Phoenix Rising Reprise 5

     'V', "Mayor Peralez, I officially accept your offer to be your Security Chief of Operations. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I feel that we can do it." Jefferson, "What is going to be first on your agenda Chief?" 'V', "There is going to be several things that we need to tackle if we are going to secure your and Elizabeth's safety going forward. Our enemies will not stop, this was a minor setback for them. But right now, I will take any victory that we can get to start the momentum going. I do have some plans for the NCPD. If we can cull out the crooked ones, I can get temporary people to fill in the numbers until we can get properly vetted and trained people. Once the NCPD is what it was intended to be, it will be a lot easier." Jefferson, "There is no way to keep the new ones from turning unless we can pay them what they need to live on. I have tried to find the money to do it, but as soon as I think I have it..." 'V', "It vanishes into thin air or rather into someone's offshore bank account." Jefferson, "You see the problem then." 'V', "Sorry to say I do. But I will ask my team mates to look into it. That much money will leave a trail, no matter how much they try to hide it, it leaves tracks if you know what to look for. And my people are working up a plan for us to begin work on. When we are ready to announce it, we will be throwing down the gauntlet to the Big Corps. but for now we will be working on the little steps. The first one is to buy the 'Fourth Wall Studios'. Jefferson looks quizzically, "What would you want with a BD studio?" 'V' grins 'ear to ear', We have developed the prototype of a new BD encoding protocol. It lets us scroll two emotive tracks at the same time, from two different actors. That is so that the viewer can switch back and forth across either actor's viewpoint. Essentially the story is told from two angles instead of one. If done right, with the right writing, and editing, Well, you have to experience it to believe what can be done. And we have the only gear capable of doing this. If you want to sample it, Judy and I did a short trial with it. We went out to Laguna Beach and went diving. Swam around the submerged town, explored, while she told me of her memories of her life there. Sounds ordinary, I know, but we experienced some surprises that the scrolling caught. I was able to hear some of her memories, and she heard some of my own. Down there, it was a surreal experience."

     Jefferson, "You have interested me in this. What have you got that you want the 'Fourth Wall' for?" 'V', "Have you seen their BD of Stephenson?"  Jefferson, "You mean the one where he was 'crucified' instead of the 'chair'?" 'V', Yeah that one, I was the one who 'nailed' him to that cross. And he asked me to do it." Jefferson, "Wait!? He asked you to nail him to that cross?" 'V', "Yes." Jefferson, "But why? I mean, there was no way you could have established any kind of rapport for something like that." 'V', "I still don't understand how or why it happened. I had only met him the day before, I had been hired to kill him by the husband of one of his victims. Somehow they had come into the thought that he might walk and escape justice. The husband insisted on coming with me. When  we cornered the van against a big truck sitting across the road, the client started raving about how he wanted to kill Stephenson." Jefferson, "But you did not fire a shot did you?" 'V', No, I did not. The NCPD officer shouted to drop weapons, I put mine away and raised my arms. The client kept approaching and the officer shot him. Stephenson rushed out and asked me to come with him. Put some pressure on the studio rep and to be honest, I was curious as to why he asked me to accompany him. Jefferson, "Why did he?" 'V', "Honestly, I still don't know. Not the first time I have been pulled into something I had no idea why. You have to understand, the people around him thought he was believing himself to be some kind of messiah, because he wanted to be crucified and have it scrolled on a BD for the world to see." Jefferson, "And you did not see him that way?" 'V', "In my childhood, Mom took me with her to Synagogue, But after she passed, I drifted away following the streets instead. He touched that buried part of me, woke it up. He never claimed to be a messiah, and I understood that, As the true messiah had one who came before him, to prepare the way. He saw himself as another who was to show the world that the path was still there, open to anyone to find and walk it to the end as he did in prison and found the 'one' at the end of it. I came to realize he was a true rebel, a revolutionary. He had a message that he wanted the whole world to see and experience. So when the Studio came to him and made their offer, he said 'yes'.

     Just before, he was having doubts, he kept asking the Studio to call me and ask me to come and talk with him. Finally they did, and I...somehow felt pulled to go to him and help him find his path once more. I sat in front of him and listened  to him, then talked things out with him. I do not remember what I said, except for one thing, a part of a prayer my mother taught me." Jefferson softly, "Would you recite it for me?" 'V' begins softly, reverently reciting the Amidah.

     "Pardon us our Father for we have sinned against Thee.

      Forgive us our King for we have transgressed;

      for You are a good and forgiving God.

      Blessed are You Lord, gracious One who pardons abundantly.

      O behold our affliction and wage our battle;

      redeem us speedily for the sake of Your Name,

      for you God are the mighty redeemer.

      Blessed are You, Lord, Redeemer of Israel".

     As she finishes, the silence lingers, as a sense of peace comes over her. And she knows that Joshua has walked his path, and now it was time for 'V' to walk hers. 'V', "It is a prayer for redemption, for the gift of final grace. A gift none of us can ever deserve, but is held out to us to accept if we will but take it. He found the 'gift' that was his to accept, and he took it. Now it is up to me to find and accept mine. But my path is not his, I do not know when I will reach the end of mine, but I do not think it will be anytime soon." Jefferson, "What was going through your mind as you drove the nails?" 'V', "I was asking myself why I did not turn and walk away. But then I truly understood what he was trying to do. And all I could do was to help him deliver his message to the world. and hope that one day the world comes to understand his message as I do. All of this is going to be in my track on the new BD. The people have seen his side, his thoughts, his feelings. Now they will be able to see mine, as I talked with him, prayed with him, then nailed him to that cross, and stood by him until he passed that he would not be alone in that final moment." Jefferson, "I cannot say that I understand why you did it. But I do know the strength that it took to do what you did. As we go forward, I will stand beside you, and together we will see this through to the end. But I have to ask, what brought this all about for him and for you?" 'V', "He said he found 'God' while in prison. I do not know truth of that, but he was touched by a higher power, of that I am certain." Jefferson, "You believe in higher powers then?" 'V', "There have been times, so many times in the past I have wondered about that question, and many times in the present. But now I have to say, yes, I do believe." Jefferson, "Was it because of your mother taking you to Synagogue in your youth?" 'V', "No, although her doing that planted the seed. No, his conversion came about in prison, mine happened... in a totally, completely different manner.

