Following the debacle at the border and nearly escaping with their lives, River, Takemura, Claire, and Misty were understandably more. . .alert than before their collective journey half a day ago. The Warlock certainly lived up to its name and specs of being an offroad monster, as that was the main reason the NCPD abandoned their pursuit.

That, and being essentially limited to about the first 150 miles from the border out in all directions, gave River flooring the massive truck some comfort until they were clear, while it made others carsick.

''R-River,'' Misty groaned, her head rocking back and forth on the lip of the door, bouncing up, down, left and right at every bump The Warlock hit. Going only 25 over bumps in what was close to as pitch darkness as it could be constantly made her stomach do the entire Olympics simultaneously. ''If we don't pull over right now, I am going to-MMPH!- throw up.''

Paying a small glance in his rearview mirror and defocusing on the looming threat of NCPD tailing them, River felt a pang go through his chest at the sight of Misty groaning and shaking. He hadn't thought about how this route would affect the other. Takemura and Claire seemed just fine, and he wasn't as sure it was for the same reason that any other rational person would think, but not being sick because of this failed to sit right with him. ''Yea, sure, just let me pull over,'' River quickly scanned in front of him, where he set eyes on the beginnings of what looked to be sand roads. River figured there would be as good a place for someone to throw up as anywhere.

''That's it, girl, just let it out, don't try and fight it,'' Claire said, rubbing Misty's back. Misty put up a good fight to not seem gross in front of the others, but hearing those words of reassurance from another female was comforting. So it was no surprise the moment she stopped fighting what her body was trying to do, it happened, only with a greater force than what the pair expected. The light of the moon in the distance, minus the marker lights of The Warlock essentially had the group of 4 cut off from anything else. ''I'm here if you need anything else.''

''T-Thanks, C-Claire.~'' Misty's tone was nearly quiet, the last echoes of her recent dry heaving calming for a moment before her eyes darted up and down between her stomach and hand, her torso convulsing and mouth spewing watery bile to the ground.

''Hate to see you like this, I know I dealt my fair share back in the day,'' Claire touched her own cheek with a hand, the other holding the majority of Misty's hair in a loose, but firm grip. It was a good thing for the darkness, so Misty couldn't see her face, nearly blank from a twinge of remembrance. If she wanted to hear the story, it would be told, just not now.

Takemura and River were looking around their vehicle with flashlights, checking for any extensive or major issues that would cause any short-term headache on the way to track down and help V. ''I may have misspoken about your diving ability back in Night City.'' Takemura gave River a roll of his eyes once their check was complete, being sure River had no chance of seeing.

''Oh?'' River was interested in what other conclusion had he come to in the short amount of time.

''. . .Adequate, that is all I will say on the matter.''

''Ha! I'll take it.'' River said, poking his finger through a bullet hole on the left passenger side, feeling the fragmented pieces of the round. ''Might have to take these out sooner rather than later; unless the three of you around ok with all that rattling about.''

''Nothing the radio can't fix,'' Claire joked, giving Misty a pat on the back as the both of them walked back over. She took the flashlight from River, pressed a button, and turned the lens red as she inspected the holes herself, as well as gesturing for River to open the hood to check for any stray rounds in the engine and leakage. Gifted as a mechanic as she was, she only brought so many tools and parts to replace so many parts. ''Luckily, the tires are fine, run-flats would have kicked in, if need be. Bulletproof doors held up too, so let me check for any leakage underneath, and we can be on our way.''

''Way to where?'' Misty asked, looking around only to see dry, void, desert, only mixed in with rising and falling, hills, mounds, and bumps. Add to that, with the sun going away meant the cold air would come. However, she did feel a bit better after heaving her guts out.''Do we even know where we're going at this point?''

River pulled out his phone, wanting to get a bead on their current location, only for the signal to come up as one bar, leaving hope, however slim for the four of them to get their bearings. One of the things he had wished he made sure to grab was a map, but something like that would only be as useful as possible with knowing a landmark from which you could orient yourself.

So the notion was buried about as soon as it surfaced.

''Hmm,'' River stared at his phone, the light being the only way to show him being there in contrast to the darkness. ''According to the map, about 15 miles away is a town called Kettleman City, it's probably gonna be our best chance to stop, resupply, and make an actual plan about this.''

''Oh, god, Rouge was right about the two of you being rooks,'' Claire shook her head, resting her head against the back bumper as she finished checking around the truck. ''I bet two of you don't even know the first thing about this 'Songbird' or why she's so eager to help you two help V. Probably some agent from Arasaka to get even after what happened at Arasaka Tower.'' Claire's tone made Takemura pause to what he was going to attempt to say as a rebuttal to that. While not the paragon of virtue and justice as others would have him believe, he too, did know that Arasaka would be willing to stoop to some levels unheard of to merely settle a score, and somehow turn it into a positive PR move. ''Let's get a move on then, the longer we stay out here, the worse off we might be.''

