Cyberpunk 2077 - The Ballad of Lost Souls

V walks briskly down the stairs leading to Afterlife, past the bouncer who waves to him and the bar, to a leather couch, where a woman with white hair and a yellow T-shirt sits, sheltered behind a tall man with orange glasses.

The woman is having an animated discussion with another one in a red jacket, dark skin, and brown hair, gathered behind her head in a thick dread bun. V leans over, curiously, to eavesdrop the conversation. The bouncer with the orange glasses promptly pushes him away.

After a while, the woman in the red jacket leaves, giving the bouncer a shove, staring at V angrily.

Woman: Be careful who you bargain with.

V turns around in curiosity, then turns back to the woman in the yellow T-shirt sitting on the couch, waving at her.

V: Rogue? Wanted to talk.

The bouncer turns to the woman in the yellow T-shirt as she waves, letting V pass.

Rogue: It's ok.

The bouncer steps aside, letting V sit on the small sofa next to Rogue.

Rogue: Mmh. Not here, not there. Who're you?

V: Name's V.

Rogue: And what is you want, V?

Suddenly Johnny manifests behind Rogue, shrouded in a cloud of interference caused by Relic.

Johnny: All these years and it's really her. Fuckin' Rogue, just kickin' it back on a couch at the Afterlife… Don't mess with her, she's got MR-Eyes. See right through you. Give her the truth.

V: Need your services, gotta track a guy down.

Rogue: Mhm?

V: Anders Hellman.Blond short hair, blue eyes, thick pair of glasses. Hot-shot engineer. Worked for Arasaka.

Rogue's optics shine in a bright red.

Rogue: Millisec. Anders Hellman. Pinpoint him for me?

V: Mhm. Thanks.

Rogue: Jumpin' too soon. First my help got a price. Second and third… Dexter de Shawn, Jackie Welles, T-Bug. Multiple bells ringin'. V left a lot of bodies behind, death walks in your wake. Chalk that up to bad luck?

Johnny: There's the bitch I know… Ask her about 'Saka tower. How they shot me up right in front of her.

V: They knew the risk. All shit happens…to all sorts of people. Even to you too, Rogue. Arasaka tower… 'member? Who'd lose back then? Johnny somethin'?

Rogue lifts her lip slightly, as if taking the blow, but trying not to give it away.

Rogue: Ah. You came prepped. 'Course. Anyway feelings be damned… This is pure biz. You need my help, so get those eddies ready. A pack of fifteen to be exact.

V chuckles, raising his eyebrows.

V: Uh-uh. And if I don't have the scratch? It's a "fuck off have a nice day"?

Rogue: No. More like "Come back when you do".

V opens his interface and transfers the money to Rogue's account. She smiles, activating her optics back.

Rogue: Hellman, flick me the details.

Rogue raises her fingers, signaling a "two" to the barlady.

Rogue: Two please… Don't see that often, determination like yours. Must really need this guy.

V: Matter of life and death.

The barlady approaches the table, holding a tray with two glasses and a bottle of liquor. After placing the two glasses on the table, she turns her back on V and Rogue, who promptly blocks her.

Rogue: Bottle stays.

The barlady leaves the bottle on the table, while Rogue lifts her glass.

Rogue: Go ahead, enjoy.

V raises the glass.

V: To your health.

Rogue: To YOURS kid. Gonna need it.

A man in a gray jacket and sunglasses walks to the sofa where Rogue and V are sitting, tossing a small box onto the table. Rogue nods at him, then opens the box, pulling out a pair of Shards, handing one to V.

Rogue: Thanks, Nix.

Johnny: Queen of the Afterlife. Who would have thought.

Rogue: Got a shard for you… Intel, Interesting stuff.

V grabs one of the two Shards from Rogue's hand. As she thrusts the other into her neck.

V: Let's see what you got.

V's interface begins to show him data and a photo, in which he clearly recognizes the man he had seen on the monitor in Yorinobu's penthouse.

