Dialogue: Ghost Town

V

1AHey.

Bouncer

1AIn ya go.

V

1BHow's things?

Bouncer

1BGo in.

Panam

No. This trouble, the net around me – you wove it.

You know it. I lost everything. Through you.

Rogue

Lemme be plain. Again. Solve your own problems, clean up your shit.

Panam

Do you know what, Rogue? Go fuck yourself.

V

1ARogue? Wanted to talk.

Rogue

1AIt's OK.

V

1BNeed a fixer. Got somethin' that can't wait.

Rogue

1BLet her in.

Hm. Not here, not there. Who're you?

V

Name's V.

Rogue

And what is it you want, V?

Johnny

All these years... It's really her. Fuckin' Rogue, just kickin' it back on a couch at the Afterlife.

Don't mess with 'er. She's got MR-eyes. See right through you. Give 'er the truth.

V

2ANeed your services. Gotta track a guy down.

Rogue

2AMhm?

V

2AAnders Hellman. Hot-shot engineer. Worked for Arasaka.

Rogue

2AMillisec.

2AAnders Hellman. Pinpoint him for me?

V

2AHuh. Thanks.

Rogue

2AJumpin' too soon. First, my help's got a price. Second, and third –

2ADexter DeShawn. Jackie Welles. T-Bug.

2AMultiple bells ringin', V. Left a lot of bodies behind, death walks in your wake. Chalk that up to bad luck?

Johnny

2ATheeere's the bitch I know... Ask her about 'Saka Tower. How they shot me up right in front of her.

V

3AThey knew the risks. All sorts of shit happens – to all sorts of people.

3AEven to the best. To you, too, Rogue.

3AArasaka Tower - 'member? Who'd you lose back then? Johnny something...

Rogue

3AAh. You came prepped. 'Course.

V

3BWanna go through obits? Really?

3BFine. Johnny Silverhand. Zeroed inside Arasaka Tower, before your very eyes.

3BGot more, if you want. Or we could just talk.

Rogue

3BGot 'nads on you, girl. Don't like that on every woman, but they seem to suit you.

2AAnyways... feelings be damned, I've always said. This is pure biz. You need my help, so get those eddies ready.

V

4AGot the cred for the Hellman job.

Rogue

4AFine.

4AAnders Hellman – flick me the detes.

4ATwo, please.

4AMake some room.

4ASiddown.

V

5AHope you found him.

Rogue

5ADon't see that often, determination like yours. Must really need this guy.

V

5AMatter of life and death.

Rogue

5AHeh. Haven't heard that for a while, either.

5ABottle stays.

5AGo ahead, enjoy.

V

6ATo your health.

Rogue

6ATo YOURS, kid. Gonna need it.

6AThanks, Nix.

Johnny

6AQueen of The Afterlife. Who woulda thunk…

Rogue

6AGot a shard for you – intel, interesting stuff.

V

8AThink she'll help?

Johnny

8AThe Rogue I remember was one cold-ass bitch. But she usually went with her gut. Somethin' tells me she thinks you check out.

V

7ALet's see what you got.

Rogue

7AYour Hellman's not on any payroll, not officially, anyway. But he does pop up in QianT's confidential stacks.

7AIt's a Kang Tao subsidiary. Chinese corp.

7AKang Tao's been using them as a fig leaf for years. Their mask for more "sensitive" operations. All that clear?

V

9AProlly keeping him hidden from Arasaka. Must've worked on a top-secret project.

Rogue

9AMhm – hidden from Arasaka or any other megacorp that wants what he knows.

V

9BThink you can track him down?

Rogue

9BGetting a mark on him oughta be easy. Actually grabbing him – another story entirely.

V

9CMust be preppin' him for a transfer.

Rogue

9CHow would you know?

V

9CChinese corpo playbook's an open one to me. This looks like the ol' "vanishing pigeon."

Rogue

7ADecrypted map of upcoming Kang Tao convoy routes.

V

7AThink Hellman might be in one of 'em? Thing is, which one?

