Dialogue: Gig: Backs Against the Wall

Fixer

Thanks, V. Couldn'ta been easy, but you handled it like a pro. Job done, contract closed.

Fixer

V, I traced some klepped meds. Someone's stashing them in a Kabuki apartment. Unfortunately, no idea what's waiting for you there, so be careful.

Anyway, you bring 'em back, some rippers will thank you. Profusely. More detes in the attachment.

Johnny

Poor son of a bitch.

V

You know cyberpsych's a death sentence. We can't help him.

Johnny

Maybe you can't, but Arasaka? Militech? Biotechnica? Kang Tao? Should I go on?

V

Guess they don't see the profit in it.

Johnny

Maybe this murder Holt idea's not so bad? At least it'd piss a few people off.

V

Sure, I guess, but what's the point?

Johnny

Better than buryin' your head in the sand.

Well… There it is.

V

Was pretty sure you hated corpos. Figured you thought he got what he deserved.

Johnny

They discarded him, twisted him up. He moved forward only way he knew how. I get it.

V

Don't doubt it.

He's not the only one in NC with problems.

Johnny

Dude's got his back pinned against the wall, alone.

V

Whaddaya want me to do? Head to the lab, invent a cure?

Johnny

Well… There it is.

Solo

I told you not to move!

Stop!

V

Sure, sure. And you be careful with that trigger.

Solo

H-how'd you find me?

V

1AI'm here by contract, from a fixer, nothin' personal.

1AHand over the stolen meds and I'm gone.

Solo

1AStolen?! Hahaha! The baloperidol doesn't work! S-so who's stealing from who?! Who?!

1ARipperdocs! They're the real criminals!

V

1ABaloperidol? For cyberpsychosis?

Solo

1AAaaargh! I’m not fucking crazy!

V

1AEasy, easy…

Solo

1ASh-shut up! Go away!

V

2AIf they're no use to you, they don't work, just hand 'em over.

Solo

2AYou're the same as them… rippers, politicians… the same as that fucking Holt!

V

2AI could think of a few differences.

Solo

2AShut UP! That bastard, he stole from--from research! He doesn't care about the sick!

2ABut… but soon… I'll find him. End him.

V

3AThe death of one politician won't change anything.

Solo

3AIt will! These--these silver-tongue devils won't dare turn on their people ever again!

3AA line, I'm drawing a line! They can't treat us this way anymore! They--they--they can't use us anymore!

V

4AIt's campaign season. The first ribbon-cutter to push an anti-psycho policy after Holt's death is winnin' that election.

Solo

4ANo! No, that's not true! The people will understand! The system will start to fall!

V

4AEveryone like you, they'll hunt you all down.

4ACyberpsycho terrorist on one side, media-backed politicians on the other. Now, who's the crowd favorite?

4BIf you kill Holt, first thing they'll do is brand you a psycho and a terrorist.

Solo

4BIt’s not about ME! This is for everyone! All the sick!

V

4BNo, this'd be a disservice to them. What're people gonna remember?

4B"Cyberpsycho assassin kills in cold blood." Who'd wanna help a monster like that?

Solo

3ALeave… Go, please…

3ALeave… Go, please…

V

3AYou know I can't without those meds.

Solo

3AOver there… I wanna be alone.

V

3BListen, I don't really care.

3BWanna murder a mayor? Fine. You think it'll make a difference? Sure, why not.

3BI just need those meds.

Solo

3BHa, ha, ha… I see… It's all so clear…

V

3CA Militech HKS-47 with polymer reinforcement. You were a soldier.

Solo

3CMilitech. 3rd Light Division, 155th Infantry Regiment, 7 years in a fuckin' jungle… When times were simpler.

V

3CBefore you got sick?

Solo

3CThey cast me out like a dead battery.

V

3CThat's no reason to become a terrorist.

V

5AYou're angry, and I get it. You feel cheated.

Solo

5ANot just me!

V

5AI know, but if you zero Holt, you'll make it worse for everyone in your condition. They'll hunt you down.

5BWhere'd you serve?

Solo

5BBrazil. R-remember all of it… Dirt on my face… F-fatigues always--always wet…

5BIt's like a braindance I-I-I can't shut off…

V

5BThe memories flood back?

Solo

5BWithout the adrenaline. Without my brothers… Fuck! So quickly they forgot me…

V

3DLast marble just hit the floor. Can't let this drag on.

Solo

3DYou're part of the system… a--a pawn in it… a slave to it…

V

3DUh-huh.

Solo

2AYou're part of the system… a--a pawn in it… a slave to it…

V

2BThis is our situation.

2BEither you give me what you stole.

2BOr MaxTac swoops in, pays you a visit.

Solo

2BHow--how can you work for them?

2BYou ordinary… sell-out… piece of SHIT!!!

V

1BGPS transmitter. The one you forgot to disable on the stolen meds.

1BJust hand 'em over and I'm gone.

Solo

1BStolen?! Hahaha! The baloperidol doesn't work! S-so who's stealing from who?! Who?!

V

1CWe know where this's headed, rather not waste my time.

Solo

1CI appreciate your candor.

Ha, ha, ha… I see… It's all so clear…

Neighbour

You hear that howling at night?

Neighbour

Like a dyin' animal. Waaargh! Aaaagh!

Neighbour

Shh, shh, quiet!

Neighbour

Ugh… Can't call the police on him or it'll rile up the Tygers.

Neighbour

I know… And we can't ask them or we will repay them for the rest of our lives!

Neighbour

Gotta do somethin'! Can't have him here.

Neighbour

I don't know…

V

A Militech HKS-47 with polymer reinforcement. You were a soldier.

Solo

Militech. 3rd Light Division, 155th Infantry Regiment, 7 years in a fuckin' jungle… When times were simpler.

V

Before you got sick?

Solo

They cast me out like a dead battery.

V

That's no reason to become a terrorist.

You're angry, and I get it. You feel cheated.

Solo

Not just me!

V

I know, but if you zero Holt, you'll make it worse for everyone in your condition. They'll hunt you down.

It's campaign season. The first ribbon-cutter to push an anti-psycho policy after Holt's death is winnin' that election.

Solo

No! No, that's not true! The people will understand! The system will start to fall!

V

Everyone like you, they'll hunt you all down.

Cyberpsycho terrorist on one side, media-backed politicians on the other. Now, who's the crowd favorite?

It's campaign season. The first ribbon-cutter to push an anti-psycho policy after Holt's death is winnin' that election.

Solo

No! No, that's not true! The people will understand! The system will start to fall!

V

Everyone like you, they'll hunt you all down.

Cyberpsycho terrorist on one side, media-backed politicians on the other. Now, who's the crowd favorite?