Dialogue: Sacrum Profanum

Cyberware Monk

This arm... it is not mine! None of this me! Cold, dead metal! All of it!

Wh-what have I done to deserve this? To fall victim to Hinsa?!

It itches... should it itch? Why do I feel anything? It... it is nothing but unfeeling metal!

Calm down... Phew... Forget your own soul. You must save his.

Help! Someone please help me! Anyone!

V

1AWhat happened? Your implants, they look... half-done.

Cyberware Monk

1ADone or not done... it is of no importance!

1AA bhikku does not defile his body through cybermodification. It is against... the pratimoksha!

1AAnd yet... they knew about this! For me there is no return...

V

1BAre you, uh... are you OK?

1BDon't you take a vow against chippin' implants?

Cyberware Monk

1BOf course we do! You think I did this to myself?!

1BI apologize I cannot bow in greeting. I am still... adjusting to my situation.

V

Hold on... somebody forced you?

Cyberware Monk

Not just me – my brother, too. They drugged us... desecrated my body.

And all the while, they mocked me... How can you do this to a fellow human being and still mock them?

V

2AHow 'bout your brother? He still with 'em?

Cyberware Monk

2AYes. I was first. Then they were trying to decide how... how to modify him.

2AYou look like someone who can reason with these people. I beg you, please, help my brother!

2AI only hope it is not too late. I do not wish for him to end up like... like I have.

V

3AFine, I'll help. But just so you know, things might get ugly. Maelstrom doesn't mess around...

Cyberware Monk

3AThere must be some other way. Help us, please, but without any bloodshed – I beg you.

V

3AI'll see what I can do... Either way, your brother's getting out.

Cyberware Monk

3AI do not know how to thank you. They are keeping him in a shop just north of here.

3AYou shall find it next to the road along the docks.

Johnny

3AHow poetic - a monk in distress... They should include this in your epic.

3AWhat're you gonna do – cross your legs and meditate till they drop dead?

V

3AWish you'd drop dead...

V

3BChromesucking psychos... It won't be easy. Maelstrom never goes down the easy route...

3BThe fucking clowns...

Cyberware Monk

3BHelp us, please... but without any bloodshed – I beg you.

V

3BI'll see what I can do... Either way, your brother's getting out.

3CSorry, but I'm not lookin' to get involved with Maelstrom.

Cyberware Monk

3CI understand. It is a lot to ask of one. My brother never hurt anyone. Someone shall save him.

3CPlease! Someone, help me!

3CAnyone?!

V

5AGotta admit, you really know how to tug at those heartstrings. I'll help your brother.

3DWhat's in it for me? I don't work for free, y'know.

Cyberware Monk

3DI cannot offer anything more than my gratitude. Just this once, please, make an exception.

3DThe universe shall compensate you.

V

2BMakes no sense. Who'd go and do something like this? And why?

Cyberware Monk

2BWe were out begging for alms when... when they approached us.

2BThey laughed at us and asked if we would take implants as a donation.

2BThey looked... more machine than human. They told us they would improve us, like tools.

V

2BMaelstrom...

Maelstrom

Chooms, chooms, listen! What if instead of an arm... we chipped him with iron? Every time he'd have to take a piss, he'd... bwahaha!

Maelstrom

Ha! And then he'll start a next-gen Buddhist fellowship of... get this! Full Metal Monks! Bwaha-bwahaha!

Maelstrom

You stole my fuckin' joke!

Brother

Please! Dharma has brought me peace. Do not deprive me of it...!

Maelstrom

Open your flap again and I'll rip your tongue out.

V

So this is where they're keeping our fellow brother.

Maelstrom

Fuck, got a break in!

Nail that meatbag to the wall!

Brother

Help! Let me out of here!

Do not do this! Implantation is against my beliefs! Please... I do not want them!

V

1ACalm down, it's over now. I'm not with them.

Brother

1ASo... what are you doing here? What happened?

V

2AWas walking by and caught some lame jokes about metal monks. Thing about Maelstrom – they're never just joking...

