Dialogue: The Killing Moon

V

1ALaunchpad soon... finally.

1AUgh…

1AStill with me, holdin' up?

Songbird

1AUuugh.

V

2AMyers just doesn't let up, does she?

Songbird

2AShe's made her life about achieving goals, turned herself into a kind of machine.

V

2AWow, you admire her.

Songbird

2AThat pushing forth, never looking back, it used to piss me off.

2ANow, wish the future was all I could think about.

V

2BWhaddaya think – final stretch, worst behind us?

Songbird

2BAs I see it, the worst is always what was, not what'll be.

V

2BHuh, an optimist-analyst. How the hell'd you ever hold down your job?

Songbird

2BProper work-life balance. And separation.

V

2CSay we make it, ever wonder what'll happen to Reed?

Songbird

2CMyers is, was done with him. I actually doubt much'll change.

1AListen to the hum.

1AWish I could fall asleep, never to wake again.

V

3ASo Mi?

3BHey! Don't you doze off on me.

Songbird

1AReed… had a dream about 'im recently.

1AA repeat, same damn nightmare. 'Bout that same damn train… him dyin' 'cause of what I did.

V

4AJust a bad dream, Song…

Songbird

4AI had my orders. I executed.

V

4AOrders from Myers?

Songbird

4ASounds ridiculous now. Years on, he's still her loyal hound, and I can't get away fast enough.

V

5AWell, Johnny'd be blunt, if not downright crude. I'll just say, betrayin' a friend? Nothin' worse.

Songbird

5AI regret it, I do. But, can't turn back time.

5AI'd like to just forget.

V

5BYou were just following orders.

Songbird

5BI coulda said no, coulda warned 'im…

5BAt this point, I'd just rather forget…

V

5CHistory, water under the bridge, not worth dwellin' on.

Songbird

5CHm, I can't stop thinking about it.

V

4BJust put it outta your mind for now.

Songbird

4BDoubt I… can…

V

4BRest, please?

Songbird

4BCoulda chosen differently, can't forgive myself…

V

4CCould be Reed's havin' the same nightmares. Heard it all already, from him.

Songbird

4CHm... he put his trust in you, for a time.

4CTrust we then baldly betrayed.

V

6AMyers gave the order, treated you like her tool.

6BThere's no escapin' remorse.

6CWe all make mistakes.

6DActually think Reed forgave you.

Songbird

1AReed's not the only one I've betrayed…

V

1ASong?

V

7AWh-whaddaya mean, Song?

7BMind's wanderin', Song. Blackwall, gotta be.

Songbird

1ANeural matrix, V… can only be used once.

V

1AOnce? How so?

Songbird

1AIt's a captive AI from beyond the Wall. Relies on continuous evolution to exist.

1AI'll free it and end the process. It'll then execute my commands and disintegrate. Irretrievably.

V

8AHow long've you known this? That only one of us could come out alive?

Songbird

8ACynosure – I learned it existed, started delving and--

V

8BCouldn't just tell me the truth, Song?

Songbird

8BNeeded you to help me, needed to be sure you would.

V

8CWhoa, hang. What about me?

Songbird

8CNot obvious? You'll fight on, keep looking.

8CYou're stronger than I am, V. Stronger than anyone else I know.

V

9AYou fuckin' serious?

9BFuck me.

Songbird

1AI…

1AI think, I think… I'm gonna die soon…

1AThe regret. Wasn't honest with you. I'm sorry…

V

10ACould've told me the truth. Woulda helped you anyway.

10BShit, flat out tricked me. Not a lie I can forgive.

1ASong?

Johnny

1AHot-diggity-fuck. Color me impressed.

1ABird took everyone for a ride – Myers, Hansen, Reed, you.

V

11AHavin' some fun with me, are ya?

Johnny

11ANo, I'm fuckin' serious.

11ATakes character to be a bastard front-to-back and inside-out. Believe me, I know.

11AWoman's obsessed, determined to a fault – that earns my respect.

V

11BNot the first time somebody's screwed me sideways. Still think I can walk, though.

Johnny

11BUgh, your attitude to what life sends your way – so touching sometimes.

11BWoman dicked you hard 'n' rough, though. Got the right to feel rage, wanna rip her head off.