     You remember what happened out at the spaceport?" Jefferson, "Yes, I do, although I do not believe what the news media said happened." 'V', "Later, I will tell you the whole story, for I was there, right smack in the middle of it all. But my other output, So Mi, was with me. I was trying to get her onto a lunar shuttle that she had made arrangements for. Jefferson...she was dying. Dying, inch by horrible inch... a horrible inch at a time, and I was watching it progress, praying I could get her to that shuttle in time. It was not looking good, because NUSA President Myers was hunting us. We had information that would destroy her in the eyes of the rest of the world, and she could not take the chance we would not either blackmail her with it, or just reveal it." Jefferson, "I do not believe you would do that 'V', not blackmail, and I know the strength of your convictions, you would not reveal it unless you felt it was the right thing to do." 'V', "Thank you for that, it helps, believe me it helps. We reached the shuttle command terminal, when she sent troops to stop us." Jefferson's voice rises in anger, "She sent troops into the NCX Spaceport!? That is a direct violation of international law! The Spaceport is neutral, for all nations to use without fear." 'V', "Now you get a glimpse into just how dangerous the knowledge we have of her is." Jefferson considers his response then, "For now, unless you think it necessary, keep it to yourself. But I would suggest that you put a copy of it all in a 'Deadman's Drop', so if something happens, it is not lost and it can find its way out if Myers succeeds." 'V', Already done, and it is in a place she and none of hers can touch." Jefferson, "Good, then make sure even I do not know where. Then in the worst case, If I do not know, I cannot divulge its whereabouts."

     'V', "Where was I? Oh, yes, the shuttle terminal and Myer's troops. I had So Mi lock herself inside the control tower, while I went outside and dealt with the troops. Earlier over the preceding six months or so,  I had been secretly training in a place I found out in the 'badlands'. Once on a job, I had to go to the 'Temple' outside the city, up in the hills. It seems that the Tyger Claw bosses were using it for planning meetings. I was asked to plant a 'listening device' where those meetings could be overheard. I also found a set of ancient scrolls that described how a historical warrior trained himself to become one of the first 'Legends'. His name was lost long ago, purged because the rulers of the region where he lived, fought, and died, did not want anyone to take up where he left off. I began training myself according to what he wrote down. Those skills allowed me to take on the first waves and decimate them. It was when she sent in an Assault Helicopter, that I had to retreat back to the tower. Faced with that, I thought it was over for the both of us. But So Mi had another idea tucked away. A last ditch chance, to 'call' for help." Jefferson, "Call who?" 'V', 'She truly did not know. She had heard of it through rumors told to her by a AI named Erebus." Jefferson, "An AI ?! You are certain? But why...now I see the connection, go on, I will not ask more about it." 'V', She was not strong enough to do it on her own, so I jacked into her neurolink and became a proxy for her, lending her my strength. It was enough to make the breach and go outward. I cannot describe what we saw, what we experienced on our mental journey, but we were answered. We did not have the power to reach wherever she was that answered us, so she brought us to herself."

     'V' goes silent for a few seconds remembering that experience. "Jefferson, "It was that intense?" 'V', "You have no idea. There are no words in any of our languages to describe what we saw, what we felt. She did not speak to us in words, or even thoughts, but she spoke in the 'chiming' of the crystalline leaves that was composed of. She had the form of a tremendous 'Weeping Willow' tree made totally of crystal. But you could 'feel' the power, the intelligence, that surrounded her. That was when I first really began to believe in a 'Higher Power'. When I was 'face to face' with one, after having called out for help in desperation." Jefferson, "Amazing! So this 'Crystal Tree' is what is helping you now." 'V', "No, she is but a 'watcher', one who looks out for situations like ours, and sends it on to another greater than she is. She also told us that she felt the 'touch' of one of those she referred to as 'one of the Greater Ones, perhaps even one of the wandering Gods Of Eld' who for whatever reason guided us to where she could hear our plea. If not for that, we would likely have been destroyed or consumed by some that also live in the vastness of the void. We allowed her into our minds, to read the story of 'who' we were, and 'what' drove us to cast our 'plea for help' into the utter unknown. She understood us immediately and said she knew of one that would help us. For she had helped her in her deep past youth, and gave unto her the form she now has. Then she sent us back with the promise that 'help' would come. And she was true to her word. The one who came to help us is a true Goddess, of incredible power and knowledge. And before you ask of why everything has not been changed. she explained to me why that cannot be done. Not because she does not have the power, for she does. But the cost of using that power for that purpose violates what she calls, the 'Great Balance'.

