Dialogue: The Killing Moon

Alex

Finally. Good.

Grab a seat.

Talkin' about you. The chances, huh?

Johnny

Familiar, this fuckin' jabber. It's war talk, a wind-up.

Old grunt-cunt Myers knows how to escalate shit.

One thing's sure – if they jump at each other, Militech'll rip 'Saka's throat out.

Alex

Couldn't be sure you'd show.

V

1AA lotta shit went down. Think I need a kindred soul to hash things out.

Alex

1AHm, my luck's in, then.

V

1AGood to see you, too, Alex. In spite of it all.

1BActually, didn't feel like comin'… at all, really.

Alex

1BI get that.

So, here we are. Facing complicated dilemmas.

V

Did you invite me here to debate the sorry state of the world?

Alex

Mh, NUS is rollin' up its shit, breakin' camp. My bags're packed, too.

Got one last assignment – eliminate you.

V

2AMany have tried.

Alex

2ASave the stale comebacks for the bozos at the Afterlife.

V

2BSo, what? Gonna kill me?

Alex

2BDamn straight.

V

2CBut you're not gonna…

Alex

2CThat's where you're wrong.

Got a few months to live, right?

So I'm content to wait. In-house contest, ya see. Already chalked up a few "accidents" and "dieds of natural causes."

Peeps back at the firm'll wilt with envy when I post a "died after a long, grueling illness."

V

3AGee, thanks.

Alex

3ANot a problem.

V

3BSounds kinda risky.

Alex

3BChecked your hat size lately? You're not that important.

3BFIA's chaos, an organizational clusterfuck. No one'll probe for a while.

V

3CAssumin' you didn't ask me to come around just to zap me with news about my elimination.

Alex

3CYou assume correctly.

V

3DHere – token I got. In case anyone doubts you followed orders.

Alex

3DHuh. Sure you don't wanna keep it?

V

3DJust take it.

Alex

Gotta say I'm curious – how'd it go down with Reed?

V

Whaddaya know?

Alex

What would you say to a drink first?

Johnny

For the fallen – body, soul or both.

V

4ATo Reed.

Alex

4AA man of honor, a patriot, a comrade…

4AHow'd it go down, V? How did he die?

V

4BTo Jackie.

4BLegend of the Afterlife. My dear, dear friend.

Alex

4BTo Jackie.

Johnny

4BLegend – truly...

Alex

4BWell, I will drink to Reed.

V

5ADamn sorry, Alex.

5BMay he rest in peace…

4CTo Johnny Silverhand.

4CWorld's last true rockerboy. Lived by, and died for, his ideals.

Alex

4CSure, to Silverhand.

Johnny

4CNah, here's to you, V.

V

4DTo T-Bug.

4DA woman with a passion. Shoulda wound up 'neath Greece's warm sun, studyin' the works of Aristotle.

Alex

4DTo T-Bug.

Johnny

4DTo T-Bug.

V

4ETo Evelyn Parker.

4EA beautiful riddle who had the courage to dream big.

Alex

4ETo Parker.

Johnny

4ETo Parker.

V

4FTo Goro Takemura.

4FA gentle bear. Owe him my life.

Alex

4FKanpai! Takemura-san!

V

4GTo Scorpion.

4GA fearless man. Laid down his life for his family.

Alex

4GTo Scorpion.

Johnny

4GTo Scorpion.

V

4HThanks, nothin' for me.

Alex

4HWell, I will drink to Reed. A man of honor, a patriot, and a fool of the kind they just don't make anymore.

Johnny

4HDied for what he believed in.

Alex

4HNow you'll tell me how he died.

V

6AI killed him. Had to. Reed, he… he gave me no damn choice.

Alex

6AReally no other way? Really?

V

6ANo. None.

V

7ACoworkers like 'im?

Alex

7AVaried, I guess, as always. But not especially.

V

7BGonna miss 'im?

Alex

7BSol was already dead to me for seven years. Just need to remember that, settle back into that same feeling.

V

6BStubbornness killed Reed. The man just couldn't let go, even once he'd lost.

Alex

6BSol was stubborn in defense of ideas. Whaddaya think – he die for Myers or So Mi?

V

8AServed Myers till the last, even when he talked about So Mi.

Alex

8AAh, Reed through 'n' through…

V

8BSong all the way. I'd call it an obsession.

Alex

8BMutual friend once told me Reed gave his all to save others 'cause he just couldn't save himself.

8BPoor bastard.

V

8BYeah, poor bastard.

8CBoth. Did his damndest to save one but... had to stay loyal to the other.

Alex

8CFuckin' overgrown superego. If only his mind had been as big, he'd be alive today.

