Dialogue: The Damned

V

1ATalked to Songbird via the Relic. We can communicate again.

Reed

1AMhm…

V

1AAll good there, Reed?

Reed

1AYeah. I just need to process for a minute. It's just how I'm built. A little adversity, and I need a few moments to think.

V

1ACome up with anything?

Reed

1AYeah. We now know who took a swipe at Myers' head.

V

2AHansen.

Reed

2AYes... but not really.

V

2BThinkin' Songbird planned the whole thing.

Reed

2BYou're thinkin' right.

V

2CWhat're you thinkin'?

Reed

1ADunno about you, but I see coincidences as patterns, structures we have yet to recognize.

V

1AHm. Whatcha drivin' at?

Reed

1ASF1 crashes. Not anywhere, but over specific turf. Controlled by someone who found some obscure, forgotten tech in a secret bunker.

V

1ARight…

Reed

1ACrash was an inside job, we suspected that from the get-go.

1ANow we know it was. And we know it was Songbird, she was behind it.

V

4AAnd it took you just one drink to cobble that together?

Reed

4AStarted seein' the pieces fallin' into place up on the mezzanine. So Mi told us she’s dyin', things follow from that.

V

4BToo early for conclusions, don'tcha think? Got no proof she planned this in advance. Coulda improvised, reacted to facts.

Reed

4BC'mon. You don’t actually think she learned about the cure just now.

V

4CYeah, ‘s what I been thinkin', too. Minute she mentioned the cure, said Hansen has it… Everything just started slidin' into the right boxes, completing the picture.

Reed

4CYeah, same here.

1AShe made a deal with Hansen earlier, had to, before any of this went down. Traded the president's life for access to the tech.

V

5AIf there's truth to this, Song's guilty of... high treason.

Reed

5AHer and her actions I won't judge. Not my place.

5AAs I see it, So Mi was playin' both sides. Simultaneously spinnin' deals with Hansen and you.

5AShe has Hansen set, then you come in. She contacts you via the Relic, asks you to rescue the president. Absolution for her right there... You need the cure just as much – guaranteein' you'll help if her plan falls through.

V

5AAnd here we are…

Reed

5AYeah, and here we are – rushin' to Songbird's rescue. Thinkin' a few steps ahead was always her strength. But judgement calls and situational assessment – her Achilles' heel.

5AAs a chess master, she’d be famous for dazzling plays and excruciatingly beautiful defeats.

V

6AStill trust 'er… trust she'll keep her word. Promised me the "cure," an' I fully intend to get it. Only thing that matters, really.

Reed

6AI'd be careful. Mind sharp, eyes and ears attuned…

V

6BShit, can't shake the feelin' she's still runnin' a game. Sure, seems more upfront than at first. No way she's tellin' all, though.

Reed

6BCould be right. Stayin' alert's never a bad idea.

V

6CSheesh, dunno what to believe just yet...

Reed

6CThat's not surprisin'.

5ABut… I know So Mi well enough to know she'll do her damndest to be fair.

V

7ARight. Just branded your beloved belle of the ball who you're out to rescue a traitor. What now? What do you wanna do about it?

Reed

7AYou know, V, treason ain't ever black and white. They tried to zero me once, too... What if we’ve all been played?

V

7BSo, what're you thinkin' about all this?

Reed

7BI’m not convinced So Mi's to blame for everything. In this trade, nothing's ever as it seems. You gotta keep askin' questions till you get to the bottom of it. That's experience talkin'.

5AMain thing now is to get her outta this cesspool of a sitch. Then we'll see which direction to take.

V

8ARight. Still should watch her every move closely.

Reed

8ASure. Unconditional trust? No more, out the window.

V

8BRight. No point in porin' over it now.

8CStill can’t figure you out, Reed. Tryin' to stay true to both the FIA and your friend... Could be recipe for failure.

Reed

8CThink I don't know that? I wanna gather info, know where I stand before I decide the way forward. Just how I'm built.

V

8DJust want what Songbird promised me. The "cure," that's it.

Reed

8DUnderstood. I'll handle the rest, the fallout.

5ARight. Back to the sitch at hand. What do we have to do to save 'er?

