Editing Carol's VR Therapy (section)

==Origins==

Things had gone from bad to worse. The run was supposed to be easy; minimum security, hardly anyone around, old tech that was easy to crack into. You don't know if Hanzer cracked and sold you out or if you just got really, really unlucky, but now it's raining bullets on your position. You look up from your deck, temporarily switching sights in your goggles to see the boss reloading.

He grits his teeth as he holds his arm, it's bleeding.

You move to get up and help him but a bullet flies your way, hitting the wall and keeping your down behind the crate.

He shakes his head. "Get the door open! Focus, Carol!"

You nod and go back to your work, but you're under a lot of pressure. You never used to be very good with pressure, your hands get sweaty and you get distracted by your own heavy breathing. Your fingers desperately fly across your deck as you try to get the door open. You feel the injections take their toll as they try to keep you calm and focused but you're too worried.

Not about jail, not about death, but about the boss.

Nearby, Mad Jak opens up with his shotgun, which makes you jump. The damned door won't open and you're about to give up and quit.

Suddenly, you feel a hand on your shoulder, a familiar warmth that steadies you. "It's okay, kid," he whispers in your ear. "You can do it. I know you can. Just like we planned and practiced."

You let out a steadying breath and feel him squeeze your shoulder, encouraging you. You find the node you need and enter the codes you stole from upstairs, lifting the door. After plugging out, you turn and lift your goggles to look at the boss. He's been hurt worse; two bullet holes in his chest, his white shirt stained red. Your eyes go wide as Mad Jack provides covering fire. You gently grab his collar and prepare to drag him through the door, but he grabs your wrist and stops you.

"I got this, kid," he says. "Get out of here." You immediately refuse and yank him up a bit, but he stops you again. "I said go!" he shouts, choking up some blood. "I'm biting the dust already. But I can make sure they don't get you."

You protest more but he won't have any of it; he shakes his head and pulls you in close. "I'm dead weight. You'll never get out. Nothing matters now but you getting out of here," he says.

Before you can say anything, he presses his forehead against yours. "We always knew it could end like this."

You feel your eyes grow wet as you try to pull him closer, but he takes out a grenade and gets ready to pull the pin. "They won't get you," he says. You fall against him and cry, refusing to let him go. "Hey... Hey... It'll be alright..."

He lifts up your head and looks you in the eye. "I love you, kid."

"I... I love you too, boss..."

You kiss him one last time before Mad Jak pulls you off and gets you through the door. The last thing you see is boss looking at you, smiling and winking, the same look that always made your heart melt. The door begins to close as the pigs move in. Further down the hall, you hear an explosion from behind that rattles you to your core and causes you to break down and sob.

He's gone.

Later on, you split up from Mad Jak; he got his share. You never call him again, nor accept his calls for future jobs. He was just another runner, anyway, but he reminded you of boss. They were best friends, and having him around only made it hurt worse.

So instead you shut everything out. And work. You and boss spent a lot of time in the VR; fragments of his mannerisms are preserved in its matrix. Not his memories, but his face, his voice...

You'll tweak it over time, make him remember who you are, make him remember the moments you spent with him. It'll take a lot of time, but it will be worth it. You'll be with him again. You'll bring him back.

It'll be like he never left...

And he didn't...

He's just asleep...

Asleep...