Phoenix Rising Reprise 6

     The next morning, So Mi and Judy rose first and started the morning routine. Judy gave Brendan the breakfast menu and he oversaw the automated kitchen. So Mi looked over the overnight reports and sorted them for 'V' to read after she woke. So Mi, "There is nothing in the reports that is urgent so I suggest letting them sleep in." Judy replies, "Good, they will likely need it as late as they were up last night." A rustle is heard from 'V's bedroom and they wait to see what happens  and who is waking. They hear no screams or shouts, and see a disheveled Rita, clutching her clothes to her body and tiptoeing out, until she sees Judy and So Mi. Tears start to run down her cheeks as she starts trying to apologize and stumbles over her words. Judy rescues her, "Had a wonderful night I take it?" Rita, "You knew, she wasn't just saying that to calm me down." Judy, "Yes, I knew. Honestly, I intended to get the two of you together before now, but things did not work out that way." Rita looks dumbfounded, "But that..." Judy, "I know, but this relationship we are in now has changed my outlook a bit. I have seen what you and 'V' can be together and it is amazing to see." Rita: "What are you talking about?" Judy, "The 'girls' night we spent at 'V's Glen apartment some time ago, remember?" Rita. "Then it wasn't a dream, it actually happened." Judy, "I'll say it happened! The two of you on that table, dancing. You two heated up the place so much I thought the fire alarm was going to go off." Rita, "I'm so sorry, I never intended..." Judy, "Hey, its all right. At the very least she kept it close to people we care about and not some total rando. Besides it motivated her to take me to bed up in the loft, and boy, that night I will never forget! You had already passed out and she made a bed on the couch for you. Tucked you in and gave you a good night kiss. You never stirred a bit." Rita, "She did that for me?" Judy, "Yes, she did. Rita, she cares about you, a lot. And no one, other than you, me, 'V', and So Mi stays here. A few we work with come and go. But they stay elsewhere. So you know you are special." Rita, looks at So Mi, who smiles at her, "I am So Mi, but you can call me songbird or just song." Rita tries to reach out and shake her hand but drops her clothes. She starts crying again as she bends over to pick them up. "I am so sorry." So Mi, "Don't worry about it. Look, as 'V' cares about us all, that makes us 'sisters' right?" Rita, "But..." Judy, "You do not have to...'be' with either me or So Mi if you do not want to. No one is going to force you into anything you do not want. And so long as it is only us around here, clothes are optional. Just keep something near in case visitors show up." Rita, "That sounds wonderful, uhh, who is cooking?" Judy, "Follow me and I will introduce you to Brendan, and you do not need clothes, Brendan is the SCSSM over in the kitchen. He is running the automated kitchen. He is, well he sounds like a human, but he is not, his programmer did a really outstanding job writing his code. We are thinking of getting a robot and linking it to him, give him the chance to move around the place." Brendan notices Rita as she approaches, "Why, hello there, beautiful lady, what can I get for you this morning?" Rita looks around herself, "Did he just call me a beautiful lady?" Brendan, "Well you are, aren't you?" Judy has the biggest grin on her face, "I agree, she is. And I know 'V' thinks you are." Rita, "Then I guess I am, never thought of myself as beautiful." Judy, "Trust me, you are. Brendan doesn't lie, doesn't know how to." Rita looks to Brendan, "You really think I am beautiful?" Brendan, "No doubt about it." Rita then steps up to him, and kisses his front panel just where his 'lips' are formed out of the plastic panel. Rita, "Thank you." Brendan reacts with, 'Aww shucks, if I were alive, I would be blushing right now."

     'V' walks out of her bedroom and looks around, seeing Rita still here, she smiles, the joy she feels echoing in her eyes. "Now I have all my best friends, lovers, mates all together in one room. I have been and am now truly blessed for the first time in my life. Rita begins crying again, as do Judy and So Mi, It is Rita, who runs into 'V's arms and wraps her own around her in case she either wakes up or 'V' disappears. Judy feels the 'vibes' rising again, looks to So Mi and whispers, "Later, we will have our time with her, right now, Rita needs her more than we do." So Mi agrees, then "Breakfast by the pool?" Judy grins, "You took the words right out of my mouth." 'V', her arms wrapped around Rita, her head gently resting against Rita's murmurs into her ear, "Let's go back to bed, I missed waking up and seeing your face next to me." Rita turns her head to look into 'V's face, "Really? You really mean that?" 'V', "Come on back to bed, let me show you how much I mean it." A loud 'Whoops' is heard as 'V' scoops one arm under Rita's legs and holding her in her arms, kisses her, while slowly heading back into 'V's bedroom. Judy tells So Mi, "You might ought to clear 'V's schedule until after lunch." So Mi, "No, its very light, nothing that can't wait, give them the rest of the day. Then we can all pile into the Delamain, drive to Pacifica and ride that Roller Coaster together as the sun sets over the ocean." Judy, "Now that I can get behind, so she did take you on it solo?" 'So Mi, "Yes she did, most pure excitement I have had in a long time. Rode that thing until I thought the wheels would come off, then sat with her on that couch someone put there. Laid back in her arms, watching the moon as it rose over the water. It was so wonderful, I forgot everything else that had happened to bring us there, nothing else mattered but sitting on that couch in the quiet of the evening, with her arms around me." Judy, "Yeah, I remember too. We were out at the beach house at Laguna Bend. I had pulled her out from the bottom of the lake when she passed out from a Relic attack while we were exploring the old church. She told me she could hear the church bells ringing in my memories. I still don't remember how I got her out. I was so afraid she was gone, like Evie. Then she started breathing again, and woke up. We decided to stay in the beach house rather than drive back to Night City. While she went out to restart the generator, I holed up in the bathroom dealing with the memory of losing Evie. I just wanted that time to be our time and I had almost lost her. She came back in and found me sitting on the edge of the tub. She sat next to me and comforted me. I told her what I was feeling  and she just put her hand against my face and gently caressed it. I found myself standing, taking her hand and leading her to the bed.

