Cyberpunk 2077 - The Ballad of Lost Souls

V and Jackie are standing in the luxurious elevator of the Kompeki plaza, squeezed into two elegant tuxedos, heading for Yorinobu's penthouse. Finally the elevator doors open, revealing the luxurious apartment that appeared in Evelyn's BD.

Jackie: Huh… Not bad bein' heir of Arasaka Empire. Sure as shit better than bein' the son of Raul Welles.

T-Bug(Holo): Guys, focus. The safe. And make it quick.

Both Jackie and V begin to walk around the room, past the large wall in the center of the living room, near fluffy white couches.

Jackie(Holo): Why?! What's the rush?

T-Bug(Holo): Sig on Yorinobu's gone dark!

V speeds up his pace, toward a double bed in front of a huge glass window on the right side of the room. On the small table next to the bed lies a tablet, which V uses to activate the floor safe next to Jackie.

Jackie(Holo): What is he? A fuckin' sorcerer?

T-Bug(Holo): Some kinda dead zone's my guess… Have him back in a sec. And you do your damn job!

V joins Jackie on the other side of the room, near a large metal container sticking out of the floor.

V(Holo): What now? 

T-Bug(Holo): Jack in your personal link and make us rich.

V(Holo): On it.

V pulls out a cable from the holder on his own wrist and plugs it into the slot on top of the metal monolith. 

V(Holo): Your turn bug.

T-Bug(Holo): Give me two.

A progress bar appears on V's interface. After a moment, three flying vehicles appear from the large glass window behind them, heading toward the roof of the penthouse. Jackie, turns toward the glass window, worried.

Jackie(Holo): We got winged visitors… Bug?

T-Bug(Holo): Dunno who. But staff's abuzz, all of two hundred on their feet, can't keep still.

Jackie: Can't say I like this… How much longer T?

T-Bug(Holo): Shit. Yorinobu's penthouse bound.

Jackie(Holo): Fuck him! Open the safe!

T-Bug(Holo): Almost got it… Done!

Finally, the compartment on the monolith opens, revealing a slot containing a briefcase, immersed in a gray haze. Jackie grabs it, placing it on top of the monolith.

Jackie(Holo): Lemme look to this, eh?

T-Bug(Holo): Relic intact?

Jackie(Holo): Bioshard integrity… One hundred percent. Guessin' that's a yes.

V: Good, let's go!

V and Jackie walk toward the center of the room, as the monolith goes back inside the floor, closing behind them.

T-Bug(Holo): Fuck, too late. Yorinobu about to walk in, find cover!

V(Holo): Where?!

T-Bug(Holo): Fat pillar, try that!

V and Jackie run to the center of the room, squeezing through the gap behind the large wall, in front of the white sofas in the living room. Inside the gap there are a bunch of black servers, in front of which is a huge glass window that provides a view of the entire living room.

V(Holo): We're in.

Jackie(Holo): Which doesn't solve our problems, T.

T-Bug(Holo): I fuckin' know our problems is still there! Let me think for a sec, ok?

Suddenly the elevator doors from which V and Jackie had snuck into the apartment open. Yorinobu, followed by a giant cyborg more than two meters tall, enters the room, activating the lights.

 Jackie: Is that… Is that Adam Smasher?!

V: Bodyguard?

Jackie: Worse. Night City legend. Bleak motherfuckin' one, too. What's the play?

Yorinobu: Are they here yet?

Hotel's AI(Speakers): They are approaching the landing pad.

Yorinobu starts walking back and forth, nervous. Eventually he sits on a small sofa in the living room, facing the wall where V and Jackie are hiding. 

V(Holo): Bug, who got incomin'?

T-Bug(Holo): Nuh-uh. No fuckin' way…

From the steps to Yourinobu's right, a middle-aged Japanese man, dressed in an elegant black suit and with his hair pulled back behind his head, arrives. Behind him, an elderly man in a long black robe follows.

T-Bug(Holo): Saburo Arasaka?!

Jackie(Holo): The emperor? Yet another asslickin' legend.

V: Shush. Doubt this cubby's soundproof.

Yorinobu: 私のことに口出しするなと言ったはずだ. [Though I told you not to meddle in my affairs.]

The man in the black jacket approaches the living room, suspicious, then the large glass window, behind which V and Jackie are hiding.