11BBut she stuck it out till the very end… and that commands respect.

V

1AFuck all that. Thing is, you 'n' me're back at square one. Still have that problem – findin' some way to save ourselves.

Johnny

1ACould always call Reed on the holo.

V

1AHm, think he'd kill me.

Johnny

1ADamn, globe-sized ego, V. You mean zilch to 'im. One, just one person he's gunnin' for.

1AWelp, nice to drop in and shoot some shit, V. High time you woke her, though.

V

12AHey, Song? Almost there.

12AHey, Song? Almost there.

12ATsk, clearly need some help…

12BWakie, wakie, end o' the line.

12BC'mon, time to go.

12CDamn sorry, Song, I am. But you dicked me first.

Reed Holo

12CWhat?

V

12CSongbird – still want 'er?

Reed Holo

12CHah, turnin' your back on her now…

12COK, name your price. I'm all ears.

V

13AWant just one thing. To survive, live on.

13BYou're empty-handed, got nothin' to offer – you, the FIA, fuckin' NUS with Myers at its helm. Empty-handed.

Reed Holo

13BNuh-uh, V. Try me first.

V

12CJust one dose, one instance of the cure exists. Song decided to keep it, but...

12CLeft me with nothin'…

Reed Holo

12CI see. So Songbird for me, that one dose for you.

V

12CNeed the cure and the rippers who know how to use it. Mentioned contacts in Europe, personal ones.

Reed Holo

12CIn Europe, at Langley, too. The NUSA's specialists are top of the game.

12CThey'll pull the data for you, then operate. Do we have a deal?

V

14ADeal. Take her. But don't fuckin' let me die.

14ALaunchpad's in sight, almost there…

Reed Holo

14AI know. I'm waiting.

V

14BJust... take 'er. Got no right to trade her life for anything. Don't wanna.

14BBut with this, we're even.

14CUgh. No, no deal. Gave Songbird my word first. Can't break that, won't.

14DHow'm I to know your people'll recover the neural matrix? Any guarantee?

Reed Holo

14DI can't pretend to know this shit inside out. Remember, though, Cynosure's our tech.

V

14ESay I survive. What happens to Song, dare I ask?

Reed Holo

14EWe'll do our damndest to stop the Blackwall degeneration, look for other ways.

V

14EMyers wants Song dead, condemned her already.

Reed Holo

14EMyers couldn't let 'er escape. If we get her, alive, have 'er in our hands, the NUSA'll be safe, Songbird'll live.

V

1ATheeere you go.

Tsk, clearly need some help…

Songbird

I knew from the start.

V

Mhm.

V

Nearly there.

Ngh. End's in sight.

Let's get this shit done…

Reed

Stop there.

Told you to stop!

One more step and you're dead!

V

1ATried to help her, both of us. Get 'er out of this – we wanted it, badly.

1AShe plain turned us down.

Reed

1ALeft us no choice. It's how the dice fall sometimes.

1ACome the end, you made the right choice.

V

1BWarned me about 'er, dammit.

1BTurned out to be a straight con. One not worth dyin' for…

1BBetrayed Myers, you... then came my turn.

Reed

1BShe was my friend once. Who she is today – I dunno.

1BAn' I won't be the one to judge 'er.

Songbird

Promi--

V

That an order?

Reed

Stop where you are or die.

V

3AFuck off, for all time.

Reed

3AFinal warnin'.

V

4AShe's yours to take… over my dead body.

Reed

4ADamn, am I ever sorry, V.

4AYou heard me.

4ADon't provoke me.

V

4ADon't come any closer.

Reed

4AMove an inch and I'll kill you, V, I will.

V

5ALook, look, puttin' 'er down.

Reed

5ASlow, now…

5ASo, whaddaya wanna do?

V

6AReed, she's fuckin' dyin'.

Reed

6AI see two near-corpses with a death wish. Your fault alone if she kicks it.

V

6ARight, 'cause you and Myers had no hand in this shit.

Reed

6ADeath – it's all that awaits her on the Moon. You wanna save 'er? Leave 'er to me.

V

7ABack on the roof, Myers ordered her killed, you didn't protest.

Reed

7AYou heard us.

V

7AEvery last word.

Reed

7AThe situation's changed. Just leave Songbird to me, I can still help 'er.

