Dialogue: Gig: Desperate Measures

V

I'm in.

Pedro

Slot the splinter. To the right of the wheel.

V

Done.

Pedro

Goddammit...

V

Talk to me, Pedro.

Pedro

One sec, one sec... Got it!

I have control. I'll drive.

V

So I just kick back, soak in the view?

Pedro

Eyes open, cocksuckers could show up any minute.

That's amazing! Nice work!

Ugh, th-they-- Their runner's on me!

V

You handle it?

Pedro

Take the wheel!

V

Got it!

Pedro

Phew...

V

All right there?

Pedro

Yeah, yeah... Close call...

Keep goin'... 'til the end.

V

OK.

Pedro

It worked! We did it! Holy shit!

V

1ASafe travels.

Pedro

1AA thousand times thanks!

V

1AThe longer we chit-chat, the easier it is for Zetatech to track us. Again.

Pedro

1AOf-of course, over and out.

V

1AYeah, see ya.

1BGood luck. And if I were you, I'd disappear for a few days.

Pedro

1BThank you, thank you!

V

1BHead straight, eyes up, ya hear?

Pedro

1BYes, absolutely. Again, thank you!

V

1COK, truck's in position. Gonna duck out quick to avoid attention.

Pedro

1CThanks for doin' this.

V

1CAnytime.

Pedro

1CSee ya.

V

1CLater, Pedro.

Pedro

They're here!

That's amazing! Nice work!

They're here!

V

Easy, Pedro.

Easy, Pedro.

Pedro

1AIt's me.

V

1AI know.

Pedro

1AOK... Eyes on that intersection...

1AGo! To the truck, now!

Go! To the truck, now!

El Capitan

Well, well! Got ourselves a real edgerunner, huh? You lunatic! Waitin' and baitin' the corpos like that! Hah! I fucking love it!

'K, back to biz. Pedro's happy, so we're golden. Eddies flowing to your account now. Gig's closed.

Beautifully done, V. Dunno about Pedro, but I consider you my hero already.

See, V? Play your cards right, you'll always walk away with full pockets. Closing the gig.

Jesus, V, what a shitshow! The gig, the client, the eddies, V! Down the drain – all of it! Don't even get me started on the wheels! Just... grrr!

El Capitan

Knock, knock! Listen up, got a corpo in dire need. Our boy – he got sick, ended up in a wheelchair. Now he's reachin' for his boss's fat wallet.

Now that I can get down with. So whaddaya say? Not about to leave him hanging, are we? Detes attached.

Pedro

Did El Capitán send you?

V

Yep. I'm V.

Pedro

One moment, please.

Sorry, be right with you.

V

1AWhat's all this?

Pedro

1A...baldy's a dealer, blondie's livin' in the motel...

V

1AYou always just talk to yourself?

Pedro

1AHm? Oh, uh, right. I wanted to make sure you weren't followed. I think we're OK.

V

1BCare to tell me why I'm waiting?

Pedro

1BUntil I make sure...

V

1BFull sentences. Use them.

Pedro

1BS-sorry, I needed to make sure you weren't followed. I think we're OK.

V

1CHelluva beast ya got there.

Pedro

1CUh, what...?

V

1CThat Kendachi Micro-76, strapped with dedicated cooling.

Pedro

1COh, yeah. Plus an additional processor and modified system bus.

V

1CSee you hijacked the motel's cams. Hell, prob'ly the whole system, right?

Pedro

1CYes, mhm... OK, I don't think you were followed.

Ah, sorry. I didn't introduce myself. I'm Pedro.

V

2AEl Cap tells me you're runnin' a jump, could use some help.

Pedro

2AMhm... I'd like to, uh... "borrow" a company truck.

V

2AYou wanna rob your employer.

Pedro

2AWell... y-yes, but not so loud, please.

V

3AThis's your first time, right? A jump like this?

Pedro

3AMhm...

V

3APerfect…

Pedro

3ABut I'm well prepared!

V

3BIf I'm gonna help, I need to know I can trust you.

Pedro

3BWhat can I do? Say the word.

V

3BYou're gonna have to keep cool head the whole way. Even if your hair's on fire. Get me?

Pedro

3BMhm!

V

4AOK then... What's your plan?

Pedro

4ARight, th-the plan. Here's what I have so far.

4AOur target is an automated Zetatech transport hauling AV thrusters.

4AIts route changes daily via a randomizer.

V

4ASo how do we track it?

Pedro

4AI refactored the randomizer. I know how it'll work.

V

4ASure. So you can predict it's path. Then what?

Pedro

4AI'll stop the truck first, then breach its system.

V

4AWhere do I come in?

Pedro

4AYou'll be there waiting already. You'll hop in and follow my instructions to steal it.