V

5ATo grab the tech Songbird and I both need, we gotta go to a meet with Hansen. Prep for it's required.

5ACause we show up as a pair of 'runners. Need to “klep their identities” first, whatever that means…

Reed

5APersonality imprint theft... Sounds like our Colombian job of yore. Who are they and where do we find 'em?

V

9ASong got this shard to me – take a look. Our targets are a brother and sister, red-haired twins. They're here somewhere, schmoozing.

Reed

9AHmm… OK, we need to pull data, get samples of assorted behavior. We make contact with 'em, talk, scan as we talk.

V

9AGot it… I think. So, time to make our move?

Reed

9AOver there.

V

10ATwin roulette, looks like…

Reed

10AAlex, you copy that?

Alex comms

10ARead you loud and clear. Preppin' scan tech now.

Reed

10AYou're new to this, but relax. We'll do it as a four-hander – I scan one, you handle the other. Alex'll pilot us through.

Alex comms

10AV, zippin' funds your way from our operating budget. Load up on chips and join their game. Just don’t go all-in from the get-go.

Reed

10AWe stagger our approach. And we're strangers.

V

11ALet’s get to this.

Alex comms

11AStruck gold with roulette, really. Gambling throws people around, high and low, brings the joy of winning and the despair of defeat. Perfect for our purposes.

Chips Clerk

11AGreetings, madam.

Alex comms

11AV – important. You’re not there to have fun. Simple bets, red or black only. None of the Double Street or Basket bullshit, understood?

V

11AUnderstood.

Alex comms

11ANeed an array of emotions, so provoke. But subtly so, or they'll clam up, scan'll be a bust.

Aurore

11AWill you join us?

V

11AWanna buy some chips.

Chips Clerk

11AOf course. Good luck at the tables.

Dealer

11AEighteen, even, red.

11APlace your bets, please.

V

13ABetting's open?

Dealer

13ABy all means.

V

13AMake it red.

13BBetting's open?

Dealer

13BBy all means.

V

13BBlack it is, then.

Reed comms

11ARelax, buy 'em drinks, break the ice. I'll join you momentarily.

Dealer

11AAll bets are in. Betting is closed.

Aurore

11AWhat, no introduction?

V

11AV. You?

Aurore

11AAurore Cassel. And that bore is my brother – Aymeric.

V

15AWhat’s your poison? My treat.

15AYou heard the lady. And Real Water for the gentleman here.

Waitress two

15AAnd what'll you have?

V

16ASame as the lady.

Waitress two

16ABourbon. Comin' up.

V

16BSame as the gentleman.

Waitress two

16BWater. Comin' right up.

V

16CHard liquor, please... Whiskey?

Waitress two

16CInori OK with you?

V

16CJapanese, more'n fine.

16DG 'n' T, please.

Waitress two

16DGin, tonic, be right back.

15AYour drinks will be here shortly.

Dealer

15ATwenty-seven, odd, red.

15APlace your bets, please.

V

17ARed.

17BBlack.

Alex comms

15AV... Can't get ahold of Reed. No idea where he is.

15AStall for time, OK?

Aurore

15AHmm, I just realized… you must have dirt beneath your fingernails, too. Like all these bastards and bitches.

Alex comms

15AProvocative, this one…

V

18AGot me. No-lifer, tourist, whatever your preference.

Aurore

18AHmm... You’re just teasing.

V

18BYeah, conscience ain't sparklin' clean, no.

Aurore

18BI like those who brag about such things.

V

18CWhaddaya think I am?

Aurore

18CMy, my! One drink and already flirting? Bold.

Dealer

15ATwenty-five, odd, red.

15APlace your bets, please.

Casino Crowd

15AAh! Fucking done here.

V

15ACan't help feelin' I, uh, interrupted somethin'… when I walked up.

Aymeric

15ADo not worry yourself about this.

Aurore

15AOh, come, come. V is just being cordial.

Dealer

15AEighteen, even, red.

15APlace your bets, please.

V

20ASure wasn't snoopin', no. Just bein' plain courteous.

Aurore

20AOh, don't be such a bore. I simply don't like bores.

20AOf course you were snooping. As we are simply too interesting to ignore.

