Dialogue: Automatic Love

Braindance Client

What's this one do?

Braindance Client

Use your imagination.

Braindance Client

Why do you think I came here? So I wouldn't have to...

Netrunner

Yeah, I can see that...

Ahem. You chosen something?

How can I be of service?

V

1ALookin' for, uh, somethin'... special. A braindance to really…

Netrunner

1AYou mean… smut?

V

1ANah. More hardcore.

Netrunner

1AWon't find it here. But there's a guy on Jig-Jig Street has a whole lotta peculiar flicks, and I mean peculiar...

V

1BGot anything that might interest me?

Braindance Client

Lookin' for somethin' raw, untouched.

Braindance Dealer

Raw's all you get with me. What's your edge?

Braindance Client

Want somethin' that'll floor me, really scramble the neurons.

Braindance Dealer

We've got it all, man. Bare-knuckle boxing, shootouts, black ops interrogations, amputations…

Braindance Client

Nah... I mean something like... Well, y'know.

Braindance Dealer

Fetishes?

Braindance Client

No. C'mon, you know what I mean.

Braindance Dealer

No, I don't. Think I'd be doin' this job if I could read minds?

Braindance Client

I wanna know what it's like t-to... kill somebody.

Braindance Dealer

See? Wasn't so hard. So, got some classics from the last corp war, or armed robbery if you're lookin' for something fresher.

Whaddaya lookin' for?

V

2ALookin' for BDs. A particular kind.

Braindance Dealer

2AParticular...?

2AYou a badge?

2APeople that make these? Heh, OBSESSED with privacy.

2ANever even occurred to me to ask where they're from. To which caution I prolly owe the fact that I'm still alive, talkin' to you.

V

3AGot anything that might interest me?

Braindance Dealer

3APleasure doin' biz with ya.

V

3BHow 'bout a discount for your newest customer?

Braindance Dealer

3BOnly give regulars discounts. If you're short, then fuck off.

V

3CI'm no connoisseur, trust me.

Braindance Dealer

3CHm, sure.

V

3CAll I need to know is who makes 'em… and where.

Braindance Dealer

3CNow listen, I just sell whatever sells. Nice, calm job. Lemme see some eddies, you can pick one, parse it, an' I won't care a hair.

V

3DWhere do you get these scrolls?

Braindance Dealer

3DSaid you weren't a pig.

V

3DJust curious, that's all.

Braindance Dealer

3DOnce you've booted up your virtu, daresay your curiosity will be satisfied.

V

2AIf I was a badge, you'd already be in cuffs for what you sold the customer before me.

Braindance Dealer

2AAll right, all right, can't be too careful.

2AWhat do you want?

V

2AGimme the best of the best. Ones with the Death's Head.

Braindance Dealer

2AHmm... Didn't know I was dealin' with a connoisseur. Death's Head'll cost ya, though.

V

2ACops are like kids – mommy and daddy wouldn't let 'em go off on their lonesome.

V

2BWhat've you got?

Braindance Dealer

2BVirtus.

V

2BAny special kind?

Braindance Dealer

2BWell, lemme put it to you this way – those who know, don't need to ask.

V

2CSee a woman here with blue hair? Young, total knock-out?

Braindance Dealer

2CY'know, you're the first person I've seen in months who actually fits that description.

2CIf I'd seen a young, knock-out chick, I'd remember her. Gonna remember you, though, heheh.

V

2DLookin' for a ripperdoc goes by Fingers. Heard of him?

Braindance Dealer

2DFingers, Fingers... Sets off a buzzer, tell you that much.

V

2DKnow where I can find him?

Braindance Dealer

2DNot a clue in the world.

Braindance Client

I'll come back some other time…

Braindance Dealer

Bettin' on it.

How 'bout you? Ya buyin' or just gonna stand there like a pig undercover?

Gang

'Ey yo, man! You try to rip us off?

I got four bags missin' here!

Gang

That's the cut I got off Pablo. Don't like it, take it up with him.

Gang

I ain't dealin' with Pablo. I'm dealin' with you. That means you an' me got a problem.