V

8AMyers… her army days're long forgotten. Militech's shaped her thinking. Significant, I'd say. Makes peeps spare parts to her.

8AWhile you remain a soldier. Loyalty – know its meaning and value.

Reed

8ASoldiers don't question orders. They follow them.

8ABut this ain't about Song anymore, V. No, this is about her not sparkin' another war.

8AI'm takin' Songbird to Washington. She'll answer for treason, she has to.

8AWhat's with you, girl?

8APlayin' for time?

8ANeed to know if you're with me.

8A'Ey, V!

V

9ABeen hidin' behind the NUS flag all your life. Come a day they'll drape it over your casket.

Reed

9AYou'll never understand.

V

9AUnderstand a lot more than you do. You ain't doin' this for the NUS… or for Myers.

9ADoin' this for you alone. Without it? You're nothin', no one.

Reed

9AGrow the hell up. Came to terms with my personal failure way back.

9ABut carin' about So Mi, I strove to help her. Well, she shat all over everything I could say in her defense. 'S gonna drag you down, too.

9ALeave her to me. And save yourself.

V

9BPff. You're right. Song's curb stomped everyone to get what she wants. Condemned me to death.

Reed

9BLemme guess – she promised, then she didn't deliver.

8AYou hear what I said?

V

10AReally don't wanna shoot you.

Reed

10ASame. So just turn around and walk away.

V

11BHad enough. You can have 'er.

11BUsed me, she did.

Reed

11BLemme guess – she promised, then she didn't deliver.

V

10BYou're empty-handed, got nothin' to offer – you, the FIA, fuckin' NUS with Myers at its helm. Empty-handed.

Reed

10BSongbird fail to deliver what she promised?

V

8ACan't hand 'er over. Won't.

8AOutta my way, Reed.

V

12AJust one dose, one instance of the cure exists. Song decided to keep it, but...

12ALeft me with nothin'…

Reed

12AI see. So Songbird for me, that one dose for you.

V

12ANeed the cure and the rippers who know how to use it. Mentioned contacts in Europe, personal ones.

Reed

12AIn Europe, at Langley, too. The NUSA's specialists are top of the game.

12AThey'll pull the data for you, then operate. Do we have a deal?

V

12BCare about me that much? Outta nowhere?

Reed

12BMyers owes you her life. And she pays her debts.

V

13AJust one dose, one instance of the cure exists. Song decided to keep it, but...

Reed

13AI see. So Songbird for me, that one dose for you.

V

13ANeed the cure and the rippers who know how to use it. Mentioned contacts in Europe, personal ones.

Reed

13AIn Europe, at Langley, too. The NUSA's specialists are top of the game.

13AThey'll pull the data for you, then operate. Do we have a deal?

V

13BDeal. Take her. But don't fuckin' let me die.

13CJust... take 'er. Got no right to trade her life for anything. Don't wanna.

13DHow'm I to know your people'll recover the neural matrix? Any guarantee?

Reed

13DI can't pretend to know this shit inside out. Remember, though, Cynosure's our tech.

V

13ESay I survive. What happens to Song, dare I ask?

Reed

13EWe'll do our damndest to stop the Blackwall degeneration, look for other ways.

V

13EMyers wants Song dead, condemned her already.

Reed

13EMyers couldn't let 'er escape. If we get her, alive, have 'er in our hands, the NUSA'll be safe, Songbird'll live.

V

14AJust one dose, one instance of the cure exists. Song decided to keep it, but...

Reed

14AI see. So Songbird for me, that one dose for you.

V

14ANeed the cure and the rippers who know how to use it. Mentioned contacts in Europe, personal ones.

Reed

14AIn Europe, at Langley, too. The NUSA's specialists are top of the game.

14AThey'll pull the data for you, then operate. Do we have a deal?

V

14DHow'm I to know your people'll recover the neural matrix? Any guarantee?

Reed

14DI can't pretend to know this shit inside out. Remember, though, Cynosure's our tech.

V

14ESay I survive. What happens to Song, dare I ask?

Reed

14EWe'll do our damndest to stop the Blackwall degeneration, look for other ways.

V

14EMyers wants Song dead, condemned her already.

Reed

14EMyers couldn't let 'er escape. If we get her, alive, have 'er in our hands, the NUSA'll be safe, Songbird'll live.