Rogue: Your Hellman is not on any payroll, not officially, anyway. But he does popup in QianT's confidential stacks. It's a Kang-Tao subsidiaries. Chinese corp… They've been using as fig leaf for years. Their mask for… More "sensitive" operations. All that clear?

V: Must be preppin' him for a transfer.

Rogue: How'd you know?

V: Chinese corpo playbook it's an open one to me. This looks like the ol' "vanishing pigeon".

V's interface updates, showing a screen with an aerial map of Night City with a bunch of flying vehicles on it.

Rogue: Mmh. These are a decrypted map of upcoming Kang-Tao convoy routes. Take a look at the specs of this one. Lone AV. No ground support. No linked cargo manifest either… Sure Kang-Tao sometimes transport stuff unregistered but…

The passenger list of the vehicle appears on V's interface.

Rogue: Catch the load on this AV, already approved by the system, but too low. So definitely no cargo on board.

Johnny: Huh.

Rogue: Buuut, there is a passenger list… Kang-Tao security details, plus one VIP. Transfer from QianT.

V: Our boy Hellman.

Rogue: That was the good news.

The data on V's interface changes again, showing a map of Night City along with the vehicle's flight path.

Rogue: The bad news is the extraction site. Look, Night City airspace, all this.

V: Mhm no way to 'jack the transport without the NCPD pickin' up on it.

Rogue: Here you're too close to Kang Tao. We give that AV a dirty look, their backup huscle'll be on us… But right here's. Jackson's plains. Narrow corridor just outside the city and just outside Kang Tao's reach.

V: Dead zone. I'll grab him there.

Rogue: Gonna need a native to the area. Someone who'll set up the op, cobble together the gear.

V: Know any hick mercs?

Rogue: Just one. Panam Palmer. She can't count on her clan anymore, but she's a true nomad. She knows those lands.

V: Why's Panam gotta help me? I sense a catch. Big one.

Rogue: Occasionally Panam moves some mercs for me. Last job… Well, wasn't a good day for her.

V: She run into an itch?

Rogue: Complete bust, actually. Lost the goods and her raid. Panam'll do anything to get the load back. Means her dignity. I know her.

V: Ok I guess I can try to help her, but…

Rogue: Rocky Ridge. Ghost town just outside Night City. Panam knows where. Naturally you call her first. Sendin' you her detes.

V: All clear, thanks.

Johnny: Ugh finally, let's get out of here.

V gets up from the couch, walking toward the entrance of the club. It is evening and rain greets him as he climbs up the stairs of the Afterlife. V opens his interface again, selecting Panam's contact.

Panam(Holo): Hello?!

The woman who had run out of the club a moment earlier, appears on V's interface. 

V(Holo): Hey. Got your number from Rogue. Name is V.

Panam(Holo): Great. Where's that old warhorse want to kick me now?

V(Holo): This thing between you and Rogue? Couldn't care less. Got a job for you. 

Panam(Holo): Good. But I'm overextended at the moment.

V(Holo): With the merc and your car? Getting 'em back? I can help you with that.

Panam(Holo): The hail freight yard on Bonita Street, the one huggin' the city line. We'll meet there.

V(Holo): See ya.

V mounts on Jackie's motorcycle and with a twist of the throttle, disappears into the streets of Night City.

After an hour, V parks his motorcycle in front of a container depot in the shadow of a high-rise complex on the outskirts of the city. In the middle of the empty parking lot, there is Panam, tinkering under the hood of an old green station wagon.

V: Hey? Panam?

Panam: So you're V. Where's my car?

V: Ahem. Agree to help me, you'll find out.

Panam: Oh fuck no. You will NOT jerk me around. Tell me where my car is!

V: Hey c'mon, calm down.

Panam: You'll not tell me what to do!

V raises both hands, trying to reassure Panam.