V

20BAh, ya got me. Onto you big time. But in my defense, you guys stand out, even in a crowd like this one.

Aymeric

20BOh, really?

20BListening to conversations of strangers can be... dangerous. Sometimes, you can hear more than you can handle.

Alex comms

15AListen. Reed's MIA for now, can't wait for 'im. Gotta do both scans on your own.

Aurore

15ABig fish, selling big guns for big money. Yet here… you have celebrities, politicians, even the chief of police…

Dealer

15AThirty-six, even, red.

15APlace your bets, please.

Aurore

15AWho is Kurt Hansen, really – a crucial question.

V

23AThe fuck? Psychoanalysis a hobby 'o yours?

Alex comms

23AV, no! Too hard!

Aurore

23AI'm asking what you think of him, not if his parents loved him.

V

24AGuy's a warlord with an oversized ego. Just look at the state of Dogtown.

Aurore

24ANow that is some cheap psychoanalytic bullshit.

V

24AWanted an answer – you got it.

Aurore

24AThank you for the bourbon, V.

V

24BSeem a lot alike, you 'n' Hansen. Never a step back, always leapin' forward. And you love the fuck outta this work.

Aurore

24B<mothertongue l="fra" m="Ben, putain" b="" a=", now you do the psychanalyse?"/>

Alex comms

24BReal careful, now….

V

24BPlayin' your own game, Aurore.

24CDon’t know the guy that well, really.

Aurore

24CHonest. I like it. Better this than invented nonsense.

Alex comms

24CNice little dodge, V.

V

23BHe’s a famed, top-tier pro criminal. Can't just don a suit, stroll into the relevant city agency and register Hansen, Incorporated.

Aurore

23BOh, don’t be silly. His real name would appear nowhere on the documents.

23BI myself have a small firm in Paris. My stand-in take calls, arranges meetings and deflects, deflects, deflects.

V

23BWhy would he need that?

Aurore

23BHansen? Providing weapons to banana republics is not quite a sure and stable business.

V

23CCertainly not liable to become a tax-payin', law-abidin' Night Citizen.

Aurore

23CKickbacks to NC officials – are they not taxes, not protection money? Doing business carries a price.

23CDogtown gedeiht nur dank Night City. Hansen braucht es. Den Profit zu diversifizieren wäre nur vernünftig.

V

23DHansen’s a suit without a suit, if you catch my drift.

Aurore

23DOh my fucking God, you Americans... You used to have more imagination.

Alex comms

23DTossin' you around, V, don't let 'er. Level the field.

V

25AAsk a gonk question, get a gonk answer. Deservedly, I'd say.

Aurore

25ASpaß beiseite, der Colonel ist kein dummer Mann. Er sollte sein Einkommen und seine Posten ... diversifizieren.

V

25BMaybe you could lay out your opinion of the man?

Aurore

25BAymeric knows this, I know this... and if Hansen has any sense, he knows it, too.

Dealer

15AThirty-six, even, red.

15APlace your bets, please.

V

26APretty shameless bastard, aren't you.

Aurore

26AOh, I agree.

V

26BCharmin' little show you're puttin' on.

Aurore

26BYou see, Aymeric, We are charming.

15AI mean, Hansen could take Dogtown by the throat, eject the junkies and make it a paradise for billionaires.

15AJust getting rich is dull. You should work for the community… invest, create jobs, throw banquets…

15AAnd charities are excellent washing machines, you launder billions. Believe me.

Alex comms

15AShe’s gettin’ chatty. Doin' good, V.

Dealer

15AThirty-two, even, red.

15APlace your bets, please.

V

28ASister’s right, ya know. Legit biz – lots better, safer than the gangster shit.

Aymeric

28AAh, please… What would he do? Build homes, strip malls?

28AHe is very good at what he does. A professional criminal.

V

28ASoldier yesterday, crime lord today... why not biz shark tomorrow?

Aymeric

28AYet he is a businessman.

28AAnd to make it legal? It is a lot of work to do for a simple change of label.

Alex comms

28AGood, little worm's openin' up.

V

28BIf I was him, I'd liquidate. Head from some tropical exile, spend the rest of my days drinkin' gaudy, candy-ass cocktails.