V

5AWhere should I wait for the truck?

Pedro

5APlace called Kenmore Cafe. Out front.

5AThe truck should drive by around 5 P.M. every day for the next few days.

5AI'll call once you're there.

V

6AEasy enough. Talk to ya then.

Pedro

6AThat... That's it? You don't need to know anything else?

V

6APedro, pal, this ain't my first dance at the prom.

Pedro

6AR-right, of course... But remember – Kenmore Cafe, intersection, 5 o'clock.

V

6ADon't worry, I'll remember.

6BOK, count me in. Be in touch soon.

Pedro

6BThanks.

6BRemember – intersection just before Kenmore's Cafe. Five sharp. Be there.

V

6CDon't seem the rebellious type. Why do this?

Pedro

6CI told you – I don't want to talk about it...

V

7AAll right, no worries.

Pedro

7AThanks. 'Preciate it.

V

7BSpit it out, Pedro. I don't like unknowns.

Pedro

7BI have ALS.

V

8AWhat's that gotta do with robbin' a truck?

Pedro

8AIf I'm gonna get out of this body, I need the money.

V

8ACome again?

Pedro

8AMhm. A full body conversion. I've been talking to a ripper out in Abakan, Siberia. Dr. Federov.

8ASaid he could do it... And for a lot cheaper than in Night City or Tokyo.

V

9AHow'd you even find this Dr. Federov? Some international database?

Pedro

9AWell, yeah. How else?

V

9AYou know those aren't the hardest eggs to crack, right? You sure this ain't a scam?

Pedro

9ANo... I-it's not, I'm sure.

V

9AHow? How can you be sure?

Pedro

9AListen, I just need those thrusters. Please... I need your help.

V

9BHow're you even gonna get to the USSR?

9BZetatech's gonna juice their security at the airport.

Pedro

9BI'm familiar with Zetatech's search protocols. They have blind spots in seaports.

9BSo I go first by boat to Vladivostok, then to Abakan by train.

V

9BYou're serious? That could take a couple weeks, maybe even more.

Pedro

9BI'm prepared.

V

9CHow's it so much cheaper?

Pedro

9CI read that it's become a pretty standard procedure over there.

9CThe area's heavy industry, harsh conditions... Normal human bodies don't last long.

V

9CWhat's the catch?

Pedro

9CTo even get on the waiting list you have to submit a "production obligation."

V

9CMeaning what?

Pedro

9CA contract... committing yourself to s-several years in local mines or factories.

V

10AYou actually signin' that thing?

Pedro

10AN-no, I'll pay up front.

V

10AAnd this ripper... he just operates on foreigners – cash under the table – in a Party clinic?

Pedro

10AMaybe his state pension isn't cutting it. I don't know.

V

10BGotta say, this op doesn't exactly sound corp-grade.

Pedro

10BI dunno, but they're never short on volunteers

V

8BALS? What's that? Doesn't sound so good.

Pedro

8BThree months ago, I was still walkin'... Three months from now, I'll trade my chair for a bed.

8BI won't be able to lift a finger, utter a word...

8BNot even take a shit without help.

8BI figure I got nothin' to lose. Why not take a chance? Right?

V

6CPedro, lemme be real for a sec. You're clearly not the rebel type.

6CWhy do this?

Pedro

6CI'd... rather not talk about it.

V

6DWhat about security?

Pedro

6DIf the truck stops in one place for longer than thirty seconds, it sends out an automated signal.

6DIt'll alert the nearest Zetatech response team. Could expect two to three armored vehicles.

V

6DSo work fast.

Pedro

6DYep.

V

6ERun through it again.

Pedro

6EI stop the truck at the intersection where you'll be waiting. Then I breach its systems...

V

6EAnd I hop in an' help you steal it.

5BWhat's on it?

Pedro

5BChinese ICE-breaker. Should punch a hole in Zetatech's security.

5BCan't hack our-- their truck without it.

V

5CWhaddaya need these glowholes for anyway?

Pedro

5CThey're not too big, easy to sell and, well, worth hundreds of thousands.

5CA drop in the bucket for the higher-ups. But for me... It'll change my life.

V

4BThis is an act of war against a megacorp. You prepared to deal with the blowback?

Pedro

4BHm...

V

4BThey won't let this go.

Pedro

4BI know...

V

2BYou can still back out, y'know.

2BLook, you're shakin' like a loose exhaust pipe. Maybe this ain't the job for you.

Pedro

2BNo, I-I've got it all planned out already.

V

2CNo one followed me, no one's watchin' you. Guaranteed.

Pedro

2CHow can you be sure?

V

2CIf Zetatech suspected anything, you'd be long dead by now.

2CMy bet – you're not important enough to even be on their radar.

Pedro

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