Dialogue: The Pickup

Dum Dum

Agh! Militech dogs!

Jackie

That whackjob's got no chance. Maybe we give 'im a hand.

Dum Dum

One less corpoprick in the world.

Militech2

Bogies ahead. Fire at will.

Militech3

Copy that.

Dum Dum

You like that?!

Thanks for the assist. Owe ya one.

Jackie

Whatever. Just try not to die.

Ah shit, he ain't gonna make it...

Militech1

Enemy spotted!

Militech11

Corridors leading to the garage are secure.

Copy that.

Militech7

Target confirmed in the compound. Precise location unknown.

Split up. Sweep the area.

Militech8

Copy that.

Jackie

Here for their truck.

V

Really, Jack? You think so?

Dum Dum

Militech cunts... How'd they even find it?

Militech9

Target location confirmed in the garage.

Copy. Secure and hold position.

Jackie

Trouble's brewin' in the garage. Gotta be careful.

Dum Dum

Shit. Gonna have to get past 'em. Only way out.

Royce

Gonna melt your skin!

Militech13

He's using Militech gear!

Militech14

Neutralize! Neutralize!

Jackie

He's fuckin' happy! That's almost contagious!

Dum Dum

We gotta help him!

Jackie

Agh, I dunno...

Dum Dum's hit! No way he survived that.

They got him! He's done!

V

1AYou're fucked, know that?

Royce

1AFor now, I'm alive, they're not.

V

1ABut they'll be back. Militech's good at nurturing grudges. And at killing.

Royce

1ALong as you know whose balls to grip, you decide who lives and dies. Wise words. Remember 'em.

V

1BWell? Got anythin' to say?

Royce

1BWhat...?

V

1B"Thanks, V"?

Royce

1BFor fuckin' what?

V

1BFor saving your sorry tin-can ass.

Royce

1BHahahahaha...! Are you fuckin' high?

V

Let's get outta here!

Jackie

Here to kick out our asses?

Dum Dum

Huh? No. Wanted to let you know I like your style.

Here ya go.

Hang a sec. Last thing. A little bonus for the road.

V

Your s-keef?

Dum Dum

Let's say I like that you got good taste. Go on, it's yours.

Jackie

Can't fuckin' believe that guy...

Dum Dum

They killed Royce!!! Motherfuckers!

Royce

Khe. The hell're you still doin' here...?

Jackie

We got what we came for. We're done here.

Dum Dum

I'll walk 'em out.

Transition Enemy Officer Rifle

Got intruders, start huntin'!

Go scope out the garage entrance. See anythin'? Don't start spittin' lead till you let the rest of us know.

And you head to the warehouse. Gotta watch that gear close. Now hurry the fuck up!

Jackie

Someone's comin'. Body needs stashing.

V

Won't they notice he's gone?

Jackie

We'll snap their necks before they realize.

Main Enemy Rifle

Got intruders. Need to spread out, track 'em down.

Main Enemy Rifle

You grab some guys and head to the production floor. I'll take the entrance to the lab.

Got it.

Main Enemy Rifle

Finally get to have a little fun.

Jackie

Not that way. They got it covered.

Take down the guy on the right. Quietly.

V

Mhm, good.

Jackie

Let's do it. Right behind ya.

Lab Enemy Rifle

Hey! Go give Tony a hand!

Lab Enemy Rifle

I'm watchin' the hallway.

Lab Enemy Rifle

I'll take the hallway. You go.

Transition Enemy Shotgun

Where is he...? Should be here.

Franz...?

Got something! Down there!

Jackie

Follow me! Stay low!

All clear. Let's move on.

V

Cargo manifests. Stamped LOA.

Jackie

LOA?

V

Lost on arrival. Someone knew they'd slip outta Militech's grip soon as they crossed the border in to the state.

Signed by one Anthony Gilchrist. We have our mole, heheh.

Brick

Hey, you! Hey, hey! Help me out over here!

Jackie

Oh shit, I know this fool! It's Brick!

It's your call, V. Whaddaya wanna do?

Brick

Careful! I move an inch away from this laser, I'm ground beef. It's linked to a mine.

Jackie

So you're Brick, yeah?

Brick

I'm Brick.

Jackie

Royce did this?

Brick

The twisted fuck.

God... Felt like a fuckin' eternity, that.

V

1ALookin' a little like we mighta saved your skin.

