Dialogue: Am I Demon?

Steven

Ana... we've got to scrap the biomonitor. You know that.

Ana

No! I won't look the other way, Steve. Not this time.

Steven

Please. You're being naive.

Ana

And you're being an asshole.

V

1AWhat's goin' on?

Steven

1AThe Brazilian government's holding a summit in Rio as we speak. With SovOil. Do you know what that means?

Ana

1AIgnore him, just pass me the biomonitor. Their business is none of yours.

V

2ANo, no, hold up. Steven, these Brazil-SovOil talks – whatta they got to do with Bana's death?

Steven

2AIt's like you said. Brazil wants to turn a blind eye and deaf ear.

2AThe agency ignored the signal. They knew SovOil killed Bana, but never wanted it confirmed, not officially. That would've been far too "inconvenient."

2AThink about it – revealing SovOil's actions would bring any business to a halt. Not to mention we'd upset some very powerful players.

Ana

2AFuck the agency. Bana was murdered, and all the greedy cowards do is sweep it under the rug - for what? For some eddies to line their pockets?

V

3ATruth about Bana won't change a thing. Y'know how corps 'n' agencies work. Why not just let it go?

Ana

3ALet it go?! You ask me this while holding this… this biomon ripped straight out of him?

3AThe agency betrayed him, the corp killed him. For fuck's sake, he was my friend!

V

3BAna, honestly – what's your plan for the biodata?

Ana

3BI plan to scream it to the media and the entire agency. They can't silence us all. Bana deserved better.

Steven

2AAna, we have to destroy the monitor. Bana already lost his life – do you want to lose yours, too?

Ana

2AGrow a spine, Steven. Don't worry, I'll take the blame. You can keep your "life." Who knows – you might even get a promotion.

Steven

2AAna, please. Don't be reckless.

Ana

2AV, pass me the biomonitor. It's time to piss off some suits.

V

4AHere ya go.

Ana

4APerfect. The data will make its way to every last agent and media outlet. Get ready for some fireworks.

Steven

4AFireworks? Fuck. I told you, it'll only get ugly...

Ana

4AToo bad. It's done.

Steven

4AShit. I... I'm leaving. I was never here, understood?!

Ana

4AThe door's wide open.

4APff… Thank you, V. Your cred will find its way to you soon.

V

4AYeah, thanks.

Ana

5AThank you, V.

V

4BPains me to say it, but… Steven's right. Too much risk to go around.

Ana

4BNo!

4BI won't let it go. This isn't over...

4BYou cowards.

Steven

4BThank you, V. Your cred is on its way.

V

4BYeah, thanks.

V

6APlayed my part. I'm out.

Ana

6AThank you, V.

V

6AYeah, thanks.

Steven

6AAna, please. Don't be reckless.

V

6APlayed my part. I'm out.

Ana

6AThank you, V.

V

6AYeah, thanks.

Steven

6AAna, please. Don't be reckless.

V

6APlayed my part. I'm out.

Ana

6AThank you, V.

V

6AYeah, thanks.

Steven

6AAna, please. Don't be reckless.

Ana

What're you staring at? Get out of here! Go!

Steven

Welcome, welcome. I'm Steven Santos of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency.

V

1AName's V. No affiliation.

Steven

1AOh, is that so? Just a moment, we'll scan your details.

V

1BReal chic interior, militarist. Almost like it was by design...

Steven

1BThis is our operations base. Agency property. You'll get a taste of our tech in a moment – we'll scan you before we begin.

V

2AOh, can't wait to see what ya dig up.

Steven

2AHold still, please.

2AAh, so you were affiliated once. Arasaka counterintelligence... fired effective immediately, no severance. Tsk, ouch. That must have hurt, huh…

V

3AWhat, all this tech and nothin' on Konpeki Plaza?

Steven

3AHmm… encrypted, access denied. Wait – level four clearance required? Who are you, really? Hm?

V

3BAw, c'mon. Sure you got access to all sorts of intelligence DBs. Why ya givin' me the boring bits?

Steven

3BLook, we know who you are.

V

3BYeah, you an' half of Night City. Street cred didn't earn itself.

3CWhat sorta rookie-ass game are you two playin'?

Steven

3CUh… Excuse me?

V

3CYou run a background scan before meetin' anyone, let alone a merc. This your first assignment?

Steven

3CY-you don't know wh-...

Ana

2AWe'll take her.

Steven

2AAna…

Ana

2AThe signal could die at any minute. We don't have time to be picky.

2ATake a look at the screen, V.

V

4AHands mentioned you're lookin' for someone. Take it that's him.

Steven

4ABravo, merc.

V

4BAh, so you're the one in charge. Care to give me the detes now?

Ana

4BYou love prodding the hornet's nest, no? Good, so do we.

2AThis is Mark Bana. Thirty-seven years old, worked at the agency for twelve. Six feet tall, brown hair, well-built. Combat trained.

Steven

2ABana went MIA in Dogtown six months ago. He sent one last call for help right before he vanished – listen.

