Work Text:
Holocall Jackie
Ring…
Ring…
"Choom? That really you?" I lightheartedly chuckled at the broad choom I called my partner. "Heard a lotta gunshots, and well…."
"I'm alive. Barely, but alive." I exhaled as I left Konpeki Plaza empty-handed, covered in the blood of my enemies and my own. "Gig was a bust. The target wasn't here, and now Rogue's gonna chew my ass out." Kicking at stray rocks beneath my boots, I stared unsteadily as a Delamain cab pulled up to the hotel. A gorgeous woman with a model's figure walked out of the cab, wrapped in the finest furs and silks, with a vibrant dark blue colored bob being her main identifier. She took a long drag of the cigarette she held in between her middle and ring fingers before meeting eye contact with me.
"Valance Marksmyth, I presume." She spoke calmly as she snubbed out the cancer stick, crushing it with the tip of her black heels. I folded my arms over my chest, glaring at the flourished woman. My optics couldn't identify her, must've had an identity blocker. "Rogue sent me. I assume you have the merch?" I shook my head 'no.’ The woman's look was unfaltering, with no signs of disappointment or anger, nor any signs of worrying. An ace’s poker face if I've ever seen one.
"You're the one who ordered the hit?"
"Doesn't matter who ordered what. You failed, yet again." The blue-haired woman re-entered the cab and sped off into the setting sun without uttering another word.
"Aye, choom-"
"Fuck's sake!" I jumped at the realization I never ended the holocall. "Guess you heard all that."
"Sí, Señora Rogue isn't gonna be too pleased with another failed gig."
"I know, choom. I know." I sighed as I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "Just...tired. Tired of this life. Tired of being a merc, this isn't the life for me. Being a streetkid isn't for me."
"What do you wanna do with your life then, partner? Night City doesn't cater to the average 9 to 5, ya know."
"I...don't know, Jackster. Just…." I let my sentence fall into the empty space of the world as I had nothing to offer it. "I'll see you at the Afterlife, choom."
"See you there, Valance." The call ended and left tears cascading down my bloodied cheeks. I hated this city, hated the monster I've become to get by. I hated myself. I wanted to scream, wanted to punch the bricked walls of some building until my fists were broken and bloodied. Yet, I couldn't do it, couldn't bring myself to it. At the end of the day, all I knew was being a merc, drinking away the pain, and being a pain in everyone's ass. Nothing else.
8:59 p.m. illuminated on my wristwatch as I walked into the Afterlife, looking out of place. My clothes were still torn and bloodied, riddled with bullet holes. Vik was a mere walk away, just talking to Rogue and heading there to get fixed up was the plan. My eyes locked onto Jackie as he sat at the bar. The well-built mercenary waved me over and handed me a beer.
"Yikes, really taking on the undeadly look, my friend." I shrugged and downed my beer. I had never been able to tan or color in my skin.
"Pale ale for a pale fucker," I lightheartedly joked. "I'll be alright, headin’ to Vik's after Rogue scolds me."
"Need a ride?" I accepted Jack's offer. My ride was perfectly capable of getting me from point A to B, but eddies have been slow. Selling my bike would at least give me a bit of financial stability.
"Thanks, choom. I owe ya." I stood to my feet, took a deep breath, and walked towards Rogue's lounging area. She was alone, unusual for the fixer, sipping on whiskey as I walked through the room's threshold. "Rogue."
"Valance." Her tone was neutral, hard to read this woman's mood as she paid me little attention, her eyes never fixing on me for longer than a second. "I assume you know why you're here." Her yellow crop top, a signature staple of her branding, wasn't on her body. She wore a tight-fitted white button-up shirt and black suit pants to fit the attire, a look she only wore for more serious meetings. I sat across from her, attempting to meet the older woman's gaze as I cleared my throat, nervous about staining her leather seats with my blood.
"Uh, y-yes ma'am. It's about tonight's gig-"
"The gig you failed." Her eyes darted towards me, piercing my soul like daggers. Her MRI implants lit up, illuminating as she stared pensively at me. "Look, kid, I wanted to take pity on ya. After the mishap in the Badlands, part of me wants to give you another chance. Unfortunately, you're too much of a liability with nothing worthwhile to show for it after months of being mentored by me." She sighed as she took a sip of her beverage before placing her tumbler on the table.
"So, I'm fired. Is that what you're telling me? Finally giving up on a merc, Rogue?" She glared at me before exhaling and rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"I value my life and reputation. You're a lost cause, and Jackie's been cleaning up your messes, so nothing leads back to me. You're not a merc; you’re a mistake. Now, get out of my sight." Her words hit me like venom, but I remained cold and hardened. I nodded and left her quarters feeling numb, but it was a familiar feeling at this point. She was right. I wasn't a merc. No matter how hard I tried, being a merc was just never fated for me.
"You alright there, choom? Rogue didn't go too hard on ya, did she?" Jackie sipped the last of his drink before tipping the bartender. I kept silent until we stood outside, the evening sky dawning as neon lights illuminated in the skies. "Valance?"
"Just take me to Vik's," I spoke monotonously as I hopped onto the back of his bike. Jackie didn't question me further and revved up his engine. Speeding down the city's back alleys, we arrived at the ripperdoc’s, where we parted ways. "Thanks."
"Holo me if you need anything." The lad shot me a lighthearted smile before taking off through the streets. Standing before the metal gating that separated the stairs of Vik’s clinic from the back alley, part of me wanted to leave and die in the streets. I had lost my only means of making eddies, might as well perish. Yet, something nagged me on through the metallic gates, greeting the older gentlemen with a half-hearted smile as I sat on his operating chair.
"Valance, what happened?" Vik sighed as he washed his hands, a usual night for him: dealing with a blood-soaked me coming around at odd hours with enough borrowed eddies to charm the fellow ripper into not leaving just yet.
"What always happens, Vik. Gig goes wrong, I get hurt."
"Ever think of a career change?"
"Actually, Rogue fired me tonight. Said I was too much of a liability to herself and Jack. So, now, I don't know what I'mma do." The room laid eerily silent apart from my shallow breaths and the echoing thuds of Vik's boots against the floor. "Have enough eddies for ya to fix me up. Least you won't have to deal with me like this much longer." I shot over my last pool of eddies to Vik, the last crumbs of my earnings used up to mend up my wounds and numb the pain. Or, at the very least, numb my physical pain.
Megabuilding H10, how I hated it so. The smell of burning rubber, the permanent stains of blood and bile that marked the pavement. Yet, I called this place home. Apartment 667 unlocked as I waved my hand over the door, promptly closing and locking it upon entry. Dropping my pistol and tanto on the ground, I dropped to my knees and let out a silent huff as tears streamed down my face. I lost everything in one day. I brought shame to myself and my blood. If I wasn't a merc, what use did I have in this city? As salty tears dribbled down my cheeks, a holocall appeared in my optics, which I promptly dismissed as I dried my eyes. I felt numb, but not numb enough to not feel the pain and sting of defeat and shame. Maybe, this city didn't need me? Maybe...maybe I was better off packin’ up and high-tailing it to the Badlands like my brother? No. The nomadic life was as bad as the merc life. Maybe I could become a corpo like my sisters, Valk and Violet? No. I don't think I can keep up with that high-risk life, always having someone watching your every move. The holo buzzed once more. Growing tired of nitpicking in my head, I answered.
