Cyberpunk 2077 - The Ballad of Lost Souls

V is walking through the filthy alleys around the Afterlife. It is late afternoon even though the clouds and thick rain make it look like night. Rain pours down from buildings as V takes shelter under a porch. Suddenly, he receives a call on his interface from a familiar face, he answers the holo, smiling.

Panam(Holo): V, The Basilisk… it's ready. Would you like to drive it?

V(Holo): Sure! Be there soon.

Panam(Holo): Fuck V, it's awesome! Get here, quick!

V mounts on Jackie's motorcycle, whizzing away through the city streets. After riding for a while, the rain gives way to the arid sand that covers the lands outside Night City. V finally arrives at the camp of the Aldecaldos, where Panam is standing in front of the Basilisk, while the crew surrounds her.

V: All ready to go?

Panam turns to V, holding a hand on her hip. Her face is full of joy.

Panam: Hey V! No, not yet…

Panam's gaze falls on V's rain-covered jacket, then on her face, which looks pale and slightly hollowed out. She looks at him for a moment and then turns back to the Basilisk.

Mitch: Carol still needs to check if Militech left any ICE in the systems.

V: Corpos haven't shown up in person to report the loss?

Cassidy: Nah. We left the trucks with the corpo logos down by the Raffen camp… Which was almost as much fun as leaving a bag of flaming dog shit on their doorstep.

Johnny's ghost appears sitting on top of the big tank, swinging his legs back and forth.

Johnny: Fuck. Made it look like it just came back from a corpo war tour.

V smiles slightly.

V: Always wanted to take one of these suckers for a spin.

Johnny: Which is exactly how all those naive gonks landed at the front. Didn't even need to be recruited… They just showed you the tech.

Panam turns to V, smiling at him and tilting her head slightly toward Basilisk.

V: C'mon, hop on in. Everything is set.

V climbs onto the tank, then slowly walks over to the cockpit, covered by two metal shields, which open, letting him in. V slips into the wraparound leather seat, in front of which are a few unlit screens.

After positioning himself comfortably, V turns to his right and sees Panam sliding into the cabin, sitting on the seat next to him.

Panam: Alright, let's fire it up! Hold on your head.

Panam begins pressing buttons near the screens in front of her, then turns slightly, looking for another one behind her. After pressing it, the booth shuts down, leaving them both in the dark. Only a green light illuminates Panam's face.

Panam: Dammit.

V: Anybody get this thing up and running earlier? Maybe you oughta…

Panam raises her hands, as if annoyed.

Panam: Everything is dandy. Give me a moment.

Panam continues to fiddle with the buttons, the tank's screens begin to light up, showing white interference. Eventually Panam delivers a light blow to the monitors, finally turning the Basilisk on.

The Hexagonal tiles placed in front of V light up, finally showing the outside of the tank, beyond the thick metal cover protecting the cockpit.

Panam: Yeaah!! It's not the latest model, but Bob and Mitch did what they could. 

Panam turns smugly toward V.

Panam: What do you think?!

V: Nice 'n cozy in here.

Panam points to her neck.

Panam: You steer directly from your seat. All you have to do is jack in.

V: What?! No buttons?! No blinky doo-dads?

Panam: No, none. The impulses run directly to your cerebral cortex.In a sense the Basilisk becomes an extension of your body… It's like a mystical oneness.

V: Uhm… Have you ever piloted one of these?

Panam: No, why? Don't you trust me?!

V: Can I still get out?

The two look at each other complicitly for a while, then Panam smiles.

Panam: No.

The Basilisk begins to sway and slowly drifts away from the field, as if floating on a spread of pillows.

V: If it's so mystical 'n shit… Why the copilot? Extra support?

Panam: I'll tell you once we are a bit further from camp. We'll practice.

V holds onto the seat, as the Basilisk sways through the desert dunes, dodging rocks and the old propeller blades that once powered the city. 

Panam: If you want full functionality in an engagement you need a second pilot for sensory overload. One steers while the other…handles the gun. 

V looks at Panam again, raising an eyebrow, smug.

