Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

EBM Petrochem Stadium, Dogtown

It had been one helluva day for V, the redhead with a ticking clock on her life. First off, she got a call from a stranger called So Mi, or Songbird, with the promise of a cure for her issues, if they only travel to Dogtown for a gig of some sort. Usually, that kind of offer would be duly ignored by her, but for some reason, she went. Was it out of desperation? Belief? Twisted sense of wanderlust? Or possibly, was it just that the voice sounded very nice to her ears, and that she’d like to put a face to a voice, see who they are?

Nevertheless, V went, and ended up looking up at the massive concrete stadium before her. Something nagged at her that this was gonna be a mistake, but nonetheless, she pressed on, seeing the amount of BARGHEST troops increase with each step closer to the stadium.

Even as she got closer to the gates, V couldn’t see her enigmatic client anywhere, or well, anyone that looked out of the ordinary, as if they would be somehow visible. Nevertheless, the merc pressed onwards, overhearing conversations as she got further into the crowd, and closer to the entrance.

At the gate, she tried to get through, although was shoved back several times before getting a message from Song about the entrance not being where to meet.

She doubled back, and made a right turn as she continued to sweep the area, feeling an air of unease, having felt a bit of a blur with the Relic not long before. Then a sharp pain struck for a moment, flashes of red on her vision. And then it went into full effect, a sharp, nightmarish pain as she began to spasm, losing control. Johnny yelled out in agonising pain, soon did V as she fell off to the side.

Was this it? Was she gonna die here and now, due to some ‘runner breaching her systems and possibly nuking the Relic. Felt like that for a definite moment. She sat up, trying to keep hold of herself, see people pass by, and then someone approach.

‘V? You’re gonna be OK. Breathe deep, count to ten, recite a mantra…’ Said the stranger, with the familiar voice… Songbird. ‘Whatever brings you calm, helps you stabilise.’

V looked up, and just seeing So Mi in front of her was enough to pull her into a less painful and more intrigued state. Girl to her was absolute eye-candy, even with the glitches still happening. Magenta hair, intensive brown eyes, amazing lips… And a stellar body in a netrunning suit of all things to match. Jeez - was she lookin’ at an angel?

The netrunner continued. ‘Your nervous system took a big hit, broke down. Racing heart, cold sweat… It’ll pass.’ 

The redhead gonk still kept looking at Songbird, a bit dumbstruck, before shaking her head, regaining her sense and trying to get up, albeit with some effort. ‘I’ll… Uh, take your word for it…’

‘I know about the bomb tickin’ inside your head.’ Songbird stated. ‘If I could disarm it now, I would in a heartbeat. You’ll feel better, any second now…’

Johnny finally stood up, stable enough to show up in front of V to state the obvious. ‘V, somethin’ stinks here… Think she’s… she’s fuckin’ with the Relic.’ Songbird all the while turned to Johnny, who noticed moments after, as V did as well. ‘How in the--’

The netrunner set her hand on the rockerboy’s shoulder, sticking him in place, before speaking to him. ‘All true, Johnny. But don’t you fret, you’re both safe.’ 

As V looked on, the way Songbird said everything shot something right into the merc’s head. Couldn’t fathom why, but the merc liked what she heard, all while Johnny responded defiantly. ‘Nah, fuck off!’

‘Both of us on the biochip protocol at once can trigger shocks for V. Like just you saw now.’ So Mi explained, as Johnny started glitching out, and V began to spasm again momentarily. ‘Gotta cut you off - for your safety, for V’s safety.’

‘What the fuck… ?’ Johnny muttered out as he glitched out and V’s entire vision went black, before coming back, with no Silverhand in sight.

As V got her bearings again, So Mi leaned in and told V: ‘Had to mute him for now. He hears you fine, just can’t talk back.’ 

Knowing now that Johnny was muted was something she could just be astounded at. Sometimes, the rockerboy got really, really annoying. Only the best could possibly do whatever she did to the Relic. ‘Startin’ to put two and two together… Gotta be a netrunner - damn good one at that.’

‘Guilty as charged.’ So Mi responded with a momentary smile. ‘Hopped on the Relic’s cognitive protocol to dial in. I see and hear what you do.’

‘Just now, I’m on board Space Force One. Sitting across from Rosalind Myers, president of the New United States of America.’ 

If there was a moment when this started to become too much of a scene or part out of Bushido, this was the moment, but with how Songbird looked… It was far from bullshit. ‘The president? Fuck. I, uh… No, y-you’re not joking.’

‘Dead serious, yes.’ She responded. ‘The plane’s been hacked, trajectory’s set for Night City. They’ll bring us down in Dogtown soon.’

‘Our comms are down, most likely jammed. The Relic was my only option.’ She elaborated, and then just put her hand on V’s. ‘Right now… You’re our one contact on the ground.’

V looked down for a long moment, then straight at Songbird looking at her, and her brain was just firing off all the wrong signals, although the redhead did manage to stay on topic, for now. ‘Tellin’ me the NUS president, Rosalind Myers, is there with you?’

‘Sitting right across from me. She knows the situation. Waitin’ for your “yes.”’ She replies, seemingly looking upwards before back at her.

‘Plane got hacked, right? You’re a runner - can’t override?’ V asked.

‘I could. All I’d need is twenty-four hours, the right setup and a bottomless pot of coffee.’ So Mi rattled off, before stating: ‘None of that’s available just now.’

With it all set on the table, V had a mix of emotions going on. Songbird, and Myers, were in some deep trouble, but she can’t believe that she’s their only lifeline. ‘Heavy shit. ‘M I really your one contact?’

‘You’re my last and only hope.’ So Mi confirmed as she straightened up. ‘The president’s life, her safety - that’s your top priority.’

‘She’ll survive the landing. Dogtown, not so sure… You’ll need to get ‘er out of the plane before anyone else does.’ 

‘Said you can help me. That the plain truth?’

‘Just got a taste of my abilities, I believe. There’s more.’ She explained, before gesturing to V and stating what she had in mind. ‘I can cure you. Once and for all.’

The cure, yes… She stood up and walked around to look at her, getting a full grasp of how she looked as she gave her honest thoughts. ‘Can’t know how much I’d really love to believe you, but…’

‘I know, V. You’ve hit a dead end, nowhere to turn. Been there, believe me.’ She said in sympathy. ‘Consider this a… an advance.’

‘Your Relic’s crowded with clusters of corrupted data. I’m dumpin’ that, makin’ room for stuff that’ll actually be handy.’ Songbird elaborated, as V’s optics began to be dotted with red again.

‘Such as…?’

‘Some preem Militech combat soft. It’s just lyin’ around, gathering dust.’

As the effects of the new tech began to kick in, the redhead felt a bit buzzed, recharged. ‘Feel a… tingling in my fingertips. Kinda nice, actually.’

‘Oh, it goes a lot further than tingling, trust me.’ The netrunner responded with a chuckle.

‘Wouldn’t mind feelin’ a lot more from you…’ V shot back in a moment of opportunity.

‘Now, listen. What I gave you’s the skeleton soft. But the firmware’s fancy, it’ll learn, grow with you. It’ll improve if you feed it data.’ Song elaborated, trying to ignore V’s little flirt. ‘Combat analyses, logs of legendary ops, shit that’d make the NCPD piss its boots. Look around Dogtown.’

‘Gotta get there first.’

‘Main entrance is a no-go. You don’t have an entry pass, and I don’t have time to produce a fake.’ Songbird stated, as she began walking further into the junk lying around the place. ‘You’ll slip in “the back way,” quiet as you can. We really don’t need anyone spotting you, scanning you.’

‘Ugh, better not regret this…’ V muttered out.

‘Leave it to me. I’ll make damn sure you won’t.’ So Mi stated with confidence, before turning to look at the merc. ‘I’ll be right beside you - as much as I can.’

V had a couple things in mind as she heard Song’s words, more so in the way of not regretting it. Wouldn’t it be nice if she got the cure, and her at the same time? But nevertheless, she got to infiltrating Dogtown. Slipping behind some dumpsters, she listened to So Mi’s suggestions as she said them through the Relic, but she had some tendency to ignore them if need be. She made it through the loading docks, and managed to slip into the garage, removing an obstacle behind her, so no one could follow.

Once inside, she made her further in, grabbing whatever she came across, logs, shards and loot. Hopped down to a lower level, and reached a maintenance room, where she checked for power, and booted up the systems, checking out a map of the garage before finally getting to the access point, netting Songbird access to the stadium, and importantly for her at this time - the garage.

As V looked on at So Mi reappearing on some revived platform, it was really getting to her that this beauty really was a top-tier netrunner, and as she got onto the platform to stand beside Songbird, she couldn’t help but comment on it. ‘Heh, hang on. OK, Relic hack first, then you slapped a muzzle on Johnny, now you bring some pile of scrap metal back to life? Serious trickery, all. Who taught you?’

‘V, I’m an NUS intelligence analyst. Trained under the best peeps in the biz.’ Song answered, looking back at her as they went down the platform, revealing the massive expanse of the stadium’s garage. ‘And they took me on ‘cause around age thirteen I got the local ripper to sell me a beat-up old deck. Barely left the Net since. I got noticed, the rest is history.’

‘I got a feelin’ the story’s incomplete. Likely longer, more twisted.’

‘Mm? Might be.’

As the platform came to a stop, V chose to shoot her shot. ‘’Sides all that, wouldn’t mind seein’ what else you’re capable of…’ 

The netrunner chuckled, before quipping back: ‘All in due time, V.’

V hopped to it with a smile, making her way forwards as things lit up and guided her to where she needed to go. She had some thoughts in mind, just about So Mi in general.

‘Apologize up front for the query, but I gotta ask… Konpeki Plaza heist - why?’ Song inquired.

The question was a bit out of the blue, and it did pause V’s thoughts for a moment, before V answered. ‘Konpeki was pure ambition. Sometimes you hit a rut in life, wanna blaze your way out.’ She remarked, continuing. ‘Do somethin’ you’ll be remembered for. Set my sights too high, I guess.’

‘Yeah, I know the feeling. But ambition, confidence - they’re not bad in themselves.’ So Mi responded, trying to give some sympathy.

‘No, their human toll can be.’

‘Maybe.’

A silence fell over the two as V continued her way through the garage. The next platform led her downwards, and as she began her way across a mesh flooring, the thing caved in on itself and broke, causing the merc to fall, but thankfully there was a stronger layer below the fencing. 

V got up, and after confirming she was okay, she looked around and saw where she had to go. Catwalk, all the way at the top. But going Songbird’s way didn’t seem to be all too trustworthy anymore. A little glimmer of light V saw the opposite way caught her interest, and she began to make her way over there.

As she approached the point where she’d have to go across, Songbird commented. ‘Don’t think it’s wise to try and jump that gap-’ Before she could finish, V leapt across, and using her cyberware, successfully made it. She quieted down for a moment before remarking, sounding annoyed. ‘Doin’ the opposite of what I say on purpose, V, really?’

‘Hey, hey, chill. Already got one holowhiner inside me, don’t need another.’ V shot back, before focusing on getting to wherever this led.

The redhead continued on, hopping smaller gaps and climbing up obstacles, before reaching a fusebox, which seemed broken on first glance, considering how it was sparking like mad. From a scan, it was a distribution box, and surprisingly, it was operable. Perhaps she actually can actually make it up to the catwalk in her own way, impress the netrunner in her ear as well.

She got to work on it, opening it up and fiddling with the controls, managing to rewire a platform to move. In turn, Songbird made note of what V was doing, sounding pleasantly surprised. ‘Hah, interesting approach. Had somethin’ else in mind, but… you do you.’