V

8AGave me no choice.

8BNever really been free, have you. Can't understand slippin' outta the collar, off the leash, how much that could mean to So Mi.

Reed

8BFreedom's not youthful upheaval. And it certainly ain't a way to run from trouble.

V

8BShe's fleein' 'cause she grew up, realized she was bein' used.

Reed

8BIt takes sacrifice to serve an ideal, V.

V

8CMatter's simple, I think – you don't sell your friends down the river.

Reed

8CSong and I, we're federal agents. That simplifies some things, makes others more complicated. In any case, it ain't street rules, no.

V

8CYou'd think comrades in arms'd be loyal. On the streets or in the FIA…

Reed

8CWhen you have an ideal, you stick by it.

V

8DThat biz seven years ago? Song followed Myers' order, then never forgave herself for it.

8DGonna be the same for you. Remorse to the end of your days.

8EYou'll take her over my dead body. If she dies, she'll die a free woman.

8EShe wanted out and away. From you, Myers, the FIA… Said so.

Reed

8EYour past… you can't just escape it. I know what I'm talkin' about.

V

8EHow would you? Never tried it yourself.

Reed

8EI'm just not naive, V.

V

15ASong mentioned her Militech datafort raid. How you swooped in, prevented her brain from fryin'.

15ABut then you fuckin' billed her for it, in small print. No way, no day she could pay it off.

Reed

15AI gave her a choice. The FIA or a NetWatch interrogation chamber.

V

15ASome fuckin' choice. More like blackmail. Locked her in a cage for a shit-stained decade.

Reed

15AYou really mixed that up. You're not slavin' just 'cause you have a duty. And… So Mi swore an oath.

15AJust as you swore. Remember that?

15AAnd then decided to cast it aside. Betrayin' herself, betrayin' us. There's a price on that, she's gotta pay it.

V

15BMyers doe'n't trust you no more.

15BThinkin' to get back in her good graces? By deliverin' So Mi on a platter?

Reed

15BThis is not about me.

V

7ANot givin' 'er up, Sol. No.

7BAssumin' you guys do save her life, what then? What'll happen to 'er?

7BYou'll lock 'er in a cage again. Last thing she'd ever want.

Reed

7BSo Mi wants above all to survive. I'm her last and only hope now.

Songbird

7BMmmm…

V

7CReach for her, and I'll kill you.

Reed

7CFinal warnin'…

V

16AC'mon, man, do this 'n' you'll kill 'er. Kill her, me… your own damn self, too. Fuckin' remorse alone'll get ya.

16BNot afraid of you, Sol, no.

Reed

6AYou got three seconds.

6AOne.

V

17AReed…

Reed

17ATwo.

V

18ADammit to hell, Reed!

V

19ADon't shoot! So be it, Song's yours. Just one condition.

Reed

19ASpit it out.

V

19AWanna survive, live on.

19AJust one dose, one instance of the cure exists. Song decided to keep it, but...

Reed

19AI see. So Songbird for me, that one dose for you.

V

20ADose and what's needed, including pro peeps handy with a scalpel.

20AMentioned contacts in Europe, one holo away?

Reed

20AIn Europe, at Langley, too. The NUSA's specialists are top of the game.

V

20BSong was willin' to fly to Luna for the surgery. Quite a ways, that.

20BMe? Just need the best damn clinic on Terra.

Reed

20BPioneering clinic workin' at the cuttin' edge, NUSA's finest specialists at your bedside.

V

19ADeal. Take her. But don't fuckin' let me die.

19BDon't shoot! So be it, Song's yours.

Reed

19BSimple as that? No hagglin'?

V

19BSimple as that. Just take her.

19BBut with this, we're even.

19CI'm sorry, man.

Reed

17AI give you my word.

17AYour choice.

V

6BYou're not takin' her anywhere.

Reed

6BSpare me the quotes straight outta Bushido Ten.

6BLook at 'er, V! Be serious. You wanna send 'er to the Moon? Our neurosurgeons are her only chance.

V

6CStraight con, she is. Not about to die for her.

6CTook us all for a ride. Don't feel I owe her a damn thing…

6CTake 'er, all yours…

Reed

5AI ain't naive. There's a price to pay, gotta be, I know that.

