Dialogue: Firestarter

Reed

Do it!

Aymeric

No, no, no!

V

Whoa!

What in the fuck…?

V

1AFuck, you wiped 'em!

Reed

1AWhat'd you think we'd do? Bind their hands with duct tape, shove socks in their mouths, and wait for 'em to wriggle free and call for help?

1AThis ain't no game, V. It's a simple choice – them or us. I chose us.

V

2AIt's a game, your fuckin' spy game they weren't playin'. They were innocent.

Reed

2AThat's not quite how I'd describe two pro criminals.

2AThese "innocents", as you call them, wouldn't hesitate to rob you for everything you got. Or put a bullet in your back.

2AA'right, we have fresh disguises all ready. But you still need to lift the access codes off 'em. Aurore's the one to check for those.

V

2BIt is a game, your fuckin' spy game they weren't playin'. They were innocent.

Reed

2BThat's not quite how I'd describe two pro criminals.

2BThese "innocents", as you call them, wouldn't hesitate to rob you for everything you got. Or put a bullet in your back.

2BA'right, we have fresh disguises all ready. But you still need to lift the access codes off 'em. Aurore's the one to check for those.

V

2CRight... Greater good, need to make tough calls.

Reed

2CThe greater good, the lesser evil – in the end it's the same, whatever comforts you and helps you do the right thing.

2CA'right, we have fresh disguises all ready. But you still need to lift the access codes off 'em. Aurore's the one to check for those.

V

3AAlex, you knew about this. This… execution.

Alex Female

3A'Course I knew – textbook move. Not exactly my first mission, V.

3ACall like that comes with the territory.

V

3BAlex, you knew about this. This… execution.

Alex Female

3B'Course I knew – textbook move. Not exactly my first mission, V.

3BCall like that comes with the territory.

V

4AAlex, you knew about this. This… execution.

Alex Male

4APlease. Not exactly my first mission, V.

4AWanna be all practical, they brought it on themselves.

V

4BAlex, you knew about this. This… execution.

Alex Male

4BPlease. Not exactly my first mission, V.

4BWanna be all practical, they brought it on themselves.

V

1BOK, first step's behind us.

Reed

1BGreat work, V.

1BA'right, we have fresh disguises all ready. But you still need to lift the access codes off 'em. Aurore's the one to check for those.

V

6AAll right, codes transferred.

V

7AUgh… This feels so fucked up…

Alex Female

7AExpect me to believe you've never taken anything off a body before?

V

7BSure she's the one with the codes?

Alex Female

7BDefinitely. Her brother transfers his memories to external databanks, and he's had these stolen before. They wouldn't risk losing these codes.

V

8AUgh… This feels so fucked up…

Alex Male

8AExpect me to believe you've never taken anything off a body before?

V

8BSure she's the one with the codes?

Alex Male

8BDefinitely. Her brother transfers his memories to external databanks, and he's had these stolen before. They wouldn't risk losing these codes.

V

9ATakin' the wheel.

Alex Female Morphing

9AV, behavioral imprint, now.

V

9ATakin' the wheel.

Alex Male Morphing

9AV, behavioral imprint, now.

Reed

Targets neutralized.

C'mon, the plan, we stick to it.

What's the hold up?

Alex Female

Need to move, peeps.

Hansen's not one to wait.

Reed

Swap out your outfit, and let's roll with this.

Alex Female

Well, c'mon.

Alex Male

We're waitin', let's go.

Alex Female

Do it. Do it now.

Alex Male

V…

V

This on...?

Oh shit, my voice... Oh niiice.

V

1AHang on, that's me? What the hell?

Alex Female

1APreem, right?

1AGive it a whirl – introduce yourself.

V

2AOK, here goes…

2AAymeric Cassel.

Alex Female

2AThat it?

V

2AOh, hell yeah.

Alex Female

2AWell, sounded like 'im, at least.

Reed

2AIt can feel like a real trip at first, but you'll get used to it.

Alex Female

2ATake a sec, collect yourself, then we move. Hansen's waitin'.

Reed

2AAlex... it just hit me. This'll be our last op together.

2AI haven't forgotten our deal. Myers greenlit it. A diplomatic mission, no end date. Call it early retirement.

