"This dry, odorless wind... mm, it's truly nostalgic!"
The sun hung high, the land a golden expanse. Looking at the rows of tall, dilapidated, super-sized sunflower-like circular solar collectors in the Badlands, and sniffing the hot, wild wind blowing in from outside the window, V's face showed a trace of nostalgia.
V's black shelled four-seater car was speeding down the main road towards Night City, surrounded by a constant flow of traffic, either leaving Night City for the Badlands or heading towards the city.
The only difference was that the vehicles were all moving fast. Those escaping Night City with their bags and belongings wished they didn't have to breathe Night City's air for another day, while those rushing towards Night City were bringing their dreams of striking it rich, as if the towering buildings reaching the sky in the city would be theirs in the next second.
But no matter what choice they made, they would most likely regret it.
Those leaving Night City would find that everywhere was the same, and those coming to Night City would be furious and curse as their dreams shattered.
Looking at the ring-shaped corporate buildings of Night City in the distance, visible even from here, and the long holographic advertisements reaching the sky on them, Berry, who was driving, couldn't help but shake her head.
Night City, utterly disgusting.
However, she didn't want to think about unpleasant things; now should be a happy time—she and V were on their way home.
"Remember when we were with the Bakar Family?" Berry asked, gripping the steering wheel, her peripheral vision on V, who was gazing out the passenger window.
The midday sun was scorching. V rested her chin on the car window sill, letting the wind freely toss her blue hair, and squinted her eyes in the hot, drowsy breeze.
Watching V like this, Berry's lips curved into a smile.
She thought of V's sweet appearance again.
Moreover, after her injury, V had become much quieter. Her once sharp eyes now held a gentle, watery quality that made one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze, a sense of peace rising in one's chest.
However, occasionally, Berry could still see determination and stubbornness in V's eyes, telling others that she was still V, that incredibly headstrong person, a tough nut who would go through fire and water for those she loved.
Berry looked at V, and V, in turn, was also looking at Berry.
Glancing at Berry, who was concentrating on driving, V's face flushed slightly.
She also remembered what had happened these past two days.
This Berry.
Thinking of Berry's opportunistic behavior, V felt both touched and a little awkward.
To be honest, although she knew that Berry had ulterior motives and always wanted to be on top.
But being treated gently by Berry, how should she put it, V found that it wasn't so bad after all.
But comfortable as it was, it should stop there.
Recalling Berry's somewhat smug look after they were done, V felt that she, as the elder sister, needed to reassert her authority.
As the younger sister, one only needed to act spoiled in her elder sister's arms.
How could one commit insubordination?
Looking at Berry's fair profile, V felt a little ticklish.
Just wait.
Once her body recovered, she would definitely get her revenge.
At least make Berry unable to get out of bed for a week.
V decided this, and Berry was still unaware of the impending doom.
Watson, Chinatown, Viktor's Clinic.
"Hey, Viktor, I, Berry, am back again."
Berry carried V into Viktor's Clinic, which she hadn't seen for three or four days.
How should she put it, having been away for less than a week, returning to this place felt like a long-awaited reunion.
It was a pity that Viktor didn't have more gray hairs; then this feeling would be even more authentic.
Berry thought mischievously, looking at Viktor, who was still the same.
Doctor Viktor, who came to greet them, didn't know that this little Berry wasn't wishing him well the moment she arrived.
"Come on, put V on the operating chair." Viktor shook his head with a chuckle, saying to the two.
Though not explicitly stated, Viktor saw Berry's darting eyes and knew she wasn't thinking of anything good.
"Too bad I didn't prepare a welcome feast for you, but it's not too late now." Viktor glanced at V, who had regained some vitality, nodded, and said.
"Three servings of locust pizza, what do you think?"
Locust pizza?!
Hearing this straightforward name, Berry covered her throat, making a gesture as if she was about to vomit.
Although it was the same thing, how much better would 'synthetic beef pizza' sound? Why choose such a disgusting name as 'locust pizza'?
"Hehe, alright, no more joking. Let's get back to business. V, how are you feeling now? Is your wound hurting badly?" Viktor smiled and shook his head, beginning to check V's wound recovery progress on the operating chair.
Spending time with this young couple always made him feel younger.
"Hmm, I'm doing great, I feel like I can walk again!" When asked, V opened her eyes, pretending she could immediately get up and do a backflip.
"Alright, stop bragging. Bragging won't make your wound heal faster." Viktor scoffed, clearly unimpressed by V's humor.
"Alright, Viktor, you saw through me." V smiled bitterly, tilting her head and letting out a sigh. "The wound still hurts a lot, especially at night. It's been tormenting me quite a bit."