V

23ADeal. Take her. But don't fuckin' let me die.

23BJust... take 'er. Got no right to trade her life for anything. Don't wanna.

23BBut with this, we're even.

Reed

23BYour choice.

V

24AWant just one thing. To survive, live on.

24AJust one dose, one instance of the cure exists. Song decided to keep it, but...

24ALeft me with nothin'…

Reed

24AI hear ya. That one dose, that's your price.

V

24ANeed the cure and the rippers who know how to use it. Mentioned contacts in Europe, personal ones.

Reed

24AIn Europe, at Langley, too. The NUSA's specialists are top of the game.

24AI can do that. You get your cure, I take Songbird with me. Then we go our separate ways. Do we have a deal?

V

25BHow'm I to know your people'll recover the neural matrix? Any guarantee?

Reed

25BI can't pretend to know this shit inside out. Remember, though, Cynosure's our tech.

V

25CSay I survive. What happens to Song, dare I ask?

Reed

25CWe'll do our damndest to stop the Blackwall degeneration, look for other ways.

V

25CMyers wants Song dead, condemned her already.

Reed

25CMyers couldn't let 'er escape. If we get her, alive, have 'er in our hands, the NUSA'll be safe, Songbird'll live.

V

24BYou're empty-handed, got nothin' to offer – you, the FIA, fuckin' NUS with Myers at its helm. Empty-handed.

Reed

24BNuh-uh, V. Try me first.

Hold up there.

V

Fuckin' hell.

Reed

T-too… damn late…

N-no… I won't let you…

Why? What f-for…?

Ng-ghe-he…

It's the right choice.

We're not done yet.

V!

V

Just one dose, one instance of the cure exists. Song decided to keep it, but...

Left me with nothin'…

Reed

I see. So Songbird for me, that one dose for you.

V

Need the cure and the rippers who know how to use it. Mentioned contacts in Europe, personal ones.

Reed

In Europe, at Langley, too. The NUSA's specialists are top of the game.

They'll pull the data for you, then operate. Do we have a deal?

V

Had enough. You can have 'er.

She plain turned us down.

Reed

Lemme guess – she promised, then she didn't deliver.

I'm waitin'.

V

Tried to help her, both of us. Get 'er out of this – we wanted it, badly.

She plain turned us down.

Reed

Left us no choice. It's how the dice fall sometimes.

V

You're empty-handed, got nothin' to offer – you, the FIA, fuckin' NUS with Myers at its helm. Empty-handed.

Reed

Nuh-uh, V. Try me first.

V

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Johnny

Ya had no choice, V.

But your friend there'll join Reed in the beyond if you don't hurry your ass.

V

1AGonna be OK…

1AOne last push.

1BTime to send you on your way…

V

2AYou're bound for the Moon, So Mi.

2AGettin' away from 'em all.

2BFrom here on out…

2BYou're on your own…

V

3AGet that feelin', too, sometimes. Drop everything, leave it all behind... wouldn't it be nice.

3BYa might make it, might not. But that just ain't my biz anymore…

V

4ALet's see, whadda we got here…

Rocket Voice

4ALife support activated.

V

4ADiagnostics: pressure, O2, infusion pump…

Rocket Voice

4AOn-board computers in start-up configuration.

4AWarning system memory clear.

V

4BGot my own shit to tend to. High time I did that…

Rocket Voice

4BLife support activated.

4BOn-board computers in start-up configuration.

4BWarning system memory clear.

Songbird

Ugh.

V

5AHappy trails… of the vapor variety.

5BGood luck, Song. In spite of it all.

5CSo many died… to save one life.

5CSure as hell hope it was worth it…

5DSpace is pure freedom, So Mi.

Rocket Voice

T minus sixty seconds. RS-25 main engine ignition.

Johnny

Here we go.

V

First time I've ever launched a spacecraft. You?

Johnny

Same, man. Same.

Rocket Voice

T minus fifty seconds. Solid propellant engines burning.

Spark igniters active.

V

6AWhatever awaits her in orbit, hope she ends up happy.

6BShe won't get far…

Johnny

6BYou doubt she's gonna make it.

V

6BNo idea. But wherever she goes, her problems'll follow.

6CJob done…

Johnny

She's free. Slammed it home.