     Later that morning, as the sun was coming up. I was sitting on the edge of the dock with a cup of coffee and one for her. She came out and sat next to me, sipping her coffee. So much was going through my mind, I had to know where it was going to go and if she was going to be a part of it." So Mi, "This was before you knew you were in love with her?" "Judy, "Yeah, looking back, I was teetering on the edge. It all depended on what she said next." So Mi, "What did she say?" Judy, "I asked her what she thought of what we did that night together. She thought for a few seconds, and said that 'I think, no, I hope, it is the beginning of something wonderful.' In that moment I fell totally in love with her." So Mi, "Yeah she spoke her heart to you and that was all it took to bring it all together." Judy, "What about you? What was your moment like?" So Mi, "Most of it, still hazy and painful. What I remember clearly, we were at the NCX spaceport. She had infiltrated it, gotten past the guards and Myer's troops that showed up deeper in. One time we almost walked out of an elevator into a pitched battle between the Spaceport Guards and the NUSA troops. She gently pushed me back into the elevator car and told me to stay put, that she would handle this. I knew she was good, her battle skills honed to be as sharp as a katana. But knowing that and actually seeing it in action, are two completely different things. She can sometimes just go, 'Balls to the wall' and wade into her foes. But these were trained troops, she knew that would only get us killed." Judy, "How did she handle it? I mean she obviously did because we are here talking about it, but..."

     So Mi, "Yeah, I know, she showed me her tactical side then, the side she uses when it really matters. I have never seen anyone else use all their skills so seamlessly like she did. Used quickhacks to disable ones in critical places, both close and distant, to draw the attention of those close to the victims away from our direction. Then when her 'ram' was replenishing, she used a Tsunami Rasetsu, equipped with a silencer she had modified for it. I had heard of them before, of how much of a 'beast' they are. But in her hands it was a pure engine of death and destruction. She would fire a single shot, quieter than a mouse sneaking by a cat, and either a guard or a trooper would fall. She never shot twice near where her last shot was placed. And when our enemies would start looking around, she would switch back to quickhacks. She kept them off balance, not knowing where death would strike them next. She even used the robots, exploding them, taking out those near them. And all the while she was the calm like that in the eye of a hurricane. Deliberate, unflappable while the winds of death and gunfire swirled around us." Judy, listening intently, can almost see in her mind what that massacre looked like as it was progressing then winding down. Hearing the hail of bullets striking everywhere, then beginning to taper off. So Mi continues her gruesome story, "When the last one fell, she stood up and stepped out, still carefully scanning for any survivors that may try to take a shot as we made our way across the plaza and on our way to the shuttle terminal. She never said a word, but I could feel her disgust at the waste of it all. How none of these deserved to die, but did so on the orders of those above them. That she could deal so much death, and still feel how unnecessary it was. But that it had to be in order for her to keep the promise she had made to me. To me, she then became a 'Legend' even if no one else thought so." Judy, "There is more, isn't there, it can wait if you feel you need to."

      So Mi, "No, it is past time I got it all out and into the open. Besides, someone not involved in it, needs to know what happened. Needs to see the depths inside of her that she keeps hidden from all but those closest to her. We made our way onward, taking out small groups of soldiers, even an attack helicopter hovering and scanning the walkway we were running down." Judy, "How did she..." So Mi, "Like I said, that Rasetsu is a 'beast' but in her hands it is far more than that, it is like a force of nature. Once we got to the shuttle terminal, we went to the control tower to summon a tram to take us to the launch pad. Then as the tram was started on its way to us, it got serious. Myers began pulling out the stops. We could see waves of troops start appearing from the far end of the terminal. She looked so mad and disgusted at the same time. She asked me, 'Myers will never stop, will she?', all I could say was that, 'Myers does not forget, and damn sure does not forgive.' 'V' then told me, 'So be it then, she will earn her fate one way or another. I am going to make it so expensive she will have to retreat to lick her wounds, even if I have to kill every last soldier she brought." The tone of her voice as she said that...I will never forget it. She had no heat, no rage or anger. She had gone beyond all that, there was a finality to her voice, some kind of demonic coldness had awakened. I want to think that even 'Death' was shaken by what had awakened in her."