Now, I could paint the sidewalk with your guts, but that wouldn't get me what I'm owed.

Gang

Oh, you wanna try? Go on, son!

Gang Prostitute

He chipped you for free? Fuck off.

Gang Prostitute

Yep. Gear looks a little basic, but it works.

Gang Prostitute

So he didn't ask for any money? Nada, not even instalments?

Gang Prostitute

Like I said, he just finished and said, "See ya next time."

Gang Pimp

Couldn't've been just a bit more careful?

Gang Prostitute

But I was! And I gotta work out, y'know.

If anyone wanted to see a jelly-roll, they'd sit at home and look in the mirror.

Gang Pimp

I'm short. Don't got the eddies to fix you up.

Gang Prostitute

Stop whiffin' for a week, you'll have plenty. And if I don't work, we're both goin' hungry.

Gang Pimp

Fine... I'll borrow some. Go get yourself fixed up at the ripper's. Tell him he'll have the eddies tomorrow.

Judy

V, hey.

Queue

Helloooooo? There's a line...?

Mitzi

Nuh-uh, you ain't cuttin'!

Queue

Sit your ass down and wait your turn!

V

1AWhat're you even doing here, Judy?

Judy

1ASame thing as you. Looking for Evelyn.

V

2AYou talk to Fingers yet?

Judy

2AIf only. He's harder to get in to see than the best docs in town.

2AWe're gonna be here forever, I just know it. Maybe you could talk to those girls, see if we can't cut in front?

V

2AWhy me?

Judy

2AI don't think they like me. Just give it a shot. That or come up with something better.

V

3AThink Evelyn's being kept here somewhere?

Judy

3AOn the one hand hope she is, 'cause I want her back fast.

3ABut on the other, hope to God no, because who knows what that sick fuck could've done to her.

V

3BShe means a lot to you, doesn't she?

Judy

3BAnd you've arrived at that conclusion how, exactly?

V

3BMoment you knew where she was, you sprang into action.

Judy

3BOnce you get close to Evelyn, you never wanna let her go.

V

3CYou worked at Clouds?

Judy

3CNot as a doll. Tuned their virtus.

3CThat's where I met Ev, Tom and the rest of the crew.

Mitzi

2AJus' watch you don't break your legs, honey? Gonna be beggin' Fingers for a new pair.

V

4AFingers – where'll I find him?

Queue

4AHe's operatin' on somebody right now.

Mitzi

4ABeen in there for ages… Shouldn't be much longer.

Queue

4ADon't hold your breath. I've spent hours waitin' for him to come out.

4ASpecially when he collects "payment" right after the procedure! Hehehe.

V

4BFingers a friend to the workin' guys and girls 'round here?

Queue

4BHelped me.

4BI'd be in a wheelchair if it wasn’t for him.

Judy

4BHe chipped you some chrome with RealSkinn that had peeled off. What he replaced it with looks like a bathroom floor from a senior home.

Queue

4BBetter than bein' a cripple.

V

4CYou seen a woman with blue hair around here? Had a doll chip.

Queue

4CThink I know who you're talkin' about... Fingers worked on 'er, sure.

V

4CShe still here?

Queue

4CNo idea. Gotta ask him.

V

5AHere. This oughta cover you for some real chrome. From a real ripper.

Queue

5AIf you're flush enough to afford a "real ripper," then what're you doing here?

Mitzi

5AHell do you care? She's here 'cause she feel like it. Now thank the lady and le'ss you an' me delta.

V

6AC'mon, let's go.

V

7AFine, fine. I'll wait.

Mitzi

7AEverybody gotta wait their turn, that's the rule.

V

5BI need to talk to him. It's important.

Queue

5BYou think we're just here to polish our nails, hm?

Mitzi

5BI'll let you cut in front of me.

Queue

5BYou're a real pain in my clit, Mitzy, know that? And you... might as well knock and find out when he's moppin' up.

5BS'posed to be a goddamn clinic, not an enny-op launderette.

Mitzi

5BGo on, now, don't you worry about her.

V

5CMy friend here? She's in really sorry shape. Couldn't let us cut in front, just this once?