Alex Female

2AThanks much, Reed.

V

3AReady, Aurore?

Alex Female

3AFuckin' bet I am.

3ATech's a natural fit for you. Sound just like him.

V

4AOK, let's get to it.

Reed

4AAll right, stadium, then. See you there.

Guard car checkpoint

4AStop your vehicle. Prepare to have it inspected.

4AYou're good. Come on through.

Alex Female

4AHow 'bout a little refresher before we arrive?

4ARemember – name's Aymeric Cassel.

4ALemme let you in on my secret about how to be someone else. Ask yourself three questions.

4AWhat do they fear? What do they want? What's their deepest secret?

4AGot that? Don't answer now, just.. something to keep in mind. And be him.

4ASo, Aymeric, tell me – your thoughts on Hansen?

V

5AHe is a by-product, a side-effect. A machine of war forged in thousands of battles.

Alex Female

5AAh Christ, a philosopher…

V

5ABut perhaps more importantly, people like Hansen do not make millions if they are easy to read. He is a man of layers interweaving.

Alex Female

5ANova. That was very good.

V

5BHe is a crook, a criminal... He is out of control.

Alex Female

5BControl? Whose?

V

5BMyers. Militech… The government of Night City.

Alex Female

5BEhh, OK... just too much hesitation. Aymeric doesn't think aloud. He speaks with conviction, clear, deliberate sentences.

V

5CSaw him talk to the chief of police, pat him on the cheek. No complaint, nothing. Told me all I needed to know.

5CBut he is a tough bastard, a hard man. He can survive.

Alex Female

5CImpressive recall. Not to mention solid role-play.

4ABefore we go in, remember – he wants something from us, not the other way 'round. We're here to sell 'im Cynosure mainframe access codes.

4AStick to the facts, know who you are and are not.

4AHansen awaits us.

V

6AG'luck, Alex.

Alex Female

6AThis Alex is who? But yes, you as well.

V

6BClear eyes, sharp mind, Aurore.

6CLet us go see him.

Guard

4ASecure area, folks.

4AMoment, please…

Alex Male

4ABefore we go in, remember – he wants something from us, not the other way 'round. We're here to sell 'im Cynosure mainframe access codes.

4AStick to the facts, know who you are and are not.

4AWe're here.

V

7AG'luck, Alex.

Alex Male

7AIt's Aymeric. But thanks, you too.

V

7BDon't lose your goats, Aymeric.

7CLet's get this done.

Guard

4ASecure area, folks.

Alex Male

4AWe have a meeting with Colonel Hansen.

Guard

4AChecking now, need a sec…

Alex Female

4AWatch it!

4AUgh, we're gonna die!

4AGot no words for this...

Alex Male

4AWatch it!

4AWhere the hell ya goin'?!

4AThis car deserves better…

Alex Female

4AThis how you always drive?!

4ARun for your lives, peeps!

4AYou fuckin' crazy?!

Alex Male

4AAurore! Fuck!

4AYour Kiroshis short-circ?!

4AEyes on the road!

Alex Female

4ANot this way.

4AStadium, c'mon. Hansen's waiting.

4AYou lost? What the hell?

Alex Male

4ANo time for this, V! Back on track, dammit!

4AStadium, that's where we're headed.

4AYou lost? Unbelievable!

Alex Female

4AWe have arrived. The hound's den...

Reedholo

4AI'm on site.

4AIn position, ready for the next phase. Talk soon.

Alex Female

4ALet's go, park.

Alex Male

4AHow 'bout a little refresher before we arrive?

4ARemember – name's Aurore Cassel.

4ALet me let you in on my secret 'bout how to be someone else. Ask yourself three questions.

4AWhat do they fear? What do they want? What's their deepest secret?

4AGot that? Don't answer now, just.. somethin' to keep in mind. And be her.

4ASo, Aurore, your thoughts on Hansen – tell me.

V

8AWhat is there to think? The man is a warlord. Big, strong… but disciplined.

8AMore important, he pays much too. And we have deciphered him.

Alex Male

8ANot bad. Specific, opinionated, but you're lackin' some color.

