Flashback 25: The_Day_After.bd
Panam watches V nervously, while he is submerged in the blue liquid that surrounds the black metal pillar at the center of Mikoshi. She is kneeling above the metal grating near the pool while behind her, the Mikoshi's mainframe illuminates her face with a red light.
Panam: C'mon V, the fuck are you doing down there?!
The red light begins to turn on and off faster and faster, Panam turns away, covering her face with one hand.
Suddenly V begins to shake in the water, as if having spasms. Panam tries to grab him with one hand.
Panam: Fuck it!
Panam unplugs the large cable connecting the mainframe from V's head, then drags his body out of the pool, laying him on the ground.
Panam: VE! VEEE!
The lights in the room begin to brighten as small sparks start to come out of the mainframe, followed by smoke. Panam lays V on her shoulders and runs out of the room.
The building begins to shake as Panam drags V away from the Mikoshi walking down the small corridor that separates them from the partition. The huge room full of mainframes begins to shut down as she continues to drag herself toward the exit, only a red light illuminates them intermittently.
Panam walks past what remains of Smasher's body, without looking at it, then slowly walks toward the shutter toward the end of the room. She lets V go on the ground and then slowly closes her eyes, in pain. In front of her rest Saul's headless body, her lip begins to tremble as tears begin to flow down her face, she eventually lets go, kneeling down next to him, grabbing his hand and putting it on her face, crying her eyes out.
Suddenly, all the lights in the room begin to go out, Panam turns around, hearing metallic noises coming from the walls as small explosions destroy the mainframes scattered around the room. She grabs V and begins to drag him out of the hall.
She continues to run, trying to escape from the darkness that begins to envelop the dungeons of the Arasaka tower, trying to untangle a maze of corridors and doors until she reaches an elevator, she begins to nervously press the buttons, carrying V on her shoulders.
Panam: Come on, damn it!
Elevator: Warning, authorization required.
Panam: SHUT UP!
Panam lets V go and starts punching the control panel on the wall near the elevator, until it becomes a tangle of wires and metal. She then turns abruptly, seeing the darkness approaching, becoming increasingly agitated.
Eventually, Panam slips her hands into the elevator, opening its doors and managing to drag V and herself into it.
The doors close, separating V and Panam from the darkness. She starts pressing the button for the ground floor but the elevator doesn't move, after a few moments Panam leans on the ground, near him.
Panam(Holo): Is anybody there?! I'm stuck in the basement!
Panam pulls the phone out of her jacket and notices that it has no service.
Panam(Holo): CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?!
The elevator lights go out, only a small white service light remains on. Panam takes the Malorian from V's pants, then holds him close, aiming the gun at the elevator doors.
Elevator: Now leaving…Net Running operations.
Suddenly the lights in the elevator come back on as it slowly begins to ascend.
Elevator: Ground floor.
The elevator doors open, Panam and V find themselves in a huge hall where a giant monitor towers with company advertisements. Panam slowly begins to walk around, protecting herself with the Malorian. The entire building is completely empty and wrapped in a surreal silence, as if it had been abandoned for centuries. She begins to walk slowly toward the exit, gun in hand, holding V on her shoulders.
In the meantime, a man dressed in a white robe watches them from a huge monitor in his office, sitting comfortably on a leather chair. He calmly gets up and walks over to a huge wood table.
The man leans over the table on top of which lies a huge chessboard with a bunch of white plastic tokens. After a moment's thought, the man adjusts his glasses and picks up a small remote controller with a cross and two buttons, connected by a wire to the table.
Suddenly, a small white token comes out of a slot on the side of the table. The man takes it and places it on the chessboard. After staring at it for a moment, the man's calm is broken by a violent outburst of anger, he slams both hands on the edges of the table, shaking all the tokens placed on it.
Yorinobu: クソッ[SHIT]!
Panam slowly passes through the scanners of the Tower entrance, going through the main door and reaching the street. A blinding white light envelops her as she covers her face with her gun, trying to protect herself.
Policeman: NCPD! DROP YOUR WEAPON, NOW!
Finally the light begins to dim, revealing the early light of the morning illuminating Corpo Plaza. Five police patrols surround Panam and V while a dozen more aim their guns at them.
After a moment's hesitation Panam raises her right hand, dropping the Malorian to the ground, lowering her head. The policemen move toward her and then grab both of them, pulling Panam toward a car, slamming her head on the hood.
Policeman: Do you have anything more on you? Explosives, firearms?