     Judy, "Where did it come from, do you have any idea?" So Mi, "No, I have no idea. However, I think Iriisii knows what it is. She has talked to 'V' about it. About what can be done for 'V' to bring it under control. All 'V' has said to me, is that Iriisii cannot remove it without destroying her. That somehow it is fighting the nanites trying to remake her DNA, merging itself with her to repair the damage. That for her to survive, she has to let go of Johnny, then reach an accommodation with whatever this is within her." Judy, "I thought separating herself from Johnny would solve her problem?" So Mi, "Part of it, yes, but it would not stop the nanites doing what they are programmed to do. They would keep trying to rewrite her DNA whether Johnny is in her mind or not. Whatever this is, it does not want to harm or kill her, but rather to save her. But it is so different from us, that it would change her into something we cannot understand. Iriisii sees that, and wants to give 'V' the tools she needs to marshal herself and meet this thing halfway. Find a way to accept it within herself but keep herself from changing from the 'V' we know and love." Judy, "You are right, I cannot understand any of this, but what can we do to help 'V'?" So Mi, "Seeing how she has reacted to Rita joining us, I would say you have already take a big step in that direction. She is more at peace, more confident, more 'human' than I have seen her since I first met her. Now we just have to keep it going, not let up, when she is home with us, we stay near her, keep supporting her, loving her, show her we are here for her. She needs this and is reacting to it, she is 'eating ' it up, taking it inside and strengthening herself with it." Judy, "I am with you on that, whatever it takes. I am not losing her without a fight. Can you finish your story now?"

     So Mi, "We had gotten to a short time safety in the control tower, but the Assault Copter would tear the tower down eventually. Breaching the Blackwall was our only chance then, but I did not have enough strength. 'V' jacked herself into my neuroport, giving me access to her strength as a proxy. You know what happened to us when we called out for help. But when we came back, we still had to fight the copter. I reached past the Blackwall and its power manifested in us. Since I was not strong enough to direct its force, it chose to use 'V' for that. She used it to wipe out the entire force sent to capture us. I was almost unconscious when she picked me up in her arms and carried me to the tram. She put me in a seat and sat across from me, making sure I stayed conscious. ...This is so hard for me...but I confessed everything to her on the ride to the launch pad. I put my life, my hopes, my dreams, what future I might have, in her hands. To be my judge, jury, and maybe executioner." Judy silently wraps her arms around So Mi and holds her until her tremors subside. Judy, "You do not have to go on, I know what was said, what happened. She told me everything, not knowing if you would ever come back, and not able to keep the memories penned up inside her. She loved you so much when she sent you away, even knowing it was the only way to save your life. She made that sacrifice because she loved you, loved you then and now, more than she loves herself. She then resolved to live, live for you, because that was how she wanted to honor that sacrifice."

     So Mi, "And then she met you." Judy, "Yeah, she kept me sane, kept me from falling into the dark abyss when Evie could not keep going, could not keep fighting the demons inside her, and killed herself to escape them. I shouldered all my burdens on her, and she took them and bore them for me until I could deal with them. Evie made the mistakes that cost her life, placed 'V' in the position she is in, but 'V' never disparaged her, never said anything bad about her, what she did, or why she did them. When I tried to take 'Clouds' away from the Tiger Claws, she stood with me, then when she saw it was not going to work like I thought, she changed the plan until it would work. And then she refused to take any money from Maiko for what she did. She just followed me outside, listened to me rant, and gently explained why she did what she did until I realized she was right. When she told me she thought our first time was the beginning of something wonderful, my heart soared, even as my mind resigned itself to having to stay in Night City awhile longer. I know she does not want to stay any longer than she has to, and I really do not care where we go, as long as we go together. For my heart is with you three now, and my home will always be where my heart is."

     The next few weeks fly by, but the preparations for the lawsuits from the corrupt cops to be reinstated with pay continue. As the court date approached Mayor Perales gets 'antsy'. Mayor Perales, "How is the legal defense going, Chief?" 'V', coming along nicely. The city district attorney really knows his business. He has decided to defend the case personally, and we have been providing him with every bit of dirt we can uncover. My testimony as to who was seen with whom at that party at the Black Sapphire is the icing on the cake. I gave him the rundown on my own history so that he will not be caught unawares by the other side. He has assured me that anything not directly involved in this issue will be quashed. Because of who the judge is that will hear this, he is aware to look for any skullduggery. I gave him what we knew about the judge and he almost blew his top. He said it explained why so many of the cases his department tried in this judge's court went against them forcing him to have to appeal to the next level and get the previous decision set aside." Mayor Perales, "I knew he was frustrated by some of those cases he thought he had nailed down, but I did not say anything because he kept getting them reversed on appeal. These judges have lifetime appointments. so barring malfeasance we cannot get them out." 'V', "Well now the tables have turned and we have what we need to shove them out the door. We have voiced our displeasure about all of this to the Lead Judge of the Appeals Courts, after seeing some of what we had, he asked if we would formally ask him to sit at our table as an observer. This will play havoc with the Judge, trying to rule against us and our evidence while still trying to rule in favor of the plaintiffs in this. We feel the pressure will cause him to make some missteps that will end up blowing this wide open. And we start with filing a motion to keep the media out of the Courtroom." Mayor Perales, "What basis are you going to use?" 'V', We settled on the fact that this is a class-action civil matter, not a high profile criminal case, therefore the media's 'right to know' is not nearly as strong. If the Judge overrules and allows the media in, by the time we display all the evidence we have he will wish he had not. Anyway, we will be ready with warrants for the next level of corruption to be exposed. We will also issue 'stay orders' for the Corporate people involved to not leave Night City until all of this is settled. The jails are near capacity, but we have the wherewithal to build some adjuncts very quickly in order to house the ones we will find guilty. That way they cannot use overcrowding as an excuse for either house arrest or early release." Mayor Perales, "How can we do that? The latest construction estimates say three years just to get started."

