an eye on me, shows trust.
"Anything else I need to know?"
"Find our people near mall, Dey will show you how to get inside de beast." Placide waved his hand towards me.
"Got it, I do this and you put me in front of Brigitte, right?" I stood from the chair raising my eyebrows.
"Yes."
Placide's people pointed me towards a weak spot in the GIMs security. With expertise I sluethely made my way inside while killing every gang member I could to avoid being compromised later. Placide very seldomly directed me towards the kamyonette- the van while warning of cameras, a quiet companion.
The netrunner in question had hacked vending machines still aware of my silent presence, stating 'TURN BACK' in bold red.
Regardless I had no choice but to push on, "Ok, I'm at the van." I whispered to Placide.
"I see what you see. No chatter. Now interface with the van." He ordered irritatingly.
I plugged my personal link into the open panel, "While I got ya here, mind tellin' me what we're lookin' at?"
"Dataflow map of Pacifica… they hunt Agwe." He stated.
"Who is they?" I raised my eyebrows thinking of the Netrunner.
"Netwatch, dey always out to fuck us." He stated irritated again.
"Ok, so what's on me to do?"
"You must reach the agent, easy now to find him. Look at de map, he is in cinema."
Glitching fuzzed my vision as a Netwatch agents voice entered, "Step away now, this isn't your fight!"
"Fuck!" Placide cursed.
Confused, I quickly questioned, "What? Placide, what?"
"We are cut, pushed out from kamyonette." He stated through grit teeth, "De runner know you are here, hunt him!" He ordered.
I pulled my personal link from the van as it recalled into my wrist I gripped my pistol tightly with both hands as the Cinema steps behind me had a metal gate that rolled down by themselves.
"De agentman tries to cut you off. De animals be here soon, pass through elevator shaft, left side!"
I looked around quickly from the van, sure enough Animal gang members were flooding within, I darted staying crouched before sliding into the empty shaft with an elevator already demolished. But there was an empty space leading upward as I jumped and used my cyberware kicking off the air again as I grabbed the ledge to the second floor pulling myself over.
An Animal meathead stood looking over the balcony at the van oblivious to me as I grabbed his large figure from behind and twisted his neck with a pop.
Glitching scattered across my vision, "Placide what's goin on?!"
"Netpig tryin to scramble you, I handle it!"
I creeped along the balcony towards the large cinema signs once more. As I passed the hall beeping overtook the vending machines stating in large bold red again, TURN BACK!
"Now de watcher." Placide ordered.
It was completely dark and empty inside the cinema aside from a large western movie playing as a man rode on his horse, I looked at the control room doors.
"Invade him, We need access to their data, clear? You must first—" his voice cut off with static.
"Placide?" I questioned after a moment of silence before opening the door.
When I stepped inside a blonde haired man stood messing with controls.
"Woah, hey, easy!" He turned to me with hands up clad in a white long sleeve button up with a red tie and silver cyberware across his cheeks.
"What'd you do?" I ordered as I gripped the pistol tightly.
If you fucked up my way in…
"Just severed the connection to the rest of Pacifica, gives us some time. Well…now we can talk in private." He explained slowly holding his arms out.
"Fess up- who are you?!" I snarled, finger on the trigger.
He slowly grabbed ID from his back pocket and held up his badge, "Bryan Mosley, Netwatch special agent, can we talk?"
Placide was right.
The agent put his ID away slowly, "You had a spector on you, didn't you? Saw and heard all you did? You followed his orders?" He questioned before slowly putting his hands down to his sides to continue, "No idea what the Voodoo Boys are payin' you but our pockets are deeper."
Heywood bred like me doesn't fit in with suits.
"Sorry, but I don't work with corps." I narrowed my eyes on him.
"Come on, everyone does. Bet you have too." He scoffed.
"Not interested, not a money job for me. Just need an in for Mamon Brigette, Voodoo chiefin." I laughed crudely.
"Brigette and her lapdog Ti Neptune have been frozen for several days now. Ever since we shrouded their subnet with ICE." He explained waving towards the controls, "And you well, you were sent here to free them."
