Dialogue: Where is My Mind?

V

Hello. female V only

Judy

Well about damn time, V! Been trying to reach you for days now! female V only

V

Had a lot on my mind, a lot going on. female V only

Judy

What the hell happened to you? female V only

V

1AGot the chip outta my head. female V only

Judy

1ANo. Really? You're joking! female V only

V

1ANo. Just had the… procedure. Not feeling so hot. female V only

1BWas just... havin' a hell of a rough time. female V only

Judy

1BShould've called! You really should've called. female V only

V

1BSo I made a deal with Arasaka. They removed the chip. female V only

1CNot even gonna try to explain. female V only

Judy

1CThe fuck, V? It's like you're trying to piss me off. female V only

V

1CMade a deal with Arasaka, they got the chip out of my head. So go ahead, get pissed if you want to. I already feel like shit. female V only

Judy

Where are you? female V only

V

Orbital station. Arasaka's. Think I'm gonna puke. female V only

Judy

V, you idiot! Get back down to Earth! Now! female V only

V

2AIt's so good to hear your voice. I'm just... I'm so glad you're here – there. female V only

Judy

2AFuck, V. I thought you were dead. female V only

2AI don't know what I'll do if I every find out you're gone. female V only

V

2AReally wanna see you again. female V only

Judy

2AI'm gonna hang up. And I wanna see you back on Earth. In hours. No – now! female V only

V

2BDoctor up here's a real cunt, lemme tell you. Torturin' me with stupid tests, all the time. female V only

Judy

2BDon't take anything they give you! Nothin'! female V only

V

2BMight sound cliché, but feels like they're hidin' somethin'. female V only

Judy

2BOK – enough. Get a grip, grab a shuttle and get your ass back home. female V only

V

2CYou know, I think I might be losin' my mind. female V only

Judy

2CFuuuuck… female V only

V

2CThis place, it's killin' me. female V only

Judy

2CV! You even hear what you're saying? I mean, Arasaka! You let 'em take you into orbit, dig around in your head, and now you think to complain? female V only

Hey, this is Judy. Sorry, can't answer because I'm busy packin' my shit.

If you don't know why, means I just didn't want to tell you.

If this is V, I'll call you. Maybe, baby. When I'm done being pissed off.

V

Hey. How's it goin'? male V only

Kerry

Watchin' the "Little Big Corporats" season finale. You? male V only

V

3AGot rid of the biochip. male V only

Kerry

3ANo. You're fuckin' kidding! male V only

V

3AGot a big ol' hole in my head. They filled it with, I dunno, cables 'n' shit. male V only

Kerry

3AWhere are you? Which hospital? male V only

V

3ADunno. Orbital station. Arasaka. male V only

Kerry

3AAll right, all right. Don't worry about a thing. male V only

V

3BI'm just really depressed. male V only

Kerry

3BOh… I know! Let's fly out to my place in Florida. A little sun, a little change'll do you good. male V only

V

3BHad enough change recently. I'm sittin' in orbit. Just had the biochip removed. male V only

Kerry

3BTrauma Team? Sit tight, I know people, gonna make some calls. male V only

V

3BArasaka. male V only

Kerry

3BOh shit! male V only

V

3BYep. male V only

3CGuess where I am. male V only

Kerry

3CHow many tries do I get? male V only

V

3CNever mind, doesn't matter, you'd never guess. I'm in orbit. male V only

Kerry

3CFuuuck. Need anything? male V only

V

3CYou. male V only

V

4AI'm so glad I've got you. male V only

Kerry

4AV, you are the best thing this planet's got going for her. So come back down. male V only

V

4AWish I were there with you now. male V only

Kerry

4AOK. I'm gonna hang up now, make a few calls, get you back to Night City. Sound good? male V only

4ATake care, V. See you soon! male V only

V

4BHow'd "Little Big Corporats" turn out? male V only

Kerry

4BOh, not about to spoil it for you. You can catch the reruns when you get back. male V only

V

4BYou'll watch it again with me? male V only

Kerry

4BHah! Will I! male V only

V

4CHonest? Think I might be losin' my mind here. male V only

Kerry

4CYou there alone? male V only

V

4CNo. There's some doctor here. Real bitch. But I guess that's it. So, yeah, pretty much alone. male V only

Kerry

4CYou shouldn't be, not now. Not good. male V only

V

Hey.