Aymeric

28BA man like Hansen cannot retire. His partners in business would not allow it. Community, you see.

V

28BWhaddaya mean?

Aymeric

28BThey would hunt him, find him, put a bag over his head and bring him back. If he said "no," he would die. There is simply too much money involved.

Alex comms

28BThinks you're a dolt, V. Readin's useless, do somethin' else!

V

29A'Course, ain't about holin' up on a yacht, waitin' for hitmen to show up.

29ABut he could make a deal. Appoint a successor or offer a generous pay-off.

Aymeric

29AThe question remains – what for?

V

29BGot it right and you know that. Your ego just won't let you admit it.

Aymeric

29BOf course.

Alex comms

29BHe's withdrawing and we still need a strong response from him! Lemme think real quick...

Dealer

29BNineteen, odd, red.

29BPlace your bets, please.

29BSeven, odd, red.

29BFourteen, even, red.

29BTwenty-two, even, black.

29BFour, even, black.

29BSeventeen, odd, black.

V

28CNaive thinkin', friend. You wearin' digiblinders…?

Aymeric

28CExcuse me?

Alex comms

28CFor fuck’s sake, V!

V

28CNo offense, but... you're claimin' there's no point in Hansen goin' legal. He's makin' great scratch as a criminal.

Aymeric

28CYes, and...?

V

28CMeanin', sure, he can stay in his comfort zone, churn out eddies. Or… with a bit of legwork, become an untouchable gazillionaire.

28CTons of hustlers, plain criminals out there donned suits. Fuckers are truly above the law now.

Alex comms

28CWow. Just opened him up. Nice.

V

28DMan basically owns Dogtown. Could use that as leverage.

Aymeric

28DAnd who would Hansen be? The mayor? Please…

Dealer

15ANineteen, odd, red.

15APlace your bets, please.

V

30ACare to expand? Floor's yours.

30BDon't got much respect for upright, honest peeps, do ya.

Aymeric

15AAllow me to say, V… arms or property, it would make no difference to me what I sell.

15AAnd to spend five years on efforts to… change how people see you, call you?

15ATo be upstanding in the eyes of others – I could not give a shit.

Dealer

15AEighteen, even, red.

15APlace your bets, please.

Alex comms

15ANot doin' great, V. Got an idea, though.

15AGimme somethin' big now. Make 'em laugh or cry, I don't care.

Dealer

15APlease place your bets.

V

31AHow about we go all-in? Bet everything we won tonight.

Aurore

31AAnd we play different colors, yes? You win or we do. And either you or we lose all.

V

31AMy thoughts exactly.

Aymeric

31AA moment. You join the table, buy drinks, talk and talk… Now you wish to risk everything? I find this disquieting.

31APerhaps you could now tell us about yourself.

Alex comms

31ATread lightly…

Kurt

31AI know your friend Reed is FIA. My natural assumpton is – you're an agent, too.

31AI’m also guessing you two took it upon yourselves to save the president, then exfil her out of Dogtown.

31AI should send you back to Night City in body bags filled with pieces.

31AI, too, congratulate you.

V

32AWow, you cracked it. Clever man.

Kurt

32ATo be honest, I got tired of the media circus. All the allegations thrown in my face, the bullshit propaganda…

32ALuckily, we can put all that behind us now.

V

33AOh, so you coudn't be happier we saved Myers after your botched hit? Riiight. Think you believe that less than I do.

33BAlways willin' to help. Don't you worry, got your back, Colonel.

33COh... So what now? Gonna kidnap me? Torture me?

Kurt

32AI will let you and Reed walk free of this place, in one piece, on your own two feet. Consider it a gesture of my good will.

32AYour little bird came to me on her own, though. She was tired of breaking international laws on the president’s whim. She simply had to run away.

32ABreaching the Blackwall? Jeopardizing the Net, all humankind's safety, in fact, for personal gain? I wonder what NetWatch would say…

32APass it on to President Myers. Also, tell her... her toy of mass destruction is my friend now. And she should get the fuck out of my back yard, or the world will learn about her games.

32AI’ve matters to attend to. You'll find Mr. Reed downstairs.

Alex comms

32AOK, V. Got all we need.

V

34AOK, whadda I do now?

