Broken People Part Five

 Broken People Part Five

     V and Iriisii walk into the 'Afterlife'. 'V' noting things are just as busy as they usually are. She walks along the bar until she sees Claire working.

     V: "Let's take a seat here, I know the bartender. Claire give us two of what's good today."

     Claire: "You know as well as I do that everything is 'good' here, but I know what you mean. Two Johnny Silverhands coming up."

     While Claire is mixing the drinks, Iriisii comments on the name.

     Iriisii: "He has a drink here named after him?"

     V: "Age old custom here done for the regulars when they pass. Johnny did it in mid-op, setting off that nuke in Arasaka Tower was the crowning touch. Just as well, no one here knows how he really died, except for Rogue and she will never tell."

     Iriisii: "Do you have one named for you?"

     V: "Honestly never thought about it. Besides I am not one to bandy my full name about like some of these people were."

     Iriisii: "What about Jackie?"

     V: "I...I have never asked about one for Jackie. I do not know why really, just never did."

     Iriisii: "I understand, those who do not know you will never understand the power a name can hold. One day, you will learn your 'true name' and when you do, nothing will ever be the same for you."

     V: "You mean Iriisii is not your 'true name'?"

     Iriisii: "No, it is not. In my travels and adventures I have been many places. Once I found a place where the Ageless Ones once trod. There in a dream, a voice whispered it to me and told me to guard it well. That when I achieved true balance within myself, my true name would unlock all that was hidden inside me."

     V: "Have you ever achieved that true balance?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, a few times, for a short while each time."

     Claire comes up and places their drinks in front of them.

     Claire: "I will be back by in a few, need to see to a few other customers."

     V: "Take your time, we will be here. Why only for short times? Is it not something that once learned stays with you?"

     Iriisii: "When it happened, my personal power level spiked so high that if it remained so, it would seriously unbalance existence itself. Therefore if it did not return to what it was, I would be thrown out into the Great Void to make my way as I could."

     V: "Who would have the power needed to do that?"

     Iriisii: "The very fabric of Existence itself. I am acutely aware that everything, everyone in existence is an infinitesimal part of the mind that is Existence."

     V: "You are talking about God are you not?"

     Iriisii: "Gods are a part just as mortals are, as the plants and animals are, as the worlds and stars are. Its mind is so vast it runs at a completely different speed. So slow that we cannot comprehend it, because we seldom if ever experience it. Because of that we almost never even think of such a thing much less believe in it. But it is there anyway."

     Iriisii takes a sip of her drink while 'V' ponders what she said. Claire comes back to check on them.

     Claire: "Can I get you anything else?"

     V: "Not me, I see Rogue is ready for me. Would you keep my companion company? She is very new here, and I would hate to have to clean up the mess if someone 'hit' on her. The customs of her people are different in that regard. If she was insulted she would have to...well there could be a good deal of blood spilt."

     Claire: "Don't worry, I will take good care of her for you."

     V: "Thank you, I need to get over there before someone usurps my spot. I will be back as soon as I can."

     V gets up and walks over to the corner booth where Rogue conducts her business.

     Claire: "Hi, I am Claire by the way."

     Iriisii: "Iriisii Dovahkiin, pleased to meet you. May I ask you a question?"

     Claire: "Sure, I cannot guarantee an answer though."

     Iriisii: "That is perfectly all right, I did not intend to ask a personal question."

     Claire: "Then go ahead, shoot."

     Iriisii: "Why is it that Jackie Wells does not have a drink named after him, here?"

     Claire: "That is a good question. What little we know about the circumstances, he would qualify."

     Iriisii: "But?"

     Claire: "No one has put his name up for recognition."

     Iriisii: "I see, and how would that go? I mean how would someone go about doing that?"

     Claire: "They would start by asking Rogue."

     Iriisii: "Any other requirements?"

     Claire: "Only if Rogue says so. Why do you ask? Are you thinking about doing it?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, I am. And no, I did not witness the manner of his death. But I know how deeply it has affected 'V', and I know her well enough by now to understand how much she felt for him, how his loss hit her. She cannot bring herself to ask on his behalf because the pain of those memories still runs deep. Even as fulfilling this last request of his, would help her deal with his loss. Honoring him as a fallen brother, and adding his name into the Rolls of the Legends of Night City. This was something he wished greatly for and deserves most assuredly."

     Claire: "Why do you want to do this? Not that it is any business of mine."

     Iriisii: "I know the kind of pain she feels, it stays with you for life. And when you see it in another you recognize it, share in it. I did something similar for a brother of mine, to honor his sacrifice, so I feel that Jackie deserves the same. In the end, they were a lot alike. They both knew they were going to die, it was just a matter of how soon and in what manner. And they both stood tall and did what they had to do, knowing it would be the end for them in this life."

     Claire: "How did your brother die?"

     Iriisii: "...Even as this is the right place for such a tale, it is not the right time. Later, I will tell you of what he did, of what his brothers in arms did for him under my direction, and what the end result of his sacrifice was."

     Claire: "I meant to ask you, was 'V' being serious about, you know?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, she was and unfortunately some who did not believe her died because of it. No one here in Night City, but back in my homeland, yes."

     Claire: "Then if you do not mind, are you and she..."

     Iriisii smiles, "No, we are working together on a large endeavor. I am as you would say, 'taken' and very much in love."

     Claire whispers to herself, 'I wish I was.'

     A shadow comes up and Claire frowns in its direction.

     Claire: "Find somewhere else to sit, this section is reserved."

     Iriisii stays silent to let Claire handle it. When the shadow does not move, Claire gets a bit more forceful.