‘I try my best…’ V responded, brushing it off before attempting another shot again. ‘Buuut I wouldn’t mind hearin’ what you have on mind all the time.’

‘Well, other than the obvious ‘don’t be a gonk’ suggestion, I would… Oh.’ Song said, stopping as she realised what the redhead was doing. ‘This a thing you do, V?’

‘What?’ V asked back, playing slightly dumb as she leapt onto the moving platform.

Songbird let out a chuckle and elaborated. ‘Hit on your clients? Doesn't seem all too professional.’

‘Well… Only the ones I find attractive.’ V admitted.

‘And I fall into that category, hm?’

As V leapt off the moving platform and continued onto the next portion of ledges and platforms, she shrugged. ‘What can I say? Got a preference.’

‘Sure… Just focus on the task at hand. Don’t get too distracted.’ Songbird asked, trying to get serious again.

‘Heh. No promises.’ V responded, as she finally reached the next distribution box, quickly getting to it to power up the next platforms as she saw the ladder in the distance.

Setting off, she made her way to the ladder, looking to make sure she hadn’t missed a thing, and she really didn’t. Found curious things here and there, as well as an intrepid explorer who tried sneaking through the same way she did, campsites and whatever else. Didn’t matter all too much as she hopped the last two gaps before the ladder.

As she approached it, Song remarked: ‘Mapped your position… Wow. Not bad at all.’

‘Glad you’re impressed with me.’ The redhead responded with a hefty amount of pride on her face.

‘You know, I am impressed by the fact that you're so determined to get on my good side.' Song responded in return.

'Well, considering how you basically took me out in one go back at the entrance, kinda obvious thing that I've gotta do.' V remarked, as she took hold of the ladder and began climbing up, seeing the platforms in the distance.

'By being a kiss-ass?' Songbird teased.

'If it means having to actually kiss your ass, I'd do it.' V stated oh so matter of factly.

A quiet moment washed over the conversation, before the netrunner just let out a dry: 'Hah.'

As V got up, she saw the expanse of the garage, and it put some thought into her head about how easy it looks to just fall and not survive. Wild. Beyond that, she was a hop and a skip away from reaching the catwalk.

The redhead began hopping across, and the thought of finding out more about Songbird came to mind. Might as well, if she’s trying her luck. ‘Seem to have a little time. Care to spare a few detes? ‘Bout yourself?’

‘Well, phoo… I’m a Capricorn.’ Songbird answered.

‘So, what… that make you stubborn? Or you intimating that you buy into that hippie dippie star scop?’ V teased, as she finally reached the other side.

‘Well, I am stubborn. Do I buy it? Dunno… had a good friend who did.’ She elaborated, sounding lost for a brief moment. ‘No idea why it popped into my head now. Guess it meant somethin’ to me once…’

‘Care to tell me about it?’

‘Sure, sometime. Promise.’

V nodded absentmindedly at the answer, as she climbed up, then hopped down from an elevated position, seeing some sort of security room that was abandoned. She approached the pathway, seeing Songbird reappear. Every time she did, seemed genuinely like a treat to the redhead’s eyes.

‘Bright as the cityside metro, huh?’ She remarked, as she began to walk into the passageway.

‘Reminds me of when I was starting out. I’d look for places like this… set up a power bypass, jack in, essentially steal my way onto the Net.’ So Mi reminisced. ‘Grabbed the riskiest gigs I could find, learnin’ as I went - the hard way, usually. But sometimes, a few times… I really pulled off coups.’

‘Anything I’d find on BBS gossip feeds?’ V inquired, as she pilfered her way through the place.

‘Hmm - Biotechnica in sixty-three or four. Fermentation facility in Oregon, off the grid hack. Sound familiar?’ Songbird asked, as she appeared on a ledge above.

Even with the sight of seeing So Mi above her, fueling something in the merc’s head, she shook her head in surprise. Wasn’t any real netrunner, but she had kept up with BBS feeds. ‘No shit, that was you?! Only the best reach that high. Talkin’ Spider Murphy, Bartmoss…’  V exclaimed, before pausing. ‘Songbird? Nah, nick’s not settin’ off buzzers.’

‘If I’d wanted fame, I’da gone rockerchick.’ She responded back.

So Mi as a rockerchick? Was one decent thought, especially with how some stars dress. ‘Well, can certainly envision you like that.’

‘Not relentin’ for a moment, are you?’ So Mi teased with a smirk. ‘What, thinkin’ of me being scantily clad in something tight?’

Just the thought V needed. A quick imagining of that sent shivers down the merc’s spine. How hot it must look. ‘Mm… I can certainly see it. Thanks for the visualisation.’

‘Pff… Heh, really wondering now if you’re worth the trouble.’ The netrunner remarked in return.

‘I’m worth it, trust me.’

‘Hold you to it.’

V swept whatever else was left before the door, and as So Mi disappeared from view, the doors opened, leading into some server room. Did her usual routine before finally approaching the end of the hallway. 

As she got closer, she saw the lights light up an elevator. ‘Elevator - hop in. I’ll do the rest. You’ll be in Dogtown in a minute. Try to steer clear of Hansen’s goons.’

‘Goons should be the one’s avoidin’ me.’ V remarked, as the elevator finally stopped at her floor.

‘You’re on Hansen’s turf now, don’t forget. They rule the roost.’ So Mi reminded her, as V stepped into the elevator, it beginning to ascend. ‘Hansen was an officer, Militech. Tail end of the Unification War, his unit was tasked with taking Night City.’

‘They managed to secure a foothold in this southmost pocket and… stuck around.’ The netrunner elaborated. ‘Refused to demobilise, lay down their weapons. Founded Dogtown instead.’

‘Traded one conflict for another, basically.’ 

‘Hot or cold - no better way to make a buck than war.’

As the elevator finally arrived on the appropriate floor, V made her way up, crawling through some cybernetic limbs before reaching the hustle and bustle of Dogtown’s stadium. Massive place, with tons of stalls. Lots of people as well. 

She mingled a bit, secured some gear and equipment, before moving on after seeing some BARGHEST goons beat the scop out of some civvie. Dunno how much of a civvie they were in this kinda place, but still. She went up the way directed to her, and saw Song walk to a railing and look out upon an aerozep.

‘V, um, been meanin’ to ask… How bad is it for you?’ So Mi inquired, leaning against the railing as she looked to the merc.

V hadn’t thought about it much since she met her, but it was a grim reminder that she still had her life on the line. ‘Heh, clock’s tickin’, and fast. Relic’ll finish me, sooner rather than later.’

‘But you’re here. Lookin’ for a means to survive. Still fightin’.’ Songbird suggested with an apt amount of confidence. ‘Think you’d do anything for another chance?’

‘Can’t deny it.’

‘Chin up, we’re in this together.’

‘There is that.’

As Song disappeared, V pressed onwards. These quiet moments began to really get at her about what she was getting into… NUS President, a hot NUS intel analyst asking for help on her behalf? A spaceplane soon to crash in Dogtown? Wild stuff, and it began to nag at her mind. Bad, bad, bad was ringing, but she ignored it… for now.

‘All right. Time you got up on the roof.’ Song informed the merc.

‘The hell for?’ V asked with a slight hint of confusion.

‘For the view. And I’m not being coy, here. I mean you’ll see where we land, literally.’

Shame it wasn’t purely for the view, but nonetheless, V made her way to the site, ascending some platforms, before spotting an elevator, which soon got hacked and began making its way down.

‘Take the elevator.’ She ordered as it made its way down, before slowing, followed up by electricity sparking out of it as it halted completely. ‘Shit! We blew a circuit. I’ve lost access.’

‘What now?’ The redhead inquired, as she turned her gaze to where the wires go.

‘Try and restart the generator.’ She ordered in a state of frustration.

Machinery breaking down and complying with her force, even its industrial, meant to last against hacks? Seemed like a problem for Songbird to deal with. ‘Mm. Problem after problem. You keep breaking shit.’

‘Tech here’s tottering on its last feeble legs.’ She said, trying to brush it off.

‘Or you hack rough and the hardware don't like it.’ V teased.

So Mi didn’t reply until the elevator finally stopped at the floor and opened up. ‘Finally. Hop in, elevator’s roofbound.’ V shrugged and stepped in, pressing the button to go up. As she took the ride up, she looked at the aerozep, then the sky as the netrunner informed the merc. ‘FYI, we’re about to cross into Night City airspace.’

‘Might be a bit of a shock - braced for it? And, uh… whatever comes next?’ V inquired.

‘Not sure one can ever be ready for a forced landing. In Dogtown, of all places.’ So Mi admitted. ‘But havin’ you means my chances are lookin’ up.’

‘Glad I can be a relieving factor for you at the moment, heh.’ The redhead flirted.

‘Focus, V. Rooftop, reach it.’ Songbird stated with a stern seriousness.

Wasn’t foolin’ around no more. Hasn’t been for a moment since the elevator conked out. Once the elevator doors opened, V hopped to it, quickly making her way up the concrete rot to the roof, finding her way with decent ease. A few twists and turns, as well as climbs before she made it up to the top.

First thing V saw was So Mi on a girder, walking it as if it were a tightrope, walking to its edge as she looked back, before looking out to NC’s skyline. ‘You made it, good.’

‘What now?’ V asked, while indirectly gazing at Songbird. Didn’t want to seem like too grand of a distracted gonk.

‘The calm before the storm.’ She stated, before pointing into the sky to a plane. ‘See that…? It’s us - Space Force One.’

‘We’re descending, in for a rough--’ She began to explain before turning around, distracted by something… bad. ‘Oh fuck…!’

‘What? What’s goin’ on?!’ V asked, hearing some sound from behind her, before seeing a missile zip by her. ‘What the hell?!’

The first was avoided thanks to flares, but then a second one shot past straight for the plane. ‘Songbird!’ 

‘V, the President…! You have to--!’ She yelled, before the missile struck the plane, removing their connection moments after.

‘Songbird?! Goddammit!’ She yelled, but to no avail, as the plane began to change course in the moment… Straight towards her.

“Ho-oly shit, shit, shit!!” V yelled out and tried to back away with haste as its speed and descent caused two construction cranes to topple and then nearly pancake V into mush as parts of the plane began flying right at her. “Fuck me!”

The force of the plane’s momentum carried onto V, as she got flung backwards, right into some concrete. She hit the ground hard and rolled over, only to see the plane continue to crash, and something shoot off to the side of it.

“OK, OK… Got this…” V muttered to herself in shock as she began crawling to the chute in front of her. “Save the President… sure, no fuckin’ problem…”

She hopped in, and began tumbling down the thing as she really began to contemplate shit. Some of this might just be too much for her. Hopefully, if anything, she can get her wits about her, and do what she had been asked to do. As the chute neared its end, she shot out into a garbage pile.

V crawled out, and looked in front of her. BARGHEST patrol cars, AVs and whatever the fuck else was heading SF1’s way… “Wunnerful…”

As she saw it all, something snapped in her. She was all about insurmountable odds, but this - an entire army rolling down upon possibly the most important aircraft in the NUSA was not inspiring any confidence in her. In fact, it was doing the opposite. How the hell is she gonna face off against such odds? Presumably, they outnumber her hundred-to-one, perhaps even more than that with what’s rushing down to intercept Myers. Fuck this.

The merc looked around, and saw a decent car not far from where she was standing. It’d get her the fastest way to get outta here, and she could slip by BARGHEST defenses, if anything.

