Nana surveyed the nearby surroundings. The Barghest had shown increased signs of activity, and she was almost confident that it was due to a certain evil senpai. Dogtown wasn't the place to get caught with your pants down. Sometimes, smaller communities were much more dangerous than Night City as a whole.
After determining that the surroundings were safe and calm, Nana headed back inside. Her hand gripped the sheath of her katana a bit tighter as she entered the abandoned building full of debris. Her pace was brisk, leading to a trap door on the ground.
The calm silence was instantly replaced by a harrowing sound. As the white haired twin went further into the hideout, pained groans could be heard. There was one more door…this one high tech with thick material. It slid open after verifying Nana's identity.
It smelled like a hospital. Unbearable. She slowly entered the spacious room. There was a small TV on the other side along with a desk and chairs. Gadgets littered the table alongside guns and supplies. Then there was Emi.
The braided twin sat on one of the chairs, her elbows on the table. Her gaze was fixated on a corner of the room. Her eyes were starting to show bags, indicating that she hadn't slept well. As she rested her head in her arms, Emi's expression remained the same. Horror and concern.
Three beds were placed together in the room's corner. One sorry figure rested on this soft material but the comfort meant nothing. This figure was handcuffed to one of the bed's pillars while resting on pillows. It was their senpai. It was Lei.
"Nnnnngh!! Aaaggh….Uuuughnnnn…Ugh!"
Constant grunts of pain and suffering filled the room. Loralei's body continued to squirm. Both Emi and Nana wore solemn expressions. They both knew that this mentally strong woman would never make noises like this from a near death wound. She'd rather die silently.
To think that an illness could bring this out of her…it was terrifying. Lei's body was constantly sweating. Sometimes her grunts and moans sounded like sobbing. Blood would stream from her ears, eyes, nose, and mouth at random intervals. This left the bed a bloody mess for a while…at least until it disappeared.
Her blood would start to glitch and shatter like a digital construct. Even her voice would sometimes glitch…almost resembling a malfunctioning machine. It was ominous and strange. The TV would turn to static at random whenever she lashed out. The lights would flicker.
Both twins had already removed Lei's combat gear. Now dressed in a raggedy shirt and underwear, she was privy to the elements. One thing was obvious to them. Throughout this entire process Lei was going through…she was unconscious. All of her grunts and cries were involuntary.
"Emi."
Hearing Nana's voice, the tired girl looked up at her sister. Understanding grew between them. There was a moment of silence but it didn't last long. Lei's cries eventually broke it. Emi finally spoke.
"How is it outside?" She asked. Nana sat down.
"Coast is clear. Can't hear anything from the road. The trap door is hidden. Only junkies would end up anywhere close."
"What about our employer? We can't stay away for too long."
"Hansen? Don't worry about it, Emi. We only needed him for entry into this dirty district. If he tries anything…I'll deal with him."
"Mnn." Emi hummed. Her gaze returned to the corner where Lei was constantly seizing up.
".............." Nana remained silent.
"...Has her illness truly gotten this bad? How can something be so brutal?" Her voice shook.
Loralei's eyes were half open...but they were glazed over. Nowhere close to consciousness. It was disturbing.
"She's been ill since we first met her. It always left her weak." Nana answered.
"...Not like this. It would leave her weak at times, but once she recovered…we couldn't beat her."
"Of course. That's her determination. I've never known anyone stronger."
At this moment, Lei's body started trembling. It started off small but eventually grew violent. The sound of rattling handcuffs filled the room. Something was wrong. This was different. Both twins immediately approached the bed.
The sickly girl took a deep shaky breath…sounding as if her lungs were shattering. It was a long winded inhale. Then came the exhale.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHH!!!!!!"
The shrill scream pierced the room, its gut wrenching pitch hurting the twins' ears. Terrifying was the only way to describe it. Lei was destroying her own vocal chords. Cracks started to appear on the bed frame due to how violent her movements were.
Emi and Nana immediately held her down. The braided twin sat on the floor beside Lei's bed and grabbed her hands. Closing her eyes and fighting tears, she reined in the anger at her senpai's past deeds and focused on Lei's survival. It was clear why Lei had done the evil things she'd done…it was to escape this hell that she lived everyday. Emi finally understood. She could see it clearly.
Nana turned the pillow slightly, muffling Loralei's agonizing screams. It was one long and drawn out cry. Even when she was out of breath…the silent scream continued. Lei's body temperature increased significantly. Nana couldn't help but rub her senpai's head, softly brushing her hair and soothing her.
"It's okay. We're here."