2AWhen I heard you call out, I knew there was no time to lose.

Brother

2AFrom the bottom of my soul – thank you. I am especially grateful nobody was killed. May you continue on the path of peace.

2AWhat compels these monsters is of no consequence. It is not up to us to judge what they deserve.

V

2AUm... yeah, sure.

V

3AYour brother's waiting for you. Not far from here.

Brother

3AFirst, I must catch my breath and then I shall go. It is him who shall need saving now...

Johnny

3ALook who's takin' the righteous path... If you're so afraid of killin', maybe you should've become a monk 'stead of a merc.

V

3AKilling isn't the solution to everything.

Johnny

3AIf you wanna change the world, there's always a price to be paid.

3AAs for these chrome-fucks – you think they got all this gear by sitting around going "Oommm"?

V

3AIf they had enough to spare on monks, then surely they don't need all of it...

Johnny

3AWho knew monks were ungrateful little brats? Maybe you should apologize for saving his 'ganic ass, too!

3ATired of assholes saying there are good and bad people in this world. There are only good choices and shitty ones.

3AMust've made a good one, 'cause why else would karma leave all this sweet gear just ripe for the pickin'?

V

3AI like where you're going with this.

V

4AYour brother's waiting for you. Not far from here.

Brother

4AFirst, I must catch my breath and then I shall go. It is him who shall need saving now...

V

5AWhat was I s'posed to do? Read 'em a sermon? Maelstrom shoots first, then asks questions.

Brother

5AYou always have a choice, including not to act at all. That is the most difficult of paths.

5AI would prefer to lose the only body I have than to live with the thought that someone died on my account.

5ALeave me. I must catch my breath before I go to my brother. It is him who needs saving now.

V

3BYou know, if it wasn't for me, you'd be a chrome cripple.

Brother

3BI appreciate your good will, but I cannot be grateful for the loss of human life you have caused.

3BThe suffering we commit unto others always finds a way back to us. Always.

3BLeave me. I must catch my breath before I go to my brother. It is him who needs saving now.

V

3CWhat was I s'posed to do? Read 'em a sermon? Maelstrom shoots first, then asks questions.

Brother

3CYou always have a choice, including not to act at all. That is the most difficult of paths.

3CI would prefer to lose the only body I have than to live with the thought that someone died on my account.

3CLeave me. I must catch my breath before I go to my brother. It is him who needs saving now.

V

3DHow'd you even get taken by Maelstrom? Most people avoid 'em like the plague.

Brother

3DWe are here as strangers. We wander from place to place. When we arrived in Night City, we had no time to identify its dangers.

V

3DDon't monks live in monasteries?

Brother

3DIt used to be they did not. My brother and I belong to a group that follows the earliest Buddhist teachings.

3DIt is an interesting life. We have met many unusual people.

V

3DSo I see.

Brother

3DThere is no need for sarcasm. We know the world is dangerous.

3DBut if one takes no risks, one will never know what lies beyond their front door. I'm sure you understand.

2AThank you for coming to my rescue... but my life is not worth the death of others.

2AOne good deed does not justify the suffering you have sewn. You have committed evil in its purest form.

V

2AHmph, I liked your brother more.

2BWas walking by and caught some lame jokes about metal monks. Thing about Maelstrom – they're never just joking...

2BNah, but the truth's that your brother sent me. He didn't want the same thing to happen to you.

2CWas walking by and caught some lame jokes about metal monks. Thing about Maelstrom – they're never just joking...

2CBut the truth's that I was sent by your brother.

2CI said no at first, but he looked so desperate... I knew if I didn't do anything, I'd regret it.

2DGlad I got here in time. Are you OK? Did they do anything to you?

Brother

2DI was lucky. They could not decide which implant would be... funnier.

V

2DCyberpsychos, the lot of 'em...

Brother

2DOne... one of them wanted to remove my jaw. The thought itself gives me shivers...

2DThankfully, they did not get the chance. To what do I owe this... intervention of yours?

