Cyberpunk 2077 - The Ballad of Lost Souls

Panam lays down on the ground, looking nervously into the optics of her rifle, alternating between a large factory patrolled by a small army of raiders and a big sandstorm behind it, about to engulf them all.

Panam: C'mon V…

V(Holo): Got Saul.

Panam gasps.

Panam(Holo): How is he?!

V(Holo): Don't know…He's rambling on about women and cigars.

Panam(Holo): Yeah he's fine. Now get yourself out of there.

V(Holo): On our way out, now.

Panam gets up from the ground, pulling the large sniper rifle inside the van, then closing the sliding door. In a hurry, she starts the vehicle and sides the factory, out of sight of the patrolling guards.

Panam(Holo): There should be a quick exit out of the cellar.

V and Saul resurface from a small tunnel drowned in sand. Saul slips into the van, leaning on the ground, V does the same, locking himself behind the sliding door while Panam drives away in the midst of the storm.

Saul: That storm is picking up steam…

Panam: Good. It will cover our tracks.

Saul: Anyway, we have good reason not to head straight back to the camp.

Panam sticks her head out, just over the seat.

Panam: There is no need to play it safe. We will just burn time.

Saul: Better late and safe than dead.

A surreal silence falls in the van as V looks alternately at Saul and Panam, suspicious.After a short drive Panam stops the van.

Panam: You see those buildings? We'll wait it out there.

Saul: I remember this place. It should be safe…At least for now.

Saul opens the doors of the van and a blast of sand hits everyone as he gets out, running to a small house in the middle of the desert. V and Panam do the same.

Saul: Quick, inside!

V, Panam and Saul get inside an abandoned house, completely shrouded in the dark. Saul starts walking around the living room, bumping into a small table near a sofa.

Saul: Just in time for dinner.

Panam: Not hungry. I just swallowed a pond of sand.

Panam begins to walk around the house, while V does the same.

Panam: Looks we are in for the night… A little power could be useful. Could you help me look, V?

V begins to walk around the house, resting his hands on the walls, trying to walk in the dark. After a while he finds a panel next to the old kitchen, he quickly opens it, fiddling around with the cable inside it, restoring the lights to the old house.

Panam: V, It worked! We got lights!

V walks back to the living room and finds Saul sitting in an old armchair while Panam is tinkering with an old stove. V looks at her, smiling while Saul looks at him, suspicious.

Saul: Damn it's getting cold.

Panam: I tried to get some heat in here, but with no luck. Can you check it? You might have the magic touch. 

V gets near the stove, kneeling beside Panam.

Panam: You know what? Check the fuse outside, they may have come loose.

V raises his eyebrow, annoyed, while Panam remains focused on the stove. He gets up and walks to the door of the house, opening it. V ventures outside, covering his face with his arms to shelter himself from the storm.

Panam gets up and off the floor, sitting on a white couch across from Saul. There is an unnerving silence between the two, who stare at each other. 

Panam: Something wrong?

Saul: Don't know Panam, you tell me.

Panam looks to his left, away from Saul, annoyed. Then stares at him again.

Panam: I think after what he has done, he should have earned at the very least your respect, if not your gratitude.

Saul keeps staring at Panam, crossing his arms. She lifts her back from the couch, looking at him, almost angry.

Panam: Saul, are you sure about going there? Because I can guarantee that I have maybe forgiven, NOT forgotten.

Saul lets himself go on the armchair and stops looking at Panam. Suddenly the stove comes on, both look around as Panam smiles, crossing one leg over the other. After a while, V walks back into the house, shaking the sand off his clothes and closing the door.

Panam: See what I see? 

Panam points with her eyes to a bottle of liquor above a table, between the couch she is sitting on from Saul.

Panam: Expiration date is before the last war. Hopefully it hasn't turned to poison…Today is our lucky day!

Saul interrupts Panam, as both she and V turn to him.

Saul: Lucky…Interesting choice of words.

Panam: Do I hear a lecture coming on?

V sits on the sofa, near Panam.

Saul: No, no lecture. But we do need to talk.

Saul rests his arms on his knees, looking at Panam.