She ran and got into the car, quickly speeding up the circular path upwards. As she did, the Relic connected through. ‘Ugh… OK, I’m back!’

‘Songbird!’ V replied in genuine relief, as she began driving out of the way, trying to take the quickest path out, BARGHEST be damned.

‘And out - landed safely!’

‘Shit, Songbird! Thought you might’ve… Fuuuck…’

‘Yeah, I know, I know. Songbird the cat, life number nine commenced, alas.’ She remarked, having yet failed to notice V driving past BARGHEST around the other side of the pyramid, seemingly set on a course to escape the zone. ‘I made sure to get Myers to the saferoom before I ejected. Run to the wreckage, V - save her!’

The mention of saving Myers went over V’s head as she thought that this was way above her paygrade, even for a cure. ‘Missiles, Songbird?! They just shot you clean out of the sky! No, no fuckin’ way!’

‘I had no idea Hansen was that fucked in the head…’ Song remarked.

‘Or that fucking determined!’

‘You need to hurry!’ She ordered, before realising what V was doing. ‘Find Myers, get to Liz Kress--’

‘Hey, wait, what the hell are you doing?! Get to the crash site, now!’ Songbird’s entire tone changed to one of apparent confusion within the rising tension of the situation.

V simply… Didn’t listen, as she was about to try driving past the big tower with a massive blockade in front of her, up until… The car got hacked and driven off into a side street, crashing. It was inexplicable, until…

‘Fucking motherfucking fuck!’ Songbird yelled out in complete frustration, and growing fury.

The merc hobbled out of the car, and groaned a bit before asking: ‘What?’ 

‘Congrats, V. You just killed Rosalind Myers and fucked the NUSA.’ The netrunner said in spiteful fury.

‘What’ the hell’re you spewin’, Songbird?’  V asked, acting more so like a gonk than before, but then again, hey - she was being more smart than she was five minutes ago.

‘You had one job - get to the plane, save her.’ She stated, as her fury began to boil over, venom shooting out from her tone. ‘You failed. You killed her, as if you pulled the trigger yourself.’

‘Absolutely sure she’s dead, like really sure?’ V asked, casting doubt that they’d kill Myers instantly. Prez of the NUS was a much bigger prize alive, than dead.

‘I’m sure.’ She said in a venomous tone, as V’s optics began to glitch out, and the Relic effects began to kick into full gear. ‘Pray we don’t meet again, and I mean ever.’

“Daaaghhh…!” V yelled out in pain as she tried to hold herself together, before slamming right against the ground, searing in absolute, torturous pain.

When V finally came to again, she was sprawled out on the ground, in front of that… pyramid. Heavy Hearts, it was called. As she started to sit up-right, Johnny appeared, standing before her. “Ugh… huh?”

‘Still with us?’ The rockerboy asked, looking down at her.

‘Augh, what the… what happened?’ V asked with a hoarse voice. Felt like a horrible hangover.

‘Your presidential rescue op - miserable failure. Honestly, though? Good fuckin’ riddance.’  Johnny answered, arms crossed and shaking his head before shrugging.

‘Huh, ugh, OK… So now what?’ V asked, wondering where to go from here.

‘Huh. We go on livin’, start by findin’ us a drink.’ Johnny suggested, before kneeling down and grinning at V. ‘Do it, so I won’t incessantly remind you of how hard you fell for that bird bitch.’

‘Yeah, yeah… I got that. Don’t want to talk about it all the same as well.’ V replied, trying to not focus on her, as she got up to look around.

As she took in the views, the redhead sighed. What a wild ride. Only good thing she got out of this was access to Dogtown. Thankfully, whatever was with the NUS president, is no longer her problem. As Johnny said, good riddance. Still a shame that she fumbled the bag with Songbird. Fiery temper, sultry voice, sexy lady all the same. Wouldn’t have minded getting with her, but hey, so be it. One thing was certain in her head, though.

There’s no way they’ll ever meet again… right?

Chapter Text

Heavy Hearts, Dogtown

Turns out, the pyramid was a club of sorts. Heavy Hearts. Sure, it was morning, but after all that V went through in the past day, it was well past time for a strong drink. After some warning from security which she really didn’t pay attention to, the redhead walked in and immediately got to the bar, sitting down and getting herself a glass of tequila.

As she downed a decent bit, she thought back to yesterday. Was a real shame that a chance like Songbird slipped her grasp. Thinking back, she proved to be more alluring than V’d like to admit. That face, that body, her whole style… Fuck. Even though their last moment was all threats and anger from So Mi’s end - honestly, kinda fuckin’ hot. Wouldn’t mind hearing her be mad again, although, preferably without the looming threat of having her brain scrambled by her.

As she continued to sip it, she got a call… Mr. Hands. Pacifica’s premier fixer. Hm. Might as well see what he wants.

When she picked up the call, the silhouette of Hands was there, only his hands standing out as he spoke. “V, welcome to Dogtown. Quite the hot spot lately. You took some time to make an appearance - colour me puzzled.”

“‘S kinda outside my usual beat.” V replied nonchalantly. Wasn’t gonna tell why she was here, for certain.

“Hm, well, you’re here now, and I’ve work for you. Hansen isn’t D-town’s sole employer, y’know.” Hands responded.

Hm. Well, she doesn’t know much about this combat zone. Pacifica was well enough known, but Hansen’s turf? Might as well get to know the ground floor on things here. “What’s your link to this area, either way?”

“This is Pacifica’s bumping, thumping business heart. Where the real deals are done.” He explained. “And I could do with a capable merc such as yourself in such an environment.”

“Sure. Wouldn’t mind the extra eds.” The redhead replied with a shrug.

“One last thing. How you breached Dogtown’s border, I’m not certain, though I suspect not via the main gate. Irrelevant in any case.” The fixer remarked. “I’ve secured clearance for your future convenience. Your name and likeness - now registered in the system, granting unfettered passage over the district threshold. Talk again soon.”

The call ended, and the merc looked around. Well, might as well ingratiate herself with the environment she’s hurled herself into. Finishing the tequila, she left a couple eddies as a tip before heading out, not noticing that occasionally, a security camera followed her movement.

She stepped out into Golden Pacific, and looked around. Stadium to the right of her, tower called the Black Sapphire to the left. Saw the spot where she had woken up in, after being oh so tenderly knocked out. No idea how she got there in particular, but hey, something to worry about another day. The redhead began to walk the streets as she saw an AV drop off something, releasing red smoke once it landed.

The rockerboy appeared, leaning on a railing as he looked out to the smoke billowing out. ‘Huh. That smoke mean Dogtown chose a new pope?’ 

‘Maybe the veep crashed Space Force Two.’ V replied humorously. 

A grin showed on his face, before shrugging. ‘Could go check it out. Not like we have much of anythin’ else goin’ on.’

The merc gave a nod, and set off for the smoke. It soon enough led her to a site in the upper levels of Dogtown, Terra Cognita. Found the place crawling with BARGHEST operatives around some sort of sturdy crate, a dull beeping sound going off every couple seconds or so. Red smoke was still emanating from it, so it was from that AV… Best guess - an airdrop. Probably full of supplies meant for the organisation, to utilise, or sell… Who knows. Nonetheless, means it probably has a promising amount of loot that V can ‘appropriate’ for herself.

It took some effort, but the merc soon enough managed to eliminate the soldiers trying to open the airdrop, before taking a crack at it herself by hacking the thing. After a moment, the crate opened up, revealing a decent amount of military-grade equipment, and other items of note. Not a lot that she’d use herself, but more than enough to sell off and walk off with a decent chunk of eddies. V made her exit soon enough as more BARGHEST soldiers were beginning to arrive. 

Thoughts on what to do after selling the loot came to mind, and it all centred around getting some work done in Dogtown, even if the combat zone wasn’t gonna get her a cure. Hands wants some jobs done, so she got to it at her own pace.

Several Days Later… 

It had been a few days since V got to work making eddies in D-town via Hands, and the jobs were curious, to say the least. Helping two dinguses of badges escape the clutches of a BARGHEST lieutenant who they still pissed off after they ran over one of the soldier’s feet, leaving them for V to deal with, then going after a Zetatech engineer with prototype chrome, managing to help them escape and set up a new life, and so many more, such as a training centre for kids, getting tangled into some Militech-media nonsense in an underground facility, and even helping some BARGHEST gonk after they showed their fucked up story. A wild ride, all of them.

V was in the Moth, taking a respite as she watched the news on the screen in the back. N54 News was on, with Gillean Jordan. The merc honestly, wasn’t paying much mind, until something caught her ear.

“-We now go to Washington D.C., where President Rosalind Myers of the New United States has made a public appearance at the White House, after days of uncertainty around her fate after the alleged crash of Space Force One in Night City.”

“Woah, what?” V remarked in surprise, before gesturing to the bartender. “Hey, turn it up.”

The bartender gave a nod as she turned up the sound while looking at it herself. “My fellow Americans, I understand you have been duly concerned with the incident of Space Force One in Night City, and have come out in droves of support for me, and my government.” Myers stated with clear confidence ebbing from her voice. “I thank all the loyal citizens of the NUSA who have come to show their voices, their will for my return, and here I am now. From preliminary investigations, it is currently suspected that a rogue element had taken the opportunity to shoot us down.” 

“Thanks to the assistance and… goodwill, of Kurt Hansen, I was able to be safely evacuated back to NUS territory. As much as we do not recognise his rule, we will appreciate his… immediate assistance.” The president remarked with a clear tinge of discomfort. Seems this is more of a humiliation than anything else. “And now that I have returned home, the NUSA will continue on its goal to forward the rights and liberties of all Americans, and make this country whole again.”

V blinked for a couple moments as Johnny appeared on the other side of the bar to look at the screen as well, as it returned to Gillean’s view. “Well, it seems for now, crisis has been averted between the Free City and the New United States. Only time will tell if this peace will last.”

‘Well, it seems Madame Prez is all fine ‘n’ well, sittin’ pretty in her throne again.’ The rockerboy remarked, scoffing at the sight of her face.

V gave a nod as she realised the fact of the matter. ‘Shit… Means Songbird was wrong about her bein’ dead.’ 

Silverhand gave a nod as he turned to her and lent in as if he were the bartender. ‘That, and probably more. Fuck knows if she even had a clue as how to cure you.’

‘Yeah… Prolly back in D.C. now, sittin’ pretty with Myers in the Oval Office.’ The redhead remarked, sounding a bit disappointed at the fact, but also, slightly relieved.

‘If anythin’, means we don’t have to worry about meeting the bird ever again.’ He stated, before tapping the drink. ‘Now, let’s drink to the fact the Prez had a safe return.’

V arched an eyebrow, before asking: ‘Because she’s alive ‘n’ well?’ 

‘No, to lament she didn’t get shot down twice.’ He snarkily replied with a shake of his head.

The merc snorted, before grabbing hold of the drink she had. ‘Hah. I can drink to that.’

The merc took a swig, watching the news broadcast switch to something else, causing an immediate loss of interest in whatever it was showing now. She pondered what to do next, checking her opportunities within Dogtown and NC on a larger scale. It was as she did this, did Mr. Hands of all people, call her. Curious, but not out of the ordinary in these past few days. She picked it up.

“V, oh my favourite merc. We need to talk.” Hands began, being vague.

“‘Bout what, Hands?” V asked back in turn.

“About a possible major gig for yourself, which should net both of us equally major benefits.” Hands elaborated, gesturing for a moment.

This was surprising. Something bigger than all of these other gigs within Dogtown? And it’s Hands of all people offering it. It did most certainly pique her own curiosity. “Major enough that it requires a direct call?”

