A/N: Hey, y'all. It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, I'm back baby! A couple of housekeeping items before we begin. There has been a significant edit to the story. V is no longer a nomad. The one pretty obvious reason why is how did she not know about magicals if they were also nomads. There are other reasons but that's the main one. As for her background now, I made her a street kid. This does mean that the last thirteen chapters have been changed to reflect that, including a new life experience from V that I think adds to her character. All that to say, if it has been a while since you read this fic, go ahead and give it another glance through. Maybe you'll enjoy the different content, perhaps you'll hate it. Maybe you think I shouldn't be writing this author's note! Let me know either way. Now, on with the show. And I'll see you in the future.

It felt like yesterday had been a dream. No, not a dream, a nightmare. V tossed and turned on Judy's flat, barely cushioned couch, flashes of green permeating the space between wakefulness and sleep she found herself trapped in.

The pain in her side didn't help her restless night, either. Judy practically shoved V onto the couch when she tried to leave for her own apartment. She agreed after a brief bout of yelling between the two. V wanted to be alone, to be away from everything, but neither Judy nor Evelyn allowed that to happen.

V's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dark apartment. A blanket hung across the only window in the place, keeping out the brightness of the day. Yet something still flickered in her eyes, reflecting the light that would have been shining inside.

The ruby-encrusted sword lay on Judy's coffee table. It looked as pristine as when she had first seen it in Harry's hand after pulling it out of a too-small bag. What was it doing here? Last V had known, it was lying on the floor of the warehouse, slicked red with the Augurey's blood.

"You're awake."

V tore her gaze away from the sword to find Evelyn uncurling from the red chair. She glided across the room, placing the back of her hand against V's forehead. It felt warm against V's skin, and she closed her eyes at the touch. Like a switch had been flipped, V suddenly realized how cold she was. She pulled the thin blanket closer, trying to keep in whatever heat her body was making.

"At least you don't seem to be running a fever, so no infection as yet." Evelyn tilted her head, her eyes piercing into V. She looked more like when V had first met her. Confident, intelligent, like she was ready to take on the world again. Her hair was black now, falling more naturally around her face than her previous cut allowed. "Though I'm concerned about how cold you are."

V shook her head, dismissing Evelyn's concerns. "Just a bit of blood loss. Nothing but time's gonna fix that, 'less you feel like donatin'"

Evelyn snorted and shook her head. "Are all you edge runners this flippant about injuries, or just you?"

"Fraid it's a species-wide disease, comes with the job," V said as she tried to grin. Instead, she started coughing, her cyberware glitching in a pattern that was becoming all too familiar to her. She was kept on the couch by Evelyn, who had crouched back down as V fought back against the black creeping in.

The fit left V on the edge of the couch, her limbs curled up. The pain in her side from where the shrapnel flared back into existence, and her mouth filled with the copper taste of blood. Her breathing once again came out in short, ragged bursts.

"Easy, easy," Evelyn said as she leveraged V back onto the couch. Her vision was still glitching, red lines flashing across her vision and distorting Evelyn's face. "Don't want you ruining all the work I put into piecing you back together."

V looked down at her torso. Instead of the old tank top she had been wearing, bandages wrapped tightly around her middle and up to her chest. Red splotches dotted the white strips with the largest one being on her side. "Fuck..." she said, her voice coming out in a strained whisper.

"Most of it seems superficial." Evelyn stood and walked over to the tiny kitchen as she talked. "Except for that hole in your side. Looks like that's been there for a few days. Couldn't stitch it up anymore because of that." She ran some water over a tattered, off-white washcloth before ringing it out and returning to V. "We're also sure your ribs are broken. Or at the very least bruised."

She sat down on the coffee table and offered the wet cloth to V. "I assume you'd rather do this yourself?"

V nodded and took the cloth, wiping her face with it. It came back discolored from the blood that trickled out of her nose and the corners of her mouth. "How long have I-"

"Nearly half the day," Evelyn said. "Missed the sandstorm that crawled through here a few hours ago."

A strangled laugh escaped V's throat. "I wish. Caught the beginning of it out in the badlands."