     Claire: "I said this section is reserved. It is supposed to be understood that it is reserved for Rogue's special guests. And she does not take kindly to people ignoring her rules here. If you want the entire club to come down on you then stay where you are, otherwise find somewhere else to sit, better yet, find another bar to sit in."

     There is a flash of light reflecting off of something being shown to Claire.

     Claire growls: "I do not care if you do work for Netwatch. This is Night City, not the NUSA, not SoCal, this is Rogue's place and she makes the rules here. If you do not want to find your face kissing pavement you should be getting up and leaving now."

     When he still does not move and she feels a hand approach her shoulder.

     Iriisii: "Claire, do you have a candle nearby?"

     Claire: "Yes, I do, let me get it for you."

     Claire reaches under the bar and brings a short but fat candle, sets it on the bar in front of Iriisii and lights it. Iriisii, not taking her gaze from Claire moves the candle to a point in front of the shadow to her right.

     Iriisii directs a comment to the shadow beside her, "Look into the candle flame and see what your fate would be if you persist in this action toward me."

     It only takes a second before the Netwatch agent falls off the barstool and his rear hits the floor. He scrambles up and with the club patrons watching, makes a beeline for the door out. The bouncer at the door is smiling as he makes sure the agent gets clear of the premise. Iriisii simply takes a free hand, cups the candle flame and gently blows it out.

     Claire: "I have got to learn how to do that."

     Iriisii: "Do you really want to know how?"

     Claire: "Are you kidding? It would stop half the brawls that get started in here."

     Iriisii: "Give me your hand."

     Claire places a hand in Iriisii's, who gently uses a fingernail to trace a glyph, almost silently whispering a spell.

     Iriisii: "There, done. The next time something like that occurs, just do as I did and it will be taken care of."

     Claire: "You're serious? Just like that?"

     Iriisii smiles, "Yes, just like that. It is a kind of mathematical witchcraft."

     Claire: "Mathematical witchcraft?"

     Iriisii: "Have you met or know a quantum physicist?"

     Claire: "Not directly but I have a friend who does, why?"

     Iriisii: "Tell him what I did and ask him to explain to you about the Laws of Quantum Intention. Be prepared for it may take him a few hours explaining it before you get the gist of it."

     'V' and Rogue are calming sitting, watching what is taking place at the bar. Rogue is ready to surround the NetWatch agent with a single gesture. But 'V' asks that she wait and witness how Iriisii handles herself. After she watches the drama, she replays it in her mind, aided in analyzing everything with her implants.

     Rogue: "Just 'who' or more to the point 'what' is she? I can see the energy swirling lightly around her, but there is not a single sign of implants ever having been installed. I scan her and get the sense of vastness about her, but whatever is powering that, my implants cannot register it."

     V: "Whatever she is, we have never seen or felt her like before now. What is of more importance is 'why' she is here."

     Rogue: "All right, I'll bite. Why is she here and does it have anything to do with why you asked for this meeting?"

     V: "Yes it does have bearing. Too many pieces of the puzzle have come to light, and now I can see just who is behind all of the troubles we have seen for some time. The puppet masters grow weary of pulling the strings and are ready to come forward with their plans."

     Rogue: "Which are what exactly?"

     V: "Tearing down the 'Black Wall'."

     Rogue: "I know you are not one to 'play chicken little' or cry 'wolf' to get attention. This is one of those times when I wish you were, so I could discount what you are saying. But I imagine that she is here to do something about that, is she not?"

     V: "Yes. But she wants to include us in fixing this. In recompense for our help, she will give us the tools we need to go up against the corrupt politicians, the Corps, show us how to gain all the power we could ever use, clean up all the trash and pollution that is killing this world, and produce a better, cleaner, more powerful version of our cyber implants, completely organic. That all taken together would lower the chances of cyberpsychosis to a fraction of its current chance. We have just really started exploring up there, with the space station and lunar colonies. She can show us, teach us how to build starships capable of traversing the entire galaxy, and could be made from the trash and pollution poisoning everything. And she can take from us the rogue AIs, find them their own homes out there among their own kin, who will act as guardians to them. To guide them in how to live with all the races that exist out there. Keeping them safe and isolated until they have proven they can join the rest of Existence.

     It is not going to be easy, but it can be done. We will start with one thing at a time, building it up until it is on its feet. But keeping things quiet, flying under the Corps radar until we are ready to spring it. All of it hinges on getting the normal peoples attention, so we start our own company, registered in Night City. And start to earn money, selling good, high quality products to the people, undercutting the Corps prices and letting 'word of mouth' drive our sales. We run our business without stooping to the Mega Corps tactics. In fact we target what we do to let us support the people and small businesses, stop the Corps gobbling them up, or just outright burying them in a landfill.

     The Mega Corps will not change the way they do business. They have become too rigid to do that. Too motivated in profit margins to do anything else. That is where our strength will come from. Because when they see trouble from us, they will fall back on their usual tactics. But we will have already prepared ourselves to withstand the storm. We need the Fixers involved, to do what you have always done, keep the balance of forces active so that everything works. We will take care of those who work for us, so they do not need to go to extreme measures to recover what they feel is due them. We also do not anticipate the need for Fixers to go away, not for a long time from now. More than long enough for the job to adjust to what changes come."

     Rogue: "Thought of everything, haven't you?"

     V: "Not by a long shot, no. But we have enough of a gameplan to get started, create a foundation to build the rest on. We do not need an answer for some time yet, watch us, listen to what the people say of us, and when the time comes we will ask again, then we will need an answer. I do not expect all will come to our side. But at least we will know who we can work with and who we will avoid. Unfortunately there can be no neutral stance. The fate of our world has determined that for us. If we lose our war, our world loses as well. I and my allies will do what we must to see that does not happen.