Panam: It's oddly pleasant, you'll see.

After flying for a while, the Basilisk settles on a sandy hill.

Panam: Ok, here will do fine. Are you ready?!

V turns around, looking for a cable in his own seat. After looking around, he finally finds it and pulling it, he slips it into the serial port on his neck

V's mind is bounced around the monochrome cameras inside Basilisk, knocking him out as if he were on a roller coaster.

V: Panam?! Is this uhm… As designed?!

Panam: Ok, here will do fine. Are you ready?!

V: Yeah.

V focuses, moving on the Basilisk left and right over the dunes, as Panam watches him, amused.

Panam: Now let's do some shootin'. Don't get too excited though, the Basilisk is a cargo ship by design, but it should still be a good time.

Panam pushes two buttons on the console near his elbow, activating the Basilisk's weapon systems.

Panam: Alright. Blast those wrecks.

V blows up three car wrecks around the Basilisk, using as many shots from the cannon.

Panam: Bullseye!

Panam again pulls the cable out from behind his seat and connects it to her serial port on the neck.

Panam: You know what I said about impulses? Well, watch out, now.

V reclines his head on the backrest, pervaded by a strong sense of arousal.

V: Wha… What's happening?!

Panam: I… I jacked in, our neural systems are now linked.

V: Is this why… I feel… Everything doubled?!

Panam: Its sensory feedback. Our systems are intertwined. Would you like to… try it out?

V begins to sweat and pant, as Panam.

V: Ok… I could go for that…

Panam relaxes in her seat, closing her eyes. V feels a tingling in his legs that rises higher and higher.

Panam: Can you feel that?

V: Uhm…I've got no idea how people can…focus in combat…

Panam stretches her hand toward V's leg, stroking it higher and higher. He closes his eyes, stunned and confused by a cascade of sensations.

Panam: Probably it's not always that intense…How about this?!

Panam grabs V's hand, as he slowly opens his eyes, enveloped in circles of sensation, simultaneously feeling his hand as well as Panam's hand, and vice versa.

Panam gets up from her seat and slides on top of V, hugging him gently and kissing him on the neck. He does the same, stroking Panam's hair, panting more and more.

V begins to unzip his pants, while Panam takes off his jacket, kissing him passionately. Panam moves up and down, dropping her head, while V grabs her back, sliding his hands lower and lower.

V lifts Panam and carries her back to her seat, then takes off his shirt and begins to kiss her legs, finally, with a firm gesture, he grabs her thighs, bringing her to him, as she arches her head opening her eyes wide, full of pleasure.

Suddenly, a loud noise interrupts them. A deafening alarm fills the cabin, along with a red light from the monitors that lights both of them up.

Panam: S…SHIT!

V moves out of Panam's seat, by sliding back into his own.

The Basilisk's screens show five modified cars surrounding the tank. Two men holding rifles look toward it, intrigued.

V and Panam start firing using the Basilisk turret, blowing up all the vehicles, in a chain reaction that envelops the two men with a fireball.

Panam: They're Wraiths! We have to go back to the camp.

The Basilisk speeds through the sandy dunes, as V and Panam hastily dress inside the cockpit. The tank crosses a hill and lands on top of another car of the Wraiths, crushing it into a pile of sheet metal.

Panam: We're almost there.

Saul(Radio): Ok, I see Panam. Those bastards are in for a surprise.

V and Panam arrive at the camp. The Aldecaldos are targeted by a continuous shower of bullet from a convoy of Wraiths surrounding them. V hits a couple of them with the machine gun, blasting them into a pool of guts and blood, while Panam destroys all the cars with the cannon.

Saul: Yeah you turned them to dust, congratulations. Now get out of there, I want to talk.

V and Panam park the Basilisk, both quickly exit the cockpit, observing the devastation near the camp. Saul approaches Panam, walking briskly.

Panam walks among her clan members who watch in silence, while V remains distant to observe the scene.

Panam: C'mon Saul, If I have to leave the clan, please just say so. Spear me another speech at the very least.

Panam crosses her arms and turns around, giving his back to Saul.

