"Woohoo!"
Five lunar rovers, specially engineered for low-gravity environments, raced across the Moon's flat, desolate surface. Their tires crushed regolith that had lain undisturbed for billions of years, carving deep tracks into the lunar soil. Dust billowed behind them like a veil being torn from the Moon's face.
"Haha—this is awesome!" Jackie shouted.
"Cool as hell!" River Ward was just as excited.
"I am the king of the Moon!!!" Johnny spread his arms wide, full-blown chuuni energy.
The men were having a blast—and the women were no less thrilled.
Especially Lucy. The girl who had dreamed of going to the Moon her whole life was driving her rover like she'd been infected with an electronic neural virus, pedal floored the entire way. She was easily the fastest of them all.
"Hahahahaha—Moon, you're HUGE!"
Lucy showered the Moon with praise, though limited vocabulary meant that "huge" was already the result of intense mental effort.
David Martinez, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at his girlfriend with indulgent affection—even though she was actually older than him.
He had always known Lucy wanted to go to the Moon, and he'd been secretly saving money for it. But when Lucy found out, she told him there was no need anymore.
David asked why.
Lucy answered,
"Because what I wanted… already exists on Earth now."
All the netrunner girl ever wanted was a safe place. A place where no one would hurt her.
That place had been created by V—Night City. And here, Lucy had found a new home, and someone she loved.
Going to the Moon had long since stopped being necessary.
Moon tourism had always existed. One person cost 250,000 eurodollars. Two people, 500,000.
In the past, once Lucy scraped together the money, she would've gone without hesitation—dream fulfilled even if she starved afterward. But now, she would rather use that money to buy a bigger apartment, get David better cyberware, go shopping with Gloria, take the family out for nice meals on weekends. Then, one day, she'd marry David in a perfectly ordinary wedding, have a healthy child, and live a stable, peaceful life.
Sometimes, waking from midnight dreams, Lucy herself found it hard to believe. Someone like her—someone who was never supposed to have a future—was actually thinking about one now.
Why?
Probably because she'd met so many good people: Maine, Dorio, Rebecca, and most importantly David—and above all, President V.
"David, I love you!"
Lucy felt as though happiness was overflowing from her chest, and boldly confessed.
David replied without hesitation,
"I love you too, Lucy—ten thousand years' worth!"
"Not enough!"
"Then a hundred million years! A billion years! Until the seas dry up and the rocks crumble—until humanity goes extinct!"
David made his vow under the sunlight, and Lucy once again realized—
Her boyfriend was just way too cool.
What kind of good deeds did I rack up in a past life to deserve an ending this perfect?
Two young hands clasped tightly together, just like two hearts that would never part.
"I couldn't wait for you to come clear the cupboards…"
A slightly melancholic song suddenly played over the public channel, shattering the moment.
There was no air on the Moon—sound couldn't travel. All prior conversations had been via comms. Lucy and David had used a private channel for their sweet talk, but while they could hide sound, they couldn't hide movement. Their body language had already broadcast their sticky-sweet affection loud and clear.
Which annoyed someone.
Mainly, it annoyed V.
Not because she hated couples—but because she was stuck in the back seat, stripped of her right to drive.
Who was driving?
Of course, Sasha and Michiko.
Michiko was the only single person on this couples' express. V had originally planned to give her a separate vehicle, but Sasha insisted on pulling her bestie into the same rover.
The result: two anime-loving girls screaming joyfully behind the wheel—while V sat cramped in the back, unable to even touch the steering wheel.
Damn it, I want to drive too! I was born to drive!
V lodged a formal protest. Sasha shut her down with a single glare.
She turned to Michiko for justice. Michiko typed "Serves you right" in the private channel and offered zero help.
Fuck this woman. I was just a bit stronger, a bit rude with my wording, and my posture was a bit… expressive. Was that really worth holding a grudge over?!
Irritated, V tried to enjoy the lunar scenery—and instead saw David and Lucy being all lovey-dovey.
Even more annoyed.
Following the sacred principle of "If I'm unhappy, nobody gets to be happy," V queued up "Widow's Little Tune."
