Dialogue: The Hunt

River

V, wake up!

V

Not done sleeping...

River

Yawen called! It worked, the cartoon! H-he's dreamin'!

V

You… You got the BD?

River

Right here. Slot it in, jack into the computer. I wanna see it on the monitor.

V

1AThat doc of yours is quick. Not bad.

River

Let this work…

Where was that farm? You sure you remember?

V

Southeast of the city. Just a few miles out.

River

Let's go!

V

OK, so where do we sit now, exactly?

River

We know Harris still lives near an old school that's now under water.

You can see the NC skyline and the Us Cracks towers from the farm. It's a few miles out.

Farm's located near a landfill – we know that, too.

Shipping code on the game Randy got from Harris traces out to the Badlands.

Harris's IP places him outside Night City, within a radius of a dozen miles or so.

Those towers promoting the Us Cracks album – colors change regularly, once an hour. So we know the time.

V

Eleven at night.

River

Right, and that puts the farm east of the city. Southeast, actually.

Stamp on the NCFD certificate was from the southern region.

Farm model's a Petrochem design, so that eliminates any others.

Any farms not powered by solar panels are out.

Which narrows it down to Edgewood Farm. That's gotta be our place.

V

So... we've got it?

River

Just hope we didn't fuck it up... C'mon, we gotta go.

Dammit, V, sure hope you picked the right farm.

I'll call, request a squad car for the second farm.

Got a 10-33, I repeat, 10-33 on a farm east of the city!

No, I... Well, yes... No, no I'm not... Well shit...

"No available units in your area," of course. Fuck... I just hope we picked right.

So we're down to two farms.

V

It's only two, but time is not on our side, River. We splittin' up?

River

No, I'll call the PD, get 'em out to the second farm.

V

Which means we've got a coin toss, fifty-fifty chance of gettin' it right. Edgewood or Poppy?

V

4ALet's go with Edgewood. Got a strong feelin' about it.

River

4AOK, let's ride.

V

4BPoppy's the better bet – voice in my gut says so.

River

4BOK, then. Let's move.

Dammit…

Let this work…

V

5AIt's gotta work. Done more in two days than the NCPD accomplished in weeks.

River

5ANot hard to do, but yeah, you're right. Thanks, V... for everything.

V

5BDon't get distracted. Gotta focus on the road.

River

5BYeah, easy for you to say. That's my nephew out there...

V

We'll find him, River.

River

Argh! If I'd only known sooner how he felt, what was eatin' at him…

V

This isn't your fault.

River

I'm his uncle, V. And I wasn't there for him.

Fuck!

Hold on, Randy... Please hold on.

We're fucked... God dammit…

Dammit! We're wastin' time!

Fuckin' Peter Pan prick! He's a stiff when this is all over!

I mean, God, how'd we pick the wrong farm?

V

Too late for that now, River. Just hit the chooh.

River

Fuck…

Teacher

What's the matter with you, Anthony? I have to report this, I hope you understand that.

This isn't normal behavior. Anthony, you killed Liam's turtle.

YoungMeatman

He was sick. He wouldn't eat, stayed in his shell... I just wanted to help him.

Teacher

By injecting him with HGH? What were you thinking? Is this something your father taught you?

Good people took you in. Extended their trust. This is how you repay them?

Your friend died, I understand... but that is no excuse.

YoungMeatman

Fuck you...

Teacher

What did you just say?

OK, I've had enough. Principal's gonna hear about this. Your foster parents, too.

I see... like father like son.

YoungMeatman

Don't you dare talk about my dad!

Teacher

That's right, you little shit, I know it all. Farm failed, dad put a bullet in his head.

YoungMeatman

Shut up, shut up, shut up!!! You can't talk about my dad, you--you prick!

You-you can't... Y-you can't... He--he was sick, weak... I just wanted to help him.

River

We're back in Harris's schoolkid days…

River

1AHuh, I recognize this shooting… It was a case study back at the academy.

V

1AGuess that'd be that…

River

1AHuh, I recognize this shooting… It was a case study back at the academy.

1AGimme a sec to check which school that was…

1ALaguna Bend. Hmm... Looks like the whole town got flooded in the fifties.

1AWell, at least we know the general area where Harris lived.

V

2ATrophy, old one, dating from 2042, first place in an interscholastic wrestling tournament.

