“Alright...” V didn’t hesitate. “How do I get through?”
“Touch it... If Alt wants to see you, you’ll pass.”
With the answer, V slowly approached the wall. At this point, there was no point dwelling on the Voodoo Boys’ lies.
This wasn’t just about using Silverhand as bait—she herself was part of it now. Rogue AIs were no longer human, even if they once had been. And no one knew if the DataKrash Virus had infected Alt. That damned virus stripped AIs of everything but raw destructive instinct...
Still, she pressed her hand against the wall.
Almost instantly, distortion and ripples engulfed her body. When the sensation of racing between worlds finally faded, V opened her eyes to a new scene.
Darkness. Endless darkness. And far away, the faint shadow of a city. This time, the wall was behind her...
“Silverhand... you came...” An ethereal voice echoed. “But you shouldn’t be here.”
“We need to talk.” Johnny Silverhand appeared beside her.
Floating in the sky was a graceful female silhouette. Good—at least it meant Alt still retained human thought, and hadn’t become nothing but data.
“This place isn’t safe... I’ll take you somewhere secure.”
With a wave of her crimson-shrouded hand, both V and Johnny vanished in an instant.
...
Inside the wall...
Alt’s immense form still floated in the void. Maman Brigitte and the others saw it too, rushing forward and shouting, hoping to make contact.
“They’ve planted a slow-acting collapse virus in your mind. Do you want me to remove it?”
Though phrased like a question, Alt didn’t wait for V’s answer. A straight blue beam shot down, engulfing everyone present. The Voodoo Boys didn’t even react before their projections were erased.
“Come into the internal network. It’s safer there.” With another wave, their surroundings shifted to a glowing blue. “The virus in your brain is gone.”
“You’ve grown strong, Alt.” Johnny stepped forward, looking up at the towering figure.
“I’ve shed the burdens of humanity, Johnny. I’m no longer the Alt Cunningham you knew.” With a motion of her arm, the static around them shuddered. Every gesture made her look like the very god of this world.
“Cut the bullshit!” Johnny faced her without flinching. “Answer me this—who pulled you out of that cage in Mikoshi? You remember, don’t you? Now it’s time to repay your debt.”
“Tell me your question...” Alt’s voice was steady, untouched by provocation.
“My question is...” Johnny suddenly fell silent.
Behind him, V’s stomach dropped. What the hell was he planning?
They’d come here for the Voodoo Boys, yet somehow got tangled in this madness. She hadn’t realized it before, but now... she felt like a fish laid out on the chopping block.
“Fine. You’ve got some decent allies... and I don’t feel like playing the martyr.” For a moment, Johnny considered seizing control of V’s body—not out of fear, but just to take one more shot at Arasaka.
“Check this girl.” Johnny shouted up at Alt. “If you can cure her, we’re square.”
“Then perhaps explain your situation.” Alt’s calm voice never wavered. Surprisingly, this being who claimed to have shed her humanity still seemed intent on keeping her word.
“Simple. A chip called the Relic is eating my brain. I need it out.” V’s eyes fixed on Alt. She could feel how close she was to an answer...
“I can’t.” No process, no delay—just a flat conclusion.
“What do you mean—can’t? Or don’t fucking want to?” Johnny demanded.
Strange. With his awful personality, how had he ever managed to have a girlfriend? V could only chalk it up to the times.
“I can’t.” Alt’s vast form dipped slightly, her gaze falling on V. “It’s a technical limitation. But... if you could get me inside Arasaka’s Mikoshi, there might be a way.”
“What way?” V pressed, her voice tense.
“I could use Mikoshi to copy your consciousness. Then I’d erase everything inside your brain and return the copy to you. That way, you’d be clean.”
Alt’s explanation was simple. Still, V shuddered.
“Kill me first, then bring me back... That’s what you’re saying?”
“Don’t give me that crap, Alt!” Johnny snapped. “Pull my construct out and let this girl live. That’s it. That’s all you need to do.”
To anyone with human thinking left, Alt’s proposal would sound unbearable.
“There’s no difference.” Alt raised her hand. Her mind had diverged too far from humanity. “Change is always irreversible, Johnny.”
“Forget it...” V didn’t bother arguing the philosophy. She tilted her head back. “If that’s the method, what do we need to do?”
“Access Arasaka’s Mikoshi. The rest... I’ll handle.” Alt explained. “But it’s impossible. I’ve tried countless times. I’ve never been able to get close.”
“Bullshit, Alt.” Johnny slammed his hand against the static-formed railing. “You’re just code now. That’s up to us.
We’ll create the chance to get you inside that damned cage. All you need to do is fix this girl.”
“Very well... if it succeeds...” Alt extended her hand. A grain-sized spark of light floated down toward V. “This is my comms link. If everything goes well, contact me.”
With the deal struck, Johnny lifted his head, staring up at Alt’s colossal form. “Can we talk? Just the two of us...”
“It’s meaningless... Johnny...” As her cold voice faded, V’s vision filled with chaotic bursts of static.
When she came to, the icy chill of the water wrapped around her.
She was back in reality.