Cyberpunk 2077 - The Ballad of Lost Souls

It's evening at the Aldecaldos camp. V, Faith, Eric, Garrison and Mitch are standing together around a table, where a big blue blueprint of a building lays down.

V: So what do you propose?

Eric: The facility is pretty old. It was built in the early twenties. It extends for over thirty thousand square feet. It's divided into three sectors: D1, D2 and of course D3.

Garrison: Where's the price?

Eric: None of them. Sector D4 is what we are looking for.

Mitch gets closer to the blueprint, puzzled.

Mitch: But it's not here!

Eric adjusts his glasses, then throws his tablet on the table. It starts projecting a red 3D scan of the same building.

Eric: Here. Twenty floors under the ground, to shield the bodies from the desert heat.

Garrison: Mhm. What kind of welcome should we expect?

Faith: Usual stuff. Automated turrets, drones…but very little in terms of human presence, except the scientists, of course.

Garrison: Seems quite simple to me. We're goin' to cut the power, disable the security system and get in. Piece of cake.

Eric looks at Garrison, baffled.

Eric: Sorry, how do you plan to complete the procedure for V and Max without the electricity? Better yet… How do you plan to reach the Pit without the elevator? 

Mitch: Ok then! We are goin' to do it the old way. First we're gonna take out the defense system with the Basilisk, then we are going to get in. Seems like an easy job to me.

Faith: It was. You're forgetting about Arasaka, probably Takemura is already on his way.

Both Mitch and Garrison look at V. He then puts his arms crossed on the table, looking both at Faith and Eric, suspicious.

V: Wait... You know Takemura?

Faith: As I said, I have my contacts. After Hanako's death, there was a massive power struggle going on behind the scenes between Yorinobu and the rest of the company board. After you and your friends killed Smasher, he appointed Takemura head of security. He did this to divert the council's attention…and since Takemura can't touch him, he will settle for your head.

Faith leans on the table, looking at V.

Faith: Tried to solve the problem. But you stopped me.

V: As I said. Don't have to explain a thing.

V looks around and sees both Mitch and Garry with their arms crossed.

V: Fine. When I started having problems with the Relic, Takemura tried to help me ok?! We contacted Hanako trying to get 'Saka's help. Once I understood they were trying to screw me over, I gave 'em the finger … It's enough for you?!

Eric: Wait, what does it mean "We contacted Hanako" you mean like… You kidnapped her?!

V: We just asked her a few questions.

Eric smiles slightly, then gets out a pack of chips from the pocket and starts eating them.

Eric: And what about that Militech bitch… Meredith… What is she called again? Is she your friend too? By the way guys…Really fucking great idea bringing that tank in the middle of Nix.

Garrison: Look asshole, we're really sorry for saving your life. We really are.

V: I don't know what you are trying to do here Eric, just get to the fuckin' point.

Eric: I'm trying to understand who I'm going to war with, that's what.

V leans both his arms on the table with his fists closed, looking straight at Eric.

V: I helped her once back in Night City before all this shit, ok?! And that's it.

Mitch looks at V in pure disappointment.

Mitch: Fuck! I hugged a corpo bastard.

Garrison: I knew it.

V: Fuck you Garrison, and you too Mitch. Do I have to remember who helped you to get the Basilisk in the first place?! We all did some stupid things, but I chose where to side.

Eric smashes his fist violently on the table.

Eric: FUCK V, DON'T BULLSHIT ME! I've been around longer than you.

V stands up and walks around the table, getting closer to Eric.

V: DO YOU WANT THE TRUTH?! FINE. I fucked her in a two cents Motel. The only thing you have to know is that I will kill her, Takemura or anybody that will try to stop us… ok?!

Panam: I hope that's true.

Everyone turns to look at Panam, shocked. She is wearing a pair of jeans and a black sweater, underneath that she is covered in bandages. One big black patch covers her left eye, V looks at her in pure shock.

V: Panam…

V runs to her, she pushes him away then she walks near the table, throwing her gun and then leaning her hands on it.

Panam: I suppose I have to thank you. Don't know about you, but we usually return a favor around here. If you want to get in this building, we are going to help you.

Faith: You're late, lady. We have already discussed it.

Panam: I just heard a lot of bullshit, but no real plan. For example, what about logistics? How do you plan to cross the desert? Mitch!

Panam turns to Mitch, looking at him determined.

Mitch:..Yeah?!

Panam: Status of the Basilisk?