“More than that, this requires a face-to-face interaction.” The fixer added on.

“Finally gonna see the man behind the curtains?”

“That you are. Come to the Heavy Hearts. I’ll flick you the elevator code shortly.”

“Nova. See you soon, then.”

The call ended, and V was genuinely curious as to what all of this was about. It's one thing to be offered a major gig, but Hands dropping the enigmatic act to discuss it? Sorta stuff you’d see once in a blue moon. She quickly downed the rest of her drink before paying her tab, and leaving the Moth, moving with haste out of Longshore to go to the pyramid-shaped club. She was unaware that sometimes on occasion, a drone would track and follow her, although for not long enough that V would notice.

It took only a short while before the redhead was walking into the Heavy Hearts again, although this time, it wasn’t to get a drink. She walked her way over to the elevator off to the side of the club, punching in the code that the fixer netted her. It worked its magic, and V stepped into the elevator, pressing the only available floor. Once there, she approached the door marked as Hands’ room, and she was able to overhear some conversation, nothing important. Once it was done, V knocked on the door.

The door opened, revealing a man in his middle-to-late age, dressed exquisitely in a designer suit, with those tell-tale cybernetic hands. 

“Ah, if it isn’t V…” Hands remarked, stepping into the middle of the room as the merc entered. “V, my favourite merc, splendid. What you completed for me… significantly shifted the playing field vis-à-vis Hansen. Excellent work, precisely as requested.”

“C’mon, Hands - flattery, really? Seems a little beneath you.” V remarked.

“An overused tactic, agreed - unnecessary. No, V, this is strictly business.” The fixer stated, nodding slightly in agreement. “For those who do their work well, praise is a mere restating of the facts.”

“Maybe the one thing I didn’t expect - to see the man behind the holo-curtain. The elusive Mr. Hands in the flesh.”

“You have proven to be a person I can trust. Hence my decision to drop the veil and meet in person. A rare occurrence, I assure you.” Hands stated. “Were I to have more virtuosos like you, I wager I’d have more than Dogtown in my grasp… Dogtown, Pacifica, then I’d line up the rest, snort and it’d be done.”

A silence came over the room as Hands began to make some of his tea. “Working with bona fide professionals - positively a treat.”

V looked around for a moment, noting a laptop sitting on the side of one of the couches, before turning back to the fixer, ready to get this moving. “So… What’s this about some major gig you wanted me to look into?” 

“Right. I got a most peculiar correspondence from a potential client about a couple days ago, not long after you set off on making your honest living here in Dogtown.” He began, as he set down and slid over some tea on the coffee table. “Requested you in particular, wanted to see your worth in person before offering some sort of ‘long-term’ gig.”

V took the tea, looking at it before taking a sip of it. “Yeeeah… Long-term really isn’t my thing, Hands.” 

“I assumed as much. Even told it to them up-front, but they were insistent. I tried prying out more information about what they want, but they were surprisingly… tight-fisted for the average client.” The fixer noted, taking a sip of his tea. “Wrote that if details were to be known, it’d be handed to you personally.”

“Okay, okay… Let’s say I believe this and take their word for it… Where’d they expect to meet me?” V asked.

“The Black Sapphire - Hansen’s shining castle on the hill, his palace. There’s going to be a party there very soon.” He elaborated. “The Colonel would like to keep it ‘invite-only’, but by exerting some pressure, a plus one was permitted, which you will be.” 

V nodded along, thinking it strange that it's in Hansen’s corner, prompting the idea that the Colonel wants her. “Don’tcha think this client might be Hansen himself?”

“I had that suspicion in mind upon its mention, but I had been provided enough proof that it isn’t him behind this offer.” Hands answered. “Besides all of that, the benefit still remains - even if it falls through, we get paid all the same.”

“So, if I don’t end up acceptin’ it, I can just enjoy the party at my own pace?”

“Indeed. Although I’d suggest dressing formally for the occasion. It’s where many forces will come to face each other. Medias, politicos, corporates and warlords of all stripes and colours, and beyond them, even.” He advised, tacking on a warning as well. “Once you’ve had enough, you can leave when you please.”

“Nova. Wouldn’t mind basking in the high life, see how it is to taste and feel rich.”

“Not an experience all too common to you, hm?”

“Not really. Other than the most formal of formal gigs, never really had a chance to enjoy the high-life.” V elaborated, knowing her roots in Heywood all too well.

“Well, in that case, you’re in luck.” The fixer responded, taking another sip of his tea. “If you are willing, and everything is in order - I’ll see you at the Black Sapphire.”

V gave a nod as she got up, seeing the fixer take a book and get into reading it. As she moved to leave, the laptop on the couch started calling to her. It was basically second nature at this point - wanted to know every dete, every little snippet of info she could, even if it was gonk of her to do so. It’s why she slotted every shard she came across, or accessed every computer, (nearly) put on every BD, even if it was to her own detriment. As he kept reading his book, V opened the laptop up and peered in, reading the messages. One called ‘How are things?’ was on top.

How are things?

From: Mr. Hands

To: Chester Bennett

Hello Chester,  I must admit that I knew nothing about your commanding officer's affinity for exploring underground bunkers. Is there anything else I have not been made aware of lately? 

--------------- 

From: Chester Bennett 

To: Mr. Hands 

Re: How are things? 

He planned it with Jago and Murphy. I was in charge of securing that other thing we've talked about and had no idea about Cynosure or anything related. But don't worry – as far as I know, he doesn't even have a buyer for that tech. Got more important things to deal with right now. 

--------------- 

From: Mr. Hands 

To: Chester Bennett 

Re: How are things? 

Regardless, I do hope it was the last time you have kept me in the dark on a matter. Such approach would not benefit either of us. 

Kind regards.

Seems someone in probably BARGHEST’s rank, someone with connections to Hansen, has gotten into some hot water with the fixer. Something about a bunker, tech from something called Cynosure… Eeeeh. Probably isn’t important or anything like that other than to corps or warlords. Military tech, possibly. She then noticed the next message - ‘Potential opportunity’.

Potential opportunity

From: S

To: Mr. Hands

Looking for a particular merc called V. I heard through the grapevine they affiliate with you in and around Pacifica. Could you get them to meet with me? I need someone capable and promising for a ‘long-term’ gig I have in mind.

--------------- 

From: Mr. Hands

To: S

Re: Potential opportunity

I certainly know of her, and have worked with them before. It would be extremely preferred if you provide some amount of detail about the gig you wish to have V partake in. I wouldn’t like one of my best mercenaries running head-first into a mess that they don’t have a clue about, and besides that, from what I have heard, long-term isn’t really a possibility with them.

--------------- 

From: S

To: Mr. Hands

Re: Potential opportunity

The proposed gig has to remain under heavy secrecy until I know they’re capable of what I want them to do. I am willing to pay up-front for the chance of meeting them in person.

And as for their time-based limitations, I don’t believe it’s a matter of concern. Even if nothing comes to pass, at least you’ll be paid for your time.

--------------- 

From: Mr. Hands

To: S

Re: Potential opportunity

I’ll send out feelers for her soon. Where is it that you want them to meet you?

--------------- 

From: S

To: Mr. Hands

Re: Potential opportunity

Black Sapphire - I’ll be there for the party. If you could have them tag along as a plus one, it would be appreciated.

--------------- 

From: Mr. Hands

To: S

Re: Potential opportunity

Bold strategy. Bringing her into the den of the devil is a risk neither her nor I would take lightly. How am I to be sure that you aren’t bringing her to our Colonel’s presence?

--------------- 

From: S

To: Mr. Hands

Re: Potential opportunity

I am there on my own terms, and what Kurt cares about in this case is irrelevant. The money will be worth the effort. Just bring her.

--------------- 

From: Mr. Hands

To: S

Re: Potential opportunity

Very well. I’ll do my best, but I cannot promise a thing.

Kind regards.

Huh… Seems this ‘S’ person was hell-bent on getting her to the Black Sapphire… Strange. The merc personally couldn’t get the why of it. Maybe she’s finally been recognised by someone way up the food chain of NC, and wants her to do a major league gig? Would be a nice change of pace, and a hefty sum of eddies for herself. But hey, maybe not a thing to really be concerned about. Once she was done, she stood up, closing the laptop quietly before leaving the room. 

As she walked into the elevator, Johnny showed up. V saw he had a look between disappointment and scowling.

‘What’s up, Johnny?’ V asked, tilting her head as she pressed the button to go down.

‘I don’t like this one bit. I mean, this S character shows up, basically demands you show up at this shindig in the heart of Hansen’s operation, all for some gig that we won’t be able to accomplish for long.’ Johnny remarked, looking off to the side, before looking back and pointing at her. ‘Something major stinks in all of this.’

‘Maybe got a point… but, then again, you could just be acting up on paranoia.’ V responded, dismissing the rockerboy’s worries.

‘One thing I’m usually not wrong about is when knowing a sitch is fucked.’ Silverhand shot back, crossing his arms. ‘As far as we know, could be Songbird coming back to finish the job.’

‘Nah. You’re totally paranoid. Songbird’s in D.C., ‘member?’

‘Yeah, but it doesn’t mean she couldn’t just cook you alive where you stand.’ The rockerboy looked at the doors open the elevator, before glaring at V. ‘I swear, if you drag us into something we can’t get out of…’

‘I won’t, Johnny. Promise. C’mon, let’s go and get ready for this.’ V interrupted, an assuring tone in her voice as she made her way out of the elevator, then the club. She had a party to get ready for.

A Day Later…

Evening, The Black Sapphire, Dogtown

V had gone and gotten herself ready for the event. What she wore was some green lizard print suit, with a golden piece on the chest, which she had gotten from Jinguji. She had been going through the place with Zane, him suggesting some standard suits and some special ones, before V caught eyes on the outfit she had picked out. Although Zane did suggest against it, the merc seemed convinced on getting the suit. It looked good enough, and it had a decently discounted price-tag. She might’ve regretted it now, but hey, nothing more she could do. 

After she had gone and gotten dressed, the merc had made her way back to Dogtown for the occasion, and met Hands at the entrance to the Black Sapphire. After confirming their identities, the two made their way into the elevator, where the fixer gave ample warning to be on her best behaviour. The merc dismissed it, and once they got up, Hands responded that they’ll most likely see each other after the party.

As he went off, V walked up to the ledge, and looked to the classical-styled temple with all the grandiose neo-kitsch aesthetics. Johnny appeared as he looked out to see the party. ‘Gotta hand it to Hansen, V… Party’s hoppin’, has a sense of grandeur. Didn’t have shit like this in my day…’ The rockerboy remarked. ‘Now hop on over there and help me out - managed to forget what real champagne tastes like…’

V gave a nod and got it, entering the party and seeing the grandiose amount of people there, and from all walks of life at that. There were the expected politicians, corpos and warlords, but there were also medias, celebrities and whomever else. It was a party for the elite of the world. A real show of Hansen’s influence, if anything.

She walked down the steps and one of the staff holding a plate with champagne spoke up. “Welcome to the Black Sapphire! Would you care for a drink?”

“Sure, wouldn’t mind it.” V replied, taking a glass and downing it, before putting it back.

She sauntered further and further into the party, over hearing the happenings between the NCPD and Sixth Street, Holden and Arasaka, Soviets and Tygers, with even Maiko being amongst them. Much of the talk was their own politics, and Johnny butted in on some of them, making his notes about the gangoons, the mob and whomever else. 