V: Fine. Know where to find the cargo and your car. But you go alone you won't get 'em back. And you could lose something else, besides… So, let's figure something out.

After a moment of silence, Panam answer in an annoyed tone.

Panam: What do you want?

V: Need to hit a Kang Tao transport. Won't be easy. Wanna know I can count on you.

Panam: Are you out of your goddamn mind?!

V: About you or the job? Kang Tao's AV route'll take it over Jackson Plains. Heard that should help us.

Panam: Yeah I doubt it.

V: Gonna be a guy on board. Need to talk to him.

Panam: Fuck.

V: In return, info on your cargo, help in getting back what's yours. We got a deal?

Panam: I dunno… I… SHIT!

The car's alarm begins to sound, Panam quickly sticks both hands into the engine, pulling off a large piece of metal, throwing it behind her and closing the hood, angry.

Panam: Alright, Deal. But if you want your thing done we'll need to get my Thorton back first. Where is it?

Panam leans against the hood of the car, staring at V with crossed arms.

V: Car is in Rocky Ridge. You're supposed to know where that is. Car's there, good're there. 

Panam: Nash, you dirt-eating bastard… I will strangle you.

V: Can we go?

Panam: Heh. Hang on. I should think this through… Fuck. We'll need backup. We need a brief stop to make on the way.

V: Mhm… wanna tell me where?

Panam: Hold on a sec. I should call the client, convince them to leave the bastard hangin'.

Panam takes his phone out of his jacket and begins to dial a number. Suddenly Johnny's ghost appears, leaning on the side of the car, looking at Panam's with a smug smile.

Johnny: Goin' ahead with the plan behind Rogue's back? Brave I guess, or really stupid.

Panam(Phone): Boz, Hey. Nash is gonna pass you the merch in Rocky Ridge. The thing is, the motherfucker screwed me over… Boz I will take care of it, I just need you to give me a chance… Boz c'mon… Ho.. How many times have I moved things for you? And how many times have I failed?

Johnny turns to Panam, watching her walk in circles, back and forth.

Panam(Phone): You have my word. After dark? No. Don't call off the meeting. Just don't show up. I'll take care of everything… Do you even have to ask? Of course I will. Thanks Boz. You won't regret this.

Panam ends the call and turns to V.

Panam: Ok. I've bought us some time.

V: So…Where to now?

Panam: The Aldecaldo's camp. I need to see some of the old clan. 

V: You don't seem too excited. 

Panam: None of your concern. Still have friends there. 

V: Good. Let's roll.

Panam and V get in the car, he looks around, smiling mockingly.

V: Nice ride. Lots of space. Practical.

Panam: Say no more. Please.

V turns to Panam, looking at her puzzled.

V: How the hell you'd land in this mess?

Panam: I liked the color. The air freshener and booster seat came extra.

The car sets off on the highway leading out of the city. The tall buildings soon give way to the desert wastelands, as the asphalt begins to blend in with the sand, merging with the landscape.

V: You know I don't mean the car.

Panam: What am I supposed to tell you? That I'm not about to let my partner rob me and get away with it? That my fixer made me look like a complete fool? 

Panam turns to V for a moment, squaring him. 

Panam: What about you? Why do you need that clown from the AV?

V: This particular clown got intel that I need. And I'm running out of time to get it.

Panam goes back to looking at the road as V rests his elbow on the window.

Panam: So why didn't she tell me she knew about Nash?

V: Rogue? Do better not to wonder what her agenda might be.

Panam: Goddamn I can't stand the bitch!

V: Rougue's queen of the Afterlife. Plays her pawns as she pleases.

Panam turns back to V, giving him a dirty look.

Panam: Wait…Did you call me a pawn?

V: Got a good look at her. She rose to the top 'cause she's good at reading people. So what if she keeps things to herself? It's a skill in her profession.

Panam: Well I think it's a lying, manipulative bitch. She put me together with that Raffen… Did you know that?

