Archive of Our Own

Egyszerű munkának tűntek fel. Egy név, egy arc, egy vadász és egy csomó pénz. Az ilyen munkák voltak a legveszélyesebbek, mert mindig hazudtak róluk, vagy nem avatták be a zsoldosokat.

V nem lassított, a motor dübörgött alatta, ahogy a gázra lépett, majd élesen letért a főútról. A neonfények lassan elhalványultak mögötte, a város zaját az ipari negyed üres, fémes csendje váltotta fel.

A gyár már messziről látszott.Egykor működőképes volt, de most csak egy csontváz volt. Rozsdás acél, betört ablakok, egy elhagyatott parkoló, életnek semmi jele a sikátorokban. A lámpák alig működtek, csak néhány pislákoló fény adott életjelet.

Vincent lassított, a fekete motor halk dübörgéssel begördült a területre, majd megáll. A motor hangja elhalt, és a csend súlyként nehezedett V-re.

Aranyba mártott lábait átlendítette a motoron, és leszállt. Egy pillanatra felnézett a sötét égre, majd végigfuttatta ujjait a haján, kisimítva a kusza tincseket. Nyakában az ezüstláncok halkan csilingeltek.

-Szép belépés- Johnny lágy hangja kellemesen siklott V fülébe.-Majdnem lenyűgöztél, de ehhez több kell-

Vincent szeme meg sem rebbent Johnny idegesítő megjegyzésére, csak lassan oldalra pillantott.

Johnny úgy dőlt a motornak, mint egy szellem, aki örökre kísérteni akarja. Karba fonta a karját, a fejét kissé oldalra billentette, és az a tipikus, idegesítő félmosoly játszott az ajkán.

– De aztán eszembe jutott, hogy minden alkalommal ugyanazt csinálod. – tette hozzá közömbösen. – Olyan unalmas vagy, V–

– Szerintem senki sem kérdezte. – Vincent lassan felsóhajtott, a szemét forgatta, majd a gyár bejárata felé indult.

-Tudod-folytatta Johnny, könnyedén teleportálva az oldalára-,-érzésem van, hogy ez a munka nem olyan tiszta, mint gondolod.-

-Minden munka ilyen, nem mindig tudod, mibe vágsz bele.-V vállat vont.

-De ezúttal más a helyzet.- morgolódott Johhny.

Vincent nem lassított, egyre közelebb ért a bejárathoz.-Mindig ezt mondod, kezd egy kicsit idegesítő lenni.

Johnny egy pillanatra elhallgatott, ami ritka volt nála. Komolyan mondom. V-

Vincent stopped in front of the rusty door, which was half open. His hand automatically slid to his gun, which rested in the holster on his pants.

-Then you're right.-V said dryly.

Johnny grinned at the bored answer.-Mindig igazam van, kölyök. Csak nem akarod elismerni a sikeremet.-

Vincent entered the building, the factory interior was dark, the air dusty and heavy. His footsteps echoed in the vast, empty space. Every sound seemed too loud, as if someone was lurking and waiting to strike.

Vincent immediately sensed that someone was watching him. This silence was too perfect.

Johnny appeared again, much to V's delight.-Látod? Már most utálom ezt a helyet, pedig még semmi sem történt.-

V moved forward slowly, all his senses sharpened. His gaze moved constantly, he noticed every shadow, but he didn't know when they would attack him.

-Be quiet...-V growled

-Oh, sure. Because if I don't talk, then suddenly everything will be safe?

Vincent didn't answer, he just nodded. He reached a corridor that was much narrower and darker. The walls were covered in old, peeling paint, some colorful graffiti, and pieces of debris on the floor.

Vincent's footsteps were silent, like a cat's.

Johnny's voice broke the silence again.-Komolyan mondom, csapdát szimatolok-

Vincent paused for a moment.-Akkor menj el, senki sem kért meg, hogy itt legyél.