Mitch: Ready to spit fire. We've got twenty missiles and a cartridge worth of ammo. After that, the party is over.

Panam: Good. 

Faith gets closer to Panam, crossing her arms.

Faith: Look, desert rose, I'm gonna be honest with you. We have no room for dead weights here. This ain't gonna be a walk in the park, you know?!

The two look at each other for a while, suddenly Panam grabs her gun and shoots in the air, while Faith closes her eyes just for a second. A vulture drops dead near the group, she then tosses the gun back on the table.

Panam: Now…What about that helicopter near the Basilisk, can it fly?

Mitch: Yeah, but…

Panam: Fine. Garry and Mitch will take the helicopter, while V and I will pilot the Basilisk. They can't defend from an assault from both air and ground.

Faith: You won't take anything… WE are going to take the helicopter. How you'll get there is none of our business.

Panam stands up and gets closer to Faith, crossing her arms.

Panam: And how do you picture that?! That thing is parked inside my camp.

Eric gets closer to V, smiling, handing him the packet of chips, shaking it. V looks back at him, serious, almost annoyed.

Faith: I'm going to take the helicopter alongside my husband and my son because I say so. You know where you would have been without us?! Your tin-head boyfriend would have been drowned in his own blood and you would have been still locked up in that room, with your ass up in the air.

Panam looks at Faith for a second, then punches her in the face, hard enough to knock her to the ground. Faith, still in pain, grabs the table with her right hand, trying to get up.

Panam: Now you're the one with your ass up in the air.

V looks at Eric smiling and steals one chip from his packet, Faith slowly stands up.

Faith: You fucking…

Faith suddenly gets her knife out, a small drop of blood comes out from the side of her mouth. Mitch quickly put himself between her and Panam.

Mitch: Ladies please, you're arguing over something that does not even work!

Faith: Yeah because you are just a bunch of fuckin' amateurs!

Mitch turns back to Faith.

Mitch: You dropped here a steaming pile of burnt junk and you expected us to do what, exactly?! By the way, I've repaired it…but without the access codes I doubt it will work.

Panam: Ask Carol. One or two days and you will have your codes.

Faith: One or two days… I can do it in six hours myself.

Panam: Ok then, do it yourself. Since you're at it, go check your lip. Goodwill should still be around.

Panam walks away then stops, turning back one more time.

Panam: My name is Panam Palmer by the way, nice to meet you all.

Panam starts walking back to her tent, V runs toward her.

V: Pan… We have to talk.

Panam: Not now, I really …

V pushes her inside the tent, Panam pushes him away.

Panam: WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!

V: With me?! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU, GODDAMNIT?! Look, I know that must have been difficult days to process, but you can't just go around pretending that nothing ever happened!

Panam gets near V and looks at him with suspicion.

Panam: What do you want from me?

V looks at her full of sorrow.

V: What do I want from you ?! Jesus, Panam. A few hours ago you were almost dead… And now you go around talking about assaulting the Biotechnica's facility like…Like nothing ever happened…

Panam: What did you expect exactly?! You want me to lay and wake up tomorrow WITH NOTHING LEFT?… without even…

Panam closes her eyes and stops speaking just in time before her voice breaks from crying.

Panam: Do you want me to walk beyond the border alone, with little dignity I got left and live forever with the consequences of all of this?! I would rather not wake up, at all.

V tries to hold her, struggling also to hold tears.

V: Panam… I beg you, don't do this to me… I can't lose you, not again. 

V puts his right hand on Panam's face, caressing it.

V: Please Pan, say my name… Say my fuckin' name… I beg you.

Panam turns around and slowly walks away from him. V becomes angry.

V: That's why you went for that suicide mission, uhm?! To avoid facing consequences?!

At this point Panam can't hold back her tears no longer.

Panam: Wanna know what happened there?! I tried to save your life! I killed as many of them as I could but It wasn't enough.

Panam stops crying and becomes angry, turning back to him.

Panam: They took me, stripped of my clothes and beat me up for a day straight, just for the fun of it. Then they started injecting me with some strange shit, ok?! I don't remember a thing about what happened next.

Panam gets closer to him.

Panam: If you don't like me anymore, If I'm…wasted good to you It's fine for me. But fuck, don't you dare LOOKING ME LIKE THAT! Like I'm some kind of crippled on the side of the road. I've never ever done with you…even when you were so weak that you couldn't piss on your own.

