Dialogue: Gig: Roads to Redemption

Johnny

Only thing worse than a corpo's a terrorist with a conscience. 'Cept terrorists ain't afraid to dirty their hands.

V

1ABlame Nele for tryin' to save innocent people? For havin' a conscience?

Johnny

1AIf you're gonna declare war on corps, you'd best be ready for the consequences. Yes, innocent people die – it's the nature of war.

V

2A'Bout as much of a soldier as I'm a lazrpop star. No, you're a deserter.

Johnny

2AEither way, I died for something I believed in. Nele'd rather die of old age.

V

2BBeen half a century since your little stunt at Arasaka Tower.

2BThousands of innocent folks dead, and for what? An even taller tower?

Johnny

2BWas just the first skirmish in a long war. S'cause of spineless cowards like Nele that we hit quicksand.

V

1BNele's riskin' a lot to do what she thinks is right. No different from you and Arasaka Tower.

1BSo don't take it out on her just 'cause you couldn't change the world.

Johnny

1BDidn't 'cause of people like Nele. Soft-bellied ego-trippers who can't appreciate what others sacrificed for 'em.

V

3AYou think your death served some kind of greater purpose, don't you?

3AIf anyone's bullshittin' themselves here, it's you.

Johnny

3ALeast I ain't a coward who drops their iron 'thout puttin' up a fight.

V

3BYou didn't sacrifice yourself for all those poor souls oppressed by Arasaka.

3BYou got zeroed by Smasher while trying to save your output.

Johnny

3BWish he'd curb-stomped me then and there. Least I wouldn't have to listen to this sanctimonious bullshit.

V

1ANele Springer?

Nele

1AWho's askin'?

V

1AName's V. Fixer sent me.

1BWaitin' for me, I take it?

Nele

1BV?

V

1BAt your service.

Nele

You weren't followed?

V

2AKnow how to do my job, thanks.

Nele

2ABut you don't know the Crimson Harvest. They're everywhere and nowhere.

V

2BWhy? Scared the Crimson Harvest might know you're up to no good?

Nele

2BNo, well... I have a feeling. And not a whole lotta time.

Did Hands bring you up to speed?

V

3ASaid you're a terrorist with a heart o' gold.

3BSaid you wanna turn against your terrorist chooms - sabotage their evil plans and save the day.

Nele

For the love of-- We're not terrorists!

You got any clue what the Crimson Harvest even stands for?

How 'bout puttin' an end to hunger, starvation?

V

4AUh, don't you guys plant bombs? Carry out mass killings?

Nele

4AO-our people's hearts are in the right place, but they're blinded by their hatred of corps.

4AI… I never thought we'd start killing people. Things they had me do, I… I was naïve.

Johnny

4AProlly thought she'd be collectin' signatures and makin' peace-protest signs.

V

4A"Naïve." Eh, bit of an understatement, that.

Nele

4ASpare me the judgment.

4ADidn't hire you to pen my biography.

4AHere.

V

5AThink we'd better cut to the chase.

5BWow, discreet. New to this, are we?

4AWhat's on the shard?

Nele

4AOne thing at a time, 'kay?

4AThe Crimson Harvest purchased a Net-nuke from Hansen. It's headed for Europe - specifically, Biotechnica's HQ in Berlin.

4AYou'll make sure that doesn't happen.

V

6ASo what do I do?

Nele

6AWestern part of the stadium used to house a sports therapy center 'fore Hansen turned it into an arms factory. Entry code's one-seven-oh-one. Memorize it.

6AIt's got assembly lines, warehouses - the works. Part you're interested in's an experimental lab in the old pool. S'where they keep the bomb.

6AFind it, upload the program from this shard. Few days from now, when the bomb's detonated in Berlin, it'll neutralize the virus - stop its spread.

6AWhen it's done, I'd like that shard back.

V

6AGonna keep it as a souvenir?

Nele

6ACan't be too careful. If the Crimson Harvest ever got their hands on it, I'm toast.

V

7ANot a lotta folks who'd take the risk you're takin' 'thout even expectin' a "thank you." Respect.

7BIs it worth the risk? One botched attack ain't gonna stop your fellow fanatics. Opposite, in fact.

7CIf you think this'll win you Biotechnica's protection against the Crimson Harvest - you've got another thing comin'.