She has just a bit of what I lacked entirely – fuckin' luck.

V

7ALuck played no part in it, Johnny. You and her just wanted different things.

Johnny

7AReally? So do tell, what was it I wanted so badly?

V

7AApplause, cheers. Did absolutely everything to please the crowd.

Johnny

7AAgh... Maybe.

V

7BSong had a goal. Was ready to pay profusely for it. And she did just that.

Johnny

7BThink I paid no price?

V

7BThey killed you 'cause you wanted 'em to. Your only way to be a hero was to be a dead one.

Johnny

7BHuh.

V

7CKnow what? Ginormous hypocrite, that's what you are.

Johnny

7CMeh.

V

7CTruly. Your chief occupation, most times, was to make sure peeps were talkin' about you.

7CGonna compare yourself to her now? A woman who sacrificed all to save her life?

Johnny

Guess I coulda done more, been different… maybe.

Could also be I was convinced I couldn't make it out alive.

And maybe… just maybe that chick had great follow-through, to the fuckin' end. And I lacked that last ounce of determination. Dunno.

V

8AWell, least you're bein' honest with yourself. That in itself's some version of freedom.

Johnny

8AWhat'll you say next? Be all you can be, limitations're all in my head?

V

8BSee? Try a little, you get it. Not so hard, is it?

Johnny

8BNo thanks to you. Don't start thinkin' you deserve any credit.

V

Just watch the show, Johnny.

Rocket Voice

T zero. Lift off.

Johnny

She made it – preem, that's what counts.

Rocket Voice

Internal power activated.

Hydrogen pressure sufficient for take-off.

Automatic boot sequence initiated.

V

Welp, no turnin' back now.

Just watch the show, Johnny.

Rocket Voice

Internal power activated.

Hydrogen pressure sufficient for take-off.

T minus sixty seconds. RS-25 main engine ignition.

T minus fifty seconds. Solid propellant engines burning.

Spark igniters active.

V

Aaaand whoosh....

Rocket Voice

T zero. Lift off.

Hatch locked and sealed.

Songbird

Ugh.

V

Gently, now.

Reed

Takin' you home, So Mi. Takin' you home.

V.

V

9AWatch out for yourself, Reed.

Reed

9AAnd you try not to get killed.

V

9BTake damn good care of Song, Reed. Ya owe her that.

Reed

9BAnd you'd do well to forget her... and all of this, entirely.

V

9CTill next we meet, Reed.

Reed

9CI'll let you know once everything's ready.

V

9DRemember our deal. Don't you dare dick me.

Reed

9DA good night's sleep, V, that's what you need. Even more than I do.

Johnny

Thought about how ya gonna spend your thirty pieces of silver?

Well, can't call you a complete sell-out – ya got that, at least.

Reed

Area secure for landin'.

No, you will not do that. We grab the girl and go.

Johnny

Hm.

Reed

Takin' you home, So Mi. Takin' you home.

Area secure for landin'.

No, you will not do that. We grab the girl and go.

Johnny

Hm.

Thought about how ya gonna spend your thirty pieces of silver?

Reed

I'll be in touch.

V

Don't keep me waitin'.

Soldier

Stop there!

Reed

Leave 'er alone! Stand down!

Soldier

We have orders to--!

Reed

You take your orders from me!

Johnny

Well, can't call you a complete sell-out – ya got that, at least.

Reed

I was wrong about you, V, completely.

V

Maybe you're just a shit judge of character.

Aaaand whoosh....

Johnny

So fuckin' beautiful my brain's cryin'.

Reed

V.

V

Luck played no part in it, Johnny. You and her just wanted different things.

Johnny

Really? So do tell, what was it I wanted so badly?

V

Applause, cheers. Did absolutely everything to please the crowd.

Johnny

Agh... Maybe.

V

Song had a goal. Was ready to pay profusely for it. And she did just that.

Johnny

Think I paid no price?

V

They killed you 'cause you wanted 'em to. Your only way to be a hero was to be a dead one.

Johnny

Huh.

V

Know what? Ginormous hypocrite, that's what you are.

Johnny

Meh.

V

Truly. Your chief occupation, most times, was to make sure peeps were talkin' about you.

Gonna compare yourself to her now? A woman who sacrificed all to save her life?