"What?" I huffed as I pressed my back against the cold, metallic door, not caring about the fresh stitchings there.
"Glad you haven't flatlined yourself, choom." His low, husky voice felt somewhat comforting in these uncertain times plagued by gray thoughts. "Stopping by, back in the city for a few days."
"What for, Silver? Looking for someone?" My voice cracked a little at the last word, Silver frowning a bit in the call.
"Nah. I, uh, well actually, me and Kerry were working out a deal. Record labels been wantin' me to write something for Kerry, ya know. Told ‘em ‘I'm not a rocker no mo.’ Tryna just live life after that whole...Soulkiller shit. Anyway, Kerry's been whining my ears off, and we were gonna go out for drinks. Heard from a certain fixer you're not in the best of wares, so hey, wanna tag along? Beats sitting around, moping in your apartment." I exhaled as I looked at my discarded weaponry on the floor.
"Where we going, Silver?"
"Atta kid! Meet me at The Red Dirt." I scoffed as I stood to my feet, practically tearing off the bloodied and ruined clothes of today.
"That shit hole?"
"Yes. That shithole." His voice was strained through gritted teeth. "Callin’ ya a Delamain. See ya soon, choom."
"Later, Silver." The call ended, and I stared at my bare body in my cracked bathroom mirror as I downed some painkillers that Misty sent me. Bruised, bloodied, and scarred. Yet, there were still some scraps of hope within this shattered soul of mine. Steam filled the bathroom as I turned on the shower, letting the boiling hot waters cascade down my back as I sat on the tile flooring. "Let the evening moon's glow cast down upon this ghostly being…let this ghost kid feel alive once more," I spoke to myself as I slowly rose to my feet, facing the waters to lather up and wash away today. Grabbing a towel, I dried off and exhaled. "Time to face the music. Time to see them."
The Red Dirt, a hole in the wall of a fucked up city. If you look close enough, you'll find a treasure amongst the muck. The booming echo of blaring bases trembled, shaking the windows of my Delamain as I arrived outside the bar. A dozen or so drunk party-goers stumbled from outside the bar as people who were even more shitfaced laid face first wasted on the concrete. Carefully walking over plastered patrons and bile puddles, I made my way inside when a familiar voice called me over.
"Well, well, well. The Ghost still walks." Two silver, cybernetic hands clapped each other. Wearing an oversized black hoodie with a grey skull imprinted on it, Silver pulled down their hood and smiled. I was still shocked, to say the least. It was him. Yet, him being in my sister's body never got easier to comprehend or move on from. Caramel skin peppered with freckles greeted me with silver Kiroshi irises that stared at me fondly. Silver, coiled curls bounced as they strode towards me. Vocal implants shone brilliantly, dancing the fine line between gold and platinum as the husky, familiar voice spoke like a haunting yet comforting daydream. "Was afraid you'd bail out…" Placing a firm hand on my shoulder, Silver sighed as their joyous expression dropped. "Never got the chance to say ‘I’m sorry’ for...this." I shrugged my shoulders and sat down at the bar. It was him, Johnny Silverhand. Yet it was her body. My sister's body. Not entirely authentic of her, but it was hers nonetheless.
"Two Silverhands, my good sir." The bartender nodded. "So, how have you been, Silver?"
"Been taking care of some things with the Aldecaldos. Nomads aren't half bad." Silver half-smiled. "Judy's been a great help, these cybernetics- I don't know how your sister lived with all of this techie shit in her brain constantly." I chuckled at his words.
"Valarie liked techie shit. Wanted to become a mechanic before she became a merc." Silver nodded, and our drinks arrived. Both of us grabbed our glasses and looked at each other.
"To Valarie?"
"To Valarie." We clink our glasses and down our drinks. "You mentioned your choom, Kerry? Where's the bloke?"
"Probably hiding from the press and media. I know where he lives if ya don't mind a little breaking-and-entering." I smirked as I stood up from my stool.
"Lead the way, Silver." The old soul rocker smiled. Despite being in a different body, Johnny never lost that charming smile of his.
"Gladly, V."
North Oak, known as the "safest" district of Night City. Safe was a relative term when it came to Silver, especially now that he was equipped with my sister's cybernetics.
"Which fancy-ass mansion is his?" I asked as I drove cautiously through the neighborhoods. Anyone worth anything had their cribs decked out with surveillance drones and bots, and the bots were always armed to the teeth in weaponry to protect their rich ass owners.
"Big mansion on top of the hill, overlooking the city." Silver pointed North at a brightly lit mansion with a dozen visible drones flying around the perimeter.
"How do we get in without getting flatlined? Sure, you can get rebooted, but I can't." Silver rolled his eyes as they leaned back in the passenger seat.
"Kerry wouldn't hurt me."
"Thing is, would he hurt me?" Silver was silent for a moment before I spoke again. "Are we really sneaking in?"
"Either that, or we're frying his drones." Silver stared out the passenger side window for a moment before facing me once again. This time, their eyes ignited with burning passion and a smirk of determination. "Hell, you wanted to make something of yourself, right? Meeting a legend might help with that." Gripping onto the synthetic leather of the steering wheel, I stared at the heavily guarded mansion. "You wanted to become a legend, right?" A devilish smirk crept its way onto my face.
"LETS FUCKING DO THIS!" Pedal to the metal, rubber burning against the cement, the Porsche roared with life as we blazed down open back roads to the secured mansion. A tanky droid wielding an assault rifle was quickly dealt with as we approached the back gates, parking Silver's car. A massive in-ground swimming pool was illuminated with underground waterproof lights as the famed rocker legend laid on a pool floatie, strumming an acoustic guitar while humming a quaint melody.
"Nice tune there, old friend," Silver smirked as he hopped the gates, totally unfazed by the voltage surging through his nearly chromed-out body from the gates. I activated my jump boost and soared over the gates to stand alongside him to be greeted by the fame rockstar. Greyed hair and interesting golden cybernetics caught my eyes as Silver spoke to the legend. "Whatcha playing there, choom?"
"Johnny," Kerry sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You know I love ya, but don't bring a fan club with you when you visit!" He snapped his fingers, and three drones flew overhead towards him, all aiming lasers at my chest.
"Woah, woah, woah," Silver stood in front of me, obviously upsetting his rockstar friend. "Valance is here to help you."
"Another merc? Last time one of your merc friends helped with anything involving us, you stole her body, if I recall correctly." That stung both of us as Kerry wadded in the waters towards us. "What's your big, brilliant plan this time, Johnny? Take this poor bloke's life as well? Get yourself another new bod?" Silver was less than enthusiastic about seeing his choom now, even less happy remembering Val's sacrifice.
"Look, you wanted someone to write songs. I quit the music business to become a merc. Valance quit the merc business, so maybe their lucky break is working alongside a legend like yourself...or offing one, hell if I know." Silver looked back at me before glaring at Kerry. "You and I both know the label's gonna ditch you if you don't give ‘em some songs soon." Kerry sighed as he climbed out of the pool, wrapping a towel around his waist as he stared me in the eyes before his Kiroshis glowed and scanned me.
"Hm. Kid's got me interested, not gonna lie. But why should I give a merc a shot? Does he-"
"They." Silver corrected him with venom on his tongue. Kerry nodded.