V: Wait, Nash is a Raffen?!

Panam: Yes. He runs with the Wraiths. The largest Raffens group in the area. You know about them, right?

V: Mhm. Nomads tossed out of clans.

Panam: Yes, mostly. Nomads don't banish their own without a reason. So think murderers, rapists, freaks… And that bitch had me working with scum like that.

Beyond the deserted hills, emerges a valley full of cactuses and rusty old wind turbines as far as the eye can see. The minivan disappears into it, taking a narrow road that leads to a small camp full of green tents. Panam stops the car and gets out, followed by V. Mitch and a man in a hoodie and a yellow jacket, walk up to them.

Stranger: Well. Would you look what the cat dragged in!

Mitch: Is that a ghost or is it just my hangover?

Mitch and Panam hug each other warmly, while Scorpion watches smugly. Panam then greets the other guy too, pounding her fist on his.

Stranger: Who's this?

Panam turns to V.

Panam: My babysitter. V, this is Scorpion. Mitch. Two old friends.

V: Not a babysitter. Partner in crime.

Mitch: What brings you to these parts, city girl?

Scorpion: Big city got too small for her. Do you have any idea how angry the old man's goin' to be when he sees you here?

Panam: Just come by for a spell. Saul needn't know a thing.

V: Guys, we need your help.

Mitch answer to V in a suspicious tone.

Mitch: What with? What's this about?

V: Raffen screwed Panam. Plan is to show 'em that was a bad idea.

Mitch: You know we would do anything for you sister… 

Scorpion: But now… Now's hard.

Panam: Seriously… You won't help?!

Mitch: Ah well, the old man told us to sit tight and get those generators back up after the batteries went kaput.

Panam lifts her lip slightly, angry, moving closer toward Mitch.

Panam: Generators? You won't help because of some goddam generator? Is this another joke?

Mitch: We're needed here.

Panam: Fuck, I don't believe this.

Mitch: Listen, we can't leave the camp, no chance. But… but, Saul never said a thing about gear.

Panam: Ok, well… I need that rifle of yours. And some of my own stuff.

Mitch smiles.

Mitch: Take whatever you want.

Scorpion: And take care of yourself out there.

Panam: Yeah… Thanks guys. I'll grab the gear and then be out of your hair.

V and Panam walk toward the camp , moving between the tents and vehicles of the other Aldecaldo. After a while Panam returns toward her car, slinging a large sniper rifle. V follows her, carrying a heavy case of ammunition marked "Militech".

Before getting into the car, Panam turns one last time toward Mitch and Scorpion.

Panam: So… I'm off.

Mitch: Yeah, yeah… Go on, go already! Call us sometime!

Scorpion: Keep an eye on her, V.

V loads the huge crate into the trunk of the car while Panam gets into the car. The two drive off into the sunset, disappearing into a cloud of sand.

The night envelops a van, parked on a concrete clearing in the middle of the desert. Three men in bulletproof vests wait patiently, leaning over it. One of them adjusts his implants, while another smokes a cigar. Suddenly the three are illuminated by the headlights of a large black Thorton pickup with red racing stripes. Inside of it, are V and Panam.

Panam: They're here. Let me do the talkin'.

V: Sensin' trouble?

Panam: No. At least I don't think so.

Panam gets out of the pickup, walking toward the man wearing a cowboy hat, standing in the middle between the other two. V watches the encounter carefully, clutching his gun, still hot, in his hands.

Panam: Hey, Boz.

Boz: Panaaam. How's Nash? Doesn't seem to be answerin' his phone.

Panam: Don't call him anymore, no need.

Boz: Heh. You got balls, girl.

The man's eye falls on a cardboard box that Panam carries under her arm.

Boz: What's this? A bonus of some sort?

Panam: Here, first class merch.

The three begin to inspect the contents of the box, pleased.

Panam: So everything's in order?

