Cyberpunk 2077 - The Ballad of Lost Souls

The Morning lights shyly pierce through a bunch of metal shutters, illuminating an elegant bedroom. A blond-haired woman lies on a double bed, wrapped in linen blankets. The dawn lights illuminate her eyes, waking her up. Slowly, the woman rises from the blankets and, approaching the shutters and presses a button that reveals the Night City skyline.

Stranger: Finally.

The woman suddenly turns. In front of her, stands a man in his fifties with white hair, dressed in an elegant suit and tie, smiling at her.

Stranger: Thought you'd never wake up again, Meredith.

Meredith smiles, walking toward the man, putting her arms around his neck.

Meredith: Mhm. Tell me, would you've minded a little bit?

The man stops smiling, lifting Meredith's arms from around his neck.

Stranger: Once, maybe.

The man walks away toward a sliding wooden door that separates the room from the rest of the apartment. Meredith puts a hand on his back.

Meredith: You're already leaving?

Stranger: I have an important meeting. You know the details.

Meredith lowers her gaze for a moment, then she insists.

Meredith: Maybe we could… You know… have breakfast together.

The man reaches out to a small wooden table near the bed and slips on a wedding ring, then turns to Meredith, with a straight face.

Stranger: My wife will be back from the spaceport in a couple of hours. I don't want her to find a dangling ass walking around the house.

Meredith stares at the man, bitter while he turns, opening the sliding door.

Stranger: Fix that convoy thing, Meredith. Because you're running out of time. Literally.

The man leaves the apartment as Meredith stares at him resentfully. She then slowly begins to gather her clothes, scattered around the room. She sits on the bed one last time, putting her hands, wrapped in a pair of black gloves, through her hair.

Meredith pulls a cigarette from her jacket and nervously tries to light it with a brass lighter. Failing to do so, she throws it angrily against the glass, dropping it on the soft carpet under the bed. She stares at it for a second, then storms out of the room, entering the luxurious living room, still holding the cigarette in her hands.

She walks to the marble kitchen, using a stove and lighting her cigarette, then sits on a white sofa, clutching the soft leather cushions in her hands as she smokes.

After a while, she dismissively puts out her cigarette on the arm of the couch as a small cloud of smoke comes out of the armrest. Meredith, then, leaves the apartment, entering a wood-paneled elevator.

The elevator doors open, revealing the black marble-covered lobby of a luxurious skyscraper in the heart of Night City. Meredith walks through a metal door as a camera casts a blue beam on her. Quickly she makes her way to the reception desk, where there is a lady with completely metallic skin, standing behind a terminal. Meredith begins nervously wiggling her fingers on the counter, drawing the receptionist's attention.

The receptionist stares at her, Meredith does the same, stymied. Finally she hands her a Shard, which Meredith promptly breaks, dropping it to the floor. 

Meredith leaves the lobby, walking through a double glass door and ending up on a busy street near Corpo Plaza. In front of her, a black SUV marked "Militech" awaits, she quickly gets in, sitting in the back seat. At the wheel there is a muscular black man, waiting patiently for instructions.

Meredith: Take me to him.

Militech Guard: Sir, but I thought…

Meredith angrily answers him.

Meredith: You are not paid to think! You are paid to do whatever the fuck I tell you. Now take me to him.

Soon after, Meredith walks in a wet basement, in the center of which, there was a man in a jacket covered in bruises, tied to a chair. To his left is another muscle-bound henchman, with his knuckles covered in blood. Meredith casts a glance at the henchman, asking him something, unnerved.

Meredith: So?

Militech Guard 2: Nothing, Sir.

The man begins to scream, shaking on his chair.

Anthony: Fuck you Meredith. FUCK YOU! We've been working together for four fucking years. I'M NOT THE FUCKING MOLE!

Meredith shushes him with a slap, then with a kick, throws him to the ground. He gasps.

Meredith: I've had enough of your fucking lies!

Meredith turns to look behind her, stretching out her hand.

Meredith: I'm going to force the truth out of your guts, Anthony.

The henchman hands Meredith a large jagged knife. Anthony opens his eyes, startled and frightened.

Anthony: NO! NOOO!

