Chapter 229: Unknown Comms
“Alright, looks like we need to find a doctor first. How about we start with Vik? See if he’s willing to make a house call?” V suggested. “Most importantly, this has to stay quiet. I don’t want someone tailing a doctor all day.”
“Who’s going to find Vik? Old Vik’s retired. Dragging him out—” Arthur began, but V cut him off with a raised hand.
A comms request had just come through—an unusual one.
...
Answering, V stayed silent, waiting.
“V? Is that you?” The voice belonged to a woman—unfamiliar.
“I can hear you... but I don’t think I know you,” V asked cautiously.
“You can call me So Mi—or Nightingale. But none of that matters!” The woman’s tone brimmed with urgency. “Listen! I know your situation, your condition... your trouble. I can save your life.”
V blinked and glanced at Arthur. He looked completely lost.
“Fine... Night City’s full of people who claim they can help me. Alright then, go on—I’ll just treat it like listening to someone brag.” V exhaled sharply.
“I need you in Dogtown. Right now. Time’s running out. I know you’ve got questions, but trust me—I’ll explain later. Please...” The panic in her voice was unmistakable.
V hesitated. No one wanted to end up crippled.
“Alright. I’ll check it out. I’ll take the chance,” V said at last.
“Thank you. Really... thank you.” Her voice cut off, and the line went dead.
V turned to Arthur with a strange look. “Someone just told me... she can save my life.”
“Uh... I know God. He could save your life too.” Arthur narrowed his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re actually buying this.”
“She told me to head to Dogtown immediately. Come on—we’re going. I don’t want to end up crippled.” V ignored his sarcasm and walked toward the Quadra Type-66 Avenger.
“I must be insane for not chaining you down,” Arthur muttered, following with a shrug.
“Hey! What’s the harm in checking? What if it’s real?” V slid into the driver’s seat, flipping a metal lever by the door.
Arthur had no idea what the lever did.
“Stop overthinking it.” Opening a compartment behind the console, V pulled out a pair of sunglasses and slipped them on. “Watch closely. You’ve never used this before, so I’ll show you...”
She hit the power switch. The cabin lights shifted from blue to red. With a roar several times louder than usual, the sports car shot forward like an arrow, tires screaming.
“Whoa! That was fucking awesome.” V grinned. No doubt, she was using this as a distraction.
Arthur glanced at the blurred road rushing by, fighting down his racing heart. “What about Dogtown? And we still haven’t found the doctor!” he snapped.
“That woman sent me to Dogtown. As for the doctor—Jackie will track down Vik. Old Vik will turn up soon enough.” V shouted over the engine’s roar.
The Badlands were nearly empty, hardly another vehicle in sight. The highway stretched ahead, half-buried in sand, demanding nothing but a steady foot on the gas.
Arthur gripped the armrest as the speed climbed higher. V showed no sign of easing off. Madwoman.
They devoured the distance in minutes. Only when the border checkpoint of Night City loomed ahead did V finally slow down.
“Phew—that was intense.” She exhaled, like she’d just released something pent-up.
Dogtown lay south of Night City. After clearing the checkpoint, another blockade soon came into view—the perimeter of Dogtown itself.
V pulled the car to the side, frowning. The makeshift checkpoint—fences and concrete barriers—was swarming with people.
Groups of Barghest stood at the barricades, stopping anyone who tried to cross.
“What’s going on? It was fine this morning...” Arthur rubbed his chin. “Looks like something really happened.”
“That’s good news... If Dogtown stays calm, we can’t stir up trouble.” V slammed the door shut. “But that woman told me to get inside. Now what? Am I supposed to smash through? Does she really think I’m Superman?”
“Maybe send her a comms? Ask which side of the road she wants you to drop the cash she scammed you out of,” Arthur said dryly.
“Get lost! She might not be a scammer!” V shot back. Spotting a parking lot by the gate, she gestured, and the two headed that way.
“Don’t worry, if she tries any—” Arthur began, but V suddenly clutched her head in agony.
Arthur caught her before she collapsed.
“Ugh... ah... shit!” One hand pressed to her temple, she sagged against him. He guided her to sit on a pile of rubble.
“Again? V? You okay?” Arthur asked, worried.
“This time... feels different—way worse.” V gasped. Across her vision, red static flickered violently, like her brain was on fire.
Even Johnny, usually calm during these episodes, appeared clutching his head, bent double in pain.
“What the hell! Feels like someone’s twisting my skull with pliers!” Johnny Silverhand groaned, writhing.
“Maybe you should get treated. Leave the rest to us for now,” Arthur said, frowning.
“How... could Arasaka’s timing be off... ugh...” Johnny choked out between gasps. “What the hell... is going on...” He panted, the pain easing just enough to let him speak, though he still couldn’t straighten.
“It’s okay. Soon, everything will be normal.”
Amid the torment, V thought she heard someone whispering.
Author's Note
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