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One thing she never really noticed about night city was the heat. From the lights, from the smog, from the food stand on every single corner, Night City was always hot. But the badlands … they were open. There were breezes. And at night, after the sunset, one could damn well say it was cold. Val never thought she would like the cold. Months of travel has left that city far far behind her, with it all her worries. Alex told the NUSA she was dead, with any luck she’ll get the retirement she was promised. She had earned that much. Arasaka tracked them of course, for miles and miles but eventually they realized they were putting in more money in the search than what they would recover so even they were left behind. All that followed her from the city was Judy, Panam, and the ever ticking timer that just got extended. Six months wasn’t the plan but it was six more months to fight. Like Jonny had told her to.
Three months of dead end after dead end made the time go quick, slipping between her fingers like hourglass sand. The Aldacaldos were losing hope on her ever finding a cure, fewer were willing to put their own lives on the line with each passing time. Val could feel her body deteriorating with the day, having to remove bits of cyber wear to try and prolong the process as long as she could. But every doc told her the same news, temporary, temporary, band aid solutions. Well what other solutions are left anything that prolongs any chance of a life!
It was a silent night in the badlands, the fire crackling in front of her. Week 2 of month 4. With no cure in sight. She left the aldacaldos behind a few weeks ago. Been enough of a drain on their resources. Judy stayed behind as well, which was good … she had found a way to be happy there. With a sigh Val leans back against her bike and stares up at the stars. Out here there were always so many … and the moon always shone so bright. She could help but to think of So Mi. They didn’t get a proper farewell. There wasn’t time. Did she know Val forgave her? For everything? From the start she knew something about the job was fishy but that girl … Well she took her on a ride Val went on voluntarily. Perhaps it was coincidence that is when her phone buzzed again. Thinking it was likely another fixer with a promise of connections to a cure in exchange for a gig the unknown number caught her by surprise.
”V” the voice was softer but undeniable “I wasn’t sure you would pick up, I thought you might be … I know I left you with nothing. I’d understand if you hated me but please don’t hang up on me.”
”Songbird I … I’m so glad to hear you’re alive … did it work for you? The cure I mean-“ She is cut off by Songbird.
”Yes, yes it did and I’m so thankful to you it … would have been too easy to get on the rocket yourself. Or turn me over to Reed. Or done anything in your best interests after you learned the truth but you didn’t. You helped me … and for that I owe you anything I can give.”
”I knew from the start … it was too good to be true. But I don’t regret doing it. And I don’t regret helping you.”
”I’m glad you did. Let me return the favor. The Labs they found something that might work. To separate you and Jonny from-“
”Jonny is gone So Mi.”
”… what?”
”We disentangled a while back”
”So you’re …”
”Not quite. No umm … turns out Jonny fried me good. My body doesn’t … belong to me anymore. So it’s fighting me. Doc told me I had about 6 months. That was a little under 5 months ago.”
”V … I’m so sorry”
”… So Mi … I don’t want to die.”
”I know … look I’m … I’m back on Earth please send me your location maybe … maybe we can do something. I promise it won’t be like last time”
She lets the offer hang in the air, the silence between them heavy. Val had forgiven her yes but … could she trust her again? After all the lies? After all the deaths?
Did she have a choice in this?
Yes. To Both.
”Ok. I trust you So Mi, here sending them now”
”Wow you’re …”
”Night City had nothing for me anymore. I don’t know if it ever had anything to start. It only seemed to take … the badlands are kinder”
”… I’m glad you got out V. Truly. Ok stay put I’ll get there as soon as I can”
The sun had started to peak over the horizon when the dust of Songbird’s ride could be seen, well into morning by the time she arrived. As So Mi stepped out of the car it was clear something about her changed … more of her Chrome was replaced with more synthetic flesh. She looked … more like the avatar she used in cyberspace. She looked good.
”V you look …”
“Yeah terrible I know”
”No I was going to say better … than when I met you. More color in your face, hair seems healthier, you look … you look better”
So Mi walks around to the trunk of her car, popping it open and taking out a duffle bag. She sets it on the dirt and starts digging through it.
”So … what do you have there Songbird?”
”Please … only So Mi. I left Songbird far behind.”
”Right. So Mi.”
”well before I left I got into contact with a lab assistant on the moon lab they treated me at. I used to give him these god awful pudding cups I couldn’t stand but … he really liked them.” So Mi smiles to herself for a moment. “Anyways he said it sounds like you are dealing with Neural Ego denial, but you already know the basics”
”Mhm … I’m sure this is going somewhere”
”Yes, well he told me they developed a prototype cure for it as it’s a pretty common occurrence with the Arasaka relic program.”
”I’m sensing a but coming. You don’t have any do you”
So Mi is quiet a moment before pulling a pill bottle from the duffle bag, tossing it to V. “I have some … but there are side effects.”
Val catches the bottle and sighs. “Always bad news with good. Alright, how bad are they?”
”… while the drug stabilizes your psyche there is still a … recovery process. And you’ll have permanent seizures and … bouts of amnesia.”
”So after all this I can have a cure … but I might forget who I am? All that has happened? Perhaps even to take the medicine? Great … I’m not sure I can …”
”V no I …” So Mi takes a breath and walks over to Val, kneeling in the dirt next to her, taking her hand in her own. “I’m saying I’m willing to stay with you. To make sure you stay alive during times you’re not lucid. It won’t be a perfect life but you’ll be alive. Without the NUSA and FIA and … everything I had nothing left to return to. Except for my promise to you. Please consider it”
Val looks over the pill bottle in her hand. Thirty or so capsules rattle in the orange bottle. And in her other hand … is So Mi’s. She’s come back, and fulfilled her promise.
”Alright So Mi. Don’t … let me forget myself.”
”I won’t V”
”… it’s not V. She was left in Night City. Please, call me Valentine.”
”Alright Valentine, here’s a new promise: I won’t leave your side for anything until my death.”
”You don’t need to promise me anything anymore … just show me” Val brings So Mi’s hand to her lips, kissing the back of it. “I’m glad you are back, So Mi … I missed you”
”Right … no more promises … and I … I missed you too, Valentine. Never stopped thinking about you when they were testing on me. Trying to get back to you kept me going. But the NUSA is going to be looking for me”
”Then … lets leave.”
”And go where?” It wasn’t an accusation like any other time but .. a genuine question.
”I think I would enjoy Paris, what about you?”
”with you? Paris sounds lovely”