Rogue

7ATake a look at the specs on this one – a lone AV, no ground support. No linked cargo manifests, either.

7ASure, Kang Tao sometimes transports stuff unregistered if they wanna push it under the table, but…

7ACatch the load on this AV. Already approved in the system, but too low. So definitely no cargo on board.

7ABUT there's a passenger list – Kang Tao security detail plus one VIP. Transfer from QianT.

V

7AOur boy, Hellman.

Rogue

7AThat was the good news.

V

10ASo what's the bad news?

Rogue

10ABad news is the extraction site. Look – Night City airspace, all this.

V

10AMhm. No way to 'jack the transport without the NCPD picking up on it.

Rogue

10AAnd here, we're too close to Kang Tao. We even give that AV a dirty look, their backup huscle'll be on us.

10ABut... right here's Jackson Plains. Narrow corridor just outside the city and just out of Kang Tao's reach.

V

10AA dead zone. I'll grab him there.

Rogue

10AGonna need a native to the area, someone who'll set up the op, cobble together the gear.

V

11ASo, a native. Know any hick mercs?

Rogue

11AJust one. Panam Palmer.

11AShe can't count on her clan anymore, but she's a true nomad. She knows those lands.

11AAnd she will help you. Won't have a choice.

V

11A"Won't have a choice"? Does not sound enticing – not for her, not for me.

Rogue

11AEnticing comes at a price you can't possibly afford.

V

11ACan't possibly afford to blow this chance at nabbing Hellman.

Rogue

11AYour operation, your call.

V

12AWhy's Panam gotta help me? I sense a catch. Pretty big one.

Rogue

12AOccasionally, Panam moves merch for me. Last job... well, wasn't a good day for her.

V

12AShe run into a hitch?

Rogue

12AComplete bust, actually. Lost the goods and her ride. Panam'll do anything to get the load back. Means her dignity – I know her.

V

12AOK, guess I can try to help her. But if we don't know where to look, I mean…

Rogue

12AWe do. I do.

V

13AFine. Lemme hear what you know.

Rogue

13ARocky Ridge, ghost town just outside Night City. Panam knows where.

13AYou'll go there, get the merch back. Wheels, too.

13ANaturally, you'll call her first. Sendin' you her detes.

V

14AAll clear. Thanks.

Rogue

14AGood luck.

V

13BYou know, but wouldn't tell Panam? Aim to play cat and mouse with me, too?

Rogue

13BMy aim is to know an opportunity when I see one. And then to seize it.

13BSay I told her everything. Whaddaya think she'd 'ave done? Grabbed her iron and gone on the warpath, that's what. Not hard to see how that coulda ended.

13BAnd there's nothin' I hate more than losin' good people to plain stupidity.

V

13BHuh, I'm 'er only chance. And she's my only chance. Two pawns on Rogue's board.

Rogue

13BYou're quick. For a pawn.

V

12BSeems wonky to me. Nomads give the city, city folk, a wide berth.

Rogue

12BVaries by clan, by the connections they have, the depth of the shit they're in.

12BBut you're right – Aldecaldos're rarely willing to do biz with the city.

V

12BPanam's got a different take?

Rogue

12BYep. On everything, it seems.

V

12BStrange. Thought nomads gave the city, and city folk, a wide berth.

12CHm. Can't be trusted if her clan banished her. Sorry, just not willin' to pay you for help like that.

Rogue

12CActually, she walked away. Said it was about the family, its future, nomad ideals, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah... I stopped listening a few words in.

V

12CThought you preferred to know who you're dealing with.

Rogue

12CI know enough. 'Sides, when someone starts spouting "ideals," it's prolly about something else. Power, usually.

12CFortunately, not my biz, not yours. Panam's capable and stands to help you – that's all you need to know.

V

11BWhat kind of gear are we talkin'?

Rogue

11BCruisin' speed of an AV like that's two hundred and fifty miles an hour. Ever tried to grab anything moving that fast?

11BEven tracking her'll be difficult. Plus, this model packs next-gen defenses.