Panam: No…no…
Two policemen begin to handcuff Panam, she momentarily looks up while lying on the hood and notices a man in the distance, wearing a blue suit and bright blue lit eyes, watching her while chuckling delightedly.
Stranger: I'll take her.
The policemen turn around, in front of them stands a man with a bionic red eye and a long brown jacket with a fur coat.
Policeman: Who the fuck are you?!
The man pulls a badge out of his pocket and quickly shows it to the policemen.
River: Detective Ward, NCPD.
Policeman 2: The hell do you want?! We have strict orders, she's not going anywhere until Netwatch arrives.
River: I've just come from a meeting with the chief himself. I must take them both to the headquarters. Don't give a damn about Netwatch.
One of the two policemen begins nervously touching the radio on his chest.
Policeman: Bullshit, I'm gonna call him…
River grabs the policeman's arm, he stares at him.
River: Kid, how long have you been in the police?
Policeman: Fuck you.
River: I would say six months at most. Want to spend the next six directing traffic?
After a moment's hesitation, the policeman lifts Panam off the hood and throws her at River.
Policeman: You know what?! Have fun filling out the report.
River snatches the handcuff keys from the officer, then grabs Panam and begins to drag her away.
River: I noticed that you are staring at the gun, don't. Otherwise we're all screwed and so is V.
Panam turns to River, suspicious. They both walk away from the police perimeter as Panam jostles. They finally arrive at River's red Torton, as he looks around and with quick steps pulls Panam on the back seat as he climbs into the driver's seat, speeding away.
Panam gets up and sees V, lying beside her, unconscious.
River: I can see you tinkering back there, here.
River throws the handcuff keys at Panam, she quickly frees herself then with a lightning-fast leap grabs the Malorian on the passenger seat, pointing it at River's temple.
Panam: STOP THE CAR, NOW!
River: Wait… I'm a friend. Didn't V tell you about me?
Panam: DON'T CARE, STOP THIS FUCKING CAR!
River: As you wish.
River pulls the car over under a lamppost in a small street just outside Corpo Plaza, then he lifts his hands from the steering wheel.
Panam: Out.
River: Shit, Don't you understand…?!
Panam: THINK I WON'T SHOOT?! GET…THE FUCK…OUT!
River: It would be a mistake.
Suddenly the other two doors open, a man with glasses and a blue lab coat sits next to River, while a woman with blond hair and a wide blue sweater sits next to Panam, smiling at her, joyful. Panam grabs V and pulls him to her, resting him on her chest as she alternately points the Malorian at the two, shaking.
Viktor: The hell is she doin' here?!
River: Don't know. I thought she was important to him.
Panam gets increasingly agitated.
Panam: EVERYBODY GET OUT, NOW! OR I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU, I'M NOT KIDDING !
The girl with blond hair tries to reach out to Panam, to reassure her.
Misty: Panam, it's me. From the shop. It's all right, we want to help, trust us.
Panam aims the gun at Misty.
Panam: WHY?! Because I saw you talking to him once?!
Viktor: ENOUGH! I knew him and Jackie way before you did… Put that down, please.
Panam slowly lowers the Malorian, breathing more and more slowly, while Viktor gets out a small tablet from his pocket.
Viktor: I'm gonna do a scan, ok?!
Viktor plugs a small wire into the slot on V's neck. Misty reaches out her hand over Panam's, caressing it gently, she looks back at her, bewildered. Suddenly two pickup trucks pass the parked Torton, speeding through traffic, Panam turns her head.
Panam: The hell was that?!
River: Netwatch.
Viktor begins to fidget with his fingers on the tablet.
Viktor: So… Who are you exactly?! Misty told me you stormed inside the shop n' snatched him away. Are you friends?
Misty: Oh no, Vik…
Misty smiles at Panam.
Misty: She is much more than that. Don't you?
Panam looks at Misty puzzled, raising an eyebrow.
River: Look, I would get off the street. That is, if you don't want to shoot me.
Panam: Not sure… yet.
River starts the car again, driving for a while. Eventually he parks into an alley. Panam stares at Viktor, anxious, as she is waiting for an answer.
Panam: So?!
Viktor stops touching the tablet, unplugging the wire from V's neck, then leans back in his seat and without looking at Panam, starts talking. River looks at him and lowers his eyes, as if he has understood something.
Viktor: He's gonna be fine for now. He's just fainted.
River opens the door.
River: C'mon, time to get out.