     'V' smiles, "My 'business partner' is ready to unveil a new construction technique that is going to turn the industry on its head. She and her people know how to convert normal matter into its most basic quantum particles, then use those particles to shape and create whatever other matter we desire. Thus we can shape and create entire solid walls, even to embedding steel rods, bars, plates, inside the concrete when it is made. Thus when a wall goes up it is complete, all joints will be seamless so they cannot be forced apart. We can put up an adjunct jail addition in less than a week and it will be stronger that the old jail it attaches to." Mayor Perales, "What matter are you going to use to make these particles?" 'V', That is the kicker here, we intend to use the mountains of garbage around Night City, starting with what has been dumped in every nook and cranny of this city. That way the people see the city being cleaned up and know it is more than words. They will see their streets being cleaned of both garbage and crime in one fell swoop. And all under your administration." Mayor Perales, "I almost cannot believe it could happen, and all because you came on board." 'V', "It is a collaborative effort among all of us who care about this city. And once the publicity gets started, you can ignore any rumors of my running in the future to displace you. I will be leaving Night City, for good, once we have set it on the path to recovery. I owe this to those closest to me, and I will not disappoint them." Mayor Perales, "I will be sorry to see you go, 'V'. You will have done so much for this city, but I will do all within my power to see to it that this city recognizes the efforts of you and yours in turning things around. You have said that you wanted to reach the major leagues, to become a Legend in this city. You do what you have planned and you will be a 'Legend', but one to stand with Richard Night, the founder of Night City. The Legend that completed his vision of what this city could be." 'V', "We still have a long way to go, but we have begun, and there will be no stopping us."

     In the Municipal Criminal Justice Complex, the call to begin a case rings out. At the defendants table is the Mayor, Jefferson Perales, the City District Attorney, Michael Jonas, Chief of Night City Security Operations, 'V', and as observer, Chief Justice of the Courts of the District Courts of Appeal, Landon Burroughs. Behind them is a varied group of citizens and spectators, drawn from the community groups working to aide the people living in destitute conditions. On the other side, is the Plaintiffs Table, represented by DKP&L, an international Corporate law firm, unofficially the real legal power in Night City. The ousted cops are seated behind their lawyers. Some of the local media are seated behind the cops. The case is opened by the arrival of the judge, the Honorable Forrest Jacobson. In Night City there are no jury trials. All cases are heard by a single judge, this is one of the 'planks' in Jefferson Perales campaign, to change this, which he knows is going to be a long battle, but now, with 'V's help in cleaning up the 'Justice' system, he sees a ray of light shining down on this issue.    

     Judge Jacobson, "The first item up is the defendants motion to exclude the members of the media from this proceeding. After careful consideration, I have decided against this motion, on the grounds that the people of Night City deserve to see what is occurring in their city government. Defense, do you have any objection to post regarding my decision?"

     D. A. Jonas stands and replies, "No, your Honor. We do not." It is a testament to Perales and 'V's intestinal fortitude that they look on with a straight face, and do not give any muffled, verbal, commentary to the Judge's action. Justice Burroughs, however allows himself a frown at this, which Judge Jacobson notices and feels a little tremor creep up his spine because of it. Wondering why is the Chief Justice sitting here this morning, and with the defendants at that? It has to be a sign of his support for them and does not bode well for him. He sees himself between a 'rock and a hard place'. He has to follow the 'Rule of Law' as it is written, carefully parsing his decisions and comments instead of listening to his Corporate supporters as is his usual procedure. He mentally asks himself, "Why the 'fuck' does this happen to me? This has the makings of a huge power struggle and I am being pulled into the middle of it. It's not fair, I was going to retire to a tropical island resort next term, now I will be lucky if the view from my new home will be the mountain of garbage outside of town.' He pulls himself together and asks, "Are the Plaintiffs ready with their opening arguments?" The lead attorney, not one of the named principals of the firm stands and replies, "We are, your Honor." Judge Jacobson, "You may begin then." And the case begins its downhill slide.

     Each side gives their opening arguments, each setting out what they intend to show in this proceeding. The plaintiffs are allowed to begin calling their witnesses. They keep it low key for the beginning. Asking the higher ranked cops to testify about why they thought they were unfairly dismissed. Knowing the issue of the shards would be brought up, they intended to have their 'pet' judge rule them inadmissible, but now with the Chief Justice monitoring everything, they believe they can attack 'V's credibility instead. What they do not know is that she has already bared all in her past to D.A. Jonas, who has formulated plans to deal with everything the other side can bring up. Every objection he can make is carefully documented and referenced by past decisions. Anything that has no direct bearing on the question at hand he knows he can bury. And those that do have a bearing, will open the door to bring those shards into play, and he can then open the trapdoor under those cops.

     It is soon apparent the Corpo lawyers are out of their depth. Almost every line of their questioning has been shut down and Judge Jacobson has had no recourse but to agree with Jonas, the Corpo lawyers giving Jacobson 'evil' glances promising dire repercussions. Then they go after 'V', thinking her a common merc, they should be able to talk rings around her. Instead she plays with their questions, turning them around until one gives her the opening she was waiting for. 'V' looks to Judge Jacobson, "May I answer the attorney's question plainly, your Honor?" Jacobson asks her, "You do intend to answer him?"