8AHyperbole, bizarre metaphors, huge ego – Aurore in a nutshell.

V

8BOoh la la, the bastard is king of his realm.

8BHe is too big, too strong to be removed. Not by the powers in Night City, not by the NUS.

8BThe locals think – "Ah fuck it, he is OK." And the NUSA? Impotent, it cannot challenge Night City over one man and broken buildings.

Alex Male

8BMan, couldn't agree more.

V

8BPlus, I like his massive balls, hehehe. Not a metaphor… the actual coconuts in his pants.

Alex Male

8BUncanny and disturbing, spot-on Aurore. Good work.

V

8CA hard man…. Just how I like them.

8CIf they have the stamina to match.

Alex Male

8CYou're a good listener. And a natural role-player.

4AWe have arrived. The hound's den...

4ALet's go, park.

V

4BAny pre-op jitters?

Reed

4BKinda, I guess…

V

4BBut…? Hearin' a "but" in there...

Reed

4BIt's just, more than anything... I missed this.

V

2BIntroduce myself? Look at us – they'll know who we are.

Alex Female

2BAh, but you gotta practice. Not that easy being somebody else.

2BGotta walk before you run. A cliché, I know, but just do it. Who are you?

V

2CMust do more than morph your face and voice…

2CGotta alter your biochem make-up, affecting behavior. Peeps're little more than the brain chemicals that make them up.

Alex Female

2CGot it right. New hormonal cocktail.

V

Check, check?

Oh shit, my voice... Niiice.

V

9AHang on, that's me? What the hell?

Alex Male

9APreem, right?

9AGive it a whirl – introduce yourself.

V

10AOK, here goes…

10AAurore Cassel. Who the fuck is asking?

Alex Male

10AHmmm. Not bad.

Reed

10AIt can feel like a real trip at first, but you'll get used to it.

Alex Male

10ATake a sec, collect yourself, then we move. Hansen's waitin'.

Reed

10AAlex... it just hit me. This'll be our last op together.

10AI haven't forgotten our deal. Myers greenlit it. A diplomatic mission, no end date. Call it early retirement.

Alex Male

10AThanks much, Reed.

V

11AAre you ready to fuck shit up?

Alex Male

11AGood, sound just like 'er.

V

12AOK, let's get to it.

Reed

12AAll right, stadium, then. See you there.

V

12BAny pre-op jitters?

Reed

12BKinda, I guess…

V

12BBut…? Hearin' a "but" in there...

Reed

12BIt's just, more than anything... I missed this.

V

10BIntroduce myself? Look at us – they'll know who we are.

Alex Male

10BAh, but you gotta practice. Not that easy bein' somebody else.

10BGotta walk before you run. A cliché, I know, but just do it. Who are you?

V

10CHuh, little miracle must do more than morph your face and voice...

10CGotta fuck with your hormones like a designer drug. Give you hyperspecific highs and lows to change your behavior.

Alex Male

10CMhm. Establishes a new baseline. You just gotta say the right words.

Guard Chat

Preem wheels...

Guard Chat

Rental, dawg. Could be yours for a week, too, when you wants a taste.

Guard Chat

Would you order a synthbeef sirloin for one lick? Choom, I don't do "tastes."

Guard Chat

Did you hear? Some eurotrash are coming to see Kurt.

Guard Chat

Shh, choom, they're already here!

Guard Chat

Er… Eurotrash in like... like the good way.

Guard Chat

Fuck, we're doublin' up at every post. Believe that?

Guard Chat

Something has Hansen all tense.

Guard Chat

Yeah, Hansen and Murphy both, man…

Guard Chat

It's contagious. I feel tense too now.

I wonder what's going on... Those two don't scare easy.

Alex Female

Let's go.

Alex Male

It's go time, peeps.

Alex Female

Chop, chop, Aymeric.

Alex Male

Enough already, let's go.

Reed

Get it together, you two.

Alex Female

It's time to fucking party!

Fuck, let's do this!

Alex Male

Come, it's time to begin.

They're waiting.

Reed

Get it together, you two.

Alex Female

Let's go.

Chop, chop, Aymeric.

Alex Male

It's go time, peeps.

Enough already, let's go.