     She explained to me what it was, more a 'Way of Life' than anything else. But one with the power of rules and laws that bind those of power. So that the power given is not abused. Some will ignore those laws anyway, those she hunts and brings judgment to them. Whether they serve 'Good' or 'Evil', as long as they observe the 'rules', they are allowed to do as they will, for each will balance the other, and so all who live within Existence will thrive, grow, mature, and become what it is possible for them to become. She is now with us, here in Night City. And is helping me craft solutions to those problems facing us. For the answers to our problems to last and truly help us. They have to come from us. And so she has come to show us how to create the path that will lead us forward. What she has already showed me, is mind-blowing, and this is but the beginning."

     Jefferson, "Where are you going to start then?" 'V', "With the NCPD. Without cleaning the ranks of the corruption, we risk everything that comes after. They are the foundation of what Night City can become. What Richard Night envisioned when he began Night City. It will not be easy, but the pieces are here to put into place. The pain will be temporary, and once the NCPD has healed, the real work will begin. I thought first to make my declaration through the media, now after some reflection, I think going straight to the department is the best way. I have evidence enough to indict at least half the force. But dragging all of them and the already damaged reputation of the department through an ocean of mud, will do more harm than good. I will face the department and tell them what is about to happen. Give those who are corrupt a chance to leave, quietly, no threats, no rants, and no media hounds slavering for their flesh. I will use my partner's people to fill out the ranks on a temporary basis, until we can recruit, vet, and train replacements. To keep the corruption from getting a hold in there again, we must make changes to the pay and benefits. It must be balanced against the job they do, the dangers they face. I can see that their uniforms are armored to help keep them alive when the bullets and grenades start flying. Review the training they are given to see if we can add or change anything to help them do their jobs in a manner that the people will see and respect them again.

     The gangs are going to be a large part of the problem, but I am going to start with them one at a time. They can either toe the line or they can pack up and go somewhere else, if they decide to stay and fight, well then the kid gloves come off and it will be 'open season' on them. They will not hesitate to shoot anyone who crosses their path, even looks at them oddly, or for no other reason but they want to hurt and kill someone. That will no longer be tolerated, and will be met with equal force. As long as our hands are tied behind us by the courts we will lose. We will lose officers, citizens, children. We will lose their confidence, their respect, their belief, their cooperation. And the dream of what could be will die before it can get started." Jefferson, "How can we do this, bypass the courts, get out there and fight back for this city?" 'V', We start by declaring 'martial law'. The people want to know when they can go out of their homes and not catch a bullet to the head. Take their families to a park and not have to conceal carry, drive to the local market and not worry about a gangbang drive-by shooting. Nothing else that has been done has worked, it is time to do something different. Three thousand plus murders in a year is far too many, it is time to do something about it. I know what the media will say, that I contributed to those three thousand murders by my actions as a merc. To an extent they are right,  and also very, very wrong."

     Jefferson, "How are they wrong? I  am not placing any blame on you. I want to back you up, when they start accusing you." 'V', "You can put it this way, I had encounters with over five thousand gangers and others last year, I killed two hundred-twenty-three in that same year. And everyone of them was shooting at me, and had dead citizens and cops bodies at their feet. Tell them they can step into my shoes any day they want to and see what I fight for. Regina can vouch for this, she had me investigate twenty seven cyberpsycho events last year. I was able to take all of them down without killing them. They are all in some kind of tailored treatment, to see what can be learned. And maybe find out what causes it, a cure, or an effective treatment, anything but a bullet to the brain." Jefferson's voice reflects his awe at her accomplishment. "I knew things were bad in this city, but I had no idea it was that bad." 'V', "It is. I know because I grew up in the streets. I became a merc to try and do something about it, because no one else could do anything effective. I made a dent in it, my reputation has grown such that some gangers will pack up and disappear if they recognize me. But others, dumb-asses, try to take me to rocket their rep up into the stratosphere. Their reps are buried with them in the landfills, the crematoriums, scav haunts. Others, I have no idea where they are. I think the rats came up out of the sewers and dragged them away." Jefferson looks at the seriousness on her face and realizes she is not joking about the rats.

    A few days later, Judy, "You are still going to do this?" 'V', "Yes, I have to, everything has to start with this step, and I believe this is how it must be done." Judy, "River!, Tell her she is wrong, they will not let her get away with doing this!" River, "I know, Judy, but she is right in that the NCPD is crucial as the foundation for everything else to work. If that foundation is weak, as weak and ineffectual as the NCPD is right now, her plans will come tumbling down like a house of cards in a sandstorm. But I know the NCPD, if she shows her strength, and not a single iota of weakness. Channel her resolve as a merc, into being the Chief of Security Operations of Night City, she can pull this off. The good ones will stay, and become the core of a new NCPD. One that she can build upon and will stand with her as she leads this place into truly being the City of Dreams. When she does this, and everything comes into play, after the dust settles. Not only the mercs of the Afterlife, but the entire city will see her as a Legend, no, their Legend, the one that changed not just the face, but the whole of Night City. Took the dream that Richard Night had for it and made it reality. A lot of people have died up until now, good people and bad. And more will as this unfolds, but if she, no, ...when she pulls this off, those lives lost will not have been wasted, will not have been for nothing."