Alex comms

34AHaul ass outta there.

V

34BSheesh, colossal prick… Hear what he said?

Alex comms

34BYeah, caught it all.

34BDidn't like it one bit, either.

V

32BYou're not about to kill us. Got it right?

Kurt

32BTo be honest, I got tired of the media circus. All the allegations thrown in my face, the bullshit propaganda…

32BLuckily, we can put all that behind us now.

V

32CYou tryin' to scare me?

Kurt

32CDunno. Are you afraid?

32CWe're just talking, aren't we.

V

35AName’s V, Afterlife affiliated. Make what you will of it.

Aurore

35AAre you happy now?

V

35BProfessional thief, that's who I am. Robbed Yorinobu Arasaka once, figured I'd rob Hansen, too. Or you, for that matter.

Aurore

35BIsn’t she marvelous?

V

35CNone of your biz, choom.

Aurore

35CI agree with V. Let’s play.

V

35DLookin’ at an FIA operative. That a problem?

Aymeric

35DAh, another game. Let's assume you have not lied. Are you here for Hansen or for us?

Aurore

35DWho cares? Let's play.

31AGo on, choose.

V

36AI'm seein' red comin'…

Aurore

36ABlack for us, then.

Dealer

36ASeven, odd, red.

Kurt

36ALeave us for a moment, if you please.

Dealer

36AThirteen, odd, black.

Kurt

36AHa, ha, ha... You win some, you lose some, folks.

36ALeave us for a moment, if you please.

V

36BBlack's my choice.

Aurore

36BWe are red, as our hair, a luscious color.

Dealer

36BTwenty-one, odd, red.

Kurt

36BHa, ha, ha... You win some, you lose some, folks.

36BLeave us for a moment, if you please.

Dealer

36BEight, even, black.

Kurt

36BLeave us for a moment, if you please.

Aymeric

31ACongratulation to you.

Aurore

31AYou choose first, then.

V

31BLike the tingle of risk?

31BThinkin' we can add a little spice to our game.

Aymeric

31BI'm listening…

Aurore

31BMy, my, I, too, am curious…

Alex comms

15AFar from perfect, but slowly, slowly... we'll get there.

15AGettin' there, almost got it.

Aurore

15AAh, damn... I should have bet on red…

Dealer

15AThree, odd, red.

15ATwenty-three, odd, red.

15ATwenty-four, even, black.

15ATwenty, even, black.

15AThirteen, odd, black.

15ASeven, odd, red.

15AFourteen, even, red.

15ATwenty-two, even, black.

15AFour, even, black.

15ASeventeen, odd, black.

Aymeric

15AYou’re so childish it’s beautiful.

Aurore

15AWhat?

Aymeric

15AHansen going missionary position in business? Nonsense.

Alex comms

15AReed’s still not responding. But you keep workin' it. Let's go, swap twins.

Dealer

15ATwelve, even, red.

15AFive, odd, red.

15AEleven, odd, black.

15ATwenty-nine, odd, black.

15ATen, even, black.

Dealer

15ANine, odd, red.

15ATwenty-one, odd, red.

15AThirty-three, odd, black.

15ATwenty-eight, even, black.

15ASix, even, black.

Alex comms

15ATread carefully with that duo, V...

15AScan 'em now. It's why you went there!

Dealer

15ANine, odd, red.

15ATwenty-one, odd, red.

15AThirty-three, odd, black.

15ATwenty-eight, even, black.

15ASix, even, black.

Casino Crowd

15AUgh... Guess it's not my lucky day.

15AEight's my magic number. So... Gonna go with eight!

Alex comms

15AStill no sign from Reed, V... Got a sinkin' feelin' about this.

Dealer

15AThree, odd, red.

15ATwenty-three, odd, red.

15ATwenty-four, even, black.

15ATwenty, even, black.

15AThirteen, odd, black.

V

15ACan't help feelin' I, uh, interrupted somethin'… when I walked up.

Aymeric

15ADo not worry yourself about this.

Aurore

15AOh, come, come. V is just being cordial.

Dealer

15ASixteen, even, red.

Aymeric

15AOh, yesss…

Dealer

15AThirty, even, red.

15AZero.