Bana

2AKhe… I'm hit… Argh, fuck… They're comin' f-for… for u-... Ugh… Send backup… pl- please… please…

Steven

2AEhh, his biomonitor began pinging a few days ago. The signal's coming from Dogtown, seems mobile. Any questions?

V

5AClearly your agency didn't green light this. Why you still followin' through?

Steven

5AAh, I see Hands checked us out. Slimy bastard.

Ana

5AHands is a pro. It's true, we're acting alone. Would you like to know why?

5AWhen Bana went missing, the agency declared him KIA. His body has never been found.

5AThen his signal returned. What did the agency say? "Insufficient evidence. Our algorithms place his chances of survival at four percent."

5AFuck the algorithms. Principle, integrity, naiveté... call it what you will. They don't care – we do.

V

6AWhy's Bana so important to you?

Steven

6AFor one, we owe our careers to him. Bana introduced us to the agency.

Ana

6AAnd, well... Some matters are so unjust, you can't just sit and pretend them away.

V

6BSo you're ignoring your command. And tossin' me into whatever shitpool they're trying to avoid.

Ana

6BFuck our command.

V

6CSomethin' stinks. Agency's clearly tryin' to keep the Bana biz under wraps.

Ana

6CBut why?

V

6CInconvenient, probably. Agencies, well, sometimes they'd rather not know things. Least not in any official capacity.

Ana

5AOnly two things matter here. First, Bana is our dear friend. Second, we hired you to check on his signal. Is that clear?

Steven

5AWe'll handle the eventual fallout.

V

7AAny other fun surprises for me?

Ana

7AUnfortunately, yes.

V

7BWhy not trace the sig yourselves, the two of you?

Ana

7BWe're analysts. No clearance, no experience in fieldwork.

Steven

5ABana's signal is currently coming from Organitopia, the old natural history museum in Terra Cognita.

5AOne problem is, the scavengers are flocking to the signal like flies. And wait – there's another.

Ana

5AThe gang's with Boris Ribakov, an ex-Spetsnaz operative. That bastard killed enough people to fill a cemetery.

V

8A'Kay, all clear. Guess I'll get to it.

Steven

8AI'm sending you the coords. Ana will call once you lock in on the signal.

Ana

8AFind Bana, please... or at least that damned biomonitor.

V

8ASee what I can do.

8BRibakov – anything I oughta know 'fore I give him a warm Night City greetin'?

Ana

8BHe's an elite sharpshooter. One hundred and sixty-seven confirmed kills.

8BHis cyberware includes ocular implants linked to his weapon's enhanced targeting system. Reaction accelerators, adrenaline pumps...

Steven

8BYou can add to that some experimental Soviet tech. It seems he's able to hack his enemy's ocularware.

V

8CHow'd the scavs trace the signal?

Ana

8CWe have no idea.

V

8CSo – scavs, ex-Spetsnaz, biomon that's been dead for the past six months… oof…

Steven

8CEh, we don't like it any more than you.

V

5BYou're a big org, got plenty of agents. Don't think you need my help here.

Steven

5BWe are, and, we do, but our hands are tied. We'd risk an international incident, sending spec ops in.

V

5CLook, this Bana guy… the recording's clear as day. Choom's gone. Why go after him now?

Ana

5CWhat if he's not? No, we've got to check that signal. We owe him that much.

Steven

2AAh, you have some affiliations after all. A nomad... Bakker? Hmph, First I've heard of them. But really, who can keep track of all your clans, no?

2AHeywood? That explains your colorful CV. Theft, assault, robbery... the usual checklist. Small wonder we're meeting you here, no?

V

11ANope, no scannin'. Save the theatrics for the next sucker ya hire.

Steven

11AOur agency policy is to scan all potential contractors.

V

11AToo bad. Wanna hire me or waste my time?

Steven

11AI have my doubts now.

Ana

Yes, we got those processors tracked down… mhm… we're negotiating…

That's enough.

Enemy

An' your gonk ass should've scanned it! Where the fuck's Ribakov?

Enemy

He disappeared. Think he went on ahead...

Enemy Front

And? They say anything?

Enemy Frony

Said jack shit. Went in, doors shut, signal dropped. We got orders to secure the area and wait. Anyone unfamiliar comes out – zero them.

Enemy

Like I say, we open door and it explode. The bitch mined the place!

Fixer

Well V, that's settled. The tale took a few twists and turns, wouldn't you say?

V

Sure would.

Fixer

Nevertheless, I applaud your good sense. One thinks with the brain, not the heart. Your transfer's en route, your job complete.

My, my... Bana's predicament is all over the holowaves. There's no hushing it up now.

V

Yeah, well, their choice. Just hope they don't regret it.

Fixer

Mm. What matters is we've been compensated. Our work here is done.

Fixer

V, there's a job. Brazilian intelligence contacted me. Two agents need assistance locating a missing person.

There is, as always, a caveat. It seems they're operating without papai's approval.

V

1AMeanin' what?

1BSimple prose, Hands. Your metaphors, they're a little heavy, uh... handed.