Evelyn pursed her lips and tilted her head, staring at V in silence. "What..." She paused again eyes flicking down to the bandages. "What happened out there, V?"

"Got my ass handed to me on a magical fucking platter," V said as she sat up. Every inch of her body flared into a burning pain, but V gritted her teeth and pushed through. Once up, she leaned back into the couch, taking labored breaths as the room swam again. "There's a... Witch... workin' with Arasaka. She's the one that ripped Johnny's soul apart and shoved it in this damned chip."

"That's..." Evelyn trailed off and stared down at her hands as they pulled at the seams of her sweatpants. "I don't know what to do with that."

"Then you're just getting to where I'm at. This whole situation keeps gettin' more complicated."

"V, I-"

The door to the apartment slid open letting Judy in, her arms laden with three pizza boxes. She shuffled around the aquarium and into the kitchen to set them down. Two more people followed, chatting amongst themselves. V recognized Tom, the doll from clouds she had interrogated for information on Evelyn during her hunt for the woman.

The second person looked familiar to her. V was sure she had seen the woman during her escapade at the doll den, and not as a customer. Her dark skin contrasted with her blonde hair, and pastel pink sports bra and pants. It was a more put-together outfit than Tom's faded orange tank top and shiny blue shorts though. As the group came in Evelyn shifted from the table to the couch, folding her legs underneath her as she leaned toward V.

Tom stopped and gaped at V from the hallway, the cans in the bags he was holding threatening to burst from the plastic confinement. "Holy shit! What happened to you? Look like you went through a meat grinder."

V grimaced, remembering the several sharp edges she had slammed into as the Augurey pulled her into the warehouse. "Not that far off, Tom. How's Clouds treatin' you?"

"Same old, same old." Tom set his bags on the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room. "Not nearly exciting as your life it seems."

"You got no idea how much I wish it was less exciting."

Judy approached, now carrying a cup of water which she handed to V. "Sorry 'bout this. Had already planned this meeting before you popped in."

"S'fine Judes," V said, accepting the glass and taking a sip. The cool water soothed her throat allowing her to keep talking. "Can't expect you to cancel your plans just cause of me. Especially when it's about Clouds." She finished the water and set the glass on the floor.

Judy chewed on her lip. "I wasn't sure... With whatever happened-"

V reached out, gently grasping Judy's arm when she attempted to back up. "Said you could trust me, remember? That I was with you for this. Meant that then, mean that now." She released Judy, sitting back on the couch with a small grin. "Even if I'm a little worse for wear right now. Can still plan with the best of them."

Judy stared at her, mouth open slightly before coughing and turning away. "Thanks, V." She slipped away, around the coffee table, and gestured at the unknown woman. "This is Roxanne by the way. Been at Clouds longer than any of us."

Roxanne nodded at V from where she sat, having claimed the red chair as her perch. She lounged across it, using every inch of the chair she could to lounge back comfortably. "Pleasure meeting you V." She waved a hand at Evelyn. "Glad to see you got to this one too. Was worried for her when she upped and disappeared on us. Was worried when she came back too, but I've already had that argument with her."

Evelyn hunched over at Roxanne's words, picking at her sweatpants again with renewed vigor. "I... Wish I had listened to you."

"So do I, honey, though I will admit I could have voiced my concerns better than I did." She smiled at Evelyn. "I'm just glad you're ok now." Her gaze drifted to the sword on the table. "I do gotta ask, whose sword?"

Before V could say anything Tom let out an appreciative whistle as he walked over. "Damn, that's a nova piece. Don't think I've ever seen a rock that big."

He reached for the blade. V was sure Tom wouldn't be careless, or at least she hoped but was not in the mood to take chances right now. She leaped forward, ignoring the pain to reach the sword.

"No! Wait!" She yelled as she realized she wouldn't be fast enough. Tom's hand was nearly touching the hilt of the sword.

Then it was in her hand.

It happened in the space of a blink. On the table one second and in her grip the next. It vibrated at her touch; the ruby glinting despite the low light of the room. The image of an attack dog growing at the heel of his owner flashed through her mind before everything went quiet.