V

6CHe blindly followed orders. Gave me no choice.

6CI think... he saw death as a possibility, from the moment Myers and I showed up.

Alex

6CMeaning?

V

6CKnew Myers well, her cynicism. Knew she might just play 'im. And he let 'er.

Alex

6CDid you like 'im?

V

9AHell yeah.

9BNo.

9CI dunno.

Alex

Hh, fuckin' fate of an FIA agent.

Well, here's to all fools with principles.

V

10ATo all peeps with principles.

10BTo all principled peeps.

10CAa, stickin' to your guns no matter the cost? Can be an excuse for bein' too damn scared to decide for yourself. And to take responsibility for it.

Alex

10CMaybe. But that's not Reed.

V

11AWhat'll you do while you wait for me to flatline?

Alex

11AGonna sit around bein' bored. Finally.

V

11AGood luck, Alex. Look out for yourself.

Alex

11AYou too. 'Member, it's my job to kill you. Don't let anyone beat me to it.

V

11ASo, what – Monaco bound?

Alex

11AClose. Warm, sunny place, definitely.

Johnny

11AChick's pretty chill. Too bad she's on the wrong side.

11AC'mon. Gotta find some new peeps you'll befriend, grow to like, and then murder.

V

11BY'oughta quit this job, this life.

Alex

11BHeh, how you know I'm not doin' that?

V

11CQuite the occasion today. No favorite tune to underline the mood?

Alex

11CSad songs I just don't like. But this mood'll pass. It's gotta. I'll dance again before too long.

V

11DGuess what – your country just started another corp war.

Alex

11DThe New United States was in no way involved in the recent events at NC International and Translunar.

V

11DNor was Night Corp.

Alex

11DOrbital Air's long sought a way to get rid of its competition. They'd be at each other's throats sooner or later anyway.

V

11DNo qualms whatsoever?

Alex

11DSong didn't have any either.

V

She's not here. Guess we wait.

V

Died for what he believed in.

Johnny

Guy died for a damned just cause.

Alex

For those no longer with us, for the fallen.

Reed

Nick o' time. Minutes on you'd've found my tracks, that's it.

V

1AIn a hurry to get outta Dodge? Shoulda warned me.

Reed

1AWe might've just missed each other. Maybe I was hoping for that.

1AI'm needed in D.C. Or so I'm told.

V

1ALong-ass way to drive, choom.

Reed

1AWell, trains just rub me wrong…

1ABesides which, I need time to think things through. Lots of things, lots of time.

V

2AOpen road for the quintessential introvert. To solve some problems on your own.

Reed

2ANot all of 'em. I did call you, drag you out here.

V

2BThis self-punishment? A penitential path, cheap motels as contemplation stations?

Reed

2BI ain't no saint – that's sure.

V

2CSongbird had her surgery yet? Gonna see 'er?

Reed

2CSo Mi's in good hands. Has a lot of rehab to look forward to. Be a while before she's… back bein' herself.

V

2CThen what? Congressional hearings?

Reed

2CMyers is too pragmatic for that. She'll reinstate So Mi to the FIA, let 'er continued service be her penance.

V

1AOK, Reed, what's on your mind? Whatcha need from me?

Reed

1AI can't sleep. Tryin' to break things down. Keep askin' myself, and... I don't know, but maybe you do.

1ASo Mi, up there in Space Force 1… she raised you on the holo, not me – why?

V

3ASong didn't trust you. Knew you'd prove Myers' loyal hound in the end.

Reed

3AWas ordered to hunt her, but I helped 'er instead.

3AWant proof of loyalty? No better proof than that.

V

4AVanished from 'er life for seven years. Left 'er to her own devices.

Reed

4AContact would've been unwise, so… impossible. I played the role I had to.

V

4ASong knew the truth, though. Knew full well you were no traitor.

Reed

4AWell, as I saw it, I was protectin' her.

V

4BHh, can only tell ya what I think's right. Don't have any cut 'n' dry answers for ya.

4BHow about askin' her yourself? You'll reach D.C., eventually. She's already there…

Reed

4BAh, opportunity's not likely to be there…

V

3BC'mon. Song set you up to die seven years ago. Had to feel some shame…

Reed

3BShe had orders, followed 'em. And the shit I endured subsequent? I never put that on 'er.

V

3CSong knew she couldn't take you for a ride. You just knew her too well, you two'd been close.

Reed

3CThink it's true? Her now was not the woman I worked with way back when.

V

3DSong sensed I'd understand. What with death sentences hangin' over both our heads...

Reed

3DSentence was carried out in a way in my case. So Mi would've remembered that.

V

3EKnow why you're not gettin' it? 'Cause you assume she was driven by 'er feelings. Well, wrong.

