A/N: Here's the new Chapter! Which also means the next four chapters are up on my Patreon for early access as well as the chance to vote on the direction of the story!

  The tarot reading in this chapter is written to mirror/match the sort of readings found in the actual game. Might be cooked.

  -x-X-x-

  Rebecca was definitely a freaky gremlin, that was for sure. But V didn't judge her for it. The experience had been strange at first, but by the end he was coming around. Mostly because it was clearly so pleasurable for her from start to finish. If she'd shown discomfort or distress at any point he's not sure he could have continued, but she'd definitely enjoyed herself all the way through.

  Still, with that out of the way, Rogue's little gig finished, and Michiko and Puma Squad off of his back, V finds himself visiting Viktor and Misty at long st, now that he knows he doesn't have to worry about endangering either of them with his presence.

  Not to mention he's sitting on a big pile of eddies at the moment after weeks of clearing out gigs for multiple Fixers all over the city while at the same time dealing with cyberpsychos for Regina Jones. Initially, V had intended to just forego further cybernetic enhancements until they got Sasha and Alt bodies like Rebecca's, but the two digital intelligences had shut that down.

  "We've been over this V. The Demain Corporation makes more than enough that we'll have the required cash flow for more Gemini Sculpts soon."

  V lets out a rueful sigh as Alt's voice echoes through his head.

  "Until then, neither Sasha nor I are in quite so desperate need as dear Rebecca was. In fact, giving Sasha a body at this point would disrupt some extra training that we're doing. She's learning so much from me~"

  The teasing lilt at the end there makes it obvious Alt is trying to draw out a reaction from him, to make him ask for more information. V has learned how the blonde operates and doesn't give her the satisfaction, simply sending back a sensation of pure trust that causes her to give the approximation of a mental pout in response.

  "Hmph. You're no fun."

  Shaking his head in wry amusement, V steps into Misty's Esoterica. Technically he could have reached Viktor's via the street and bypassed Misty entirely… but he wasn't going to do that. Not and pass up a chance to check in on Jackie's girl.

  Good thing too, because he catches the sound of soft, quiet crying just before Misty registers she has a customer and scurries up from the chair she'd been sitting on. Quickly swiping the tears from her eyes and hiding the picture of her and Jackie that she'd been holding, Misty opens her mouth… only to freeze when she sees exactly who it is.

  "Oh! V, I-I was wondering when you would visit next…"

  V hides his grimace at that. He realizes now that shouldn't have let Michiko and Puma Squad persist in their surveilnce for quite so long. It had worked for him because he was busy enough with other things that he didn't have to worry about springing their would-be trap any time soon, but now he realizes it made him incidentally avoid Misty and Vik for weeks.

  "Sorry Misty, I've been a bit busy with everything… I let the important things get away from me. But I'm here now, yeah?"

  Misty smiles sadly and hesitantly nods.

  "I'm guessing you're here to see Vik?"

  But V shakes his head. Even if that was his main purpose for coming here… he's not going to just leave Misty like this. Not when it's clear she's hurting.

  "I'm here to see Vik AND you, Misty. How have you been doing? Jackie's ofrenda should be coming up soon, yeah? Haven't received a call from Mama Welles quite yet, but I figure it's any day now."

  It felt like it'd been longer than it should have been, but that was because V hadn't spent weeks in convalescence this time around. Any day now was right, she would almost certainly be calling in the next couple of days to send him an invite.

  Misty though… Misty flinches, as V had suspected she might.

  "Oh… I mean, I suppose it might be, if it hasn't happened already. But if it had… you would know. Mama Welles always liked you."

  Left unsaid is the fact that Jackie's mother never liked or approved of Misty. Not to the point where she got in the way of the retionship or tried to disown Jackie for it. Nothing so extreme as that. No, it was the kind of dislike where she felt no great guilt over setting aside any potential retionship with Misty once her son died.

  V had set Mama Welles straight st time around, and he'd do it again here and now too if that's what he had to. But first he needed to keep Misty from spiraling any further.

  "It hasn't happened yet, Misty. And when it does, I'm bringing you along, got it?"

  Jolting, Misty looks up at him from where she was fidgeting with her nails. Wide-eyed, she slowly shakes her head.

  "I'm not sure that's the best idea, V."

  Snorting derisively, V just grins.

  "Yeah well I am. Ain't letting her just forget that you were one of the best things to ever happen to Jackie, alright?"

  Before Misty can try to deny it, V cuts her off with a gnce towards the counter.

  "Hey. Can you give me a reading? Been wondering if I'm on the right path or not recently."

  That, he can tell, perks Misty right up. There's nothing much that the new age spiritualist appreciates more than someone showing interest in tarot. She loved to give V and Jackie readings back in the day. Hesitantly at first, but with a renewed energy, Misty moves over to the counter and pulls her tarot card out from under it. V moves to stand across the counter from her, grinning as the spiked colr-wearing woman huffs at him.

  "I'm not dumb V. I get what you're trying to do. Still… thanks."

  He hums and nods, watching as she prepares the deck. Truth be told, tarot is one of those things V never really bothered to pick up. But he likes it all the same. He likes the… intrigue of it.

  Finally ready, Misty takes a deep breath and draws the first card off of the top of the deck, pcing it down on the counter before him.

  "Your past."

  V watches as she turns it over, her breath hitching and her brow furrowing for a moment.

  "… Death. This card represents transformation, endings, and letting go."

  Misty's frown deepens and V can almost tell what she's thinking.

  "… You've faced great hardship recently. A major phase of your life has come to a close. Jackie… T-Bug… your old crew is gone now. Only you remain, V. This is your chance to undergo metamorphosis. To become something entirely different."