"Have they ever played a guitar or a piano? Written music? Dealt with lawyers and management?!"
"I've dealt with lawyers, a lot of them. My fixer usually just hired others to off them." His optics glowed cyan as a phone number and ten thousand eddies were flicked to me.
"Meet me back here tomorrow at noon sharp. Don't make me wait." He spoke with bitterness as he turned away and headed into his mansion. Silver turned to me and smiled.
"You're in, choom! This is your chance!" I felt a small smile creep onto my face as we turned away and left Kerry's pad. Maybe, this is my shot. Maybe this was my destiny.
"Hey, can I sleep at your place tonight? I don't wanna be alone-"
"Valance. You don't have to ask. There's always a warm bed and food for you here." Silver hopped into the driver's side, his eyes glowing lime green as he jacked into the controls. "So pizza, tacos, sushi? Whatcha want?"
"Nothing sounds better than pizza."
"Wake the fuck up, Samarai." Silver shook me awake as my drool began to stain the couch's pillow. I rubbed the crust from my eyes as I brushed him away.
"Ugh, what time is it?" I yawned as I scrolled through my missed holocalls and texts. Jackie, Jackie, Judy, Jackie, Panam, Jackie, Vik, Jackie, Kerry.
"11:30." I sprang to my feet in disbelief. How did I sleep for 10 hours?! "Kerry's gonna be pissed if you're late. Hit the showers. Breakfast is on the table," the silver-haired choom grabbed his keys from the coffee table and left his apartment.
"Fucking hell." Racing around his apartment, I showered, scarfed down the breakfast burrito and coffee, and grabbed a simple grey t-shirt and jeans as my attire. Anything not covered in blood and riddled with bullet holes is suitable attire. Exiting the apartment, Silver was waiting for me in my car.
"It's 11:40. We can make it." I nod as I enter his car. Silver's eyes glowed green once more as he jacked into the controls. Tires squealed against the cold pavement as his Porsche raced down the busy streets of midday Night City. Silver smiled devilishly as he sharply turned down a back alley, nearly colliding into oncoming traffic as the hilltop homes of North Oak became visible in the distance. "Cutting things a bit close." I looked at the car's clock. 11:52. I'm not making it.
"Just keep pushing the gas. I got this." I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked down at my cybernetic arm. Time to put some faith in this tech. As Silver turned left, North Oak bloomed into an array of secure mansions with well-maintained lawns. Thick oak trees and needle-tipped bushes decorated each home until we arrived at Kerry's estate. 11:59 on the clock, please let this work. Tires squeal as we abruptly come to a halt in front of the large iron gates. I threw open the car door as I hopped on top of Silver's car and felt the blood pulse through my veins as I activated Sandevistan. The world moved in slow motion as I rushed towards the front door, finding it unlocked surprisingly. Kerry sat at his piano, playing a melody as time resumed to standard pacing, noon chiming on his grandfather clock. The rockstar turned around to meet my gaze, a smirk on his face.
"Sandevistan's slowed time. Heh, nice trick, merc." He stood up and adjusted his robe, rubbing out some wrinkles before nodding me towards his guitar collection. "Ever played before, Ghosty?" I rolled my eyebrows at the nickname.
"Been some years since I've played." I raised my cybernetic arm. "Haven't played since I lost it."
"How did you lose it?" He asked as he grabbed a slick red acoustic guitar from his displays.
"Maelstrom fuckers. Botched my first gig, and they captured me, took my arm, and left me to die in some alley. A friend of mine, Jackie, rescued me and took me to a ripper." Kerry looked at me with sympathy and nodded.
"Well, teaching you- or well, re-teaching, is gonna be easy. Have you ever written music?" I shook my head 'no.’ "Well, I have my work cut out for me, don't I?" Kerry took the strings of the guitar and plucked them out one by one, a god-awful noise crying from the instrument with every broken string. "Tell ya what. I'm still skeptical of you but I worked with your sister. I wanna give you a shot, kid." He handed me the guitar and a packet of fresh guitar strings. "Restring and tune this guitar, and I'll teach you how to become a rockstar. Doesn't have to be perfect." I took the instrument and grasped it in my hands, staring at its craftsmanship. My mind instantly went to a long-lost memory of me playing my guitar in band class, breaking a string, and watching my teacher restring it. My hands practically moved on their own, restringing each cord in order and making sure they were secure in place, snipping off the excess wrapped string. Ensuring each string was as close to pitch-perfect, the tension felt even across the neck of the instrument as I strummed all the strings. I earned an honest look of surprise from Kerry.
"How did I do, boss?" I smiled proudly. Kerry took the guitar from my hands and played a few chords before staring back at me in disbelief.
"You restrung and retuned a guitar in the time it takes for me to make a sandwich! Kid, you're gonna be something I tell ya!" I felt prideful hearing his words. "We can work on your music skill later. Songwriting is just as, if not, more important than the music itself."
"Have no experience writing songs. I have written poems before but-"
"Lyrics are essentially poetry. Poems are lyrics without music. But without heart and soul, a song isn't a song. Music isn't music. It's just fucking noise filling our headspace." I nodded in agreement.
"Silver, I mean, Johnny told me the industry was hounding you for some new songs?"
"Yeah. Or else, I'm off the record label and lose alotta deals and shit."
"Tell you what. I'll help you write some songs. We can be a duo or something." Kerry chuckled.
"Kerry Eurodyne and Ghost Kid."
"Kerry and Valance, The...um…." Kerry chuckled at my brain fog.
"Look, let's work on your skills first before you put your money where your mouth is with these industry assholes." Kerry handed me back the acoustic guitar as he grabbed another one donned in all black with a sleek paint finish. "Copy me." Chord by chord, stroke by stroke, I copied the movements of his fingers, blessing the fact my right hand was metallic and feeling none of the pain of the flicks against the strings at fast pace. Our practice continued until the sky grew amber and crimson overhead, gray clouds looming over the city in a rage.
"Geez, 7:30 already?" I sat down the guitar on top of Kerry's piano as I stared out the glass walls of his mansion at the oncoming storm.
"Yeah, guess we kinda got lost in the music huh?"
"I guess we did." I holocalled Silver to no success, straight to voicemail. "Tomorrow, same time?"
"Is Johnny here to pick you up?"
"Nah, but I can walk, no biggie. See ya tomorrow, Mr. Eurodyne." As I walk out of the door, he cleared his throat and called after me.
"Holo me when you're home, alright kid?" I nod at his simple request. The rockstar went back into his mansion as I began walking down the empty streets of North Oak, kicking at stray soda cans as they cross my path.
Incoming holocall: Jackie
"Hey choom," the buff Valentino smiled as I answered the call. "How have you been?"
"Doing better. Found a new gig that I'm taking a liking to. How's you and Mama Welles?"
"She's been asking about you, ya know. ‘¿Mijo, donde está Valance? ¿No se pierden mis cenas caseras?’ "
"Tell Mama I do in fact miss her cooking and her as well. I'll swing by in a few days, hopefully."
"I'm just proud you're back on your feet, choom. What's this new gig of yours?"
"Can't say. Client confidentiality. But just know, you'll be proud of me once this all works out, if it all works out." He nodded. "I miss you choom."