V

11BSo without real firepower, I'll be able to wave to Hellman as he zips past.

Rogue

11BIt's not about firepower. There are ways. And people who know them. Or who can at least improvise on a theme.

V

11CEven tracking that AV'll be a bitch. Familiar with the type, saw legacy models flyin' around during the war.

11CThey're mammoth but they're quick. Plus they pack next-gen defenses. Can't take potshots at it, not even with serious firepower. Just won't work.

Rogue

11CIt's not about firepower. There are ways. And people who know them. Or who can at least improvise on a theme.

V

11DMight need a dusty local's help, might not. No stranger to risky ops like these, though. MaxTac convoy ambush in Dogtown – word make it back here about that?

Rogue

11DThat was you?

V

11DPartner an' I took out an entire Psychosquad. And these weren't the MT bush-leaguers they deploy in NC proper.

Rogue

11DPartner, you say. Well, weren't working alone then, won't this time either. Besides, hijacking an AV mid-flight really is a whole 'nother league of challenge, believe you me.

V

10BData's all confidential. You just snap your fingers and it falls in your lap?

Rogue

10BI know where to look. And I know whose head to put in a vise.

10BAlso, hate wastin' time. Especially answering stupid questions.

V

15AThanks, but I'll pass.

Rogue

15AGood stuff. Your loss.

V

4AShould be enough.

Rogue

4AMhm. Come back tomorrow, we'll talk.

V

16AHere to see Rogue. Expectin' me.

V

17AHey, Rogue. I'm back. What about Hellman?

V

4BU-huh. And if I don't have the scratch? It's "fuck off and have a nice day"?

Rogue

4BNo. More like, "Come back when you do." Them's the breaks.

V

4BMhm. Then, see ya. Soon.

Rogue

4BYou know where to find me.

V

19AHey, Rogue. Got the scratch.

2BThe girl – what was her gripe?

Rogue

2BWhy don't ya ask her. Might still be around, sniveling in a corner.

Panam

Be careful who you bargain with.

Rogue

Aim to let that evaporate?

You waiting for something?

Gonna sit down?

My time's pretty valuable, V.

Panam

Hello.

V

1AThis Panam? V here.

Panam

1AV who? V where? How did you even get this number?

V

2AFrom Rogue.

Panam

2AOh. Great. Fuck.

2AWhere's that old war horse want to kick me now?

V

2BFrom someone at the Afterlife.

Panam

2BMhm... So what is it you want?

V

2BActually, wanted to talk about what you want.

Panam

2BIs that so?

V

2BThe merch you lost and your ride… You want 'em back? Let's talk.

Panam

2BHm. Is that so? Ugh, Rogue and confidentiality – I might've known…

V

1BHey, Panam. Got your number from Rogue. Name's V.

Panam

1BGreat. Where's that old war horse want to kick me now?

V

3AThis thing between you and Rogue? Couldn't care less. Got a job for you.

Panam

3AGood, but I'm overextended at the moment.

V

3AWith the merch and your car? Getting 'em back? I can help with that.

3BForget Rogue for a minute. I wanna help you.

Panam

3BHow very kind. But it's far too little, far too late. So do tell Rogue she can eat my shorts.

V

3BTell it to your therapist. Callin' about your ride and the merch you lost.

3BInterested? Or are you gonna tell me to eat your shorts, too?

Panam

The rail freight yard on Bonita Street, the one hugging the city line. We'll meet there.

V

See ya.

V

1AHey, Panam?

Panam

1ASo you're V.

1AWhere's my car?

V

2AAhem. Agree to help me, you'll find out.

Panam

2AOh, fuck no.

2AYou will NOT jerk me around. Tell me where my car is!

V

3BFuck me. You always on the warpath?

Panam

3BOnly when someone tries to jerk me around. Where the HELL is my car?!

V

3BI tell you, and then what? Gonna storm off, handle it all by yourself?

Panam

3BThat is no concern of yours. None.

V

4AListen to me. LISTEN TO ME! You need my help.