Brick

1AJesus, slow down, maybe? I'll get you, but kinda caught me at a bad time.

1AWe ever meet again, I'll have you covered.

V

2ASure you'll manage all right?

Brick

2AThis is my home.

2AQuit fuckin' sweatin' it.

V

1BBeen in here a while?

Brick

1BFew days... Kinda lost count.

1BSome guys loyal enough to care slipped me stuff, tried to help out. Royce threw 'em in the microwave dryer. Made me watch.

V

1CGuess it's kinda your fault we're here. Came for some tech Dex bought.

Brick

1CHe tell you to free me?

Jackie

1CNo. Just to pick up the bot.

Brick

1CClassic fuckin' Dex... Hahaha...

V

3ADetonator, armed.

Jackie

4AOoph, tough... But all said an' done, guy was a goon, ruthless at that.

V

Got it. Brick's cell code.

Transition Enemy Shotgun

Looking now! All exits covered?

Transition Enemy Officer Rifle

Yeah! And what about Kurt and Tommy?!

Transition Enemy Shotgun

Nah, man... Someone found their bodies.

Transition Enemy Officer Rifle

Motherfuckers... And the boss?

Transition Enemy Shotgun

Tried to raise him, no answer. But you know Royce – prolly wants to take 'em out on his own, fuckin' lone wolf style.

Transition Enemy Officer Rifle

You find 'em?!

V

5ABuh-bye, Brick.

5BA gentle touch… and he'll be free.

Need to think this through…

Jackie

Think faasst.

Jackie

Linked to a fat-ass firecracker… attached to our new amigo here.

It's your call, V. Whaddaya wanna do?

Transition Enemy Officer Rifle

What the f--?

Transition Enemy Shotgun

Move!

Jackie

I'll check over here!

Careful. They could be anywhere.

W-Well, I'm Jackie Welles. And this is V.

Jackie

He's down, so I say we get the fuck out.

Shotgunner Maelstrommer

There's no link! Gonna cook your core!

Royce

Shut your trap. I'm ready. Lemme at 'em!

Jackie

Shield's gone. Finish the fucker!

Hit him in the back!

V

On it!

Jackie

Circle 'round, fuck him up the ass!

V

On my way!

Royce

Gonna have to try harder, bitches!

Finish… it…

I'm ready…

Think that's enough to drop me?!

Jackie

C'mon, V. Let's get outta here.

Past the gate, we can talk there.

Royce

Fry you up!

Burn you to cinders!

Ooooh, you're gonna love this!

Aaargh!

Not bad, not bad…

Get the fuck off!

What the shit now?!

Ahahahahahaha…!

What?! It ain't goin' your way, you cunts?!

Hah! Easy!

Fuckin' pussies...

Jackie

Hit him in the back!

Circle 'round, fuck him up the ass!

Royce

There they are! Fuck 'em up!

Jackie

Heads up! Aaaaaargh!

Argh. Fuck me… I'll cover you!

Royce

Fry you up!

Burn you to cinders!

Ooooh, you're gonna love this!

Aaargh!

Not bad, not bad…

What the shit now?!

Get the fuck off!

Ahahahahahaha…!

What?! It ain't goin' your way, you cunts?!

Hah! Easy!

Fuckin' pussies...

Finish it…

Ya thought that did me in, huh?!

Gonna have to try harder, bitches!

Finish… it…

I'm ready…

Think that's enough to drop me?!

Jackie

No begging, no debt, no corpo strings attached. And the Flathead's ours.

That's the way to do biz, V.

V

1ATough to argue.

Jackie

1AIt's 'cause I'm right, always. Nice of you to notice.

V

1BSometime it is, sometimes it isn't. Got lucky today.

Jackie

1BAin't you a ray of sunshine. But, V, it ain't a matter of luck. You decide. Remember that.

Ahhhh, I love this town. The city of endless opportunity. And brotherly hate.

V

Unless you catch a bullet, stray or not.

Jackie

Even then you go out with a bang! And the street'll talk, the street'll remember. Win-win.

V

2AWhat now, Jack?

Jackie

2A"What now?"

2ANow I go back, find Misty and we do somethin' to make me feel alive again.

2ACoulda shot us up good back there – no two ways about it.

V

3ARisks come with the job, Jack.