     Judy, "I still don't like it, but I can see your point," looking toward 'V', "just be careful, alright? I do not know what I will do if I lose you now." 'V', "You know what it is like out there, but I have not survived everything till now just to cash it in just when things are looking up. Besides, this is about dealing with those circumstances out there where anyone stepping outside is taking their life in their hands by doing so. The people want better, deserve better, and I am going to give it to them." Judy, "All I ask is that you come home to me and So Mi at the end of the day, alive and on your own two feet. 'V' wraps her arms around Judy and holds her tight, whispering, "I will, believe me, I will. There is no way in this world that I would disappoint you and So Mi." From the next room where So Mi and Brendan are working on a project, "I heard that!, You had better not disappoint either of us if you know what is good for you!" 'V' faces the room So Mi is in, "I love you too, and be careful when the two of you are cruising Cyberspace, it is going to get really hairy in there soon." So Mi, "I know, that is why we have built several layers of distraction between me and Cyberspace. If anything disturbs it, it automatically kicks me out." 'V', "Good, now I have to be going. Keep an eye and ear out for the media getting wind of this. If anything pops up let me know, I do not want to be blindsided on this." So Mi, "Will do, just make sure you leave your shoes outside when you come in. After all the smelly stuff that is going to be shoveled around, I do not want it to be tracked in." 'V' and Judy chuckle, then 'V' replies, "Not a problem." So Mi, "Judy! Give her a 'bye' kiss for me if you would." Judy, "Count on it, anytime."

     Jefferson arranged for 'V' to meet with the NCPD in a small auditorium adjacent to City Hall for large meetings, press conferences, things of that nature. 'V' is sitting at a table on the dais facing the seats as the officers start to filter in. The regular cops seat themselves on one side, the 'upper crust' sits on the opposite side, while Max Tac gathers behind the regular cops but separated by a few rows. When 'V' gets a 'heads up' that everyone in inside, she sends a signal to close the doors. As the doors are shut, she stands and walks to a podium and mic, next to the table. Pulling her back straight, looking out at the semi-hostile crowd, she starts out serious and no-nonsense.

     'V', "For anyone not in the know, I am Mayor Peralez' new Chief of Security Operations. Which means I have purview over practically every department in City Hall. I report directly to the Mayor, no one else. So if you have a problem with what I am going to say, take it up with him. Now to business." A hand over in the 'upper crust' rises up. 'V' knows it is one of the assistants to the assistant of the Assistant Police Chief, one Carter DeVries by name. 'V', "Yes?" Carter, "If we are all in here, who is minding the store?" 'V', "I called all the gang bosses, drug lords, war lords and told them to take the day off. Don't worry about it, it is being handled." 'V' looks at her list of names, finding his on page three.  She nods her head, 'And, yes, I have your name on my list." Carter, "May I ask what list that is for?" 'V', 'Don't worry, you will find out soon enough, now please sit." He sits back down and 'V' gets started.

     'V', "I have been living and working, like the rest of you, out in those streets all of my life. The situation out there is beyond deplorable, it is a disaster. And sorry to say it starts here." Several individuals jump to their feet, shouting all kinds of derogatory comments toward 'V'. 'V', almost shouts into the mic, "Sit your asses down! Now! You know I am telling the truth. It is apparent to everyone in here and out there. It is past time that it stops, and since I am the one whose lap this has landed in, and I have the guts to do what is necessary to get this started. Listen and listen good. I am doing this here, now, to your faces. I am not feeding this to the media. If I have my say they will not hear a damn word of what is going to be said in here. The level of corruption in this department has gone on for far too long. And yes, I know exactly what I am speaking about. You see the box of \shards' on that table? Yeah, some of you now realize what that means. In my previous career, I came across all of these 'shards', and they have one thing in common. They detail the almost complete corruption that is infesting this police department. There are names, voices, instructions, of just about every crime imaginable. I guess when you sent out your instructions you did not know that the gangs, etc., were recording you. And now they are in my hands. Now the question I see in your faces is what does she want? Well, you are about to find out.

     First each of you whose names are mentioned on these shards, you know who you are, I know who you are. And I do not care if you are a lowly beat cop, or the Chief of Police. You will pack your things and leave the force, today. Do this and nothing will get leaked, at least not by me. It is bad enough the under the table dealing that is detailed on those shards. But when people in positions of responsibility, use the gangs to 'off' your own, simply because they were trying to do their jobs and getting too close to uncovering your own dirty deeds. That is the utter height of hypocrisy. Of course if you like I could broadcast a few over the speakers, but somehow if I did, I do not think you would get out of here alive. Despite some peoples opinions, I am not eager to see this being discussed on the N54 news. Which is why we are here, right now, talking about this. And before you start throwing up about my previous employment of being a merc, remember I have never shot at a cop, much less killed one. I have even gone on jobs that you could not, because it was too dangerous. You were out gunned, and out numbered. I do not want to see the names on my list go to prison. Why, the rest of you not involved ask? Because sending them to prison is tantamount to a death sentence, and a very nasty one at that. Then you have to deal with all the fallout of what they did, falling on the department as a whole, not just some bad apples. So I am giving all of you involved in the dirty dealings to leave, today. Go away, far away, I do not care where, just get out of Night City. Then we who are left will begin to rebuild this department, to make it what Richard Night dreamed of it being when he started Night City. So what did he want? He knew it had to be what stood between the regular people and the criminal elements. He wanted a city everyone who lived in it would be proud to call it theirs. Because folks, we need that now more than ever before if we are to survive what is coming.

     Before I go into that, those whose names I have written down. As I said, you know who you are as I do, you can get up and leave. No one else is to stop them. Take the side door on that side." Everyone turns to see who is looking in what direction. 'V', "I meant what I said about leaving. You do not want to be escorted out of this building. And if you think I do not have the 'balls' to do it?" 'V' looks off to the side, hidden in the shadows of the curtains. "Olaf, will you come and bring your people." Olaf silently pads out and moves to where 'V' is standing. He has ten others, all Black Dragon Elites that he has personally trained. And as she looks out over the cops, she sees that even Max Tac is taking notice of them. 'V', "This is Olaf Trevorson, you will have never heard of him. He is that good. Like me, he was once a merc, one of a very highly trained group of three. His callsign was 'Psycho', and he lived up to that callsign. I can tell you of this because there are absolutely no records of him or anything he did in existence. He met someone, someone who saw inside of him. Saw what he could become, with the right teacher, and no, I am not that teacher. He gave himself over to that teacher, and you see what he has become in the course of his training. The ones standing with him are ones he has personally trained. 'V' nods her head to Olaf, who gestures to one of his men, That one moves to the side door of the auditorium closest to the 'upper crust' and opens it , then stands next to it. 'V', "Gentlemen, the door is open and awaits you, do not let it hit your asses as you go out."