Judy

5CAaaaarghh...

Mitzi

5C'Course, honey, be my guest.

Queue

5CWell now, hold on, hold on a sec. Didn't seem so bad just a minute ago.

V

5CShe's a toughie. Keeps it inside, mostly.

5DSorry, don't have time to sit around.

Queue

5DUh, that makes three of us.

V

5DTell you what makes three. Number of seconds it'll take me to turn this place upside down, inside out.

Queue

5DJeeeez, all right! You got nerve. Don't let me stop you if you're in such a goddamn hurry…

V

5EFine, fine. I'll wait.

Mitzi

5EEverybody gotta wait their turn, that's the rule.

V

2BMox don't happen to have Fingers in their crosshairs?

Judy

2BNo. Why?

V

2BHeard joytoys come out of his clinic in worse shape than they come in.

Judy

2BYeah, well... can't solve all the world's problems at once.

V

2CAfter the heist, Evelyn holed up with the Mox for a while, right?

Judy

2CThat's right.

V

2CSo why the hell'd she go back to Clouds?

Judy

2CThought she'd be safer there. God knows why.

2CTried to get her to see straight, but she just wouldn't listen.

V

2DThis friend of yours – who is it?

Judy

2DTom Caldera. Works as a doll there.

2DNever bothered to mention Evelyn had disappeared when we talked. Then you came around asking questions. Got him scratching his head.

V

2DDidn't strike me as the brightest bulb of the batch.

Judy

2DSorry, but right now I could give a shit about what does or does not strike you.

2DLet's just concentrate on finding Evelyn? I'm starting to get worried, seriously.

V

8AHow'd you know to look for Evelyn here?

Judy

8AGot friends at Clouds. Word spreads out of there quicker than the clap.

V

8AMeaning?

Judy

8AFriend told me what you dug up, so here I am.

V

8BMean to say, this whole time you knew Evelyn wasn't at Clouds?

Judy

8BWho do you take me for? Why would I lie about something like that?

V

8BBecause you don't trust me?

Judy

8BYou're right, I don't. But that doesn't make me a liar.

V

1BGlad to see a familiar face.

Judy

1BI'm worried sick about her, V. Had no idea anything'd happened.

V

1BWe'll find her, I know we will.

1CFingers guy – you know 'im?

Judy

1CHeard some things, yeah…

V

1CLike...?

Judy

1CHis hand sometimes slips.

Queue

Helloooooo? There's a line...?

Mitzi

Nuh-uh, you ain't cuttin'!

Queue

Sit your ass down and wait your turn!

Judy

Made it all the way here, huh? Must really wanna talk to Evelyn…

Prostitute Upstairs

Fuck off and leave me be!

Goon Upstairs

Fine, I get it. Everyone's got their breakin' point. Just pay me what you owe me and you can fuck off to greener pastures.

Prostitute Upstairs

Hah! I don't owe you shit.

Goon Upstairs

Oh, but you do. And that shit has a name – something around twenty thou.

Prostitute Upstairs

What?! Come on, you pulled that number out of your ass!

Goon Upstairs

Ey, watch that tone with me, ya skank.

Hey, look in the mirror. Who paid for all that? Think Fingers woulda fixed a cracked faceplate for free? You want out, you gotta pay me back.

Judy

Hey, hands off her!

Goon Upstairs

Think I'm scared of your skinny ass?

Judy

You will be when every Mox in town descends on this shithole.

You got a financial claim, take it to court, you pussy.

Prostitute Upstairs

Fuck off and leave me be!

Goon Upstairs

Fine, I get it. Everyone's got their breakin' point. Just pay me what you owe me and you can fuck off to greener pastures.

Prostitute Trip

Nah, nah. I'd rather live here.

Just don't turn off the lights.

Summer means rain, means I have to sit in the basement the whole time.

V

9AFingers – know where I can find him?

Prostitute Trip

9AIf I could I'd swap, y'know.

9AWhy does everythin' have to be so damn... convoluted.

9AIn the end, all you got left are shredded cables and empty bottles.

V

9BHey, you all right?