''And on that, we can agree,'' Misty, shivered, blowing into her hands before climbing back into the backseat.

Driving into the small town certainly made The Warlock stand out as it passed by, the section of town dubbed Kettleman Junction on account of its proximity to the interstate, coupled with food stops, hotels, and the like gave the group little to go on in the way of choice. The road itself appeared to have been paved at one point, only to remain an abandoned sight and feel as the lights of the two washed over the nearly 3-ton vehicle. Passing by, buildings were sparsely connected, intertwined with either strips of dirt lots, or the few trees able to survive the harsh California climate. Misty especially took note of the abrupt shift in lighting, the glow of bright neon washed away with the subtle, almost candle-lit flicker of regular, spaced streetlights. They had been driving from Night City on, for about 3 hours.

''Just stop at a motel; I already packed enough Kibble and water to last a few weeks, thank god I decided to bulletproof the windows and rear tailgate or we would be worse off than we already are,'' Claire said, reaching into the cargo area to bring out a bag of Pro Kibble only to start munching on some. ''Money is something I know even if we pooled all together, we'd have to be smart about making a trip to wherever V's heading to get him, and possibly drive back if we don't get shot at first.''

Takemura looked over his shoulder at Claire as River looked around and settled on pulling into the cheapest-looking motel known to man, taking a moment to study her features, recalling her earlier words since leaving Night City to form his opinion of her. Coupled with the fact that she talked a bit too much at times only served to make his initial judgment all the more challenging, especially when she smiled back at him.

''I've seen worse,'' Misty commented, getting out of the truck and observing the single-story motel, the color scheme more akin to faded sandstorm tan, with pale white tiling. The space between each next room gave the impression of paper-thin walls and the sign displaying the hotel's name was nearly impossible to read at a distance. ''And at this point, I would take anything just to feel a bed.'' a small rumble came from her stomach. ''And maybe some medicine.''

Closing the tailgate with each of their duffle bags in his free hand or on his back, River followed Takemura over to get their rooms situated. As the group walked in, the chime of the bell sounded, and the man at the front of the reception desk was more enamored with the small TV that looked to block the majority of his vision. The lobby could be more akin to a small corner of 09the room filled with a few white plastic chairs, a dark green end couch on its black and white tiled floors, and simple flower wallpapers. ''Excuse me, sir, we'd like to rent a few rooms.''

The caucasian male, a tad portly only looked up long enough to see the forced look of quasi-kindness that would come across one's face when asking for something from someone in a position of customer service. ''How many, and for how long?''

''Let's say two nights,'' River said, his tone a bit uncertain, but also providing room for more should the need arise. Two days would at least be what they would need to get their bearings, ensure The Warlock was good, and get any other supplies for the journey. He felt a pair of eyes on the back of his head and could almost hear the thoughts of the person giving him the stare. ''Unless you think V can't wait a little longer for us, Takemura.''

Exhaling a sharp breath, Takemura replied quickly. ''It is not so much so of that. Any extra time we may spend will only result in V traveling further away to whatever his final destination may be,'' a narrow of his eyes was barely noticed by Claire. ''Who is to say V will remain on this side of the country? He may be intending on going to the NUSA.''

''I'd have my doubts about that, and that's even if he managed to make it there in one piece without seizing up.'' Misty said, feeling a question come up that she was sure may have been asked, but if she never voiced it, not knowing could make for more trouble, however silly the notion sounded. ''Have you even tried calling him?''

River wanted to take a to the closet bar and down a shot at her words. ''First thing I tried, Misty. And by some stroke of luck; voicemail, or just straight up being told his number's pretty much not in use.''

''Tracking?'' Misty's second question came after a moment of thinking.

''NCPD ain't got the justification or jurisdiction this far from NC.'' River mumbled, shaking his head and sighing. A tap from Claire looked to jog something else loose. ''Besides, I just did up and leave and nowhere near the right way. A rouge cop won't be enough for any immediate action, but the chances of them keeping tabs somehow is never zero.''

''As all things in life are,'' Takemura agreed. With all the back and forth, the man soon turned his attention back to his tv program, only to be drawn out of it again with Claire slamming her hand on the desk, not entirely loud, but enough to get the man's focus.

''Two days will be fine-'' Claire inched her eyes over to gather a peek at the man's nametape. ''-Ted, how much will that be for two rooms?''