Nele

7CMay be naïve, but not that naïve. Know a thing or two 'bout corps.

7CKnow they ain't much different from the Crimson Harvest - just shut up, follow orders. Same leash, different collar.

6AMaybe I'm doing it for myself?

6ACan't turn back time, but I can still change what happens here, now - the future.

6AToo long I've sat on my ass agonizing over the shit I've done. That ends today.

V

8BSounds like you're tryin' to atone for something…

Nele

8BHeh. You done prying?

V

6AGuess I'll get to work then.

Nele

6ACountin' on ya, V.

9AGotta make sure no one's watchin'. You can go.

V

6BA Net-nuke? First I heard of it.

Nele

6BClean, quiet, doe'n't distinguish 'tween class or creed. Real darn leveler.

6BHook it up the subnet and it'll fry everyone unlucky enough to be connected.

6BAnd I mean everyone. From executives, scientists, and rank-and-file corpos all the way down to cafeteria workers, janitors.

V

6CYour bomb won't cause any good ol' fashioned destruction? Thought terrorists liked puttin' on a show.

Nele

6CTake down a building - whooptie-fuckin'-do. Biotechnica just builds a new one.

6CWhat you want is the protein - human casualties.

V

4BIf you believe in what the Crimson Harvest stands for - why shit on their parade?

Nele

4BI support their ends, not their means.

V

4CPeople starving? Where? 'Cause dumpsters're overflowin' with food in Night City.

Nele

4CYou city folk don't know shit. You think you're free? That slavery's ancient history? Oughta see how Biotechnica treats farmers.

4CForce 'em off their land to grow gene-modified wheat. For food, one'd think. Wrong. For CHOOH2 that's sold to Petrochem.

4CYou like the taste of CHOOH2? No? S'what I thought.

V

4DThe Crimson Harvest - they recruit you, or did you volunteer?

Nele

4DGrew up on a farm like most of my comrades. Corp's boot stampin' on our faces - that was our life. Until we realized we could fight back.

4DCrimson Harvest - they're like family, and the things you'll do for family, well… Can keep you up at night, haunt you…

V

4EFarms are empty, but the roads are full. The first nomads were farmers too, y'know.

Nele

4EMhm, heard all about clans takin' corp contracts. Kind of ironic, don't ya think?

V

4ETough world out there. Gotta make a livin'.

Gonna hang around in plain view?

Enemy Elevator

Hey, whatever happened to Zeb? Nobody's seen him since Hansen got offed.

Enemy Elevator

You didn't hear? While we were busy haulin' bodies, he klepped half the warehouse - tried to ditch Dogtown.

Enemy Elevator

Huh. And then what?

Enemy Elevator

He didn't make it.

Enemy Elevator

The fuck are all these sixers doin' here? Fuckin' posers.

Enemy Elevator

Here to collect some tech. That sweet, new piece o' iron?

Enemy Elevator

Hercules? Nah, no chance. Baby's still prototype - hasn't even gone through a full round of testing at the range.

Pool Worker

Gotta say, that Net-nuke's one preem piece o' tech. Oughta make more of 'em, keep some around.

Pool Worker

You know me - like to keep things simple. Call somethin' a bomb, I want blood, guts and brains on the walls, you dig?

Shooting Range

Hercules this, Hercules that. All I see's another new toy. Fuck makes this one special?

Shooting Range

Toy? Bruh, when Liz tried that thing out at the range, they had to give her oxygen. Winded her so bad, she's waitin' for a new lung implant.

Shooting Range

Shit, sure you guys didn't overdo it with the kickback?

Shooting Range

Client gets what the client wants.

Deal Ganger

How much?! Fuck that - no deal.

Deal Soldier

Ain't my problem. You shake on a deal with Hansen, you stick to it.

Deal Ganger

Look, is Hansen takin' a dirtnap, or isn't he? 'Cause we could all stand to gain here.

Deal Soldier

I'm listening…

Wanna negotiate, gotta take it up with the boss-man. I'm just the go-between.

Deal Ganger

How about I toss in a little extra - for all your hard work?

Deal Soldier

Sixers came for the goods.

You know the one, boss. Tough on the holo, pussy in RL.

Nah, s'all good - paid in full. Oh yeah, he'll be back for more.

Nele

1AThe bomb - y-you take care of it?