4AAnd you'll get it. I mean that. Right after we solve my problem.

Panam

4AFine. Say it. What do you want?

V

2AHey, c'mon. Calm down.

Panam

2ADon't tell me what to do.

V

2AFine. Know where to find the cargo and your car. But you go alone, you won't get 'em back. And you could lose something else besides…

2ASo let's figure something out.

Panam

2AWhat do you want?

V

5AOne guy I gotta talk to. A corpo travelling by corp convoy.

Panam

5ANo. I don't do abductions. Besides, you'd need many more bodies and heaps of gear to take a convoy.

V

5AIt's just one AV. Planned route'll take it over Jackson Plains.

Panam

5AFuck…

V

5AIn return, info on your cargo, help in getting back what's yours. We got a deal?

5BNeed to hit a Kang Tao transport. Won't be easy. Wanna know I can count on you.

Panam

5BAre you out of your goddamned mind?

V

5BAbout you or the job? Kang Tao's AV route'll take it over Jackson Plains. Heard that should help us.

Panam

5BYeah, I doubt it.

V

5BGonna be a guy on board. Need to talk to him.

Panam

5BFuck…

V

5BIn return, info on your cargo, help in getting back what's yours. We got a deal?

Panam

2AI dunno, I...

2AAll right. Deal. But if you want your thing done, we'll need to get my Thorton back first.

2ASo where is it?

V

6ACar's in Rocky Ridge. You're supposed to know where that is. Car's there, goods're there.

Panam

6ANash, you dirt-eating bastard… I will strangle you.

V

7ARocky Ridge. Let's go.

Panam

7AEh, hang on. I-I should think this through.

7AFuck. Yes. We'll need backup.

7AWe have one brief stop to make on the way.

V

7AWanna tell me where?

Panam

7AGive me a sec. I should call the client, convince them to leave the bastard hanging.

Johnny

7AGoing ahead with the deal behind Rogue's back? Brave, I guess. Or fucking dumber than a drum.

Panam

7ABoz. Hey.

7ANash is gonna pass you the merch in Rocky Ridge. The thing is, the motherfucker screwed me over.

7ABoz, I will take care of it. I just need you to give me a chance.

7ABoz, c'mon. How many times have I moved things for you? And how many times have I failed?

7AYou have my word. After dark? OK. No, don't call off the meet. Just don't show up. I'll take care of everything.

7ADo you even have to ask? Of course I will. Thanks, Boz. You won't regret this.

7AOK. I have bought us some time.

V

8ASo – where to now?

Panam

8AThe Aldecaldo camp. I need to see some of the old clan.

V

8ADon't seem too excited.

Panam

8AThat's not your concern.

8AI still have friends there.

V

9ARogue mentioned your friends. Said you guys stopped seeing eye to eye.

Panam

9AWell, since Rogue said so, it must be true!

V

9AIt isn't?

Panam

9AYou mean to irritate me.

V

9AOoo-K, then.

Panam

9AIt was just a hiccup. They're still family.

V

9ASo it's complicated.

Panam

9AYou might say so, yes.

V

9BY'know, used to ride with nomads, too.

Panam

9BTruly? I never would have guessed.

V

9BYep – Bakker clan, back in the day. Didn't work out 'tween us, so I landed in Night City.

Panam

9BSo we've something in common after all.

V

9CGood, let's roll.

Panam

9CGet in.

Panam

10AWill you stand there all day?

10AWell? Get in!

V

9DAny chance they might help us? In Rocky Ridge?

Panam

9DThat is the plan.

V

8BGave that meathead your word, and he took it?

Panam

8BIs that surprising? It's called having a reputation.

8BYou should try getting one of your own.

V

8CWho the hell's Boz? Won't cause us any grief, I hope.

Panam

8CBoz is a stand-up guy. 6th Street.

V

8CYou drive for gangoons?

Panam

8CIs that not allowed? Streetpunks need things moved. I need money like anyone else.