Saul: I'm afraid you'll have to sit through a few more… Because from this day forward you will lead this family. By my side. 

Panam opens his eyes wide, then turns slowly back toward Saul.

Panam: I will, what?!

Saul: I was wrong, you were right. That's the truth…May it never happen again.

Panam: But… But I messed up on so many things… You said…

Saul hugs Panam, petrifying her. She eventually does the same.

Saul: You risked all for the family, not even knowing you will be welcomed the next day.

Panam: Ok…Ok…

V watches, crossing his arms, pleased.

Panam: Well, many things have to change…

Saul: Yeah, startin' with this place. We have to move, quickly.

Mitch and Cassidy side near V.

Panam: Of course. I will prepare our route.

Saul walks away, while Cassidy hugs Panam.

Mitch: Congratulations.

Cassidy: Terrible decision. I've voted nay.

V begins to squint his eyes as Panam's image blurs amid the interference caused by Relic.

Panam: Thank you… I need to cool down. I think.

Panam pulls away from the group, passing close to V.

Panam: Would you come with me?

The two begin walking through the camp's burned-out ruins, toward a large truck, parked in front of a small shelter. Panam walks briskly, while V follows her trudging along, trying not to be noticed by her.

Panam: Interesting day. I feel like I've barely evaded a rapidly approaching train.

V: Yeah. Pretty close.

Panam: I don't know if I could have done it without you.

V: Oh c'mon. 

Panam: No, I'm serious. We all owe you, so you can count on the Aldecaldos, always.

V: Good to know.

They both arrive at the truck, inside which there are several crates of beer. Panam swiftly jumps inside and takes one out of a crate, while V sits on a stool, leaning against the counter.

Panam: Beer?

V: Yeah.

Panam hands one beer to V, opening another by slamming the cap against the counter.

Panam: To happy endings!

V raises his beer and starts drinking while Panam does the same. An unnerving silence falls between the two that neither can break. After a while V finally says something.

V: Speaking of happy endings…Back there in the Basilisk… I hope you don't regret what happened.

Panam takes courage and then looks again at V.

Panam: I regret only that we had so little time…

Panam closes her eyes for a moment, then opens them again, worried.

Panam: V… You know… You know this could be us, every day? Look around, look 'em. They could be your family, too.

V: Panam, what are you…?

Panam: Stay in camp. Join us.

V drinks more from the beer and then stares at Panam, with a sad expression.

V: I'd love to Panam, I really would.

Panam nods melancholically. Eventually she closes her eyes.

Panam: Here comes the damn "but".

V: But I can't. Not right now.

Panam opens her eyes again, then stares at V again, as her lip trembles. Suddenly she pulls herself together, nodding.

Panam: I shouldn't drop bombs like this on you. It's just… I just thought… well, forget it.

Panam's face begins to dissolve into a pile of pixels, V begins to twitch as she turns to one side.

V: I think it all over… I pro…

V gets up from the stool, swaying, unable to keep his balance. Eventually, he falls to the ground, violently hitting his head. Everything around him fades to black, and the last thing he can see, is Panam jumping toward him from behind the counter, trying to grab him.

Panam is sitting on a stool in front of the truck serving drinks. Around her, there are other Aldecaldos talking, while she's looking melancholically through a bottle of beer she has just finished.

Saul: How is he?

Panam catches a glimpse of the figure of Saul, standing behind her.

Panam: He's stable.

Saul lowers his eyes, sorry.

Saul: Well, let me know when he recovers. I'd love to talk to him.

Saul walks away from Panam.

Panam: Where are you going? We need to talk.

Everyone stops talking and drinking, staring at Panam and Saul. He looks around, unnerved.

Saul: Come then, we'll talk somewhere else.

Panam turns to Saul, glaring at him. She slowly rises from the stool, approaching with her arms crossed.

Panam: Here it's perfectly fine.

Saul stares at her, getting angrier and angrier, until she can no longer stand his gaze.

Saul: I said somewhere else.

Saul looks around, staring at the people gathered around him and Panam.

