After Phantom Liberty

Judy

V stared at her reflection in the cracked mirror of her small apartment, a mix of determination and uncertainty washing over her. After her two-year coma, she had thrown herself into the mercenary life, determined to make a name for herself in Night City. With Johnny Silverhand's chip removed, she felt freer, yet the weight of her past still lingered. The city had a way of reminding her of that every single day.

As she adjusted her leather jacket, V reflected on the ups and downs of her life as a merc. The thrill of a successful job felt exhilarating, but the betrayals were a bitter taste she couldn't shake. She had trusted someone—her girlfriend at the time—only to find out she had been backstabbing her, leaking intel to a rival fixer. That betrayal had stung, not just because of the loss of trust, but because of the raw emotion she had invested in the relationship. Since then, she had thrown herself even deeper into her work, avoiding anything resembling love.

The buzz of her phone pulled her from her thoughts, and she grabbed it, her heart quickening as she saw the name flashing on the screen: Judy Alvarez. It had been a while since they last spoke, and even longer since their friendship had shifted into something deeper. She remembered the intensity of their connection, the way Judy's eyes would light up when they were together, but V had been too caught up in her own chaos to fully appreciate it.

Swiping to answer, she took a breath, hoping to sound casual. "Hey, Judy. What's up?"

"V! Wow, it's been a minute," Judy replied, her voice a mix of warmth and something else—something heavier. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Not at all. Just the usual mercenary life. What about you?" V asked, trying to keep the conversation light, even as a knot formed in her stomach.

There was a pause, and V could almost hear the wheels turning in Judy's head. "Well, actually, I've been divorced for a year now."

V's heart sank at the admission. "I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you're doing okay."

"I am. It was the right decision. I just wasn't in love anymore. But... I've been thinking about you a lot," Judy admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wanted to see if you'd be interested in catching up. Just you and me."

V felt a rush of conflicting emotions. Part of her was ecstatic at the prospect of reconnecting, but another part felt wary. "Sure, I'd like that. But... I thought you were happy?"

"I thought I was too," Judy said, the sadness evident in her tone. "But sometimes you have to face the truth, you know?"

"Yeah," V replied, her heart aching at the vulnerability in Judy's voice. "I get it."

"Let's meet up. There's a bar I know—a good place where we can talk. Can you make it tonight?" Judy asked, hope threading through her words.

"Absolutely. I'll see you there," V agreed, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation.

Later that evening, V arrived at the bar, the neon lights illuminating the dim space. The air was thick with the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses, a stark contrast to the emotional weight she carried. She spotted Judy sitting at a table in the corner, looking beautiful and utterly captivating in a fitted dress that accentuated her curves. V felt a flutter in her chest, nostalgia washing over her.

"Hey," Judy greeted, her smile genuine yet tinged with something deeper. "You look good."

"Thanks. So do you," V replied, sliding into the seat across from her. "It's been too long."

"Yeah, it has." Judy's eyes sparkled with a mix of mischief and sincerity. "How's the merc life treating you?"

V shrugged, leaning back in her chair. "It has its ups and downs. You know how it is—just trying to stay alive and make a name for myself."