Kerry

Hey, V, look, um, season finale of "Little Big Corporats" is on in a minute. So, uh, call you back later, huh?

V

5AOK, never mind. Have fun.

Kerry

5AWill do. See ya!

V

5BLook, need to talk to somebody. I'm sittin' up in orbit and it sucks.

Kerry

5BWhat the hell you doin' up there?

V

5BOh, long story.

Kerry

5BWell, if it sucks, come back down.

V

5BGotta wait for the end of the stupid tests.

Kerry

5BAh, don't have to do a thing. Just, y'know, break the fuck outta there.

5BOK, it's starting. Gotta go.

V

Hey.

Panam

You've got some nerve!

V

Wait, what? What's the problem?

Panam

Oh, I spoke with Viktor. So please stop acting surprised!

Where the hell are you?!

V

6ASitting on an Arasaka orbital station. No idea which one.

Panam

6ALike I could give a shit which one! You're in trouble. Again. Alone. You could have asked for help!

V

6AHad my reasons.

Panam

6AUgh. Fuck. Enough! Just stop pissing me off. Return to Earth, now, before they hurt you.

V

6ANice to hear your voice again.

Panam

6AIt's good to hear yours too, idiot. Now come home.

V

6BHey, stop yelling at me.

Panam

6BYou piece of shit. You're lucky we're not face-to-face!

6BSeriously… Where are you?!

V

Hey.

Panam

Hey. Wow, it's been a while since I heard that voice.

V

7AListen... I'm stuck in a shithole. It sucks, hard.

Panam

7ASo leave the shithole. Come home.

V

7ANot that simple.

Panam

7A"No" is a nice word, beautiful sometimes. You should use it more often.

7ASorry. Mitch is about to blow a fuse. I'll have to call you back.

V

7BHow's things at your end?

Panam

7BI'm in the middle of a meeting with Mitch. He wants me to hang up, he's signaling wildly.

V

7BTell him to get lost. An' tell him I said that.

Panam

7BHe says hello.

7BTo you and your venerable mother.

V

Hey.

River

Randy! Leave the damn dog alone, I said!

Wow. Been a while, V.

V

Been goin' through some shit. Lotta changes.

River

What happened? You all right?

V

8AGot rid of the biochip. It's outta my head.

River

8AOh. That good or bad news?

V

8ADon't know that yet. Just had the... procedure.

River

8ARandy! Get the hell outta here!

8AWhich hospital you at?

V

8AAh, not at a hospital. Arasaka orbital station.

River

8ATell me which one. I'll fly out an' get you back here.

V

8BNo, I'm not. Not doin' hot at all.

River

8BSo come on over. We'll talk, figure somethin' out.

V

8BMade a deal with Arasaka. They removed the chip.

8CCheer me up, will ya?

River

8COver comms? Nah, c'mon. Where are you?

V

8CMade a deal with Arasaka. They cut out the chip. I'm somewhere in orbit. Some backwater trajectory.

River

8CRandy! Get the hell out!

8CGive me the name of the station. I'll fly up and get you.

V

8CThey'll never let you in.

River

8CLike hell, they won't!

V

9ASo glad I've got you.

River

9AYeah, good, and I don't wanna lose you. So take good care of yourself until I get there.

V

9AJoss and the kids – how are they? And is Randy back?

River

9AYeah, yeah, he's back. It's all fine.

9ALook, I gotta go. Gonna find you, hear me?

V

9BI don't even know the station's name.

River

9BDon't worry, I'll find it. I'll figure it out.

