Dialogue: Where is My Mind?

V

It worked. I did it.

V

1AJohnny, Hanako kept her word.

Johnny

1ALookin' at you now – reminds me of the moment we met.

1AStill see that same small-time merc, little thief with her head in the clouds. Haven't changed a bit.

V

2AGot it all wrong. No way that V would've ever made it this far.

2AJust… wouldn't've survived. I had to grow stronger. And I did.

Johnny

2AMaybe. But that V also couldn't stomach betrayal.

V

2AWait, that's what you think? I betrayed you?

Johnny

2AWorse. Lots. You betrayed yourself.

V

2BJesus, can you stop being a prick for just a minute?

Johnny

2BY'know... you remind me of someone.

2BThe Johnny of yore never gave a shit about anyone. Betrayal came easy, was somethin' to brag about.

V

2BWait, that's what you think? I betrayed you?

Johnny

2BWorse. Lots. You betrayed yourself.

V

2CSeen plenty o' Johnny Silverhand by now, and you know what?

2CThe whole pissed-at-the-world rebel warrior front you got goin'? Yeah, not fallin' for it anymore.

Johnny

2CUncanny. Here I stand lookin' at an old pic of myself back in the day.

2CRogue, Alt, others... abandoned 'em all. And now here's you, abandoning me, abandoning yourself.

V

3AGot no right to judge me.

Johnny

3ACouldn't be more wrong. Biochip did more'n just blend our memories.

3AThat line that kept V and Silverhand separate, well, faded a while back.

V

3AHow's that give you the right to talk down to me?

Johnny

3AI'm the V who mourns our pal Jackie, the V who's fuckin' livid at Brigitte. I'm the V with a heavy conscience.

3AAnd you? Who are you?

V

3BThe hell you mean by that?

Johnny

3BBiochip did more'n just blend our memories.

3BThat line that kept V and Silverhand separate, well, faded a while back.

V

3BI'm still here. I know what I want, and I know where I came from.

Johnny

3BI, I, I. Who's this "I"? You even know?

V

4ASame V who was left to die in that landfill. Nothin's changed.

Johnny

4AAnd your will to fight? To tell Death to go fuck himself? Where's that come from?

V

4AAlways had that. That's who I am.

Johnny

4AHow can you be so sure? I mean, when you reach back, how can you be sure whose memories you're dippin' into?

V

4BI'm the V who chose to live.

Johnny

4BSame drive that kept Silverhand goin' his whole life.

4BThat drive and two thoughts – never look back, never look to those around you.

4BJust keep movin', look ahead, stare Death straight in the eye.

V

4BYou're not the only rebel around here.

Johnny

4BAnd I'm not the only one to have missed the bigger picture.

V

4CI... I dunno. Get a little lost when I look inside.

4CI'm stronger than ever. But I... I can't seem to keep my mind straight.

Johnny

4CHow do you feel?

V

4CBitter, I guess. And sad.

Johnny

4CAnd disappointed. I know.

V

4DI know I'm not lookin' in the rearview.

4DI'm stronger than I've ever been. I won my goddamn life back.

Johnny

4DYou sure talk the talk, but I know better. Feel the same way you do.

V

4DI don't give a fuck what you think you know!

Johnny

4DNow that sounds like a Silverhand original.

V

4EDunno who I am anymore.

Johnny

1AWe're a tangled web, you and me – one and the same.

1ASo if you're here to tell me somethin', it's 'cause you need to hear it yourself.

V

5AJust wanted to talk. One last time. For old time's sake.

Johnny

5AI'm listenin'.

V

5BWanna part ways on good terms, Johnny. As friends.

Johnny

5BNot sure that's possible anymore.

V

5CWant you to hear me out, lemme explain all this.

Johnny

5CExplain? Oh. Then talk.

V

5DThis is it, Johnny. I just came to say goodbye, that's all.

5EYou an' me? Don't think we have anything left to say.

Johnny

5EYeah... Guess not.

V

1AListen... I'm on an operating table gettin' sliced open. Arasaka docs are takin' the chip out as we speak.