     And on a far more different and personal note. Johnny knows you did what you had to do to survive. And does not think any less of you for it. He still wishes things could have been different between him and you. He knows how much he fucked things up between him and everyone else around him back in those days. Do I believe him? Yes, I do, fifty years to do nothing but think on his mistakes, can give one a perspective of enlightenment. Is he still a 'bastard'? Yes, that will take a bit longer to correct, but there is hope for him yet. Why am I telling you this? Because the time he and I shared my mind, you cannot be that intimate twenty-four seven and not learn some things about each other.

     He and I started things out pretty rocky. He kept trying to kill me, and when he found out he couldn't, he tried convincing me to do myself. I fought him tooth and nail, and through that we began to respect each other, from there we really began to learn about each other, and then realized we had more in common than we had differences. When he told me there were times when he would wake up, thinking the body was his, and then he would feel something important was missing. I would wake up and he would breathe a sigh of relief that I was still there. I realized that when something happened that I could not hear him mouth off, could not feel his presence next to me, I became worried, feared something had happened to him. I know what it is sounding like, but I am not in love with him, never will be. I love someone else and there is no room for another. Even so when we were together with Alt behind the Blackwall. We had to make a decision. Only one of us would come back, the other would go with Alt.

     At the time I wasn't really sure which was the better option. For if I returned I was looking at about six months left to live. But Johnny ended up making that decision for me. He led me to the well that would return me to the here and now. Helped me immerse myself and pushed me deeper until the current grabbed me and the last thing I remembered was his voice wishing me well on my journey and his last words to me were, 'whatever you do, don't stop fightin'. How he ended up back with me I am not sure, I did not ask. But I think it had something to do with the Relic chip and its subsequent tuning. The time Johnny had spent inside it, and then it being nested in my neural socket. I think a link was created that somehow allowed him to return from whatever situation he encountered with Alt that threw him back to me. I haven't the faintest idea, but he is in his own body now. One we fashioned for him after scouring everywhere looking for the merest trace of his DNA. We gathered enough to clone him a new body, then transferred him into that body, replaced all his old implants with new organic ones. I can see in your eyes the question of 'why is he not here with me'? Because he knows he has no right to intrude himself into your life after all this time. And it is up to you whether or not to ask him back into it. Let me make this clear, he does not know I am telling you any of this. Will probably be pissed at me for a while for doing it. But I thought you needed to know all of it, and then you can think on it and decide what you want to do. Do not let the difference in your body's ages play a part in your decision, that can be adjusted if you wish."

     Rogue: "What do you mean adjusted?"

     V: "Your biological 'clock' can be moved back if you wish it to be. Look at my companion and guess what her age is?"

     Rogue: "From what you are saying any answer I give is likely to be wrong, so just go ahead and tell me."

     V: "She is close to one hundred-thirty and does not look a day over twenty-four does she. I have it on good authority, a thousand, a million, a billion years from now, she will look just as she is now. Older, wiser, even more in tune with herself, and those she calls her children have that same chance, her biological children, and those who tie themselves to her, accept her as their 'mother', guardian, mentor, friend. I have made that decision for myself, so has Judy, so has So Mi, there will likely be others. Everywhere she goes she finds those who have been searching for her, even as they had no idea who they were searching for. She looks for and finds the most lost, destitute, broken people and offers them redemption, absolution, a new life. A chance to be who they otherwise could never be if she had not found them. I know throughout history there have been those who made the same claims but could never back them up. She can and has done so."

     V takes the Katana off of her back, handing it to Rogue.

     Rogue: "What is this for?"

     V: "This is 'Bakeneko'. One of those she gave 'redemption' to, made this at a place he called the 'Forge of Souls'. When I met him at the Spaceport as he came through a portal with her. He looked into me, and then tossed me this blade from his own back. I looked at it, pulled a few inches of the blade and looked at the metal. As my eyes again met his, he saw my desire, gestured for me to keep it, and asked for my old one in exchange. He took it, unsheathed it, then broke the blade over his knee. Tossed the pieces to the side and told me this. 'This blade can now no longer be held in dishonorable hands and used for dishonorable purposes. Let the blade you now hold become a part of your soul and protect you when all others would fail.' Iriisii said in the time she has known him, this was only the third time he had ever done this. That he must have seen something inside me that moved him. I asked him if it had a name. He said yes, but that I needed to give it a new name, so that it would bond with me and become a part of my soul. He then went through the naming ceremony he used with his previous blades. And that was how I gave it the name it now has. Iriisii said that Bastis, Goddess of Cats, who lives in the Temple outside the town of Ulthar in the Dreamlands, heard my naming of this blade and blessed it. I think that was no story, no myth, for in my dreams I have been there, walked the streets with cats of every size, shape, pattern of fur, colors. And we go hunting in the forests of the Dreamlands."

     Rogue receives a com from the bouncer and they both react to a change in the mood of the nightclub. A wave of silence can be felt and heard as a lone figure walks along the length of the bar. V recognizes who it is and whispers his name.

     V: "Olaf."

     Rogue: "He is the one you spoke of? Who gave you this blade?"

     V: "Yes."

     Rogue: "Well, he certainly cuts an imposing figure. Why do you think he is here?"

     V: "I have no idea, but I guess we will soon find out."

     Olaf's eyes never wander, but he is aware of everyone here. Where they are sitting or standing and what level of threat they represent. He looks up to where 'V' sits with Rogue and nods his head and then proceeds to where Iriisii sits. Claire stares at him, frozen in place like a deer suddenly illuminated by headlights. When he reaches Iriisii he stops, bows to her, and takes his spot behind her and to her right. He smells the candle that Iriisii lit and empowered. He then looks toward her.

     Iriisii: "It is taken care of."