'V' replies, "Yes, your Honor, I do." Jacobson, ready to wash his hands of this case, "Go ahead then." 'V', "Thank you, your Honor." Looking to the lead Attorney she begins to 'cut him to the bone'. You are only allowed to bring my past into this, only as it pertains to the question before this Court. But I will answer your question of my own free will. I have never said my hands are clean. My job at that time required that I use tactics forbidden to the Police Department, because those opposed to them used every dirty trick in the book and then some to achieve their goals. Bribery, extortion, blackmail, even outright murder of those cops they could not buy, or threaten. They set up diversions where they would throw bones to the cops, while the 'meat' of their operations went unabated. But I could stop them, interrupt their operations, expose their lies and corruption. I could and did just those things because my hands were not tied behind my back as the cops hands were. I was a member of their contractor force, I went on those notices sent out about calls that were sent in but they were forbidden to go out on. Calls so dangerous because they were outgunned and out numbered. And why could I, a single merc accomplish what whole squads of them could not? Because I was willing to take the risk, because I withstood the training, purchased the best implants I could acquire, upgraded my own weapons until they were but an extension of my will, and I did not focus on a single means of attack. I reached out, learning and using cyber quickhacks, stealth tactics, weapons training, until I could use them interchangeably, almost simultaneously. And I never gave up, I kept going, kept pushing myself until I got the job done. You have hinted that I am nothing but a killer on a Fixer's payroll. I have done my share of killing, but only those there was no other way to get to them. Last year alone, I had over five thousand encounters in my line of work, I killed only two hundred twenty seven, that means almost five thousand lived because I stayed my hand. And the ones I killed, there were already bodies of men, women, even children, and cops splayed around their feet. They were guilty, no doubt of it in anyone's mind. And they would stand there and laugh about it. Think nothing about ordering someone's death for whatever reason or no reason at all. I cannot speak for any other mercs, but in all of the time I have been a merc, I have never even shot at, much less killed a cop. But of those who have, its all there in that box of shards. Innocents killed in error, then evidence fabricated to make them look guilty. A young woman, her own father ordered her death along with her lover, because his 'good name' was worth more to him than his own daughter. A cop sent to his own death, by being denied backup. But knowing this, he still obeyed orders and went. Other cops betrayed by their superiors, set up to be ambushed by gangbangers. A former cop, who saw things that disturbed her, so she reported it to her Sergeant according to policy, Instead of looking into the allegations, she was committed to a psychiatric clinic, where shock treatment, and frontal lobotomies are used. I got her out before her mind was destroyed. Another cop was getting too close to the bribes being taken by her fellow officers. So I was given the task to convince her to drop her investigation before she was murdered. Some might question why do this, I say because I saved her life, saved her from becoming another death statistic. And then I was asked to look into the sudden death of former mayor Lucius Rhyne. A death reported to be from a failed cardiac implant. But I found he was murdered by a spiked BD in a private booth, in a underground club, called the 'Red Queen's Race'. I know this because I went in and investigated, found that a group of 'Animals' had been hired to destroy the place, and all evidence of what had gone on there. I found the BD and was almost flat-lined by it as I examined it. And then there was the child killer called 'Peter Pan'. How I sifted through the evidence to find out how, where he was, that is too long a story to recount here. But I helped another cop find where those children were being held and freed them. The place was armed like a goddamn fortress. Had the cops gone in there before me, they would have been slaughtered. A child was once murdered in cold blood by a Maelstrom ganger, right in front of a cop, who's hands were tied because the ganger had Corp protection. Two groups of young pregnant women, being smuggled out from their Corporate jailors. Two groups, two exfil teams, two Fixers coordinating. I found what remained of both groups, all dead. One in the Corporate Farms south of the city, the other, the Pacific tides had almost taken them out to sea when I found them. Both groups involved with the same Corporation, I will not name it. But I want its CEO to hear me and understand that I know, and because there is no one else to seek justice for those groups, I will do so. I have done a lot more than I have recounted here. Killed yes, but also saved a lot of lives that would have otherwise been lost. Its all in those shards, that and so much more. Delve into them if you dare. Read them, listen to the words on them, and then say well we can't do anything about it, they are too high in the boardrooms, in the government offices, in the ivory towers. Read them, listen to them, then turn your backs on them, and only prove you are as much the problem as those who did the deeds, just as guilty, just as deserving of punishment. All of us can do something about it, it just takes one to stand in the breach, to begin to stem the flood, and one joins in, and another, and another, until we have done what was thought to be impossible. We have turned this City around and set it on the path to be what Richard Night envisioned when he started this city. It started when Mayor Perales asked me to take on this job for him, for him and for Night City. And I will not stop until I have accomplished that job, no matter if I have to do it alone. Why, you ask? Why do this? Because I care, because I want to give something back to the City that birthed me, made me who and what I am now. I once only wanted to be in the major leagues, to be a Legend, to be someone who if for only a few moments, my life mattered to those who followed me. But now I know, what good is being a Legend in a city that's spirit has died." 'V' lowers her face to hide the tears and the lawyer says, "I have no further questions for this witness, your Honor."