As she rubbed Lei's head, her expression froze. A vibration was moving through Lei's skull! Nana could clearly feel something buzzing and whizzing inside Lei's brain. Steam was rising from her head. The white haired girl's expression became one of terror. What was happening to her?!
Time passed as Loralei's body convulsed. It was a powerful seizure. One that had the once invincible merc left in a mess of tears, blood, and vomit. Only when her movements started to slow down did Nana step back. She was horrified by the sensation Loralei's skull had given to her hand. Creepy…something was moving in there.
Only then did she remember the chip. Loralei had given her a chip. 'Help him.' That was Lei's only words to her. An innate understanding between them.
Ignoring Emi who was silently sniveling on the ground, she stepped out of the room. Silence once again returned when the heavy door slid shut. Nana heaved a sigh of morbid relief. That was stressful…and emotional.
Pulling the chip out of her pocket, she slotted it into her neck. A few seconds went by but nothing happened. Nana frowned in confusion. Was the chip compromised in some way? That was when a figure appeared sitting on the steps below the trap door.
'You must be Nana.'
Nana was startled into action, jumping away from the voice. When the hell had someone come in? She must've let her guard down. Her left hand went to her sheathe as she entered a state of calm.
'Want to kill me already? And Lei was telling me you were a good person. What a load of shit.' Johnny exclaimed.
"Who are you?" Nana asked. She was already calming down.
Multiple possibilities swam through her mind. She had plenty of time to think and plan with her Kerenzikov implant. This was why she was considered the strategist of the group. Emi relied on brute force and speed. Lei relied on flawless technique and used her speed to boost it…but Nana used her brain. That was all.
'The same guy Lei told you to help.'
"And why should I help you?"
'Cut the bullshit. I don't want your help. Not while Lei is still alive.'
"Wait…you…you're a personality on a chip!" Nana realized.
'If that's how you want to take it, sure.'
"How long have you been with Lei?"
'I'm inside your head, dumbass. You don't have to speak out loud.' Johnny commented while lighting a digital cigarette. Nana sat down on the step beside him. This was no time for nonsense.
'What's your name?'
'Johnny. To answer your first question. I've been with Lei since she entered Night City.'
'Then you must've seen a lot of interesting things.'
'Definitely. The orbital tower definitely takes the cake though. I will admit it to you…that was badass.' He revealed. Nana shook her head. That fall from the mesosphere was a dangerous experience. It was NOT badass.
'But you won't admit it to Lei?'
'Never.'
'Why?'
'Her head would get too big.'
"Pffft…haha!" Nana couldn't hold in her giggle.
'You must've had Lei rolling on the floor. What a sense of humor you have.' She exclaimed.
'If it wasn't for me…she would've long since killed herself. I'm sure you can realize that now.' Johnny spoke in a nonchalant manner.
The atmosphere turned solemn once again. Nana could understand that easily. Recent events were proof of that.
'How many times has she been like this? Since you've been with her…' She asked.
Johnny thought for a moment. At first he counted on his hands, but he eventually gave up. Nana watched the entire process…and her eyes grew watery.
'I've lost count. Let me put it in perspective for you. Her operating time is now shorter than her down time.' He finally said.
'...Meaning that she can barely function throughout the day.'
'Damn straight.'
Nana sucked in a sharp breath. That was fucking ridiculous. The cure to cancer and shit along those lines were long since created and offered worldwide. This disease of hers was unnatural.
'Do you have any idea what's actually happening to her?'
There was a long moment of silence. Johnny took another drag from his cigarette while staring at the single light on the ceiling. Seeing how long it was taking for him to answer, she could tell that he knew…and it must be bad.
'Are you sure you want to know?'
'...Of course.'
'.....................' Johnny took his time smoking. It didn't seem like he wanted to speak on it.
'Johnny?'
'...The Net.'
'What?'
'All of this world's data is pouring into her body. Like a river. The nanobots that every child is given at birth are taking this knowledge…and changing her body to become the best version of itself. The problem with that is clear cut. She's a human. Plenty of the Net is based on AI and robots and shit.'
'.......................' Nana remained silent to let him finish.
'When I say the best version of itself, I literally mean that. Not just the body…but the brain as well. What I'm saying is-'
'She's turning into an AI.' Nana interrupted. Her expression was solemn.
'Why have a human brain when artificial intelligence is much better? It's faster. Stronger. Has a higher capacity. Can solve problems in less than a second. Faster than a human brain ever could.'
'Her brain is being replaced.' Horror couldn't even begin to describe how Nana felt.
'When Lei comes out the other side…she might not be herself anymore. That's if she survives at all.'