Prostitute Trip

9BNo way I'm 'onna swim. I hate water.

9BCan't you see nobody cares?!

Mitzi

Hope that teaches those candy-ass scopsuckers not to come 'round here no more.

Tha'ss just a straight circus act. Fuckin' a-cro-ba-tics, flyin' in an' shit?

Queue

Yeh, yeh, twitty bird… heheh.

Goon

Eh. Nothing special.

Well, well, whadda we got here? female V only

Ain't you just the cutest thing. female V only

If you're lookin' for a release, I just might be your man… female V only

V

10AGot an issue needs sortin' out. Here to do that.

10ASo how about you fuck off, let me through and no one will be the wiser?

Goon

10ATsk-tsk-tsk, so serious from the get-go? I was only joking, sheesh.

10AFine... let her through, Sludge.

V

10BLook, I don't want any trouble.

10BJust let me through, pretty please.

Goon

10BHow 'bout you pretty please me, hehe?

10BAll riiiiight, all right, go on.

V

10CGot a message for Fingers. Comes from the Tyger Claws.

Goon

10CAnd that message would be...?

V

10CTwo things – urgent and confidential.

Goon

10CMeaning?

V

10CMeaning you've got a choice.

Goon

10COh yeah?

V

10CYou either get your shit kicked in for being slow or for being a nosy prick.

10DLooking for a ripperdoc – goes by Fingers.

10DKnow where I can find him?

Goon

10DWho's askin'? And why?

V

10DGot a problem with an implant.

Goon

10DNot from around here. Couldn't find another ripper in the city to patch you up?

V

10DHeard Fingers was the best.

Goon

10DYeah, the best for joygirls. Are you a whore?

V

12BNo, but you are – from the look of things.

Goon

12BYo, you hear what this bitch said to me? Best watch your tongue!

V

12BI'd say it again. But what for? Your little skull sponge can't possibly get its grey cells around it.

Goon

12BBest apologize for that, bitch!

V

12BAll right, might've overdone it a smidge. Sorry.

Goon

12BToo fucking late now! Can't unsay words you've said!

12BLil Loco'll just stuff 'em back down your throat till you choke!

V

12BGotta be worth a damn to get an apology from me.

12BAnd you're trash, not worth shit.

Goon

12BNobody talks that way to Lil' Loco!

V

10DAn escort. For special tastes.

10DLookin' for a ripper who can cater to my special needs.

Goon

10DGood... Fingers'll like you. Let her through!

V

10DMy biz not yours. Lookin' for him 'cause I feel like it. Now get outta my way.

Goon

10DNobody talks that way to us!

V

10EKindly get the fuck outta my way.

Goon

Ey, not one step closer.

Here to see who?

Mitzi

Woooo! Thass' right! You get 'em, girl!

Prostitute Upstairs

Fuck off and leave me be!

Goon

What's this? Lost your thunder?

Goon

Nuh-uh. Not gettin' anywhere that way.

Lost your way?

Goon

This way, that way… this a fuckin' a dance floor?

Fingers

Hmm... How 'bout now?

Prostitute

Better.

Wait, something's wrong... Can't see nothin' but a blur.

Fingers

Faceplate's previous owner had a longer face than you – edges're stretchin' your optic nerves.

Judy

Finally! Let's just hope three hours of sittin' on our asses hasn't meant the difference 'tween life and death for her.

Fingers

Don't worry, your eyes'll adjust. Eventually.

Yes, hello? What can I do for you?

V

1ANeed a minute of your time.

Fingers

1AA minute, that's all? Shame, could watch those juicy lips of your flap for hours, days! But I'm busy right now…

V

1BLooking for a girl named Evelyn Parker. I know she was here in your... clinic.

Fingers

1BAhh, so that's what this is about...

V

1BWhere is she?

Fingers

1BUgh. A loaded question if I've ever heard one…

Judy

Think he's done.

We going in?

Queue

Helllooooo?! We were here first?

V

Well now you're second.

Judy

We going in?

Fingers

Now try to open those luscious lips of yours.

Prostitute

Mmnmnmhmhmh...

Fingers

Hmm... How 'bout now?