Jackie

3ADucked in time to avoid death's sweeping scythe, again. Only right to celebrate. Even though we get to do that lots…

V

3BCatch a fright back there? That you wouldn't make it back?

Jackie

3BNah, shit like that don't cross my mind. But I am grateful for comin' through.

V

2BYou could make heaps more eddies as a motivational speaker.

Meredith

Thought you'd never see me again, didn't ya?

Naive little punk.

V

1AWe don't want any more trouble.

Meredith

1ANo, I seriously doubt you do.

V

1BMhm... So what now?

Meredith

1BMaybe I should look into exactly what you did here…

V

Yeah, maybe.

Meredith

But you'll have to learn to follow orders first.

V

Dunno. That's not always possible. And I'm not that great at it, anyway.

Meredith

Then you'll need to get good. And make it possible. Next time.

Oh, thought about what you said. About convoys, transport security. Your offer?

We're just not interested.

V

2AFine. But maybe you'd be interested in the identity of your mole? How they put it all together?

Meredith

2AOK. Talk.

V

2AYour problem's on the state line. Cargo manifests were stamped LOA. Merch was then "lost" just after it crossed the border.

2AInside job by a man you know – Anthony Gilchrist.

Meredith

2AWell, I see I'm working with a professional.

2AYou won't regret this. This is going to be seriously rewarding for you, count on it.

V

2BNot my thing anyway.

Meredith

2BMhm...

Secure the area!

Jackie

Holy shit, V. Wasn't sure we'd walk out in one piece.

V

3AThink we're done. That's it.

Jackie

3AYeaaaah. Had enough for one day, lemme tell you.

3ALet Dex know we got his toy for him. Fatso oughta crack open a bottle for us after what we did for him today.

V

3BThanks, Jack. Solid as ever.

Jackie

3BHey, yeah, you too, but uh... Hey, what's this about? You feelin' all right?

V

3BYeah, wanna make sure… you know. We're good together. I like how we do things.

Jackie

3BI do too, V. I do too.

3B'Ey, let Dex know we got his toy for him. And then I say we hit the Afterlife, hahaha... You know, do some shots.

Meredith

Today was about Royce getting his just desserts.

Couldn't have done it without you. Flathead's yours, and consider us even.

I want a perimeter.

Betcha didn't expect to see me here.

Y'know, I like the way you operate. Maybe you'd do some more work for us?

V

4AYou screwed me on this, almost got me killed. That wasn't a financial tracer.

Meredith

4AI fucked you over, you fucked the gang over. Somewhere at the start of the story, somebody fucked the corp.

4ASee how this works, now? Ultimately, the corp gets what it wants.

4ARemember that. Learn it. And maybe a couple years down the line, you'll be standing where I am.

V

5ABeen there, Stout. Seen it, done it.

5AToday, you're a winner. But it don't mean a thing, and you don't mean a thing.

Meredith

5AKeep telling yourself that.

V

5AYou're a dog on a leash. You get treats, hear nice things, all in prep for the day when your masters'll whore you out 'cause it's convenient. Honestly, I feel sorry for you.

4BBe more than glad to.

Meredith

4BTill next time, then, V. Corporate gods willing.

V

4CFuck you, cunt. That's for your trickery.

Meredith

4CMature. Real mature…

V

4DWhen I say something, I do it, keep my word.

Meredith

4DMhm. Me too.

4DHeard one of the Flatheads is missing. Must've fallen off the truck along the way. Guess Militech'll never find it.

4DPleasure doing business.

Jackie

That the Militech bitch...?

V

Mhm...

Jackie

Militech. They got those things buzzin' around everywhere.

V

Mhm. Militech don't forgive, Militech don't forget.

Johnny

Acquaintance of yours?

V

Yep. Familiar face from my past life.

Meredith

Till next time, then, V. Corporate gods willing.

Meredith holocall

Running away? That's rich.

V

We don't want any more trouble.

Meredith

No, I seriously doubt you do.

Couldn't have done it without you. Flathead's yours, and consider us even.

Anthony

Wait!

Hold your fire!

I'd like a word with them.

You shot at my people.

V

1AThey drew and fired first.

Anthony

1AA fact of no consequence to Militech management.

1ABuuut, if you'd worked with Stout, I'd be dead by now. Might not've intended it, but you saved my life.

1ANow I'm saving yours. Makes us even.

V

2AGotta admit, didn't expect to see you here.

2B'Preciate it. You're not half-bad.

