Cyberpunk 2074: Shadows of the Past.

(This story has nothing to do with the main text or the original work. The timeline and world view are slightly different. If you don’t mind, don’t read it. It’s just a New Year’s gift for everyone for free.)
On the vast gray land, there is a tiny shadow staring blankly at the empty black void.

The dazzling sun shone on the top of his head, but he couldn't feel the slightest warmth.

After a long time, she turned her head and lowered her shade-shading arms.

A few slight sighs echoed in the thick and bloated spacesuit.

Closing her eyes, she raised her head and opened her arms, as if to embrace the blazing solitary sun hanging high in the starry sky.

"Card! Perfect! One time!"

The voice of the director's praise pulled her back to reality from the immersed emotions.

"Yeah! Lucy! Well done!" The colleagues who were quietly waiting at the side ran over one after another, celebrating the end of the video recording together.

"Wow, that's a great performance, I cried when I saw it..." David, who had just left the scene not long ago, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and rushed over to give Lucy a hug.

"Hey, wait, I'll take off the helmet that gets in the way first."

Lucy looked at the big boy who was crying bitterly in her arms, and gently touched his head.

"Hee hee, you guys didn't make a fake show, did you..." Rebecca covered her mouth and snickered as she watched from the sidelines, the horror makeup on her face was still on, "Hey, David, you are a couple in the play , how about the two of us working together outside the play? Can’t you let me just watch it all the time?”

"You talk too much..." Lucy complained, took off the obstructive helmet on her head, and breathed in fresh air, "This costume is really realistic, but it's a bit heavy, I can hardly breathe... ..."

"The Queen's investment in Night City is different. Look at the layout of the scene, which is exactly the same as the real outer space!" Mann, who had finished shooting for a long time, took a drink and planned to come over to join in the fun.

"The idiot is just so ignorant..." Qi Wei folded her arms, stood far away, and silently rolled her eyes.

"Okay, okay, everyone, stop arguing!" The director clapped his hands and gathered the laughing actors present, "Tonight, I will invite everyone present to have a meal. After the film is officially released, everyone Members come out and get together again!"

"Director, when will the finished film be released?" Lucy asked softly, flicking her short messy hair wet with sweat.

"By the end of 2077, release them all in one go!"

"It's almost Chinese New Year, isn't it to show the audience something sad?" Rebecca kicked the director's ass lightly, turned around and ran away.

"Hey!" The director touched his buttocks and smiled helplessly.

Different from the setting in the movie, Rebecca, who is actually the youngest, is the naughty ghost and pistachio on the set, always able to make everyone play around, and no one can do anything about her.

"David, Lucy, come with me." The director waved to the hero and heroine of the film, indicating that he had something to say to them alone.

"Director Imaishi, what can we do for you?" Lucy took David, who hadn't played yet, and trotted all the way to the director.

"The acting skills of both of you are very good, you don't look like rookies at all..." Director Imaishi scratched the back of his head, "I just want to ask, do you two have any plans to continue your studies in the film and television industry in the future?"

"For me, I don't plan to continue in this area before graduation..." Lucy shook her head lightly, then turned to look at David.

"Me? If Lucy doesn't act... then I'll continue reading..." David glanced at Lucy and replied softly.

"Well... that's fine..." The disappointment on his face was fleeting, Director Imaishi smiled, and didn't say much persuasion, "It's okay that David is a boy, but Lucy should pay attention if she wants to continue acting in the film industry." For one thing, it is still possible to find a substitute for some exposure scenes now, but it may not work in the future..."

"Thank you director..." Lucy said sincerely.

"One more thing! David and Lucy..." Director Imaishi coughed, restrained the smile on his face, and put on a serious look, "Your parents said when they signed the contract , you are not allowed to fall in love! Don't make a fake show!"

"what?"

"Don't worry!" Director Imaishi glanced at the mourning David and the somewhat disappointed Lucy, and smiled slightly, "But now you don't plan to continue filming, I don't care..."

"Director...do you know that you are in need of a beating now?" David gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

Director Imaishi coughed and rubbed his chin in embarrassment, "Anyway, I've said what I should tell you... In short, let's have a small gathering later, and after the film is released, we will find everyone, including investors. Come and gather together."

"So, I can meet the famous V?" David, who was full of idols in his heart, forgot his unhappiness in a blink of an eye, and his face was full of excitement and joy.

"You'll know when the time comes..."

◎

On December 2077, 12, a ten-episode web series called "Edge Walker" was released on the world's largest online platform, instantly detonating the Internet.

The realistic setting of the story in 2076 and the famous horror legend who died in Arasaka Tower——Adam Heavy Hammer, are enough to attract attention. Coupled with the beautiful heroine and the ups and downs of the storyline, countless people have already Made it the best of the year.