     Once the ones who realized she meant business, stood up and walked out. They came out of both main groups, only Max Tac had no one to stand and leave. As River's old partner walked by her, he hesitated as if he wanted to ask a question. 'V', "You want to know if there is a chance of redemption?" Harold Han nods his head, unable to make himself speak after the way he spoke of her at their first meeting. 'V' looks hard at him, just as he went to turn for the open door, "If it was up to me, you would be going out that door. And no, River has not said one word to me about this. Rather one who I am partnering with to bring this all about. She tells me that I need to learn that redemption is possible to all if they truly seek it. The road to redemption is not an easy one. It will cost you, not 'eddies', and not your life, although before it is over you may wish you had died. Your first task is to walk out that door, go home, and tell your family what you have done for all these years. Listen to what they have to say about it, then search your soul to find if you can continue. If you can, come back here tomorrow, take a seat and wait until someone comes for you. Harold nods his head, still silent, turns and walks out the door. River comes up to her, "You are sure about this?" 'V', "If he shows up tomorrow, yes. It is going to take every iota of strength he has to survive this night. He is going to want to 'eat a bullet' so bad that the taste of lead will be with him for some time. But if he truly cares for his family more than for himself, he will survive, and show up. Then we will see how bad he wants redemption." Turning to the ones left, "You all know Harold Han, and you heard what I told him. I spoke the solid truth to him. I did not do it because he was River's old partner. And River had no idea of what I was going to do. If he had not stopped as he went by, I would have washed my hands of him as he went to his fate. As they all now go to their fates."

      A voice says, "And what will be their fate?" 'V', "They now have no job, no money, and will no longer be of use to those who were paying them. I expect some to attempt to be paid to keep their mouths shut about what they have been doing on behalf of their 'shadow bosses'. I do not think they will take it into the kindness of their heart to keeping paying them when it is easier to simply deal with them as they have dealt with others in similar situations. The landfills around here have room for plenty more bodies." Heads everywhere begin to nod in agreement. 'V', "Now to better news. In order to show you what you are worth and for standing by your convictions when you saw what all these others were doing but you held yourselves to a higher standard. Each of you will be seeing a pay raise, a substantial pay raise to reflect the danger you willingly submit yourselves to each day you put on that uniform. And your benefits package will also reflect the same. I have seen far too many dead bodies of your fellow officers, sent to be sacrificial lambs. Until now you have been out-gunned, forced to use substandard implants, denied backup, passed over for promotions. It stops here and now. There are now a whole slate of open jobs, I want to see applications from any of you who might be interested. These jobs will not be 'candy', you will be expected to do what is required and excel at it. But you will be given the tools to do the job. Any new recruits will be thoroughly vetted, and trained. I do not want numbers, I want the best. For now, I am having others of Olaf's 'Black Dragon Elite' assist us with temporarily filling these now open positions. They will not be staying permanently. When their boss is ready to move on, they will be going with her, and they would have it no other way. And just so you know, they do not follow her blindly. She earned their loyalty, fighting their battles on the front lines with them. It was said when she still walked the roads of her home, that she was the most deadly killer to walk those roads. And it was then the Empress of the lands she walked upon that spoke those words."

     The next day, River steps into 'V's office and shuts the door. As 'V' looks up at him, "I heard Han showed up in the sudatorium this morning." 'V', "And you want to know what I told him." River, "He was my old partner, we spent a long time together, so yeah." 'V', "All right, sit." River pulls up a chair. 'V', "I told him flat out what was going to happen. I took his 'Detective' badge and then explained that I was not going to put him on the streets. I was going to partner him with Olaf and that Olaf's opinion of how badly he wants that badge back would be what determines whether he gets it back or not. I fully intend to make use of his skills and knowledge. I let him know that his family is now protected, and that no threats against them will be successful. If anyone tries, I will give him and Oaf the right to hunt  them down and deliver justice. I know, 'Who determines what justice they receive?'. They themselves do by their own actions. The courts are as corrupt as the NCPD was just a few days ago. They will be cleared out as well, but they must be made an example of, so the people know this operation of ours is not a sham, not window dressing. great to look at but no substance. They have to know it is real, and that it is for them that we are doing this. Then they will get behind us, stand with us, and one day soon, feel proud to be a citizen of Night City." River, "Whew, the Mayor may want to watch his backside when it comes reelection time." 'V', Gods forbid that happening. I am happy for him to sit behind that desk. Besides, I am not staying. I will promise you and the kids, I will come out at least once more. But when the time comes, I will be leaving Night City and where I will be going, I am sorry to say, you cannot follow. You are needed here, your sister, Josh, and the little ones, they need you far more than I do. I do wish it could have worked out, I really do. But others far higher than I am have set the course of my feet to tread. The stakes are too high for me to turn aside now." She steps up to River who is now standing, takes his right hand and places it over her heart. "I am not sorry for the path I have to take, but I am sorry for the sadness it brings to you. You will find someone, someone who can be more of what you need than I can. All that I ask is that you remember me kindly. And pray for me when you can." River, "I will, I promise."