Johnny

And maybe… just maybe that chick had great follow-through, to the fuckin' end. And I lacked that last ounce of determination. Dunno.

V

Could also be I was convinced I couldn't make it out alive.

Just watch the show, Johnny.

Johnny

Guess I coulda done more, been different… maybe.

And maybe… just maybe that chick had great follow-through, to the fuckin' end. And I lacked that last ounce of determination. Dunno.

Could also be I was convinced I couldn't make it out alive.

V

Just watch the show, Johnny.

Alex

Hello, V. Surprised?

V

1AActually, glad you're reachin' out. Be good if we talked – you know?

Alex

1ACouldn't agree more.

V

1BWasn't exactly expectin' a call. More at a run-in in a dark alley or somethin'…

Alex

1BWell, guess we'll have to see where this takes us.

V

1CLast we met, we... kinda ran out of time to talk.

Alex

1CWell, I'm not that easy to get rid of.

1C'Specially when I got skin in the game.

Come by The Moth, would ya?

V

2BThis invite from you or the FIA?

Alex

2BGot a black sack on your head? Didn't think so. Means it's from me.

V

Sure. See you there.

V

Where do we go from here?

Johnny

Now? We wave buh-bye… to your dreams of living a long, happy life.

V

1AGot the two of us some more time together.

Johnny

1AFuck me, oh joy…

V

1BWe ain't quite done yet.

1CWe'll see how the dice roll.

Ah, things ain't all bad, at any rate. Politicos and spies at war, us in the middle, we came out whole.

Johnny

Sure as shit made some enemies, powerful ones, too.

Myers'll remember, won't let it pass.

No fuckin' way after you killed the most loyal of 'er hounds.

V

2AIf another war breaks out, Reed'll just be the first to've fallen of so, so many.

Johnny

2AGuy fought his own war, for his rare ideals. Chooms like that? Nobody remembers 'em. Nobody.

V

2BGivin' her too much credit, Johnny. Myers sacrificed Sol once already, set him up. Least this time he decided how he'd die.

Johnny

2BYeah, on his own terms... Best sunset to life he could hope for, best any of us can, actually.

2BMiles better'n livin' with the knowledge you shredded 'n' trounced your ideals.

V

2CMyers wanted Songbird, really only cared about her. Same for Reed.

Johnny

2CReed – loyalty his Achilles' heel. Had to stick it out come hell or high water.

2CShit survival tactic, though. Sooner or later, we all betray somebody, no two ways about it. An' most often, it's ourselves.

2CAll told, could be you actually did the guy a huge, fuckin' favor.

V

Need to shift focus now. To myself, my own path.

Johnny

I'll say. Fuckin' with NUSA plans, launchin' a half-dead cyborg into orbit? Adds bricks to that edifice called legend, but clock's tickin', friend.

You're dyin'. Gotta do somethin' about it.

Johnny

Was just thinkin' to myself…

V

Were you, now…

Johnny

Dunno, I mean, fuck… Now I kinda feel sorry for the chick.

V

4ANot thinkin' about her, thinkin' about yourself. Fearin' your end…

Johnny

4AHealthy egotism, I'd call it. No, just wanted to say that woman had the shittiest fuckin' luck in life.

V

4AShitty luck's what I ran into at Konpeki Plaza.

Johnny

4AWanted to fly high, too close to the sun, both of you.

4AYet as an ancient Chinese proverb says, ain't no jumpin' over your own ass cheeks.

V

4BForgettin' someone, choom. Ever shed a tear for my fate? My shit luck?

Johnny

4BOh, you're royally fucked, true. But at least you're not alone in facing it.

V

4BHm, just might be the nicest thing you've ever said to me.

Johnny

4BDon't get used to it.

Reed

All clear to talk?

V

1AMy surgery – linin' things up for me?

Reed

1ANot quite, not yet. The process is complicated. But my finger's on the pulse.

V

1BMore trouble, Reed?

Reed

1BNo, nothing's wrong, no trouble.

V

1CHeh, doubted we'd talk again, ever.

Reed

1CTo be honest – same here.

I'm on my way outta Night City. I'd like to meet up, face-to-face.

CHOOH2 station out South Cali way.

V

Reed?

Oo-kay…