Cyberpunk 2077 - The Ballad of Lost Souls

V helps Faith drag the pilot's body near Carol's terminal and connect his interface to it. V quickly sits on a chair near the terminal, selecting the contact list from his visual interface, while holding the BD equipment in his right hand.

Carol: Who are you callin'?!

V: An old friend.

V's holo rings a few times. He becomes increasingly nervous with every ring.

V: C'mon Judy…

Finally Judy answers the call and starts talking to V in a sleepy voice.

Judy: … Helloooo?!

V: JUDY! It's me, V!

Judy: WHAT?! V?! You sound nothing like… Wait, how did you get this number?! WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?!

V: No time to explain! Need your help.

Judy: Is this a prank?! Gonna hang up.

V: A PRANK MY ASS, JUDY! I'VE GOT THE FUCKING MILITECH UP MY ASS!

Judy: FUCK YOU! And why would that be my problem?!

V: You had plenty of problems before and I helped you solve 'em all. Remember Evelyn?! What about that fuckin' job at Clouds?!

Judy: Wait… are you really V?! Damn you are all over the news along with your girlfriend… You really assaulted Arasaka Tower?!

V: Please Judy I promise, one day I'll tell you everything… But now I really need your help.

Judy: You know I've tried to contact you for months? Where have you been?!

V puts his right hand over his eyes.

V: I've been stuck in a fucking bed…dying.

Judy: Shit… I'm sorry. I remember 'bout the whole Shard thing…tell me everything.

Panam opens her eyes wide, surprised. Then she looks at V in a mix of anger and disappointment.

V: Thanks Judy. By the way, It's good to hear from you again.

Panam gets closer to V, she crosses her arms and looks at him angry. V looks back at her, raising his right arm, pointing at the Basilisk, looking at her seriously. Panam turns back and waves her right arm.

V: We need… uhm… an advice. I have a bunch of data, I need the best BD editor in the NUSA, can you help us?

Judy: Yeah, I'll see what I can do.

V snaps his fingers at Carol.

V: Thanks, a friend of mine will send you everything.

Judy: Fine, be sure to use a secure connection. I don't want any more troubles... I've got a legit job now, you know?!

V: Really happy to hear that. Where are you?

Judy: Pittsburg. Tried to invite you over a bunch of times too. By the way, what have you done to upset Militech?

V: It would be easier If I'll tell you what I haven't done.

Judy: Good, and what are we looking for?

V: Arasaka military access codes.

Judy: Fuck, again?! C'mon V…

V sits on a chair and puts on the BD glasses.

Carol: Data sequence ready. Wait… THEY'RE HACKING US!

Both V and Carol turn, looking at Faith.

Faith: Coming along. Are any of you an expert of military ciphers?

Judy: I'm ready here, V.

V: Good. Let's roll.

The BD interface starts flashing in front of V's eyes blinding him with white light.

V wakes up in a hotel room, barely lighted up by the the city outside half closed curtains in front of a bed. The floor is covered in bottles and dresses. V is leaning on the bed, he looks behind him and sees a man holding him by the hips.

Stranger: You like it like that?

V: JUDY GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!

Judy: Shit! Sorry, V. I'm editing the memory stream as it is.

V: I'M GOING TO HAVE NIGHTMARES FOR LIFE!

The interface flashes white again.

V: Judy… Sorry about what I said… I really…

Judy: Don't worry, V. It probably would happen to me too If I woke up in bed with you behind me.

V laughs.

V: Thanks Judy! But I really mean that… I…

Judy: V, it's almost three in the morning here, can we please move on?

Faith: You two, can you please quit jacking off ?! 

Judy: Who is she? I like her voice. It's…deep. Is she Panam? My name is Judy, nice to meet you.

Faith: The pleasure is all yours.

V: No she is a… client. Sometimes she is a real pain in the… whatever.

Judy: Yeah. My boss is an asshole too. I hate him. Hold on, the next chunk of data is coming.

The interface flashes again, V wakes up in a giant room full of Arasaka soldiers on his left and right. There is Yorinobu standing on a big podium, where three big screens are projecting his image, screaming something in Japanese.

Judy: Fuck. This is something straight out of Orwell. No wonder he needs some stress relief.

The pilot gets out of the room into a long corridor.

Judy: Where are we?!

V: Don't know. Probably some Arasaka facility, God only knows where.

V enters a small room with five soldiers, Takemura is standing between them. The pilot bows to Takemura, then they both start to speak in Japanese. Suddenly everything goes to black and a giant red error message prompts in front of V.

V: FUCK! We were getting near!

Faith: Lady, are you sure you know what you're doing?!