     He then turns his face back, as his gaze comes across Claire, she quietly asks.

     Claire: "Can I get you something?"

     He replies, "I will have one of what my Mistress is having."

     Claire immediately goes to mixing his drink, making sure he can see everything she is doing before placing it before him.

     Iriisii: "His name is Olaf. And he is first among my Elite Black Dragonriders."

     Iriisii feels a hint of an emotion beginning to swell up inside of Claire.

     Iriisii: "And yes, he is spoken for. He rides Vilok, and their bond is closer even than husband and wife."

     Claire: "He rides a real dragon?"

     Iriisii: "He earned the right when he underwent the Choosing."

     Claire: "Not that I know anything about dragons, but how did he choose."

     Iriisii: "He did not choose his dragon, the dragon chose him. My Elite ride only my dragon children, and they choose their riders. There were six who wished to choose him and Vilok defeated them all to possess him. Olaf, Vilok is close by, I assume?"

     Olaf: "Yes, Mistress she is. She wanted to get a quick look around before entering."

     Claire: "How can something the size of a dragon enter here?"

     A sultry female voice, young and ancient at the same time, speaks up. Claire and the rest of the club have eyes riveted on the young woman standing with Olaf and Iriisii.

     Vilok: "Because I inherited the ability to change my physical form from my mother."

     Vilok comes up to Iriisii and kisses her on the cheek, "Greetings and Well Met, Mother. An interesting place you have found."

     Iriisii: "Greetings and Well Met, daughter. Indeed it is. I trust all is well with the Krang?"

     Vilok: "Yes, Mother. All preparations proceed apace to your wishes."

     Iriisii: "Good, things down here also proceed at their proper order and pace. 'V' has been invaluable to this effort and soon Judy will do so as well. Any word from Reaper?"

     Vilok: "He is investigating leads in cyberspace. He says he must shore up the Blackwall for it to hold until you are ready to traverse it and confront the AI's trying to undermine and bring it down."

     Claire's face goes white as a sheet.

     Claire: "Someone wants to bring down the Blackwall? That will destroy all of us if the AI's get free."

     Iriisii: "That is in part why I am here. To put a stop to their efforts and offer them a different path to follow. One that will take them far from here, where they will be among their own, can be watched and mentored until they can rejoin the rest of Existence. but that will be some time yet, and it will not be breached as long as we are here to strengthen it."

     Claire: "Rogue is asking for the three of you to join her and 'V'. They are in the booth, up on the dais."

     Iriisii places a hand over Claire's, "Thank you, Claire, for being so attentive."

     As Claire smiles she feels something Iriisii left in her hand. She looks down at a fine cut, fiery ruby. She begins to hand it back as Iriisii curls Claire's fingers over it.

     Iriisii: "Consider it a 'tip', take it to one you trust whatever you decide to do with it."

     Claire: "I will and thank you, thank you very much."

     Iriisii, Olaf, and Vilok, stand and make their way to where Rogue and V sit. Iriisii sits opposite 'V' as Olaf takes a place next to her, and Vilok sits on the other side next to 'V'. V makes introductions. Once they are done, Rogue asks a burning question that has just came up in her mind.

     Rogue: "I have a few questions, but the one burning in my mind right now is this. Vilok, are you truly a real dragon?"

     Vilok: "Indeed I am, I prefer to be as close to Olaf as much as I can. There is no way my true form would fit in here, so I changed my physical form to better blend in and to stay close to my rider."

     Rogue hesitates but goes ahead and asks, "You speak as one in love, but how can it work between a human and a dragon?"

     Vilok: "This human form is quite stable and fully functional. If we wished, I could bear children from this form. For now, we have none. This is our choice, once Existence is closer to being balanced we will reconsider."

     Rogue: "Thank you for your honesty and forthrightness."

     Vilok: "You are most welcome, Rogue of the Afterlife."

     Rogue: "Might I inquire what you gave to Claire that caused such a reaction in her?"

     Iriisii: "A 'tip' for exemplary service in how she dealt with the NetWatch agent. She handled it well and is a credit to this place and to yourself."

     Rogue: "Thank you, I do pride myself on the quality of the people I employ. 'V' has told me much of what plans you have, are preparing, and why they are needed. The 'why' is what I feel is the most important and the most precarious. I am glad 'V' saw the sense to come to me and inform me of your plans and ask my help when it comes to be needed. I have given it some thought and I believe there is only one fixer in Night City that I believe will stand aside. Once this happens she will be cut loose and cast adrift. Later she will see her error, but it would be best to keep her outside. 'V' knows who I speak of."

     V: "Wakako Okada, the Madame of Westbrook. I have spoken to Vik and he is onboard. I will be speaking to the others later, even Wakako, so that she cannot say we kept her in the dark when we move, although I do not plan on telling her everything. I plan on being very careful what I say where she has ears to hear."

     Olaf nods his head in understanding and approval.

     Iriisii: "'V', you will need to show Olaf the 'ropes' of how you deal with the undercity. It should not take long for him to pick it up, then there will be someone to help shoulder the burden."

     A few days later, So Mi is sleeping restlessly, the recent past trying to assert itself into her dreams, force her to deal with it.

     So Mi: "Arghh", and shoots straight up in bed, sweat pouring off of her, muscles twitching uncontrollably. Then the tears start flowing and will not stop. The light comes on at half intensity, and she feels arms wrapping themselves around her, holding her close. A soft voice soothing away the pain and the fear.

     Iriisii: "Shhhh, it will be ok, my child. Not one of your enemies can touch you now, nor find you here. You are safe now."

     So Mi: "Why won't they stop? When will the nightmares stop?"

