Chapter 38: Cooperation
Hearing Leon Black's words, Viktor was taken aback. Was Night City really not so bad after all?
Leon offered him a cigarette and chuckled. "Heh, happiness is relative. Did what I said make you second-guess this city's worth?"
He leaned back. "Even the lowest-tier nomads in Night City can fill their bellies just by scavenging through trash bins in the commercial zones. Have you ever thought about what life's like outside this city?"
Viktor remained silent.
As a native of Night City, he'd never paid much attention to the outside world. He simply believed the city shouldn't be like this. People shouldn't be like this. Underneath his hardened exterior, Viktor had a soft, compassionate heart.
That was one of the reasons Leon valued him.
Arasaka certainly had the skill and tech for high-end surgeries—but who knew what insidious motives they might hide behind their operating tables? That's why Leon had fought so hard to rescue Nina and other independent med-techs. Truly skilled ripperdocs who weren't affiliated with any megacorp were extremely rare.
Which made them all the more precious.
So Leon didn't hesitate. He treated Viktor and Nina like private doctors of the highest caliber. With the way they lived—scraping by in the shadows—it would've taken them five, maybe six years to save a mere 100,000 eddies.
Leon? With one wave of his hand, he gave them the best treatment and equipment money could buy.
After all, his team's cyberware would rely on these two in the future.
"Of course, economically speaking, Night City is thriving," Leon added, patting Viktor on the shoulder. "But morally? It's rotten to the core. That's why some fools out there—like me—try to change it."
"Even if it means dying for it."
"And the choice is always yours."
Viktor glanced at him. "So, what's your choice?"
Leon smiled faintly. "Watch it rise. Watch it feast. Then… watch it fall."
He stood up and stretched. "Alright, Mr. Viktor. Once you've had some rest, please resume the surgery."
Viktor didn't reply. He simply nodded and walked off with Nina toward the operating room.
---
Inside V's consciousness.
V was sprinting through a warped mental space, shouting into the void. "Speak up! Are we doing this or not?!"
His voice echoed endlessly.
"If we don't come to an agreement, my friend will just keep drugging me with suppressants. Hiding won't help you!"
Then, suddenly—
"Hey, kid!" a male voice echoed beside him. "I saw Saburo Arasaka die in your memories. That really happen?"
"Yes," V panted. "He's dead."
"Haha! Finally! That bastard's finally dead!" The voice exploded in laughter, filled with both joy and spite. "Took long enough!"
"You got a grudge against him?"
"I got a grudge against every corpo. But Arasaka? They're the worst of them all! Inhuman executioners. You could wipe out thousands and it still wouldn't be enough."
"Well, now their dogs are after me."
"Then you're damn lucky to still be alive."
"I need to survive."
"Unless you're planning to take Arasaka down yourself, nobody's gonna help a nobody like you."
"Then I'll take them down. You in?"
"Big words like that'll get you killed fast."
"You scared?"
"Scared? Hell no! I just don't believe you."
"Let's start by building trust then. I'm V. And you?"
Silence.
Then the voice finally responded, "Johnny. Johnny Silverhand."
---
Gasp—
V inhaled sharply and opened his eyes, breath ragged.
"You're awake!" Judy exclaimed, rushing over with a glass of water. "Here, drink this."
Still groggy, V sat up slowly and took a few sips. "Ah… How long was I out?"
"Two days," Judy replied, taking the glass back. "Misty and Viktor came to check on you both days."
"You've been here the whole time?" V looked at her in surprise.
"Yeah… I was worried," Judy said, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. "So, I moved my studio here temporarily. Hope you don't mind."
"Of course not," V smiled. "Thanks, Judy."
The atmosphere suddenly shifted, an awkward silence hanging between them.
To break it, V glanced at her computer. "Were you working just now?"
"Oh—yeah. Just some editing work," Judy said quickly, straightening up. "Didn't know what else to do."
"Braindance?"
"Yup," she nodded, helping V out of bed. "Easy now. Don't push yourself."
She guided V to the desk, where scenes from combat sequences played out on the screen. "Got a big client recently. Ordered a bunch of special footage—rushed delivery. If it goes well, they might help me out a little."
Her voice grew softer. "Still trying to find Evelyn."
She used to work exclusively for the Moxes, but now she was taking freelance jobs just to expand her network. Dealers, fellow BD editors, even sketchy clients. Still—no leads.
And with the Moxes struggling financially, demand for Judy's work had slowed too.
V considered telling her everything. But after discussing it with Viktor, he decided against it.
If Judy found out, she'd drop everything to go after Evelyn—even if it killed her. Leon might spare V because he was useful, but Judy? A BD technician? She'd be marked for death.
"Big client, huh? You know who they are?" V asked, pretending to be casual.
"No idea," Judy shrugged. "One scene goes for 10k, though. Not cheap. Probably some rich kid with an Avenger looking for thrills."
Avenger.
V froze.
Only one person in Night City drove an Avenger.
Leon Black.
No way. Could it really be him?
But why would Leon need Braindance footage?
For a moment, his face danced on the edge of V's memory—just out of reach, like a dream half-forgotten.
"Want me to check it out?" V offered. "Just to be safe. High-paying jobs like this can have strings."
Judy frowned, then slowly nodded. "Alright. I'll give you the client's address."
As she passed it over, she hesitated. "What about the guy in your head? You two figure things out?"
"Yeah, we've reached an agreement," V said, pulling on his jacket. "He keeps to himself unless I give the green light. I stay in charge."
Even with only weeks to live, V couldn't afford to lie around. His head still throbbed, but a painkiller would fix that.
"Just… be careful," Judy whispered.
"I will," he said, securing his pistol.
He stepped out of the apartment. Rain misted over the neon skyline. It might pour, it might sizzle—Night City's weather was just as unpredictable as its people.
V didn't care. He had one goal now—clear his name and survive.
"Remember what I told you, kid," Johnny's voice echoed in his mind.
"I know. We find Rogue first," V replied.
Johnny had been dead for 50 years, but now, more than anything, he wanted to know how his old crew was doing.
V smirked. "Man, you really are Johnny Silverhand. I grew up on stories about you."
"Go to hell," Johnny grunted. "When I blew up Arasaka Tower, you were still swimming around in your dad's—"
"Nice to meet you too," V rolled his eyes. "So polite."
Suddenly—CRASH!
The front of V's car was totaled.
A Delamain taxi zoomed off, its engine sputtering.
"The hell?!"
Ding!
> "Dear Mr. V, we apologize. Our unit #9527 experienced a system malfunction and damaged your vehicle. Please accept our deepest apologies."
> "This message can be used to redeem a repair package at any Delamain branch. A courtesy vehicle will be provided for your travel."
V sighed, staring at the smoking wreck.
"Well," he muttered, "guess I'm picking up a new ride first."
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)