As expected, the melancholic melody instantly popped the pink bubble.
Lucy grimaced. "What kind of trash song is this? It makes my heart hurt!"
Johnny seized the chance.
"Exactly! Way worse than Samurai. Play my Never Fade Away—guaranteed banger!"
Lucy nodded and switched tracks—to The Red Menace'sPonPon Shit.
"PonPon Shit! PonPon Shit! PonPon Shit! PonPon Shit!"
The upbeat song blasted through the public channel. Sure, it was a dirty song—but it was cheerful.
"Fuck me—did I really come all the way to the Moon just to hear this?!" Johnny roared.
Rogue rolled her eyes. "So what? It's fun. And right now, PonPon Shit sounds way better than your Never Fade Away."
"Bullshit! My music is the best in the world—that PonPon garbage is dogshit!"
Ten minutes later, Johnny was shouting "PonPon Shit! PonPon Shit!" louder than anyone else.
"Hahaha—this is great! Those kids have some talent. Looks like Kerry made the right call working with them."
Rogue smirked. "Finally figured it out?"
"Not really," Johnny sneered.
"I just can't let that idiot Kerry be the only one making money."
Rogue was speechless. "Are you really that broke?"
"I've been dead for fifty years. My bank account got nuked ages ago."
"You're Saburo Arasaka now."
"Saburo Arasaka is just this shell. Means jack shit to me. I already gave all of his money to Arasaka Michiko. I'm not spending a single eddie of Saburo's cash."
Rogue was about to praise his integrity when Johnny shamelessly added:
"Oh, by the way—I wanna drop an album. Label says it'll cost 200k. I'm a bit short… think you could lend me some?"
"Fuck! You think I'm an ATM?!"
"Yeah? You've loaned me money before. I'll pay you back once I make it big."
"You said that fifty years ago!"
"And didn't you believe me like an idiot?"
"Johnny, you're a complete asshole!"
"Yep, total asshole—so lend me the money."
Rogue nearly spat blood but still ground her teeth and asked,
"How much?"
Johnny grinned. "One hundred ninety-eight thousand."
"FUCK!" Rogue exploded.
"Total's 200k and you want me to pay 198k?! So you're putting in two thousand? Is this your album or mine?! Might as well pay the full amount myself!"
Johnny lit up. "Deal! Your words!"
"JOHNNY SILVERHAND!!!"
Her roar echoed through the channel—and their rover shot forward like a missile.
"Hey—HEY—slow down! Rogue, I don't wanna die again!" Johnny's voice cracked in terror.
Sasha jumped. "Why'd they speed up all of a sudden? Are they okay?"
"What do you think?" V leaned forward from the back seat and said over comms,
"They're challenging us. Jackie, David, River—race time. Loser carries luggage tomorrow."
"Haha, you're on!" Jackie laughed.
"I'm the Haywood street-racing prince!"
David wasn't backing down.
"I'm top 20 in Need for Speed 79!"
"Games aren't reality." River grinned smugly.
"I've chased more street racers than I can count. When it comes to driving—I'm NCPD number one!"
Competitive fire ignited instantly. Michiko nudged V.
"You're not saying anything?"
Of course she was.
V opened the channel and shouted,
"I'm going first—hehe!"
She floored it.
"Damn it! Jump start—cheap move! David, River—let's go!"
"OH!!!"
Johnny's rover led the pack, V close behind, with Jackie, David, and River in hot pursuit. Five vehicles tore across the Moon, carving humanity's marks into its surface—along with endless laughter.
"Go, David! Take first!" Lucy cheered wildly.
To everyone's shock, gamer-boy David turned out to be the best driver.
"That's impossible," River frowned.
"This kid crashes his car three times a month and always comes to me to wipe the tickets!"
Alex, a certified go-with-the-flow type, laughed.
"Makes sense. Night City traffic messes everyone up—but the Moon has no lights, no rules. It's basically a professional track. Perfect for a talent-based driver like David."
That's allowed?!
Everyone—including V—felt deeply wronged.
Talent-based driver my ass. He's just a reckless gorilla!
