Chapter 36: Johnny Silverhand

Little Chinatown – Chinese Restaurant

"Is that so? Mike Taylor got injured? Hmm, alright. You handle it," Leon Black said calmly, hanging up the call. He looked across the table at the man in front of him. "Uncle Mo, something wrong?"

"Leon, someone's here looking for you." The middle-aged restaurant owner smiled and pointed toward the back.

"Guess trouble found me again," Leon sighed as he stood, stretching lazily.

"Young people like you always end up shouldering more than they should," Uncle Mo said, giving his arm a reassuring pat.

"I'm just worried the weight will crush me one day," Leon joked, heading toward the kitchen.

He passed through it and slipped into a room labeled: 'Danger: Electricity. Do Not Enter.'

The loud clatter of dishes, shouting cooks, and sizzling oil faded the moment the door shut behind him. Inside, a laptop screen displayed a shadowy silhouette.

Leon grabbed a wooden stool and sat down. "What can I do for you, Lord Xuanxiao?"

A smooth female voice, elegant and charming, flowed from the speakers. "Leon, how have you been lately?"

"I've been alright. Though, you still give off that... unsettling 'bait and switch' vibe," Leon replied dryly. He wanted to say disgusting, but he was being polite.

"Ha! That's what makes me unforgettable." Xuanxiao chuckled. "Enough chit-chat. I have a commission for you."

"Tsk tsk. Straight to business?" Leon arched an eyebrow. "I'm expensive, you know."

"That's exactly why we chose you. One week from now, you'll ensure our client gets on board safely."

"That's it?" Leon tilted his head. "Sounds easy."

"If things go smoothly, it will be. But if enemies show up, you'll need to protect the client—no matter what."

"No problem. Send me the intel," Leon nodded.

Ding. A message arrived on his communicator.

"Huh? This person?" A smirk spread across Leon's face. "Heh. Interesting."

He deleted the file. "200,000. Happy to work with you."

"Payment received. Pleasure doing business."

The connection ended.

Reliable as always. Family pays upfront. Leon whistled as he left the room, pleased with the new deposit in his account.

---

Viktor's Clinic

Viktor stood at the door, cigarette in hand, watching as Misty carefully bandaged V's wounds. Judy leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, her brows furrowed with concern.

She had rushed over the moment she got the call about V's condition. Though Judy's initial feelings for V had been clouded by mistrust, their shared missions and time together had slowly built a deep bond.

Judy, once fiercely independent and guarded, now feared losing someone again—just like she lost Ai. Her connection with V had grown into something meaningful.

"You don't need to worry too much. She'll be okay," Misty said gently, patting Judy's shoulder.

Judy nodded, but the worry in her eyes remained.

What troubled her wasn't just the physical injuries—it was V's state. Moments ago, it was like someone else had hijacked her body. She thrashed violently, shouting incoherently. Judy tried to help, only to be thrown across the room.

V had forgotten who she was. Forgotten everyone. She acted like a stranger, her mind consumed by another presence. It wasn't until Misty intervened with hypnosis and a sedative that V finally collapsed into a deep, unnatural sleep.

"The chip in her head isn't acting like a backup OS," Viktor muttered after his examination. His expression was grim. "There's… another consciousness inside her. Somehow, it got embedded into her neural system. They're coexisting."

"Can't you remove it?" Judy asked, a sliver of hope in her voice.

"No," Viktor replied flatly. "Removing it would kill her instantly."

If it had been just a malfunctioning backup, maybe there'd be a workaround. But this... this unknown presence had reactivated her organs, buying her time.

"A miracle and a curse," Viktor sighed. "Let's just hope they don't destroy each other."

"Peaceful coexistence?" Judy laughed bitterly. "Did you see what just happened?"

---

Ten minutes ago...

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" V screamed, slamming her skull into the IV stand and knocking it over.

Inside her mind, a mocking voice laughed. "Sharing a body with a woman? Ugh. Do us both a favor—just die already. I'll take it from here."

He took control of V's body, trying to force her into another suicide attempt to complete the overwrite.

"V! Calm down!" Judy yelled, rushing in. But V's strength was overwhelming. She was no fighter—just a BD tech. She couldn't restrain her.

"Misty! Help!" she shouted.

"I'm here!" Misty rushed in, holding up a tarot card.

"The Wheel of Fortune! Within you lies a soul desperate to break free of fate's chains!"

"Feudal nonsense!" the invader sneered through V's mouth and lunged at Misty.

Face twisted, veins bulging, V's body was barely resisting the intruding presence.

Misty didn't retreat. She stepped forward instead. In one fluid motion, she slipped a red pill into V's open mouth and jabbed a sedative into her neck.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!" the voice screamed as its control began to slip.

"A neuro-blocker. To quiet your mind," Misty said calmly. "Courtesy of Viktor."

"BITCH! I'LL BE BACK! YOU HEAR ME?! BACK!!"

And with that, the invader vanished—at least for now.

"V! Are you alright?" Judy rushed to support her as V collapsed.

"I'm… okay," V whispered, forcing a smile. "Just tired. Really tired."

"Let's get you to bed," Judy said, helping her up as Misty offered support.

"You'll need to confront him again soon," Misty warned. "Inside your consciousness. Fighting like this will tear your body apart."

Viktor appeared at the door. "She's right. You don't have much time."

---

Back on the bed, V looked at him with bloodshot eyes.

"Viktor… What's happening to me?"

Viktor hesitated.

"It's okay," V said. "Just tell me."

"First, tell me what you've been feeling."

"Dizzy. Drunk. Like everything's glowing. And the dreams… I was singing rock music on stage… I saw myself blowing up Arasaka Tower…"

She laughed weakly. "Crazy, right?"

But Viktor didn't laugh.

"Those weren't dreams," he said quietly. "They were memories—his memories."

"What… what do you mean his?"

"The other consciousness inside you. His name is Johnny Silverhand. A terrorist from decades ago. He really did blow up Arasaka Tower."

V's mouth dropped open. "You're telling me a terrorist is inside my head?!"

Viktor nodded. "And he's taking over."

"What?" Her voice trembled.

"Slowly, bit by bit, your consciousness is being overwritten. When it's gone, Silverhand will have full control of your body."

V's face turned pale.

"This process might only take a few weeks," Viktor said softly.

"No… No, no, no!" V clutched her head. "This can't be real!"

"It's real, V," Viktor said. "I wish it wasn't."

"THERE HAS TO BE A WAY!" she screamed, looking desperately at him. "You're the best ripperdoc in Night City! You have to save me!"

"If there was a way, I'd do it in a heartbeat." Viktor shook his head. "But I've never seen anything like this. I'm sorry…"

"I'm going to die…" V slumped to the floor, tears running down her face. "I'm going to die soon…"

Øóffer going on for diamond tier

pàtreøn (Gk31)