V

8DBoz? Vista del Rey Boz? Had no idea you drive for 6th Street.

Panam

8DIs that not allowed?

V

8DNo, nothin' wrong with it. They still wild about stars, stripes and core, heartland values?

Panam

8DStrong word, wild. And I don't care. They pay well. It's simple.

V

7BNash a choom of yours? He hang you out to dry?

Panam

7BDo not call him that.

V

7BFine. Partner.

Panam

7BFormer, if ever. The Shiv tricked me. He straight nipped my truck and the merch. Probably now aims to sell it off in Rocky Ridge.

7BIs he ever going to be fucking disappointed.

V

6BThought this was mostly about the merch?

Panam

6BFuck the merch.

6BWith that ride, I can take any transport job in town. Without it, only thing I can move is pizza. Maybe.

V

2BWe can help each other. Rogue said so.

Panam

2BI might've guessed.

2BAll right. Tell me all you know. Fail, and you can run back and tell Rogue to fuck right off.

V

2CWhy's it matter? What's wrong with this one?

Panam

2CIt's borrowed, it's not mine. I asked where my car is.

V

1AYou Panam? I'm V.

Panam

1AYes, and…?

V

11AYou come recommended. By Rogue.

Panam

11AWell, fuck. Great.

11AWhat trouble do the two of you want to get me in now?

V

11AI'm not party to the grief between you and Rogue. Here about something else.

Panam

11AWell, sounds grand. But I'm busy just now and will be for some time.

V

11ABusy gettin' back your ride, the cargo you lost?

Panam

11ASo tell me. Where's my car?

V

11BSwung by the Afterlife. Somebody gave me your detes. You come recommended.

Panam

11BMh. What do you want?

V

11BThink I might know where to find what you're looking for.

Panam

11BIs that so?

V

11BLookin' for your car and some cargo you lost? Let's talk.

Panam

11BFuck… Rumor queen Rogue your source, I take it.

11BSo tell me. Where's my car?

Fuck… Rumor queen Rogue your source, I take it.

V

1ANice ride. Lots of space. Practical.

Panam

1ASay no more. Please.

V

1BWhere'd you get the ride? Straight outta some driveway in Rancho?

Panam

1BYes, exactly.

1BIs that a problem?

V

1BFor me? No, not at all. I mean, there's no accounting for taste.

Panam

1BScrew you.

V

2AHow the hell'd you land in this mess?

Panam

2AI liked the color. The air freshener and booster seat came extra.

V

2AYou know I don't mean the car.

Panam

2AWhat am I supposed to tell you? That I'm not about to let my partner rob me and get away with it? That my fixer made me look like a goddamned fool?

2AWhat about you? Why do you need that clown from the AV?

V

2AThis particular clown's got intel I need. And I'm running out of time to get it.

Panam

2ASo why didn't she tell me she knew about Nash?

V

2ARogue? Do better not to worry what her agenda might be.

Panam

2AGoddamn, I can't stand the bitch!

V

3AKnow what? Screw Rogue. Can't see why you even care.

Panam

3ACause I need the money!

V

3ADon't let her push you around. She's not the only fixer in town.

Panam

3AYet… you're only here because she sent you.

V

3ABut I'm not the one bitching about her.

Panam

3AYou don't know her. Not at all.

3ADid she tell you she was the one to bring me and Nash together? Did she tell you it slipped her mind to mention Nash was Raffen Shiv?

V

3BRogue’s queen of the Afterlife. Plays her pawns as she pleases.

Panam

3BDid you just call me a pawn?

V

3BI got a good look at 'er.

3BShe rose to the top 'cause she reads people. So what if she keeps things to herself? It's a skill in her profession.

Panam

3BWell, I think she's a lying, manipulative bitch. She put me together with that Raffen – did you know that?

V

3CGuess you'll have to ask her yourself.

Panam

3COh, I'll be sure to. I'll especially ask why she told me to work with Nash, yet forgot to mention he was Raffen.

V

5AMight not've known that side of him.