2ATrophy, old one, dating from 2042, first place in an interscholastic wrestling tournament.

River

2AHold on, lemme check which school won that tournament…

2ALaguna Bend. Hmm... Looks like the whole town got flooded in the fifties.

2AWell, at least we know the general area where Harris lived.

V

Guess that'd be that…

Meatman

And where're you off to, Mike?

C'mere, you rascal. You'll hurt yourself.

Tony'll take good care of you. Easy, now.

Father

Tony! Where you gone, now? C'mere!

Young Meatman

Coming!

Father

Tony! C'mere!

Young Meatman

Yeah, Dad?

Father

You forget somethin'?

I as'ed you a question!

Young Meatman

I-I don't know...

Father

Choline and methionine levels – see anything odd?

Young Meatman

Ummm... too low?

Father

You were supposed to check before school.

Whaddaya got to say for yourself?

Cow's gonna die 'cause of you. Gonna kill it like you killed your momma.

Young Meatman

I-I'm sorry.

Father

Don't apologize, just dial up her hormones.

And shut off that goddamn cartoon!

How many times I gotta tell you not to leave it like that, hm?

Half the day I spent tryin' to turn that shit off!

River

Think this might be the place, V. It's a recent memory... Gotta be his hideout.

V

1ALooks like Peter Pan turned this farm into a goddamn final bastion.

1AAll these turrets and mines… They're controlled by some other tech, not the comp in the barn.

V

2ATerminal controls the pens.

2AGotta be another deck somewhere for the mines and turrets.

V

3AGot a clock – an hour to midnight.

V

4AGot some cables.

4ARiver? Gotta be solar panels on the barn roof.

River

5AFire Department cert stamp right here – City South. Perfect.

V

6ASignage on the farm model points to Petrochem.

V

7AOh, fuck me... Treats the kidnapped boys like cattle…

7ALook, another one.

River

7ADon't see Randy anywhere.

River

11AFuel…? Musta been an auto shop or somethin' here at some point.

V

13AMachine controls an injection system for stimulants, hormones, somethin'...

V

18AHearin' what I'm hearin'?

River

18ATrash barge. That's the signal to dump. Has to be a landfill nearby…

18AThat's gotta be all she wrote in this one, V…

V

18AProlly right, OK.

River

18AI think that might be it…

V

18ANot so sure, River. Think we oughta explore a bit more.

River

18AOK, let's go with your gut.

18AThat's gotta be all she wrote in this one, V…

V

18AProlly right, OK.

V

19ARiver, I know this place!

River

19AWhat? You've been to this farm?

V

19AA while ago... I-I can see it now. I know how to get there.

River

19AShit, V... Knew it was a good idea to bring you along.

V

19AHey! The illuminated towers... promoting the Us Cracks album that came out then.

19AColors changed every hour.

River

Harris looks even younger here.

River

20ASee that? Cow's sick – like the rest.

Ah, that's our cartoon! Little Tony really seemed to love it...

River

21ACattle injectors for hormones, antibiotics… People ate meat loaded with the shit.

V

22ALooks like a cattle bioscanner, for checkin' vitals.

River

23ASupplements in the feed for disease-free livestock.

River

24AAgh…Got no way to ID 'im.

24AKid's father was a real hardass.

River

The barn! Quick!

V

1ACareful, River! Watch the mines!

V

River, this is the farm! We got it!

River

I know. Let's get to the barn, quick.

River

4ANeed to loosen this, help me!

4AHelp me!

V

We fucked up, River...

River

Yep, we sure did. But it is far from over.

Psychoscum's gonna pay for it.

V

6AWhaddaya wanna do? Zero him?

River

6AExactly. Squeeze the life out of him with my bare hands.

6ASick fuck has to die.

V

6BHe's in a coma, in police custody. He's not gettin' away with anything.

River

6BHe's still alive. So in a sense, he is gettin' away with it... Not for long, though.

6BGonna squeeze the life outta him with my bare hands.

V

7ARiver, come on, man... It won't change anything.

7AAnthony Harris is a sad sack of meat hooked up to a respirator now.

River

7AFor how long? He has to die. It's the only way I'll be sure.

V

7AStop. Gonna throw your life away gettin' revenge on a braindead vegetable?

River

7AUgh, I dunno. Maybe you're right. But it's drivin' me crazy not doin' anything.