V

9BNobody tells me anything here.

River

9BYou just sit tight. Take care of yourself, stay outta trouble till I get there.

V

9CYou know, I think I might be going a little crazy up here.

River

9CAnd you can finish doing that on Earth.

9CIt's Arasaka, V. Not Rippers Without Borders. Don't you dare let them hurt you.

V

Hey.

River

Hey. Uh, bad time. Can it wait?

V

10AUm, not really. It's actually important.

River

10AFuck!

10ASorry. Look, can't talk now, gonna have to call you back.

V

10BJust wanted to talk.

River

10BSorry. Like I said, bad time. Have to call you back.

V

How's it going?

Victor

Heey. Think I oughta ask you the same.

V

11AYeah, so, to be honest, been better.

Victor

11AWhat am I supposed to do long-distance, over the phone?

V

11AI just wanted to talk, Vik.

Victor

11ALook, we go back long enough that you know I'm no good at this stuff. And Misty's out of town.

V

11AWhat'm I supposed to do?

Victor

11AGet a grip, make a decision. You already showed yourself and me you can do it.

V

11AHuh. Thanks for the pep talk, Vik. Sounds like a plan.

11BGot rid of the biochip.

Victor

11BArasaka do it?

V

11BYep. Sittin' on their orbital station.

Victor

11BAll right. So once you get back, pay me a visit, huh? You're gonna need a thorough check-up.

V

11CHow's Misty?

Victor

11CWell, after you left, she went off to visit her folks – for a while, most likely.

11CGot a postcard from her, from Warsaw. There's a polar bear on it.

V

11CTell her I said hi when she gets back.

Victor

11CYou'll tell her yourself.

Doctor scientist

Cognitive function test.

Solve the cube.

Doctor scientist

1APlease sit up.

1ARespond to the keywords – no thinking, just the first word that comes to mind.

1ALoyalty.

V

2ANo. Wanna talk to Hanako Arasaka.

2BJohnny!

2CArasaka.

2DMe.

2EBetrayal.

2FNo idea.

Doctor scientist

1APlease respond to each term with the first thing that comes to mind.

V

1AQuick as I can, no thinking, right.

Doctor scientist

1AHumanity.

V

3AEnough. No more tests. I refuse to take any.

3BJohnny.

3CArasaka.

3DMe.

3EGot nothin'.

3FNo idea.

Doctor scientist

1APlease step onto the treadmill.

V

4BNo.

Doctor scientist

1AAs quickly as you can, without thinking about it.

1AV.

V

5ANo!

5BHanako Arasaka – wanna talk to her now.

Doctor scientist

1ACognitive function test.

1ASolve the cube.

V

6AFuck! No! Enough!

6AI've had it! Fucking hate this place!

V

8AFuck you all!

V

10AAaaaaughhhh!

V

11AEnough! I'm done!

V

12AFuuuuck!

V

15AShit. It worked.

V

16AHey, listen. These tests gonna go on much longer?

Doctor scientist

16AWe need very precise data.

V

16AI can't stand this anymore.

Hellman

Good morning. Please get up.

V

2AMornin'.

2BHuh. Is it actually morning?

Hellman

2BThe sun rose over Night City exactly two hours ago.

V

2CDidn't expect to see you here, of all people.

Hellman

2CHeh. Life is full of surprises.

1ASomeone really ought to clean this mess up.

V

1AWhaddaya want?

Hellman

1AThey asked me to speak to you.

V

3AFine. So what do you have to tell me?

Hellman

3AI fear I'm the bearer of bad news.

3AListen to me…

3AThe procedure was a success. We removed the biochip.

3ABut the damage it wrought proved enormous. At the genetic level, altered DNA… the kind you would find in those suffering from radiation sickness.

3AAnd sadly, it's lethal.

V

4ASo you're tellin' me I'm gonna die.

4BNo. I don't believe you.

Hellman

4BThe test results are unequivocal.

V

4BYou could still be wrong.