Panam

5ADon't make me laugh. A fixer of her standing knows. And Rogue probably knows we're talking about her right now!

5ANash and I had a role to play in her game, her plan. That's it.

5ARogue's a frigid old bitch. That's the truth.

V

5BMust've had her reasons.

Panam

5BYou don't say.

5BRogue won't open her mouth without weighing the for and against. What to spill and what to withhold.

V

5CBut seriously – you didn't realize Nash was Raffen?

Panam

5CNo. The sneak forgot to show me his Shiv card.

V

5CDon't you keep track of who's in the area? The Wraiths, right?

Panam

5CUntil now, they mostly jumped corporate transporters down by Highway Sixty-Four.

5CI see you know things.

V

5CRode with the Bakker clan. Long time ago, that was.

Panam

5CWell, we have something in common after all.

V

5CBut seriously – didn't realize Nash was Raffen?

Panam

5CNo. The sneak forgot to show me his Shiv card.

V

5CDon't you keep track of who's in the area? The Wraiths, right?

Panam

5CUntil now, they mostly jumped corporate transporters down by Highway Sixty-Four.

5CI see you know things.

V

5CNomad blood.

5CWait, Nash is Raffen?

Panam

5CYes... He runs with the Wraiths, the largest Raffen group in the area. You know about them, right?

V

5CMhm. Nomads tossed out of clans.

Panam

5CYes, mostly. Nomads don't banish their own without a reason. So think – murderers, rapists, freaks.

5CThey gather in teams, sometimes form actual gangs. Most of them are wanted and have warrants on their heads.

V

5CShit.

Panam

5CAnd that bitch had me working with scum like that.

V

2BHow far's the camp?

Panam

2BJust past the city line. We'll jump on the Nine and head east.

OK, we're almost there. We'll gather my guys, then ride to Rocky Ridge.

OK, we're almost there. We'll gather my guys, then ride to Rocky Ridge.

Panam

Will you help me with this?

V

1AWhat's inside?

Panam

1AA few odds and ends that should be useful. Take it.

1AAll right, that's everything. Let's go.

1APut it in the trunk.

Panam

3AWe can go. Hop in.

Nomad

1ADid you figure out your differences with Saul? Will you come back?

Nomad

1APanaaam! You'll stop by later, right, honey?

Panam

1ANext time, Ellie. I promise.

1ASo… I'm off.

Mitch

1AYeah, yeah... Go on, go, already! Call us sometime!

Scorpion

1AKeep an eye on her, V!

Scorpion

Well, would you look what the cat dragged in!

Mitch

Is that a ghost or is it just my hangover?!

Panam

Fuck you too.

Scorpion

Mhm. And who's this?

Panam

My babysitter.

V, this is Scorpion, Mitch. Two old friends.

V

5AHey, guys.

Scorpion

5AHello.

V

5BNot a babysitter. Partner in crime.

Scorpion

5BMhm.

Mitch

What brings you to these parts, city girl?

Scorpion

The big city got too small for her.

Do you have any idea how angry the old man's going to be when he sees you here?

Panam

I've just come by for a spell. Saul needn't know a thing.

V

7ANeed your help.

Mitch

7AWith what? What's this about?

V

7ARaffens screwed Panam. Plan is to show 'em that was a bad idea.

Scorpion

7AHow bad did they get you?

Panam

7ABad enough to make me sit quietly through all your bullshit.

Mitch

7AYou know we would do anything for you, sister…

Scorpion

7ABut now – now's hard.

Panam

7ASeriously – you won't help?

Mitch

7AAh well, the old man told us to sit tight and get those generators back up after the batteries went kaput.

Panam

7AGenerators? You won't help because of some goddamn generators? Is this another joke?

V

8AReally could use your help.

Mitch

8ANot this time. We're needed here.

Panam

8AFuck, I don't believe this.

8ASo you'll stay put because Saul told you to? You couldn't care less about me?

V

8APanam...

Scorpion

8AThis isn't about Saul, it's about the clan. You know that.