15AThirty-five, odd, black.

15AFifteen, odd, black.

15AEight, even, black.

Aurore

15ADelicious drink, V, thank you.

Casino Crowd

15ALast chance... Let's go, let's go...

Dealer

15AOne, odd, red.

15AThirty-four, even, red.

15AThirty-one, odd, black.

15ATwo, even, black.

15ATwenty-six, even, black.

Aurore

15ACool!

V

14AHow's things? Any luck?

14AHow's things? Any luck?

14AHow's things? Any luck?

Aymeric

14AWe started just moments ago.

Dealer

11AThree, odd, red.

11ATwenty-three, odd, red.

11ATwenty-four, even, black.

11ATwenty, even, black.

11AThirteen, odd, black.

11AThirty-six, even, red.

11APlace your bets, please.

11ANine, odd, red.

11ATwenty-one, odd, red.

11AThirty-three, odd, black.

11ATwenty-eight, even, black.

11ASix, even, black.

11AThirty-two, even, red.

11APlace your bets, please.

11ATwelve, even, red.

11AFive, odd, red.

11AEleven, odd, black.

11ATwenty-nine, odd, black.

11ATen, even, black.

V

10BWow. Traced them in a flash, Reed.

Reed

10BNoticed them some time ago. They stand out even in this melting pot.

V

9BSo, how's one go about it – kleppin' someone's personality.

Reed

9BFIA metanthropic tech – Alex has access, you’ve seen her use it already. You look, sound and act like the individual whose personality you assume.

9BTo do it, we need scans of our targets.

V

5BDunno about that. Song recruited me specifically to pull Myers outta that wreck. Seriously doubt she wanted her dead or snatched by Hansen…

Reed

5BIt's never that simple, V.

V

5CThe NUS prez, sold to a crime lord... Huge if true.

Reed

5CMyers pressured So Mi, to reach further, breach boundaries. And then… So Mi snapped.

V

Right. Just branded your beloved belle of the ball who you're out to rescue a traitor. What now? What do you wanna do about it?

Reed

You know, V, treason ain't ever black and white. They tried to zero me once, too... What if we’ve all been played?

V

Right. Just branded your beloved belle of the ball who you're out to rescue a traitor. What now? What do you wanna do about it?

Reed

You know, V, treason ain't ever black and white. They tried to zero me once, too... What if we’ve all been played?

Dealer

Eight, even, black.

Aymeric

Congratulation to you.

Kurt

I, too, congratulate you.

Leave us for a moment, if you please.

I know your friend Reed is FIA. My natural assumpton is – you're an agent, too.

I’m also guessing you two took it upon yourselves to save the president, then exfil her out of Dogtown.

I should send you back to Night City in body bags filled with pieces.

Dealer

Twenty-one, odd, red.

Kurt

Ha, ha, ha... You win some, you lose some, folks.

Aymeric

It is a nice feeling.

Dealer

Thirteen, odd, black.

Seven, odd, red.

Aymeric

Congratulation to you.

Alex comms

Wears many masks, this one. Give her a good shake, she might shed one or two.

Aymeric

!OBSOLETE

Aurore

!OBSOLETE

Alex comms

OK, V. Got all we need.

V

Fuck! Hansen’s comin'...

Fuck! Hansen’s comin'...

Alex comms

Got a bad feelin' about this... C'mon, shake 'im, head for the exit.

Do something, anything to get more than one sentence outta this wannabe mime.

It's like runnin' along the edge, story of your life, kinda.

Easy, V. No tension, make sure he thinks all’s preem.

Ugh. You botched that... can’t get ahold of Reed, classic MIA... nothing’s goin' right.

Reed

Yeah. First things first.

Any thoughts?

She'd just... had enough.

What're you thinkin'?

Go on. Spill.

What's your thinkin'?

Alex comms

V, think I figured 'em out. Little duo's got a habit of testing boundaries, provoking to see what emerges. You gotta play along... to a point.

Dealer

Please place your bets.

Aurore

What do you think? Will you tell?

Alex comms

You know, V – just go big… like, humongous. Provoke 'em.

Easy, V. No tension, make sure he thinks all’s preem.

Aymeric

It is a nice feeling.