     Iriisii: "What are they about that so troubles your sleep? Tell me of them and together we may find the answer to put them to rest."

     So Mi: "I am back on the NCX spacewalk to the lunar shuttle. V is laying me on the walk. I see her slipping a revolver in her hand, concealing it from Reed. I cannot move, so close to death I am. V and Reed talk about what each feels they have to do. And I know my fate is in their hands, their choices."

     Iriisii: "I see. This is a rare kind of dream. Not precognitive, for it deals with the past. But you are not an ordinary person then or now. There are doors opening for you that you are not aware of. I think this might be part of the problem."

     So Mi: "What doors could cause these dreams?"

     Iriisii: "You are seeing events that happened in other realities. Realities where the choices made were different from the ones made here."

     So Mi: "I think you are right. In some of them, Reed killed V, then turned me over to Myers. In others, both Reed and V killed each other. On a few, V killed Reed, then picked me up and put me in the shuttle. Put me on life support and closed the seat belt around me. I remember the last thing she said to me, as if it was from a far away place. 'Good luck, So Mi. In spite of it all, good luck, sister.' And then I felt the tremor as the shuttle engines igniting and I felt it moving. Then a whisper in my ear. I think Johnny was talking to V, he said, 'She made it- preem, she slammed it home.' I had no idea what V was feeling inside while she put me on that shuttle. Or even why she did it instead of either mercy killing me, or giving me to Reed."

     Iriisii: "I must confess, those same questions chased each other after I first met the two of you. So I went looking for the answers, trying to place when V put her feet on the path that led her to do what she did. It began with the event at the Black Sapphire, when she and you first met in person. When she saw the extent of the cyborg mechanization that was keeping you functional. You caused quite the consternation in her mind, until she went back and remembered all that Myers had spoken to her about, and the answers to the questions she asked of Reed. Then what she overheard of the conversations between them at the spaceport, brought everything crashing together. She realized that if not for the friends she made, balancing the things she was called upon to do. The one who most guided her, helped her keep her sanity was the 'Padre'. He truly cared for her, saw her as his daughter. Some would scoff at that, but he was never as open with the other mercs he dealt with as he was with her. Then there was Vik and Misty, Jackie played a major role until he fell to a bullet. And even afterward the memory of him, kept her going. But it was when she met Judy, and later Panam, that things started to firm up inside her. And then the Aldecaldoes adopted her into their family. That closed the door on other paths she could have still taken and locked her into the one she is now on. The one that had I not intervened, would have seen you on the way to your moon. And you would have joined her memories, the ones she holds close to her heart. She and I are a lot alike, a great deal of suffering we have endured, and risen above. Trouble seems to look for us when we least expect. And drags our attention away from those we want to give it to. But come with me, this bed is no longer suitable to be slept in."

     So Mi: "I am sorry about that."

     Iriisii: "Nonsense, it is not your fault. I believe Illyria is alone tonight, those who sleep close to her seem to be unaffected by nightmares. I think it is because she can heal not only wounds of the body, but wounds of the mind as well. Come, let us find her."

     Turning down a few halls, passing doors, they come to one with a little flickering light at the bottom. Iriisii knocks on the door and waits until Illyria opens it. So Mi can see the candles flickering, placed here and there in no discernable pattern. She sees soft fluffy pillows scattered everywhere and a few censers, gently smoking with some unidentifiable scent. She catches a partial view of her bed, a large one, with pillows on top of a thick blanket of stitched furs.

     Iriisii: "So Mi is having difficulties with unusual personal dreams. I think she may be a rare dreamer, able to pierce the veil between parallel tracks in the Streams of Time. She underwent great changes in her physical body to repair damage done to her by the domain she had to traverse. I know of it myself, but have never until now knew anyone else that had been there. It ravaged her both body and soul. Her body you began the healing of and I completed. But healing her soul, that will take all of us and more time to accomplish. For now though, may she sleep with you? She needs surcease from the nightmares that plague her."

     The look on Illyria's face goes from simple interest of the visit to strong concern for So Mi.

     Illyria: "Of course, she can stay with me as long as she needs to."

     So Mi: "I do not want to impose myself on you."

     Illyria: "It is no imposition, child. You are in need, and I can provide for that need. Come in and relax, we can talk or not as you desire, and I promise I do not bite, unless you ask nicely."

     Illyria steps back to let So Mi enter. So Mi turns with a questioning look to Iriisii.

     Iriisii: "Yes, we are mated. But as I must be away for long periods of time, and it is not always convenient to bring them with me, they are free to find others to satisfy their needs. It is strictly consensual and nothing serious. None of them will be brought into our family group unless all agree. And there are certain conditions that might have to be imposed that would need to be agreed to. But that will take care of itself, for now anyway you need healing rest and I still have work to do."

     Illyria: "When you are free, come by and sleep. You know you are always welcome."

     Iriisii cups the side of Illyria's face, as Illyria gently kisses the palm.

     Iriisii: "I know, if it is not too late when I am done, I may return. But do not wait up."

     Illyria: "Come So Mi, lets us get comfortable and you can tell me about these dreams or not as you feel led."

     As Illyria and So Mi get comfortable Illyria has So Mi lay half across her, then pulls the fur blanket over them. It does not take long for the warmth to make both of them drowsy.

     So Mi: "I have never slept under furs before, this is wonderful, so soft and warm. Do you have any children of your own?"

     Illyria: "One, a girl. Now she is a young woman, about to step into her destiny."

     So Mi: "What is that?"

     Illyria: "Before we left Nirn and while we were still mortal. Iriisii was the Empress of Tamriel, a large continent on Nirn. Rigmor was the High Queen of Cyrodiil, otherwise known as the Imperial City. Iriisii decided to make Kintyra, hers and Rigmor's daughter, the heir to the Empress' throne. Then in a move of stability, she asked me if they could name my daughter, heir to the High Queen's throne. She was not quite born yet at that time but was close."