Johnny chuckled - I wish I could -

Something moved in the corner, Vincent reflexively turned towards the movement, but it was too late. Armed guards emerged from the corners as if they had always been there.

V reached for his rifle and pulled the trigger with one firm movement. The bullet went through one of the guards' skulls, right in the middle of his forehead. V ducked behind a pile of boxes to avoid being hit by the hail of bullets.

-I told you something was wrong.-Johnny remarked.-And you see, I was right again.-

-Shut your mouth.-Vincent snapped, as he eliminated another ogre from the ranks of the living.

The world sped up in almost a minute. Bullets hit the wall, bouncing off it with sparks. Vincent lunged forward, emerging from cover for a moment, his pistol aimed straight at the chest of the nearest guard.

The guard collapsed like a lifeless rag doll. V took two steps forward and took aim again, and the bullet went straight into the gunman's face, then fell back with a loud thud.

-Not bad.-Johnny said appreciatively-You did it almost professionally-

-Almost?- Vincent grumbled as he reloaded his gun.-As if you were such a pro...-

-There's always room for improvement.- Johnny shrugged.

Another guard rushed towards V. He didn't react in time when he got in front of the man, so he slammed his gun straight into the man's face, and the guard collapsed.

The hallway fell silent again as the gunfire stopped. Vincent slowly straightened up, his breathing rapid but steady.

Johnny looked around - Well, that was more fun, but it's still not the real thing.-

V didn't answer, his gaze was already searching for the next target, then he saw the door at the end of the corridor, where the office could be. The door was closed, a quick hack, and the door opened with a soft click. The office was dimly lit, only a single lamp lit the room.

V's target stood in the middle of the office as if he had already expected him, the bald man, dressed in elegant clothes. He looked straight into V's eyes, who raised his gun and pointed it at the man.

Johnny appeared next to him and looked the man over.-Is this serious? - he pursed his lips - This much money for this guy?-

Vincent's lips twitched into a faint smile.- Többre számítottam, de ez megteszi...-

The man was about to speak, but there was no time. The sound of the shot echoed dully in the office, the body fell to the ground, and then the building became silent again.

Johnny shook his head-Legalább a haja lehetett volna érdekesebb.-

Vincent snorted and walked over to the terminal. He quickly scanned the data and found what he was looking for.

A package of documents that his fixer needed. He pressed the download button, which already started installing the documents.

-What are you doing?-Johnny asked, watching the screen.

-None of your business...-

-Everything that's yours is my business, I'm just saying.-

Vincent didn't respond, the download completed, and then he pocketed the data.

Johnny looked at the body.

-You know, I thought we'd at least talk to him.-

-I don't like unnecessary chatter like you.-

Johnny's grin returned.-Rájöttem, hogy nem lehet mindenki olyan, mint én.-

Vincent rolled his eyes at the egotistical response, then turned and walked out. The factory was quiet again, but this time it was much more calming than before. As he stepped out of the building, the cold night air hit him. Neon lights were shining on the from a distance, which gave light to the deserted parking lot.

The black motorcycle was still where he had left it. Vincent walked over, then stopped for a moment, and Johnny reappeared beside him.

It was quiet, which is a rare sight.

-What's wrong with you?- V finally asked.

Johnny shrugged.-Nothing.- he paused briefly.- Just... this job.-

Vincent raised his eyebrows.-What's wrong with him?-

Johnny looked towards the factory-It was too easy-

Vincent finally got on his bike -It wasn't easy...-

Johnny smiled faintly.-That's why I say-

Vincent started the engine. And the plane rumbled loudly beneath him.-You always find something you don't like.-

-This is my job.-

Vincent looked back at the factory for a moment, then set off. The black bike picked up speed, the city lights approaching as Vegyre reached the center of town. His black locks fluttered in the wind. His silver chains clinked together, like the rhythm of a pleasant song. The cool breeze blew pleasantly, and for a few moments V forgot all his worries, and it was just him and his bike, and of course Johnny Silverhand, who was sitting in his head.