"Miss you too, Valance. Take care of yourself." The call ended as a thunderous clap exploded overhead, erupting into an immediate downpour of rain. Westbrook wasn't a hop, skip and jump away, but walking was cheaper than a Delamain. I could run to my apartment, shower, and sleep, and just take my bike to Kerry's tomorrow. Simple plan, I just prayed my bike could hold on for the twenty-minute drive before falling apart. Or maybe I could holo Judy and send over some eddies for the trouble? I shook my head. Gotta start relying on my own damn self. Megabuilding H10, Apartment 667. I waved my hand in front of the door to find the place undisturbed. My gun and knife were still lying haphazardly on the floor from last night. My blood stains were trailing the floor as the coppery oxidized odor wafted through the air. Watered down bleach and a mop made quick work of the smell and blood trail as I tossed my weaponry into my personal stache. Assault rifles, shotguns, snipers, a gun enthusiasts' wet dream right here.
"Time to end this chapter of my life." Setting the pistol and knife in their correct positions engraved into the wall, I closed and locked the door to the arsenal. "Time to move forward." Just as I laid my head down and began to close my eyes, I remembered Kerry and holocalled him.
"Valance." He smiled and exhaled a sigh of relief. "Glad your home, safe and sound."
"You weren't worryin’ about me, were you?" Kerry scoffed.
"Fuck no, what? Never."
"Haha. Sleep well, Kerry."
"You too, Gho- Valance."
Morning came as the sun's rays pierced through the broken blinds of my window and hit my eyes. Feeling inspired, I showered and got dressed, donning a simple white button-up and black slacks. 11:15 am, and I was sipping black coffee as I called Silver. No answer. Typical, he would usually go dark if he was on merc work or just too shit face wasted to stand on his own two feet. I didn't think much of him as I walked to the garage and found my prized bike, barely holding on by a thread. Duct tape and determination held these parts together. Just one more ride, babe, please. Then I'll retire you to a better life. Hoping on the old Nazaré, it spurted and coughed of old age and extended life beyond the manufacturer's expectancy. Still, it soared like a beast through the unusually calm and quiet streets of Westbrook. No cop cars in sight. No MaxTac zeroing cyberpsychos. The serene bliss of somewhat peace felt unnatural as I jetted into North Oak, where the blissfulness shattered. Angry couples yell at each other in their front lawns as their canines bark and growl at me. The faint stench of burning metallic and rubber came from a side street as screams and explosions erupted. Stopping just short of Kerry's abode, I clock one of his armed drones staring me down before zipping away and unlocking the gates into his estate. At least he was expecting me and prepared for this chaotic fuckfest.
The next few weeks were pleasant. Seven to ten hours a day at Kerry's, learning how to play guitar and piano and fine-tuning my craft. The evenings I spent either visiting Mama Welles and Jackie or swinging by Lizzie's for a drink with Judy. Silver was practically unreachable. Nobody’s heard from them in weeks, not even Kerry. I knew he could take care of himself just fine, but the fear of him being Soulkilled and Valarie's body being destroyed….
I shook the thought from my head as I sat at the bar beside Judy, knocking back my straight whiskey. Judy told me about her week of BD scrolling as I told her about becoming an underling to Kerry.
"So when can I hear your first song?" She smiled as she sipped her long island iced tea.
"Kerry's working some strings and I'm rewriting some old poetry. I'll let you know when and if anything happens, mí amiga." She nodded her head. "Well, it's almost midnight. I should head home. I'll holo you tomorrow."
"Take care, Valance."
"You too, Juds."
Incoming Holocall: Silver Johnny
I groaned as I rubbed my eyes awake. It couldn't have been past 3 am but I still answered his call.
"Johnny? The fuck, mate?" I yawned. He was taken back for a moment.
"You… haven't called me 'Johnny' since… never mind. I called you because Kerry called me. He told me that the label execs wanna hear a new song by the end of this week."
"That gives us two days, the fuck." I sat up in my bed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I have a song but I don't know how Kerry's gonna feel about it."
"Don't got much of a choice unless you can pull songs outta your arse."
"Where have you been? Tried calling you for weeks-"
"Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. Aldecaldos merch movement. Sorry for going MIA, just couldn't risk being compromised by Scavs and thieves." I nodded. "But I'm back for now and Kerry needed me for y'all little 'surprise.' "
"What surprise?"
"He'll fill you in this morning. Sleep well, my buddy." The call ended as I sat in my bed half-awake at 2:24 am.
"'Ghost Song' it is." I grabbed the journal I'd been using to write lyrics down onto and flipped to the very last page.
Ghost Song (a sweet but sad, melancholy rock song. An ode to my fallen sister, Valarie.)
Head in the clouds
Feet on the ground
Bullets and bodies come tumbling down
Shoot for the moon
Crash in the stars
One day we'll be together soon (-oon)
'Cuz I'm just a dreamer
Seen some things that you wouldn't believe
And I
Sing to you
Grateful,
Soulfully,
Honestly.
Singing to you (oooo)
Singing the song of a Ghost
Destiny and fate had it out for me
Straight from the start, too blind I couldn't see
Taken a life at fifteen, running from my past til I couldn't breathe
Rolling the dice of life, snake eyes staring back at me
Hands up in the crowd as the guns ring out
ill luck got the best of me and fated in disastery
Doesn't seem too good for me to carry on this way (way)
Popping pills and drinking wine,
Mixing cheap thrills with cheap finds
Becoming psycho in the back of my mind
Singing the song of a ghost
Tales of the past revised and rewrote
To bring to you a truth, tested, tried and true
The song of the ghost of me and you
Luck was never on your side
Death took you for one last ride
As your story faded to black
This song won't bring you back
But the memory of you carry on and on and on
SING IT ONE MORE TIME!
WE WILL CARRY ON!
WE WILL CARRY ON!
WE WILL CARRY ON!
Singing to you a ghost song….
"Hey, Kerry," I smiled confidently as I walked into his estate. Wearing a red button-down blazer and black slacks, I could tell something was serious. Usually wearing his tinted shades, he stared at me with naked eyes. Just his Kiroshis looking into the depths of my soul as golden implants were complimented by the sunlight.
"Don't wanna pressure you a whole lot but-"
"Record wants a song. They can have one," I handed him my notebook. "Last page, scribbled down some lyrics for a, erm, personal song." The tanned rockerboy flipped to the back of the book and scanned the lyrics, taking them in like he was sipping aged wine. Nervously, I stood there waiting for his approval or outright denial. Alas, he just closed the book and looked up at me.
"Something tells me you don't fully grasp what's at stake for me." He raised his arms. "This mansion, my cars, my life, my very life is on the line. If the label hates the song, guess who gets Soulkilled?" My face dropped. "Yeah, guess I should've read the fine print of those contracts," he half-heartedly joked. "Look, the song has potential, but I don't wanna risk my life on a maybe."
"What if I performed part of the song? Like right here, right now. And if you still hate it, fine. I have a half-baked second plan." Kerry exhaled loudly as he rubbed his forehead.
"Fine, Valance. I'm trusting you," he handed me an acoustic guitar. "Don't dig my grave for me."
"I won't." I began to tune the guitar to the proper sounds and strummed a chord to make sure before starting the song. "Head in the clooouudddssss.