3EJust wasn't about friendship, trust or loyalty for her.

3ESong ran a straight con. Used us both.

Reed

3EI'm hearin' resentment, and I understand. But we're not the victims in all this.

3EI'm left wondering, though – if she'd raised me on the holo then, would I have made the right choice?

V

5AKnow what your probem is? Ya find it damn hard to just let go.

5AOpen to some advice? Stop torturin' yourself with shit you can't affect, let alone control.

5BMight well've botched some choices you faced in life. Not my place to judge.

5BOne thing's sure, though – consequences of your mistakes? Gotta learn to live with 'em.

5CReed, just forget Songbird. Did a lot more for 'er than she deserved, really.

5CTime to think about yourself. Gettin' a fresh start. It's rare, not many peeps get 'em.

Reed

1AHm.

1ATime for me to fly.

1AAnd honesty much appreciated, V.

V

6AYou deserved it, Sol.

6BBest o' luck, Sol.

Reed

1AAwait contact. I'll ring you when the surgeons're ready.

Johnny

1APoor fuckin' bastard…

V

1AFeel sorry for 'im? You?

Johnny

1ADunno, maybe. Guy's bankrupt, all outta hope.

1AGonna hang himself. You'll see.

V

7AHad seven years to do that and didn't. He's got a chance to turn his life around now.

7BFuck off, Johnny. Not even close to funny, that.

7CSure hope he sets up that surgery for me first…

Johnny

7COh, he will. Guy's honorable. Possibly his biggest problem.

1AChoom lost everything, literally. Just hasn't realized it… yet.

1AHis president proved herself a war criminal.

1AHis "friend" flipped him a fuckin' club-sized bird.

1AHis ideals – bottom of a cesspit, chokin' on shit.

1AHe'll hang himself.

Reed

1AYou take care, V.

V

1BTa ta, Night City.

Reed

1BMhm. After ten damn years…

V

1CGlove compartment still stocked with aspirin?

Reed

1CYeah. Old habit, hard to kick.

V

1DFirst we met – "black Thorton Merrimac, three minutes, front seat."

Reed

1DNo problems with your memory.

V

2AI'm sorry...

Look out for yourself.

Songbird

1AIf you're watching this, you know how our story ended. I'm a smidge jealous, I'll admit.

1AI'm scared, V... but I need to trust you, and I do. And if you're watching this, I was right to.

1ASo, I thank you.

Journalist

Dozens of victims, chiefly Orbital Air staff, the paralysis of air and space travel, and losses going into billions of eurodollars – these are the sad results of this senseless act of aggression.

Today, we talk to Leslie Wawuda, Orbital Air CEO, speaking to us from Nairobi, Kenya, where Mr. Wawuda did manage to travel.

Mr. Wawuda, you claim to know exactly who's responsible for the recent attack on what is clearly the jewel in your corporation's crown.

Leslie Wawuda

Yes, Night Corp – it must be said! To Night Corp, the spaceport in Night City is a symbol of yet another failure in their space race against Orbital Air, the leader in orbital technology!

They would destroy us out of envy for our success! This attack was a futile attempt at sabotaging Orbital Air's pioneering research into the Alpha Centauri system, the results of which – allow me to remind you – will serve all humankind.

Here, now, I call upon Night Corp's governors and executives to accept both financial and legal responsibility for this act of barbarism!

Chicken Wawuda

Here, now, I call upon Night Corp's governors and executives to accept both financial and legal responsibility for this act of barbarism!

They would destroy us out of envy for our success! This attack was a futile attempt at sabotaging Orbital Air's pioneering research into the Alpha Centauri system, the results of which – allow me to remind you – will serve all humankind.

Yes, Night Corp – it must be said! To Night Corp, the spaceport in Night City is a symbol of yet another failure in their space race against Orbital Air, the leader in orbital technology!

Chicken Journalist

Mr. Wawuda, you claim to know exactly who's responsible for the recent attack on what is clearly the jewel in your corporation's crown.

Today, we talk to Leslie Wawuda, Orbital Air CEO, speaking to us from Nairobi, Kenya, where Mr. Wawuda did manage to travel.

Dozens of victims, chiefly Orbital Air staff, the paralysis of air and space travel, and losses going into billions of eurodollars – these are the sad results of this senseless act of aggression.

Journalist

Little is known about the bloody terrorist attack perpetrated recently by an unknown organization at Night City International and Translunar. Echoes of the bloodbath continue unabated.

Chicken Journalist

Little is known about the bloody terrorist attack perpetrated recently by an unknown organization at Night City International and Translunar. Echoes of the bloodbath continue unabated.