Anyone can go fast in a straight line. Real skill is cornering!
Too bad the Moon had no corners.
Just as David neared the preset finish point, all vehicles suddenly shut down simultaneously—their onboard AIs forcibly overridden.
"What happened?!" Sasha cried.
"Did we get hacked?" Jackie slapped the console.
"Not hacked—taken over."
V switched the roof to projection mode. The metallic panel lit up into a screen, showing the sky above.
"The High Knights are here."
Everyone followed suit.
Two silver-white, fully enclosed humanoid combat mechs screamed overhead, landing about 1.5 kilometers ahead. Gunfire rang out—then stopped just as quickly.
"What's that about?" Johnny muttered.
"Some punk rob a lunar convenience store?"
"We'll find out." V looked ahead.
"They're coming back."
Sure enough, the mech returned swiftly—but only one this time.
"An urgent situation forced us to interfere with President V's lunar excursion. Please accept my sincere apologies."
A steady, honest voice came through the channel.
"No harm done. And you are?"
"Ah—allow me to introduce myself. I am a member of the High Knights, responsible for security at Cloud Sea Base. My callsign is Gawain."
"Callsign?"
"Yes. Per confidentiality protocols, I cannot disclose my real name. I ask for your understanding."
"Fair enough. When in Rome."
"Your magnanimity is admirable. On behalf of the High Knights, welcome once again."
"Thank you, Gawain. May I ask what happened up ahead?"
"Only a minor issue. A tourist group had individuals illegally leaving the tour. We were retrieving them."
"Retrieval requires gunfire?" Johnny cut in sharply.
Gawain maintained his polite tone.
"Normally no. However, the individual refused to comply. Under Cloud Sea Base security regulations—upholding ESA's lawful interests—we were forced to execute them on the spot."
"Fuck!" Johnny cursed.
"I regret causing you distress. This regulation is indeed harsh, and the High Knights have raised objections before. ESA has considered revisions, but recently more Earth-born individuals have used tourism as a cover to sneak into Cloud Sea Base. To protect humanity's shared assets, we had no choice."
"Shared assets, my ass," Johnny snapped.
"Costs 250k just to come—and you get kicked out after one look!"
Gawain smiled.
"Looking is free. The 250,000 eurodollars cover transportation."
Nobody believed him.
But that was technically true.
Johnny was about to keep arguing when Rogue stopped him.
"Drop it. If you keep going, he'll just start listing maintenance fees, construction fees, management fees. Public assets making money—it's always 'reasonable.' Every tourist attraction works the same way."
Johnny swore under his breath and backed down.
Gawain was satisfied. His politeness was professional, not submissive. High Knights carried pride in their bones—especially those born in space. They saw themselves as a new species, and Earth-born tourists as impoverished distant relatives—smiling at them while despising them.
"Ahead lies Bailey Crater, the Moon's second-largest crater. It's normally restricted, but as compensation for the disturbance, I can take you there."
Invitation extended.
Work was work. Off-duty, he might curse Earth-borns—but on duty, his smile never wavered.
V consulted the group and agreed.
She didn't care what the High Knights thought, nor about new humans versus Earth humans. She paid to play—to be the boss. Cultural conflicts weren't her problem.
Gawain led in his mech. Five rovers followed.
They first arrived at the stranded tour group. A hovering bus sat nearby. Tourists in full space suits—people who paid 250k just to be here—were now squatting with hands on their heads like criminals.
River and Alex could vouch for the authenticity—they'd actually been criminals.
The "guard" was the other mech, scanning them while spewing insults.
"Stupid Earth trash. Bunch of beggars. Squat properly. A single lunar rock is worth more than all of you—it's billions of years old. Break one and you're vandalizing natural heritage, criminals against human civilization!"
Then V's five rovers rolled in—beeping loudly, carving dense tire tracks across the surface, crushing who knows how many rocks.
Tourists: ...
Combat mech: ...
An eerie silence fell.
"Ahem." Gawain coughed to break it.
"President V, allow me to introduce my colleague—callsign Lancelot. Lancelot, this is the renowned President V. Come and greet her."