Panam: Nono… I'm not goin' anywhere. We'll take the car and leave quietly… You can pick it up later, detective.
Viktor turns around, showing the tablet to Panam.
Viktor: I'm afraid it's too late for that…
Panam grabs the tablet. A Quotifax is playing, showing her, Saul, and V breaking into Arasaka Tower, along with their names. V's face is the only one without a name, obscured by the jammer contained in his optics. Panam closes her eyes, defeated.
Panam: Shit. Is this live?
Viktor snatches the tablet out of Panam's hands and puts it back in his pocket.
Viktor: No. It's almost four hours old. After that, everything went down.
River: You and V have a level five priority arrest warrant on your head, at least.
Panam: Bullshit. They would have sent MaxTac, not you.
Viktor turns to Panam, almost angry.
Viktor: Lady, don't you understand?! All of Night City is off the grid. The Trauma, the NCPD, fuck, even the traffic lights don't work. The hell did you do down there?!
Panam: I DON'T KNOW, OK?! He… He called me saying that he would have died if he didn't get inside this… soul prison or somethin' inside the Arasaka Tower. Then he plugged to a giant computer and then all the fucking building started collapsing as if the gates of hell had opened!
River: Look, we'll think about it later, okay? We have to change our ride.
Everyone gets out of the car while Panam lays V on her shoulders
Panam: Sorry what are we doing, exactly?!
River: We'll take their car. Mine was just stolen.
Panam: What?!
River: You did.
The group begins to walk to a small hatchback Panam sits in the back with V, next to Misty while Viktor sits behind the wheel, with River next to him.
Viktor: Where to?
River: The Badlands, right?!
Viktor begins to drive as Panam looks at River, suspicious.
River: The jacket…You're with the 'Caldos, aren't you?! My brother in law too, a real jerk.
Panam: Must be a family thing…
Viktor begins to drive, Panam turns to Misty who is looking out the window.
Panam: Hey…uhm…Sorry for before…Did you know Jackie too?
Misty turns around, smiling at Panam.
Misty: Yeah…Jackie and V were inseparable. And for me he was... Very special.
Panam stares at her, touched, then she grabs her hand, as if to comfort her.
Panam: How about you, cop?!
River: You shouldn't call me that, I'm not a cop… Not anymore.
Panam: Uhm. Were they out of doughnuts?
Viktor turns toward River, alarmed.
Viktor: Woah, woah. Wait a second. You said you were a detective…
River: I am. Private detective, still waiting for the license. There was no time for the whole story.
Panam clutches the Malorian with his right hand.
Panam: So you don't know each other…
Viktor: Nah. We met one hour ago outside of the Arasaka tower. When Misty told me you took him away from the shop, we pulled the sums. He's the only one crazy enough to attempt such a thing.
Panam stares at River, curling her face. He looks back at her.
River: I was minding my own business, actually. Then all of the sudden I lost my sight… Thought my implants were going haywire. A strange voice forced me to turn on the radio so I did. Recognized V from his description and I immediately headed up to Corpo Plaza.
Viktor looks at River, puzzled as Misty smiles joyfully. Suddenly Panam snaps toward River, alarming everybody.
Panam: Do you really expect me to believe this bunch of bullshit?! You may have fooled them, but not me...WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM HIM?!
River: I don't want anything from V. In fact I own him… a lot.
Panam leans back on the seat, still staring at River, while holding V in her arms.
Panam: Yeah, Why?!
River get serious.
River: 'Cause he saved my nephew, Randy. If I can bring him flowers to the hospital instead of the Columbarium…I owe it only to that man you hold in your arms.
Panam stares at River, shocked. Then she lowers her eyes, looking at V.
Viktor: We're almost out of the city. Where do you want to go, exactly?
Panam: The dam.
Panam turns toward the window, the dark buildings reflecting on her face, one after another, fading away like a distant memory. After traveling some more, the group manages to reach the top of the dam towering over Night City. It is almost dawn.
Panam gets out of the small hatchback and pulls out her phone, finally finding service, immediately she activates her car autopilot function.
River: Well, the moment you've been waiting for has arrived.
Panam turns sharply, finding River in front of her.
Panam: What?!
River: Straight in the face, mind you... Just not on the good eye. I'd like to keep that one.
Panam: Are you out of your mind?!
River: They'll never buy the whole theft business unless I bring them some evidence…You wanted to shoot me, and now you won't even punch me?!
Suddenly a fist hits River in the face. He covers his mouth in pain, while Panam steps back, surprised.
