ONE.

Ironic, V thought, that the City of Dreams never sleeps. And if it wasn’t for netrunners exploiting the substations so frequently, she would’ve assumed Night City stayed lit forever. But was it alive? Corporations and their goons, fighting regular people for their literal lives. And even then, that’s not enough, they want their thoughts and souls now too. She pushed the thought of the Peralez’, remembering that bullshit like that was why she became a merc in the first place: to fight the fucks that wanted to own people like they were real estate.

And now? Now V only had one goal.

From the rooftop of H10, V watched traffic flow by, oblivious to anything but their own journey. Neon signs glared at the walls of skyscrapers, coercing them to cast long shadows over short alleys. The scent of greasy pizza and gasoline vapors wafted by V.

“You scared the fuck outta me, y’know that? Thought you were going to die in there, the way you were bleedin’.”

Johnny shimmered into focus and took a seat on the rooftop ledge in front of V, removing his sunglasses to look out over the city skyline, before giving V his full attention. Slumped in a folding chair, her long teal hair hung in loose waves around her tired and freckled visage. Brilliant blue mecha eyes gave her a familiar once-over before settling somewhere around his boots.

“Nope, still here,” V exhaled, unsure if she felt relief or dismay by that fact.

“We have to get to Mikoshi, V, we’re running outta time if we’re both going to make it out alive,” he started, but pulled up when V shook her head silently. “What? You don’t want to go?”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“Johnny, I barely made it up those fucking stairs to get here, never mind that you had to drag my ass all the way back to Vik’s,” she hissed, aiming an exhausted glare at her feet before sighing, resignation in her voice. “I’m not going to make it to Arasaka Tower. Not like this.”

V lay Viktor’s pistol on her knee, Misty’s pills held loosely in her hand as she tilted her head back and closed her eyes. With uncharacteristic hesitation, Johnny took up Misty’s empty chair beside her.

“I could get us there. Your body moves when I’m driving, I could get us into Arasaka, to Mikoshi. Alt said she’d be waiting for us when we get there, all we have to do is show up, smash through ‘Saka security, drop down a few floors, and boom. We’re in.”

She didn’t respond right away, instead picking up the pistol and weighing it in her palm. Johnny watched her, resting his cheek on clasped hands.

“Listen, V. I know I’ve… argued with you about this in the past, but you should know that, at the end of the day, I understand that this is your choice. Your life, your body. You’re the closest thing I’ve got to a best friend, Vale. Whatever you decide, that’s what we’re going with.”

V’s hand shook, wrapping around the pistol tightly. “I know Johnny.”

With a choking sound, V rose and threw the gun as hard as she could over the edge of the rooftop, watching it sail into the darkening world below before turning to stand in front of Silverhand. He stood as V held her hand out flat between them. The remaining pseudoendotrizine lay in her palm.

“You gonna go to Rogue?” she asked, nerves fraying with every word. Johnny nodded once, putting his cigarette out. Swallowing hard, V finally turned her eyes up to his. They watched each other for a long moment.

“I trust you.”

Without another word, V tossed the pills down her throat. She didn’t need to wait long before her vision began to blur, the pseudoendotrizine sinking its teeth into her weakened system. Dizzy, V stumbled towards the edge of the roof, the neon lights below doubling up, when someone clasped her forearm tightly.

“I got you, V. See you on the other side.”

And Night City went dark.