Saul: I asked you to dismantle the camp. Am I wrong?!|

All of the paople around Panam lower their gaze, in fear, then immediately start dismantling the large tents that make up the camp. In the ensuing confusion, Saul and Panam walk away, beyond the rubble generated by the Basilisk's cannon.

Saul: So?

Panam smiles, mockingly.

Panam: Almost fell for it, really. But then I had time to think about it and finally understood.

Saul crosses his arms behind his back, then turns away.

Panam: Why don't you tell me how the whole election thing went?! Maybe try to omit the bullshit this time….

Saul stand silent, while Panam approaches him.

Panam: You convinced them, didn't you?! But the real question was…Why? Then I finally realized…It's your personal vendetta, isn't it?!

Saul: You're drunk, Panam. We'll talk about it another time…

Panam crosses her arms and then lowers her eyes, angry.

Panam: You're fuckin' pathetic.

Saul turns sharply and runs back toward Panam, grabbing her by the jacket, as she widens her eyes.

Saul: Look, I've had enough of your fucking attitude. I don't give a damn who you sleep with…All I care about is this family and whether you believe it or not, you too. Want to leave again?! Want to die alone in an alley full of shit?! Be my guest.

Panam pushes Saul away.

Panam: But that's exactly the point, Saul.

Panam looks away from Saul.

Panam: I don't want to die alone.

Saul lowers his head, sorry.

Saul: I'm sorry Panam, I really am. But I've told you.

Panam: Yeah…Since you are so wise, tell me. Tell me why everyone is entitled to happiness except me…

Saul looks again at Panam, angry.

Saul: JESUS CHRIST, PANAM! Do you think that no one here lost someone they cared about?! That our life went exactly as we wanted? BULLSHIT! Yet here we are, each in our own place…Except you, who'd rather stick to the bottom of a bottle.

Panam lowers her eyes while shaking her head and walks away.

Saul: If you want to save him this is the only way. You understand that, right?

Panam turns back toward Saul.

Panam: MISERABLE BASTARD! You think you can blackmail me like this?! Well, fuck you, Saul!

Saul: IT'S NOT BLACKMAIL, PANAM!

Saul slowly turns and then stares at Panam, with a gaze full of sadness and resignation.

Saul: It's a last will.

Panam widens her eyes, as if struck by something.

Panam: A…A what?!

Saul walks to a large pile of rocks and slowly sits on it, giving his back to Panam.

Saul: There's no use getting around it. First what happened in Nevada, then the Wraiths…My days are numbered. You were the only one who had enough guts to tell it like it was.

Panam closes her eyes in sorrow and then sits down next to Saul.

Panam: Saul… I… I was…

Saul: Right, from the beginning. As I told you before.

Panam: Saul…

Saul: Listen Panam, there's somethin' big on the horizon. There's turmoil in the corporations... Maybe a fucking corporate war. We can't afford not to pick a side.

Panam smiles melancholically and stops looking at Saul.

Panam: So that was the deal with Biotechnica…

Saul: They needed cover for a factory in the desert, just outside Nix. I have the blueprints in my tent. I don't know what's in there, but they want to defend it at all costs. Especially from Arasaka.

Panam turns again, glaring at Saul.

Panam: Let them kill each other. We'll stay out of it.

Saul: We can't. Bein' neutral would be the same as havin' them all against us. Can't afford that. Since his father died, Yorinobu has been on the warpath. First Militech, then he accused Biotechnica of stealing experimental technology from them.

Panam: So we're supposed to die over some scuffle between assholes in suits?! Fuck it.

Saul: You don't understand... If there really is another corporate war comin', there will be nowhere to hide…We can only take a side, hoping we don't get hit too hard.

Panam gets up from the rocks.

Panam: We can choose any side. You know what will be waitin' for us at the end of it all, though?! A mass grave, that's what.

Saul: I'll help him.

Panam suddenly stops, without turning.

Saul: I'll let him join the clan, he deserves it. But when you'll have to choose between him and the rest of us, I hope you'll be clear in your mind.

Panam turns around, staring at Saul.