The characters, topics and surroundings related to it became hot in an instant.

◎

2077, April 12.

The crew of "Edge Walker" intends to hold a live broadcast celebration banquet to celebrate the new year with the audience who love this film.

"Toast to all the members of the crew!" Ms. Valerie (V), the legendary figure who is already the Queen of Night City, was at the top of the seat, holding the wine glass in her hand and saying loudly.

"Respect to Night City! Respect to Queen V of Night City! Respect to the afterlife!" David shouted loudly, looking like V's number one fan.

With a smile on his lips, V nodded lightly at the big boy with punk hair.

Even though she is already in a high position, she still prefers this down-to-earth approach. She is not used to the aloofness of a big man.

"Lucy, David, you really don't plan to continue acting in movies? You are the most dazzling characters in the Night City now..." V asked softly, looking at the male and female protagonists sitting together, "And Rebecca , you are also very popular with everyone."

"I don't want it anymore... I'm going to make a movie, and my good-for-nothing brother will not be taken care of. Besides, I'm not interested in movies with other themes..." Rebecca shook her head, gently He stepped on Pilar, who was sitting next to him.

"I keep my original idea... I still like the lives of ordinary people more than big stars." Lucy sighed softly. The online audience's likes both made her a little happy and a little distressed.

"Me too... I want to accompany my mother..." David was already eating hard, and Gloria, who was sitting next to him, shook her head and couldn't bear to look directly at him.

Holding his wine glass, V asked other members of the crew one after another, and most of the answers he got were similar.

"Hey, I sacrificed the most in this movie..." It was far from the appearance in the play, Qi Wei took off her mask and looked like a mature big sister, "If you continue to shoot like this, why can't you find a boyfriend? manage?"

"I plan to marry Dorio directly after the new year..." Mann said a little coyly, looking very funny.

"Wow...that's really congratulations..." V happily toasted the soon-to-be-married couple.

"Hey, director, how did you manage to bring the dead back to life on the screen? Is it some kind of special effect?" V walked back to his original position and elbowed Director Imaishi who was eating sullenly, "It's Adam. If I hadn't personally killed that heavy hammer in Arasaka Tower, I would almost have thought he was a real person."

"Of course, the epoch-making AI technology..." Director Imaishi wiped the greasy corner of his mouth, with a proud smile on his face, "Almost all the information left by the dead characters can be retrieved by AI, and it can be reproduced almost realistically. Get out of character..."

◎

"Xi Tan! It's New Year's Eve, don't watch TV..." A gentle female voice sounded in the girl's ear.

"Mom! I want to watch it for a while... Is AI really that powerful?" The silver-haired girl pouted, begging her mother for a little more time.

"No, your father and I are going to bed. Going to bed early is good for your health, be good!" Mom said in a soft voice, gently touching her daughter's head.

"Okay..." Xi Tan reluctantly agreed, looked at the TV screen that had been turned off, and sighed softly.

"Go back to the room and go to sleep! Good baby!" The mother looked helplessly at the little daughter who had lost her temper, and coaxed her with nice words.

"I know... a little~" Xi Tan grabbed the edge of the door, and before the door closed, she took the opportunity to stick out her tongue cutely at her mother through the gap.

"Good night, daughter..."

"Good night, Mom!" Through the door, Xita replied loudly, turning around and throwing herself on her little bed.

The bright moonlight shines through the window, gently splashing on her long silver hair.

Xita opened her violet eyes and looked out of the distant window.

Even the lively atmosphere of New Year's Eve did not affect this quiet remote town too much.

Looking around, there are all lights that have been extinguished.

Only the moon hangs stubbornly in the sky, as if unwilling to let the last waking lonely person fall into the lonely night.

"Good night, the moon..." With a cute smile, Xita waved to the moon.

How far is the bustling Night City from this small town?
She asked herself softly, but there was no answer.

In the silent night, even the sound of the wind became soft.

Xi Tan took out a small mobile phone, stuffed a pair of old earphones into her ears, and let the notes pouring out of the earphones completely swallow her up.

"I couldn't wait for you to come clear the cupboards..."

"But now you're gone and leaving nothing but a sign..."

"Another evening I'll be sitting reading in between your lines..."

"Because I miss you all the time..."

She sang softly to the music, filling the quiet sky with her ethereal voice.

It wasn't until drowsiness welled up that Xita took off the earphones.

"Happy New Year! Xita... In the new year, I have to be happy too..." Sneaking into the warm bed, with only her head exposed, she held her head up, looking at the cold moon outside the window. He said a few words to himself.

The moon watched her silently, as always.

Hiroshi smiled, and slowly closed his eyes.