1AI mean, you knew it'd end this way…

1AThat the day would come when I'd want to be normal again, want my life back.

Johnny

1A"Normal" is overrated… if it exists at all. They're cuttin' a piece of us out, and that'll leave a hole. Forever.

V

6AThat was the deal we made. I'd stay – you'd go.

Johnny

6ADeal was to fight side by side, have each other's backs.

V

6AAnd we did that. We won.

Johnny

6ABetter to die on your feet than live on your knees.

6AYou sold a part of yourself, of us, to a megacorp. Was it really worth it?

V

6BWhat choice did I have?

Johnny

6BStay true to yourself? Give a thought to a tiny concept called loyalty?

V

6CNo such thing as "us"! I am V. You are Johnny Silverhand. Hell, you're a fucking construct!

Johnny

6CGonna deny who you are, ignore who you've become?

6CSold a piece of your soul to the devil. YOU are no longer all there. YOU are not YOU.

V

6DThings didn't go as Johnny planned, wanted. So Johnny needs someone to blame.

6DAnd pinning every little thing on Arasaka got old a long, long time ago.

Johnny

6DArasaka's got nothing to do with this. This is about trust. About who you're turning into.

V

1AIf you're all paranoid about being thrown in another Arasaka prison, don't be – they're gonna shred you.

Johnny

1AYou're never gonna get it. It's not about Arasaka. Not even about life and death.

V

7AThen what's it all about, Johnny? Enlighten me.

Johnny

7AThe principle, V. It's always about the principle.

7ASwap meat for chrome, live a BD fantasy, whatever – but at the end of it all, it's the code you live by that defines who you are.

7AEver get lost, it shows you the way home.

7ABust up into pieces, it puts you back together again.

V

7AThat Rockerboy Silverhand's credo, words he lived by?

Johnny

7ASomethin' Johnny picked up from V – the old V.

V

7BNo, it's you who doesn't understand.

7BAlways been lost. And if anyone near you had their shit figured out, you couldn't stand it.

7BAlt, Rogue, Kerry – all of 'em.

Johnny

7BDifferent times. I've changed.

V

7BDirty bomb, destructive Johnny. Bringing everyone and everything around him to ruin in the name of his death wish.

7BNot about to be your next victim. I've got a life to live.

Johnny

7BSure, yeah – but what's it worth?

V

8AConversation's pointless... G'bye, Johnny.

Johnny

8A'Member what Dex asked you? "Quiet life or blaze of glory?"

V

8ASure, I remember.

Johnny

8AShame you chose wrong. Damn shame.

V

8BI don't wanna drag this out. Just… see ya around, Johnny. And thanks. For everything.

8BIf not for you, I'd be long dead. Several times over.

8CConversation's pointless. Just get the fuck outta my life.

Johnny

8CSorry, no mute button on your conscience. A part of me'll always be with you. Always.

V

8CIt's been a real ride, Johnny. Not one I'll regret, but not one I'll miss, either.

Johnny

8COh, you'll regret it. Lose a friend and you always regret it.

8C'Member Jackie's last words? About the chip? "Hold on to it, V. For me."

8CGuess not everybody gets their last wish.

What're you waiting for?

Fucking pathetic.

That seriously what you wanted?

Oh, V...

Jesus, V.

Ohhh, V...

Towfiq Iqbal

WNS News has been notified of a breaking story. Saburo Arasaka lives once more, though now in the body of his son.

The CEO was reported dead months ago, but now it's been revealed that a copy of his consciousness was made before his death.

It appears his consciousness was used to overwrite that of his son and heir, Yorinobu Arasaka. This shocking development was revealed at a press conference earlier today.

Today is truly a historic day. Today, technology has fulfilled the promise left empty by religion.

Doctor scientist

In addition, numerous brain functions remain dormant.

The neural impulses have been rerouted to the neural processor. A temporary measure.

Hanako Arasaka

When can I expect a full report?

Doctor scientist

I will send it by the end of this week.

Hanako Arasaka

My congratulations again on your success. Goodbye.

Doctor scientist

Please prepare the patient's room.

V

2AAm... am I still V?

