By The Cthonaut

Cyberpunk Fanfiction

All rights to Cyberpunk belong to CD PR

Authors Notes

Here we are!!! New story!!! I have been playing a lot of Cyberpunk 2077 lately and decided to whip up a story. Don't know who to use because there's a lot of beautiful gals. Won't use Judy or Evelyn. I got a plan for them. Give them a happier ending than the game. V is going to be a man. To me, Male V is canon. I may make Valerie a separate character, don't know. It depends on how I feel. The story will take a few liberties, taking some inspiration from the game. Im going with the flow. Some later quests have happened while others haven't. I'm just trying to make it all work. It'll be interesting to see how it goes. I'm taking some inspiration from DC and Marvel in this as I intend to have a character as the main villain, working behind the scenes since the very beginning. Way back at the beginning. Even before Saburo started the Arasaka Corporation.

Chapter 1: A Major Upgrade

Good Morning, Night City!!!

Yesterday's body count lottery rounded out to a solid 'n' sturdy thirty!!

Ten outta Heywood - thanks to unabated gang wars!

One officer down, so I guess you're all scA-REEWD!! Cuz the NCPD will NOT let that go.

Got another blackout in Santo Domingo. Netrunners are at it again, pokin' holes in the power grid.

While over at Westbrook, Trauma Team's scrapin' cyberpsycho victims off the pavement.

And in Pacifica…well, Pacifica is still Pacifica.

THIS has been your man, Stan!!

Join me for another day in our Cit-y of DREAMS!!!!

A black Rayfield Caliburn pulled up to the Afterlife. From out of the driver seat a man in a leather jacket climbed out. On the back of his leather jacket in white lettering. "SAMURAI"

This was V, the best merc in Night City. Well, currently.

He entered the bar. He walked up to the bouncer. "How's it going?" He asked the large man.

The bouncer stepped aside. "You can go in."

V nodded. "Thanks." He walked in. The Afterlife was basically the meeting point for all mercs in the city. Many jobs were planned here and many legends have sat at the bar. Johnny Silverhand, Weyland Boaboa, David Martinez, Morgan Blackhand and many more.

V was hoping that one day…he would be one of those legends. It was his dream.

He made his way to the booth of the woman who ran the joint: Rouge Amendiares.

Rouge was an older woman. She had gray hair that's shaved on one side. She wore a yellow and black low-cut long sleeve that exposed her midriff which had a black plate on it. Her shirt said "SURVIVE" in white lettering.

She sat in her booth, looking over recent jobs. She saw V approach and she gave him a smile. "V, I see you're doing better~"

V sat with her. "You know me, a hard man to keep down."

She let out a soft chuckle. "Johnny was the same way..."

He smiled.

Then Rouge got serious. "I have one of the biggest jobs of your life. One that makes Konpeki Plaza look like a picnic."

V nodded. "Lay it on me."

Rouge gave him a shard. V put it in the slot behind his ear.

It showed an image of an odd structure, surrounded by Arasaka troops."

"Client wants you to sneak into the site. There's a certain relic being held at this facility that they want. It's located in the Badlands. Security is tight. Most mercs I've shown this to turned down the job. Pay is very good and the client wants it on the hush."

V removed the shard. "So...what am I looking for inside?"

"There is a data terminal in the main room. You can locate the tech from there as it's all categorized. Are you interested?" Rouge asked as she drank.

V put the shard on the table. "Count me in."

Rouge smirked. "Preem. Give me a holo when you're finished." She sat back.

V stood up and left the booth. Johnny materialized as he walked outside.

The rocker boy was smoking his cigarette. "Seems you're following in my footsteps. Becoming a real pain in the ass for Arasaka."

The merc scoffed. "It's just a job. Pretty easy too."

Johnny replied. "Just don't underestimate them. They can get even nastier than you've seen." He dematerialized.

V got in his car and drove to the coordinates.

He parked his car a good bit away from the site. He got out and stared at it.

It was the research facility Rouge talked about. Surrounding the facility was a shitload of security.

Mechs, drones, soldiers, turrets. The whole sha-bang.

Johnny materialized next to V. "How the hell are we going to get in?"

V put his hands on his hips. "We'll look for a back door."

The merc scanned for the cameras. His first act was taking the security over. Using his net running skills, he took over the cameras. From there he was able to turn the mechs around to "Friendly Mode".

V smirked. "Hell yeah…"

He snuck around to the back and climbed the fence. Sneaking past the guards was easy as he blinded their optics.

He was just too damn good at this.

Once inside, it got harder. He had to stay hidden as it was heavily patrolled.

The merc separated a patrol coming by. He took them out one by one and continued forward. He was so close.

But then…

BOOM!!!!!

There was a security mech.

V ran. "Shit!!"