Judy: Sorry madam! The data you are sending me are completely fucked. What have you done to this poor bastard?!

V: Judy, don't listen to her. Are you sure you haven't got anything more to show us?

Judy: Let me see… I… honey?! No, go back to bed, I'm working. Yeah I know… I'm coming back in no time.

V: Who's that, Jud?

Judy: It's called personal life, V. Hold on, I've found something else.

The interface flashes one more time, bringing V into a building inside Nix. The pilot is cleaning his weapon on a table in front of a terminal, near him Takemura is talking to his phone near a big window. It's night outside.

V: HERE! This is what we were looking for!

Judy: Yeah?! How can you tell?

V: That building, outside the window. I've seen it in Nix, I remember it very well.

Judy: Nix. What a shit hole. Hold on, I've got a translation program that can help us understand what the guy is saying.

Faith: We have no time to play detectives! Go on, c'mon!

V: Judy… Do It… I'm starting to… AAAAHHHH!!

Judy: V! Are you ok?! This is nonsense, the BD should't do this to you. Maybe we should stop.

V: No! Judy, go on, please.

Takemura stops talking to the phone and shouts something in Japanese. The pilot quickly mounts back his weapon and takes out his helmet from a drawer and puts it on. Both him and the pilot get out from the small apartment into an hallway that leads them to a staircase and finally to the rooftop, the helicopter is standing parked in front of them, Takemura hops inside while the pilot takes out from the pocket a small red tablet.

Faith: V, that's it! Scan the tablet!

V scans the tablet, a bunch of data appears in front of him.

Faith: Hold on… YES! V we have done it! The helicopter is starting up!

V: Thanks Jud, I'll never forget about this. I'm going to transfer you something for the troubles.

Judy: Nah V. Don't worry. If Netwatch breaks inside my house I'll send you the bail bill.

V: I… I appreciate that.

Judy: Want to pay me back?! Come here and have a beer with us. I will introduce you to Bianca and be sure to bring Panam too. I've seen her on the Quotifax, she's very pretty, can't deny that. I bet she also has a nice attitude to keep you in check.

V: You can't even imagine how much. Judy… I don't know if I can make that promise. Things are very…very complicated.

Judy: V…I know. But I'm sure you will find a way to make things right. Take care of yourself, I want to see you again.

V: Thanks Jud. I… I have to go now.

Judy: Mee too, Bianca is going to kill me. Bye V!

The interface flashes one more time, V wakes up on the ground, looking at the night sky. Panam is kneeling near him holding a towel full of blood.

V: What… What happened?

Panam: You tell me. At some point blood started getting out from your eyes and nose too. I tried to unplug you from this cyber bullshit, but Faith stopped me.

V gets up.

V: Where is everybody?!

Panam: You got stuck in that… thing for almost three hours. We dismantled the camp, the convoy is already heading south, while Eric and family are heading to the facility. 

V touches his face.

V: Where are the glasses?!

Panam starts screaming at V.

Panam: ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?! You fainted! Faith took them from you. You got a very nice collection of friends by the way.

V looks angrily at Panam.

V: I never had any friends, I had a family. But I'm not V anymore, am I ?!

Panam throws the towel at him, he catches it with his right hand.

Panam: You know what?! When you're done you'll find me inside the Basilisk. Take your time, maybe you have got somebody else to call.

Panam walks away toward the tank and gets inside. V follows her and sees four more cars behind him: two modified Quadras, a black van where Mitch is leaning on and a Type66, all of them shouting from their engines. Mitch starts walking toward V.

Mitch: Damn,V. You scared the shit out of us.

V: Yeah, sorry.

Mitch: Aren't you… forgetting something?

Mitch throws the Aldecaldos jacket at V.

Mitch: I didn't give it back to you to leave it in a closet.

V holds the jacket with both hands and looks at it. V then looks up at Mitch with a serious expression, he gets closer crossing his arms.

Mitch: Put it on, V. Now.

V: Know what Mitch?! If all of you stopped just for one second protecting Panam all the time, maybe she will start to grow up a little bit.

Mitch pushes V, violently.

Mitch: You fucking asshole! Do you think I could care less about your personal problems with Pan?! The rest of us are not going to sit safely in a fuckin' tank, do you understand that, V?! For a lot of us, this…will be it. Our last ride. They need to know that they are doing it for something more than saving your sorry ass. 

V stands looking down at the jacket, sad. Mitch turns and walks away.

Mitch: I know Panam. She's a little bit emotional sometimes, but what's your excuse?! It's not always about you V, you know?!

Mitch gets inside the van and closes the door. V slowly puts on the jacket.