Hellman

4BWere I you, I would place my hopes elsewhere.

V

4CFuck. Fuck!

Hellman

4CThings are bad, yes. But we have not given up.

3AAll the options have yet to be exhausted.

V

5AWhat other options are there? Already gone under the knife once.

Hellman

5AArasaka Corporation has the capability to cheat death. All we require from you is a dose of trust.

V

5ATrusted you once already. Fat lotta good that did me.

Hellman

5AYou may join our pilot program. "Secure Your Soul."

5AI fear your body is no longer of any use. You must abandon it.

5AWe will create an engram of your mind and store it in Mikoshi.

V

5AStore it? Why can't I just get a new body?

Hellman

5AWe have yet to solve the compatibility issue.

V

5ADoesn't sound like you had much of a problem with Saburo Arasaka.

Hellman

5AYou have no offspring. Nor do you have an entire clinic focused solely on your care.

V

6ASo let's say I agree, land in Arasaka's soul prison, put myself at their mercy. Do I even need to ask about the catch?

Hellman

6AAll is set forth in a contract, guaranteed therein. You must merely sign it – if you wish to live, that is.

Hellman

7ANow, since a digitized psyche is not, legally, an individual, the contract entails relinquishing your rights. A temporary measure, naturally.

V

7ANo. Not about to become the property of Arasaka Corp.

Hellman

7ACurrent participants of the program are all well-known, influential people. We have yet to receive any complaints.

V

7AAnd if I refuse?

Hellman

7AYour belongings are packed. A shuttle will take you back to Earth. And you will be dead before winter.

7AIt's no easy decision, I know. You should think it through carefully.

V

8AI wanna live.

Hellman

8AAs do most.

8AThere's no point in delaying. We can begin immediately.

V

9ASee you… in the future. I hope.

Hellman

9AYes. See you.

9AOur staff will take it from here.

V

9AHey. What's your name?

Security guard

9AHajime.

V

9AHajime, lemme ask you somethin'. What would you say to a person who walked right into their greatest foe's jail to save their life?

Security guard

9AHm. I would say, "All right. But do not forget the way home."

Hellman

9AV?

V

8BMade my decision.

8BI'm going back to Earth. I'm goin' home.

Hellman

8BYou will die there.

V

8BGoodbye, Anders. Your offer was shit. But, in making it, you gave me something better.

Hellman

8BWhat are you talking about?

V

8BBefore, death was inevitable. A fact of my shit life. You let me choose it, accept it on my own terms.

V

13A("A thing of beauty will never fade away.")

13A("I see your eyes, I know you see me, you're like a ghost how you're everywhere.")

6BHow'm I supposed to know this isn't another one of your tricks?

Hellman

6BA trick?

V

6BMaybe Arasaka just wants to punish a pain-in-the-ass thief? Maybe Saburo wants another soul in his collection?

Hellman

6BThe Arasakas have become gods. You are nothing to them. Insignificant.

V

6BOh, so this has to be your sweet revenge. Look at you – your life's work has turned Saburo into a god. Yet here you stand, a mere mortal.

Hellman

6BThat would make two of us. Why would I seek to punish my companion in distress?

6BMy employer has made you an offer. We should finish discussing it.

V

5BHow much time I got?

Hellman

5BApproximately six months. Then, things will deteriorate quickly.

5BThe time before your ultimate demise will be worst, most taxing.

V

5CWanna talk to Hanako Arasaka.

Hellman

5CI'm afraid that's impossible.

V

5CWe had a deal.

Hellman

5CAnd both sides fulfilled their respective ends. You, your case, your troubles no longer interest Hanako.

V

5CHanako Arasaka promised to save my life.

Hellman

5CPrecisely why she sent me here to discuss your options with you.

V

3BSo Saburo Arasaka's returned. In Yorinobu's body.

Hellman

3BWe live in strange times.

V

3BYou're not freaked? That doesn't faze you?