Anthony

2BCarin' for my interests, not yours.

1AYou were followed… but I'm sure you know that.

1AStout's people were on your tail, my people were on theirs.

1AIn the end, she lost her nerve. Thought you'd hopped in bed with Maelstrom behind her back. Hit the big, red button prematurely.

V

1AClassic. When you don't know what to do, why not order an all-out assault on a food factory.

Anthony

1AMhm. 'Bout sums it up. I made sure it blew up in her face.

1ABusiness with Maelstrom – hardly ever ends well, does it.

V

3AAnd you? Why're you here?

Anthony

3AWell, I still don't know who the mole is.

3AI was hoping the Maelstromers would shed some light on it.

V

3AYeah, I doubt that…

3ARather tough to get corpses to talk.

Anthony

3AYou'd be surprised. I'm sure I'll manage something.

3AIt's been a pleasure.

Jackie

3AHoly shit, V. Wasn't sure we'd walk out in one piece.

V

4AThink we're done. What now?

Jackie

4AAw, had enough for one day, lemme tell you.

4ALet Dex know we got his toy for him. Fatso oughta crack open a bottle for us after what we did for him today.

V

4BWe make a good team, Jack.

Jackie

4BThink you might be right.

V

4BIn any case, I don't regret switchin' my life up the way I did.

Jackie

4BThat'd the sweet taste of success, my friend. Call up Dex, let him know we got his toy, meetin' to celebrate at the Afterlife.

Anthony

3ABy the way, where's Royce? Need a word with him, too.

V

3BThink we're done here. And doubt you'll find much inside.

Anthony

3BWell, I still don't know who the mole is.

3BI was hoping the Maelstromers would shed some light on it.

V

3CWhat happened to Stout?

Anthony

3CShe placed some bad bets. Her clock ran out. Simple as that.

3CSuffice to say, you won't be seeing her again.

V

3DI know you're the mole. Saw the manifests. LOA? Old trick... but still effective.

Anthony

3DAh yes, that.

3DI suggest we part amicably. No accusations, no bad blood.

3DI know how to take care of my friends. Goes for you, too. You won't regret keeping a lid on this.

V

3DWe'll see.

1BAnthony Gilchrist... still alive. And not hogtied for a change.

Anthony

1BHave a good memory for... names.

1BBut that's nowhere near enough when Militech personnel get shot up.

V

1BAnthony Gilchrist... still alive. And not hogtied for a change.

Anthony

1BHave a good memory for... names.

1BBut that's nowhere near enough when Militech personnel get shot up.

Jackie

You know this guy?

Anthony

Dealin' with Maelstrom, heh. Never ends well, does it.

Looks like you two lucked out a bit.

Anthony holocall

Not in the mood to chat? Isn't that a damn shame.

Anthony

You shot at my people.

V

They drew and fired first.

Anthony

A fact of no consequence to Militech management.

Buuut, if you'd worked with Stout, I'd be dead by now. Might not've intended it, but you saved my life.

Now I'm saving yours. Makes us even.

V

Think we're done here. And doubt you'll find much inside.

Rather tough to get corpses to talk.

Anthony

You'd be surprised. I'm sure I'll manage something.

It's been a pleasure.

V

Had it coming, I guess...

Johnny

Who's that? Friend of yours?

V

Corporat. Schemer. Had some dealings with 'im.

Long past.

V

Yep. Familiar face, definitely.

Meredith

Betcha didn't expect to see me here.

V

1AMhm... So what now?

Meredith

1AHmm...

1ARunning away? That's rich.

Gillean Jordan

Now, for local news.

The NCPD has expanded its arsenal to include Militech's Centaur-class exosuits.

The force has ordered twenty of the Centaur units to be used in preventative patrols and MaxTac forces.

A ceremonial signing of the partnership took place at city hall. Police Commissioner Coleridge and Militech-Government Relations Executive Anthony Gilchrist were in attendance.

Anthony Gilchrist

Officers in the NCPD put their lives on the line for us every day. They defend all Night Citizens against gang violence, nomad outlaws and cyberpsycho attacks.

Thanks to Militech's Centaur-class exosuits, they can keep themselves safe, and all the rest of us even safer.

Gillean Jordan

Once again, Militech has proven its vital role in the reconstruction of America. After the break – what quality is most important when hiring a personal bodyguard for your child?