Considering that an alien engram in the protagonist's head is one of the key plot device of Cyberpunk 2077, I was thinking who can be glaring enough lore character, evoking intense emotions, ranging from hatred to fear and admiration for Cyberpunk 2 (to uphold Johnny Silverhand standard). And I came to a bit provocative conclusion that it should be, purely speculative, Mr. Adam Smasher himself.
I am taking an assumption that after the fight with V's in Mikoshi, Smasher had no other option rather than being engrammed and vacuumed by Arasaka Soulkiller. Too rare and valuable corporate asset he is to let him just die.
I also consider that the new protagonist “infected” by Smasher's construct (when and how it happened – separate story) reasonably should not know – who is there in his head until the very late in the gameplay. Prior to the moment of the big realization, the protagonists should have some instability glitches, memory flashbacks fragments, and rare interactions with massive, bearded, partially chromed merc-man (Adam Smasher before transformation to full-borg body), invisible for others.
I would like to enlist key flashbacks from Smasher's engram appearing in the protagonists memory, as they wanders through the new story, gradually revealing who is hidden within (it also outlines Smasher's history).
The last thought – my concept of Adam Smasher's engram should not lead to any redemption, forgiveness or change of who Smasher is - selfish, cruel chrome addicts, pure uncontrolled evil on megacorp leash. In gameplay it should be more the protagonist inner conflict – a constant tension between power and identity — between the ease of aggressive domination and the difficulty of remaining himself/human.
Following is the chronological list of Adam Smashed flashbacks that should appear in protagonist memory as game progress:
- Childhood fight (1990x). Fight on NYC streets as a child, beginning of the cyberpunk time – a juvenile gang fight - beaten, crying and then an older friend encouraged him to fight back. Adam stands up, look into his friend eyes with determination. They both speak Russian (Adam's mother is Russian): "No hesitation!" [Russian language can later help in the main story]
- First chrome and kill (1990x). Another gangster's fight. Adam is bleeding, his face is a mess, jaw is broken. Angrily he drags a senseless body of one of the enemies (from another gang), whose fists augmented with chrome. Smasher asks a Ripperdoc to make him the same and also augment titan plates into the broken jaw. “Chrome makes me stronger!” Later the enemy youngster wakes up, weak and helpless. Adam looks at him and senselessly crushes him with augmented fists. Violence is normal. Killing is easy.
- Merciless Gang Leader (2000x). Take the spot as a strong aggressive leader of a NYC gang (grabs the gang girl by the neck and kisses her greedily).
He is going to punish a rival from another gang and recognize the old Russian friend. Long gaze eyes to eyes. Hint of ask for mercy surfaces in the old friend eyes. Smasher is slicing the enemy's throat with a chrome blade extending from his augmented forearm in front of his gang with the roar: "No hesitation!"
- Juggernaut Marine (late 2000x). Adam under under a fictitious name (being wanted by the NCPD) is a part of the Marine Corps: Central America war takes place. Under heavy artillery, his squad is dying before his eyes. He is saved because of existing chrome augmentations: right shoulder, chest, hip. He saves himself under dead bodies and burns partially. Rage helps to endure pain, agression overflows him and he attacks approaching enemies who didn't expect any survivors. “Chrome saves, chrome takes revenge”. Smasher - juggernaut-solo born. Not much empathy and sorrow for comrades, only harsh survival and brutal vengeance enjoyment. [Flashback can be playable by the protagonist]
- Hired by Arasaka (2010x). Experienced war veteran gets hired by one of the strongest global megacorp - Arasaka. Adam has chrome parts and augmentation all over the body and on the right side of his face, however still a human with a disheveled beard. Demonstrates his heavy gun shooting skills to Arasaka military HR. He looks disparagingly at the competing candidates - a useless meat
- Full chrome body (late 2010x). Leading Arasaka team as per commanded task to steal prototype from competitor Corpo. Smasher has a couple of Arasaka mercs in the team. He sees a fear within his subordinates and even the superior, but feels nothing but disgust to them. His superior intentionally exposes him to enemy's reactive grenade strikes. Smasher reanimates in Arasaka's medical facility — a mutilated body, limbs torn apart. Flesh is unrestorable and he receives a single choice - become a full borg (he adores chrome but still feels a loss and rage a-la Anakin Skywalker) accompanied by Arasaka perpetual contract. Smasher takes it. As soon as recovered - ragely and bloodily Adam goes and eliminates the superior. Couple of security guards trying to stop borg-machine. No chances. Psycho-killing-machine born. [Flashback can be playable by the protagonist]
- Michiko memory (2020x). Part of an elite bodyguard for Arasaka large family event. Just received a notification that his mom passed away after another bio-plague burst in NYC. Feels emptiness. Michiko Arasaka (Arasaka CEO Kei Arasaka's daughter) accidentally emotionally stumbles upon him, after a conflict with her father. Unlike the others, who see in Smasher a terrifying killing machine only, she starts talk to him. Borg feels odd, but no dislike. Michiko shares that because of her powerful family she is desperately isolated, people are scared even to talk to her. This creates an inexplicable resonance within Smasher. He lives in similar isolation however somehow, he managed to despise and ignore meat weaklings. Adam offered her escort help for the evening. He reapplies his body from borg to human-like gentleman (similar to original self). Michiko with Adam spending a corporate evening continued with a night of intimacy. In the morning Michiko disappears, and Adam switches back to cold borg body. Alone and isolated. [this is where Adam Smasher identity is revealed to the protagonist]
- Arasaka Tower devastation / pre- Night City Holocaust (2023). Fight with Silverhand, Shaitan and finally Morgan Blackhand prior to the nuke detonation in Arasaka Tower. Two solo legends. Heavy and brutal battle with collateral causalities. Smasher reaches the edge of cyberpsycho state, dominates the battleground, wounds Morgan and nearly captured him, but Blackhand outwitted him — he blew Adam up with a wall mine. Instead of finishing Smasher off, Morgan lets him live and even drags him out of Arasaka tower before the bomb blows up. Paralyzed Smasher feels fury, impotence, psychosis. He reads Morgan act as a humiliation, not a mercy. Smasher's conclusions are: he is not complete and effective enough as a killing machine, in future he should not repeat the mistake. He must always be on the top notch of awareness, dominance and military technology. [Flashback can be playable by the protagonist]
- Mikoshi fight (2077). Fight with V at the end of Cyberpunk 2077 (Mikoshi vault). We do not see V, only a hand gripping Malorian Arms 3516, mentioning Johnny Silverhand and then the trigger is pressed. Arasaka scientists cannot let go of such a valuable asset and use Soulkiller to restore his engram into the Mikoshi storage. But then, Alt unexpectedly appears in the secured Arasaka corporate network and drags Adam Smasher construct behind the Blackwall. Alt captures Adam Smasher's engram into a sort of digital cage with the purpose to decompose and investigate the deepest megacorp secrets. Smasher roars, feels rage, shaking Net prison walls [Alt plays bigger role in the overall protagonist's story]
As the plot unfolds, however, some of these flashbacks are presented in their entirety — specifically, Michiko memory (this is where the protagonist finally realizes that chrome-legend, Adam Smasher engram is within his head), as well as the fight scene in Arasaka Tower devastation and the Mikoshi fight.
And the last thought - Karl Urban (a-la Billy Butcher from “The Boys” show) would be a great actor to play a role
Happy to hear any thoughts and feedbacks on such a twist.