7AKnew from the start I shoulda hired a professional. Not you.

V

8AJust... take it one day at a time. Y'still got Joss.

8AHer and the kiddos'll need Uncle River more than ever.

Trauma Team

8AHey, we're ready for evac. Are you riding along or not?

River

8AYeah, got a point... Anyway, thanks for tryin' to help.

V

8AYeah, for tryin'...

8BHang on, you tryna to blame for me for the fuck-up?

River

8BIt was my mistake. Thought you could help me, that we'd fare better together.

V

8BYou're grieving, so I'll forget you said that.

River

8BYeah, forget it. Forget everything.

V

7BNo, River. Want that fucker's blood on my hands, too.

River

7BAppreciate your dedication, V... but this is between me and Harris.

7BGonna take him out in my own way, amidst all this confusion.

7BBesides, I shouldn't've asked for your help to begin with. It was a dumb call.

V

9ASo please, zero the fucker yourself then. Enjoy kickin' it in prison after.

River

9ALike I care.

9ABut despite all this... thanks for tryin' to help.

Trauma Team

9AHey, we're ready for evac. Are you riding along or not?

V

9AYeah, for tryin'...

9BHang on, you tryna to blame for me for the fuck-up?

River

9BIt was my mistake. Thought you could help me, that we'd fare better together.

V

9BYou're grieving, so I'll forget you said that.

River

9BYeah, forget it. Forget everything.

V

7CDo whatcha gotta do. Kill him, spare him... Just one request, River...

River

7CWhat's that?

V

7CLeave me out of it. Had my fill of this case.

River

7CKnew from the start I shoulda hired a professional. Not you.

V

10AWhatever you decide... don't get caught.

River

10ALike it matters.

Trauma Team

10AHey, we're ready for evac. Are you riding along or not?

River

10AStill, thanks. For tryin' to help.

V

10AYeah, for tryin'...

10BHang on, you tryna to blame for me for the fuck-up?

River

10BIt was my mistake. Thought you could help me, that we'd fare better together.

V

10BYou're grieving, so I'll forget you said that.

River

10BYeah, forget it. Forget everything.

V

We did it, River.

River

Yep, we sure did. But I'm not about leave it like this.

The horror that bastard inflicted... Can't let it go.

V

12AWhaddaya wanna do? Zero him?

River

12AExactly. Squeeze the life out of him with my bare hands.

12ASick fuck has to die.

V

12BHe's in a coma, in police custody. He's not gettin' away with anything.

River

12BHe's still alive. So in a sense, he is gettin' away with it... Not for long, though.

12BGonna squeeze the life outta him with my bare hands.

V

13ARiver, come on, man... It won't change anything.

13AAnthony Harris is a sad sack of meat hooked up to a respirator now.

River

13AFor how long? He has to die. It's the only way I'll be sure.

V

13AStop. Gonna throw your life away gettin' revenge on a braindead vegetable?

River

13AUgh, I dunno. Maybe you're right. But it's drivin' me crazy not doin' anything.

V

14AForget about Harris. Take one day at a time. But rest first.

14AOnce your head's on straight again, gimme a holo. We'll talk.

River

14AYeah, need a little time to myself now. But then I'll call ya. I will.

Trauma Team

14AHey, we're ready for evac. Are you riding along or not?

River

14AReally, V, thanks. Couldn't've done it without you.

V

14ANo problem. Don't be a stranger.

14BActually, got quite a bit you can do, River.

14BJoss, Randy, the kids... They're gonna need you now more than ever.

River

14BYeah... No, you're right…

V

13BNo, River. Want that fucker's blood on my hands, too.

River

13BAppreciate your dedication, V... but this is between me and Harris.

13BGonna take him out in my own way, amidst all this confusion.

V

15AJust remember – say the word, I'm there. You can count on me.

River

15ANeed a little time to myself now… But I'll remember.

Trauma Team

15AHey, we're ready for evac. Are you riding along or not?

River

15AReally, V, thanks. Couldn't've done it without you.

V

15ADon't mention it. And holler if you change your mind. Or, if you're just in the mood to holler.

15BSure you don't want help? They'll catch you.

River

15BNo they won't. I'm... Well... That is, I was a detective, remember?

15BI know how to cover my tracks.