V

1ADisarmed. We're in the clear.

Nele

1AQuick, hand me the shard. Gotta make tracks.

1AWhat the--?

1AShit, the car's hacked!

1AW-w-what's goin' on?!

1ADid you sell me out?!

Agent

1ABiotechnica! You're under arrest!

V

2AGot nothin' to do with this.

2BJust stay calm, OK? We'll figure this out.

Agent

1ANele Springer! You're under arrest for organizing last year's bombing of a Biotechnica lab in Paris.

Nele

1ANo, no, no... This isn't happenin'…

Agent

1AYour bomb killed thirty-two innocent people.

V

3AThat true? You the one who planted that bomb?

3BSo you're a dyed-in-the-wool terrorist, after all.

3CGet now why you didn't want the corporate leash.

3C'Cause they would've strung you up with it.

Nele

1AI swear on my life, V! I had no idea civilians would die!

Agent

1AChit-chat's over! Step out of the vehicle, hands in the air!

V

4AGet out.

Nele

4AV, please, come on, don't leave me…

V

4AListen, fellas. You've got the wrong gal.

V

5AWoah, slow down. Know nothin' 'bout no attack. I don't consort with terrorists…

Nele

5AThis wasn't my fault, V! You have to believe me!

V

5BNele was just following orders - manipulated against her will by terrorists.

Agent

5BSave it. Evidence speaks for itself.

V

6BWanna cuff me? Go right ahead.

V

7AHad a deal, Nele. Nothin' more I can do for you.

Nele

7ANo, this isn't over! Don’t leave me like this, please!

V

4BNot givin' myself up. Stay here.

Nele

4BThey'll kill you!

V

4BFour 'gainst one, huh? Bring it.

1AFor the record - got nothin' to do with the Paris attack or any terrorist group.

1ANot only that, but I happened to save a few of your pals in Berlin.

1AProof is on this.

1AThe Crimson Harvest was supposed to detonate a bomb in Biotechnica's HQ. I disarmed it.

1ACan verify the bomb's signature and subnet parameters. S'all there.

Nele

1AThey're gonna kill me, V!

Agent

1AFind anything?

Agent

1AShe's telling the truth.

1AFine, you can go.

1ATake Springer away.

Nele

1ANo, wait! I gave her that shard! I planned this. Please!

1APlease! Don't do this!

Agent

1ALet's go. Move it.

V

You hit?

Nele

No, I... I don't think so. Thanks, V.

V

8AThink you'll ever come 'round to forgiving yourself?

Nele

8ADunno. Already hate myself for what I did.

V

8AGot your whole life to turn things around. Today was the first step.

Nele

8ACouldn't have done it without you. Thanks, V.

V

8AGood luck out there.

Johnny

8AWhat a waste. Chick had potential – coulda gone far. Pains me to see promisin' careers flushed down the drain.

V

8BGet outta here and don't come back.

Nele

8BI owe you, V. Big time.

V

8BDon't want anything from you.

Nele

8BSure, I get it. Thanks, V…

V

8DCould've told me you had more than the Crimson Harvest to worry about.

Nele

8DI… I thought if you found out the truth, you wouldn't help.

8DI… I'm sorry. I misjudged you.

V

Sure.

Listen, fellas. You've got the wrong gal.

Nele

V, do something!

V

Four 'gainst one, huh? Bring it.

Agent

Take them.

Nele

V, do something!

V

Nele was just following orders - manipulated against her will by terrorists.

Fixer

Do you never tire, V, sitting atop your high horse of moral scruples?

For the future, I would prefer it if my clients do not disappear without a trace.

I'm pleased you left me no mess to clean up at the stadium.

Those simpletons from BARGHEST will never know you were right under their noses.

Transferring your fee and closing the contract.

V. I'll have to do some cleaning up - nevertheless, you saved more people than you killed today.

Most importantly, the client is safe and sound.

Oh, and I won't inquire as to why you kept that shard. Hardly useful to you.

Fixer

My dear V, how would you like to do a good deed, earn a quick eurobuck over what you usually earn - a piece of hot lead in the gut?

A terrorist organization - the Crimson Harvest - plans to detonate a bomb at Biotechnica's HQ in Berlin.

I know that because Nele Springer, my client, is one of them. She needs your help foiling the plot.

Interested? See the attachment for details.