Panam walks away, V tries to hold her, she pushes him away violently and looks at him straight into his eyes.

Panam: FUCKIN' LEAVE ME ALONE! I don't even know why I am talking to you… You are just a fucking Joytoy.

Panam walks away. V looks at her in pure disbelief, broken, he slowly sits on her chair near a small metal desk and looks down, shocked. V starts searching into his pockets, finding Evelyn's cigarette holder. He starts playing with it, then he puts it back inside his jeans. V finally removes his jacket and leaves it on the desk, getting out of the tent.

The moon is shining above the camp. V looks at it, then he starts walking to a small rock and sits on it. V gets out the cigarette holder and lights himself one.

V: Johnny I don't know if you can hear me but… I'm ready.

Johnny:…

V: If you want the body, it's all yours.

Johnny: It's too late for that, V. I'm starting to feel the pain even down here. Your last call was yesterday. Now we're basically in overtime.

V: For what it's worth…You were right. Pretty much about everything.

Johnny: V, look…

V smiles in a cloud of smoke.

V: Can't risk Panam's life again. Don't care If we are simply goin' to die in the middle of the desert. If we disappear there is no plan and nobody has to die anymore.

Johnny: And that's where you're wrong. Don't you understand ?! I've already told you…This is not about you or Panam anymore. If we go away they are all going to die.

V: The Aldecaldos? What are you talking about?!

Johnny: Oh my God V, haven't you connected the dots already?! He just told you everything you need to know, smiling and eating chips.

V put his left hand on his face while holding the cigarette with the right one.

V: I'm tired of all of this Johnny, just enlighten me, please.

Johnny: Eric lied to you long enough to get the situation in his favor. Now you need him and his fucking plan. Just trust me this once, you are not going to find anything good in that facility.

V: What are we going to do?! We need his fucking help. We need that body.

Johnny: Exactly and after all that he would not expect a fucking bullet in the eye.

V: Oh c'mon Johnny…

Johnny: The facility needs to be burnt to the ground. Along with Eric and that psychotic bitch of his wife.

V: What about Max, do you want to kill him too?!

Johnny: V, don't you understand?! If Eric manages to get out of that factory alive it's fucking lights out for everybody! I'm not talking about you, Panam or the Aldecaldos, I'm talking about ALL THE FUCKING HUMAN RACE! Do you think I would tell you to kill a family just for the fun of it?

V: You know what Johnny?! I think you are just a miserable psychopath that just wants to see the world burn. I don't know what the fuck happened to you in the Mikoshi, what… bent you so out of shape, but you are just out of control.

Johnny: I'm willin' to do what's necessary, V. I have nothing against that kid. Nothing. If he gets a new body, the human race loses.

V: What about me then, can I save my life or do you have anything against that?

Johnny: FUCK, VINCENT! ONE OF US HAS TO SURVIVE! AT LEAST THIS TIME! I had to watch powerless the Relic strip you from everything and then a thousand time more inside that fuckin' Mikoshi… I just can't go thinking I let you die one more time! I just… can't go without doing at least one thing right.

V: Johnny… Are you… crying?!

Johnny: Fuck you. You know what?! Maybe you really deserve to die once and for all.

V: I HAD ENOUGH OF BEING TREATED AS A FUCKING IDIOT! You want me to trust you?! Fine. Tell me what's going on then!

Johnny: I CAN'T BECAUSE YOU WILL PROBABLY PUT MY FUCKING GUN IN YOUR MOUTH AND PULL THE TRIGGER IF I WOULD! All you fuckin' had to do was to trust me and stick to the plan, give me the control and I would have handled the rest. But no! You just had to do it your own way don't you?!

V: Johnny… please just… tell me what's going on.

Johnny: Can't, V. I don't want you to choose anymore.

V: What if this time… We don't have to?

Johnny: What are you talking about?

V: Eric said that he can… I don't know…fuse the two of us.

Johnny: Vincent, there is nothing left for me in the real world. Nothing. We already talked about this, my time was up fifty years ago… I've already seen the ending of this story and it left me with bad taste in my mouth.

V: After all of this… Can you really tell where you begin and I end?

Johnny: This will be my last mission and then it's lights out. I cheated death too many times and so did you. You still have hope though, you still have something to fight for.

V: I don't have jack shit, Johnny. 

Johnny: Please V, promise it to me: don't let the boy take the body.

V puts out the cigarette into the sand.

V: As you said: your time is up. See you later, pal.