Cyberpunk 2077 - The Ballad of Lost Souls

V is lying on a big couch, in front of a huge television set that takes up almost the entire wall of an apartment. Behind him, the lights of the Night City skyline try to enter through sleek black shutters. Suddenly his holo-phone begins to ring.

V(phone): Hey Jude, wassup?

Judy(phone): Ah, you know, same ol'. You?

V(phone): Actually, though I've never heard from you again after the… Maiko sich.

Judy lowers her gaze, as she was hurt.

Judy(phone): Rewatched the scroll from that day. You had no choice… But I ain't calling to rehash old wounds. Gotta a favor to ask.

V gets up from the sofa.

V(phone): Ask right away, it's never boring with you.

Judy(phone): Interesting people aren't easily bored.

V(phone): No chance in your company. But now that we've blown each other, whassup?

Judy(phone): You're on a need-to-know basis. So this particular mission doesn't require you to have a gun. Just a wetsuit.

V stops.

V(phone): Gotta say you got me intrigued… Why the wetsuit?

Judy(phone): Can't back out now… Just use your imagination.

V(phone): Alright, then. Count me in. I've gotta warn you though, I look great in a wetsuit.

Judy(phone): Dam out past Ranch Coronado. Know it?

V(phone): Uh, sure. What about it?

Judy(phone): Little, uhm, abandoned bungalow lakeside. Meet me there at sundown.

V(phone): Ok, uhm…Is this a date?

Judy smiles.

Judy(phone): You're not my type, holmes. Just show up. I'll see you there!

V parks Johnny's Porsche in front of a small bungalow in front of a pond. A small path leads toward the shore, where there are some beached automobile carcasses. 

On one of them sits Judy, squeezed into a red diving suit, humming a song.

V gets out of the car, as the Relic disturbs his field of vision with its interferences. V blinks a few times, then approaches Judy.

Judy: Hey, V.

V sits on the hood, next to Judy.

V: After all that went down, though you and I'd be ancient history.

Judy: Don't be a gonk.

V: So… ready to tell me what we're doing here?

Judy: Well, been tinkerin' with virtus a lot lately and figured out a way to scroll two actor's experiences at the same time. Thought we could try it out. If you're down, of course.

V: Mhm… Sounds like we could do this anywhere. Why did we come all the way out here? What is this place?

Judy: Cottage belonged to somebody I knew. Sits empty now. I take the liberty to use it time to time.

V: And… That's we're going' to scroll?

Judy stands up.

Judy: No. We're gonna scroll underwater.

Johnny appears on a wooden dock that leads directly into the water.

Johnny: Nah. No way. Bad Idea. Tell her to find some other yes-man.

Judy: Wadda you say? Are you in?

V: Hell yeah, I'm in!

Judy: Awesome, so ahem… let's go! Got the hardware here.

V and Judy walk onto the wooden dock. Judy reaches a small terminal resting on a metal crate, while V pulls out a suit just like Judy's from a cardboard box resting on an old plastic deck chair.

Judy: Let's get this scroller on ya.

V: All right, let's do this. Freezin'-ass water… Here I come!

Judy closes the terminal, pulling out a small yellow Shard and inserting it into the slot on V's neck.

Judy: Ok, we're all set. 

Both sit on the edge of the dock, their legs submerged in the water.

Judy: You go first.

V is the first to dive, followed shortly after by Judy.

It is night and the moon lights up the wooden dock. Tiny bubbles emerge from the water, followed by Judy's head.

Judy: Veee!

Judy drags V's lifeless body onto the marina, then begins to push on his chest, kissing him repeatedly. Eventually V starts coughing water. profusely.

Judy: Oh, thank fuck! You're alive…

V: Wha… What happened?

Judy: You passed out.

V begins to crawl, then sits next to a plastic lawn chair.

V: How'd you manage to lift me out?

Judy: Dunno, didn't think about it. Just did what I had to do.

V: So you're sayin'... That you saved my life. Thank you.

Johnny appears in front of the two, giving his back to them.

Johnny: Told you diving into toxic wastes was a bad idea… But you don't fuckin' listen!

Judy: Heard somethin' weird just now… Sounded like… complaining?!

Johnny: Complaining? That's the best you got kid?!

V stares at Judy in amazement.

V: You heard that? Incredible… Never happened before… But, no worries, it's… Johnny's Silverhand's construct. You heard his thoughts, not mine.

Judy: Johnny… What?!

V: Remember the Relic? The reason for the whole damn heist? Well… Johnny Silverhand's digitized psyche was on it and, well… His personality's slippin' into my mind.

Judy looks away from V, sighing.

Judy: Oh shit, V… You mean you're… Disappearing? Can you stop it?

V: Got an idea. A plan. But I don't know… well… if it'll work.

Judy stands up.

Judy: Doubt you should go back to the city just now… I'm pretty beat too… Last thing I wanna do is drive. Let's stay the night. Waddaya think?