Prostitute

Better.

Wait, something's wrong... Can't see nothin' but a blur.

Fingers

Faceplate's previous owner had a longer face than you – edges're stretchin' your optic nerves.

Don't worry, your eyes'll adjust. Eventually.

V

Looks like we're up.

Prostitute

Doc, what the hell?

Fingers

What the-- Hey! This isn't some s-keef den in Pacifica! Sit and wait your turn!

You see, my patient here is likely to feel ever so slightly awkward if I leave half her face off.

I'll need you to be a big girl, now. This could hurt!

Prostitute

Aaaaaaaargh!

Fingers

Bear with me just one more second…

There. How's it feel?

Prostitute

Ugh. Fine, I guess.

Fingers

Looks fine, too... And it never hurts to smile, sweetheart.

Yes, but I have a procedure I must finish. May I?

V

3AYou can go back and play doctor once you're done with us.

Fingers

3AI guess you'll have to wait, darling, circumstances what they are!

Prostitute

3AMy fuckin' eye can't wait!

Fingers

3AThere, there, wipe away your tears. Don't want any short-circuiting now, do we?

V

3BFine. I'll wait.

V

4ALooking for a girl named Evelyn Parker. Know she came here, to your... clinic.

4BTell me where Evelyn Parker is.

V

5AUpper eyelid retractor on that faceplate's busted. She won't be able to close her eye completely.

Fingers

5AYou think I don't know that…? Sadly, this is the secondhand shlock I'm forced to make do with.

Judy

5AThirdhand and fourth-hand, too, by the look of things…

Fingers

5AConsider the alternative – no eyelid at all, no faceplate to speak of.

V

5BCuttin' her a really shitty deal, doc. Faceplate's got a busted eyelid retractor.

Fingers

5BHey! My patient is fully aware of her impending upgrade's drawbacks.

5BConsider the alternative – no eyelid at all, no faceplate to speak of.

V

6AGot a couple questions. Quicker you answer, quicker we'll leave you to get back to your patients.

Fingers

6ALogical through and through. Impossible to argue with.

V

6BWhere's Evelyn Parker? I know she wound up here, at your… clinic.

Fingers

6BEvelyn, Evelyn... Hm...

V

6BThink real hard, now.

Queue

Someone ain't messin' around...

Queue

Fuckin' cattle...

Fingers

Wha...?! What the hell is this?!

What – there's more of you?!

Queue

Now I ain't never seen nobody cut a line like that before...

Fingers

Get out of my clinic! Right now – via the door!

Judy

Oh. You're already here? Could've told me you weren't a door-person.

Fingers

Now try to open those luscious lips of yours.

Prostitute

Mmnmnmhmhmh...

Fingers

Hmm... How 'bout now?

Prostitute

Better.

Wait, something's wrong... Can't see nothin' but a blur.

Fingers

Faceplate's previous owner had a longer face than you – edges're stretchin' your optic nerves.

Don't worry, your eyes'll adjust. Eventually.

Prostitute

Doc, what the hell?

Judy

Don't have time for that.

Queue

Now I ain't never seen nobody cut a line like that before...

V

I'm the one asking the questions here. Was Woodman the one who introduced Evelyn to you?

Fingers

Introduced? Interesting choice of words. Rolled her in on a gurney, more like. She was out of it. I honestly couldn't believe she wasn't dead.

Never mentioned her name, so I just called her "Doll."

Poor girl… Tried to help her, I did. But as you can see, this isn't exactly a state-of-the-art facility…

V

1AGet to the point.

Fingers

1AThe point? Ah, yes. Well, I haven't the faintest idea where she is.

Judy

1AEnough of this BULLSHIT! What'd you do to her, you freak?!

Fingers

1ANow, either you put a muzzle on this... creature... or put her down. It's impossible to have a conversation with her around.

V

2ADon't talk to her like that.

Fingers

2AShe insulted me!

V

2ALook, the quicker you spill, the shorter you'll have to put up with us.

2ANow, Evelyn Parker. Where is she?

Fingers

2ACould very well be on her way to becoming the next underground braindance darling! That's all I know.