It was a back and forth as V whittled down the mech, firing at it with his array of weapons.

The mech exploded. V was free to walk inside the room.

He opened the door. Johnny materialized. "Now let's see what the fuss was about."

At the end of the room on a table was a case. V opened it.

He raised an eyebrow. "What the fuck is this?" He picked up the relic.

It looked like a beetle that was colored black with gold accents. It had a weird red glow to it .

Johnny appeared. "All this over a broach?"

V looked up. "Don't think it's a broach. Looks...alien."

He put it in his pocket.

At that moment, the alarm went off.

V ran out, but got ambushed by the guards.

He took cover and began firing at the guards.

It was a bullet storm. Shells hit the floor and walls as the room started to smell like gunpowder.

What he didn't see was the relic started to crawl up his back. It then got under his shirt and crawled up his spine. Then...it embedded itself.

V jumped in pain. "Ah!!!" He tried to get it off but it was in there.

He then began to twitch as his clothes started to burn off. A black exosuit started to form on his body with gold and black armor forming. Two pinchers came from his upper back and sat on his shoulders. A helmet with red eyes formed on his face.

V looked at himself. "Whoa..."

There was a beeping sound coming from the suit and his hands formed into cannons. V shrugged and started to blast the soldiers. It was really effective as he was decimating the soldiers.

V then said. "I wish I had something heavier."

As if on cue, his hands merged together to form a large cannon. It blasted a hole in the side of the facility.

V's eyes widened as the suit formed wings and took off through the hole and into the night sky.

The adrenaline was pumping through his veins. He could feel the rush and excitement.

He landed far away from the facility and the suit retracted, basically leaving him in his boxers. Even worse, he was in the middle of nowhere. He sighed. "Fuck…"

He called his car in and made his way back to the city. On the way back, he called Rouge on the holo.

Rouge answered. "V. How was the job?"

V answered. "We have a major sitch..."

The older lady raised her eyebrow. "What happened?"

He replied. "It's better if I show you…might want to tell the client that the relic is not available anymore. Meet me at Viks and I'll explain more."

Rouge sighed. "Fine, but you better have a good fucking explanation. Else you'll be joining Johnny in the oil fields." She hung up.

V sighed as he drove. Johnny appeared. "What do you think you'll say?"

V replied. "Obviously the truth. You know how much Rouge hates lying."

Johnny chuckled. "What are you going to say? "I have an alien device attached to my spine that can make me do cool shit?"

V said. "Not exactly like that but…basically."

The rocker shook his head. "Just be prepared if she loses it. She'll think you're blowing smoke." He vanished.

V pulled up to Misty's Esoterica. He got out and walked in.

Standing at the counter was Misty. She had black eyeliner, dark red lipstick. She wore a blue sweater and a short skirt. Around her neck was a spiked choker. Her hair was blonde and short.

She was organizing her cards when she saw the merc. She smiled. "V. It's good to see you." She hugged him.

V smiled as he hugged her back. Misty was the girlfriend of his dead best friend. He made a promise to look after her the night he passed. And it was one he intended to keep.

V then asked. "Is Vik in the shop?"

Misty nodded. "He is, and an older woman came before you did. She looked upset."

He sighed. "I expected as much…thanks, Misty." He made his way downstairs to Viks Clinic.

Inside was the best ripperdoc in Night City: Viktor Vektor. V had intense trust in this man as he installed all of V's implants and treated him like family.

Rouge was there as well. She had her arms crossed.

Once V came downstairs, she made a beeline towards him. She pushed him against the wall. "What the fuck happened!?"

V said. "Have a look." He turned around and showed her his back.

Rouge and Viktors eyes widened.

The object was embedded in his skin.

V asked. "Can you get it out?"

Viktor had V lie on his stomach as he started to work.

V waited and Rouge was trying to call the client, but no luck.

Viktor sighed. "This damn thing is not going anywhere. It's so deep in your back, it's now a part of you."

V looked. "Great...it's like the biochip all over again..."

Rouge asked. "What is it?"

"I have no clue. I've never seen anything like this…" The ripperdoc explained. "It looks alien in nature." He then asked V. "Has it been acting strange?"

V sat up. "Oh, has it been…" He told them about what happened and what it can do.

Rouge was in shock. "So…you told it what you needed and it made it appear?"

V nodded.

Vik added. "V, I would be careful with that thing. Not just for your sake…but imagine what will happen if the corps get wind of that device."

The merc nodded. "They'd probably scorch the entire city to get their chromed claws on it…"

Rouge then touched his shoulder. "On the bright side…at least you have a kickass implant now. I'd advise you learn about it and just capabilities."

Vik nodded. "And if anything else happens, let me know. Maybe we can figure out a way to remove it."

