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"Johnny?"
But it wasn't him. It could never be him.
V craned her neck to look up at the statuesque red god that was Alt, her body vibrating. Red lines blurred and converged, resembling who Alt once was. Alt cut through the blue landscape around them sharply as she moved toward V. Her knees bent slowly. Despite cutting her grand height in half, Alt still towered over V when crouched. Resting her hands on her digital knees, Alt leaned forward, her piercing gaze locking onto V with an intensity that felt emotionless and indifferent.
"Johnny is gone. Code within me."
The words pierced V like a dagger, their sharpness echoing the truth she had long buried within herself. Despite the painful realization, her body succumbed to the weight of despair, crumbling as her chest tightened, reaching for a presence that was no longer there. That void, once suffocating and hollow, began to ignite with new anger, swelling within her as she grappled with the loss.
"No! It's not true! Johnny, he came to me. In my dream! Asked me to save him, and I'm here. I'm here, Johnny!"
V's yells only echoed in the void. Alt's digital body provided nothing for her voice to bounce off. V wasn't sure if she was crying—were there tears in cyberspace?—but her body shook as if it were. She had spent the last two weeks of her life suffering through ice baths and viruses to get here. And now that she was here, there was nothing.
"It was a dream. But I can give you something real,"
V stood frozen in the dim blue and red light, the world around her fading into a blur with every syllable that spilled from Alt's lips. Each word felt like a game, stirring V's emotions. Alt's finger shimmered as it glided through the air, tracing a slow arc above her knee. The gesture drew V's attention like a moth to a flame, pulling her gaze toward the AI. In that suspended moment, V's heart raced, caught between the exhilarating thrill of potential and the chilling whisper of uncertainty.
"Johnny still spins in my code. He wants me to offer you a reprieve. I shall grant it."
V tried to make any connection with Alt. However, her face was nothing but a blank sculpt of features. It was a mask that offered no glimpse into her thoughts, no eyes that could be searched for sincerity, and no lips that could form the words of truth or deceit. V couldn't shake the memory of how Alt had the ability to save her and Johnny long ago, but she never offered it. V questioned why she should trust someone who lacked any feeling after years beyond the black wall. Regardless of her doubts, she would go to any lengths to confront any danger and betrayal from an AI god. No matter the cost, V was prepared to dive into the unknown.
As soon as V nodded, Alt's large hand moved forward. Her flickering finger pressed into V's skull, flooding her vision with red light. Her brain felt like it was glitching and spasming, and she had to close her eyes to escape the bright lights flashing over her face. A constant hum of electricity filled her ears. Her heart began to race, her breath coming in gasps, and her hands trembling. But just as suddenly as it began, it stopped.
A new, pulsing roar filled her ears, so loud that her feet vibrated. V slowly caught her breath as she realized the sound was cheers. Cautiously, she reopened her eyes. The blue and red dots of cyberspace had vanished. To V's surprise, there was no ice tub either. Instead, she found herself in a long, dimly lit hallway. The black cement walls were adorned with graffiti and stickers. Technical equipment littered the floor. On her right, a narrow set of stairs led to another room cloaked in darkness, from which the cheering resonated.
"Of course you're high,"
"Fuck off,"
V's heart lurched in her chest. She spun her head in the direction of the voices. A tall man with a silver arm flipped off another man just a few feet away. He exuded an air of confident defiance, his hand resting casually on his hip as he swaggered toward V. The snug leather pants hugged his form. At the same time, a fitted shirt accentuated his toned physique in a way that sent a familiar jolt through her. Draped casually over his shoulder was a decorated guitar, the black material catching the dim light. As he drew closer, his gaze lifted to lock onto hers, igniting a spark of recognition that left her momentarily breathless.
"Johnny,"
His only response was a cocky wink before stepping up to the stage. V quickly rushed to follow after catching her breath. She caught herself against the wall between the hall and the open stage, holding back from running into his arms. A loud roar erupted as Johnny stormed onto the stage, swinging his guitar to his chest. A yellow light highlighted his big grin while his fingers smoothly navigated the guitar. V's knuckles turned white as she gripped the wall, the situation slowly unraveling and revealing itself.
Alt somehow managed to bring V back to a time when Johnny was still alive—a version of Johnny who hadn't yet blown up Arasaka, hadn't been killed by Smasher, and had no consciousness on a Relic. Most importantly, a Johnny who hadn't been trapped in her head for so long that they fell in love. To him, she was just a stranger.
Her mind started to wander, backdropped by Johnny playing and people screaming. V had no idea how this could be possible, but Alt said it was a gift. There had to be some purpose to sending V here. The sound of feedback from the speakers cut off her thoughts. She refocused to see Johnny grabbing the mic and glaring at the crowd.
"Freedom's always worth fighting for, even if it means dealing with a few corpses along the way!" His words incited cheers. He pumped his fist in the air, yelling generic anti-corpo bullshit.
Fuck! Of course! That's why V was here. Alt had sent her back to stop Johnny from blowing up Arasaka and getting himself killed. She smiled to herself as ideas started to form in her mind. She needed to find a way to earn his trust and talk him out of his future raid. V winced at the sight of Johnny still shouting about how much he despised Arasaka. The plan was easier said than done.