"Feet on the grooouuunnddd.
"Bullets and bo-odies come tumbling dooowwwnnn.
"Shoot for the mooooooooon.
"Crash in the staaaarrrrsss.
"One day, we'll be to-gether soooon.
I took a deep breath as I looked at Kerry, whose facial expression had since become much more relaxed.
"CUZ I'M JUST A DREAMER, SEEN SOME THINGS YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE!
"AND I, SING TO YOU GRATEFULLY, SOULFULLY, HONESTLY,
"Singing to yoooouuuuu, singing the song of a ghooooooost."
The room was silent apart from my unsteadily breathing as I stared at Kerry. He walked over towards me, placing a firm hand on my shoulder, and smiled.
"You got that fiery passion in you, kid." He smirked as he gave me a hug. I wrapped my arms around him, basking in his embrace for a moment before realizing neither one of us was letting go first.
"Kerry?"
"Yeah?"
"You alright?"
"It's...it's just nice, Valance. Finally being able to breathe easy thanks to you."
"It's no problem. We are in this together." We finally pulled apart and smiled.
"Together. Alright, song's great, but we need a drummer, maybe some keyboard or piano…." I raised an eyebrow.
"We have two days, Kerry."
"I'll figure it out. Got people who owe me. You just make sure you're ready for Friday night."
"Where are we performing?"
"Where else, the Red Dirt. Same place me and Johnny started. Same place we will too."
The night of the concert was finally here. Anxiety was shooting up through the roof as I sat outside the bar in a white t-shirt, ripped denim jeans, and white canvas sneakers, a ghost looking near ghostly. The cigarette pressed against my lips was almost at its makers' end as I puffed, staring at my cold, dead-like eyes in the glass reflection. If you fail tonight, Kerry dies and his blood will be on your hands. I took another drag as ashes fell onto the cement ground before flicking out the butt and pressing my heel into it. "...I'll be Soulkilled. Heh. Guess I should've read those fine prints…." Furrowing my eyebrows, I walked into the Red Dirt where Kerry and his old bandmates were nearly done setting. Men and women in black suits and tinted glasses sat at the very back of the establishment, observing us cautiously.
"This is it, Valance. Go big or die tryin’." Despite literally having his life on the line, Kerry looked calm more or less. I was visibly a nervous trainwreck. The fate of Night City's biggest rockstar lay in my pale, clammy hands as I stood amongst the hundred-count crowd. Faces all stared at us with a mix, some uncertain and disinterested. Others were excited and smiling brightly. My intestines felt like they were being tied in knots until I spotted some familiar faces amongst the unknown. Silver sat at the bar, shooting me a confident smile. Judy sat at a table with other Moxes, waving to me. Jackie and Mama Welles sat closer towards the front, both beaming with excitement and joy as Kerry turned on the mic. "Thank y’all for coming out. Tonight's a special night. Tonight is the grand unveil of my new partner, Valance, who'll be singing to you their own song. Hope y'all enjoy." All eyes stared at me, the oddball out, the walking corpse, the ghost kid. I walked towards the mic and grabbed it with my mechanical hand as I took a deep breath. Before I knew it, the song was over and the bar was erupting in screams and cheers. Looking back at Kerry, he was beaming with radiant energy as he placed a hand on my shoulder. "You'll be the next living legend, kid."
The crowd began to chant, "GHOST! GHOST! GHOST!" Then it hit me.
"Guess we should call ourselves Kerry and Ghost?" Kerry sucked in a breath through his teeth.
"We'll work on the name later, Ghosty." The suited execs came up to us, presumably their leader stepping forward and lowering her tinted glasses.
"Well done, Mr. Eurodyne and, erm, Ghost," she looked at me with a mix of disgust and disbelief before focusing back on Kerry. "We'll be in touch soon." The group of suited personas left, shifting the mood more in a calmer direction. Looking out into the crowd, I smiled as I saw Silver, Judy and her crew, Jackie and Mama Welles all grouped together, clapping and whistling for me. I could get used to this.
"Someone sure looks like they got their head in the clouds," Kerry joked. "It's good, though. Basking in this glory once again feels supreme."
"What's to say we do this some more?"
"If you're up for it, I want in." His shining smile gave me some much-needed confidence as I walked over to my choombas.
"You were great, Ghost. Is that your new nickname?" Judy asked as I sat across from her.
"I mean, it's very fitting," I smiled as the group chuckled.
"Takes a lotta courage to drop everything and bet on yourself," Mama Welles spoke, "Very proud of you, my child."
"Gracias, mama. I was nervous, thinking this would be a total failure, in all honesty. Wish...Valarie was here to see this…."
"Choom, she inspired us all. She'd be honored that your legacy, your legend came about from a song about her," Jackie solemnly spoke.
"V was a good soul who gave her life for mine. I don't know anyone who would've done the same," Silver spoke up, taking off his tinted shades to reveal his silver Kiroshis. "Stubborn ass never took 'no' for an answer. Even when she knew the odds were stacked against her, she bet it all on herself. In the end, it paid off. She became the legend she had always dreamed of. Just wish she was here to bask in her glory, see her younger sibling become a star. I know she'd be proud of you, choom." I took the bottle of whiskey from the center of the table and stood to my feet, staring at my friends on either side of me.
"A TOAST TO VALARIE!" I raised the bottle into the air.
"TO VALARIE!" Everyone yelled in unison.
Word spread through Night City like wildfire; Kerry Eurodyne and Valance the "Ghost Kid" were creating music together. Though neither of them has officially agreed upon a name for their act, fans still praised and hailed their work as "Ghost Song" became a mainstream song that played all over NC. Every bar, every club, every radio soon sang the song of a ghost, and this was only the beginning.
[2 weeks later…]
The bitter taste of black coffee stained Kerry's tongue as he sang some lyrics Valance scribbled in their notebook.
Should've have a little more faith in me
Too blind behind your comfy seat
Time to become the very best I can be
Left my past behind, all the misery and pain
Traded it for the glory and the fame
Didn't have to become a sellout or go rogue
Did it all for me
All for me
You're not a merc, you're a mistake
You're not cut out for this, I'm a misplace
Found my one true calling in the limelight
Standing amongst crowds, no longer having to fight
Three cheers for my misery
Have a toast to all of my suffering
Now it's time that I change my luck
Don’t care who give a fuck
Imma fight til my dying breath
Either rise to the fucking top
Or die trying and drop
"Been thinking of songs, I see." Kerry finally speaks. I look up as I sip on a glass of rum. "Not bad, kid."
"It's...harder to write lyrics than it is to just sing 'em. I've torn out so many pages ‘cause nothing's sounding right."
"That's part of the process, getting stuck. You're not the first to fall down the hole of the ill-fated writer's block." Kerry tossed me my notebook and patted the sofa for me to sit beside him.
"Got any 'puffers'? Head's killing me." Kerry nodded his head and motioned upstairs.