2AI-I died. Twice I…

Doctor scientist

2AEverything is in order.

V

2ANo...

V

3AI...

3AWho am I?

2BI... I'm alive. I'm really alive!

2BIt worked...

Doctor scientist

2BWe won't know this for certain until testing has been completed.

V

4BI want out.

2CI just... I just wanna sleep.

Doctor scientist

2CYes. Your body must recover after the operation.

1APlease take the patient away.

1ANotepad.

1AProgression and its further trajectory remain unclear. Removing the tumors proved a difficult task.

1ABut the operation on the engram was the real challenge.

1AIs the ship of Theseus, dismantled into component parts and reassembled, still the same ship?

1AWe are pioneers, the first to ever separate mentally conjoined twins.

1AYes – in the end, even the human soul can go under the knife.

1AEnd of note.

Doctor scientist

5APlease take the patient away.

5ABut the operation on the engram was the real challenge.

5AIs the ship of Theseus, dismantled into component parts and reassembled, still the same ship?

5AWe are pioneers, the first to ever separate mentally conjoined twins.

5AYes – in the end, even the human soul can go under the knife.

5AEnd of note.

5AIs the ship of Theseus, dismantled into component parts and reassembled, still the same ship?

5AWe are pioneers, the first to ever separate mentally conjoined twins.

5AYes – in the end, even the human soul can go under the knife.

5AEnd of note.

5AWe are pioneers, the first to ever separate mentally conjoined twins.

5AYes – in the end, even the human soul can go under the knife.

5AEnd of note.

5AYes – in the end, even the human soul can go under the knife.

5AEnd of note.

5AEnd of note.

Security guard

6ALet's go.

6APlease rest. A doctor will be with you shortly.

Johnny

7ACome here.

7AWaitin' for you.

Johnny

8AC'mere.

Security guard

6AWhen in Kyoto...

6AI hear the cuckoo calling...

6AAnd long for Kyoto.

V

6AHuh?

Security guard

6ALet's go.

V

1AI feel... empty.

1AAs if I was being pulled... stretched.

1AHaving… trouble remembering… how I got here.

Doctor scientist

1ASome memories you have lost permanently. Others will return in time.

1AYou must stay calm. Your neural processor is overburdened. Any unnecessary stress response will only make things worse.

V

1BI'm... I'm hearing... purple? What the... ?

Doctor scientist

1BThe synesthesia is temporary. We had to create additional synapses in your brain.

V

1BI think I'm gonna be sick...

1CWhere... what... where's Johnny?

Doctor scientist

1CThe construct has been cleared from all engrams. The madness is past.

V

1CSo...?

Doctor scientist

1CWe shredded him, as agreed.

Gillean Jordan

Welcome to N54 News. I'm Gillean Jordan.

The world remains gripped by the revelation that Saburo Arasaka has returned from the dead in the body of his son, Yorinobu Arasaka.

A letter of protest regarding the apparent "resurrection" has been signed by religious leaders, human rights groups and Virtu 100 company CEOs.

Reverend Colver

This is an abomination born of unchecked vanity, technocratic arrogance, complete moral collapse...

Rosalind Myers

Our position is clear – Saburo Arasaka's seizure of power is in violation of international law. International arbitration is absolutely necessary to--

Activist

Do we really want to live in a world where the rich and powerful can become immortal? Where they can continue to take from the poor – not only their livelihoods but even their bodies?

Gillean Jordan

Night City residents are also making their voices heard. A protest outside of Arasaka's Night City headquarters has extended to its second day.

Crowd Protesters

You aren't gods! You aren't gods! You aren't gods! You aren't gods!

Life is not for trade! Life is not for trade! Life is not for trade! Life is not for trade!

Gillean Jordan

But Saburo Arasaka has issued his response in similarly strong terms – there will be no appeasement.

Will the world accept Saburo Arasaka's argument and bend to his will? I'll ask our experts after the break.

Doctor scientist

Parietal lobe examination.

Please use your Kiroshi scanner and read the displayed text.

V

"And it was a sight to behold, he said, how a soul would choose its life."

"Sometimes pitiable, sometimes laughable, at times wonderful and strange..."