Scooting over to the left, and inputting some information into a computer, Ted responded, already looking through his log to find the group rooms. ''360 Eurodollars total. No breakfast is included, but there is a halfway decent diner that's a few miles away that if you catch them at the right time, they make a decent coffee.''

The sound of halfway coffee was enough to sell River on this little hamlet of a town for the time being.

After a well-deserved shower for all parties involved and some food, the group all gather in River and Takemura's room to discuss their plan or rather the lack of one concerning V. Misty sat on River's bed, having brought her cover from her and Claire's room and essentially wrapping herself in a sitting burrito, her makeup and hair undone. Takemura stood with River as he mulled over a map of the states, and more importantly, their location. Claire sat in the chair adjacent to River's bed, dressed in a pale red t-shirt and black short shorts.

''Feeling any better, hon?'' Claire asked Misty, looking to see the glow she possessed back in Night City returning with each passing second. Misty sucked in a breath, letting a slow exhale out and wrapping herself further into the covers to keep warmth around her. ''Hmph, take that as a yes,'' Claire said, smiling.

''I never got the chance to ask you since we just up and left the city, but what are you helping V?'' Misty's eyes were focused on Claire combing her hair out. ''I mean, those two I understand somewhat, but why you?'' Misty's question made Claire lean back in her chair and think back to the very first day that she met V. Humming, a slew of memories came across her mind, shown in her face by her frowning and moving her closed eyes about as if in deep thought.

V was nothing more than a run-of-the-mill merc when she laid eyes on him at The Afterlife, and by no time at all, did he grow, in legend and character. It was a long shot, going through and more or less cleaning up the streets of Night City in his way, calming some of the rampant gangs down and letting those foolish enough to cross him that it would be their last time.

So Claire wasn't too surprised when V more or less accepted her offer to be her driver and help win the races in which she held no real interest, but more so to set the stage for what she wanted to have done. She figured there was less value in reliving the past by herself when Misty asked her. ''I. . .was married once, to a man named Dean. We were about as in love as you could think.'' Claire smiled at Misty, the gleam in her eyes at the mention of love. ''And he was the sweetest man I ever had the pleasure to know, but things changed one day,'' Claire rubbed her hands together, pacing herself in her storytelling.

''Take all the time you need, I know how difficult it can be to surface old wounds and memories,'' Misty said, reaching out to place her hand on Claire's leg, with a comforting smile on her face. ''Even now, I still deal with my Jackie.''

After hearing that, Claire continued. ''Dean and I, we drove; shot, worked on our rigs, you name it. Made a damn good team, too. Won race after race, had money, small-time fame, and had fun while doing it,''

''That sounds like a pretty good life,'' Misty said.

Nodding, Claire agreed, feeling the smallest twinge of pain as she went back to each memory, each touch, every joke, and each adrenaline-filled race.

''Then one day, it all went downhill from there; my Dean. . .was killed,'' Claire's nostrils flared, a deep growl nearly rising in volume. A flash of light; Night City, the race, lights flashing, V in the driver's seat. Another flash, and a lurch, and there she was, face to face with him. ''V helped me, not knowing about the full details, but we got into the final race, got off the highway, his car gets rammed, and I'm staring the motherfucker down with six bullets with his name on it, and y-you know the crazy part?'' Claire's eyes filled with tears, her voice becoming hoarse the longer she talked.

Misty shook her head no, not noticing Takemura and River looking on at the two of them.

''V talks me out of it, convinces me that he wasn't worth it; that what Dean did happened to him, and that Sampson was innocent. But I didn't care. . .I was so angry. All I saw was red, all I wanted was to hurt him,'' Claire racked her brain, grasping it with both hands and staring at the floor, shaking. ''But somehow V managed to talk me out of it, with. . .that damn did it work, I don't know what is about that guy, but he seems to-''

''-To have that kind of aura where anyone he meets, ends up changing in one way or another,'' Misty said finishing for her. ''I think I understand it now, he helped you get closure, reminded you of your husband, and was a friend while doing it; that's reason enough to lend him a hand.''

''Thing is, I don't even have the first idea of what's going on with him. I just know I'm here to help in whatever way I can.'' Claire shrugged her shoulders, managing to stay out of her head long enough to stare back at Misty, River, and Takemura who all held some degree of curiosity over the way she was acting since she began talking about her past. Even now, being here away from Night City felt. . .freeing, in a way. "That being said, why are the rest of you jumping the gun to help V?" Claire looked for Misty. "I can kinda understand you, being friends with him and Jackie. But to this extent?"