Beyond those fools were corporate investors thinking already of the shadiest and down-right ugly plans for Dogtown, if Hansen allowed it. All Johnny had to say about them was that V’s presence at this party was actually a blessing, being more moral than these soulless psychos. Beyond that, there were people that just didn’t fit, looked outta place, but they did their best to fit.

Within the party, V got herself seated right near a Hideshi Hino, who genuinely looked like Goro. After getting her drink, she interacted with the person, who was a celebrity who got out of rehab, and with the similar resemblance, he suggested that they inform him of the opportunity, as he would like a stunt double. Beyond that, the merc didn’t pay much mind, focusing on her next drink.

As she got more and more tipsy, Johnny spoke up. ‘Aim to get fucked up on Hansen’s dime, then puke all over his carpets? Respect.’

She continued downing a couple more drinks before making her way around, watching the crowd before seeing Ruth Dzeng. The girl flirted, so V flirted back, getting into some conversation before ending it when they said they’d speak later. One was here to party, other was on business. 

The gonk looked around for a good long while, wondering where this ‘S’ client was. She realised then they were more likely to approach them, which did make V a bit miffed, considering they’d have to sit around sloshed, waiting for a person they didn’t even know how they looked like. Only thing she could do at this time was drink and drink, perhaps gamble and wait for the person to approach them.

V spent her time the best she could, wondering when the fuck was this person gonna arrive. She’d already gone drinking, gambling while drinking, and lucking out by winning some impressive winnings. It was gonna do her good, no doubt. As she walked her way out of the gambling hall, she went with a drink in hand, heading up to the mezzanine. She had noticed Hands up there sometime back, but she thought it well to let him keep to his own business, while she kept making the rounds, seeing if this client would even reveal themselves.

She walked down the mezzanine slowly, before seeing some woman looking over the entire party in a nicely fitted green dress, purple feathers… A fine ass. They had purple hair, and a fuck-ton of chrome. Looked like a Maelstromer’s christmas gift, or just one of their girls… If not for the fact that the chrome was actually perfectly organised, and didn’t look like a scav’s botch job. Nevertheless, the backside was extremely appealing… Wouldn’t mind seeing what she looked like from all angles.

She stepped closer, taking a swig of her champagne before putting on a smirk, and moving to interact with them, saying some quirky flirt. “Hey, beautiful. Wanna lemme get a look at your chrome? I’d love to do a deep ‘inspection’, heh.”

As she touched their shoulder, the woman turned around to look at V, and it was… Songbird, carrying an expression that’d kill. 

Fuck.

Chapter Text

The Black Sapphire, Dogtown

The moment that they locked eyes, V had two sensations wracking her mind - a tidal wave of awkwardness, and near absolute fear. It had just been nearly a week since SF1’s crash landing in Dogtown, and it was supposed to be that with Myers safely in D.C., the redhead wouldn’t have to worry about the NUSA for the foreseeable future. But here was Songbird, who had shattered the merc’s capacity to respond.

The fear and worry of Song’s presence was mildly downplayed by the fact of how hot she looked in the moment. Seeing her from the side… The thighs, the hips… Her hair, her eyes, that threading, that makeup… And, of course, those succulent orchid lips… Seemed like an absolute dream within this nightmare. Didn’t help that the seething anger just emanating from the netrunner’s face was shooting all sorts of mixed signals to the gonk and her barely processing mind..

Every second that passed felt more like an hour, and it began to feel more like a still from some movie. The merc’s face had dropped and gone pale, while Song’s still rocked the death glare of a century. If looks could kill, this’d be one of them. Thought processes were still running through for the redhead, and she knew she needed to act fast, with her fight or flight beginning to kick in. All her synapses were signalling the same thing to the redhead - Fuckin’ run, rabbit. Run.

It only took a moment for V to make the first move, letting out an awkward chuckle as took a step back. “Uh… Thought you were someone else. I’d best be going now--” She muttered out hastily, nearly turning heel on a dime.

Wrong move. Within that very moment, V felt her legs go weak, red glitches showing up on her optics, all while warnings of intrusions were made, but quickly disappeared as V managed to hold onto the table for dear life, while a dull pain overtook her senses, making her yelp momentarily in suffering.

“Ngh… The fuck…?” V managed to sputter out, looking at herself, confused as to what’s going on, before looking up at Song.

The netrunner had a face plastered with contempt as she stepped forward. As she did, the merc raised her arm to block, but she grabbed it firmly, her metallic hands digging into V’s skin as she moved the arm downwards as she spat out venomously. “You got some nerve to show up, V.”

“I’da thought you’d be back in… ngh…” V muttered out, gritting her teeth as she took a breath in and kept her focus on Song. “...D.C., with Myers…”

“Well you thought wrong.” She bluntly responded as she let go of V's arm, as if throwing away some trash, the merc immediately moving it to the table to just try and get more upright.

As the merc tried getting herself up a bit more, another spike of pain went through her, making her remain in place. “Gah… Fuck d’ya do…?!”

“Disabled all of your cyberware. You’re helpless as a fish outta water.” Songbird elaborated, the poison still dripping from every word, as she looked down at the redhead with disgust. “You try anything, try to run… BARGHEST’ll eat you alive.”

“What do you even want…?!” V grunted out in frustration, shaking her head as she banged her fist on the table, before looking at Song, pointing at her the best she could. “If you’re gonna fry my mind, then do it already…! Spare the fuckin’ theatrics!”

Song stepped closer and firmly grasped the redhead’s jaw, pointing at her with the other hand. “I should zero you for the gonk you are, V…! You nearly let Myers die, nearly brought the NUSA into another war… Nearly ruined everything!” She rattled off in anger, before breathing out and letting go of her face, but not stepping back. “But I won’t. I have something else in mind. And you’re going to follow me.”

V grasped at her own face for a bit, feeling the pain of it as she looked at the floor. Finally as the pain began to subside, she managed to straighten up and asked: “What? To where…?”

“Do you really want to end up in tomorrow’s body lottery? If not, then zip it.” Songbird commanded, as the lights began to dim, and music began to play. 

V had intended to fire back with something snarky, but how So Mi just… commanded her, kinda put the redhead into a standstill. She didn’t really want to believe it, but she might just be enjoying this, and she knows where this was coming from. Fuck you, Johnny. In a huff, she got completely upright and answered, her face slightly aflush in red. “Fuckin’... fine.”

Without any other words, Songbird grabbed hold of V’s wrist, as if she were a delinquent brat. As soon as everyone’s eyes were on the stage as Lizzy Wizzy began to perform her piece, the netrunner basically dragged V out of the venue, slipping by security, leading herself and the redhead to god knows where.

As the merc was led by Song, the merc got a chance to see her backside for a good long while. Without realising that maybe the netrunner had gotten back into her optics, V’s eyes slipped down from the chrome on her back, down to her rump below. The way it swayed as she took her steps, its grand size… Couldn’t believe that the real thing looked even more appealing than the Relic projection.

They passed the elevators after a moment, and the redhead got more puzzled. Where the hell were they even going if not down below to some other level? As the two got close to some double doors, they opened on Songbird’s command, and she led her in. It was some room with lockers, hampers and washing machine… Laundry room, seems like, with an elevator in the back on top of it.

As soon as she made sure V was in there, she tightened her grip on the merc, before pulling her forwards, the gonk slamming up against a locker, and the doors and elevator closed and locked themselves to make sure the merc couldn’t run anywhere. V seethed in pain as turned on a dime, glaring a bit at the netrunner, wondering what had gotten into her.  “What the fuck now…?”

“Been thinkin’... About all the things you said to me.” Song remarked as she got closer, then clenching her fist as her eyes went red. “So, tell me… How’s this for ‘rough hacking’?!”

“Wh-- Gah!!” V muttered out before she yelled out in pain. Nearly all her cyberware went offline in an instant, and there was a searing pain on her nerves as she fell onto the floor, barely able to keep on all fours. Felt like she was about to collapse at any moment as howled in pain. Could barely see Song step right in front of her.

It went for a while more, before stopping, granting V a bit of a respite. As she took heavy breaths, they looked up to see the netrunner towering over her. Even if she had been in pain, the redhead froze up as she gazed into Song’s warm, yet currently piercing hazel eyes, and her face became slightly red. Even if she couldn’t really admit it, the position she was in… is genuinely kinda appealing to the gonk.

Song kept her focus on V, glaring at the more and more clearly pathetic gonk. It did, though, prove to her that they were up to what she was gonna offer.  She scoffed and commanded bluntly. “Get up.”

Within seconds, the merc gathered her wits and bearing against the pain of her nerves, got herself up. “Ngh… What… what now?” The redhead asked, leaning against the lockers as she seethed against the pain.

The netrunner kept V against the wall, her hand resting on her shoulder. “You’ll listen nice and well.”

“S… Sure.” 

Songbird raised her nose and looked down upon the merc, even if she was still taller than her. She moved her hand onto her cheek, caressing as she began to explain. “As I told you, been thinking about everything you’ve said. And a thought came to mind…”

V carried a puzzled look on her face as she felt the surprisingly warm, cybernetic hand on her cheek, briefly nuzzling into it out of instinct before pulling back from it. “And what might that be…?”

“I’ll give you more than you bargained for…” Song muttered, putting a hand on her hips, accentuating her frame even more so, before continuing, a sly smirk on her face. “You’re gonna become mine.”

V absolutely paused at that statement. Out of many, many things Songbird could feasibly do to her in revenge, that was certainly not the one she expected. Her face began to go red, and her heart began to pound in her chest as she stuttered. “Wh-- What??”

“You heard me.” Song replied back, having an overt look of pride of how quickly V was becoming flustered.

“Fuck, Song, I…” V sputtered out, her mind barely able to process this whole situation. Getting threatened with death had always been the norm in her life, but this? Not a chance.

“That was just a simple formality, V. You’re all for this, it's that glaringly obvious.” She remarked with a severe bluntness. “And if you aren’t, well… You can guess what could happen.”

The redhead blinked several times in surprise, her eyes still focused on Song and her face. She really wasn’t wrong about it - even if she was outwardly at a loss for words, her gonk mind already accepted it wholeheartedly. The gonk really, really wanted to say something, but nothing managed to escape her mouth. 

Her focus was broken by Johnny appearing off to the side of V. ‘Well, V, well done on getting yourself caught in the mess you made.’

V groaned internally and turned her gaze to the rockerboy. ‘What mess’re you on about?’ 

‘Oh I don’t know, pissin’ off Songbird, stickin’ ‘round too long in Dog-shit-town and then getting an oh-so-mysterious offer to meet an enigmatic client in the alpha mutt’s den?’ He stated, counting on his fingers.

‘Just a set of coincidences, Johnny…’ V remarked with a roll of her eyes, forgetting that Song could just possibly see Johnny and her conversing.

‘Yeah, sure, coincidences.’ The rockerboy sneered. ‘Just fuckin’ admit it already - you wanted this. No other reason to walk into Dogtown’s fortress and--’

“You.” Songbird said out loud, poison still lacing her words as she put her hand quickly onto the rockerboy’s shoulder.

V’s eyes went wide, as did Johnny’s as he got stuck in place as he had been when they first met. ‘What the-- Ah, fuck!’ Within moments, Johnny began to glitch out until he just… disappeared in a moment, leaving V without a voice in her head. She stared at the spot where he had been, before turning her head back to Song.

“No Silverhand. No one. Just you, and me.” She stated with a sultry tone, her face raised high, like she was looking down upon the merc, but her intense, sharp brown eyes nearly cut through whatever resolve V had left in her. What did it in, though, was Songbird putting her hand onto the merc’s cheek, and caressing it.