V

3AWhere'll we find her?

Fingers

3AI like you, heheh. You're... frisky, intrepid.

3AWhen I realized I wouldn't be able to help her, patch her up, I called my fixer.

3ATwo guys came and picked her up the same day.

V

4AWhere'd they take her?

Fingers

4AI told you already – I don't know. They weren't the talkative kind, and I'm no gonk. I know better than to ask questions of people like that.

Judy

4AYou're no gonk? What do you think, why do all these girls come here, let you grope around 'em? Think it's for your charm, your caring attitude?

4AThey do it 'cause they don't got no choice. And in the end, they despise you, they can smell you're pathetic.

V

5AThe two that came for her... didn't say anything about where they'd take her, what they were gonna do to her?

Fingers

5AMentioned something about virtus with... a moth, of all things. Said she'd be perfect for them, whatever that means.

5ABut that is really all I know.

Judy

5AYou pawned her off like she was some fucking inanimate mannequin.

Fingers

5ABecause that is exactly what she was.

Judy

5ANeed air. I'll be outside.

V

6AJudy's right. People like you make this city a living hell, day in, day out.

Fingers

6AGot what you wanted, didn't you? So get the fuck outta here!

V

6BShe, uh… overdid it a bit. Tempers've been running high lately.

Fingers

6BYes, well, you're a far more reasonable beast. Prettier, too.

V

5BThese guys, what'd they look like?

Fingers

5BLike you, me, anyone else in this city!

V

5BReally now? They looked like you...?

Fingers

5BThey looked like the kinda guys you don't make eye contact with. One of 'em was a bearded fellow.

V

4BWho'd you call? Who's your fixer?

Fingers

4BWakako. Told her I had a busted doll with a BD implant to hand off.

3AHow many times do I have to repeat myself?! I don't know. I... I did what anyone in my place would do.

V

3BYou're sure about this?

Fingers

3BFour days I had her here. She was out cold, in la-la land, for practically every minute.

3BIt wasn't a slumber party, we didn't have pillow fights and promise to send each other postcards.

V

3CWhat do you mean by "underground"?

Fingers

3CI don't know. I mean, I don't watch that sort of stuff.

Judy

3CSnuff? XBDs?

Fingers

3CI told you, I don't know!

V

2BYou're scum, pathetic, a waste of words. I'm a hair away from putting YOU down.

Fingers

2BTwo beefers from a BD studio took her. Didn't even know their names!

V

7BWant details, dammit! Name the studio!

Fingers

2BThey mentioned a moth, of all things, virtus with the Death's Head! Said she'd be good for the moth!

Judy

2BNeed air. I'll be outside.

V

9AJude, calm down, OK? You're not helping.

9ALemme do the talking.

1BMentioned you couldn't help her. Help her with what, exactly?

Fingers

1BIf I only knew, I wager she'd be standin' here, happy and smiling.

1BInstruction register on her chip was burnt to a crisp. Tried replacing it. Nothing.

V

1BDamage was caused by a netrunner using homebrewed malware.

Fingers

1BSounds about right.

V

1BAny idea what caused the damage?

Fingers

1BTech was top-notch. Didn't go kerplunk on its own, that's for sure.

V

1BSaying she was targeted?

Fingers

1BA netrunner, as I see it. One with some serious code up their sleeve, too.

You, I recall. You've visited me before.

Whereas you, I can't quite place... Lemme guess – Tyger Claws?

Judy

I'm with the Mox.

Fingers

Ah, the Mox... enchanté.

So. What brings you here?

V

10AEvelyn Parker. Need to know where she is.

Fingers

10AStep into my office, please.

10AMany girls come through here. So many. But let me put it to you this way – I believe in giving each of them the personal touch. Ask anyone.

10AI'm more than a chop-doc. See, I know what people truly want. To be flattered, praised, patted. To feel like... like they deserve it.

10AOf course... I can't remember each and every one... female V only

10AEven if it's a specimen as exquisite as you. female V only

10APlease, set your exquisite derrieres down.

10AOf course... I can't remember each and every one... male V only

V

11AWhat about your logs? Gotta have some kinda record...