     So Mi: "So does that mean they will marry, like Iriisii and Rigmor were married then?"

     Illyria: "No, that was entirely their choice. The succession of who got which throne was a matter of bloodline and religious politics. By bloodline alone, Rigmor should have gotten the Empress' throne, at least some think so. But Iriisii's Aetherial parents are Alessia and Talos, both have in the past sat on that throne. But being Dragonborn and thus proven to be anointed of Akatosh was the relationship that was stressed and the one that put her on the throne. That placed her ahead, because when the Empire was first formed and given to Alessia, it was part of the pact between them that as long as a Dragonborn sat the throne, the Dragonfires would remain lit and thus the liminal barrier protecting Nirn from direct interference from both Aetherius and Oblivion would stay in place."

     So Mi: "Politics, everything gets muddied by politics."

     Illyria: "Yes, it does. But to Iriisii's credit, she truly did not want the throne. She only took it to stop the infighting that would occur if she did not. Rigmor was not strong enough to hold it together, and since they were expecting an Tsaesci invasion in about five to six years, Iriisii took it and began to put the Empire back together. The sheer amount of work she put in to reform it, I do not want to think about what would have happened had things went in a different direction.

     But listen, when I was a young girl, we lived in a huge valley surrounded by mountains. It would grow cold at night when the winds would blow down across the snowpacks then down into the valley. We would all sleep together for warmth, and as a single one of the furs we had would not cover us all, mother would cut one edge of them straight, then sew them together to make a large blanket. We never grew cold throughout the night under that fur blanket. Having one now, keeps me grounded, reminding me of those times and the simple pleasure of burying myself under them, holding on to someone as I did as a child."

     So Mi: "That's wonderful, never had anything like that in my youth."

     Illyria looks at So Mi to comment but sees she is already fast asleep and dreaming. She settles herself and lets sleep take her to where So Mi is that she can help her relive some peaceful, happy moments in both of their lives. Some hours later, Iriisii opens the door quietly so as not to disturb them. She sees they are comfortably sleeping, both at peace. She starts to leave and then changes her mind. Changing into some sleepwear Illyria keeps on hand for her, she carefully lays down next to So Mi, opposite Illyria. And with So Mi cradled between them, she lets herself drop into sleep herself.

     Later, Iriisii is gone when Illyria and So Mi wake, but she looks toward the chest where she keeps the extra sleepwear and sees it still partially open. As she smiles to know Iriisii stopped by, changed, and joined them for awhile, So Mi asks.

     So Mi: "Did Iriisii join us last night? I could not tell for I was so deeply asleep."

     Illyria: "Yes, she did. We did not see her in the Dreamlands for we went down the Ten Thousand Steps of Deeper Slumber while she stayed above. She likely needed to speak to someone in the upper level. You needed the deeper sleep so I took you down the 'Steps'."

     So Mi: "I never realized there was so much to the dreamlands."

     Illyria smiling, "The dreamlands are usually a mirror of sorts, reflecting what has transpired in the Waking World that is conjoined with that particular part of the Dreamlands. Much of the time great events of the past will linger on in the dreamlands while they are forgotten in the Waking Worlds. But I must say, Norok was quite taken with you."

     So Mi: "He was that real big cat, wasn't he? I have seen bones of the prehistoric cats that were about his size. I never thought they still existed that big."

     Illyria: "He is now the Supreme Elder of the cats that live in Ulthar, and he is Iriisii's brother by the Rites of Blood Binding. You would call him her 'blood brother'. He would follow her anywhere she asked him to go. And she thinks of him as 'family', as close as her own children are to her."

     So Mi: "Where do you think she is now? I thought I heard her say she had a meeting today, but I do not recall with who."

     Illyria: "With a group calling themselves 'Maelstrom' I think. I could be mistaken but that is the name I heard."

     So Mi: "Did she take anyone else with her?"

     Illyria: "Yes, she took 'V', Olaf, and Vilok, why?"

     So Mi: "Maelstrom is one of the crazier gangs in Night City. If 'V' is with her, they should be ok, she saved the life of the leader, Brick. He was usurped by another member called Royce some time back. When she went to conclude a deal for a fixer who sent her, Royce tried to make her pay twice for the item she was sent to collect. I remember her saying it had already been paid for, all she should have had to do was pick it up. But the payment was made to Brick. Royce was not about to let a chance to squeeze more money go by. He really rubbed 'V' the wrong way. Because she managed to pull a handgun and put it up under his chin. All the while the other gang members had their weapons pulled and trained on her and Jackie."

     Illyria: "What did she do?"

     So Mi: "She had a choice to make, and she made it by pulling the trigger and blowing Royce's brains out of the top of the hole in his head she put there with her shot. Jackie read what she was going to do and the his shot took out a ganger with lead on 'V'. 'V' switched weapons to the katana and proceeded to mop the place in blood. Jackie was no slouch when it came to fighting, but even he could not match her body count. The thing I know about 'V' that very few people know about her is that even though her reputation is very well deserved. She lets more enemies live than she kills.

     She can be ruthless and relentless, killing when she feels it is needed, but if it is not needed. She uses certain cyberattacks that will take her enemies down but leave them alive. That is why most of the gangs, especially Maelstrom, respect her. Heck, even the top brass of the Tyger Claws have a standing offer to her to employ her should she ever decide to work for them. But I know it would take very serious circumstances for her to even think about accepting their offer."

     Illyria: "What would it take, do you think?"