Suddenly Meredith's holo rings, she freezes, catching a glimpse of an unknown number. After a moment's hesitation she hands the knife back to the man behind her while answering the call.

Meredith(Holo): Stout here. Start by telling me how you got this number.

V's face appears in Meredith's interface.

V(Holo): Know more than your number. Heard you lost a convoy.

Meredith curls her mouth, while an expression of anger crosses her face. Suddenly Anthony begins to shout, in pain. Meredith quickly turns her head away from the holo.

Meredith(Holo): You! Shut him up.

Meredith turns back to V, impatient.

Meredith(Holo): Spill what you know. Don't make me wait.

V(Holo): Transport fuck-up's is toxic for you I know. So listen carefully. You and me are gonna meet. See If we can find a way to help each other out.

Meredith smiles a smug grin.

Meredith(Holo): Mutual self interest, agreed. First exit off Skyline driving toward the NID. Storm channel under the overpass… Meet you there.

The last lights of the day greet the body of V's car, parked in an abandoned underpass filled with garbage. After slowly getting out of the car, he's speared by a pair of white high beams, which come from a black armored SUV. Cautiously, V approaches, catching sight of three figures.

Meredith: Meredith Stout. Take it you were the one to call…

V's gaze falls on a pin on Meredith's lapel, depicting an M in a rectangle. He then reaches out his hand toward her, firmly.

V: That'd be me.

Suddenly V is slammed to the ground by one of Meredith's henchmen. Stunned, he tries to refocus Meredith's face as everything blurs around him.

Meredith: THOUGHT YOU COULD BLACKMAIL ME FUCKER?! SET CONDITIONS?!

The two muscular men stand at Meredith's sides, aiming their guns at V as she leans toward him.

Meredith: Got anymore for me?

One of the two grabs V, slamming him against the hood of the SUV, while the other opens the passenger's door, bringing out Anthony, wearing a suit covered in bruises and blood.

V: Calm the fuck down! I just want to talk!

The man keeps holding V by the neck, pressing him against the hood and aiming the gun at his temple. V tries to get free as the man connects a cable to his neck while Anthony, begins to yell.

Anthony: Christ Meredith…

Meredith: Shut your trap! That fuckin' thing ready?

Meredith's henchman optics begin to glow, alternating between blue and red.

Militech Guard: All set.

Meredith stares V in the eyes.

Meredith: Now answer my questions. Honestly. Forthrightly. Are you here alone?

V returns the gaze, angrily.

V: Yep. Just Little ol' me.

Meredith turns toward the henchman, seeking confirmation.

Militech Guard: It's the truth.

Meredith brings her hand to her mouth, stunned by the answer. After a moment she sentences an order to her henchmen.

Meredith: Do a sweep. Now.

A small drone emerges from a side compartment of the SUV and begins to fly around. The man lifts V off the hood, turning his head toward the bruised man, then lets him go, still aiming the gun at him.

Meredith: Now listen close. This piece of shit, Anthony Gilchrist. Is he your contact? Is he the one who leaked the intel on the convoy?

V mockingly replies to her.

V: Got no ties to Militech. None.

The Militech guard's optics light up again.

Militech Guard: Checks out.

Meredith: So how the fuck do you know so much?

V smiles at her.

V: C'mon, all corps use the same playbook. I know the game inside out. 

V quickly changes expression, trying to lower the tension.

V: Listen, I know where the transport is. I can help you. Just want a favor in return.

Meredith: Mhm…

Anthony: I'VE TOLD YOU! I'M NOT THE FUCKING MOLE! Jesus Christ!

Meredith turns angrily toward the man who is holding Anthony.

Meredith: Shut him up.

Anthony: Unhand me now before I …

The henchman opens the door of the black SUV, throwing Anthony inside and closing the door.

Meredith: You can let him go. Wanna hear what he has to say.

Meredith's henchman detaches the cord from V's neck, letting him go. V shakes his arms and puts them in the air.

V: I need a bot… Flathead model. Guys who ripped you off have it. Promise me that bot, I'll point the finger.

Meredith: Do you have a plan on how to deal with 'em?

V: Could just take it by force. But they're expecting payment, so I could go that route too.

Meredith: Fine, the latter. But under one condition… You pay with our money.

Meredith walks back to the car, taking a small red chip and waving it in front of V.