V glanced down, suddenly hyperaware of what she was wearing. She seemed to be wearing the outfit from before she put on the netrunner suit, with her Samurai tank hanging off her shoulders and dog tags tapping against her skin. V quickly tucked the dog tags under her shirt and secured them inside her bra. She noticed the yellow light reflecting off the same dog tags that hung around his neck. V didn't want to discover if a wormhole opened from the same object existing twice.
"Hey! No groupies backstage," V jumped as a large hand clutched her shoulder.
"I am not a groupie," She rolled her eyes heavily at the club bodyguard.
The stocky man assessed her with a critical gaze, scanning her from head to toe. V nervously pulled at the edges of her tiny denim shorts, attempting to cover her rear as best as she could. Her feet ached slightly from her heels, and the Samurai merch certainly didn't help her case either. The bodyguard raised an eyebrow, displaying an unamused frown. His fingers squeezed her shoulder roughly, pulling her away from the stage door.
"Sure, doll. Next time, don't sneak backstage. Stick to the tour bus,"
V didn't have time to protest as the guard yanked her toward the exit. They had only taken two steps when she felt a new hand slide onto her other shoulder. This hand was cold, and its touch sent a shiver down her spine. She glanced down to see a metal arm sliding down further, its fingers slipping slightly under her tank strap.
"Calm down, Chip. She just couldn't wait for me. Nothin' wrong with that,"
Another shiver ran down V's spine at the sound of the deep, familiar voice above her. She turned her head to see Johnny smirking at the bodyguard. His sunglasses obscured his gaze, but she could feel him toying with her strap. She inhaled sharply, feeling like his gaze was locked on the cleavage that peeked out of her shirt. The guard raised his hand in defense while retreating. V sensed her body relax as he moved further away.
"Thanks, Silverhand." she accidentally left a tone of familiarity into her words.
Johnny's hand fell from her shoulder. He shrugged in response, grinning. His hair was slick as he pushed it back and placed his sunglasses on top. His eyes revealed a clear sign of exhaustion, and his face glistened with sweat after the long set. V's breath caught in her throat when Johnny lifted the hem of his shirt. She was fortunate that he covered his face with the shirt while wiping off his sweat. Her eyes lingered on his abs that shimmered under the hall lights, with the tattoo on his side visible. V's fingers itched to caress it.
"You can pay me back right now if you like," he replied once he cleaned his face.
V couldn't decide whether to blush or roll her eyes. She was thrilled that Johnny was attracted to her even back in time, and he was even openly admitting it. V suffered through enough of Johnny sarcastically dodging his feelings. Nevertheless, his flirting was heavy-handed. It reminded her a bit too much of when he stole her body to get with that stripper. Therefore, V landed on a middling reaction.
"Not a groupie. Sorry to disappoint,"
Johnny scoffed. V gasped quietly as she felt his warm hand brush against her stomach. His fingers tugged at the hem of her tank top. She was struck by the sudden realization that they could touch. It seemed obvious. This was the past. Johnny wasn't a construct; he was real and physical. But after months of her hand passing through Johnny every time she tried to hold him, the idea hadn't even crossed her mind.
"Okay, sweetheart, whatever you want." He nodded down at the Samurai logo. "So, what do you want if you're not here to sleep with me? An autograph?"
A flicker of boredom crossed Johnny's face. It was clear to V that he'd move on quickly if she didn't offer him something. She wasn't an Alt or Rogue to him yet. All she was was a hot piece of ass that was only slightly above a joytoy. V bit her lip in thought. She had to find a way to keep his interest, or else everything Alt did for her would be for nothing. Unfortunately, she only saw one way to do that.
"Who said I don't want to sleep with you? I'm just above fucking in a dirty club. Need something more... Personal," V trailed her finger down his bicep. Two months in Johnny Silverhand's head had given V access to everything that excited him. Her other hand pushed her hair back behind her shoulders, providing him a complete view of her low-cut tank top.
Johnny leaned his head back to examine her thoroughly. His eyes slowly and obviously traced her body. He then slid his sunglasses back onto his nose. Johnny caught her hand before she could pull away. V tensed in anticipation as he lifted her wrist to his face. His beard brushed against her skin before placing a heated kiss on her pulse point. Butterflies danced in her stomach at the sensation of his tongue grazing her wrist.
"I can work with that,"
In an instant, Johnny skillfully maneuvered V through the club's labyrinthine back halls, the music's pulsating rhythm faintly echoing in the distance. His cybernetic arm draped comfortably around her shoulder, providing a sense of security as they navigated the dimly lit corridors. A mischievous smirk danced across his lips, and as they walked, his fingers occasionally brushed against the fabric of her bra, sending a thrill of excitement and uncertainty coursing through her.
V felt her heart race more with each step, a mix of exhilaration and anxiety swirling within her. Once they reached his sleek Porsche, she paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady herself before sliding into the passenger seat. The smell of leather and the faint hint of gasoline enveloped her, grounding her in the reality of the situation. What had she truly gotten herself into? The question lingered in her mind as she glanced at Johnny, his playful grin hinting at the adventure that lay ahead.