"Bathroom counter, should be one or two of 'em up there." I nodded and walked upstairs, careful not to step in Kerry's dirty laundry that lay haphazardly scattered throughout his open story bedroom. Booze bottles and empty pizza boxes piled up beside Kerry's nightstand as I walked past the mess into his bathroom, which was surprisingly clean. Marble countertop, white and grey marbled colored tile shower with dark grey and white speckled tile flooring. The mirror still had a faint layer of wetness from the steam of Kerry's shower a little over an hour ago as drugs laid neatly on the sink's counter. Black Lace, 'Dorph, an empty flask, two cans of Smash, and various pills laying in prescription containers. Then my eyes laid upon two unused inhalers. One puff's usually enough to help my migraines, but the 'Dorph was calling my name. Grasping both, I took a puff of the inhaler and slid it into my pocket before taking a dose of 'Dorph. At that moment, the world felt like it had stopped. Staring at myself in the mirror, all I saw was black and white surrounding me, myself just a grey blob as I placed my hand on the mirror. Suddenly, the vibrant colors of the world came back in a flash, and blood rushed from my head to my heels. Dizziness overcame me, and my body went cold.
"Valance? V? Val, wake up!" His voice echoed as my eyelids opened. I wasn't lying in the bathroom, somehow I ended up outside by Kerry's pool. The sun was no longer in the sky, probably long after dusk and I laid on my back outside, staring into the dark and empty heavens above.
"What...what happened?" I finally spoke.
"You were conked outta your fucking mind! Kept rambling, your eyes were stark white but you kept rambling. Then rambling calmed into singing. And you grabbed your guitar and I filmed you." Kerry sat me up and handed me his phone.
"This song...I've, I've been thinking about singing this song for days, weeks now. Never thought I'd see the light when I'd get the courage to actually sing it. This song goes out to Rogue. The one and only. Fuck you and thank you, because, without you, I'd never become a rockstar." A calm guitar riff echoed throughout Kerry's estate before I looked at the camera with the haunting, stark white eyes of being severely influenced. I took a breath and cracked my neck before the tune of the guitar became more of a melancholy rock-ish vibe.
"Shooting for the stars, falling from the heavens. Crashing to the ground, lost and never found. You never had faith in me, through it all you couldn't see, I just wish you'd had a little more faith in me."
"Through the cracks, the rose will bloom. Despite all the crud, the crime, and doom. When the sun went away, I stood and stayed. Clouded skies and rain all dayyyyy. How did you see the best in meeee and leave me to rot and waste away? I'm calling you out, I'm broken and scarred. Tired of seeing you in your comfy throne, leaving me all alone, to do your fuckin dirty work. I'm calling you out, I'm bleeding from these wounds. Wish you saw the very best in me, but I was just your pawn all along."
"Wish you have a little more faith in me…"
"You're a fucking living legend, my dear Valance." Kerry smiled with a toothy grin. "Three million views already and skyrocketing every minute. Choom, I think we're gonna be living mighty high for the rest of our days." I stared at Kerry's phone for a moment before standing to my feet in utter silence. "V?"
"So, I was conked out, and the first thing you do is grab your phone and hit record, huh?" Kerry rolled his eyes before exhaling and rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"I scanned you. You didn't show signs of internal bleeding or damage. Besides, the label's gonna LOVE you." I frowned as I stared into his pool. "Can't you see you're a fucking star?! You'll make me, us, richer than you'll ever imagine. Eddies will be plentiful, maids and butlers-"
"So, you've been using me. That's it, Kerry? I'm just your fuckin 'get rich fast' scheme?!"
"Hey now, don't think of it like that, kid." Rage engulfed me as I turned and grabbed Kerry by the collar of his shirt. "V, now, we don't wanna do anything we might regret-"
"I wasn't myself, and you exploited me. You saw me fucked right up and didn't give a damn except for the money this song could make ya. I'm done being used by you. I'm done being your little bitch, Eurodyne." Dropping my hold on him, I went back inside, grabbed the acoustic guitar, and left. Guess this time I flew too close to Heaven, again. This time I'm tearing off my wings.
"Gin and tonic, please."
"Sure thing, Rogue. Coming right up." Claire passed me my drink and I thanked her. There was an uneasy atmosphere in the Afterlife tonight and I made sure everyone was well armed in case things went out of hand.
"Anyone seem on edge to you?" I ask Claire as I sip my drink. Usually, people would go crazy for Kerry's music but people seem to just keep to themselves at their seats, clutching drinks and bottles as if their lives depended on it.
"Guessin' you ain't heard "Fated in Red" by a fellow ex-merc of yours." My eyes widen as I stare at her. She nods to confirm her statement. "Yep, them. You know who."
"What is this song about?" I spoke through gritted teeth.
"It's better if you listen to it yourself, madame." She turned away from me and welcomed another customer, mixing their cocktail as she struck up a conversation with them as I walked off. Valance, you fucking gonk, what did you do?! Running back to my personal quarters, I grabbed my phone and looked up the song in question.
Fated in Red prod. by Kerry Eurodyne and Valance Marksmyth [Golden & Ghost] (3:12)
"Wish you had a little more faith in me…
"Wish you didn't leave this rose to wilt…
"Just have a little more faith in… me…"
"This song goes out to Rogue. The Rogue. She...she never had faith in me. Not a fuckin’ ounce but uh, lookin’ back at it...maybe it was for the best? Maybe being her little bullet vest wasn't too bad, huh? Maybe waking up in a ditch, missing my arm was worth a few eddies, right Rogue? Heh, look at me now, bitch. I'm a fucking living legend and I'm not finna die by your gigs!" Valance smirked at the camera as the video glitched and faded to black immediately. I felt an overwhelming sense of rage in my veins as I gripped my phone.
This rocker has sung their last song. I'll make sure of it.
The echoing thud of steel-toed boots entered my quarters as I sharply turned to meet the six-foot-four Valentiños gentlemen working under my guidance.
"Mr. Welles, quite unusual for you to be in my personal quarters," I spoke to him. Jackie eyed me up and down before speaking.
"City's buzzin' about you, and not in a good way."
"So I've heard. The little fuck will get themselves flatlined in due time." I smirk as I looked up at Jackie.
"You want me to flatline them?! But-" Taking out a knife from my pocket, I pressed it against his adam's apple.
"Should you fail me," I stare deeply into Jackie's eyes. "I'll find you. I'll hunt you down and have you wishing Soulkiller was the way you were being put down."
"Y...yes ma'am. I understand."
"Good. Now keep this interaction between us and leave. Find Valance and eliminate them, whatever it takes; however you have to do it. Just get it done or prepare for your demise."
"I feel empty...I feel empty. Staring down below, fate please don't tempt me. I might pop some pills and let this be...I feel empty. I feel empty." I sang sorrowfully as I strummed a sad chord on the guitar. Sitting alone in my apartment, strumming this guitar to create some noise to drown out the nuisance in my head, the one that keeps calling despite being blocked. My phone buzzed from the bathroom countertop and I sighed, knowing all too well who this could potentially be. Kerry Eurodyne illuminated on my phone's lock screen as it buzzed. I stared at the device until it silenced before grabbing it to make my own calls.
Incomming Holocall: Judy Alvarez
"Hey, Valance," Judy spoke through the phone. "What's up, choom?"
"Don't wanna be alone. Mind if I order us some pizza and we watch some horror movies?" There was a long beat of silence before she answered.
"What happened?"
"That viral vid of me, Kerry took it when I was off my shits. Took some 'Dorph, and next thing I knew, I was laying outside on my back. Then we had a bit of a dispute, and I left, not finna…can, can I just come over?"