V nodded. "Thanks…but for now…I think I should go get some rest….this whole deal wore me out…"

Rouge nodded. "I'll drive ya home…" She helped V up and got him to her car.

Vik said to V. "I'll have your car dropped off later."

V waved as an "OK."

Rouge took him to his apartment. "I'll look into this relic, see what I can turn up. For now, keep your head low and stay off the radar. If I had to guess, Arasaka is scouring the entire city for that thing…"

V nodded. "Thanks…"

Rogue smiled gently and left.

V lied in his bed, staring at the ceiling. A lot was going through his head. He decided to go to sleep.

Inside his dream

He was in what looked like cyberspace. "What the…"

Johnny appeared. "Looks like you're here too, huh?"

V looked at the rockerboy. "What going on?"

Johnny said. "You might want to ask him." He pointed.

V looked and standing there was a figure. It wore the armor he did when he broke out of the facility.

It was time for answers. V asked. "Who are you? Better yet, what are you?"

It spoke. "My name is Khaji Da. I am what is known as the Scarab. Over 100 years ago, I was sent to Earth to conquer it for the Reach. An alien empire they spanned the galaxy. I would lay dormant and wait for a host so that I could take over the planet. Unfortunately, my mission was never completed as the Reach was made extinct by an unknown foe…I am the last."

The merc listened to what this thing was saying. "How did you end up in Arasaka hands?"

The Scarab replied. "The humans extracted me from the ground. As I was alien to them, they decided to experiment on me. They were unsuccessful as I only operate for a worthy individual."

Johnny looked. "Looks like it's got a few screws loose."

The Scarab looked at Johnny. "You would be worthy as well, if you were not so arrogant and narcissistic."

Johnny scoffed. "Who asked you?"

V noticed. "Wait, you can see Johnny?"

The Scarab nodded. "I am a part of you. Therefore, I see what you see, including Silverhand."

V rubbed the back of his head. "That means you'll also be present when I'm…"

The Scarab chuckled. "No need to worry. I will not watch when you are having intercourse."

Johnny shrugged. "At least we know now it's not a perv."

V nodded. "So..what things can you do?"

The Scarab answered. "I can create any weapon you can imagine. My purpose is to protect you. I can also make you fly, increase your strength, speed and durability. As of now…Vincent Rayes, you are now the Black Beetle."

V was in shock. "So…I'm some kind of superhero now?"

"If you choose to be." The Scarab answered. "I am to serve you, no matter what intentions."

V looked at Johnny. "Any thoughts?"

Johnny responded. "Could be fun. This thing may actually help save your life."

"That reminds me…" The Scarab said. "I have analyzed your brain and watched the damage. I can delay and repair what's been done to you. Unfortunately, it will continue to spiral while the chip is still in. All I can do is buy you time, a year at most."

"Well, at least we have time now." V replied.

The Scarab said. "Soon, you'll wake up for the day. You'll notice I made some changes to your implants. Do not fret. It's just some…cosmetic choices. You can also access weaponry without putting on the full armor."

V smiled. "Thanks…"

It all began to fade as V's alarm rang.

The merc woke up, groaning. He sat in the edge of his bed and was shocked by what he saw.

His arms were now black with the gold accents. There were strings of red light in them. He ran to the mirror and looked. His eye color was now gold.

He touched his face as his body was different now. "He wasn't lying…"

Johnny appeared, leaning against the wall. "Not a bad look."

V nodded. "It looks good..."

He then got dressed and prepared to face the day.

Meanwhile….

Arasaka Tower

Hanako Arasaka was sitting in her office. She had just received the reports of what happened last night at the Badlands research facility.

She sighed. "What a shame…that mercenary would have been valuable…" She pressed a button and the door opened.

Two men entered the room.

Goro Takemaura and Sanduya Oda. Her potential bodyguards.

Hanako looked at them. "I have a job for you both. It seems our potential partner has decided to steal something from us."

Goro looked down. He once considered V a friend and thought he was going to help them. Clearly he was wrong.

Oda crossed his arms. "What do you wish for us to do?"

Hanako said. "Retrieve the artifact from him. I do not care what happens to him."

Both men nodded and bowed. They left the room.

Hanako looked out the window at the skyline, scowling. "Soon…my father will return…and our family will bring order to this godless city…"

Things were about to happen.

Authors Notes

So that's Chapter One of my Cyberpunk fic. I know it's not perfect but I'm very satisfied with it. If you're wondering where it takes place in the story, it's after the Parade. But instead of Arasaka raiding the abandoned apartment, Hanako actually talked with V and Takumara. She went back to Arasaka with Goro under the guise of "peace" but we all know it was a lie. There is something brewing behind the scenes. Hehe.

Editor Note: You thought you could get rid of me mwhahaha you thought wrong my comrades!! I'M BACK BITCHES!!