So you already fucked me over. Then that's what I need to do.
The agent shook his head, "Do you know why they didn't tell you everything? 'Cause your a ranyon, that's what they call outsiders brought in for special jobs- floor rags" he stepped towards me as I backed away.
"When they no longer need you they chuck you, fate for all ranyons."
Like Evelyn Parker... Your a slimy suit who'll say and use anything!
"Voodoo's know black tech better than anyone. So no, I think I prefer their expertise over yours." I scoffed.
"Clever, kinda… but wrong choice. Know why?! Because they'll never answer the call. If your not Pacifica born and bred your nothing to them, less than nothing. " He urged.
Evelyn Parker kept circling my mind, but she betrayed them. I can't afford to betray the Voodoo's.
"Got anything to back that claim, that the Voodoo's wanna set me up?" I inquired curiously.
"Wanna? They did it already- soon as you handed over your personal link, set up a Spector and a Virus." He shook his head.
Johnny digitized behind the agent holding up his hands, "Hah, talkin as if he was there… he's workin' you!- so obvious it hurts." He crossed his arms staring the agent down.
I grabbed the agents wrist shoving his arm backwards to break it as he fell backward onto the floor, "Think I'll just stick to the plan." I snarled.
The agent tried to grab me with his free arm and I hammered my fist into his nose breaking it, in pain he held his nose as I swiftly pulled my personal link connecting it to the nape of his neck.
A map of multiple data locations flashed red including one marked V. My hands seized up curled in agony.
"Augh!" I cried as glitching overtook me and I fell to the floor, unconcious.
…
…
…
System Reboot flashed red behind my eyelids.
I opened them lulling my head to the side seeing the blonde haired agent skin mottled with dried blood from his mouth, Silverhand digitized past him walking towards me.
Fuck…I'm gonna hurl.
Johnny concerned crouched onto one knee resting his elbow, "Hey V, you all right? You looked like him a second ago."
"Ugh… w-what happened?" I groaned rolling over to puke as I slowly sat on my knees. Johnny now stood by the controls with his back to me.
"The Netpig was right, Voodoo's were blowin' smoke. Soon as you gave 'em access to the Netwatch web, they roasted all agents and you." He responded.
I looked down at the dead agent confused, "Then why's my brain not a pile of hot goo?"
"Dunno- you finally grew a pair? Toughed it out?"
I sighed, "Think the Voodoos actually freed Brigitte?"
"Seems that was the plan. Worked thanks to you, I'd say." He finally turned to me with his hand on his hip pissed, "After they turned you into a fuckin' kamakazi drone."
"Who'd take a job from us spooky- ass Voodoo Boys?" He mocked imitating them holding up his hand before pointing at me, "Placide took you for pathetic gutter trash, someone who no one's gonna come lookin' for."
I'm gonna fuckin kill him.
"Felt like those words came to you awfully easy." I ground through grit teeth.
"Well you do look like shit right now." He waved towards me, "But I guess you have your good days." He smirked.
"Gee, thanks!" I rolled my eyes pushing to my feet.
"Think it's time we had a heart to heart with our pal Placide. Grumpy motherfucker, hope he likes surprises." Johnny paced.
The GIM had already been cleared of Animals and when I walked outside the GIM Placides people still stood nearby. I went right to them, hand steady on my iron.
Upon sight of me they swore, "Oh shit! Li Vivon! You wish to talk to Placide? Is that what you want? B-because I can take you." He backed away slowly.
"Lead the way." I snarled climbing into the rear driver side setting my pistol on the seat.
When I arrived I marched past Placides desk right through the doors where Placide stood nearby, upon spotting me he eclaimed, "You return, how? How you manage dis?!"
My mind was rushing with something to say, but not a word came out. I surveyed his face: doughy cheeks beneath arrogant eyes, all crowned by permanently upturned eyebrows. It painted a picture of a man who somehow found a way to remain forever indignant in the underworld we both called home. When I punched him, I wouldn't be ridding him of his consciousness. I would be ridding him of his pride.
My cybernetic gorilla fist collided his mouth with satisfying sputter with blood as he recoiled holding his jaw in pain.