Fingers

11ATech like this you don't register, don't put any names down for it.

V

11ABlue hair, doll chip, best braindance gear ever, though damaged. Was she here?

11BMox've got a low tolerance for scum like you.

11BRight now, I'm the one thing standing between you and a particularly feisty and furious member of the gang.

11BSo tell me where Evelyn is or I'll let her to talk to you.

11CForrest. Name mean anything to you?

Fingers

11CNope.

V

11CThey call him Woodman. Works at the dollhouse.

Fingers

11CYou... you talked to him?

V

12BWasn't too happy about the way Woodman treated his employees.

12BSo I zeroed 'im.

12BNot too fond of you, either, right about now. So careful what you say.

12CDidn't like Woodman's tone.

12CSo I made sure he'll have a tough time speaking for a while.

12DWoodman and I, we had a talk. Told me he brought her here to you.

12DSaid you paid him for her. What good was she to you?

Fingers

12DHeheheh... you must've misheard. First of all, I didn't pay an enny for her. He paid ME to take her in.

12DSecond, I never laid eyes on those eddies in the end 'cause I couldn't re-jig her implant.

12DSo... he left her with me as payment for my efforts.

Judy

12DI can't fucking listen to this. We are talking about a living, breathing person!

Fingers

12DHalf alive. Technically.

V

11DWent jittery soon as I mentioned her name. Don't try gettin' out of this. I know you remember her.

Fingers

11DI... I have a neurological condition! Not easy living with tics. Really, I'd love to help if I only knew who you were talking about.

V

13ASuggest you start remembering all you can. Either that or I'll make sure you never forget my face.

Fingers

10AI'll be more than glad to show you around... but, uh, later, perhaps?

V

10BAlready told you. I'm lookin' for a woman named Evelyn Parker. Need to know where she is.

10CUsed to ride with nomads. Resourceful folk.

10CWouldn't cast aside anything until it was worn down, dead, couldn't be fixed or reused in some other way…

10CBut what you're giving these girls... not even nomads would touch that…

Fingers

10CPlease, let's not exaggerate. I give them what I can…

10CYou looking for... a friend? Hahaha.

10CWhat do you two want?

V

10DThese girls know you're chippin' faulty implants?

Fingers

10DYou might say so. I'd say they're the very best I can find. See?

Judy

10DWhat's in it for you?

Fingers

10DWhatever they have to offer. And they ALWAYS have something to offer, heheheh.

Judy

10DYou're a sick fuck. Know that?!

V

10EHeard you help the workin' girls around here.

Fingers

10EWell, very few children will play with broken toys. So when skin goes flabby, sockets go out of whack, implants malfunction, I... I'm sure you get the gist.

10EYou pay for goods, you expect top quality. Consumerism one-oh-one.

Judy

10EPlease. Scrapyards offer better quality than this.

Fingers

You Tyger Claws? Far as I know, I'm all paid up.

Judy

We're with the Mox.

Fingers

The Mox! Why didn't you say so?

I swear on my life, I don't know where she is!

Judy

Let's end this fucking circus.

Fingers

O-ok! Just p-please... not my nose...!

I really don't know anything else... Please…

Judy

I let her go back to Clouds. Coulda stopped her but I didn't...

And you two... got along swimmingly, didn't ya? Exchange numbers, too?

Two birds of a fucking feather.

V

1ALosing our cool won't do us any favors. It's a waste of time.

Judy

1AOh, I'm cool. Real fuckin' cool with the fact that Ev's probably already dead!

V

1AYou don't know that. And I'm sure as hell not gonna squander precious minutes we could spend lookin'.

Judy

1AOnly lead we got's an XBD. Where's that get us?

V

1AWe also know we're lookin' for something related to the Death's Head. Better than nothing.

Judy

1AI don't get your optimism. Still sounds like a big fat nothing to me.

V

2ANeed to figure out where they're scrollin' this stuff. Gotta be a rat-hole of some sort, doubt they do much shooting on location.

Judy

2AYeah, gotta be somewhere quiet, out of the way.