Jackie: Oh fuck…

V: Shh…

The optics of the man in the black jacket glow red, staring V in the eyes.

Saburo: 私たちのもとを去りなさい.[Leave us.]

The man in black jacket suddenly turns toward Saburo.

Takemura: 荒坂様,私はまだ完全な掃討はしていません.[Arasaka-sama, I haven't done a full sweep.]

Saburo stands near the small sofa, in front of Yorinobu.

Saburo: これは私の息子だ. [This is my son.]

Takemura: もちろんです.私たちがここに来た目的は何ですか? [Of course. Should I retrieve what we came here to?]

Saburo: これは私の息子だ. [I will handle it, you may go.]

The man in the black jacket bows to Saburo, then walks toward the elevator, followed by Adam Smasher.

Jackie: Wooo, close…

V: Too close. If he had sniffed us out…

Jackie: But it didn't happen… Now càllate.

Finally, Saburo breaks the silence in the room, talking to his son with a lost look in his eyes.

Saburo: 私が奪われたことに気づかないとでも思ったの? [Did you think I wouldn't know it was taken from me?]

Yorinobu: 実際,私はあなたのことをまったく考えていない.世界は自分を中心に回っていると思っている.傲慢だ. [Actually I don't think of you at all. Ever… You see, that's your problem. You think that the world revolves around you. Arrogant. ]

Saburo: 壁から突き出た釘は打たれる. ["The nail that protrudes from the wall gets hammered."]

Yorinobu gets up from the sofa, in a fit of rage.

Yorinobu: 独創的なことは何も思いつかなかった?! [Couldn't think of anything original to say?!]

Saburo: そしてあなたは,我々の最大の功績を欧米人に売り渡すことが "オリジナル "だと考えている...我々の未来を,野蛮人に.... [And you think it is "original" to sell our greatest achievement to Westerners… Our future to these… barbarians?!]

Yorinobu begins to nervously walk back and forth, the tension between the two rises higher and higher.

Yorinobu: 私たちの未来?私たちの?あなたは勘違いしている.自分のことしか考えていない... 自分の病気の計画?! [Our future? Ours?! You are mistaken. You have only ever cared about yourself... And your sick schemes.]

Saburo approaches Yorinobu, still holding his arms behind his back.

Saburo: この日が来ることはわかっていた.遅かれ早かれ,君の生意気さは一線を越えてしまうだろう...君を許せることはたくさんあるが,反逆罪は...ダメだ. [ I knew this day would come. The sooner or later your impudence would cross the line… There is much for which I could forgive you, but treason… No.]

An icy silence falls in the room. Suddenly, Yorinobu grabs Saburo by the neck, slamming him against the glass window behind which V and Jackie are hiding. V opens his mouth in bewilderment as Yorinobu repeatedly slams his father's head, cracking the glass window behind him and staining it with blood. Eventually Saburo falls to the ground, dead.

Yorinobu: 二度と私を許す必要はない. [ You shall never have to forgive me for anything, again.]

Yorinobu begins walking back and forth, agitated and confused. After a while, he raises his hands, as if realizing what he has done. Struck by a streak of sorrow, Yorinobu kneels down next to his father.

Yorinobu: I wish… I wish to put the hotel on a lockdown.

Hotel's AI(Speakers): May I ask why?

Yorinobu: Saburo Arasaka has been murdered.

Suddenly, all the lights in the room turn red, V and Jackie, still shivering, lift their eyes to the ceiling.

Hotel's AI(Speakers): Code red initiated. Attention, code red has been initiated throughout Konpeki Plaza. Please remain into your rooms and follow all the instructions given by the staff.

The elevator doors open, revealing Adam Smasher and Takemura. The latter rushes toward Saburo's lifeless body, alarmed.

Takemura: 何があったんだ?! [What happened?!]

Yorinobu: 誰かが父を毒殺した. [Someone… Someone poisoned my father.]

Takemura: 毒殺?! [Poisoned?!]

Takemura stands still, dumbfounded as Yorinobu approaches him, still quivering.T

Takemura: 頼宣さん どうでしょう...[Yorinobu-san... I doubt it…]

Yorinobu pulls himself together, confronting Takemura with icy eyes and a firm tone.

Yorinobu: 竹村君の仕事は? [What is your job,Takemura?]

Takemura lowers his gaze, confused.