Boz: Check your account, should be pretty plush in a couple of minutes. 

Panam: It's been a pleasure.

Boz: Let's roll.

The three men get into the van, speeding away, as V gets out of the Torton.

Panam: That went well. C'mon let's get a drink.

V and Panam walk toward the small two-story motel overlooking the parking lot. V turns for a second to observe Panam's face, illuminated by the orange sign that reads "Sunset Motel."

V: Raffens wiped, Six Street's pleased. Pretty good day for Panam Palmer.

Panam: The day's not over yet. You still have a chance to piss me off.

The two climb the old stairs of the Motel, arriving in a small dusty bar on the second floor. V crosses eyes with a couple of customers, half asleep on the red fabric couches. The man behind the counter smiles, seeing Panam and V approaching.

Panam: Hellooo, Noah.

Noah: Hey! New biz or new friends back there?

Panam sits on the stool in front of the bartender, smiling at him.

Panam: Take a wild guess.

V sits on the stool next to Panam, captivated by the ads on the screen behind the bartender.

Panam: Is everything good with you? Did those bozos come around again?

Noah: Raffens? Nah it's been quiet. They'll be back, sure 'nough, but this place has seen worse. What can I get ya?

Panam turns to V, he does the same.

Panam: Broseph. Two of 'em.

V: So that package for Street… What was it?

Panam: You didn't peek? Baloperidol. Drugs for the cyberpsychos in our midst. 

V: They trade in em'?

The bartender places two bottles of beer on the table, one in front of Panam and one in front of V.

Panam: Yeah. They have deals. With black clinics, rippers…

V and Panam look at each other with a knowing look. Immediately, V lifts the bottle to break the awkwardness.

V: Cheers… Here's what's yet to come!

Panam: To what's to come!

V sips the beer and then sets it down on the table. Turning around, he notices Panam downing it in one gulp as he stares at her, dumbfounded.

Panam: Another one over here.

Panam lays the empty bottle on the counter, the bartender quickly hands him another.

Panam: Thanks, Noah.

Noah: Cheers, let me know if you need anything else.

V: The Aldecaldos… Think you'll ever go back? I mean not right now, but… someday?

Panam: I don't really know. On the one end, I don't have anyone outside the clan. Shit I don't really know any other life.

V: But on the other?

Panam: Without the clan… Who am I? Who would I become if I stayed in Night City?

V: Could always try it out, see who you become in Night City… 'Cept… City doesn't always play fair. Dunno if it's worth sacrificing your friends along the way.

Panam: You mean Mitch? Scorpion? C'mon…

V: Sooner or later, Panam, the city'll suck you in. Won't need to cut whatever ties got left to the Aldecaldos. 'Cause the city'll do that for you.

Panam begins to look, melancholically, at the bottle of beer in her hands.

Panam: Guess I should think about it…

V sip again from his beer.

V: Allright, time we looked to my needs. What's the plan for Hellman?

Panam rests her elbow on the counter, holding up her head.

Panam: I've come up with a plan, a first draft. But I need to sleep on it, work it out. Then we can talk about the details. I think it best to rent rooms here, just to stay in the area.

Panam grabs the bottle one last time, emptying it in one sip.

Panam: We'll get to work around midnight, it will keep us out of sight. Agreed?

V lifts his lip slightly, smiling.

V: Maybe we… rent just one room?

Panam remains impassive then smiles slightly, raising her eyebrow.

Panam: Good Idea. Noah has two twin beds in every room. We'll save some money. 

V answers sarcastically.

V: Ok I won't insist…

Panam: Noah we'll need a room. Twin beds. Just for tonight

Panam starts toward the exit of the bar, V goes after her, joining her in front of a green door on the same floor as the bar. In front of them is a small grimy room with two old beds and a small bathroom separated from the room with pajettes. Panam lets herself down on the bed, curling up on one side. V lies down on the other bed, putting his hands behind his head.

V: G'night.