V ducked her head and leaned back into the couch at everyone's stares. She let the tip of the sword fall between her legs with a thump as it hit the floor. "Sorry," she said. "The blade is poisoned. Didn't want anyone to get hurt."

Tom took a few steps back at that, nearly tripping over himself as he held his hands up. "Whoa yeah. I won't touch."

"Well, that is interesting," Roxanne said as she sat up in her chair. "I thought I was seeing things but... That is the Sword of Gryffindor." She chucked and relaxed again. "Hot damn, where the hell did a Night City solo come across a magical artifact like that?"

A chill ran down V's back as Roxanne spoke. "You..." she opened and closed her mouth a few times, searching for what she wanted to say or ask. "How?"

"Mama Z was a witch. One of the last trained ones in the family. Supposedly I had the talent as well but... Few places in Night City to practice that. Got a few other relatives in that camp as well, though no one nearby." She nodded towards the sword, a cheeky grin settling onto her face. "As for knowing about that. Had a cousin that used to run around Europe before the ICW collapsed. He saw that blade used by Longbottom during the battle of Hogwarts."

V's mind whirled at the influx of information, latching onto the few words she recognized. Neville was a war hero too. It shouldn't have surprised her, the man had admitted as much during their conversation on the cliff. But it was different hearing it from someone else, someone like Roxanne, a lifelong resident of Night City. Another magical hiding in plain sight.

"Neville Longbottom is dead." The words tumbled out of V's mouth without a thought. With them came a weight that settled on her shoulder, making the next words get jumbled as she spoke. "He was... He took..." She gritted her teeth. Why was this giving her issues? She was no stranger to death. Dealt with its scythe over her neck for most of her lift. Watched it fall on enough people in her life. So why was this one giving her trouble?

Roxanne seemed to get what she was trying to say though. She focused on V, finally sitting up from her comfortable slouch, the relaxed grin sliding off her face. "You're serious." At V's subdued nod her frown deepened. "Shit."

"Uh, mind cluing the rest of us on whatever code you guys are speaking?" Tom asked from where he stood awkwardly on the other side of the coffee table.

"Things are changing," Roxanne said. "Big thing too, if a legend like Longbottom just got killed. She snorted and leaned back in her chair. "Next you'll be tellin' me Harry fucking Potter has come outta retirement."

V, Judy, and Evelyn exchanged a quick look. Did they tell that Potter was actually in play again? Not only in play but working closely with V?

They were saved from having to answer that question when the door to the apartment slid open and Maiko stepped through. She was wearing the same clothes from the first time V met her, rumpled in a way the merc would have never expected from someone like Maiko. Her hair was pulled out of the several rings that held her ponytail back, giving her a frazzled looked that matched the bags under her eyes.

She halted her movement at the fish tank, apparently not wanting to get any closer to the group. Her jaw worked furiously for a moment as she stared at V and the sword still in her hands. "You weren't messing around then," she finally said. Her nose wrinkled as she took in the rest of V. "What the hell happened to you, look like death warmed over."

"None of your concern," V said with a dismissive wave as she slipped into her mercenary persona. "Here for biz, not chit-chat."

Maiko scoffed and rolled her eyes, shifting her weight onto one leg. "Biz she says. Do you have any idea the bomb you dropped in my lap with your little name drop?"

"What name drop," Judy asked, her eyes narrowing at V knowingly. "I don't remember a name drop."

"Well, uh..." V cleared her throat, looking anywhere but at Judy. She hoped that this wouldn't come up, but luck wasn't on her side today. "It was after you left the room."

"V..."

"Alright, maybe not my best move, but I couldn't just leave her with the last word."

"3-D Chess, V," Judy pinched the bridge of her nose. "That's what I said remember?"

"I remember just fine," V tried to keep herself from pouting. she knew she messed up once Maiko had mentioned Harry. "Was never good at chess, anyway, always wished I could flip the table and just be done with it."

"Well, you certainly flipped something." Maiko pulled a cigarette out of somewhere and lit it with the flick of a gold lighter. She took a long drag before blowing the smoke out of the corner of her mouth. "Tyger Claws are in a tizzy cause of all this mess."

Judy waved at the smoke in the air and scowled. "Could you not smoke in here?"