Needless to say, the redhead was completely frozen up, just waiting for Song to make the next move. Wasn’t any fight, nor flight left in her after that stunt. No matter what, she was here, and all for it. 

Songbird grabbed hold of V’s wrist and led her over to another spot, all without saying a word. She quickly spun around, pressing her own back against the wall as she looked right at the still stunned merc. It took Song setting her hands on V’s ass to finally set the redhead free from her own mind.

“What… What now?” V muttered out, looking at Songbird’s hands on her, then slowly back up to her face.

So Mi smirked, as her hands began to slowly drift upwards, gliding along V’s body, accentuating her build. “You’ll get your chance to apologise.” 

V gulped as she felt the odd warmth of Song’s cybernetic hands glide up past her waist, tracing her frame, slowly and curiously taking time at the redhead’s bosom before moving on up, a hand stopped at her shoulder, while the other returned to her face, taking a moment there before both of them firmly pressed on the redhead, making them slowly go downwards.

With some effort, the merc was finally on her knees, and looked up at So Mi, meeting her gaze as she looked down upon V, her hand keeping hold on their head. It was one of an unspoken, yet a clear soon-to-be dynamic, a mistress looking down upon a servant. It kept for a moment more, before Song’s hand tightened its grip, making the redhead look straight ahead.

V complied without much issue, considering what she was being ‘made’ to look at. Song’s bottom half, her hips, her ass, the thighs… Fuuuck, what she’d do to get in between those, and what she’d do there, if she weren’t at So Mi’s mercy. Her little train of thought did break as she saw So Mi’s free hand get close, her eyes focusing on it. 

As V saw the said hand grab hold of the silky dress, she was confused for a moment more than she’d like to admit, but it became all too clear what Song intended as she lifted and pushed the dress to the side…

What the redhead came face to face with was more desirable and wild than she ever thought. For starters, Song had nothing under her dress the whole time, which led into how stunning everything looked. The hips leading immaculately into her lower half, her ass and thighs leaving not a single spot empty as they pressed against one another, leaving the clearly prominent jewel at the centre for the fortunate to see - for the gonk, it was a literal perfect composition, and her eyes couldn’t break away, as if she were entranced.

“Holy…” V muttered out in awe, synapses and chemicals firing off in her brain as she observed the pinnacle of beauty in front of her.

As V gazed on, she barely noticed her head getting closer and closer, up until she was nearly in front of So Mi’s cunt, able to really get a good look at it, before noting So Mi took a breath, and spoke out in a sultry tone. “Now… Go on.”

V’s eyes peered upward, realising her position more clearly as she could barely spot So Mi’s eyes on her, she sort of hesitated, before asking. “Go on… what?”

“Apologise.” She commanded, letting her grip on V’s head soften slightly. 

The redhead’s beady eyes turned their focus back onto So Mi’s body, and for a moment, she was lost, taking in a couple deep breaths, warm air landing on Song as she let out a sharp exhale. Then she followed the order. “I’m… sor--” 

Before she could even process the sentence she was going to say, multiple things happened within moments. Song’s grip on her head tightened, and she was pressed without warning into the netrunner’s lower half, being kept there as she tried to breath out and her eyes sprung open. “Mmfph…!!”

“Actions, not empty words…” Song hissed, pulling V back a short distance, before amending her order. “Now… Apologise. Properly.”

V watched as she hooked the dress to the side, and used her hand to guide the complete gonk to what she was meant to do, said gonk’s eyes wide as Song put her now free hand onto her lips, spreading them, revealing her insides… 

It finally clicked for the redhead what she had to do, and she obliged, bringing her head close, puckering her lips as she began with a kiss to So Mi’s slit, before letting loose her tongue, lapping up the slick already set loose, forcing a hitched breath from the netrunner as the first moments of frenzy from V’s desperate pleas to say ‘sorry’ went on. 

It soon, did lead into a calm as the merc’s mouth gathered itself, and gave focus where it was needed, giving love to her clit as V tested the waters with the free hand she had, shifting her grasp from ground to skin, slowly caressing her new partner’s legs, as if worshipping a goddess… A very angry goddess, mind you. 

“Mmph-- Keep going…” Song let out, her breath uneasy, body already trembling and tensing up. It had been years since had received such gratification, and every lick and kiss made her weaker… But she couldn’t falter. Not with the gonk she had to punish.

V complied, her tongue finally giving her clit mercy, as she began to dig in past her folds, tongue exploring the constantly tightening and contracting insides of this stunning and dangerous netrunner, while her thighs kept pressing up against the gonk’s head.. 

It was clear to her that this was all ‘ganic, not a Midnight Lady, nor any other sorts of cyberware that would ‘enhance’ the experience for either of them, not that V minded. Was something she favoured, alongside Johnny. Dolls were nice, but none of it felt as real, like this…

In a moment, V’s tongue strayed over a sweet spot, and So Mi let out an instinctive gasp, her body immediately reacting before V could by lifting her leg and pressing it against the merc’s head while rocking her hips forward, to keep her right where she was.

“Mmh…?” V let out, slowing her tempo momentarily as she felt the grip on her head soften.

Another mistake. In a moment, Song had grabbed her hair, and yanked her in deeper. “Hnn… Did I-- tell you to stop…?!” Song sputtered out, a mix of incredulity and anger awashed with lust in her voice. 

The guttural reaction on Song’s end prompted the redhead to quickly comply and get back to work, making her apologies with each and every lick she gave, the netrunner’s hips impatiently grinding back in response, letting out sharp, rhythmic moans from herself… Losing bits and bits of her self control with every move she made. She realised that as much as she tried to keep the pace, her body was already just listening to V, and responding in accordance with how she pleases Songbird.

She wanted to grab control again, make V go at a pace that’d be preferential to her, but those plans fell apart in an instant as V hit another spot of hers she had forgotten in years gone by, causing the dam to finally burst. “F-Fuck, ‘m gonna…--!”

The netrunner whined and moaned uncontrollably, singing an incoherent song as she let years of pent up lust loose upon the gonk in between herself, gyrating her hips, pulling V’s hair, pressing into her as if she were nothing but a toy for her use, all while the merc kept following her command, cleaning the mess she could as she went into her more and more.

Once the moment passed, So Mi panted, breathing heavy as it would after such an experience, although still mixing with moans as V didn’t relent and kept on the warpath as had been requested. Finally was learning something, at least… might as well give her something in turn.

“You’re such a-- -mmh- --a bad girl, V…” So Mi panted out, her leg still locked around her head, her libido catching up with her again. “But I could… -haa- …forgive it…”

“Mhm…” V muttered out in a muffle, as she locked her arms around her thighs and slipped her tongue out of Song’s honeypot, returning to provide more love and forgiveness to her lips and clit.

“Fuck, V--” Song yelped out, really feeling her instincts kick in and guide this symphony of lust and desire, each suck, each lick, each lapping burning her head up, as if she was being wracked with a burnout. “Yes--”

Songbird could get used to this, right here and right now, before hearing a bang at the doors leading to the party, then multiple, her head immediately snapped to the source of the sound, eyes wide.

“Hey, who’s in there!? Why’re the doors locked and the elevator shut down?!” A gruff voice yelled.

Fuuuck. Why now?! Of course BARGHEST had to do something in here right now. For fuck’s sake--! If only V hadn’t been so dense!

V, although, saw a chance to be a bit of a punk. She tightened her grip around her thighs, and just dug into her folds with force, forcing a yelp from So Mi as she quickly looked down to see the gonk absolutely going at it like a psycho, each thrust with her tongue causing more and more moans as So Mi tried to get back control of the situation.

“V--! V, I swear to god-- Mmnnf…-” Song stated silently, desperately trying to get a hold of V, before it’s too late. “They’re right there! Are.. are you in-- -ah- insane!?”

V although, didn’t respond, not even a muffle, nor a moan. She just kept her tongue going at that intense, rhythmic pace, waging her own conflict with So Mi’s sweet spots as a ‘fuck you’ of sorts, letting the reward of the netrunner’s body press against her act as motivation to get her to orgasm again.

So Mi tried to pull V’s hair to get her out, make her stop, but her body just out right refused to let V loose until she was done, and for the party down there, the gonk was determined to make this count. With each movement of her mouth, she slipped her hand loose out of the grip it had made, and began feeling up Song’s thighs, and then ass, squeezing it as she heard the netrunner yelp and moan, and all she could do was cover her mouth, make it hopefully seem like whatever it seemed like from the outside wasn’t what they thought.

“If you don’t come out now, we’ll be forced to break the doors down!” The soldier barked.

As that was said, Song couldn’t handle the pressure anymore, and she moaned once more as she lost control, letting her juices loose once again, her pleasure and libido finally giving her room to act. Sadly, she didn’t have time to enjoy this as much as she could’ve, and immediately forced V out as she slowed, pushing her back. She felt like she was a mess. V definitely did look like a mess.

“Get up. Clean yourself, now!” Songbird ordered with ample amounts of anger as she quickly went over to the mirror to sort herself and look presentable, not having any time to deal with the streaks of slick on her legs.

Without saying a word, V followed the order, cleaning her face with the closest rag she could find before making sure her hair looked presentable. Even with having been in heaven just moments ago, she could tell that if Song wasn’t gonna kill her for pulling that stunt, BARGHEST definitely would kill her if she wasn’t excused somehow.

“Alright, that’s it! Get the doors open, now!”

As V got her finishing touches done, Songbird grabbed her by the collar of her suit, and brought her to be in front of her, as a human shield in the worst case, and then she opened the door, coming face to face with multiple soldiers, some having their guns at the ready.

“What the-- Ms. Song?! What were you doing in there?” One of the BARGHEST soldiers remarked, a one Jago Szabó. “Hansen’s been asking for you!”

V turned to Song, pondering what would be her excuse, but quickly looked away as she saw the stern, rage-and-spite-filled expression. Damn well put the fear of god into V. “Interrogating this possible infiltrator before you interrupted.” She responded with a sharp bluntness.

“Infiltrator…? Don’t worry, we’ll take it from here.” Jago said in surprise, before getting serious.

She raised her palm as two of the soldiers approached V, stopping as she responded. “No. I’ll deal with them. Take them to my suite.”

“That isn’t how the procedure works.” Szabó objected.

She turned her glare onto the BARGHEST official, and said with a venomous tone. “I don’t care. Or do you want me to go complain about it to Hansen?”

Jago hesitated, before nodding and gesturing to the soldiers. “... No, of course not. We’ll take her down there, immediately.”

So Mi nodded, before stepping into V’s view, that look of ‘I will absolutely fucking kill you’ written all over her face glaring into V’s soul, causing the gonk to gulp, as she then said with a eerie determination: “I’ll deal with you soon.”

With that, she shoved V into the BARGHEST soldiers, who quickly enough restrained her and began taking her away to So Mi’s room, presumably. As the merc saw her strut off back to the party, all V could think about in the moment was how furious she looked, and summarily, how hot it was. Got her ‘southern blood’ all pumping. She’s uncertain what Song’s gonna do to her, but hell, she’s here for it.

Hours Later… 

Songbird’s Suite, The Black Sapphire

It wasn’t long until V reached Song’s room, and was tossed in there. Moments after hearing the door lock behind her, she slowly made her way around the room, checking out the ‘runner’s pad. It was clearly fairly luxurious, fit for a corpo-rat with a taste for the high-life, with all the amenities to match. 

She noted the bathroom and went in to quickly wash her face, and as she walked out, the gonk got an idea - how about she peep around, see what Songbird had hidden in her room? No matter how idiotic the idea sounded, V went through with it, not stopping to think about the consequences of such actions… but then again, when did she ever think about those?