     Two days later, she is going over the upgrades to the uniforms, implant shielding, and weapons. She had some of the cops partnered with some of the Black Dragon Elites. So far it is looking really well, the two divergent groups are getting along well and they are having an impact on the streets. Jefferson knocks on the door to her office suite. Jefferson, "I just wanted to drop by and say I am thoroughly impressed with what you doing with the NCPD. I believe you did right with the corrupted officers. Although I have heard that some are preparing lawsuits to get their old jobs back. Do you have a plan to deal with this?" 'V', "Yes sir, I do. I knew that would be the reaction of some of them. We have been tracing their personal movements and money over the last several years. Even taking into account any earnings of their spouses, there is no way their income could allow their lifestyle. We have lined up who was paying each of them and some have already hit paydirt. We have money transfers between gang leaders and Corps. It seems neither side trusted them so they kept records, hidden away with black ice protecting them, but nothing we could not handle. I think the best way to handle this is to fight the first ones to show their hands. Force them to combine into a class action suit, then we bring out the real dirt we have found. Traces that not only bind the corrupt cops to the gangs and Corps, but some of the judges as well. Now if we can get the class action before one of the corrupt judges and unload the dirt..." Jefferson grins from ear to ear, "That is going to blow the lid off this, expose it to the whole city." 'V', "We are going to have to protect that courtroom when we do. There is no way the gangs and especially the Corps are going to allow what we have to get outside. So security is going to have to be paramount, but it cannot be noticeable. We want them to underestimate us, think that we have the upper-hand and that we believe they will not try anything. Then when the attack comes, and fails miserably, we come out smelling like a rose. Our case airtight, the effort to silence us failing, and all we have to do is indirectly point the finger to the ones paying the corrupted cops. It will hurt them but it will not do a lot of damage to them. What it will do is show we are serious about getting to the bottom of it all. We are not just paying lip service, we are taking real action. The purpose is not so much to bring the gangs and Corps down a rung or two, but to propel us a lot higher. Start turning us into a real threat to them instead of a laughing-stock." Jefferson, "I have to say, you have really taken to this job. The office staff is whispering about you like you were the one Stephenson was talking about in that BD." 'V', "Shit, I was hoping no one would try and make that association. But we are almost ready to release the new BD. Hopefully that will put an end to that talk." 'V' sighs heavily, "I could not do what he did. Not in a million years, could I do it. It took strength for him to do it, but my question is where did he get it from? I mean, any man or woman who rises to such a..., I do not know the right word. I only know of one other who possibly could tell me, if I had the guts to ask." Jefferson, "Would they tell you if you asked?" 'V', "Definitely, I sometimes get the feeling she is waiting for me to do just that. and I have no idea what her answer is going to do to me, what direction it will send me, who will I become if I embrace her words?" Jefferson, "Seems like you have already been thinking on it. Just go with what you feel the strongest inside you. You will make it, I have faith in you." 'V', "Thank you sir, that helps, it really does."

     Later that night in the penthouse apartment, after dinner, So Mi and Judy have volunteered to do the dishes, leaving 'V' and Iriisii sitting on the couch. 'V', "You know what is happening to me, don't you?" Iriisii replies with a firm, 'Yes, I know. I also know of a way to deal with it. A way that could empower you to reach farther than you can imagine right now." 'V', "Right now, just staying alive is as far as I can imagine. But first, is this a direct result of playing proxy for So Mi with the Blackwall at the Spaceport?" Iriisii relaxes, "Directly, no. Indirectly, to some extent, yes." 'V', "So why twenty questions?" Iriisii, "If you mean the child's game, it is to see how much you know and to add answers slowly so as not to overwhelm you." 'V', "All right, start from as close to the beginning as you can." Iriisii, "This came from the deep depths of your family tree. I do not know the details of how your 'visitor' became a part of your family's bloodline. But it has been asleep within you since you were born. Your being 'ridden' by the 'Blackwall' is what awakened it. It looked around inside you as it woke and saw what you did with the power the Blackwall gave to you. When the Blackwall left you, the 'visitor' assumed its purpose was to aid you in the same way the Blackwall did."

     'V', "SHIT!, Then how do I get rid of it?" Iriisii, "You don't." 'V' looks at Iriisii in complete disbelief. "Why can I not get rid of it? Surely you have the power to do that?" Iriisii, "Yes, I do, but to do it would destroy you in a way that I could not bring you back. What is in you is not a part of this Existence. I have seen and met others not of this Existence, but what you have? It has been merging itself with you, a bit at a time, for your entire life. The extended time you have lived with the bio-chip in your neck is because of this 'rider' merging with you. The nanites are having a difficult time converting your DNA because of it. The battle between the two will kill you before the nanites can convert your body far enough along that it will no longer support you. The one chance you have is to reach an accommodation with it, and to do that, without being swept away by it when you are able to speak with it. You need training in the 'Way of Balance'." 'V', "What will it do for me to learn this, 'Way of Balance'? Iriisii,  "First you learn how to balance your inner self, you will learn to balance 'good' and 'evil', 'light' and 'dark'. Accepting that both sides are a part of you and should be equal. Once this is done, then you must learn to balance your inner self with your outer actions. When you achieve this, you will undergo 'Satori'.