     Judge Jacobson, "You may step down. If there is nothing further, I will retire to my chambers to consider my verdict." The judge stands and steps through the door behind his seat on the bench. 'V' walks toward the Defense table where Mayor Perales stands and as she reaches the table, he puts his arms around her. 'V', I am sorry, I could not control myself. I hope I haven't screwed it up too bad." Mayor Perales, "No, 'V', you hit it out of the ballpark. A home run with bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. Then the bailiff shouts, "Hey, that's not the door to his chambers, that is the emergency exit from the courtroom!" The courtroom erupts into chaos. Mayor Perales, "Damn, he must have gotten wind of what we had on him and he ran!" 'V', "No, he couldn't go against his corporate masters but he also could not ignore the mountain of evidence and the Chief Justice watching him like a hawk. He is running from both of us, knowing he was going to be 'fucked' no matter how he ruled." Someone from the back of the courtroom shouts, "He is getting away!" 'V' calmly says, "No, he is not." Then she pulls a sheet of paper from the folder on the desk that had been in front of her the whole time. 'V', "Chief Justice, since you are the only ranking Officer of the Court present, would you read this and sign it please. Then we can see about corralling this corrupt judge." He takes the sheet and as he skims it, a broad grin comes across his face. "An arrest warrant for 'dereliction of duty', 'jurisprudence malfeasance', 'corruption', I will be glad to sign this." He lays it on the table, takes a pen lying there and signs his name and position at the bottom. Picks it up, hands it to 'V' and says, "Go get him." 'V' takes the warrant in hand and activates her holo. "River, the Judge has 'flown the coop', we have a valid arrest warrant signed by the Chief Justice, go get him before the Corps and the Gangs get to him." River, "Activating operation now." 'V', 'Open channel. Keep me apprised of your progress." River, "Will do."

     Chief Justice Burroughs, "Now if you will excuse me, I must exercise my authority and close this travesty before it gets out of control." The Chief Justice walks up to the bench, takes the recently vacated chair and addresses the Court. Slamming the gavel, he gets the attention of all still in the courtroom. "By the authority vested within me as Chief Justice of the Courts of Appeal, I am taking over this case from Judge Jacobson. He is being apprehended as we speak. Now to the business before this Court. I have listened to all the evidence presented here in this case. And in Judge Jacobson's abrupt absence will render a verdict. Are there any objections? No? Very well then, I rule for the defense in this matter. The defense has shown just cause in the action they took. The plaintiffs desire to overturn their firing is denied. Therefore no restitution of back pay or employment is to be granted. This case is now closed." With a final bang of the gavel, silence echoes over the courtroom. The media is shocked by the way this case went. The Corporate attorneys must now plan how to proceed and keep their cushy jobs after this resounding defeat. The spectators in the back gather and talk over what has happened and what it could mean for Night City. Then one holds his hand up for silence. He then turns and walks for the defense table. Once he gets there, "I want to thank you for what you have done this day. It may not be much, but my wife is one life you saved by taking on the Tyger Claws that were robbing her, after killing the others that were around her. From this day forward, I will be one of those who will stand with you against the sea of corruption. What can I do?" 'V' answers, "Just go about your life, but when you see something happening, like what your wife underwent, call this number," and transfers a contact number to his holophone, "this line is manned night and day. Tell us what and where, we will take it from there. We have teams of officers all over the city, someone will be close by, I promise you this. And we will deal with it, whatever the problem is. And thank you for standing up, with enough like you, we will change the course of this city." As he returns to the group to tell them what she said, the D.A. tells Mayor Perales, "I do not know the circumstances of how you came to know her, and it is not any of my business, but now I understand why you kept faith with trying to get her onboard. We have started to turn the city around, one victory at a time, one citizen coming to the front at a time. The momentum is shifting, you could feel it in here as the case proceeded. But her words to the other side, those words will be what brings the citizens to us, now we have to back them up, show the people that we mean what she said. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I am hopeful for the first time in a long time. So what is next on the agenda?" 'V' grins, 'Funny you should ask that, you are going to enjoy what is next."

     It is only a few days until Johnny gets his new body. 'V' cannot understand what or why she is feeling what she is. She has been sitting by the pool, her bare feet dangling in the water while she looks at her reflection staring back at her. Her face almost like a stranger's though she knows it is hers, not a product of the Identity Implant under her face. Rita is watching from the glass wall, fearing what is happening, but unable to think of anything she could do to help. So Mi takes a break from her current task and sees Rita, sensing her dismay she walks over to see what is wrong. As she sees 'V' she knows the source of Rita's problem. So Mi, "How long has she been there?" Rita not moving, fearing 'V' might slip under the water if she took her eyes off of her. "About two hours now, just sitting, looking at herself in the pool water. I don't know what is going on in her head, but I am worried." So Mi, "I will go and see, stay close in case I need you." Rita, "Count on it." So Mi slowly moves outside and down to the pool. she gently sits next to 'V', not saying anything, just letting her presence speak for her. 'V', "I do not know why, but I will miss him. I have wanted almost from the beginning to throw him out of my mind if I only could, but now...now I find myself missing him already. I have sometimes heard him go silent in mid sentence and I worry something has happened to him. Just as he has awakened sometimes to a dread feeling of loss, and then he feels I am still there and all is well. What is this So Mi? Am I already so merged with him that I cannot tell where I end and he begins? How much of me will go with him in that new body?"

