"It's custom-made by a doctor who ran away from Biotechnica, safe and reliable…"
Berry's heart raced. She hadn't forgotten that V's surgery would be performed by her personally.
And in the past two days, she had already taken time to train with Viktor.
Although human bodies and machines are different, Berry didn't need to know too much medical knowledge; she only needed to install artificial nerve fibers.
This level of surgery usually requires high-end equipment from large corporations, but now, it all depended on her two hands. Even with extensive training, she still had to be cautious.
However, despite Berry's nervousness, she didn't believe it would fail.
Moreover, it wasn't just the spine; she had also prepared a comprehensive cyberware upgrade for V.
If you're not going to replace it, then don't. If you are, go all out with the best. This was Berry's philosophy as a master of graphics cards.
More money, more money, more money.
Spend the most money, build the strongest machine.
This was the pride of the card enthusiasts.
And now, Berry transferred this spirit to cyberware installation.
Anyway, some parts of V's body were already metal, so it might as well be replaced with the strongest.
Currently, V's eyes were already the best cyberware eyes on the market, the Kiroshi Optics Mk.3, and the only other thing that could be replaced was the Net Access Port.
V was still using common Militech Paraline, which Berry couldn't tolerate. Berry simply spent more money to prepare the Netwatch Netdriver Mk.5, one of the strongest Net Access Ports circulating on the black market.
This Netwatch Netdriver Mk.5 was also a well-deserved legendary-grade in the system's evaluation. Its quickhack function was extremely powerful, especially adept at rapid intrusion and stealth missions.
Of course, since you heard Netwatch, this thing must have been circulating internally within the Netwatch department. But unfortunately, even the Netwatch department, which has a good reputation for guarding the Blackwall, has plenty of people short on cash.
In short, after much circulation, these internal departmental items ended up on the market.
Although the price was high, Berry still relied on Viktor's street cred to buy it with a heavy sum. Not everything on the street can be bought with money, after all, people don't know if you're an NCPD detective trying to set a trap. Thanks to Viktor's reputation in Night City, Berry smoothly acquired it.
Next, just like with that cyberware spine, all she had to do was implant this thing into V's body, and the job would be done.
Berry hugged herself and nervously exhaled.
It will definitely work. V will stand up again and become stronger.
Her dream of becoming a legend in Night City, Berry would definitely help her achieve it.
With such determination, Berry felt her blood boil.
Moe-moe, stand up!!!
Early the next morning, Viktor hung a "Closed" sign on the door and locked the rolling shutter, preparing for V's surgery.
Berry, V, and Viktor all underwent full-body sterilization and changed into plastic film suits convenient for surgery. Viktor was now wearing a mask and spraying disinfectant around the operating room.
And Berry was cheering V on.
"V, it's okay, I'll heal you!"
Holding V's hand, Berry solemnly promised.
"Mm, I trust you, Berry!"
V, now gripping the operating chair, squeezed Berry's hand tightly, also solemnly expressing her trust in Berry.
At the same time, she was also psyching herself up.
It will definitely be okay.
She had been in a wheelchair long enough.
The free spirit of a Nomad is inherently untamable. V believed that she would definitely be able to stand up again and have a good time with this crazy world; she wasn't old enough to retire yet.
Especially...
V looked at Berry's face, full of concern for her.
Especially since she still had family she must protect, she wouldn't fall like this.
"Alright, let's begin!"
At this moment, Viktor, who had completed all pre-operative preparations, walked over.
"Mm, V, never give up fighting. We'll take care of the rest!"
Berry said her last words to V and stood up.
"Alright, V, I'm going to give you general anesthesia. When you wake up, everything will be done." Viktor pulled down the hollow headrest in front of V's face, allowing V, who was lying prone on the operating chair, to place her face in the empty space so as not to obstruct her breathing.
"Thanks, Viktor."
V, as the patient, seemed less nervous, simply doing as Viktor said.
"Come, put this on."
Viktor brought over a tank like an oxygen cylinder, operated the air pump panel a few times, and put the transparent plastic breathing mask on V.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6… Viktor silently counted, watching V's eyelids gradually droop and close. Finally, at the fifth second, V completely fell into a coma.
"Alright, let's start!"
Viktor adjusted his plastic gloves, his eyes gradually becoming calm and composed.
Meanwhile, Berry, acting as an assistant, had already, as in the practice, lifted V's clothes, revealing half of her back. V's smooth back still had a few bullet holes and sutured scars, with the threads still clearly visible.
During the surgery, time flowed by tensely.
The first half of the surgery was almost Viktor's solo show. As a boxer turned Cyberware Doctor, Viktor, who was self-taught, had incredibly skilled hands. He calmly and carefully removed V's necrotic spine from the tail end, avoiding the dense nerve plexus around the spine.
And Berry could only act like a nurse, constantly wiping sweat from Viktor's brow.
The bloody and flesh-covered spinal bone clattered into the stainless steel tray, and Viktor began to implant the blood-soaked mechanical spine into V's empty cavity.