"Hmm, that's not bad then." Viktor nodded, roughly understanding V's recovery status.
"The wound is starting to heal, no inflammation or ulceration, that's good news. It meets the standard for a second surgery." Viktor stroked his chin and nodded, looking at the scan results of V's body on the terminal.
"But before that, I need to formally discuss with you the matter of what kind of surgery to perform next."
Viktor's expression turned serious. He first looked at V, then at Berry, and finally held up V's scan results, saying.
"As I said before, if V's condition were to recover naturally, it would take a year, or four or five years, or perhaps never. In that case, she would never be able to stand up again."
"I also said that we could try to seek help from large corporations. They have the most advanced medical technology and can definitely solve V's problem." Viktor paused, then continued. "However, you already know without me saying that dealing with large corporations is not a simple matter. One wrong move, and you might fall into a pit of fire."
Berry and V both nodded as they listened.
Viktor was absolutely right; mega-corporations had overwhelming power and were ruthless. They could make you rich overnight, or they could make you fall into the sewers in a single night, and the latter was far more likely than the former.
"However, there is a third method," Viktor, wearing small round sunglasses, said calmly.
"cyberware transplant..."
Before Viktor could even speak, V, lying on the operating chair, already murmured.
"Exactly, cyberware transplant." Viktor confirmed with a nod.
"Directly replace half of V's spine with cyberware." Viktor stated his solution.
Hearing 'cyberware', Berry didn't react.
Although she didn't want V to have more and more metal parts on her body, this was a matter of life and death. Berry respected V's wishes, and she also hoped V would recover as soon as possible.
"Berry?" V looked at Berry, but saw Berry looking back and nodding firmly. V, knowing the answer, smiled.
"Viktor, if possible, I choose the third option. Give me a new spine!" V said.
She knew that as long as she asked, even if it meant dealing with mega-corporations, Berry would definitely take risks for her.
But she didn't want Berry to risk herself for her anymore; she only wanted Berry to be safe.
Although as a Nomad, she wasn't particularly fond of cyberware, there was no other way. To be able to stand again, she was willing to take this risk.
"Hmm... I knew you'd choose the third one." Seeing them make their decision, Viktor shook his head.
"What's wrong, Viktor? Why that expression?" V asked, looking at Viktor's serious face. "Could it be, could it be that you can't perform this surgery?"
V voiced her bad premonition.
"No, that's not it." Viktor continued. "The replacement cyberware spine needs to be matched and custom-made. That's fine; it just means waiting a couple more days."
"It's just, V, you know your spine is severely damaged, and many places are already deformed. If you want the new spine to function, new neural pathways must be artificially constructed. This technique requires extremely high surgical skill."
"And unfortunately, I don't possess that level of skill. So, the one who can complete your surgery can only be someone else..."
"Then, Viktor, don't keep us in suspense, who is that person you're talking about?" V asked curiously, and Berry also looked at Viktor.
"The person, well, not far, right here..." Viktor looked at Berry.
"Don't look behind you, it's you, Berry."
What?
Her? Perform surgery on V?
"Yes, no one is more suitable than you, Berry. That kind of extremely complex and delicate operation can only be completed by you..."
Even after the conversation ended for a while, Berry still hadn't fully processed it.
She was to perform surgery on V?
"It's okay, Berry, I believe in you." Berry felt her hand being held, and she knew without looking that it was V.
"Mm." Taking a shaky breath, Berry told herself to calm down.
She could do it.
Since V needed her help, she was sure she could deliver.
Besides, the custom cyberware spine Viktor was making for V would take a few days, so she could just practice more during that time.
For the next few days, V would be recuperating at Viktor's, preparing for the surgery, and after temporarily dealing with V's matters, Berry shifted her focus to her own objective.
Her Chassis, Kikyo, seemed to have investigated something.
In the game, when V returned to Night City, the first person she sought out was the Socialite client, Evelyn Parker.
But Berry knew that Evelyn Parker was just a small-time character; the real masterminds behind her were the mysterious Voodoo Boys.
After the mission failed and caused such a huge stir, Evelyn was targeted by the Voodoo Boys for elimination, and although they didn't succeed immediately, Evelyn eventually died.
While Berry wasn't particularly interested in Evelyn, she was very interested in Judy, Evelyn's best friend.
Johnny Silverhand's relic chip was much more complex than she had anticipated; so far, Berry hadn't been able to successfully crack the relic chip, but it wasn't for nothing—she finally saw a glimmer of success.
And her hypothesis required the cooperation of Judy, that highly skilled Braindance Technician.
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