V

13CDo whatcha gotta do. Kill him, spare him... Just one request, River...

River

13CWhat's that?

V

13CLeave me out of it. Had my fill of this case.

River

13CNot willin' to see this through with me?

V

13CHelped you 'cause it was about your nephew. That's over, so enough.

River

13CToo bad. Thought we'd take this to the end together. But it's all right, I'll handle it.

V

16ABest of luck, then.

16ASee each other around?

River

16AProbably, eventually. Need a little time to myself for now.

Trauma Team

16AHey, we're ready for evac. Are you riding along or not?

River

16AReally, V, thanks. Couldn't've done it without you.

V

16ADon't mention it. And holo if you need anything.

16BReally aim to do it? They'll catch you.

River

16BNo they won't.

16BI'm... Well… That is, I was a detective, remember? I know how to cover my tracks.

Johnny

See that coyote?

V

Like dodgy takeout…

Johnny

Grenade or anti-personnel mine. Gotta be careful.

River

Grab something!

Cameras and turrets're linked... It's a goddamn shooting range.

Sure are a lotta cameras here…

V

Breathe a bit. Got the last stretch to the barn left.

River

V! Get down!

Dammit! Right behind you!

V

18AHey, are you alive?

18ANot good...

18AYou alive? C'mon, eyes open. Help's on the way.

V

19AWe fucked up…

19ARandy? Hey, you got this, buddy. Here with your uncle. It's gonna be all right.

V

20AShit, too late…?

20ABreathin', good. Hey, just hold on a bit longer.

V

21AHey, kid…

21AI'm sorry, buddy…

21AToo late for this one…

River

V! V, he's not responding! H-help him, please!

River

V! H-help me with Randy!

Heads up! Turrets are live! The system controlling them must be in the house.

By the barn, two more turrets. That front gate's a death trap.

Got cables comin' outta this wall. Should be a switch somewhere.

It's gotta be here! Have a look around.

Try disabling the defense system then haul ass to the barn!

Dammit. Locked up tight. Need to find another way...

V, wrong way! Randy needs us NOW, you forget that?!

There we go...

Johnny

Poor bastard... You just left him.

V

Yeah. Yeah, I did.

V

23AOK, all disconnected!

River

23ACheck the others! We gotta try to help, even if it means just saving one.

V

23AOn it.

V

24APoor kid…

24AIt's OK, don't-don't be scared. We're here to help. A bit dehydrated, but you are gonna be fine.

V

25AMust've died a few days back…

25ABeen dead a few days already...

V

26AGot a pulse, but it's weak. Need to get him to a hospital, quick.

26AAlive... Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, easy there, you're all right now.

23AOK, all disconnected!

River

23ACheck the others! Could still be alive.

V

23ARight!

River

23AShut down that damned contraption, V!

23AHurry! Gotta shut it off!

Policewoman2

Poor boys… All your years, ever seen anything like this?

Policeman

Eight years on the force, nothin' comes close... Beyond twisted.

Policeman2

Area is secure, all witnesses questioned, and victims are en route.

Have Ramirez debrief with her boys here. They'll be gathering evidence till morning.

V

27ASecurity systems neutralized!

River

27ANice work!

V

River! C'mere, quick!

River

H-he's here! Randy!

He's hangin' in there! We made it! V, shut down the machine. Can't unlink Randy otherwise.

Randy! Don't you do this to me, kid.

10-52, I repeat, I've got a 10-52 at a farm south of the city.

Yes, send the fucking squad!

Yeah, relaying coordinates now... No, several, at least... Do it quick, dammit.

Oh, and watch for automated defenses on site. They're substantial.

No, no, kid, please... Shit, he's not breathing!

Get that fucking computer off!

V

Oh fuck...

River

Great... Wraiths were just what I fucking needed. Shit!

V

Ready, River?

River

And what should I be ready for, V? Huh?

V

Y'know... for what we might find there.

River

Don't start hatchin' any dark ideas, now. Everything's gonna be fuckin' fine.

Got it? It's all… gonna be fine.

Shit... I don't see any turrets.

V

Huh?

River

There were turrets, yeah? Mines?

V

That's... Ah fuck.

River?

River

Fuck! This isn't it! Wrong goddamn farm!

V

We chose the--

River

Fuck! Back to the car, quick!

River

V? Where you goin'?! Get back here!