Saul: The Wraith crap. Shouldn't have happened. They wanted everything, our camp location, routes, offloading points…

Panam crosses her arms.

Saul: If they knew in what state we are in… It could have been the end of us. And if you hadn't mounted a raid on your own…well… It would have been the end of me.

Panam turns to V, smiling at him.

Panam: See that? Clenched teeth, furrowed brow… It's his way to say "thanks".

Saul: We had our spats.

Panam gets serious.

Panam: A few. Like any family…

Saul: They are not worth digging up.

V raises his eyebrow, intrigued.

Panam: I think so too.

Saul: If you want to come back, Everyone will be waiting, arms open wide. But there will have to be changes. No more jumpin' in front of the line. 

Panam: And so it begins…

Saul leans back on the chair, then looks at Panam angrily, crossing his arms.

Saul: You know what's comin'? Big fucking problems. Maybe a war. We can't hope to handle the Raffens alone.

Panam gets up from the couch, looking Saul straight in the eyes.

Panam: So you would sell us to Biotechnica?! V, tell him It's a damn rotten idea.

V thinks for a second, leaning against the back of the sofa, then turns to Saul.

V: Gotta agree with Panam here. Sounds like a truly shit idea.

Panam: Thanks.

Saul stares at V, tilting his head slightly, increasingly annoyed.

Saul: What could you possibly know about it?

V straightens up, resting his arms on his knees and looking Saul straight in the eyes.

V: Do you know what you are to Biotechnica? Minced meat. The corpo probably needs to cover its ass over some mess and guess who they chose? Beside, the only real strength of the Aldecaldos is their independence. Take that away and the clan will be no more in a matter of nothing.

Panam leans back on the sofa, resting his left leg on top of the other.

Panam: Thanks V, I could not have said it better.

Saul gets up from his chair.

Saul: You know what, sweetheart? We'll have plenty of time to tear at each other's throats later. 

Panam: Need help?

Saul: Fuck off…

Saul stops one last time, looking at V.

Saul: You know what they call these storms in North Africa? Haboobs. Damn I love that word.

Saul finally walks away from the living room, eyeing V one last time. Panam turns to V while they are both sitting together on the sofa, looking at him with an annoyed expression.

Panam: Whoa. What was that about?

V: Probably the meds talkin'.

Panam smiles, then rests on the sofa, leaning her legs on it.

Panam: You know? It's funny. Because I rarely sleep with a roof on my head. Yet this will be the second time with you…

V rests both arms on the back of the sofa, smiling at Panam.

Panam: You know, this would make for a little decent motel, wouldn't it? Little fireplace, booze…Grumpy guy at the reception is the one thing missing.

V gets closer to Panam, leaning his left arm on the back of the sofa. She looks at him winkingly.

V: Have everything you need, ma'am?

Panam smiles, then stretches his legs over V's.

Panam: Mmmh. Couldn't ask for more.

V: I'm sure you will be cozier with your shoes off.

Panam chuckles.

Panam: After a full day in them? I'd fear a health code violation.

V: Nonsense, after a day full as today, you deserve to kick back.

Panam raises her eyebrow.

Panam: Oh? And what did you have in mind?

V: Here at the Independent California, customer satisfaction is job one…Your wish is our command.

Panam smiles.

Panam: Carefull, you can't know what I'd wish for…

Panam suddenly lowers her eyes, becoming serious.

Panam: You know what, V? We better get some sleep. That was a damn long day. 

Panam sinks down on the sofa.

Panam: V… I'm glad you came. Really, thanks…It meant a lot to me.

V smiles, pleased, while Panam yawns.

Panam: Uuuagh… Do you hear that…?

V: Noope.

Panam lets herself go on the couch.

Panam: The wind has waned…when a chinook rolls rough and rowdy across the plain… I can't get any shuteye…

Panam slowly falls asleep on the sofa as V raises his eyebrow and hands, stunned and disappointed. Suddenly a familiar apparition manifests itself to him sitting on the table in front of them. V stares at Johnny's ghost, annoyed, expecting a joke.

Johnny: On behalf of the staff of the independent California Motel… I wish you all sweet dreams.