     So Mi, "Not as much as you fear. You have grown close to him, since you are together all the time it is only natural. You do not understand what this all means and so you are afraid. You do not have to be, because you have me, Judy, Rita, and Brendan to fill any hole created when he leaves you. We will be here for you, anytime you need us, because we love you." Thank you, I guess I just needed the reassurance." So Mi, "You are stronger than anyone else I know to have survived all that has been thrown at you, but even you will have your moments, that is why the rest of us will be here for you. Why I will be here for you... to the very end." 'V' turns her head to look at So Mi, and smiles. So Mi, "Did you just smile at me?" 'V', "Uhh huh." So Mi, "Love at first sight?" 'V', "Yeah, you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Tonight?" So Mi, "Tonight. But you should pay Rita some attention before then, she has been watching you for the last two hours. Later, when you are ready, take a shower, I will join you." 'V' leans in for kiss, and So Mi returns it, just before she pushes 'V' in the pool and walks back into the penthouse. Rita laughs until she almost cannot stand anymore. So Mi smiles at her and says, "All yours until tonight." Rita, "Thanks." Then rushes out to the pool and jumps in.

     

     Johnny is now safely ensconced in his new body. He is aboard the Krang, in the medical wing where he is admiring the nursing staff, even as they keep a close watch over him for any unseen problems. Rita, Judy, and So Mi are keeping an even closer watch over 'V'. Her melancholy mood peeking through even as she tries to put up a joyful front. Judy speaks to So Mi when she caught her where she could speak quietly. Judy, "How can you stand this. I hate to say this but I think..." So Mi puts a finger to Judy's lips silencing what she was about to say. So Mi, "Do not even think that. It is not easy in the least for me to see her like that. It hurts so bad I want to throw up." Judy, "You could have fooled me." So Mi, "If I gave in to it, it would do nothing but make it worse. She would feel it was all her fault and get dragged down even more." Judy, "You are right, I am just so, frustrated by it." So Mi, "I know. I have, or rather Rita has something that might help change things around." Judy, "What has she come up with?" So Mi, "'V' has a subscription to Lizzie's streaming service." Judy, "Ok, what about it?" So Mi, "They have added a whole new feature. It is a special 'date night' and there is enough room for all of us to be in it." Judy, "What did you have in mind?" So Mi smiles, "All of us, alone on an ocean beach, sitting around a campfire as the moon rises over the ocean. There is an option for a computer generated guitar player with a programable set of songs. So we can relax around the fire, sipping drinks, the guitar player playing whatever we want to listen to. Whatever we want to get up to, there will be no interruptions. No one else can jump in with us." Judy, "I love the sound of that, and it will help take 'V's mind off of what is spinning in her head." So Mi, "I think so too. I will tell Rita to set it up."

     The beach date was a huge success. They all ate, drank, cut loose to some faster songs, and when they slowed to cool down, they paired off to slow dance while the moon rose high in the sky. They woke the next morning all four in the same bed, most like a pile of sleepy puppies all curled around each other. 'V' was the first to wake, but she could not bring herself to get out of bed. She could not remember when she had ever felt so loved and protected. Like she had not a care in the world. She then felt the strangest feeling come over her. She found herself on her feet, but no one else had been disturbed. She saw a light, flowing, glow coming from the shrine she had made to house the Temple face her Zen Master had left her at the end of their last meditation session. She silently approaches and kneels down before the Icon. She now feels she has gone beyond the need for the meditation BDs. She simply relaxes herself and opens her spirit in anticipation. The landscape she sees is like nothing else she has ever imagined.  The light is brilliant but soft, not overpowering. Shen hears the sound of water trickling nearby. At the edge of a massive forest, he sits waiting for her, a small campfire burning dead branches he had collected. As she comes closer she hears his words to her. Zen Master, "I see what I taught you has found root and grown into a most beautiful and inspiring blossom. Also that you have met a great power of the 'Balance'. And no, neither I or the others who left their messages for you foresaw your meeting. Others higher than we, are responsible for that. And I see that their judgement was truly executed with the greatest of care." 'V', "Are they here?" Zen Master, "No, but one of their messengers is. He has an extraordinary gift for you, to mark your coming here." 'V', "Where is this place?" Zen Master, "A true garden of peace and delight. You might say it is everywhere and nowhere. You are here, and that is what matters. A single step on your journey, but an important one." 'V', "Would you meditate with me, here in this place?" Zen Master, "I would be honored above all who follow this path."