"You'll air it out later," Maiko said with a dismissive wave and a flick of the cigarette. She rolled her eyes when Judy's glare hardened. "Fine, I'll smoke by the window and have it open. That make you feel better?"

"No, but I don't think you care."

"Oh Judes, you hurt me." She sat down next to Evelyn after opening the window and removing the blanket. "So, where is this Shi no Masuta? Figured he'd be here."

"Don't worry 'bout him," V said. "He'll be here if he needs to be. Right now we're workin' our part out."

"Don't care about that. Your friend is the only reason I'm here." Maiko took another drag off her cigarette as she leaned forward. "He's got the Claws falling over each other just cause they found his mark at their pet ripperdoc."

"Wait, they actually cared about that hack?" Judy asked.

"Not any more than they cared about your doll here," She gestured towards Evelyn. "It's the fact that he was involved that got them interested." She waved her cigarette between Judy and V. "What I'd like to know is how you two met the one person who can scare the Claws like that?"

"V's the one that knows him best," Judy said as she crossed her arms. "I only just got on board involving him in all of this. She's worked with him longer."

V sighed and rubbed her forehead. How much should she say right now? Harry seemed like the person who enjoyed his privacy, considering the lack of information on him anywhere. He wanted to help Judy in this quest of hers. Where was the line, and why was V the one that had to draw it?

She wished Harry was here right now.

"This is your fuckup V, gotta own it," Johnny said.

V's head snapped up and to the side to find the rockerboy leaning up against the window frame. He leaned his head back taking an audible breath of the smoke from Maiko's cigarette as it trailed out of the apartment. "This chick's got some preem cigs. See if she'll let you bum one off her."

V opened her mouth to yell at Johnny but stopped when a gentle hand grasped her arm. Evelyn shook her head, her eyebrows pinching together as she squeezed V's arm again. V let herself relax, blowing out a quick breath and closing her eyes to regain her composure.

"Huh, seems the gentle whore can tame the wild merc," Johnny leered at the two of them.

"Shut the fuck up," V thought back.

"Oh good, you remembered you don't need to talk to me to talk to me. Thought you might get lazy with your magical boy toy."

"Fuck off."

"So, you have anything to say? Or are you just gonna stare out the window?" Maiko asked with a raised eyebrow.

V focused on Maiko again, pointedly ignoring Johnny and his antics. She needed to get the conversation pointed in the right direction again and focused on Judy instead of her. "Our, friend, will get involved when he needs to be. How much he's involved will be up to Judy. It's her show." V tightened her grip and the sword and narrowed her eyes at Maiko. "If you have a problem with that, well, the window looks big enough to shove your fat head through."

If Maiko was at all perturbed by V's threat she didn't show it, preferring instead to take another drag of her cigarette. She lazily blew the smoke into the air, not even attempting to direct it to the window, before speaking again. "You aren't kidding about that table flipping, though I question your ability to follow through. Looks like you can't even stand up right now."

That triggered V in ways she hadn't felt since she was a kid in Heywood. Back then she'd let anyone who said she couldn't do something rile her up into a fight. She thought that trait got left behind in Atlanta, when it had gotten her in enough trouble she had to run back to Night City, but Maiko's words seemed to bring it back.

V gritted her teeth to prepare for the pain to come. She leaned on the sword as she stood, grunting as her side flared in protest and her muscles tried to rebel. Her stubbornness won out, the aches in her body dying down to a dull roar once she was upright. It wasn't as bad as she first thought. "You were saying?"

The stare-down with Maiko lasted a few seconds before she scoffed and backed down. "Fine, fine, I'll behave." She tilted her head towards Judy as she crossed her legs and leaned back into the couch. "Let's get this over with Judes. What do you have for this scheme of yours?"

As Judy nodded and started speaking, V let herself sink back onto the couch. "I figure we hit the Claws in two ways." Judy gestured between Roxanne and Tom. "I modified the behavioral chips. It can equip any doll with a motor reflex system. "She shrugged, making eye contact with Maiko. "In other words, make the doll move and fight like a preem tier solo."

"Fascinating, isn't it? What one can learn while tuning fake orgasms for the Moxes."