As she swept the place over the course of a couple hours, she pilfered some items Song probably won’t miss, and then she came upon some tequila. Centzon - her favourite. She took a swig of it, before her eyes caught sight of a container under the bed… A smirk on her face, a buzz in her head and curiosity in her step, she sauntered over to the box and knelt down, grabbing hold of the box, and then pulling it out.

Wasn’t anything special, just one of those corp crates that sometimes contained things. Locked as well, but that wasn’t a problem for V - just have to find the key. The redhead checked around the room, being as methodical as she could be, other than taking the occasional swig of tequila when she began to get frustrated. It was only by sheer luck that she moved something, and found the key in the nightstand. She snatched it, and went back to the box, quickly inserting the key to unlock it, and then open it…

Only to find sex toys. A decent bunch of them. A gag, some cuffs and a collar, a strap and more… Her eyes widened as she thought of the implications of this ‘discovery’, checking out the strap. Did Song use them? Were they meant for her…? And what would So Mi’s reaction be if she found out if V had found out--

The redhead’s heart stopped and perked up as she heard the doors slide open. With a sinking feeling, she turned to the entrance, strap still in hand, really hoping the person to be there wasn’t going to be who she thought it was…

And it was Songbird. Fuuuck.

Once again, both were at a loss for words for a moment, before Song’s face twisted as she clenched her fist. “V…!”

“I- ehm… I can explain…?” V uttered out meekly, before feeling a shock go through herself, forcing her to drop the strap and shift away from the box. “Gah!”

So Mi kept her glare on the gonk, beginning to approach them after locking the door. “Just had to pilfer my room, did you?!”

“Never said… anythin’ ‘bout it, Song!” V sputtered out, reeling momentarily from the pain as she kept trying to move back, only to find herself pressed up against the wall.

“Well, maybe it’s because I expected you’d know common fuckin’ decency!” Songbird exclaimed frustratingly, towering over the redhead as she glanced at the container, sighing. “It’s another thing I have to teach you…”

V’s eyes darted between the box and Song’s face, pondering what was gonna come next. “Wha-- Why?”

The netrunner knelt down and took hold of V’s face to get her undivided attention. “So you understand where you belong.” Song let out bluntly before letting go and straightening up, pointing to her, commanding: “Get up. Undress.”

The merc, without any protest or hesitation, slowly got herself up-right, and looked at Song before discarding the tacky suit she had on herself, revealing her physically fit body. A merc’s body, through and through. 

V was about to get to taking off her underwear, before she paused and looked at Songbird, wondering if it was enough. The quick glance proved enough, as she gestured to keep going as she glared at the redhead.

She went onwards, unclipping her bra and letting it fall to the ground, revealing her breasts, which So Mi’s eyes curiously darted to, gazing at them for a decent moment as V took off her panties, finally going nude in front of the netrunner. With a semi-dramatic sigh, she held them up and dropped them, before gesturing that she was done.

“Now what, So Mi?”

“On the bed.”

The redhead looked to the bed and nodded, making her way on it, before turning back to look at Song, unintentionally, yet instinctively waiting for the next order. The netrunner herself walked over closer to V, before stopping at some distance from her.

“Watch, but don’t you dare touch.” Song stated, as she turned a bit, showing herself off, before finally beginning to strip herself, getting V’s absolute attention.

The merc’s beady eyes watched it all with an undue excitement, seeing all that Song’s body had to offer as the syn-feather boa was tossed away, and then followed up by her ditching the dress, revealing her form and body more openly. Somehow for the merc, it all looked hotter now that everything hiding her body was discarded, and she had to stop herself a few times from reaching out and ‘helping’. 

Songbird, at long last, turned back to the gonk, and began to step forward, before glancing at the container. She then picked it up and put it on the nightstand for convenience, while allowing V to see her rosy cheeks, and gloriously thick thighs again.

But even with all the eye-candy, the punk ass gonk couldn’t help herself from risking it all. She watched as the container was set down, and leaned in with a bratty grin as Song turned her attention to V. “So… Hansen use these on you? Or you on him?”

That, earned an entirely well deserved slap to the face from Song, making the redhead reel momentarily. “Say anything that gonk again and I’ll just skip to killing you.” The netrunner replied with a hefty dose of anger.

V rubbed her face, feeling the sharp pain, and knowing it probably will have left a mark, but fuck, did it feel good. She’d rub her face a bit more, before she felt Song’s hands push her down flat onto the bed.

Songbird, in turn, crawled up and sat down on V’s toned stomach before leaning in, her piercing glare making headway in the merc’s mind. “We have ground rules to get out of the way.”

“Oookay, So Mi…” V said, taking the chance to see Song’s body press against hers.

“First things first. You’ll refer to me as Mistress Song or Songbird. You don’t get the right to call me So Mi unless I say so.” Songbird stated, jabbing her finger into V’s chest. “Two; No snarky backtalk. Are we clear?”

V blinked a couple times as she processed the information, the thought of Song being her master sounding just perfect, but it would need some getting used to. “Uh… yeah, crystal… Mistress Song.”

A smirk crept onto Song’s face, as she lifted herself up, giving some room to V. “Good. Now…” For a silent moment, a calm set in as V watched Song turn around, giving a perfect view of her shapely ass… Before it quickly dropped onto V’s face. “Here’s your reward for ditching and nearly killing Myers…!”

The redhead had been so enamoured with the sight that she hadn’t expected Song to use her face as a seat, prompting instinct to kick in as she kept tapping the bed rapidly while her face was being pretty much crushed by Songbird. “Mmmhf--!!”

It took a couple moments before V calmed her breathing, surprise being replaced by copious amounts of arousal, and a slowly increasing lack of air, she chose to make it more interesting by trying to rub, kiss and lick her even as she was pressed down. As she calmed herself, Song began to grind her ass against the gonk’s face, pressing down more and more when she could, beginning to rant. “I swear, absolutely leading me on until SF1 was shot down, then just running!?”

V occasionally tried tapping the bed to try and say ‘ease up on the weight, Song’, but it seemed it wasn’t even reaching Songbird as she continued to squeeze each bit of oxygen the merc had left. “I had to wonder for days on end about… -mmf- …what was wrong with your head…!”

It was a prompt of concern when the gonk’s O2 meter appeared, and began slowly, yet surely decreasing. She tapped the bed a couple more times, only for that perfect, smooth, shapely ass to press harder on her, while Song kept going on and on. “You pathetic perv… -Nnh- It’s what I realised about you, y’know…?” 

“That you’re a good-for…”

“...”

This is fine. Really. Even as the redhead’s breath slows and thins, she’s just in absolute fucking bliss. She wouldn’t mind being Song’s seat for the foreseeable future, but if only she could let up and allow V access to some air… But it doe’n’t seem likely.

If anything, this probably could count as a better way, or probably even the best way to go as a merc in NC. Getting your head crushed by the fine, shapely, hot ass of a dominatrix. Johnny’d probably agree with the notion. Although… A couple kisses would’ve also been nice before this, but hey, that’s just wishful thinking.

The redhead closed her eyes and just… sorta accepted her position, feeling up Songbird’s contours as a last thing to touch and enjoy… 

“Hey…”

“Hey!” Then, a burst of fresh air struck V’s lungs, prompting the redhead to instinctively breathe in, denying a death in bliss. She wheezed and coughed as she looked up to see Song glaring at her. “Don’t you dare think you’d get outta this that easy.”

“Wasn’t…” V muttered out dryly, coughing a couple times before continuing. “Wasn’t intending on it… Just didn’t let up… Felt too good.”

Song scoffed as she watched the redhead continue to catch her breath where she rested. “‘Course you’d like this… Because you know what you are, V?”

“What…?” The merc asked as she turned her focus to Song.

“You’re Heywood street trash.” 

Street trash. Out of all things to be called by Song, it wasn’t the first thing in mind, but by god did it describe her perfectly. V wouldn’t mind being Songbird’s street trash at this very moment, and pretty much, she was. How would she even get out of here, if she could, or… well, wanted to? All that gave away that V heard Song’s descriptor was her going red, and just looking away without another word.

“But don’t fret… We’ll make something useful out of you yet.” Songbird stated, before turning to grab some things from the box. “Stretch your hands out.”

Without any backtalk or anything, the merc held her hands out, only for Songbird to grab them and cuff them, one by one to the bed, prompting V to test the firmness of said handcuffs momentarily, but stopping as Song got back onto the bed, bringing herself close to V, her fingers tracing along her body from the base of her neck, slowly down past her bosom and toned belly.

As she leaned in, her face near V’s, and muttered sultrily as her fingers reached below V’s waist, slowly reaching her slit. “Now… I’m gonna enjoy you, Valerie…”

“Hey… Only people who know me really well can call me that.” V remarked as she looked down and then back at Song.

“Well… I’ll know you really well soon…” Songbird replied with a smirk, as her fingers hovered over the redhead’s snatch, before abruptly diving in. “Both inside and out…!”

V immediately flinched as she felt the netrunner’s cybernetic fingers dive in with a goal, the first thing she felt was the pain. Metal on sensitive skin really doesn’t mix well. “G-Gah--!! Nnngh- F-Fuck!” The gonk yelped out, gritting her teeth, struggling against the cuffs. “S-Song!!”

“Mmm… Valerie…” She hummed sternly, as she kept her tense pace with the fingers, eyes focused on the merc’s decently sized bosom.

Another sharp jolt of pain, mixed with an ever-increasing sense of pleasure, forced the redhead to moan and yell out. “F-Fine! Mistress Song!--” 

For a moment, Songbird granted the gonk a brief respite as she looked to V with ample amounts of curiosity and annoyance. “What is it?”

Valerie huffed a bit as she gathered herself, seething as she asked her query. “Could ya… -Ngh- Could ya let up… with those fucking fingers of yours…?”

“Hm… No.” Song replied after a dramatic ‘pondering’ of Val’s request, thrusting her fingers into her snatch, making the redhead gasp. “You’re a merc. Endure it.”

Songbird’s jabs and dives into Valerie’s cunt kept doing as expected - making the merc flinch and bare the pain, while also letting a surprising amount of lust escape herself, the moans slowly overtaking the seething, gasps and grunts. V wouldn’t dare admit it, but this was scratching her masochistic itch, being humiliated like this. The mighty merc, melting away into Song’s personal pet. 

Songbird in the meanwhile, as she kept up the rhythmic movements, started toying around with the thought of enjoying more of Valerie than she was right now, seeing the redhead’s modestly sized bosom jiggle every now and again as they flinched. Admittedly, it had been ages since she had the chance to enjoy some tits, so… why not take the opportunity?

Song shifted herself as she brought herself close, grasping one of the breasts with her free hand, slowly groping it, while her lips went for the other, eyeing the nipple as she give it a kiss, before circling it with her tongue, prompting the gonk to moan and gasp in response, still straining against the cuffs. 

V looked down at Song, sweat on her brow as she watched the netrunner multitask in action, hand groping a breast, her sucking on the other, all while fingering her. Within her lust-filled mind, it was astonishing to see Song at it with such determination… Each action guided the gonk closer and closer to orgasm, and the less she thought about everything as her mind kept melting from the pleasure. 

She gazed up at Valerie as her tongue continued circling around, seeing how pathetically flustered and excited she looked. Song’s eyes sharpened, as she softly bit the nipple she was licking, pulling in turn as well, and began finger-fucking the hell out of V, causing the gonk to throw her head back and moan loudly. 

