Broken People Part Four excerpt

     V and Judy are enjoying some alone time in the observation garden of the Fortress of Unending Fire.

     Judy: "What is this furniture she has provided for us? I swear it is big enough for three to relax on."

     V: "I do not know what it is called but if ever we have our own place, I want one for us."

     Judy turns from her back, where she had been watching the celestial show and gazes at 'V' who turns her head to look back.

     Judy: "I know so little of what you have done, aside from the news and what you have told me about. But I know when you get that 'far away' look on your face that something from the past lingers. But whatever it is can wait a bit, so much of your life has been violent, but there has to be more than me that has given you peaceful if not happy memories if only short ones. Tell me of one, if you would?"

     V: "You are right, but it is those memories that keep me going. Do you know my father taught me how to 'box'? He would say, 'Valerie, this is a hard world we live in. You can simply walk out the front door and catch a bullet. But I know there are ways you can rise up above such conditions. This is why I am teaching this to you. You have inherited my talent and I want you to use it to better yourself.' He set me up with his old coach, who put me through the 'ringer'. Saw the potential in me as he did my father. And soon after I lost Jackie, before I went crazy with Johnny in my head, I went back to my coach and had him set me up a fight, so I could immerse myself in something other than problems and my grief.

     Surprisingly to a lot of people, I won. And I walked away with my head held high, my confidence and respect returning. After the lockdown of Heywood was lifted, 'Coach' contacted me to ask if I was interested in more fights, so I said 'yes'. He would set me up with them one at a time as I felt I needed them. They were not easy. I came away with bruises, cracked ribs, lost a tooth or two. But I healed, or rather 'Vic' would put me back together. He had a 'boxing' past, and Jackie as well, but I was unaware of Jackie's. Anyway he would give me advice from time to time that helped me out. After I met you and just before we went 'diving' together, I went up against Cesar in the 'Glen'. I first saw him arguing with his 'output', who looked about 7 or 8 months pregnant.

     She was dishing it out to him about why he was spending so much money on augments when his child was so close to being born, about all of the things they will need money for then. He was trying to earn it through fighting and she could see it all crumbling away if he 'lost' it all in a fight. When we discussed the wager, he threw in the 'title' to his car, and she turned and walked away from him. I put up the added value and stepped in the ring. He was good, but I could quickly see his weakness. So I would parry a few blows then quickly back way. This lured him into 'dashing' at me. I would sidestep and land a flurry to his midsection. Then back away again.

     I took him down in the second round. I went to him to offer some advice. I said, 'Whatever you do next, don't lose what you have now.' And I glanced over to his 'output'. He followed what I said and agreed with me, even as he handed over the 'title' to his wheels. I thought a few seconds and gave it back, along with the twenty thousand 'eddy' purse. I could see the shock on his face even as his 'output' told him to accept and thank me for my generosity, which he did. He said he would never let anyone forget what I did for him that day. About a month later, I got a text with a photo of the baby. And every so often, I pull it out and look at it, so I can remember that I made a difference in his life."

     Judy does not hesitate, but pulls 'V' down into a strong kiss.

     Judy: "I knew there was something deeper, more solid to you than what you showed to Night City. It was what drew me to you, but I never suspected that it ran that deep. I guess I should have after all that you did for me, and tried to do for Evelyn. It also explains why we are here and you are not in some forgotten prison cell. And why I love you so much. Now tell me about what has been bothering you to such distraction."

     V: "Ok, but you have to let me tell you the whole story. It will not make sense unless you hear it all."

     Judy: "Ok, I am all ears."

     V: "Do you remember when the BD, 'The Passion', came out?"

     Judy: "Yeah, but I never watched it myself. Why? What does that have to do with this?"

     V: "I was called and offered a job by Wakako. I had to meet the client at a restaurant. So I went and waited. All I knew was that the client was named Bill Jablonski. When he drove up and parked, I stood, went to him, and asked his name. Once I knew it was him, he asked me if Wakako had told me what was to do. I said she had told that he would tell me what he wanted. And that ws when I learned he wanted me to 'off' someone, and be there when it happened."

     Judy: "Wait! He wanted you to kill someone and watch you do it?"

     V: "Yeah."

     Judy: "What for, some kind of 'snuff' BD?"

     V: "No, if that had been the case I would have turned, walked away, and dropped an anonymous call to the NCPD. No, the victim was named Stevenson, Joshua Stevenson."

     Judy: "You mean 'the' Joshua Stevenson, the death row killer that..."

     V: "Yeah, that one. Bill changed his mind while we waited for the studio van to pass us by. He decided he wanted to be the one to pull the trigger and have me back him up. I was not liking this one little bit and had almost decided to leave when he told me why. his wife had been one of Stevenson's victims. So I started to put everything together in my mind and wondered just what was going on. Bill kept growling about Steveson getting a 'get out of jail' card courtesy of the BD studio and how he was not going to let it happen. I disagreed with him but kept my mouth shut. I mean, no way was the NCPD let him out and back on the streets. There had to be more to this. I asked about details and Bill could not give me any. I almost dropped it then when the van came across in front of us and Bill started shouting for us to move before they lost us.

     I almost punched him in the mouth right then. I know my job, I know how to tail a vehicle. I was having to dodge traffic, with him shouting in my ear. To our/my luck there was a accident along the route they took and stopped them at an underpass, so they had no choice to stop. Bill had me stop and jumped out of the truck, ran down to the van brandishing a gun, and the NCPD officer with them shouting at him to stop and drop his gun."

     Judy: "What did you do?"