V

Shit, shit, shit! Don't die!

Maelstrom

Why the fuck do I always gotta be the lookout? Wonder if this one'll try anything funny...

Hehehe, it's like – it's like he's gonna be a Full Metal Monk!

Brother

The suffering we commit unto others always finds a way back to us. Always.

Leave me. I must catch my breath before I go to my brother. It is him who needs saving now.

Monk Brother

Once again, we offer you our humble thanks. You saved a great many lives... and limbs.

V

Least I could do. What's the plan now? Can your brother still be a monk?

Monk Cyberware

The pratimoksha vows are a guide to enlightenment, not binding laws. Though my path is paved with ever-greater challenges, I shall not give up.

V

1AUh, humor me for a sec... if you don't look too kindly on having implants... then what do you think about constructs?

Monk Brother

1AAh, yes... You mean the Relic? A fashionable subject, is it not? It is a complex, fluctuating affair.

1AIt all depends on whether the engram is a copy of a person or if this person merely exists in the digital realm.

V

2AYou don't say. Feel a headache comin' on just thinkin' about it...

2BLet's say the engram's just a copy. What then? Could you say that person was... real?

Monk Brother

2BIf they are truly self-aware, a buddhist will recognize them as a human being.

2BA perfect copy of a complex human mind is still a human mind. But is it capable of reincarnation?

2BAnd if it's not, can it still be regarded as a being in possession of a soul?

V

2BWhat you're sayin', in other words, is "it's complicated."

Monk Brother

2BSuffering is key. It has been there since the dawn of human existence. If a construct can suffer, it is a person.

V

2CLet's say an engram's just a person that's been digitized. Is that kosher, in your view?

Monk Brother

2CBuddhism does not condemn digitization per se. Vending machines often preach in temples.

2CNo, I would not condemn the simple act of transferral, under the condition that they are at peace with it.

2COne must still remember that they will still be imprisoned in their body... even if their body is not flesh.

V

2CImmortality isn't your thing, I'm guessin'?

Monk Brother

2CHe who cannot die cannot be born into a better life and will never achieve nirvana.

V

2DWhat's your take, Johnny? You just you... or a copy?

Johnny

2DWhat difference does it make? You heard 'im, I'm trapped in a few lines of code... and your body.

V

2DMaybe Johnny Silverhand really is dead? Maybe you're just an... well...

Johnny

2DWhat, imitation? That what you wanted say?

2DIf the "real" Johnny Silverhand's dead, then that's his problem. Not mine.

V

1BWell then, I wish you all the best of luck.

Monk Brother

1BFarewell. And do not stray from the path of righteousness.

Monk Cyberware

Oh, you again. Thank you once again for your help...

Monk Brother

And yet, you did not help. Good intentions do not justify murder. Please, leave us in peace.

V

Fine, be my guest.

Monk Cyberware

What happened? Did you find my brother?

V

3A'Course I found him – he's safe and sound. Just needs to catch his breath.

Monk Cyberware

3AThank you. The universe will reward you for your good deeds.

3AI... I should not give in to base emotions, but I feel such a great relief that he is... unharmed.

V

3BDidn't get a chance yet. Everything takes time.

Monk Cyberware

3BTime is precisely what he lacks! Please, I beg you, hurry!

Back so soon? Why are you alone? What about my brother?

V

4AThings got outta hand... I'm sorry, but he didn't make it.

Monk Cyberware

4ABut... in his whole life he never hurt a living creature.

V

4BShots were fired. Lead was flying... One of my bullets accidentally hit him. I'm so sorry.

Monk Cyberware

4BAnd to think... I was the one who sent you there.

This is all my fault. I interfered in the karma of other souls. Had I not asked for your help... he would still be alive.

Please, go. Just go...

You, again. If you have finally come to help us, I am afraid it is too late.

V

What did they do to you?

Monk Cyberware

They cut out his jaw and tongue. Without further modification he shall never speak again.

Leave us. Let us endure our shame in peace.