"You are more than welcome to come over, Valance. Just don't bring the pizza. I'm making empanadas."
"I- thank you, Juds."
"Thank me when your stomach's full, choom. Getcha ass over here already!" She laughed. I smiled for what felt like the first time in forever, but even that felt forced.
"On my way. Be there in 25." As I hung up the phone, three knocks echoed on my door. "Who is it?"
"It's the Jackster." He spoke with a depressing tone. I waved open the door to be greeted by my Valentiños choom, looking a mixture of sad, confused, and guilty.
"Jack? What's up?" I hugged him. His musky scent wafted through the air as he reciprocated the hug.
"Got some bad news."
"Don't we all?" I joked.
"This is serious. I've been hired to flatline you, Valance." The mood in the room became cold and tense as I look up at Jackie, who couldn't seem to meet my eyes. "Either I kill you, or Rogue's gonna kill me and then find you."
"So. This is all because of Rogue. She wants me dead? Fine."
"Val-"
"Jack. I haven't slept. I don't eat. I haven't left this apartment since that video was uploaded. Kerry has ruined my life. He's using me. I'm just his bitch. Killing me would at least give me freedom from my head, from reliving the moment when I took the 'Dorph and let things go to shit. No, no, things went to shit when I moved to this god-forsaken city!!!"
"Valance, calm down-"
"I AM FUCKING CALM!" Looking down at Jackie's holsters, I grabbed one of his revolvers and held it to my right temple. "My sister died tryna become a living legend, don't you remember? I wanted to honor her, to let her legacy live on. Valarie, the one who gave it all to do it all. She was an inspiration and she's gone."
"Valance, she's gone. No point in killing yourself. She's not coming back-"
"Jack. I've wanted to die ever since Silver came to me and told me she gave up, that she went into the void. Death would….reunite us. She's out there, somewhere, and I'm gonna see her again."
"So, this is it? You're not gonna put up a fight." I shook my head “no” as I lowered the gun.
"Do it, Jackie. Set me free." He stared down at the revolver in his hands before looking back up at me.
"We can leave N.C. Rogue'll-" I shook my head again.
"She'll find us. She has her ways. One way or another, I'm not living long. Rather you kill me than her." Tears were streaming down both of our faces as we gave each other half-hearted smiles. "Tell my siblings I love 'em and tell Judy…call her and say I'm running late."
"You...want me to lie to her?" I shrugged.
"Silver might find my body first. If Judy doesn't run over here. Just...fucking get this over with." Pointing the gun at me with shaky hands, the Valentiños fired off a single shot. The metallic taste of blood pooled in my mouth as crimson red stained my fingertips as I pressed my hands against the wound in my chest. Giving a genuine smile through red-stained teeth, I dropped to the ground as my vision went blurry, and the stifled crying of Jackie was the last thing I heard.
[Three days later…]
The bustling sounds of Night City echoed through the air. Car horns blaring, people yelling at each other in drunken rage, pollutant machinery pumping toxic fumes into the atmosphere. Just another day in the city of broken dreams, I thought. Lizzie's was closed for the week, a cyberpsycho attempted to blow up the joint with a bomb, and everyone scattered, scared shitless. After toying with braindances for a few hours, I decided to leave my apartment despite a loud rebuttal from Nibbles. Maybe surprising Valance with some pizza would cheer the lad up.
Holocall Valance
…
Holocall denied. Contact no longer in service.
No longer in service? What… SHIT!
Rushing towards their apartment, the door was unlocked. Unlike Valance to leave his apartment just open and free. Pushing against the door, I gasped at the sight and fell to my knees. Valance's dead body. Dried blood stained the tiled flooring and rugs, a revolver laid a mere 10 feet from their body. No bullet to the head, so suicide seemed unlikely but not impossible. Whether it was intentional or not, the fact remains true: Valance was dead. With the Save Your Soul™ program being destroyed alongside Arasaka HQ, Valance isn't going to be able to pull a "Silverhand.” I was full of sadness but not just that emotion. Guilt, I could've stopped by sooner, and maybe they would've been alive. Anger, whoever killed Valance saw them at a low point and exploited them. Also joy, I felt happy that at least Valance wouldn't suffer any longer. I sighed with heaviness as I looked around the apartment, vacant besides the bed, some stray cups, and trash. This wasn't a suicide. I gotta call Silver and the others.
The Badlands' sunsets were the prettiest things in life. Tangerine skies as sand clouds and dirt spiked up from winds into your face while sipping your beer. The howling of wolves as night fell and the chill of the cooling sands hit your skin. A simple life does not come without a cost though, I thought as I stared in the mirror at the burns that overtook most of my body. A chrome arm glistened against the moonlight into the scarred flesh of mine as I rubbed my scruffy beard, staring into the brown and blue eyes of mine.
"Vex. You son of a bitch." I spoke to myself in the mirror as I sighed, running my fingers through my dreadlocks. "What have I done?" Monotonous beeping drew my attention away from the mirror as I stared at my phone vibrating on my cot. Grabbing it, I looked at the caller as my thumb hovered over "Decline.” Judy? What could she want?
Smiling as I graciously shake the hand of a bouncer, and slip a few hundred eddies in between his fingers, the VIP doors open. Velvet red and silks galore, a temporary high of a paradise for the wealthy. Keeping my composure, I took an offered champagne and walked around the lower club floors before making my way upstairs to the private rooms. Moans and sexual pleasantries were clearly audible through the thin walls of the establishment as I kept walking to room 481. In and out, seven minutes tops. Opening the unlocked door, my client laid head first on the bed, dead. A shattered window and blood splattered on the headboard, just another day in this city. Turning away on my heels, my holocall popped into my optics. Judy? I answered the call against my better judgment.
"Judy? You, you must've called the wrong number-"
"I didn't, Vi." She spoke monotonously. "Violet, I called because Valance was murdered."
"I'm not fucking around." I spat blood as I wiped my mouth, staring at the doped-up cyberpsycho. "Surrender or die."
"If I'm going to Hell, I'm taking you down with me!" The psycho launched at me as I aimed my revolver at his skull. Two bullets fired off and the person fell to the ground, motionless. Deactivating my smart link, I stared down at the corpse, sighing wishing things could've ended differently. Before I was able to reach for his body, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
"Go for Vel," I answered.
"Valance is dead. Come meet me at H10." Judy spoke with no emotion. I was taken aback by this sudden drop of information.
"Why should I trust you? How do you know they're dead?"
"Want me to send pictures as proof?! Listen, I know we haven't gotten along but I have no reason to lie to you. Everyone else is here." I was silent for a few moments before I hung up the phone and headed for my bike.
"Last time I'm trusting you, chica."
One by one, the Marksmyth siblings arrived at Megabuilding H10. With a passing glance, a simple stanger would've never pieced together that these siblings shared blood. Tanned and broad, dark and skinny, light and thick, each sibling was vastly different from one another, but still mourned the same. They all stood frozen, staring in horror at their sibling's body.
"Told you I wasn't lying." I placed my hand on Vel's back. Her dark, curly locks nearly covered the deadly glare but tears filled her eyes. I opened my arm to welcome her embrace which she accepted.
"I'm...sorry." Words choked out between shallow breaths as I comforted them. "Who did...this?"