     So Mi: "Protecting the ones she cares about. If she could not do it herself, and they were the only ones who could, then and only then would she consider it. Now that she has found Iriisii and joined her cause, I do not think that will be something she will ever have to worry about."

     Illyria: "That is true, Iriisii would dive through the 'Hell Planes' if that is what it took to protect those in her service. Not long ago, we even had to take down a God who had abrogated his responsibilities, then she selected his replacement, anointed him, empowered him, then let him be about cleaning up the mess. By the time we left, you could see the effect the new one was having. It will be interesting to see how he will progress over more time."

     Standing at the outer door to the 'All Foods' processing center, 'V' is flooded with memories. As she stands still, looking at the door, Iriisii gestures Olaf and Vilok to watch, but not intervene. Vilok whispers to Olaf a question about why are they waiting.

     Olaf: "This place marked the beginning of a chain of events that resulted in the death of Jackie Welles. He was to 'V' as Serana was to Iriisii, battle companions, friends, trusted confidantes. He died of his wounds as they left Konpecki Plaza. They were escaping back to a safehouse, having done what was thought impossible. Escaping from the very top through all of the guards, security, mechconstructs, and one very deadly merc, called 'Adam Smasher'.

     Vilok: "Why they were there?"

     Olaf: "They were hired to procure a piece of tech. This one was a prototype, experimental, one of a kind. It could copy a person's mind/personality and store it within the shard, then if slotted in the neuroport of a braindead victim. It could overwrite the physical body and place the stored mind/personality into the changed body. A crude and clumsy form of immortality to be sure, but effective nonetheless."

     Vilok: "They were not together?"

     Olaf: "No, Jackie was interested in another, still living in Night City. If not for that, 'V' might have claimed him for her own, but she would never take one who was another's."

     Vilok: "Power, skills, and scruples. I like her even more now."

     Olaf: "And yes, I gave her my blade. It called to her from the moment she laid eyes upon it. I knew when I forged it years ago that it was destined to be someone else's, I just did not know who. And no, I am not sorry it was her. To lead her through the naming ceremony and watch the blade become bound to her, merge itself with her soul. It is humbling to have a part in the creation of a new being. For that is what they are now, once apart, separated, searching, now found, joined, forged anew into something greater."

     Vilok: "Mother continues to teach you well, there was a time when this would not have interested you in the least."

     Olaf: "I..."

     Vilok: "You know you can tell me."

     Olaf: "When she first showed me what she saw in me, I caught a glimpse of this scene in her mind. I had no idea what it meant, but I could feel the links. The ones between Iriisii and me, 'V' and the blade, the blade and me, 'V' and me, and then you and me. The others I could make out some sort of understanding of them, but not you and me. You were then a complete mystery to me."

     Vilok: "And what of now?"

     Olaf: "You continue to confound me in ever new and more varied ways. Even as I grow ever closer to you."

     Vilok gives a low growl, "You do know what to say to me to arouse me, but we must continue this conversation later. Company arrives from within."

     They move to surround 'V' as the slider door unlocks and then opens. One cyborg figure walks out, then sees 'V'.

     Dumdum: "YOU!"

     V: "Hello, DumDum, miss me?"

     DumDum: "What are you doing here?! How dare you show up here again!"

     V: "Relax, Brick is expecting me. We have a meet. Now what I want to know is what you did to piss him off? He sent you out here to open the door knowing I would be here. Did he expect you to rub me the wrong way like Royce did and have me off you like I did him? Or is he simply letting you know what is going to happen to you if you cross the line again?"

     DumDum: "How should I know!? I am just DumDum! He sends me to open the door and like magic there you are. I heard you got nabbed by the NUSA, somewhere out by the spaceport."

     V: "Almost, had a change in plans. Now I am out here walking around. Have no idea what Myers is doing but up to no good likely."

     DumDum looks Olaf up and down, "Looks like you already got a new victim all picked out to replace the one you got killed...what was his name, of yeah, Jackie."

     'V' goes silent and stares at DumDum.

     V: "You are treading on very thin ice, I would think twice before going any further. Never know what might be lurking underneath waiting for the right moment to strike, then no more DumDum."

     DUM DUM: "Are you threatening me, because if you are..."

     A dark shadow rises up and over DumDum. As he looks upward and sees a set of very large, very sharp teeth attached to a dragon's head, which is in turn attached to a large winged, definitely reptilian body. Then an angry female voice slips out of the head and DumDum's spine withers and tries to crawl away.

    Vilok: "Refer to my Rider once more as a victim and you will find out first hand what it feels like to be one, as my teeth shred you apart and I toss your broken halves in different directions. Now do you have anything further to say?"

    DumDum shakes his head violently from side to side.

    Vilok: "Good, I am glad we understand each other then."

    Just then Brick walks out of the interior shadows.

    Brick looks toward 'V', "So it seems the stories I have heard concerning you are true."

    V: "What stories are those?"

    Brick: "That you have stepped way up in the world, that now not only have you escaped Arasaka's best at Konpecki Plaza, but you thumbed your nose at President Myers and escaped from her at the NCX Spaceport. Also I am curious if you had anything to do with the demise of Colonel Hansen in Dogtown and with someone bloodying the noses of the Voodoo Boys? If you did do the Voodoo Boys, that is a story I would love to hear."

    V: "Yeah, you and half of Night City, but to answer your question, yes, I am guilty on both accounts."

    Brick: "I thought so, you impressed me a great deal when you shot Royce like you did, and then proceeded to cut his goons down to size, not to mention saving my ass like you did. You did not have to and I am very glad you did. Also, did you get what you needed from Beth Isis?"

    V: "Yes, I did. More than I anticipated, but very much worth the trouble to get her."