A part of Misty agreed but also felt a part of her shift at the question that she never gave much thought to. Getting the opportunity to know her Jackie was something the Tarot cards would never be able to put together, but by whatever divine force ordained it to be so, was she ever so grateful. Knowing V, and how he operated only made it all the more worse when she found out about his condition following the heist at Konpeki Plaza. Viktor, in all his wisdom, was only able to do so much, and it never did feel to make anything change. ''The last time I saw V, he wasn't looking the best,'' Misty recalled the night he barged in, looking to be on his deathbed.

''Nearly dead? Regarding V, the man's became a Solo, so death shouldn't even phase him.'' River said, sitting in a chair across from Misty while Takemura leaned against the wall.

''Anyways, he comes in, me and Viktor help him to recover as best we can, he wakes up, focused on some plan of his to help him. He goes up to the roof to choose how to do it, and I give him a card reading.''

''Cards?'' Takemura asked, raising a brow.

''Tarot cards,'' Misty replied, giving him a small smile. ''It helps me navigate through life in Night City, and most of the time, they tend to pan out.'' Takemura hummed in confirmation. ''We wait about a good hour before his ride comes through, some Nomad girl comes in, didn't catch her name, but she for sure had the fire in her eyes to help V with whatever.''

''Nomad girl? Could be Panam on account of you talking about fire in her eyes,'' Claire hummed, thinking about the situation that surged around The Afterlife about Panan losing her car and what could have been a good partnership if said partner was not out for betraying her. Hearing about V having to dip his hand in what was essentially Panam's mess, it wasn't a surprise to hear that she was possibly the one to assist V in his assault at Arasaka.

It would also explain how easily he seemed to have left Night City following all of the commotion.

''The point is, whether hearing about it outr ight or from his mouth, V has done his best to help people around Night City, if it benefitted him often didn't matter if it was a friend being involved. So, when you guys told me about him leaving the city after what happened, it honestly did shock me, but also reaffirmed me in a way that V wouldn't just take what happened to him lying down,'' Misty whispered towards the end of her speech. ''We need to help him.''

''On that, we can all agree, but looking at the time, I think it'd be best if we get to bed; can't actually help V if we're too tired to see properly.'' River clapped his hand, not against the impromptu talk about each party's motivation for helping V, but priorities would have to come first; namely having to get in contact wih-

RING! RING!

''Two for two,'' River muttered, picking up his phone and answering the call. ''Songbird?''

''See you found somewhere to hunker down on the way, that's good. V isn't so far ahead of guys, but taking his exact path may be add more time for you if your car isn't prepared for it.'' Songbird said. ''The quicker you get to V, the better. ''

''And still with the mystery, we need a bit more to go on here; can't just be following blindly, even if it is for a friend,'' River explained to Songbird, hearing her sigh over the call. What could be so secretive to where she would have the four of them on a vague road trip, and who knows where it lead them to?

''Fine, I guess since you've made it this far, I can…let you in on what I aim to do to help V,'' Songbird's voice sounded a bit miffed, but she figured the longer she took keeping them in the dark, would only have tensions rise if they already did not. ''The Relic is overwriting V's mind, in favor of Johnny Silverhand; the scientists at Araska, along with Anders Hellman made decent strides for what they were trying to do; granted they could have installed a backdoor.''

''Backdoor?'' River asked, settling for putting the phone on speaker.

''Dual Consiscieness Theory. Mostly theoretical, but with how The Relic operates, and the fact that when it overwrites V's mind, then all that will be left is Silverhand, makes it so where we would need to more than likely…detach V and reincorporate him.''

''Sounds complicated, but how exactly are you planning to do that?'' River asked.

''Once you make contact with V, I'll take care of the rest, your're just going to have to trust me on this. We all want the same thing, but talking about how much we want to help save V means nothing if we put no action behind it.'' Songbird said, feeling her patience thin a bit at the constant questions. ''If it helps you any, I have more in common with what V is going through, so I have equal means to want to help him as the four of you. Now, can we trust one another?''

The group remained quiet at her words, each internalizing Songbird's differently. Claire wore the beginnings of a smug indifference, folding her arms. Misty settled for closing her eyes and curling further into her blanket burrito. Takemura, akin to a hawk, eyed the phone hard enough to burn a hole through it while River sagged his body in relenting.

''I'll take that as a yes. This time tomorrow, you should be catching up to V, and hopefully, we can put all of this behind us.''

''I hope,'' River shook his head, ending the call.

Author's Notes:

Hey, guys.

Sorry for the long wait. Doing multiple stories, juggling classes, and balancing my personal life with that of the military is harder than I thought, but I do want to say thank you to those who have followed and favored this story. I really appreciate the patience, which is also why I made the chapter longer than I normally would to make up for the wait. Hope you enjoy, and let me know what you think of the chapter.