Judy steamrolled over Maiko's interruption, her hands wringing together with nervous energy. "Body'll react as if executing a well-trained series of movements." She jerked her head in Tom's direction. "Already tested it too." Tom nodded in confirmation."Course, the chip's impulses supplant any natural reflexes, so it'll make users feel like they're experiencing cyberpsychosis."

"But it's basically the same as when we activate ourselves for a client," Tom added.

V shook her head, her brow furrowed as she worked through the thoughts in her head. "Solo skills don't lie in just executing movements. There are years of practice and experience ingrained so deeply it becomes instinct-"

"Which would require time we don't have. We need to move quickly on this before the Claws get wise to what's goin' on, and I don't see another way."

"How'd you even come up with this?"

"You actually." Judy looked down, scuffing her shoe against the thin carpet. "Been playing with similar tech for a while now. Had already dissected the doll chips in and out a long time ago. Then you asked me to look over those schematics."

"You used some of that tech?" V practically shouted. "How-"

"Been goin' through it pretty thoroughly. Got the idea for this project while going through the code of the thing. It's not the same obviously, but I was able to use it to make the doll chips do what I want." Judy scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Course I didn't figure it out until after meetin' with Maiko."

"Count yourself lucky, what with all the cams and mics in clouds." Maiko at least seemed interested now, though she started a new cigarette in the time they'd been talking. "Tyger Claws would sooner dig those chips outta the dolls with screwdrivers than let an idea like this run its course."

"I'm more stuck on the fact this girl rewired and spliced new code together in what, a day and a half," Johnny said giving Judy and new calculating look. "That's more'n talent right there. I'm beginning to like her."

"All right." V could see the plan Judy was building out. The guards at Clouds wouldn't expect the dolls to fight back, not without outside help at least. The security at the dollhouse was geared against clients, not workers. It was a decent plan if the chips did what Judy said. "Gotta see it to believe it."

Maiko chimed in again, "Finally someone said it."

Judy sighed and then tilted her head in Tom's direction. Taking the silent cue he walked across the room to the kitchen area and grabbed two knives. He weighed them in his hand, tossing them lightly into the air as he settled his feet against the carpeted floor. A swift twist of his arm sent the knives flying, one after the other, to embed themselves in the wall above Maiko's head. The woman shrieked and ducked as she fell off the couch and onto the floor.

V let out a low whistle. "Gotta admit," she said, standing once more on her shaky legs to get a better look and the knives. "Not bad."

"Yeah, for the market square in Kabuki," Maiko said from the floor. She got to her feet, smoothing out the wrinkles in her plastic dress. "Nah, before we start talkin' serious biz, gonna need to see serious action."

"It was serious enough to put you on your ass," Judy said with venom lacing her voice. "What more do you need?"

"More than a bar trick, wanna see a fight." Her eyes locked with V's a shark-like grin twisting her face. "Got an expert in causing bodily harm among us. I wanna see how Tommy handles her."

V let out a burst of laughter which she regretted when her rib protested against their sudden use. She grimaced and hissed before speaking, "Really? Can't even laugh right now and you wanna see me fight? Pretty sure Tom could take me out without the chip right now."

"You're standing aren't you?"

V scowled and shoved her finger in the window's direction. "How 'bout we let Tom throw you out instead."

"Whoa, whoa, let's just tone it down some," Tom said, though he wasn't brave enough to get between the two women.

Evelyn had no such qualms. She stood grabbing V's wrist as she slipped between the two . Her glare could have peeled the paint off a Caliburn. though it barely phased Maiko. "If all you're going to do is snipe at us, you can leave."

"Finally," Maiko lit another cigarette. "Was wondering where that bite of yours went." She backed up to the window to let the smoke roll out its shutters. "Not as viscous as normal, but I suppose being an involuntary BD whore will do that to a person."

Evelyn's grip on V's wrist tightened when the merc tried to wiggle out of her grasp. "Leave." Her tone brooked no argument. "If we need anything else, we'll contact you."

Maiko looked over at Judy, who was snarling from behind V's shoulder. "Is this really what you want, Jude?"

"Get out." There was a click of a safety being disengaged. "Now."