Panam: The hell does it mean?! When you have the guts to fight, you don't have to choose, Saul.

Saul: You can't run away forever, Panam. Otherwise life will choose for you.

Panam turns, silently and begins to walk back toward the camp. After completing preparations, the long convoy of nomads moves toward the depths of the Badlands, raising a long column of sand. After a long journey, the Aldecaldos set up camp in an area far from the blinding lights of the city. In no time, Panam sets up his tent, gently laying V on his bed, patiently waiting for him to awaken.

In the late afternoon V finally begins to turn lazily over the mattress, while Panam gets up from the chair in front of the bed.

Panam's radiant face appears in front of V, disturbed by a series of interferences caused by the Relic.

V: Panam… I…

Panam: V, relax. How do you feel?

V: Wha… What happened? I remember we were talking when suddenly…

Panam crouches next to V, worried.

Panam: You passed out. Completely. We took you with us.

V: Where?!

Panam: Somewhere new. We moved the camp. Don't worry we are safe here, for now at least.

Johnny's ghost appears in a pixelated heap, arms crossed, near Panam.

Johnny: You ain't dyin'… yet.

Panam: V… You have to tell me what's happening. The blood… You were out for hours. What's wrong?!

V lowers his gaze, then begins to speak, resigned.

V: Panam… It's getting worse, every single day.

Panam: V… What's happening exactly? Bit by Bit.

V: To tell you the whole truth… I'm afraid things won't be the same between us if I do.

Panam moves her head, bewildered.

Panam: V, listen to me. There's not a thing you could say to me that would change how… I mean cut the bullshit and tell me what's going on.

V slowly gets up, until he sits down on the bed.

V: You know Johnny Silverhand?

Panam curls her face, confused.

Panam: Yeah, sometimes they play his oldies on the radio, why?

V: That's just it. He's alive… In my head.

Panam sits up straight in her chair, baffled.

Panam: Wha?! Is this some kind of metaphor?!

V rests his arms on his legs, without saying anything.

V: Long story. Got a job, stealing a chip from 'Saka. Fucked it up and now I got Johnny's engram in my head.

Panam opens his eyes wide, along with her eyes.

Panam: Wait…what…

V: Panam?!

Panam stares at him, resigned.

Panam: You are not joking.

V: Just trying to live with it. Survive, actually.

Panam: It's not doing wonders for your health.

V slowly stands up.

V: Gotta go, feeling better already.

Panam walks out from the tent as Mitch and Saul join them.

Panam: Wait. I'll go with you.

Mitch: Thought I heard that voice!

Saul: Finally, we were worried.

V walks out of the tent, covering his face from the blinding sunlight.

Mitch: Took good care of your ride, it's over there. But you're not leaving us already, are you?

V smiles, pleased.

V: Nah, I'll stay for a bit.

Saul: Remember if you'll need help, the Aldecaldos are here for you.

Panam: And that, at least, we can agree on.

Saul: If you'll need anything, you know where to find us.

V smiles at Saul, as Panam escorts him to the entrance of the camp.

Panam: I know this area. Back from the old routes.

V: Are you really safe here?

Panam: For now, yes. Militech does not venture this far. And our vantage points are much better… 

Panam stops, crossing her arms.

Panam: But you know, everything here… it's temporary. All of it. We will soon have to decide what comes next.

Panam takes courage and turns, looking at V again.

Panam: V, back on what we were saying…I will not even pretend to understand. I don't even think it has sunk in yet… Seriously, how can I help?!

V: Honestly? Not a clue.

Panam: But there has to be something, someone who can…

V: Remember Hellman? He is the one who created the personality construct tech.

Panam: That's what you wanted to get him.

V: But it was a dead end. Now I have to figure out where to go next.

Panam gets closer to V and grabs his hand.

Panam: You'll find a way. And when you do let me know. I will help.

V lovely caresses Panam's cheek, then kisses her.

V: Thanks for everything. For being here for me.

Panam: Take care of yourself and let me know… Well just please, keep in touch.

Panam walks away, watching V wistfully, as he mounts on Jackie's motorcycle and speeds through the desert.