Doctor scientist

That's enough.

Cognitive function test.

Solve the cube.

Doctor scientist

4AHm.

4APlease link yourself to the device.

Doctor scientist

5AHigher-order representation formation – initiating test.

5AThe patient is ready to be examined.

V

6AWhat're these tests meant to… test?

Doctor scientist

6AInitiate device calibration.

6ARespond to the keywords – no thinking, just the first word that comes to mind.

6AJourney.

V

7AWhat?

7BJohnny.

7CLife.

7DOdyssey.

7EFreedom.

7FOrbit.

Doctor scientist

6AHome.

V

8AI… I dunno.

8BJohnny.

8CThe city.

8DGot nothin'.

8EMegabuilding.

8FDeath.

Doctor scientist

6AEnemy.

V

9AJohnny.

9BMe.

9CThe city.

9DArasaka.

9ERebellion.

9FDeath.

Doctor scientist

6APrinciple.

V

10AJohnny.

10BMe.

10CArasaka.

10DThe city.

10ERebellion.

10FI dunno.

Doctor scientist

6ABetrayal.

V

11AJohnny.

11BMe.

11CArasaka.

11DThe city.

11EPrinciple.

11FI dunno.

Doctor scientist

6AYou're in a cornfield. Tall green plants as far as the eye can see.

6AThe sun is bright, blinding. The stalks of corn part as you walk forward.

6AYou come across a clearing left by an automated combine in its wake.

V

12AWhat's this test for anyway?

Doctor scientist

12AIt tests your level of empathy.

12AThe heat has made your mouth dry and sticky. You spot a rodents' nest at your feet.

12AThe machine has torn through the soft soil. You spot blind, newborn field mice around their mother. The machine has left her sliced in two.

12AThey lie in perfect symmetry, a tiny rodent rosette. Your mouth begins to water.

V

13AWhat's wrong with me?

Doctor scientist

13AA shadow gradually falls over the ground. The first raincloud of the year.

13AHmm. Yes. Right.

13AMeasurements complete.

V

13BThat's enough.

Doctor scientist

13BThe test is necessary.

V

13BI said – enough.

Doctor scientist

13BWe shall return to it later.

V

12AHow'd I do?

Doctor scientist

12AWe will see.

12AMotor function test. Please step onto the treadmill.

12AMotor function test.

12APlease connect to the device.

V

14AWhat's this test all about?

Doctor scientist

14APlease walk. Gradually accelerate.

V

15AWhat's this s'posed to prove? I already know I can walk.

Doctor scientist

15AWe must complete a series of tests. Please do not hinder or delay.

15AWe must complete a series of tests. Please do not hinder or delay.

15APlease walk. Gradually accelerate.

V

14AHow am I doing?

Doctor scientist

14APlease control your breathing.

14AAccelerate by three.

V

14AShit...

V

6BHigher-order representation what?

Doctor scientist

6BEngram surgery carries an elevated risk of the onset of personality disorder. The test is essential.

V

6CWhat's this thingamajig for?

Doctor scientist

6CIt measures pupillary response.

We must complete a series of tests. Please do not hinder or delay.

Please use your Kiroshi scanner and read the displayed text.

Please get ready. Testing will begin shortly.

V

17ANo "good morning"? No, "Got some good news for ya"?

Doctor scientist

17AWe must complete a series of tests. Please do not hinder or delay.

Please connect to the device.

Please link yourself to the device.

We must complete a series of tests. Please do not hinder or delay.

Please walk. Gradually accelerate.

V

What the hell...?

Johnny

Get up.

You can't stay here.

Doctor scientist

Please connect to the device.

We must complete a series of tests. Please do not hinder or delay.

We must complete a series of tests. Please do not hinder or delay.

Please connect to the device.

We must complete a series of tests. Please do not hinder or delay.

Please link yourself to the device.

We must complete a series of tests. Please do not hinder or delay.

V

I… I dunno.

I… I dunno.

Gillean Jordan

Over the past several weeks, tensions between Arasaka Corp. and Militech escalated to troubling levels.