River: SHIT, DOC! I said in the face, not in the jaw…Damn!
Viktor: Sorry. I used to box in a past life. Go sit in the car with Misty, I'll take a look at you later.
River walks, sad, toward the car as Panam's Torton pulls up right behind the hatchback. She and Viktor walk toward the door, trying to pull V's body out.
Opening the door, they find Misty and River talking happily while she caresses the bruise on his face. After a moment of silence, Panam and Viktor drag V's body into her Torton, placing it on the passenger seat. She looks at it for a while, then begins to caress it, smiling movingly.
Viktor: Hey!
Panam turns toward Viktor, who seems to have a threatening look on his face.
Viktor: Do you care about him?
Panam stares at him, serious.
Viktor: Answer me.
Panam lowers her gaze and then nods, moved.
Viktor: He'll need a good ripper. I don't mean one of those fucking butchers you find in the desert…I mean a good one. Somebody who knows what he's doing. Do we understand each other?!
Panam: Yeah.
Viktor grabs Panam by the shoulders, trembling, almost teary.
Viktor: Another thing. Don't ever show your face in this fucking city, never again. There is nothing for you here, ok?!
Panam: That was the plan all along.
Viktor: Good.
Viktor hugs Panam, she does the same.
Panam: Thanks.
Viktor begins to walk toward the car.
Panam: Wait…Want to wait for him to wake up? He would like to see some friends...
Viktor: No. We have to go back. Can't risk getting mixed up with this shit. Besides, Misty has suffered too much from all this already…When the dust settles we'll contact him, I promise. But for now it is useless for him to know.
Panam: Why?
Viktor opens the door and leans on it while River gets out from the passenger door.
Viktor: Because that's what friends do.
Misty: Hey, Panam!
Panam walks up to the door, placing herself next to River. Misty hands her the Malorian.
Misty: That's yours.
Panam takes the gun, Misty caresses her hand, smiling, as if to reassure her.
Misty: Panam, don't worry, really. I saw everything, It all going to be fine…Just try not to lose faith, ok?!
Panam nods, smiling. Misty then closes the door and the car speeds off back toward the city. She turns to River, who watches the car drive away as if in spellbound.
Panam: What about you, detective?
River: I… I'm going to get back.
Panam: Are you crazy?! Listen, you can come to the camp if you want…But you can't go back to the city. It's just a suicide.
River: I have a sister here, I can't leave.
Panam: But they saw you taking me away!
River: Look, surely they will arrest me but they can't prove jack shit. I'll tell them that I was trying to get back in the police but you managed to run away. They're going to give me a good go-over and dump me somewhere, just to make sure I don't show up again…It's a perfect plan.
Panam: No, that's a shitty plan, trust me. They'll dump you somewhere nice n' cold. If you want my advice you should take the whole family and get the hell out of here.
River looks at Panam, then smiles.
River: Your answer to everything is just to run away, isn't it? Listen…The department will do everything to cover this up. Just think about what would happen if it comes out that the police handed over two terrorists to the first idiot who came along… As for me, I have my back more than covered, Peralez is getting more and more paranoid since the old mayor died. If they found me flatlined in an alley he would clean up the whole department.
Panam crosses her arms.
Panam: It doesn't make any sense.
River: It does. Cause I'm the one who opened back the case…That's why they kicked me out.
Panam: Oh…
River stretches out his hand toward Panam.
River: I'm River Ward by the way. You're ok for being a nomad, know that?!
Panam shakes River's hand.
Panam: Panam Pal…
River: Yeah I know, saw the mugshot on the news…How does it feel to be at the top of the criminal pyramid?
Panam: Don't know. You tell me.
River laughs heartily, pointing at her.
River: You're such a cool chick...I'm happy for V. Well, that's a goodbye I'm afraid.
River begins to walk to the opposite side of the dam.
Panam: Hey! Want a lift closer to the city?!
River turns to Panam.
River: Nah. I'll call my sister. Can I ask you one last thing?!
Panam: Sure.
River: The girl…Misty, right?! You said she's got a shop… Where is it?!
Panam: Yeah, she sells magical trinkets in Watson… I think It's called Misty's Esoterica
or somethin'… Why?! Do you want her to read your future?
River smiles.
River: Yeah. Something like that.
River starts walking again as Panam looks at him puzzled. After a while she walks to the edge of the dam, looking at the unusually dark city in the distance, illuminated by the first light of dawn.