  He understood why she had decided to interpret it that way, though personally V read it in a different way. He'd very literally died and come back to life, his mind and memories traveling back in time to have the chance to do everything all over again without Johnny overwriting his brain hanging over him like a storm cloud.

  Death was an incredibly appropriate card for him, when you knew everything he knew.

  Still, that was just the first card.

  "Next, your present."

  She pulls another card and flips it over, revealing…

  "The Chariot. It represents focus, direction, and self-discipline."

  Misty flicks her eyes up to him for a moment before looking back down at the card and continuing on.

  "You know exactly what you want. You're in control of where you're going. You're prepared for every situation and as a result, you always emerge victorious. Just… don't let the wins get to your head, V. You don't want to get too cocky."

  V grins a lopsided grin at that. Not only at the card, but also at Misty's worried tone. The Chariot did indeed describe his current circumstances pretty well. Everything was working out for him. Everything was going as pnned. Even the weird things like Rogue's silly assumptions weren't something that could truly push V or Alt away from their goals.

  "Third, the challenge."

  That gets a raised eyebrow from V, even as Misty turns over the card. Here, she hesitates for a moment before speaking.

  "Temperance Reversed. Something in your life may soon go out of bance, if it hasn't already. You may find yourself pushing to hasty extremes, and risking everything because of excesses. You need to be careful, V. In this case it seems like your own worst enemy… might be yourself."

  … Huh. That wasn't what he would have expected. V was pretty sure he knew the challenges ahead of him. Arasaka, for one. Reestablishing himself in Night City as a proper Living Legend for another. V knew what he wanted out of this do-over. Revenge for Jackie? Sure, to the greatest extent he could achieve it. And then, after that he wanted his reputation back and all the wealth, power, and influence that came with it. He wanted to be King again, no matter what it took.

  But perhaps that was precisely what Misty's reading was warning him about. Perhaps it was trying to tell him he would reach too far, too fast, and burn up all too quickly for his troubles. He wasn't immortal after all. He could still be killed, even with this do-over. And V had no intentions of just being another one of the Afterlife's drinks. Not any time soon.

  "Finally, your future."

  V's eyes slide back down to the counter as Misty draws and reveals the final card before letting out a sigh of relief.

  "The Sun… upright."

  He raises another eyebrow in amusement at that crification, causing Misty to flush just a little bit.

  "It represents success V. It represents joy and happiness. So long as everything goes well, so long as you don't stray too far from your current path… you're going to be alright. Your future is bright."

  She gives him a smile at that, one that V returns with a chuckle. A bright future when the only true challenge he had in front of him was himself? It almost sounded like it would all be too easy. But V knew better than to count his chickens before they hatched.

  Still, V doesn't hesitate to give Misty a nod as he circles around the counter.

  "Thanks Misty."

  His eyes fsh gold as he sends some eddies her way. Its just a few hundred, but she still opens her mouth to protest. V doesn't give her the chance though. Stepping up to her, pcing his hand on the nape of her neck, V leans forward and pnts a chaste kiss on Misty's forehead, silencing the her right then and there.

  After a moment, he pulls back and looks into her wide eyes.

  "Thanks. I mean it. I'll always appreciate your insights."

  Finally letting go of her, V nods with a grin before heading for the back door.

  "Gonna go see Viktor now. I'll call you when Mama Welles contacts me about Jackie's ofrenda. We'll go together, alright?"

  He doesn't wait for a response. He's not going to give Misty a chance to protest or try to send the money back to him or anything like that. Though, she does in fact try to send the eddies his way when he's outside of her shop and heading down to Vik's.

  V just has Alt block the transfer, smirking a little as he imagines the look on Misty's face when she realizes she can't return the money. She earned it fair and square.

  Stepping into Vik's with a bit more of a pep in his step, V is grinning when Viktor sees him and jolts up from the boxing match he was watching.

  "V! Been a while since I heard from you… was beginning to wonder if you found another ripper."

  Meeting Vik halfway, the two men csp arms for a moment as V shakes his head.

  "Never in a million years, Vik. Just… don't tell Misty, but I had a group looking into me for a bit there. And in looking into me, they were looking into you two. Had to stay away until I finished dealing with them."

  That brings Viktor pause. V hadn't told Misty because he didn't want her to worry, but someone like Vik deserved to know this sort of thing. Finally, after a long moment, the ripperdoc slowly nods.

  "Took care of them then? Coast is clear and Misty is safe?"

  V smirks as Viktor focuses more on Misty than himself.

  "Yeah Vik. They won't be bothering either of you, I can guarantee it."

  And he could too. Between him and Alt, if anyone did make any pns to go after Viktor or Misty, they would know about it almost immediately. Puma Squad were frankly one of the nicer groups to potentially use his loved ones against him. V would never have let any of his other enemies get nearly as close.

  "Alright then. I assume you're here for more cyberware?"

  V grunts and nods.

  "That's right. You get in any of the good stuff I had you put on back order st time?"

  Its Viktor's turn to smirk at that as the ripper slowly nods.

  "That I did, V. That I did. Not everything you wanted… but here, why don't you take a look."

  -x-X-x-

  The Vote:

  [ ] V goes with a top of the line Berserk Operating System - 4%[ ] V goes with a top of the line Cyberdeck Operating System - 30%[X] V goes with a top of the line Sandevistan Operating System - 66%

  -x-X-x- If you'd like to read more of my work not seen on this website, check out Hentai-Foundry.com and QuestionableQuesting.com where I have over a thousand stories!

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  Thanks for reading!