The cyberware spine was completely custom-made, fitting perfectly into the gap.
At this point, Viktor finally straightened his back and let out a sigh of relief. His task was mostly complete.
And now, it was Berry's turn.
Seeing Viktor look at her, Berry started to get nervous, because now it was up to her to perform.
"Just do as we practiced, don't worry, Berry, nothing will go wrong."
Viktor reassured Berry, stepping aside and pulling over the electronic microscope mounted on the operating chair's robotic arm, adjusting the focus.
"Alright, I'll do it."
Berry took a deep breath and picked up the tools.
Next was the implantation of artificial nerve sheaths and the construction of the artificial neural network.
This kind of surgery, requiring precision down to one micrometer by hand, would be a fantasy for anyone else. But with the system's enhancement, Berry far surpassed human capabilities and could complete this surgery.
And in this aspect, Viktor couldn't help much, only cheer Berry on.
Time was passing, but Berry, whose nerves were highly tense, didn't feel it at all. She was completely focused, her eyes only on the transparent synthetic nerve tubes under the microscope.
Just like that.
After an unknown amount of time.
V, whose vision was dark, vaguely regained consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open and closed, and her mind gradually revived.
"Hey, V, how are you? Do you feel any pain?"
A face full of concern appeared in her field of vision. V, still blurry-eyed and dazed, paused for a long while before remembering that the person in front of her was Berry.
But, Berry?
Who was this person?
V's mind began to turn sluggishly.
That name was familiar, like her sister, or her girlfriend, or both?
Feeling the memories in her mind, V seemed a bit confused.
"V? V? Viktor." Berry frowned, looking at V's dazed, faraway expression, and looked at Viktor in confusion.
"There's still residual anesthetic in V's body. It's normal for her consciousness not to have fully recovered yet. She just needs a little more time."
Viktor, wearing a mask, shrugged. He was used to this kind of situation.
The surgery was perfectly completed.
Neither Berry nor Viktor messed up.
Theoretically, V could now run and jump again, and with her new metal spine, she no longer had to worry about coccydynia or herniated discs. Now, if she were to become a code monkey, she could outcompete a whole bunch of people.
And it wasn't just that. Viktor also took the opportunity to update V's operating system, added some things, and replaced V's common Militech Paraline, which had been giving her bugs, with the Netwatch Netdriver Mk.5 Net Access Port prepared by Berry.
Next, they just needed to wait for V to wake up.
If Bug were here, she could accurately quote the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus: "No man ever steps in the same river twice."
The V who had undergone a complete transformation was now vastly different from the V who lay in bed before, at least in terms of combat power, she was much stronger.
Viktor held a syringe and gave V an injection of analgesic in her arm, which would effectively suppress post-operative pain.
And V remained as dazed as ever, her reactions to the outside world dull and blurry.
But Berry, after the tension, almost burst out laughing at V's appearance.
This V, with her cool and fierce older sister demeanor, was showing such a goofy expression, which was truly hilarious.
Berry unhesitatingly squatted down and snapped several photos of V's face.
Hmm, a few more trophies could be added to V's database, excellent.
Berry nodded, very satisfied.
However, in the next second, V's astonishing words stunned Berry.
It turned out that V, with her blurry eyes, watched Berry's bright little face circle around in front of her as she squatted on the ground, and couldn't help but speak.
"Berry, come here, kiss me!"
Berry was flustered by V's sudden, bold words, looking at her. She froze in place.
However, V, with no one to cover her mouth, was lightheaded and saying whatever came to mind, acting very socially uninhibited.
"Come here, I want to give you a hickey on your neck!"
V's eager eyes stared at Berry's fair neck, her cherry lips moving as if she had already licked it.
And Berry, at this moment, was enveloped by an immense sense of shame, digging her feet into the floor, almost unable to maintain her composure.
Viktor was still standing nearby, and V was just letting herself go like this.
But unfortunately, V's mind wasn't clear right now, and Berry's habit of feeling embarrassed for others kicked in. She kept a straight face, not daring to look at Viktor, afraid she wouldn't be able to hold it together.
As for Viktor, with decades of experience, he still had that composure, pretending not to hear.
"Viktor, can you cover V's mouth?"
Berry looked at V, who was now squinting and spouting bold words, and asked seriously, considering the feasibility.
"It might block her airway. She's still very fragile right now."
And Viktor gave a professional suggestion regarding Berry's idea.
"Damn it, what am I saying?!"
At this moment, V also seemed to realize her abnormality, frantically trying to cover her mouth, but because they were afraid she would move around, her hands were cuffed, so she could only try in vain.
"Berry, I don't mean to be a pervert, I just meant I want to… with you! Damn it, no!"
V closed her eyes in pain, but couldn't stop the intrusive thoughts in her mind from constantly spilling out of her mouth.
Mm, mm, mm.
Berry nodded with a dark expression, indicating that she was listening.
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