"It's unclear as of now."
"First Valarie, now Valance...fuck…." Walking away from me, they knelt beside Valance's body and grabbed them by their sides. "Vince, help me take them to your truck." The youngest sibling nodded and helped carry the body out as we all followed, glaring at anyone who eyed us up.
"Where are we taking Val?" Vincent asked as he carried Valance's legs.
"To the ocean. Get a boat, rig it with explosives, say some words, put their body on it, and sail it out. Then we'll detonate it-"
"Why destroy the body?" I asked. Vel looked up at me.
"So we don't have another "Silver V" to deal with. Besides, there is beauty in destruction. There is pride in going out in a blaze of fire, not being put down like a dog."
"Should I call Silver? He deserves to know-"
"Silver…" Vel let the sentence fall off their tongue into silence as she looks to her siblings for an answer.
"Me personally, I don't give a shit. Silver means nothing to me." Vox spoke up as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"He cared about Valance, it's only right to let him know." Violet looked at me with sorrowful eyes as she called the elevator up for us. "Somewhere deep inside, V's still there. Too bad Silver's just...here…."
"Too bad Valance had to die and for what? Kid was gonna be a legend." Vivian entered the elevator and held her head down. "Val have anyone out for them?" My brain rattled for a second before I remembered the last conversation we had.
"Kerry. Kerry Eurodyne, they had a falling out a few days ago-"
Vel tossed aside Valance to Vox and grabbed me by my shirt collar. "Where is the bastard?!"
Been some days since I last heard from Valance. Been a week since their viral video made headlines across the globe. Maybe Kerry did something once they got big, had them put down like a dog. Maybe Rogue did something, getting called out must've been a shock to her pride. Furrowing my eyebrows, I glance back at Kerry's villa. Surveillance drones buzzing about but no walking bots, strange. Raising my left hand up at the two floating drones, I smiled and whispered "Boom" as they short-circuited and exploded.
"Time for a meeting." I stepped out of the car and hopped the gates only to be greeted by applause as Kerry walks out of his mansion wearing a navy blue silk robe.
"Johnny, Johnny, Johnny. What have I told you about showing up here this late?" I rolled my eyes as I shot out my mantis blades.
"That I better have a good reason for putting you down this time. Where's Valance?!" I raised the blade to his throat and the rocker snickered.
"Don't know, don't care. We've parted ways." There was venom on his tongue but I retracted my blades and stared at him with malice. "Kid went missing?"
"I have reasonings that you off'd them. Haven't heard from them in nearly a week." Kerry let out a small chuckle and without thinking, I grabbed him by the collar of the robe. "YOU KILLED THEM?!"
"I SWEAR I DIDN'T!" A motorcycle's engine cuts off behind me and I drop Kerry to the ground, recalling my mantis blades.
"Who's there?! Speak or he dies!" I yelled out. A buff, feminine-looking person with dark brown skin with cream-colored splotches and a black afro walked out from hiding and smiled. I watch them in disbelief. Purple Kiroshis stare at me as they adjust their mono-sided cybernetic eyeglasses.
"Been a long time, Silver." They spoke as they climbed over the gates and strode towards me and Kerry. "Thanks for getting the trash, I'll take it out." Taking out a revolver, they aimed it at Kerry's head and I stepped in front of the gun. "Look, Silver. I'm not...fuck. Valance is dead, okay? This fucker has to pay for what he did!"
"Valance is dead?" Both me and Kerry speak at the same time.
"You...you didn't kill them, did you? My sibling's murderer is still out there…." I placed a cold metallic hand on her shoulder and looked at her.
"Vel...Valance knew the life they signed up for. We'll find the killer and put 'em down. Where is Valance's body now?"
"Judy and the others are heading to Laguna Bend for their final send-off. Let’s...go see them."
"Alright-" Vel glared back at Kerry as he rose to his feet.
"None of this would've happened if you helped Valance when they were doped up, not filmed it. Far as I see it, you're to blame for their murder as much as the guy who shot 'em down. Be grateful for your life because the next hotheaded merc to find you won't hesitate to pull the fucking trigger."
Laguna Bend, a drowned city, forgotten to time. All that remained was a decently maintained wooden cabin, where I often retreated for peace and solidarity.
"Apart from the trash, this place is lovely," Vex spoke in a whisper as he stared out into the setting sun on the horizon. "May Valance rest in the stars."
"Amen." We all spoke in somber tones.
"Boat's ready?" Silver asked and I nodded.
"Yeah...let's finish this." Walking to a wooden dinghy, Vox and Vex gently laid Valance into the boat, their body wrapped in a blanket soaked with alcohol and blood. "Should...should we say some last words?" Silver shook his head.
"No. Valance's legacy was telling the story of Valarie's legend. The best thing to do would be to honor the thing that made him a living legend, to sing "A Song of A Ghost." Vivian took out a metallic lighter and ignited Valance's body before pushing off the boat into the waters.
"Head in the clooouudddssss."
"Feet on the grooouuunnddd."
"Bullets and bo-odies come tumbling dooowwwnnn."
"Shoot for the mooooooooon."
"Crash in the staaaarrrrsss."
"One day, we'll be to-gether soooon."
As Valance's body charred away into ashes, the Marksmyth family along with Judy and Silver stared off into the open ocean in silence. Silver watched as the boat erupted into flames before dying out, almost as fast as Valance's legacy before beginning to walk off.
"Silver?" I called out after him. "Where are you going?"
"To find Rogue and put her down, are you with me or not?" He furrowed his eyebrows as his Kiroshis lit up red. "She killed Valance, and I'm ending this now!"
"Well done, my boy," I smirked as I sipped fine wine aboard the aircraft. Jackie sat across from me, fidgeting uneasily. "Don't you worry, no one will find us. No one will harm you."
"It was fucked up, Rogue. Could've done this a different way."
"Life and death, a mere decision's difference. Valance chose the path of death the minute they stepped into this city. Only a matter of time until fate caught up to them." Silence filled the air as I sipped once more. "Don't forget who made you who you are. You'd be dead too if it weren't for me." Jackie looked up at my eyes, fear written all over his face.
"Yes, ma'am. Sorry for overstepping."
"Did anyone see you?" He shook his head. "Good. That'll make things a bit easier."
"Do you fear the rest of the Marksmyth's finding out?" I laughed at his question and shattered my glass of wine in the palm of my hand.
"They'll never find us, there are no heroes in this city. Violence and malice always prove superior."
The aircraft's engines roar to life as the duo take off into the skies, clouded by the protection of corpos and stealth tech. The Marksmyths, Judy, and Silver storm into the Afterlife to find the place abandoned with "SUCKERS!" written in red spray paint in Rogue's chambers. Silver falls to the ground, slamming his fists into the floor in defeat as the siblings tear the bar apart, looking for even the slightest trace of Rogue. Night City was cruel and relentless, there are no winners. Only losers and those who manage to stay alive. Yet, through the darkness of uncertainty, the tale of Valance was passed throughout the streets. A merc turned rockstar who was killed by the infamous Rogue, who told tales of their struggles as a merc and their fallen sister who fought against the system of corpos. In the streets, people chant "Long Live The Ghost" as Valance's songs top the charts, the legend of two ghosts forever living in the hearts of people all over the world.
The End