"Jackie, seriously—this is what you needed help with?"
V grunted, teeth clenched.
Beside Misty's shop, she and Jackie were struggling to carry a heavy surgical recliner inside.
"Hey, life isn't all gunfights and grenades, V. This is called daily living."
Even drenched in sweat, Jackie still found time to joke.
"Thanks, you two 'volunteers.' Right here is fine."
Misty, hair fluffy and dressed in her usual purple, made room for them to put the chair down.
"Whew!"
The two gently lowered the chair, straightened up, and wiped their foreheads.
"Anyone want some water?"
Thoughtful as always, Misty brought over two cups.
"Thanks."
V took a sip. The chair weighed as much as three people stacked together—she really needed hydration.
"Mmm—sweet. Sweeter than Heywood tap water!"
Jackie pretended not to be tired at all, savoring the drink dramatically before downing it like whiskey.
"Hehe, really?"
Misty covered her mouth, smiling. "But all the water in the city comes from the same reservoir. How would it taste different?"
"Uh… special atmosphere, maybe?"
Jackie scratched his head. "Like you said—flow? Or aura?"
"Pff—no, Jackie. Aura doesn't do that."
Misty nearly laughed her eyes shut.
V, having finally caught her breath, watched the two flirt and felt a stab of sourness—like she was some extra piece that didn't fit here.
"Ahem."
She coughed loudly to cut the atmosphere.
"I'm just saying… you two…"
She glanced at Jackie, then Misty. "Can you spare a thought for us lonely singles?"
"He—uh…" Jackie scratched his head, remembering V existed. "Haha, V, I told you to find a partner already!"
"Get outta here."
V elbowed him, annoyed. "Speaking of which, does your mom know about you two?"
Leaning on the counter, she asked, curious.
"Uh… well… V…"
Jackie shrank at the mention of his mom. "Mama's got… some misunderstandings about Misty. Long story. Complicated."
"Mrs. Wells probably thinks my work is… unorthodox?"
Misty said thoughtfully.
"Ah, sorry." V raised her hands. "But hey—good things take effort, right?"
"Eh, not a big deal." Jackie waved it off. But then he turned to V with a teasing look. "But you, V—what about you?"
"You've been in Night City for a while. Really haven't liked any guy? Or girl?"
Hearing that, Misty also looked at V, eyes full of curiosity.
"Uh… well…"
Realizing she'd dug her own grave, V tried to laugh it off. "I haven't been thinking about that stuff."
"No good, V. This is Night City—you gotta be bold and explore." Jackie slapped her shoulder. "Tell me who you like, I'll hook you up. Jackie Wells has connections."
"Or Misty can read your future with tarot. It works wonders."
"Yes, V. Want to try?" Misty nodded.
"This…"
V was about to refuse—then a certain black-haired silhouette flashed through her mind.
She hesitated.
"…Alright. Maybe I'll try."
The three leaned against the counter. Misty quickly took out her tarot deck.
"V, think about what's been happening to you lately—and what you expect for the future."
Her voice became deep and mysterious, making even Jackie and V tense up.
The small, square cards cascaded through Misty's pale fingers. V grew nervous, hands clenched, blue eyes following the movement of the cards.
Soon, Misty drew the first card and flipped it.
"The Hierophant—reversed. You stand at the beginning of a journey. One far different than you expect… and far longer."
Next card.
"The Lovers—reversed. A force will challenge you and surround you. You will also face conflict with another inner force."
Another.
"The Star—also reversed. You will need to overcome unknown desires and become tightly connected to something… I can't tell what."
Finally:
"Death—reversed. Your rival will turn you into their enemy. This journey brings transformation—or destruction."
Four cards—four reversed fates.
The three sat in uneasy silence.
"…Damn. That doesn't sound good." Jackie broke the tension.
"No… it's not good. But don't worry. Maybe I misinterpreted it." Misty put the cards away.
"No worries—your boy's got your back!" Jackie suddenly raised his voice and shook V's shoulder. "Whatever trouble comes, I'm here. Fate's gotta get through me before touching my girl."
"Thanks… Jackie. And you too, Misty."
V forced a smile, but her mind was elsewhere.
Did she… have no chance?
This was the first time V truly confronted that question.
Meanwhile, in Megabuilding 10's garage workshop—
"Viktor! Come in quick—this is the masterpiece I told you about!"
Carrying a black bag, Viktor finally navigated the maze of hallways to the repair booth. As soon as he stepped in, Berry excitedly pulled him inside.
The workshop was stuffed with tools, lathes, robotic arms—even several freezers. Most of V and Berry's money had gone into this room.
"Holy hell, Berry… what did you build?"
Even behind sunglasses, Viktor's shock was obvious.
In the room's center stood a towering frame—like a doorway lined with robotic arms holding drills and files. And in the middle of that "door"… stood a robot.
Its entire body was a network of exposed cables and metal tubing. Its power cell was visible in its chest. Its head looked like a human skull made of steel. From a distance, it resembled a metal skeleton—no wonder Viktor, a ripperdoc, was stunned.
At first he thought it was a person with full-body chrome—until he saw the metal skull and realized it was a bot.
Berry stared at it proudly.
Her money—V's money—they hadn't vanished. They had simply… transformed.
Thanks to V's generous funds from the morning, the last few materials were now installed. Only the part she ordered from Viktor remained.
Once she attached that and covered the frame with the artificial flesh she custom-made—a multifunction combat body would be born.
Yes, the first step of her grand plan required overwhelming firepower.
And creating a fleshless, fearless combat unit was the way to do it.
Every boy or girl has a hidden dream of being a mech pilot—and Berry was no exception.
"Hah, no wonder you asked for a projectile system. It was for this thing."
Viktor recovered quickly—he'd seen a lot in his day.
Then he looked at her with admiration. "Berry, you're incredible."
"I thought maybe one day I'd teach you cyberware installation. But now it looks like I should be apprenticing under you."
"Oh come on, Viktor, don't flatter me—I'll get a big head."
Her words were modest, but the smug smile on her lips was impossible to hide.
"Let's hurry up and install the projectile system. I can't wait to finish it!"
"Alright, let's do it."
Viktor's excitement was rising too. "I've never installed cyberware on a robot before. My precious first time!"
He unzipped the bag and pulled out the projectile arm system—a cyberarm loaded with wires and tubing. With it installed, the bot could fire powerful explosive rounds—strong enough to one-shot an armored vehicle. And this one was military-grade, meaning even more firepower.
Yes—Berry couldn't afford a military-grade implant. She actually ordered a cheap civilian knockoff.
But who said transactions had to be equivalent? Viktor loved giving big discounts to people he approved of.
"Let's see if your tools are up to the job."
After injecting a stabilizer into his arm, Viktor pushed up his lenses and reached toward the skeletal robot.