Hellman

3BHalf my life, I worked to give Saburo Arasaka immortality. In so doing, I grew accustomed to the thought of his… resurrection.

V

16AIt's not just his immortality. Saburo stole his own son's body.

Hellman

16ASaburo is the first human to ever reach for and achieve a divine state. The gods stand above good and evil.

V

16ANo. Alt Cunningham was first.

Hellman

16AA surprising comparison. Yet accurate on many counts.

V

16BSaburo Arasaka should be gnawin' the grass from below, rotting in hell.

Hellman

16BHm. Dogs bark, yet the caravan rolls on.

V

16CToo bad for Yorinobu. He stands defeated in the worst possible way – cut down by his own nightmare.

Hellman

16CA tragic figure, truly.

V

16CYou never liked him.

Hellman

16COne should speak well of the dead, or not at all.

V

3CMm, guess you're back in the Arasaka fold? For good this time?

3CHaven't had enough of 'em? The whole fucked up family?

Hellman

3CArasaka will always get his way. And the new project is an excellent fit with my skillset. A prime outlet for my ambitions.

3CAnd it has to do with you, actually.

V

3DWondering why they sent you of all people.

Hellman

3DI am the bearer of bad news. Bad enough that it should come from someone you know.

3DAs it turns out, I'm the only familiar face for thousands of miles around.

V

3DMh, as it turns out, I really did die and go to hell.

Hellman

1AReprehensible place. I hate it. It could drive one insane.

There are no legal loopholes, no fine print. You have nothing to fear.

You really should get up.

V?

You must look at this.

Have you made your decision?

V?

Takemura

You look just as you did when I found you in the rubbish. Get up.

V

2ATakemura? What're you doin' here?

Takemura

2AI have come to speak with you.

V

2BTakemura. Blunt as usual.

Takemura

2BThey say you demanded someone tell you the truth.

1AIt is an awful place... It is no wonder you are losing your mind.

V

1ACome all the way here to take me home?

Takemura

1AThey asked me to speak with you.

V

3AFine, so what is it you got to tell me?

Takemura

3AI am sorry to say it is not good.

3AI will be blunt – the surgery did not help.

3AYou will be dead before winter.

V

4AHow... How is that possible? Arasaka's got the best and brightest.

Takemura

4ANo, no – the operation was a success, and that is why. But the changes the chip made were too great – even for the corporate neurosurgeons.

V

4AThis is fuckin' Arasaka! They should figure somethin' out!

4BSorry, don't believe you.

Takemura

4BYou wished to know the truth. There it is.

V

4BI... I really thought it'd all work out, end better than well.

4CFuck.

Takemura

3AYou must accept the truth, then listen to what I say. There are options.

V

5AWhat're you talkin' about? Trusted you all once already. You let me down.

Takemura

5AYou may join the "Secure Your Soul" program. Hanako Arasaka has agreed to it.

5AYou will leave your body. Arasaka will store your engram in Mikoshi until a way is found to transfer it to a new body.

V

5AStore? Can't I get a new body right off?

Takemura

5AWith technology as it is now, this is impossible.

V

5ASeemed pretty damn possible for Saburo Arasaka.

Takemura

5AHe returned in his son's body. Tissue compatibility made things easier.

5AYet your phenotype, thanks to the chip, is unique. Arasaka cannot provide a suitable body at this time.

V

6ANope, doesn't sound good to me at all. I agree to this, and they'll do whatever they want with me.

Takemura

6AThere will be a contract to protect you. Sign it, and you will live.

Takemura

7AIt is written here that you relinquish all rights, but do not worry. The law is simply behind the times – an engram is not legally a person.

V

7ASo I get to be corporate property first?

Takemura

7ALike many braindance stars and politicians, from what I know. The program is a success, there have been no complaints.

V

7AAnd if I say no?

Takemura

7AThis is not a prison. You will take your things and return to Night City.

7AWere I you, I would sign. But the choice is yours. Think it through carefully.