V: That the kind of subtlety they teach at Miltech? The chip is spiked. Clearly.

Meredith: That is true.

V: Somethin' goes wrong I'm the one they are gonna fill full of holes, not you. Time you were straight with me. What's one there?

Meredith: A tracing algorithm, latches onto financial streams. Nothing you need to worry your head about.

V snatches the chip from Meredith's hand.

V: Sounds solid enough. I'm in.

Meredith: You pay with that chip and it's all you gotta worry about.

Meredith's henchmen get back into the SUV. Meredith holds the door open, looking at V one last time.

Meredith: Try to fuck me in any way and I'll be seeing real soon.

The drone falls back into the compartment on the side of the vehicle as Meredith closes the door. The SUV speeds away, leaving V behind and lifting a pile of old newspapers and garbage.

V opens the back door of the large factory that housed the Maelstroms. The first light of dawn greets him while he slowly covers his face with one hand, shaking the other full of blood. Suddenly the morning light turns blue, as Militech flies over V's, scanning his face and then running off into the air, back to its owner.

Jackie: Militech. They got those things buzzin' around everywhere.

The two begin to drag themselves into the dirt-filled yard outside the factory, exhausted. There is a fence separating them from the road, V and Jackie approach it.

Jackie: Past the gate. We can talk there.

As soon as they arrive at the gate, Meredith pops up, behind her black SUV, smug. Two huge flying transport vehicles land at her sides, messing up V's and Jackie's clothes.

Jackie: That the Militech bitch?

V: Mhm.

Meredith lights a cigarette, smiling.

Meredith: Betcha didn't expect to see me here. You know? I like the way you operate. Maybe you could do some more work for us.

V: Be more than glad.

Meredith: Till next time then, V. Corporates gods willing.

Meredith calmy puts out the cigarette on the ground, then proceeds to walk through the gate, escorted by a dozen Miltech soldiers, while Jackie casts a warning glance at V. He ignores it, waving and walking toward the streets.

Jackie: Time we were on our way, carnal.

A couple of days later, V is lying on the bed of his apartment. Sleepy, he is curled up between the covers when suddenly, he receives a message on his interface.

Meredith(Messages): Militech played out as I hoped. Thank you. Remember that we don't know each other …

V scratches his chest, pondering. Then after a moment he opens his interface to type a answer.

V(Messages): Shame. Was starting to like you.

Pleased with the message, V closes his interface and turns on his side, closing his eyes. After a while a notification abruptly interrupts his rest. V tediously reopens one eye to read the message.

Meredith(Messages): No-Tell Motel. First Floor. Come alone.

Excited by the possibility of new jobs, V splashes out of bed, picking up his worn jeans on the floor. He quickly runs to the bathroom, mirroring himself and running both hands through his short hair. After a moment he grabs his old pistol, resting on a small table near the entrance of the apartment and sprints out the front door.

After rushing through the city's night traffic, V parks his car on the sidewalk. Above him, a purple neon sign reading "No-Tell Motel" illuminates the car's windshield. V quickly opens the door, stepping through the old sliding shutter that separates the building's entrance from the rest of the street.

V slowly begins to walk through the motel lobby, there is a flight of stairs in the center, lit by animated signs that incessantly bombard the room with advertisements. The place seems abandoned, except for a newspaper-covered man sleeping huddled near a hallway. V passes him, walking down the long hallway filled with doors.

After wandering around the corridor for a while, V finds the only open door, thanks to a small green neon placed above it. V positions himself in front of it, waving his arms, trying to relieve the tension. After gaining courage, he presses the small button near the door, which slides in front of him, revealing a small room with only a huge circular bed in the center and a shower to its left.

Meredith: Bet you didn't expect to see me here.

V raises his left eyebrow, widening his eyes and opening his mouth slightly. In front of him. lies Meredith, sitting on the bed, holding a cigarette in her right hand. All she is wearing is a pair of black leather pants and a latex corset, uncovered across her chest.

V pulls himself together, disappointed, but satisfied at the same time. 

V: Sho what now?

Meredith gets out of bed, putting out her cigarette on the floor and approaching V, he smiles winkingly at her.

Meredith: Mhm.

The room's door closes behind V and Meredith.