Mitch

8AListen – we can't leave camp, no chance. But... but, Saul never said a thing about gear.

Panam

8AOK. Well... I'll need that rifle of yours. And some of my own stuff.

Mitch

8ATake whatever you want.

Scorpion

8AAnd take care of yourself out there.

Panam

8AYeah... Thanks, guys. I'll grab the gear, then be out of your hair.

Nomad

8AHey, Panam.

Nomad

8AHey, Panam. Are you staying a while?

Panam

8ANo. I'll be going again soon. We'll talk next time.

Nomad

8AHave you brought someone new? Does Saul know?

Panam

8ANot your concern, friend.

V

8ALooks like you're stuck with me.

Panam

8AMmhm.

V

8AYou disappointed?

Panam

8AI don't know. Maybe a little, yes.

V

9AWe'll manage without 'em.

Panam

9AShut it.

9ADon't be a dick, Mitch. Help me.

V

6APanam, time's short, c'mon.

Panam

6AI know.

6AThe Raffens screwed me over. I'll get them back, but I need your help.

6ACome with me. We'll thrash 'em, the four of us.

V

10AWell, might not've needed a babysitter if you hadn't lost the merch and the car.

Panam

10AShut it, V.

Scorpion

10AHeh, are you kidding? Did that beauty Thorton of yours finally bite it?

Mitch

10AShe rode it to death in ol' Night City.

V

10ANah. It got klepped.

Scorpion

10AShit, who dared?

Panam

10AIt doesn't matter. I'll get her back – that's why I'm here.

Nomad

...

Panam

V, take the box, please, and let's go.

Will you take the box, please?

V, time's running, running, running.

The box goes in the trunk. Let's go.

Panam

Anyway, it doesn't matter. We've arrived.

V

1AWhatta we do?

Panam

1AWe get ready to greet the Raffens. And we've little time for that. We'll need to improvise.

1AWe should scout first. To look for anything that might be useful.

V

1ADoubt Rocky Ridge could be any deader. Everything's down, nothing works here.

Panam

1AWell? Have you found anything?

V

2ANo dice. Nothing's up, all cut off.

Panam

2AWell, we'll make it work.

2AThe Raffens will roll in after dusk. We will have a surprise ready for them. We just need to get some power flowing.

2ALet's check the substation.

V

2AOooo-K.

2BI got nada. You have an epiphany?

Panam

2BThe Raffens will roll in after dusk, right? We will have a surprise ready for them. We just need to get some power flowing.

V

2BNo dice. Nothing's up, all cut off.

Panam

2BSo we plug it back in. Let's check the substation.

V

2BYou got it.

1AFound the breakers. But there's no juice on 'em.

Panam

1ANot to worry. Come down. I know how to surprise the bastards!

1ARight, so – the intersection is powered from that transformer substation, right?

1AThe switchgear on the roof – we'll flip the switch there and everything will light up like Christmas. Understood?

V

3ASo, classic route – good ol' diversion?

Panam

3AYou know it.

3AFirst – we don't know how many are coming. My thinking is it'll be a sizeable crew.

3ASecond, we have to create an opening to get to my car. If they're bunched together, we won't stand a chance.

V

3ASo we give them a little light show at the intersection?

Panam

3AYes. We'll breathe some life into this dusty old town.

V

3BThink flippin' on the lights at the intersection'll give us the upper hand? Really?

3CFine idea. Let's get us some power. I'll look around for access points.

Panam

3CGreat. They're likely to show up in numbers, we can't know how many.

3CWe need to outfox them, then get to my car somehow.

V

3CRelax. Got a few ideas. I'll try to play a little game with 'em at the intersection.

Panam

3CHell yes, perfect.

V

1ASoon as they see the lights, they'll have to check who, why and how – nova.

Panam

1AYep. First, we start up the control terminal below – the gear on the roof is a hunk of junk without it.

1AC'mon, we'll give it a boost from the car battery. That should do the trick.

1AWait for me by the substation. I'll bring the car around.

V

4ANo dice. Nothing's up, all cut off.