V smiles, almost moved, then stares one last time at Panam, pondering for some time before letting go on the back of the sofa.

The first light of dawn breaks in through a crack left uncovered between the closed curtains andthe window, illuminating Panam's face, who rises abruptly from the sofa. She turns slowly to her right, as if afraid of something, but finds V, asleep. Panam smiles, reassured, then gets up from the sofa, walking out the door and sitting on the porch of the old house.

Panam stares at the desert in front of her, thoughtful, then starts rummaging through her jacket, looking for something. From one pocket she pulls out a gold chain and begins to stare at it, growing sadder and sadder.

Saul: 'Morning.

Panam suddenly stands up, finding Saul in front of her, staring at the chain. She notices and quickly slips it back into her jacket.

Saul: Panam…

Panam: It's none of your business Saul, stay out of it.

Saul looks at her, disappointed and concerned.

Saul: It is, if you're planning to come back.

Panam explodes in a fit of rage.

Panam: ENOUGH! YOU CAN'T CONTROL MY LIFE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?! YOU HAVE NO FUCKING RIGHT TO! 

Panam gets closer to Saul, defiantly.

Panam: You can rummage anywhere…but not fucking there. Not after what…

Saul: YOU KNOW WHAT, PANAM?! FINE. I've stopped protecting you, a long time ago.

Saul turns around, turning his back on Panam.

Saul: Trust isn't something you can give away to the first jerk who comes along…You should know better than anybody else…

Panam closes her eyes, hurt and walks away toward the house, sitting on the steps of the old porch. In the distance arrive two motorcycles, driven by Cassidy and Mitch.

After a short while, V wakes up, slowly getting up from the sofa and opening the sliding door of the old abandoned house. In front of him he finds Panam sitting on the steps with Mitch and Cassidy near the black van where Saul is leaning.

Cassidy: Look who's alive!

Panam turns to V, staying seated.

Panam: Hey. Did you sleep well?

V: You gotta agree… Next time, I'll choose the motel.

Panam: Ah! If there is such a time… Well I slept like a puppy. That's a cozy shoulder you have there. Too bad I better get rolling in a minute.

V: Just not one to kick back and relax, are you?

Panam stands up.

Panam: It's not my style, no… I'm back with the clan, but I've got things to do…

V and Panam walk toward two motorcycles parked behind the van, away from the others.

Panam: The Wraiths wanted to know our routes, rights? Well now it's the Aldecaldos' turn. Some recon it's in order. One more thing… your compensation.

Panam points to a sniper rifle resting on a motorcycle behind her.

Panam: Please take care of her… she served me well.

V grabs the large rifle and rests it on his shoulder.

V: Puttin' it in good hands, Panam.

Panam mounts the motorcycle, setting it in gear.

Panam: I know… So… Thank you, once again.

V stops her, placing his left hand on the motorcycle tank.

V: Hold up… About last night…

Panam lowers her gaze, embarrassed.

Panam: We…Don't need to talk about that… I'm… not like that?

V: So what are you like?

Panam looks up again, grabbing V by the jacket.

Panam: More like this…

Panam kisses V passionately, then turns on the bike again.

Panam: Take care, and remember… I'm in debt.

Panam disappears toward the horizon leaving behind a long trail of sand. V watches her as a tinge of nostalgia begins to envelop him. Johnny manifests again, in a tangle of pixels, appearing to V's right.

Johnny: You know, circumstances are different, I'd say saddle up and ride after her. But here and now, just look.

V puts his hands on his hips and turns to Johnny.

Johnny: Damn hard to find a girl like that… Only hope you have got is they feel a pang and stop to wait.

V: What's with you? 

Johnny: Dunno a memory maybe. Doesn't matter… Back to town, V. Had enough with this gusty outback.

Panam continues to ride the motorcycle at an increasingly fast speed, until the engine revs fade. She slowly closes her eyes and then opens them back again, braking abruptly with the motorcycle and parking on the side of the road.

She gets off the bike and pulls the golden chain from her pocket, staring at it for a few moments, grieving. Suddenly anger takes over, and she throws it into the sand, panting. After a while she manages to calm down, getting back on the bike and starting to run toward the horizon again.