Fixer

Our clients are Brazilian intelligence agents acting without said agency's knowledge.

V

Huh? How come?

Fixer

Now you overestimate my knowledge, V. You'll have to ascertain that for yourself. Best of luck.

Bana Voice

Finally… I was starting to think that no one would come.

V

1ABana, that you? Still breathin'?

Bana Voice

1ALater. I'm hurt and those scavs… I-I'll explain once they're gone…

V

1BBana? How'd you link to me?

Bana Voice

1BI've hacked the local net. Listen, I'm hurt and those scavs… I-I'll explain once they're gone…

V

Copy. Where you at?

Bana Voice

Go to the main museum hall. I'll lead you from there…

V

Look, took care of the scavs chasin' ya. Only a couple hours 'fore they're on your ass again. First thing I'd do is hit the stadium, find a ripper.

Target

Ah, it's just a scratch. I'll live.

V

Not talkin' 'bout your wound. Identity change, Katya. Get a new faceplate, fingerprints, retinas, the full package. Then sell the data. No price-hagglin', take what you can.

Hold it. Wanna know how much your SovOil intel's worth first.

Target

Don't do this, please. The data is my only chance for new life.

I will give you something else, merc. Please, just listen.

V

For you, Dogtown's a burnt bridge. But nomads, they're not picky about clients. Could get you a deal on the data.

Target

How do I find them? I have to locate their camps...?

V

They'll find you. Hit the Badlands, jack in a radio. Some clan's bound to pick you up.

I'm listenin'. Go.

Target

I have Bana's biomonitor. You are reasonable, so I give it to you. There's also a stash in Dogtown with my gear. I give you the coordinates, OK?

V

There a catch?

Target

No catch. You let me go, that is all. What do you care about some Bana?

V

2ADeal. Flip me the coords.

Target

2ASending...

V

2AAnd you – better delta.

Target

2AJa, natürlich. Danke.

V

2BHmph – thing is, I do care. And you're outta luck.

Target

2BJust take the biomonitor! Please, don't shoot! You'll never see me again…

4ALeave me be. Please.

Bana Voice

Good. Ribakov is finished. I'm waiting for you upstairs.

Ana

V? Ana here. You're approaching Bana's signal.

V

Think the man's there, too – alive.

Ana

What?... OK, I'll keep this channel open. Over.

Bana Voice

Is everything OK? I'm waiting.

Bana Impersonated

Please, stay calm.

Target

Allow me to explain.

V

5AThe hell're you?

Target

5AI've been waiting for you.

V

5BBetter 'splain why you're using Bana's voice.

Target

5BIt's a voicechanger implant. I had to be sure you'd come to help.

Katya Karelina, SovOil... formerly. I need your agency's help. You're on comms with your people, yes?

V

They hear ya.

V

6ABana – where is he?

Target

6AThat is no longer relevant.

V

6BHow'd you get Bana's biomon?

Target

6BHe no longer needed it. And, well… you wouldn't have found me otherwise.

V

6BWhaddya mean he didn't need it?

Target

Bana is dead.

V

7AGreat. Now tell me how you know.

7BAh, so he was runnin' from you. Zero him yourself?

Target

Listen to me. I fell out of favor at SovOil. Now they're hunting me.

SovOil does not simply... give up the hunt.

V

Doesn't answer my question.

Ana

I ran her scans, V. She's a "data acquisition specialist." An interrogator.

V

8ASovOil ain't here – I am. Now, Bana. Spill the detes.

8BAnother agent, right? A specialist, interrogation. Got the feelin' you and Bana crossed paths.

Target

All right. We caught Bana in Dogtown. At first, we didn't know who he worked for.

That became clear during questioning. I kept him alive, gave him treatment, but then, later… it wasn't me.

Ana

She's lying. V, new orders. Kill her like the bitch dog she is and take the biomonitor. Over and out.

V

Ana...? Ana!

Target

Your people, what did they say?

V

9ABrazil wants you dead. Guess who's gotta pull the trigger.

9BReally don't wanna know.

Target

W-what do we talk for? I have valuable data for you and your people. Let's be professional, yes?

V

Look, they're not "my people." Bana's besties hired me to find him or his biomon, that's it.

Target

No-no-no-no, wait. You are a merc, yes? I was doing my job, just like you. You understand?

I have a proposition. Please, hear me out.

V

10BNah, think I'll just finish my "job."

Bana Voice

I've blocked the doors to keep the scavs out. Get rid of them, then I'll let you inside.

V

Roger that.

Ana

Good. The bitch was plotting something, no doubt. She must've been there when Bana… OK, just take the biomon and come back to us.

Bana Voice

Perfect! Go to the main hall – there's a flight of stairs at the back. Take them, you'll find me upstairs.

Careful now. Some elite soldier, Ribakov, is lurking nearby. Keep your optics online.

You'll see a door – take it.

Ana

Where the hell's Bana?!

No... she must've done it!

Target

I have valuable data. If you help me, you get it. Everybody wins.

Ja, natürlich. Danke.