Takemura: ついていけない....[I don't follow…]

Yorinobu: 簡単な質問だ.答えなさい. [It's a simple question. Answer it.]

Takemura: 荒坂家の当主を守るために. [To protect the head of the Arasaka family.]

Yorinobu: これからはもっと職務を全うしてくれることを切に願うよ....[I do sincerely hope you'll do a better job of executing your duties from now on…]

Takemura bows his head, then all three leave the room, using the elevator. After a moment, Jackie and V emerge from the crawl space, trying to catch their breath, still shocked at what they saw. 

T-Bug(Holo): Oh my god… Where're so fucked…

V begins to walk in circles, while Jackie remains motionless, paralyzed, clutching the briefcase.

V(Holo): Bug, need you to get us out of here!

T-Bug(Holo): Ok! Got somethin'! Window… now!

V and Jackie run to the huge window that overlooks the back of the building. It's pouring rain outside.

Jackie: Saburo fuckin' Arasaka dead. Feels weird even to say it.

T-Bug(Holo): Releasing the lock, should see a ladder… Oh fuck… NO…NO…NO… I've been made… AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!

T-Bug's screams blend into the channel interference just before the connection closes.

V(Holo): Bug!

Jackie: Dios mío… Just lost T!

V grits his teeth, sinking into panic, then turns to Jackie, pointing a finger at him.

V: Fuckin' major league, happy now Jackie?!

The glass door opens, V and Jackie begin to walk to the edge of the balcony, below them the facade of the building that looks like a huge slide.

Jackie: You can do it… Just don't look down… 

A huge black floating vehicle approaches in the distance.

Jackie: Shit! Is that Trauma?!

V: If they are here for Saburo they're a little late!

The vehicle positions itself in front of them. V and Jackie's eyes widen as they see the huge cannons mounted on it, along the white "Arasaka" lettering on the sides.

Jackie: TIME TO BAIL!

V and Jackie jump onto the glass facade below them, at the exact moment the drone begins to open fire. Pieces of glass fly everywhere, as V slides over the wall to the ledge, continuing in a drop through a glass attic to a room full of pipes.

V remains still for a few seconds, lying on the floor, covered in blood and glasses. After a while he begins to move, holding his ribs, disoriented by the interferences on his interface.

V: AHHHH! FUCK!

In front of him, there is Jackie sitting on the ground near the briefcase containing the Relic, emitting sparks from the monitor on top of it.

Jackie: The Relic! Oh this ain't good… Agh…

V: Jackie you're bleedin'!

Jackie: Worry about me later… Container depressurized, biochip integrity at ninety-four percent! And fuckin' droppin'... Carajo!... Parker! Call her!

V: And tell her we fried the case?!

Jackie: Just do it.

V opens his own interface, selecting Evelyn's holo number from his address book. She answers Immediately , in a concerned tone.

Evelyn(Holo): V?! Konpeki it's all over the feeds! What the fuck's goin' on there?!

V(Holo): Got a problem, Cryocase is damaged! Biochip's integrity at… Jackie?

Jackie(Holo): Eighty-six percent and droppin'.

Evelyn(Holo): Shit! Ok, listen to me. There's only one thing you can do… One of you gotta slot the relic into your neural port.

V(Holo): The hell are you talkin' about?

Evelyn(Holo): The Relic can't be isolated… It has to be nested into a safe environment.

Jackie lets go, leaning on the wall behind him.

Jackie: Well, somebody gotta do it.

Jackie opens the briefcase, revealing a huge circuit, at the center of which resides a small purple chip that emits a pulsing light. After a moment's hesitation, Jackie makes the sign of the cross on his chest and slips the chip into its slot on his neck.

Jackie: En el nombre del padre, del hijo y del espíritu santo… Amèn.

Jackie's eyes begin to glow blue as he gasps for air.

V: Jackie… You ok?!

Jackie: Dunno… I guess… Don't feel any different.

Evelyn(Holo): Once back we'll take out the Relic and run a full brain scan and sweep. But you need to get the fuck out of there first! 

Jackie slowly gets up from the floor, holding her chest, covered in blood.

V(Holo): Workin' on it!

Jackie uses her interface to call the Delamain cab AI, parked at the entrance of the Konpeki, which also answers synchronously on V's.

Jackie(Holo): Del, we'll be there in a couple. Be ready, got it?!

Delamain AI (Holo): Certainly, mr. Welles.

