"'star' [legendary/Immortal]"
"All performance metrics have been tuned to optimum levels, containing the painstaking effort of certain individuals."
This was the second Immortal-grade Weapon Berry had created. The first, of course, was her personal sidearm, "vitamin b," which she had spent almost all her savings modifying while she was with the Nomads tribe.
Like "vitamin b," "star" was also a modified version of the Overture Revolver. Painted deep blue with scattered white spots, it resembled gazing at the universe in the night sky—deep and serene.
The gun body was slender, paired with a blue and white hard plastic grip, giving the entire weapon a cold, industrial aesthetic.
"'vitamin b' [legendary/Immortal]"
"Powerful and potent, designed for those who don't need a second shot. The reason for firing is written right on the gun."
"vitamin b" was also an Immortal-tier weapon. Berry didn't know why only these two guns among her creations were Immortal-grade Weapons. She had tried to create other firearms, and even with the stacking of high-quality materials, they only reached the [legendary] tier, but never the Immortal descriptor.
It seemed this descriptor had nothing to do with the weapon's power.
Berry guessed that for [Immortal]-grade weapons, the emotions carried by the firearm, rather than the firearm itself, might be the reason for their immortality.
Creations pressed out by steel machine tools can never withstand the grind of time; buried beneath ruins, they are just scrap metal.
But human emotion is eternal. Even if the vessel of that emotion dies right now, someone else will eventually pick it up again.
Just like Johnny Silverhand's rebellious spirit.
Never stop fighting.
Johnny Silverhand declared war on the megacorporations and ultimately fell, but this spirit of resistance never disappeared. David Martinez, V in the Sun Ending... many awakened individuals, named and unnamed, continue to fight, throwing themselves into a desperate war, one after another.
This spirit itself is what is [Immortal].
Such miracles are everywhere, even in the most absurd and depraved Night City.
The legendary story of the Lizzy Bar is one such example.
Elizabeth Borden, nicknamed Lizzy, was once the owner of a strip club. When girls from her bar were brutally murdered by members of the Tyger Claws, Lizzy personally used an axe to kill three attackers to avenge the deceased girls. Although Lizzy herself soon died in retaliation by the Tyger Claws, her bar was also reduced to ruins.
But her spirit sparked a disturbance among service workers, severely hitting the Tyger Claws. This incident cemented Elizabeth Borden as a symbol of resistance against gang brutality.
Lizzy's ideological successors rebuilt her venue in her memory, renaming it the "Lizzy Bar," and formed a gang that gathered threatened and oppressed people under their banner, especially sex workers and sexual minorities.
Even the worst soil can yield the most beautiful flowers of the spirit. Night City proved this point itself.
"...V, I want to give this to you." Berry picked up "star," which was almost the length of her forearm, and handed it to V.
In her view, the "star" Ending in the original game was the relatively best outcome for V, who came from the Nomads. After experiencing all the worst things, she still had her lover and family accompanying her.
Berry chose this name as a kind of blessing.
"It's beautiful, Berry, I'm very grateful..." V took "star," examining it carefully in her hands, her eyes full of continuous admiration.
With the exquisite paintwork and the solid weight in her hand, V knew immediately upon holding it how rare and fine a piece this gun was.
"It's really something. What's its name?" V turned her gaze back to Berry.
"'star'," Berry said, shrugging and lowering her gaze.
"star, that's a great name." Although she didn't know why Berry chose the name, she liked it simply because Berry did.
Staring closely into Berry's dark eyes, V seemed to understand why it was named that.
The fragmented bright lights shimmering in Berry's dark eyes were captivating and charming—were they not just like the stars in the sky?
"It's a shame I have to sneak into Konpeki Plaza tomorrow and can't bring the gun you gave me," V sighed, shaking her head regretfully. She really liked the "star" that Berry had given her.
Although she liked anything Berry gave her, she was especially fond of this heavy revolver. On one hand, she vaguely felt that this gun seemed highly significant and could feel Berry's affection for her within it.
Secondly, she came from a Nomad family; what Nomad doesn't love a revolver?
Cheap and durable, revolvers are the easiest firearms to acquire in the Badlands, and their versatility is strong.
Unlike those delicate automatic weapons that jam with a little sand, if a revolver misfires, you just pull the trigger again and it's fixed.
In a sense, the revolver is a symbol of these lawless Nomad families who roam the edges of modern society.
Putting the gun down first, V looked at Berry, who was silent and looking down. She knew her little girlfriend wasn't in a good mood right now.
"Hey, what's wrong, baby." There was only one way to solve sadness: a warm hug. That's what V did, embracing Berry and gently soothing her by stroking the back of her neck.
V guessed Berry was worried about the mission, so she comforted her gently.
Indeed, they had never taken on such a massive job before—stealing classified items from a megacorporation heir. This was incomparable to street racing or fighting the Scavengers.
"But the middleman, Dexter, arranged this mission meticulously. Every step has been accounted for. Everything will be fine, I promise."
You can promise jack squat.
Hearing V's confident declaration, Berry wanted to roll her eyes.
If she weren't here, V would be screwed this time.
Yes, the plan was perfect. Even in the game, V and the others successfully stole the Relic and were just waiting to leave. But who knew, the old man Saburo Arasaka suddenly came to visit his son Yorinobu, and coincidentally, Yorinobu Arasaka had a burst of Inner Cosmos and killed his father.
And V's unfortunate crew was naturally framed as the Agents who assassinated Saburo.
This is the definition of collateral damage.
But V and her crew didn't participate in this mission to build the world or because of some grand ambition; they simply needed money and wanted to earn it.
In the game, it could be seen that V could barely afford rent before the Konpeki Plaza mission and was being threatened with eviction by the Property Management in a highly commercial manner.
In real life, based on Berry's current assets, they could completely avoid this mission. Berry had enough money for them to live on.
But when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact.
Living in this chaotic world, you either fight the corporations for freedom, or you sacrifice all dignity and become a corporate dog. The former is a dead end, and the latter lives like an animal.
Just like V in the Devil Ending, in order to survive, she had to sign a Contract of Servitude, making herself an asset of the corporation.
Those prominent corporate figures—Saburo Arasaka's Bodyguard Goro Takemura, and Adam Smasher—might look impressive, but they are just dogs of the Arasaka Family. Saburo Arasaka only needs a single thought to completely decommission all their combat cyberware.
The Nomads' naturally free souls cannot be tamed.
Therefore, Berry could not give up the fight.
Even if she risked her own life, she had to create a beautiful future.
Life should not be so depraved.
"It's okay, V, I'm here." Berry spoke with forceful clarity, suddenly hugging V back tightly. "As long as I'm here, everything will be fine!"
Seeing Berry suddenly full of dominance and hugging her tightly, V was somewhat speechless, but she eventually smiled and obediently rested her head against Berry's.
And Berry, her eyes shone with fervent light.
In this small rented room, Berry held her lover, declaring war on this imperfect world.
"baby, want to do it~"
Just as Berry's emotions were boiling and about to reach their peak, V's sudden question was like cold water being poured over her, instantly extinguishing the flame.
V's face was slightly flushed, and her breathing carried a hint of urgency. Berry was hugging her too tightly, making her, how should one put it, unable to restrain her feelings.
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