V

8ADon't wanna die.

Takemura

8AA good choice.

8AThe engram station is ready for you. We should not wait for your condition to worsen.

V

9AGonna see each other again?

Takemura

9AI believe we will.

V

9ASo… see you.

Takemura

9AVisit me in Kagawa – I will show you what is real food.

V

9AHey. What's your name?

Security guard

9AHajime.

V

9AHajime, lemme ask you somethin'. What would you say to a person who walked right into their greatest foe's jail to save their life?

Security guard

9AHm. I would say, "All right. But do not forget the way home."

Takemura

9AYou need not delay. There is nothing for you here any longer.

V

8BMade my decision.

8BGoin' back to Earth, goin' home.

Takemura

8BYou will die there.

V

11AYou're all right, Takemura, I like you. Thanks for comin' all the way up here to help.

11ABut one thing you never understood and never will.

Takemura

11AWhat is that?

V

11AGot no idea how sweet it is to be free.

Takemura

11AYou speak out of bitterness. Please reconsider.

V

11ANo. This here's goodbye. But I'm not gonna forget you, what we did together.

Takemura

11AGoodbye, V.

V

13A("A thing of beauty will never fade away.")

13A("I see your eyes, I know you see me, you're like a ghost how you're everywhere.")

6BSorry, not buyin' it. Arasaka's out to lock me up.

Takemura

6BYou overstate your importance. To the Arasakas, I fear you are nobody – were nobody.

6BWith this offer, Hanako Arasaka rewards you generously for your service. There is not, as you say, "more to the story."

V

5BDead in a few months – that's me, huh?

Takemura

5BYou will feel better at first, but then the illness will grow fierce, attack in full force.

5BYour final weeks you will spend in bed.

V

5BFuck.

Takemura

5BPlease, feel no anger. I wish to speak about an alternative.

V

5CSaid Arasaka would fix me if I helped you – you promised.

Takemura

5CI believed truly they could.

V

5CSaid you had powerful friends. Where're those friends now?

Takemura

5CI did not come with empty hands. We must speak about your options.

V

5CHanako Arasaka promised to save my life.

Takemura

5CIt is the reason she sent me here – to discuss the alternative.

V

3BSaw Saburo Arasaka's back. In Yorinobu's body.

Takemura

3BYes. Justice has been done.

V

3BSo – got your revenge? Feel satisfied?

Takemura

3BI believe Hanako Arasaka chose the best solution.

V

16AWhole family's all kinds of fucked up. You know that.

Takemura

16APlease watch what you say.

V

16ASister kills brother to plant her murdered dad in the brother's corpse? Straight-to-feeder flick right there.

Takemura

16AThey are diferrent from you and me. We do not have the right to judge them.

V

16BSaburo shoulda stayed dead.

Takemura

16BMany wish him dead, but he will survive them all.

V

16BSorry, guess I'll never understand what you see in the guy.

Takemura

16BYou did not spend your life at his side and-- well... I did not come here to talk about the Arasakas.

V

16CY'know, the Arasakas belong in some sad old tragedy. Some Shakespeare-level shit there.

16CYorinobu 'specially.

Takemura

16CYou regret his fate?

V

16CWanted out of his dad's shadow, whatever the cost. Died at the hand of his worst nightmare.

3CWhat're you gonna do now? Still aim to protect Saburo's ass?

Takemura

3CI have been transferred to Japan. I will fly from here to Takamatsu.

V

3CWhy?

Takemura

3CNew times, new duties. But we say far too much about me.

V

3DWho asked you? Who wanted you to talk to me? Hanako?

Takemura

3DShe has forgotten you already. They called from here, from the clinic.

V

3DAnd what did they say?

Takemura

3DThey said someone should talk with you. Someone you know.

1AThey have kept you here in this cell? For days? It is barbaric.

Arasaka keeps its word, always.

Rise, V, please – let us talk.

V-san?

Please, look.

Any thoughts?

V-san?