     Time has no meaning, no sense of duration, to her. She feels she is at the very beginning of everything in one instant, then at the very end of all things. She is at each and every distinct moment between. Then she and the Zen Master are in a garden, a fount standing in the center, crystal clear water, cool as the night breeze, she feels the droplets of spray gently land on her skin. Then she sees a shadow move from the other side of the fount, as it comes around she sees it is a young boy, just entering puberty. He is dressed in monk robes, but it contains so many colors, some she cannot name. He looks at her and smiles. "My name is Mithrandir, and I am the 'Fount of the Great Balance'. Welcome to my home." 'V', "You live here?" Mithrandir, "More accurate to say 'this place lives within me.' This is the heart and soul of the 'Great Balance'. As long as life has existed so has this place. And as long as life exists anywhere this place will exist." 'V', "You sound so much like my Zen Master." Mithrandir chuckles, "He is a very good friend to me. One I cherish, as do you. I know you have so many questions, some answers you are able to understand, others, not yet. The rest, will take many years to understand, but you have plenty of time." 'V', "Yes, you do sound a lot like him." Mithrandir, "Ah, one comes who has so wanted to meet you. And he brings a special gift for you." 'V' looks around, not seeing anyone, then he is suddenly there. Red hair, light freckles, a different kind of gleam in his eyes, old in knowledge, but young in years. Flinx, "Hello, my name is Flinx. I have so wanted to meet you." 'V', "If I may ask, how could you know anything about me?" Flinx, "We have a few acquaintances in common, I believe. One looks like a giant crystal tree, very beautiful she is, and almost as old as I am." 'V', "Who is the other?" Flinx, "She is the Ancient Dragon Mother, you know her as Iriisii." 'V', "Ancient Dragon Mother? She does not look anywhere near that old." Flinx. "Yet her lineage, is that old. And she has the power to draw upon that lineage, and become any of whom she has been in the past. But I digress, please forgive me." He looks away and whistles a strange set of notes. Then she sees a small form flying from the trees to land on his shoulder . A small triangular head looks at her. The first thing she notices is the beautiful colors that embrace this little one's body. 'Flinx, "She is a miniature dragon, native to a jungle world called Alaspin. They are very empathic, so they are sensitive to emotions. Handy to have around then, if they sense negativity, their restlessness will alert you to it. Although they do not bite, they can spit. Very accurately and for a good distance, their venom is very toxic, and as corrosive as it is toxic. They will generally aim for the soft tissues, like eyes. If the victim's eyes are hit they will be dead in minutes. A hit anywhere else depends on when the venom hits the bloodstream. If the poisoned flesh is carved out in time, they will live, once it hits the bloodstream they are dead. They will eat most anything, particularly slivered meat and pretzels." 'V', "Pretzels?" Flinx, "Yes, I believe they like the salt. given the chance she will eat her weight in them. Name her when you feel you know what her name is to be. Take care of her and she will protect you like no other can. I wish I could stay, like you do, I have those tasks and duties that call to me. I am glad to have met you 'V'. And know that we will meet again." Flinx turns away as the Minidrag lifts into the air and settles onto 'V's shoulder, wrapping her slender tail around 'V's neck. Flinx seems to turn an unseen corner, for his physical form disappears as if passing behind a wall, but there is no wall there. She goes there and feels around, finding nothing solid there. she returns to the Fount to find Mithrandir speaking to a being. A being made of different gasses and vapors, all being pulled into its physical form while at the same time rising from that form. The pattern it creates is like they are constantly recycled. They create a shape vaguely humanoid. As it catches sight of her, it makes a very fluid and graceful bow. In the area of where a human face would be, something underneath glows in a kind of flash and she can see a more solid structure. It is then she hears a distinctly male voice. Ji' 'querat, "The 'Kvigoa' bestow greetings unto you, 'Leunda'. Long ago did we dream, have we dreamed, will dream of the place you will reside in the soul of the G' yruc. The ...Lifepath...  that you have 'become' is one that has been long awaited. You are ...cherished... among us and ours as is the Ancient Dragon Mother, she who is both Monah and Briinah to He who is the 'Fount'.

     'V', "I am sorry but I do not understand." Ji' 'querat, "It is of no import, knowledge and wisdom of we, will come in its time." Mithrandir, "You have not met them yet, but one day you will. You will take and become a significant place in their racial and cultural heritage. I cannot speak of much of just what will occur, for you it has yet to happen, for Ji' 'querat and the Kvigoa, it happened a long time ago. But when they gather to renew their existence, they speak of you and what you did, that the knowledge is not lost, that the path you showed them and helped them to step upon is not wavered from. Know that in your time in Night City, you wished to live your life such that for if even for just a few moments your life 'fucking' mattered. To these beings, your life and what you did for them 'mattered'. Enough that they remember you, in their past, present, and future, they remember that you mattered to them. It was their request to Flinx, to 'gift' you with the Minidrag that has made its 'bond' with you. They will only say that it was a 'needful' thing, or at least that is how it translates into our understanding." 'V', "How can it be..." Mithrandir, "This place touches upon all the moments of 'Time' in all of the Existences. For the 'Great Balance' exists in all of them. Only in the 'Outer Void' does the 'Great Balance' not touch, but even so there are ways to reach those places from here. It is my hope that you can be one that can walk those ways and touch those places, bring the 'Great Balance' to those who exist there. That by your life and example, they can know who and what the 'Great Balance' is. One you know has already begun down the path he treads that will lead him there. But before he reaches those places, he will need you to open the way. The Kvigoa are just one of the successes you will have on your road to that point. One that is pivotal to that goal. But that is yet far along in the future for you. The Kvigoa know you in the entirety of their past, present, and future. They are the only ones that has occurred with." 'V', "May I ask why is that so important?" Mithrandir, "Because they spoke of you to certain greater entities that live in your Existence, watch over it, and try to guide it best that they can. It was these entities that upon the urging of the Kvigoa placed the 'Tarot' images through out Night City and Dogtown to help you chart your path. And so they succeeded, in this timeline anyway." 'V', "This timeline?" Mithrandir, "Yes, in others you made other decisions, other choices that did not work out as this one has. Still in some of those, events in this one had an effect in those that changed the course to move closer to this one. They are not so far along as this one is, but there is now greater hope for them." 'V', "What was the cause of the shift?" Mithrandir pauses and contemplates the effect of telling 'V' that answer, then he quietly says, "So Mi."