Each move, each little bit of action the redhead got was causing the merc to moan and pant, the feeling of pain still there, but it just wasn’t that troubling anymore. “F-Fuck-- Song… I’m… bout to…!”

Even with the prospect of having Valerie orgasm and submit herself to her, Song had her plan, and she was gonna follow it. “Don’t. Not yet.” She ordered, having her fingers leave her cunt, denying V a release.

“Wha-- What now?! Can’t I even get a release, Songbird?!” 

“Quiet, Valerie. You’re gonna do something for me.” Song stated, as she looked at the fingers that had been inside the redhead, coated in slick from the perversions they were just doing moments ago.

“And what’s that…?” V asked, curiosity still abounded within her own frustration.

Song leaned in, looking down at V, before using her free hand to open V’s mouth, and then insert the slick covered fingers into there, giving a simple command. “Clean.”

And… the gonk does it without complaint or pushback. Just as much as it was annoying and mildly painful to clean cyberware like this, she wouldn’t deny an order from her mistress. As she cleaned with her tongue, her eyes met Song’s, the denial of orgasm still stinging, but it got her even more into it now. Who knows what her mistress would ask of her next.

Once complete, V opened her mouth and let Song’s fingers leave, at which point, she noted a sly smile on the netrunner’s face before they moved off of Valerie, and went to grab something from the container…

From her position, the redhead couldn’t see what Song was grabbing, but once she returned to Val’s purview, it was obvious what she took - the strap. Their eyes widened as she saw Song get close to her lower half again… Was she… was she gonna use that on her…?! 

A wave of relief did wash over her as the netrunner put the strap onto V, fastening it before moving forwards, and then getting on top of her again, raising her lower half up until she could hold herself right above the strap, lips pressing against the tip. 

As the redhead tested the strength of the cuffs, So Mi let in a sharp breath, catching Val’s attention. “Mh… Just enjoy this. You won’t get anything better.” She muttered out, looking down at her first, before at the strap.

Valerie’s beady eyes focused on the strap and Song, watching as she let out a gasp once she began to lower herself onto the strap, her face becoming quickly aflush in red. Admittedly, this is one of the few times she wished she had a Mr. Studd, but the sight of Song riding her would do.

Inch by inch, the netrunner lowered herself, each and every little gasp or moan becoming more shaky, her body shivering as she reached new depths, pausing at one point, gathering herself before going down the rest of it. Once she reached the base, she breathed in and out, before looking at Valerie, whose look prompted her to start bouncing on the strap.

The redhead looked on in a transfixed awe at Songbird just rising and falling on the strap, each movement invoking sharp inhales and exhales, her hips moving on pure instinct. Somehow she looked even hotter than before - perhaps from how messy she looked already, how determined her face looked or perhaps just from how she was just using her. Fuck knows, but V was all for it.

As Song kept it up, V began to participate as well, gyrating and thrusting her hips into So Mi, the strap striking her insides, forcing the netrunner to gasp and moan, and when hitting the occasional sweet spot, making her yelp and moan as she began to keel over, feeling up the merc’s toned body, and her chest.

Within the ever intensifying frenzy, Songbird whined and moaned as she let loose her juices upon the strap, but in a turn of events, she didn’t stop or slow herself, just kept riding, looking down upon her gonk.

“You’re… You’re listening -Nnh- now… Why the fuck couldn’t you back then…?!” Song asked in between moans, frustration and lust oozing with each word.

It took a moment for Val to come up with an answer, but soon she did, and responded. “You… weren’t assertive enough, Mistress Song…”

Songbird paused, taking in the words she heard, processing them. Assertive. “Assertive…? You want assertive?” She straightened up for a moment, slowing her movement, looking down at the nervous gonk, a scowl growing on her face, before quickly flipping to a grin mired in lust. “Fine, I’ll give you assertive--!”

With that, she lunged her hands at Valerie’s neck, grabbing hold of the redhead’s windpipe, nearly crushing it as she gripped it. Although course-correcting it soon enough, her metal hands dug into the skin as she began choking her.

The entire move happened at such a speed that V barely had time to react, even with her enhanced senses, and her body immediately tried going into fight or flight, although with how she was restrained, she had no luck. “Hrghk--!!”

“How’s this, Valerie?! Assertive enough for you yet?” Song yelled out as she pressed a bit more before letting her grip loosen, moving away from trying to kill the poor gonk, but more so to just restrict the airflow.

Although the redhead wasn’t really able to speak much with the metal hands on her throat, her body calmed down, struggling still, but not really trying to thrash around. Even with the pain and the decreasing amount of consciousness V had, trying to hold onto being in the moment, seeing Song rise up and down as she got some part of her life squeezed out of her.

As she kept her hold on the merc’s throat, Songbird started to bounce again, finding some sadistic pleasure in what she was doing. Wanted to choke a particular somebody for sometime, but V made a perfect alternative after all that had happened. Watching the redhead struggle and look on in brief horror, gave some satisfaction to her. All that time being cooped up in D.C., under surveillance really messed with her head.

As it went on, the unimaginable happened for Val - she was getting aroused by this. The struggle, the threat of her life being on the line because of her mistress, if she didn’t comply, really got her body going. Even though most of this was coming from herself, V still denied it was the case.

What went on was a mixed symphony of moans from Song, and gurgling noises from the still-being-choked-out Valerie. Both were getting pleasure, as even with the lack of air, V’s body continued to do its part, gyrating and thrusting into Songbird on instinct, while taking in the thrill of the risk, while Song’s kept bouncing against the strap, each movement striking her mind within the lusty haze, her grip loosening on V.

“There’s -nnmh- …hope for you yet, Valerie…” Song muttered out in a lusty haze, her body pressing down and grinding on the strap for a moment as she smirked at the gonk. “I need a good way to destress- -aah- -after a long day… And I need someone capable.”

The pressure on V’s throat loosened up enough she sputtered out some words. “Ghrk… Mmf-- I… I’m capable..?”

“Barely… But you have potential…” Songbird continued. “All we need is time, which we’ll have plenty of…”

With that, Song pressed her hold on V’s neck, continuing her bounce on the strap, all while the redhead just watched on, enjoying the pressure on her neck, and Song just letting loose on top of her, slick escaping her again with each and every rise and fall.

As Song got back into the rhythm of her bouncing, pleasure and bliss mounting, her hands began to slip out of their firm grasp on V’s windpipe, slowly yet surely. But Val certainly noticed the release of pressure, and it didn’t pan out well in the merc’s head. Contrary to logic and reasoning, the gonk actually enjoyed having the air squeezed out of her.

It really got to the gonk’s head, thinking that it wasn’t particularly fair that Song can enjoy her, but she can’t in return. She pressed against the cuffs, frustration mounting and mounting towards a breaking point, which was approaching with every free breath the merc could take.

“Fuckin’... hell, Song!” Valerie finally yelled out, catching the netrunner off guard as she flinched and straightened up.

For a poignant moment, the two of them looked at each other, Song a bit surprised at Valerie’s outburst, whilst her merc’s face had frustration written all over it. It took a moment before Songbird spoke. “What?”

“Could… could ya keep choking me…” Valerie told Song, her voice quickly dropping in tone from frustration to embarrassment at what she had to ask, before continuing in a mutter. “Gimme some pleasure, at fucking least.”

Song blinked a couple times before asking to make sure. “What did you say?”

The gonk rolled her eyes as she huffed up before deflating in a sigh of defeat. “You heard me… I wanna be choked.” 

“Pff… Alright, V. Perv.” The netrunner replied as she firmly grasped V’s neck, just looking down at her with some astonishment at how depraved she actually was under her hands.

As soon as the hands were on her windpipe firmly, V relaxed and took it in, finding her comfort in being under Song’s, her mistress’s hands. “Hhrk… Mmph…”

The gonk and her mistress got back into the rhythm again, Song bouncing on the strap, remembering to keep a firm press on Valerie, who was melting in euphoria under her mistress’s hands, providing some approval as the redhead’s hips kept bucking into Songbird, causing moans from the netrunner. 

It took some time and pressure, but eventually, both were on the verge of orgasm, and it was turning into a race to see who buckled under the pressure, and let loose their lust. So Mi’s grip hadn’t let up, and Val by this point, was thrusting on instinct into Song at a firm, consistent pace, even if the netrunner tried telling her to stop it in between moans.

The moment soon came, at was clear who broke first - the netrunner who was having her first real experience tonight. Song jolted and tensed up as she rode harder and harder before reaching climax, letting out a loud moan, keeling over onto V, her grip at its firmest, on the border of actually choking Valerie. 

That was also what got V to the edge, and she, like a good little pet, came not long after, slick letting loose alongside Song’s, realising in some part, that she did just orgasm from asphyxiation. Her body pressed against Song’s, the heat of an overloaded netrunner making contact with the natural warmth of Val’s. It took a few seconds for Song to realise that she should probably let go of V’s windpipe before she crushed it.

Once she did, the redhead took in a long, beleaguered breath, her voice a mix of hoarse and soft lust, panting… “Aaah…”

The two remained in place for a while more, as Song took the time to just nuzzle in and gather herself. It was a minute or two before she lifted herself up, straightening up as she looked down at Val in smug pride. “That’s enough for you…”

“Y-Yeah… Thank you, Mistress.” Valerie muttered out, having caught her breath, her eyes watching Song’s body with a desire. One to serve her, and her body. Never really was good at being in charge, anyways.

Song’s smirk grew, seeing how needy and pathetic her street trash pet looked, before seeing the marks left on V’s neck, knowing just the thing to cover it. “Now… I think we need to formalise our… arrangement.”

V tilted her head ajar, seeing the netrunner lean over to the box and pull something out. “How’s… How’s that?”

“First, this…” Song stated, back in place with the said object in hand.

Valerie could only guess what it was for a moment, before it went ‘clink’ and snapped shut around her neck. A collar. A most fitting article of clothing for a pet like her.

Song kept close, and continued in a whisper, as her hands slowly glided along the fine contours of her merc’s body. “And secondly, I want you to say this, with sincerity.”

“Say what?”

“Say you’re a gonk little bitch.”

“Seriously…?” V asked with incredulity, her expression dropping as she heard the words she had to say. A very familiar, and annoying sentence…

“...” Song just looked at her, the warm hazel eyes somehow cascading into a piercing glare that could shatter chrome.

That look was all she needed to break down her hesitation, as she rolled her eyes, groaned before looking off to the side. “Ff… Fine. I’m a gonk little bitch. Happy?”

“Very.” Songbird responded, a lusty smile on her face as she grabbed hold of Valerie’s cheek. The gonk turned back to see Song pucker up and give a firm, warm kiss to her pet, letting it sink in for a moment, before pulling back and saying her piece. “You’re my gonk little bitch, V. Don’t you forget it.”

After a show like that? V doubts she’ll forget it. Sure, she might seem a bit miffed on the outside, but that kiss was all the motivation for the gonk to want more of being Songbird’s slave, especially if it nets her more kisses. They seemed like the simplest thing to do, but now all she could see was a lusty reward for her loyalty.

Song was more than happy. Sure, V didn’t turn out to be the mercenary she would’ve wanted, with her incompetency very telling there, but the streetkid that Valerie used to be is one hell of a submissive brat. A perfect toy to keep herself calm and collected for the future. 

“Say… Will I still get the cure from you…?” V piped up in a nervous curiosity, catching Songbird’s attention.

Song squinted in brief disbelief before looking down at her in brief disgust. “No. You had your chance.”

“Okay, Mistress Song…” V meekly muttered out.

Still some things to teach that gonk, though. All in due time.