"You set me up!" I yelled in red fury.
"You dirty cunt!" Placide snarled in his native tounge darting towards me.
"Enough!" A voice ordered as a female pulled him back, my kuroshi optics scanned her as Mamon Brigette, "Leave us!" She ordered to Placide.
"But you saw—" Placide argued
"Yes but I also see her scans. She is no ranyon!" Mamon Brigette scoffed.
Placide popped his knuckles with both fists staring me down as he finally let his arms swing to his sides.
"Move our people down below, we are not safe here." She ordered.
As he reluctantly took off in a huff I turned my attention to her, "You must be Brigette, hard woman to find!" I exclaimed.
"You have something for me."
"You know about the biochip, don't you?" I narrowed my eyes at her.
"Yes and we must check its condition."
"Shoulda thought about that before you tried to kill me!" I scoffed.
She crossed her arms, "If I was here, da chip would never been in danger. If it is in good condition, we offer you fair price, perhaps more for…emotional toll." She raised her eyebrows.
"Heh, Biochips not for sale. And your not rippin' it outta me! It was in shit shape before the GIM."
"It does not function?" She nodded with her chin arms still crossed.
"Not that bad, problem is no one can yank it without risk of death. Seeing as you commissioned its theft I figured you might know more." I studied her face.
"How do you know all dis? How did you find us?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Evelyn Parker- ring a bell?" I spat on the floor.
"Ah- de doll. De whore." She shrugged, "She has proven to not be completely useless after all."
"Listen, can you do something or not?" I threw my hands up.
"Yes of course. But not here. We will go to the crypt where you must give us access to de chip, once we have the data we need, we will try to help you."
"Then…" I nodded my head to the side waving, "Lead the way."
Underneath the church neon graffiti glowed marred the crypt walls as she led me through a busted hole in the wall into a secret underground as I coughed into my fist, "Khe-khe-khe...ugh." I slung my hand away with speckled blood.
I looked around at the hideout, "This an old subway tunnel?"
"No, part of the transcontinental maglev system, when all states were connected." She announced as we walked through the cart and out the doors.
"Like de Net, it too crumbled after de war. Turn on the power." She ordered to a nearby Voodoo as sparks flew and emergency lights glowed red.
A multitude of netrunner chairs were highlighted in the red glow, "We take you into de cyberspace, no better place to interact with de construct."
"What's your plan to contact Alt Cunningham?" I inquired.
"We try to cut out a unique price from Silverhand, Alt will know it. If something of de human is left after years beyond de blackwall, she will answer." Bridgette explained carefully.
"Woah what?! You said nothing about breaking through the blackwall." Fear shook my now sweaty hands .
She led me to an iced tub, "Well now you know. Here."
I looked to Johnny smoking behind Mamon Bridgette, "Johnny, looks like your the bait, you ok with that?" I nodded my chin to him.
"Yeah whatever, just do what she says." He impatiently replied.
"Hoo… let's do this." I breathed climbing my feet into the glowing green ice bath, "Whoo-aah" I cried gripping onto the sides of the tub as I let the bone chilling water overtake me. "Hooh-hough" my teeth chattered as I gasped.
One of Bridgette's people plugged a cord into the nape of my neck forcefully.
"Ho-ok, W-what now? J-Johnny?" I looked around for him nowhere to be seen.
"Ready to plunge." They announced in their Haitian tongue. I stared into my palms as they drifted into red digital hues and I was immersed into empty blue. Digital blue codes and dots spread around me forming the landscape floating around me.
I've been here before... Arasaka tower.
A red digital outline of a male in a bulletproof vest stood with his back to me in the distance. I drifted towards him despite hearing my own footsteps and as I got closer it transformed into Bridgette.
"All is ready- we can begin." Her voice reverberated through the not so empty blue as she gripped my face.
My mind flashed through a multitude of memory's not quite my own…or were they? Unto year 2013.
Inside the empty blue codes outlined the doors to a stage.
"What's happening?" My voice reverberated as a male's- Johnny's.
I strided onto the stage as the crowd roared. I gripped the mic.