Jackie(Holo): Better be fuckin' certain.

V gets up from the floor, clinging to a pipe protruding from the wall, while Jackie walks, limping, toward a back door.

Jackie(Holo): We have to somehow…reach the lobby. Only chance to hit the garage.

V and Jackie stand in front of the door. After a moment V opens it, they both find themselves in a red-lit lobby covered with black marble. A surreal silence reigns in the room, and the only thing that can be heard is the sound of the building's artificial intelligence repeating the same message from the hotel's speakers.

Hotel's AI(speakers): Code red initiated. Attention, code red has been initiated throughout Konpeki Plaza. Please remain into your rooms and follow all the instructions given by the staff.

After an endless descent through the dark corridors of the hotel, V and Jackie manage to reach the Delamain cab, waiting for them in the garage, eluding an army of Arasaka guards. The autopilot quickly runs off, out of the garage, as a shower of bullets ricochets off the armored bodywork. 

The cab smashes through a roadblock, finally getting back to the roads of Night City. Three Arasaka drones start chasing the cab, trying to stop them.

Delamain AI(Monitors): A hostile aircraft enemy has a lock on us.

V grabs his gun in the center glove compartment, between his seat and Jackie's. The AI of the Delamain cab, speaking through two monitors embedded in the headrest, lowers the armored window, letting V leaning out of it.

With a short hail of bullets, V manages to shoot down two of the drones, which crash on the ground in a cloud of fire and pieces of metal. The cab cuts a corner, disorienting the last one, which crashes into a wall of a building.

Delamain AI(Monitors): Hostile aircraft eliminated.

V: Phew!

V turns to Jackie, curled up in the passenger seat beside him, with his tuxedo soaked in blood.

Jackie: Nice work… Del…

V: We did it Jackie, we fuckin' made it!

Jackie: Guess we did…

Delamain AI(Monitors): My medical diagnostics indicates that mr. Welles' condition is critical.

Jackie's head begins to sway, as if becoming light, while his skins becomes whiter and whiter. V explodes in uncontrolled panic, grabbing Jackie with both hands.

V: TAKE US TO A RIPPERDOC! NOW!

Delamain AI(Monitors): Apologies, but that will not be possible.

Jackie lets her hands go. They are completely covered in blood, as if they had been dipped in two cans of red paint.

Delamain AI(Monitors): Our itinerary has been pre-arranged and paid for in advance. I'm not at liberty to alter it.

V grabs Jackie's right hand, putting it back on his chest, as a trickle of blood spills from his mouth.

V: FUCK YOUR LIBERTY! DO AS I SAY!

Jackie stops staring into the void, and turns to V

Jackie: It's ok V, I'll hold out…

Delamain AI(Monitors): I suggest you try to keep mr. Welles conscious.

V: We'll get preem jobs left and right now… Hear me Jack?!

Jackie begins to stammer, staring V in the eyes, growing paler and paler and duller.

Jackie: You're gonna be rich mijo… I can feel it…

V begins to tremble.

V: NO JACKIE… WE ARE GONNA BE RICH! YOU AND ME!

Jackie gets closer to V, slowly extracting the chip from the slot on his neck and slipping it into V's.

Jackie: The chip… Hold on to it. For me.

Jackie slowly collapses on his seat as his hand slips between V's, becoming weightless. Jackie's eyes remain fixed on V as he begins to touch his forehead with his fingertips, running them through his hair. V's sight becomes blurred, as the words of the cab's AI fade, like background noise in his mind.

Delamain AI(Monitors): Mr. Welles has passed. Where shall I take his remains?

V: W-What?!

Delamain AI(Monitors): The excelsior package provides for the disposal of passengers remains free of charge. I merely require a destination.

V: He'd wanna be with his family…

Delamain AI(Monitors): Mr Welles closest blood relative is Guadalupe Alejandra Welles. Owner of el Coyote Cojo Bar. I will make sure to deliver him safely. Mr. DeShawn awaits you in room number two-oh-four.

V touches the shoulder of Jackie's lifeless body one last time, as a grimace of pain twists his face.

V: See you in the major league Jack…

V gets out of the cab, walking toward the entrance of the No-Tell Motel, clutching his gun in his right hand. The relentless rain penetrates his shirt from a hole over his shoulder, while the neon purple sign of the motel lights up his face.