     Then you can look inside and find the 'visitor', speak with it, understand it, then reach a symbiosis with it. You will need this because when you reach 'Satori', you will touch the power of the Gods. When you touch their power, you see them directly, no shields, no glamor, no fog. And if you are not strong enough, you will lose your mind. But with your 'rider' assisting you, you will be one of the few who not only survive the experience, but can take it within you, let it change you, and so become a Goddess. Doubtless you will be extended invitations to join with one of the Pantheons that have formed over the years. It will be your choice whether you accept one or strike out on your own." 'V', "Did you accept an invitation?" Iriisii, "Yes, I did. I learned I had the 'Blood of Eld' passed down the generations to me. They watched me from afar to see if it would awaken within me. Because of the things I was involved with, it did. And when I needed their help, I called out to them, and they answered me. I inherited the 'blood' of Kthanid, he who was their leader, and when I accepted the 'Calling', I became the first 'Child' of his Line. Now they have elected me to be their Harbinger, someone they come to for answers to their questions, for help, assistance, and advice. I am also their 'Battlemistress', the first to ever be elected." 'V', "You say you are the first Child of this Kthanid, so do you have any 'Children' of your own line?" Iriisii, "As of right now, I have some several hundred, most of which came at the same time and place. The story of how that came to be is quite long and still moving forward of its own volition."

     'V', "But it took you years to learn all that you did, then to put it all together. I do not have that time. Will this not kill me before I can get to where it can help me?" Iriisii, "Ordinarily, yes. That is why we will use a special training facility I have constructed aboard my Krang. It is temporally disconnected from time in this universe." 'V', "You are getting over my head, put it in plain talking, please." Iriisii, "My apologies, I can adjust the time rate in the facility to make it faster or slower than the time rate we are now experiencing." 'V', "So, how much differential are we talking about?" Iriisii, "I would speed it up inside the facility so that we could spend years inside and only a few minutes elapse outside. Also your personal time rate would be frozen, to say, you would not age while inside. The 'Way of Balance' can take years to master, but it is worth the effort." 'V', "If I would be there for years..." Iriisii, "Of course you can bring Judy and So Mi, In fact, I would encourage it. They can partake in any of the training they feel interested in. But we would have to see Johnny placed in his new body first." Johnny hears this and his ears perk up." 'V', "You have the body ready for him?" Iriisii, "I would like for him to see it, and give final approval. Any changes he would like we can do 'on the fly', so to speak." 'V' nods her head, Let's do this then. I need to make sense of it all and I guess this is the only way to do it." Iriisii, "It will take a few days to set up, I will let you know when we are ready. For now just go about your normal routine, take care of what you can. The rest will be much easier once we are done."

     The next day, after 'V' calls it quit for the day. She feels it to be a day worth the effort she put into it. Now she just needs to find a place to put her newest acquisition, a very rare car called a Semimaru. This machine was born to race, to exist in a world of 'speed'. Its history both fractured and sublime. Its first owner, a racer named 'Mint', who ran the race circuits with it. Her father acting as her mechanic, helped develop it into the sleek beast that it is on the streets. But 'V' just wants to sit in peace for now and relax. As she walks into the penthouse and looks for Judy or So Mi, she sees the back outline of a stranger looking out of the glass wall. The evening sun shining through the glass obscures who this stranger is. But as the first, "Hey doll.' floats over the air to her it hits her who this is. 'V', "Rita! How are you?" Rita slowly walks to 'V', casually letting her words flow but hesitantly with a hidden meaning she is scared to let go of. Rita, "You know, doing well enough. Heard from Judy about some of the things going on. You are really working hard to make a difference here. I mean look at you! You have this absolutely gorgeous place to live. I know you have made enough as a merc to easily afford it. But you are not just sitting still and raking in the 'eddies' on your reputation. You are still out there on the streets, your presence is telling the people, 'Here is someone like they are, doing something to change things, make them better. I hear it at 'Lizzie's', you are the main topic of conversation. 'Hell', we have customers asking if there are any BD's of you to rent. We just tell them that you are a private person and have no wish to put yourself into the lineup."

     'V' nods her head, "Damn right. My personal life is just that, personal, not for public consumption. But come over to the couch, sit, and make yourself at home. Tell me what brings you here." Rita, "I am sure Judy has told you the history of Lizzie's..." 'V', "yeah we have talked about it. About where you wanted to take it, about even though it has made some difference, it is not enough and in slowly being consumed by the 'Corporate mentality'." Rita excitedly, "Exactly, you see it too! But 'you' are out there making a difference, doing what we wanted 'Lizzie's' to do." 'V', "You know, I once asked Judy why she did not take over Lizzie's and lead the Mox. She said, 'No, thank you.'." Rita, "I bet she was a bit more flowery in what she said." 'V', "You know her well, she said she was not a 'people person' and did not want to step foot in that world. Truth be told, I could not blame her. I love who she is now, and I do not want her to change. I want her to grow, yes, but on her terms, in whatever direction she wants to go. You have seen it grow between us, we needed each other in our 'bad' times. Each of us helping to keep the other together." Rita, "I know, when she lost Evie, I thought she had hit rock bottom with no where else to go. But she bounced back and it was because of you. You were there for her, supported her, helped her rebuild. And if she was headed for a 'cliff', you turned her around and gently showed her why. Let her know you were not judging her. You know, I never got the chance to thank you for showing up at the 'rave' in Pacifica. It meant a lot to me after some of the 'stunts' I pulled." 'V', "It is fine, Rita. I enjoyed it a lot, I really like the music, and just sitting, looking out over night on the ocean, the beat of the tunes vibrating my bones. I still remember when you got on the table and danced." Rita, "Yeah, and then you got up there with me, had a crowd around us before we were done. I heard the DJ even mentioned it on the radio." 'V', "Damn, no wonder Judy went around for days grinning at me, would never say why, just broke out into a grin."