Panam

4AWell, we'll make it work.

4AThe Raffens will roll in after dusk. We will have a surprise ready for them. We just need to get some power flowing.

4ALet's check the substation.

V

4AOooo-K.

4BI got nada. You have an epiphany?

Panam

4BThe Raffens will roll in after dusk, right? We will have a surprise ready for them. We just need to get some power flowing.

V

4BNo dice. Nothing's up, all cut off.

Panam

4BSo we plug it back in. Let's check the substation.

V

4BYou got it.

Panam

OK, we have arrived.

V

Seems you got a real problem with authority.

Panam

What?

V

Rogue, Saul… He your leader?

Panam

Their leader.

V

Seemed in a hurry to delta the hell outta there.

Panam

Let's just say Saul wouldn't have been happy to see me.

V

What happened?

Panam

The reason we came to California was because he promised change for the Aldecaldos. He claimed we would turn over a new leaf.

But you saw it. We got a handful of tents on a heap of sand. A hell of a promised land.

I wanted something different, better. Saul's a damned coward. He'll be the end of the clan. I'm certain.

V

5BMitch and Scorpion seem good souls.

Panam

5BThe best friends a girl could ask for. I'd stay in the camp too if I were in their shoes. Fuck Saul and his generators, of course – yet the clan comes first.

5BBut I'm not part of it anymore.

V

5BStill treated you like you're one of them. They care about you.

Panam

5BMhm.

5BDo you have anyone you would call close?

V

6AHaven't been so lucky.

Panam

6AI see.

V

6BWell... kinda, sorta, off an' on.

Panam

6B"Kinda, sorta, off an' on."

V

6CNot right now, no. Could just be a matter of time, though...?

Panam

6CPfff. Ooo-K.

V

5CWere those two in the army?

Panam

5CScorp and Mitch? Yeah. Panzerboys. They were on contract during the last war.

V

5CPanzerboys? Flew those huge transporters?

Panam

5CScorpion piloted. Mitch ran security.

5CThey both got some kick-ass combat implants and a stack of really fucked up nightmares.

V

5DSo, Rocky Ridge – empty, dusty hole in the middle of bumfuck nowhere, I heard. Natives either moved to Night City or just got the hell out.

Panam

5DThen you know almost all there is to know.

5DThe whole area was waiting on a new interstate extension. It was supposed to breathe new life into the town. It didn't happen, of course.

V

5DHow many ghost towns you think are there? Hundreds?

Panam

5DCountry-wide? Thousands.

5DI drove down I-Eighty the other day. All you have to do is pull over after sundown. It's quiet then. And you hear it.

V

5DWhat's that?

Panam

5DThe wind whistling through boarded-up windows. Tumbleweeds scratching across dry, sandy tracks.

5DThat's how towns die. Not with a bang, but with whispers and whimpers.

Panam

The panel looks to be in good shape.

I'll make a bypass circuit to the power supply, that should do it. We just have to get it up and running…

Grab the jumper cables from the trunk. We'll boost it from the car battery.

V

3ARed cable connected.

Panam

3AGive me a moment. I need to hook everything up here.

3AAnd done. Now the black rattler.

Panam

4AThere she goes. But the old jalopy served us well.

4AOK, I've got voltage. Start the terminal inside, and once the power is on in the building, get on that roof.

V

4AYou got it.

Panam

4AI'll set up on the tower. We'll have the whole intersection on a platter.

4AYou flip the breakers when I give you the signal to do so, understood?

V

4AYes, ma'am.

Panam

4AJust break the glass and dive in.

4AIt's not as if someone'll send you a bill.

V

4ASwitchgear's got power.

Panam

4APrime. We'll have some fun at the intersection.

4ALet's get into position.

V

5ANow we wait.

Panam

5ARemember – as soon as we see them, you give us power.

V

6AGot it. Cover me, just in case.

Panam

6AOf course.

V

6BRaffens'll come from where? Any idea?

Panam

6BThe northeast, I wager. From the freeway that was never finished.