    Brick: "Well, I am glad someone got something worthwhile out of her. Come on in, I want to hear what you have to say. Don't worry about your safety, after the word spreads of DumDum's little escapade here, there is not a soul inside that wants to cross you. I do want to express my appreciation for how many of mine you have 'not' killed. I know they can be boisterous at times and go too far. I keep telling them that they need to tone it down a bit but some never learn. The rest had their eyes opened when I told them how many you could have killed but let them live with a headache and sore muscles instead. Not to mention how much better we have come out of it than the other gangs  have."

     'V', Iriisii, Olaf, and Vilok follow Brick through the maze of corridors, rooms, stairs until they come to a large conference room, largely unused in recent times due to a layer of dust on everything.

     Brick: "You have to excuse the shape of the place, its the maid's day off."

     Iriisii looks at Brick and grins as she makes a gesture at the dust everywhere. A breeze blows in from the hallway they came in from and somehow picks up the dust from every surface and carries it out.

     Brick: "You don't do windows do you?"

     V: "Brick, don't push it, just be glad she decided to take care of the dust, in a civilized manner."

     Brick: "I am, believe me, I am. Now get comfortable and you can begin by telling me what all the hoopla is about."

     'V' takes her time but covers everything in good detail. Brick may be the leader of Maelstrom, riding herd over a bunch of lunatic cyborgs, but he is not stupid. He has survived and kept Maelstrom going against the Corps, City Government, other gangs, Millitech, and Netwatch. He listens with an avid ear, piecing together the parts of her story, with what he already knows from other sources. Drawing lines between news items, connecting dots between individuals mentioned, he puts together a framework of what is happening and who is responsible.

     Brick: "This is much deeper than what people think, even the ones supposedly in charge of things. You however have more than one finger on the pulse of what is going on. Dexter Deshawn had no idea of who he hired when he asked you to steal the 'Relic' for him. And Militech is still smarting from all of their plans that you have managed to turn to your advantage. Accepting the cred chip from their agent and then dealing with Royce to get the bot 'your way', afterward breaking the 'ice' on the money and claiming it for your own, really nice touch. 

     I had no idea the Voodoo Boys were as deep into what was going on around Dogtown as they were, but I expected they were out for themselves and screw everybody else. You did what was right concerning them. They tried to use you and then off you, not once but twice. They did not learn the first time, so they got what they deserved.

     What really surprises me is Myers place in all of this. She should have known better from the start how it was going to go if she got involved. One Corpo War is not enough for her? Then I say we give her another one, our kind of war. If enough time can be bought to prepare, we can pull the whole carpet out from under her. And the fall for her will be an especially long one. I would say that you have surprised a great many people in, around, and outside of Night City. Your name is now known in many areas of the world, from the underworld depths to the shining tower offices. But they will not see you coming. That is where you have a hidden talent."

     V: "Thank you, but what is it you specifically want with all that I just told you of."

     Brick: "I want in, of course. The way I see it, you are going to change the landscape of business, not just in Night City, but everywhere else as well. If we are to survive, we need to be 'in' with the winning team. What you have done so far is a hell of a lot more than nearly all of those 'Legends' both dead and alive at the Afterlife have done in all of the years since before 'Silverhand' got up and started yelling about it wherever he could get someone to stand still long enough to hear anything he had to say. He was dead right about Arasaka. A more deadly snake in the grass you will not find anywhere."

     V: "I came to wonder why you were willing to sell that bot to Dex. It was because you somehow knew he was going to use it against Arasaka."

     Brick: "Indeed. I just did not anticipate how everything was going to go down. Royce damn near screwed the whole thing with his half-assed takeover."

     V: "His first and last mistake was letting you live. Had he not done that, things would likely have turned out differently, in some ways at least. But you are here and he is dust, how do you see you and yours fitting in?"

     Brick: "We do have ways of moving goods into areas even the nomads will not go or touch. That is fine for us, we will then have no overlap or competition. Most see us as a bunch of chromed out court jesters performing for our betters, surviving off of scraps they throw to us. They will never see us coming, and will never know what hit them."

     V then takes a chance with Brick and hands him a copy of their new BD offering.

     Brick: "What is this?"

     V: "The first in a string of products our new corp is going to market to the masses. We start small, start slow, build our momentum until we are ready for the MegaCorps to see the shadow of our wave coming for them. This is to give us the means to begin to reach the common people, the masses out there just trying to live in the shadows of the Corps and the gangs. We want to begin to give them something better that what they have gotten in the past, something to gently shake them awake, let them know there is someone new out here, willing to give them what they want, for a price they can afford. This is a BD of a wholly new generation, a new kind of encoding, something never before tried. I know it works because I worked with the person who developed it. I have experienced it first hand, hell, I am in it, one of the two main stars of this."

     Brick: "You are in this? This I have to see. Please excuse me, make yourselves at home while I see what you have made."

     Brick sits back, inserts the shard into an offset port of the chrome that is a part of his head. The 'eyes' dim down as he begins to be drawn into the BD.

     Vilok: "What is this about that you are in it?"

     V: "I will let you see it later, much better to experience it than try to explain it with words."

     Vilok: "Very well."

     V rises and goes to the 'bar' along one wall. Looking over what is still there, she spies what she was hoping to find.

     V: "Tequila anyone, it is Centzon. The only kind I will drink. Olaf indicates he will, so Vilok asks for one. Iriisii politely declines and so 'V' pours three drinks then delivers them.

     V: "Here you go."

     She takes hers and goes back to her seat, sits, then sniffs her drink before sipping it. At the first sip she leans her head back, lets the Tequila slowly work its way down her throat and splashes into her stomach. As the vapors come back up and cradle themselves around her olfactory nerve bundles, she lets the returning memories come out and play themselves across her awareness.