V: Yeah, why the hell not… 

V stands up too, they both walk to the cottage door, still soaked with water.

V: Who's cottage is that, then? You said you knew the owner.

Judy: One of our neighbors was hell-bent on staying in Laguna Bend. Badges literally dragged him out of his house before the water came in… So he built himself another house as close as he possibly could, but then… he got sick. Water was waaay more toxic back then. 

The cottage's sliding doors open, revealing a small kitchen and a bathroom at the end of a hallway. Judy walks toward the kitchen counter, while V stands still.

Judy: Must be chilled to the bone. I'll brew a pot… How do you take yours?

V: Black, thanks.

Judy: Gotcha. 

Suddenly the lights go out, leaving V and Judy in the dark.

Judy: Ahhh, I forgot to start the generator.

V: I can turn it on.

V gets out of the small house, heading toward a small black antenna, connected to a generator. Suddenly, V hears a woman's voice coming from deep within the night, like the echo of a time gone by.

Judy(echo): Be careful, you go that route, city'll always win. So be careful.

Evelyn(echo): Of course I will.

V: Judy?! Is that you… Your little spa's open for business.

Judy(echo): Shit…

V: Judy… ?

V gets back in the house, finding the kitchen empty. He turns to the bathroom, which is closed, knocking a couple of times.

V: What was that? I couldn't hear you clearly… Somethin' the matter?

Judy: No… Nothin'.

V opens the sliding door to the bathroom, revealing Judy, sitting on the edge of the tub. V sits near her.

V: You thinkin' about Evelyn?

Judy stares at V, with a face marked with sadness. After staring into his eyes for a while, she begins to speak.

Judy: Cloud has… gone to shit. Tyger Claw nonecks took revenge for Hiromi and the rest. There was a firefight… Tom's dead. Roxane barely got out alive. House's closed until further notice.

Judy lowers her gaze.

Judy: Didn't want to tell you… Didn't want you to think I blame you in any way.

V: Why would you even assume I'd think that?

Judy: Dunno. I'm sorry… Let's just kill the subject.

Judy stands up.

Judy: Think I'll go lie down… I'm beat.

Judy walks to the small sofa in the living room near the kitchen, then stretches out on it. V leans against the wall and looks at her displeased, crossing his arms, while Johnny suddenly manifests next to Judy.

Johnny: This chick gets on my nerves. Let's you and me, blow… Just don't wake her up.

V turns to Johnny, angry.

V: She pisses you off… Why? 'Cause she cares about other people? And remind you how narcissistic you are?

Johnny: She's all over the place. Refuse to take the door, jumps out a window, then act all surprised when she gets hurt.

V: She reminds you of Alt… Doesn't she?!

Johnny: Fuck no. Nobody is even close to At or what me and her had. Now, can we please get the fuck out of here?

V: You fuckin' blow if you can. Not about to leave her alone, middle of nowhere.

Johnny: Ugh, can't talk to you when you're like this… sentimental. Waste of words… Least take a nap, so we don't have to argue.

V leaves the living room, walking toward the hallway and throwing himself on a large double bed with red sheets placed in the center of a bedroom. After turning over a couple of times, V falls asleep.

The next morning V wakes up, noticing that his clothes are scattered on the floor. After changing his clothes, he begins looking for Judy. Opening the sliding door to the entrance hall, V finds her with her feet soaking in the water, sitting on the wooden dock near the little cottage.

Judy: Will ya sit with me? Here's your coffee, finally.

V sits next to Judy, her legs suspended above the water surface. After grabbing a red cup placed behind him, V greets Judy.

V: Mornin'

Judy: Y'know… yesterday, I think I'd made up my mind… Actually called you 'cause I wanted to say goodbye.

Judy takes a puff from the cigarette she holds in her left hand.

Judy: City's chewed me up, an' it's spittin' me out.

V: Jud… Are you sayin' you wanna leave?! Now?! You know I had this bizarre conversation with a doll… Told me I had to fight. And now, just when I thought I knew what it was all for… You're tellin' me you are leaving?!

Judy turns to V, displeased, then stares at him, smiling.

Judy: Give me your hand, V.

V reluctantly offers his hand to Judy. She gently places her palm on V's, then her optics light up, giving her an almost divine appearance.

Judy: All set, congrats. Just gave you unlimited access to my pad. 

V: Wooo…. Whaa… Why?! Are you askin' me to move in?

Judy: If it's what you want. Or just drop by, when the urge grabs you.

V: Dunno what to say. I mean, nobody has ever done anything like this for me. Really shows trust.

Judy: Take care, V. I promise we'll keep in touch.

V: This really it? Last time we see each other? Didn't seem so set on leaving just a sec ago.

Judy: See no reason to delay. I'll stay here a couple of days… then head off.

Judy turns away from V, gazing again at the lake. 

Judy: It's been nice knowin' ya, V… Hit me up on the holo sometime. 

V stares at Judy, who gives her back to him. After a while he nods, defeated, and gets up from the dock.

V: See ya, Judy. Take care.