Many pundits and analysts warned of a possible outbreak of armed conflict.

The exacerbation of tensions was heightened when Yorinobu Arasaka assumed leadership following his father's death and accused Militech of his murder.

However, in an unexpected shift, the return of Saburo Arasaka appears to have defused the situation between the rival megacorporations.

Saburo Arasaka and NUS President Rosalind Myers have agreed to meet in person to lay the groundwork for a lasting peace.

A first step of goodwill was taken today as the Arasaka CEO withdrew from Night City fifteen armored vehicles from the company's Aka-ashi series.

Stay tuned to N54 News for developments on this story.

Doctor scientist

Please get ready. Testing will begin shortly.

V

1AAny results from the tests you already did?

Doctor scientist

1ANo. We are not done yet. Today we begin a new series of tests.

V

1BStartin' to get sick of this.

Doctor scientist

1BThe tests may be tiresome, but they are essential to ensuring the patient's health and safety.

V

Fine. Hit me. Let's get this done.

Doctor scientist

Cognitive function test.

Solve the cube.

Doctor scientist

5ANext test. Please connect your personal link.

Doctor scientist

6AHigher-order representation formation – initiating test.

6AThe patient is ready to be examined.

V

7ALet's start this thing.

Doctor scientist

7ADevice calibration.

7APlease respond to each keyword with your initial association.

V

7AAs quick as I can, no thinking, got it.

Doctor scientist

7AIllness.

V

8AMe.

8BJohnny.

8CLife.

8DThe city.

8EDeath.

8FDunno. Nothin'.

Doctor scientist

7ARebellion.

V

9AMe.

9BJohnny.

9CLife.

9DDeath.

9ENo association.

9FUh, drawin' a blank.

Doctor scientist

7AI. Me.

V

10AJohnny.

10BEmptiness.

10CDeath.

10DTransformation.

10ESolitude.

10FNo idea.

Doctor scientist

7AThe present.

V

11AHell.

11BA void.

11CArasaka.

11DSolitude.

11EDeath.

11FNothing. I dunno.

Doctor scientist

7AThe future.

V

12ANo idea.

12BArasaka.

12CThe city.

12DNothing comes to mind.

12ERebellion.

12FDeath.

Doctor scientist

7AYou're in a cornfield. Tall green plants as far as the eye can see.

7AThe sun is in your eyes, bright, blinding. The stalks of corn part as you walk forward.

7AYou come across a clearing left by an automated combine in its wake.

V

13A"The heat's made your mouth dry and sticky. You spot a rodents' nest at your feet."

Doctor scientist

13AThe machine has torn through the soft soil. You spot blind, newborn field mice around their mother. The machine has left her sliced in two.

13AThey lie in perfect symmetry, a tiny rodent rosette. Your mouth begins to water.

V

14A"A shadow gradually covers the ground. The first raincloud of the year."

14BRight. Enough.

Doctor scientist

13AMeasurements complete. We will now move on to the motor function test.

13APlease step onto the treadmill.

Doctor scientist

15AMotor function test.

15APersonal link.

V

16AReally aced it last time, didn't I?

Doctor scientist

16ASlow walk.

V

17ANo. No point to this.

Doctor scientist

17AThe tests are necessary, they must be performed.

V

17BLook, I know my body. Won't last long on this thing.

Doctor scientist

17BThe tests are necessary, they must be performed.

V

16ANot bad so far, huh?

16ATry a little faster.

Doctor scientist

16AAccelerate by three.

16AStop treadmill.

16AHm.

16ATesting concluded for today.

Doctor scientist

18ACommunications have been unlocked. You may now phone home. Earth.

V

16AI... I can't. Gotta stop.

7BSame thing? Again?

Doctor scientist

7BWe need very precise data.

V

7CWhy can't I solve the fucking cube?

Doctor scientist

7CThat is what I am trying to determine.

Doctor scientist

20ACognitive function test.

20ASolve the cube.

V

The hell is this?

Doctor scientist

The heat has made your mouth dry and sticky. You spot a rodents' nest at your feet.

A shadow gradually falls over the ground. The first raincloud of the year.