Maiko rolled her eyes as she flicked her cigarette out the window. "Fine, fine, I'll just go on my way and wait for you to be... Less sensitive about all this." She grabbed the bag she brought in and made her way to the door, everyone watching her every move. She turned back as the door slid open to let out one last comment. "You're gonna need me though. Someone's gotta get the Tyger Claw's higher ups into one room, and I'm the only that can do it without raising suspicion. Keep that in mind." When the door slid shut behind Maiko, the tension that had risen bled out of the group in a singular sigh.

V and Evelyn slumped back down in the couch while Judy went back to pacing after dropping her pistol on the table. V shifted her arm to grasp Evelyn's hand in her own and gave the trembling limb a reassuring squeeze. She returned it, though Evelyn's gaze remained locked on the floor.

"Fuck!" Judy shouted. If there had been something nearby, it would have met the same end as Finger's ashtray given the way she flailed her arms.

"That could have gone better," Roxanne said. "Can't say I'm surprised though. This is classic Maiko."

Tom nodded in agreement as he rubbed the back of his neck. "So ah, not to be that guy but, who is this Shi no Masuta?"

"Harry Potter," Judy cut V off with a look as she merc opened her mouth. "They deserve to know, especially if Maiko isn't helping."

Silence followed, only broken when Roxanne stood. "Well, guess that explains a few things."

That wasn't the response V was expecting from her. With how she had spoken about Neville this subdued reaction didn't seem right. "Is Harry a problem?" V asked.

Roxanne shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. Don't get me wrong, having him on board eases a lot of my concerns 'bout this little revolution of ours." She paused, pursing her lips together as she stared at the floor, searching for what to say. "Potter is... A harbinger of change. Whether that change is good or bad has yet to be seen." She looked up and grinned, shaking her head slightly. "Definitely want to be part of that ride though. Probably the safest place to be."

"You're in then?" Evelyn asked.

Roxanne's grin melted into a genuine smile. "Evie, I was in the moment I heard what they did to you." She clamped her hand on Tom's shoulder, dragging the man with her. "Come on, we got a lot to do now."

They left, with Tom complaining that he had gotten no pizza, while Evelyn reclaimed her spot on the red chair. Once the door had closed Judy let out a long sigh and flopped down next to V. "Please tell me that didn't go a badly as I think it did."

"I wasn't as bad as it could have been," Evelyn offered.

"Considering what she said to-" Judy let out another frustrated sound. "Fuck, I could just." Her hands wrapped around an imaginary throat which she throttled.

"And that would have made it worse."

Judy buried her face into her hands and groaned. "I know, I know."

"At least as it stands now she's willing to work with us."

"Work with Harry you mean," V added with a grimace. "Shouldn't have said a fucking thing."

Judy shook her head and ran her hand up through her hair, "You're fine V, actually think that worked out in our favor," Her leg bounced up and down as she stared across the room into nothing. "She's probably scared her job would be on the line if we took Cloud's without her."

"She's definitely scared of that. She's the same Maiko I know, the same one you knew."

"Right," Judy jumped up from the couch. "Not havin' this conversation."

"Judes," Evelyn stood when Judy ignored her, instead she disappeared into her computer room. "You can't hide in there forever Judy!"

"Not hiding!"

Evelyn cocked her hip and raised an eyebrow. "Well, what are you doing?"

"Getting my BD stuff." The rattling of boxes filled to the brim with electronics filtered out of the beaded doorway. "V, do you still have that wreath I gave you?"

V opened and closed her mouth. Her hand went to pat at her jacket pocket out of instinct which simply reminded her it was not there. "Ah, no, it was..." She trailed off, her brow furrowing as she tried to find the word to explain what happened. "Taken?"

Judy's head poked out of the beads. "Really, V that shit is expensive."

"I know that." she had looked up the prices for such equipment after Judy had given it to her. At the time she'd considered selling it but decided it was a useful tool. Which was why she had carried on her in her jacket "Why would we need it now, anyway?"

"Cause," Judy emerged, slamming down a box that strained at the seams with gear. "If you're up for it, I think I have a way for someone to hear your little hitchhiker."