     V: "Exactly what the officer said to do. I am not stupid, that is the kind of situation they call Max Tac in on and that means a world of hurt coming if you even survive."

     Judy: "Whew, I have heard stories of what they do."

     V: "And I have seen it first hand. I will not provoke a cop into calling them. Anyway, the officer shot and killed Bill, I stood still, disarmed myself, and did not say a word. That was when Joshua came around the van calling out for everyone to calm down. He then came to me and asked my name. I told him I was called 'V'. He then turned to the studio rep and said he wanted me to come with them. You can imagine what ensued after that, but he had the studio over the barrel, if they wanted the BD to go through, they would do as he asked as long as he did not go too far. He turned and asked me to come with them. By now I was interested in what was happening as well as why he wanted me to accompany them knowing that I had been hired to kill him.

     I got in the van with them and they went on to a house in the 6th street area. Joshua had me go with him while the other two stayed outside. I then found out that the sister of one of his victims had been writing to him while he was in prison. Now this was not some misguided love affair or anything like that. she is a 'true believer' and managed to convert him. He wanted to see her and ask for forgiveness for murdering her brother before his execution. She was alone at the time, her mother out on an errand. We sat down at the kitchen table and talked for a little bit. I got a little more information of what was going on and it really piqued my curiosity of how something like this could happen and why." 

     Judy: "I think I know where this is going."

     V: "You may be right but hear me out. You will understand once I am finished. I found out that he wanted to be 'crucified' as the method of his execution and have it scrolled into a BD."

     The shock on Judy's face spoke volumes on what she was feeling right now and finding out that 'V' was somehow involved in it.

     V: "The mother came back right then and threw us both out, not that I blame her. She actually was quite calm about it. No threats, no throwing dishes or other things at us. We left and then went to get something to eat. The studio rep kept me outside for a minute trying to bribe me into leaving. She thought the questions I was asking were undermining hers and the studio's efforts. I declined her offer and went inside, then sat down at the table to listen further. I have never had much of an opinion of media people and now have even less of one. I began to see what was going on in his head, and it was having an effect on me. Causing me to question some things I have believed for a long time. When the rep gather them to leave, Joshua thanked me for coming with them and left with them. I sat back down and talked to Johnny. I have to admit that was a strange conversation."

     Judy: "How so?"

     V: "We were actually agreeing with each other. I compared Stevenson to Johnny as a 'rebel', and Johnny replied that Stevenson was a 'true' rebel, ready to die for what he believed, and using that death to make a statement to the entire world. I thought for a second and had to agree with him, because Stevenson had to believe in what he was doing. He was not getting anything out of it but to make a statement to every man, woman, and child who sees that BD, talks about it to their friends. It left a mark on me inside, one that is still there.

     I left there, not really knowing what was going to happen from that point. A few days later I got a call from the studio rep, Joshua was asking for me, and refusing to go through with it unless they contacted me. So I went to the studio to see what was going on and see if I could help him decide on what he really wanted to do. By this time I was convinced of his sincerity, his drive to make his statement, no matter the unconventional method he had chosen. I went to him and sat down to listen to him. We talked for a few minutes and he asked me if I believed in 'God'. I had not really thought much about it for most of my life. Too busy just trying to survive really. But deep down, yeah, I has to admit that I did. I have seen a lot of horrific things, done my fair share of them, but I have also seen great things as well, and came to know the people who stood up in the face of derision, lies, betrayal to do those great things. And I have felt something from them touch me in those moments. Whether it was 'God' or just a fragment of my imagination, I don't know. So I dug down deep into myself and found a prayer my mother taught me, and so I prayed it with him. The studio took him to make final preparations, but before he left, he asked me if I would be the one to nail him to tht cross."

     Judy: "'V', no, tell me you didn't do it!"

     V, with tears in her eyes, "I could not let someone else do it, someone who did not care about why he was doing this, someone who did no believe in him and what he wanted to say to the world. They gave me some lines to speak, and somehow they seemed appropriate. As I pounded each nail, I imagined that I felt what he felt with each blow. When it was done, I went to the switch to raise the cross upright, hesitated for a few seconds, and with trembling fingers, I pressed the button and watched as it was raised up. Once it stopped, I went and stood just to the right and looked up at him. I still do not know what I saw, cannot explain it. I glanced over to the other side and saw Johnny standing there with his head bowed. I then bowed my own and felt him die. We two stood there for I do not know how long before I turned and walked out. The studio rep stopped me to tell me that my pay would coming in a few days, and she then commented she was going home and sleeping for a couple of days. All I wanted to do was leave myself, find you, and be held by you while I cried until I had no tears left."

     Judy: "Why didn't you?"

     V: "Because there was no way I could explain to you then about why I did what I did, and why I needed you so badly."

     Judy: "What did you do, then?"

     V: "I went up into the hills to find a place to look out over Night City and decide what it was that I really wanted to do with my life. I found the Zen Master waiting for me. It was as if he knew what I was going through. He helped me enter into a meditation session and guided me through it. When I came out of it, the sky was dark and he was gone. I had been meditating for several hours but I did feel better about myself, my situation, things in general. And I began to understand what it was I wanted to do with myself. I had always wanted to become a Legend. For this city to know I had been here. Now I understood that behind that was the desire to live my life in a way that people would remember. And say that 'V' lived and made a difference by living her life. To inspire others to find and live theirs so that people would say the same of them."

     Judy does not say anything more, she just wraps her arms around 'V', wiping away her tears, and lays back watching the 'Great and Secret Show' that was hidden in the fires shooting out, streaming here and there, finding meaning, mystery, and answers deep within.