V

2ACould be we'd see something to point us in their direction in one of their virtus.

Judy

2AUgh. Have to be real gonks to leave a clue…

V

3AGot a better idea?

Judy

3AMatter of fact, I do. A domain called "Pleasures of Night City" – there's a twin of it on the dark net.

V

3BEveryone, everything leaves something behind. Just need to know where to look.

3BLucky for me, I'm runnin' around with the best BD specialist in town. That's an extra pair of expert eyes.

Judy

3BWell, your BD expert has a better idea. "Pleasures of Night City," a domain with its twin on the dark net.

2AEvery kind of thing goes on there. Might stumble on something useful.

V

4AThink I've got a better idea.

4ASaw a virtu pusher on Jig-Jig Street. Had a wide selection.

Judy

4AHm, took your sweet time getting to Fingers...

V

4ADrop it, will ya?

Judy

4AAll right, the pusher – what about him?

V

4ACould have what we're looking for.

4AKnow where we can get our hands on an XBD. Might not be a Death's Head, but it'll be a start.

4AWas on a contract taken out on a guy named Jotaro Shobo.

Judy

4AMhm. The Mox put a bounty on his head. So you were the one to cut him down?

V

4AFound out he was dealin' in XBDs, sourced from someone on Jig-Jig Street. Got the coordinates.

4ASaw a smut shop on Jig-Jig Street. All kinds of stuff there.

Judy

4AThink you might find a Death's Head?

V

4ACan't hurt to try.

4BThink I'll try calling Wakako. Fixer Fingers mentioned.

Judy

4BThought of an angle to run on her?

V

4BWhy would I need one?

Judy

4BEven if she knows the studio's location, she's not gonna spill. Be putting her neck on the line.

V

4BHm. M'kay. I'm buyin' the braindance. We can analyze, play detective.

Judy

4BFine.

V

4BKnow a fixer in Westbrook. I'll drop her a line.

Judy

4BV, fixers don't hand out information right and left.

V

4BDone a couple of things for her, not that she owes me… But let's see what she has to say.

4CDark net domain, that's our best bet. Let's stick to the plan.

Judy

4CFine. Here's hoping you turn up something useful.

2AI'll wait in the van.

2AMeantime, see if I can't find something on the NCP domain.

V

2ALemme think for a sec.

2BDeath's Head symbol bring anything to mind? Anything, doesn't matter how small.

Judy

2BThis industry... I mean, market's lookin' for every kind of fetish out there. It's cavernous. But an XBD outfit'd be on the move almost always.

2BMakes 'em harder to nab, harder to sting.

V

1BDon't worry, we'll find her. I know it.

Judy

1BWe'll fuckin' find what's left of her butchered corpse.

V

1BHey! Keep it together! Wanna give up, now?

Judy

1BNo...

1BOnly lead we got's an XBD. Where's that get us?

V

1BWe also know we're lookin' for something related to the Death's Head. Better than nothing.

Judy

1BI don't get your optimism. Still sounds like a big fat nothing to me.

V

1CCan we not lose our cool? Said what I needed to learn what we now know.

Judy

1CReally? Ya seemed forgiving to me, like you were letting him off easy.

V

1DTrust me, Judy – compared to the pieces of shit I scrape off my shoe every day…

1DFingers doesn't come close to being half their brand of rotten.

Judy

1DGot no fucking words, V, none…

V

No time to lose. We gotta go there.

Judy

Definitely. Ride with me?

V

5ALet's get going.

Judy

5AOn our way.

V

5BWe'll meet on site. Need to get a few things together first.

Judy

5BOK… Just not too long, all right?

Hop in.

Judy

6ALemme get everything prepped. You make sure the wreath's snug on you.

6AYou'll watch while I edit in real-time. The ol' one-two.

V

7AReady when you are.

Judy

7AWant to you describe what you see. Might catch something I'd miss.

It's not her.

V

Would've been pretty strange if the recording we found was hers…

Judy

That supposed to make me feel better?

V

Of course. Of all the freaks in Night City, it had to be fuckin' scavs?

Judy

Building must've been abandoned for a while if they've annexed it.