     Rita, "Yeah, that is Judy all right. She gave me a real earful about some of the things I pulled, but I had it coming." 'V', "You care about them, all of them. But I know the only way you can show it is by being the 'bouncer'. Doing what you can to protect them." Rita, "Too bad I could not protect Evie." 'V', "I know, the risks she took. Even as I understand why she did it. I cannot help but wonder if she could have chosen a different path what she might have done with herself." Rita, "Under other circumstances, I would agree. But this is 'Night City. The place where our 'Dreams' become our 'Nightmares'." 'V', "And that is something I intend to change. It will not be easy or quick, but it can be done." Rita, "But how? The Corps practically control everything. Even..." 'V', You mean to say... even 'Lizzie's', don't you." Rita, "Yeah, Suzie says we are going under financially. Right now, we are barely holding on, but it will not last." 'V', So you came hoping there might be something I or we could do?" Rita, "Yeah, I had no idea you had a place like this." 'V', "Actually, I have a lot more, and plans to use it to leverage projects that will bring in even more. But there can be a place for Lizzie's in those plans. And not way down the road either, but real soon." Rita looks up excitedly, "Really! What can you do?" "'V', "Let me show you something." 'V' goes to a locked cabinet, unlocks and opens, pulls out the 'Braindance wreath that she got from Lizzy Whizzy at the Black Sapphire in Dogtown. Inserts a braindance shard in it and brings it to Rita. Rita, "Wow! Isn't that..." 'V', Yeah, the one she premiered at the show in Dogtown. I have a copy of the performance she gave but this one is something different. I want you to tell me what this does to you. And it is not porn."

     Rita takes it gently in her hands, then puts it on. As it activates, she is drawn into the story of the dive at Laguna Bend. About a half hour later, she carefully takes it off and sets it down on the low table in front of the couch. Rita, "That... thank you, for showing that to me." She rises and begins to make her way to the door, "I will be seeing you later." Even as tears of pain and despair start running down her face.

She only gets a few feet from the door when a hand reaches out and stops her. 'V', Rita, don't go." Rita, "It is all right, I see how much you mean to each other. I could never..." 'V', "How do you know if you do not try." Rita turns to 'V', "You mean..." 'V', "It means I want you to try." Rita, "You mean that? But what about Judy?" 'V', "Do you think she does not know already? You made it in here without any problems and I had no knowledge you were coming. Some one shut down the defenses to let you in without mishap." Rita, "You mean it was Judy?" 'V', "You did not see anyone else did you?" Rita, "No, but then where is she?" 'V', "She told me she was going to Lizzie's to do some more work and I would be alone." "She trusts you a lot." "V', "She trusts me to do what I think and feel is the right thing. Not just for me, or her, but for all of us." Rita, "All of you?" 'V', "You will find out, if you will stay? Come on out to the pool with me. It is very beautiful laying about out there and looking up at the stars. But we have just one rule about the pool." Rita:, "What is it?" 'V' grins, "Clothing is optional." Rita grins in turn, "Lets go!"

     'V' and Rita are both naked in the swimming pool, splashing each other. swinging their arms on the surface to create waves. Laughing and shouting, plainly having fun like two little kids. Judy and So Mi stand up on the upper level of the apartment looking out the smaller wall window, interior room lights turned off so they will not be noticed. "Judy sighs, "She is good for her, I have not seen her like this in a long time." So Mi, "Rita?" Judy, "Actually, both of them. 'V' is finally just letting go, enjoying life again, for a little while forgetting the responsibilities and the dangers out there. She has so needed this. And Rita, she is so worried about Lizzie's being bought out by a Corp, and everyone being turned out. Also I know she has dreamed of doing something like this with 'V', practically ever since she first saw her." So Mi, "Why didn't she?" Judy, "'V' only ever came around for anything but business, and Rita was always on the door. We had a 'girls only' party a while back. 'V' let us use her apartment in the 'Glen' for it. Rita got so drunk, she got up on a table and started dancing, then she reached out to 'V' to join her and I thought 'V' would die from embarrassment. Then the others started egging her on, she still would not do it until I said it was ok. I swear, I had never seen 'V' dance before, and I still do not understand why she does not do it more often. Rita changed her speed and movements to complement 'V' and I started wishing I had thought to bring a scroller with me to record anything like that happening." So Mi, "That bad, huh? Or that good?" Judy, "No, you misunderstand, that 'HOT'! They were not doing anything but dancing to each other, but the 'vibes' coming off of them! I have seen professional XBD's that were not nearly as hot as they were that night. And like I said they were just dancing, not even trying to arouse each other." So Mi, "Did they do anything later?" Judy, "No , Rita passed out soon after. 'V' made a bed for her on the couch, and took me with her up to the bed on the loft. And I will never, ever forget what she did to me that night. The alcohol and the dancing must have caused her to shed her deeper inhibitions, because some of the things she did..." So Mi, "Dare I ask what?" Judy, "Later, after I get my courage up." So Mi, "Oh, those kinds of things." Judy, "No, not at all! It was like I was the total focus of her attention, nothing else diverted her for even a split second. She played with my body like it was a grandmaster's violin. I totally lost count of the number of times I orgasmed. By the time she collapsed into sleep, it was several minutes before I could move. I just pulled the blanket up over us and snuggled up against her. I felt her arm come over me and I fell asleep." So Mi, "Did she remember anything when she woke up?" Judy, "Not really, She remembered dancing with Rita, but nothing, no, that is not right, she knew we made love afterward, but she could not remember the details. To her it was a dreamy haze."