Panam Palmer

Panam Palmer is introduced as a former member of the Aldecaldos nomad clan, who, after a family dispute, decided to live a more independent life as a mercenary. She is also a possible romance option for V with a masculine body in.

Biography
Panam Palmer was part of the Aldecaldos nomad tribe. Her best friend was captured by the Raffen Shiv, a rivaling Nomad group, when they were a child, only to be saved by fellow-Aldecaldo Cassidy Righter - an incident that deeply affected Panam into her adulthood, to the point of never telling anyone what happened in order to forget about it. Cassidy would remain a close friend of Panam and become somewhat protective of her. Panam also befriended several other clan members, including Mitch Anderson and Driss "Scorpion" Meriana. Panam idolized Saul Bright, a fellow Aldecaldo who used to pull off impressive as well as funny stunts in his earlier years.

At some time, Panam and Mitch were hauling cargo from San Francisco to Kansas for the owner of a syn-meat farm. The stench at the farm got Panam so sick that she puked on the owner's boots to which he simply replied "No need to bow, I'll just take a handshake." Another "long story with many twists and turns" involved a guy from Kaukaz riding in Panam's trunk.

At some point, Panam's clan set up camp in the Badlands outside Night City. She didn't see eye to eye with the clan's leader, Saul Bright, who was trying to strike a deal with Biotechnica in his attempt to keep the clan alive with consistent work. Panam disapproved, believing the clan should remain independent from corporations. Together with Scorpion, Panam kept joking about getting Mitch on board and heading off to Oregon on their own. Panam's conflict with Saul came to a head, however, when, due to her rebellious attitude, she eventually left the clan and moved to Night City, even though her friend Mitch tried to talk her out of it at first. Working as a mercenary under the fixer Rogue, Panam was often paired with nomad Nash Bane on a few gigs, though she was unaware he was Raffen Shiv. Despite moving away, Panam maintained communication with members of the Aldecados, including her close friends Mitch Anderson and Scorpion.

2077
During an assignment to deliver "merchandise", Panam was betrayed by Nash, who stole both their cargo and her Thorton Mackinaw "Warhorse". Having messed up, she angrily confronted Rogue at the Afterlife, leaving without compensation or help to recover the stolen items. Some time later, Panam was contacted by local merc V, who had been directed to her by Rogue to help capture Anders Hellman. After V helps Panam recover her merchandise by ambushing the Raffen Shiv in Rocky Ridge, and optionally also to get back her car by attacking and killing Nash in his hideout, she agreed to help them capture Hellman from Kang Tao forces, whose AV was predicted to pass across the Badlands.

Planning to ground the airborne convoy, Panam and V stormed the Solar Power Station on Jackson Plains and modified the systems into an EMP. When it failed to stop them, she used a rocket launcher to ground the vehicle. However, Panam's friends Mitch and Scorpion underestimated the surviving Kang Tao guards at the crashed convoy and rushed in alone, which got Scorpion killed and left Panam devastated. After clearing the convoy and recovering Hellman, Panam left with the Aldecados, parting ways with V for the time being.

Some time later, Saul Bright disappeared with a small convoy of Aldecados. Learning of the attack, Panam returned to the Aldecados to help investigate. Eventually, they discovered the convoy had been ambushed by Wraiths, a Raffen Shiv gang, and Saul had been captured. To help rescue him, a visibly distraught Panam contacted V and asked for their assistance. As V agrees to help, Panam remarks "Do you know how good it is to hear that?" and asks to meet at the Aldecaldos camp, where the two along with Mitch go over some drone intel on the Wraith camp Saul is being kept at. As the plan is covert infiltration, only V and Panam set out, with the latter remaining at distance to provide the former with sniper cover fire if needed.


 * Starting the job to rescue Saul but then leaving the area for too long will result in Panam sending a message saying that Saul is dead, and the job will be failed, precluding all follow-up missions involving Panam.


 * After V rescued Saul, Panam drove the group away, escaping from pursuing Wraiths and using a sand storm to cover their tracks. Seeking shelter in an abandoned farmhouse, the group spent the night. A grateful Saul invites Panam to rejoin the Aldecaldos, but insists she will follow orders in the future. She responds by strongly objecting to Saul's planned cooperation with Biotechnica. As Saul turns in early, Panam sarcastically asks whether he needs "help"... to which Saul just responds "Fuck off" and remarks that sandstorms are called "haboobs" in Africa - a word he is very fond of. As fellow Aldecaldos Cassidy Righter picks Saul up the next morning, V convinces Panam to rejoin the clan. Before Panam leaves she gives V her rifle Overwatch in return for their help. If V is male, the correct dialog choice will also cause Panam to kiss him goodbye (see Romance - Optional Prelude).


 * Following Saul's rescue, Panam is at odds with him again. After she identified a lightly guarded Militech convoy that is slated to transport a Basilisk tank through the Badlands, her and Mitch want to make use of the opportunity and raid it. Deeming it to be too dangerous, Saul forbids Panam to pursue the matter. Behind Saul's back, she is determined to proceed anyways together with V as well as some like-minded fellow Aldecaldos including Mitch and Carol Emeka.
 * If V tells Saul about Panam's plan, the mission is aborted. A few hours later, a furious Panam contacts V, saying that her, Mitch, and Carol are now being treated like lepers by the others. She ends their friendship and severs all ties with V, precluding all follow-up missions involving Panam. Saul will subsequently contact V, saying that both he and Panam are grateful, although Panam might not realize it yet, and gifts V a unique car. The Aldecaldos then break camp and no further contact with any of them will be possible.
 * If V does not tell Saul about Panam's plan, the mission proceeds as planned with V's assistance. The group decide to block the Militech convoy's path using an abandoned train system and camp near its control towers that night. Panam also begins to open up to V further, admitting them to her close circle. If V is male, he can also speak to Panam about their feelings for each other (see Romance - Optional Prelude). After an intense firefight against the Militech escort, the ambush on the convoy is successful and the group returns with both supplies and the Basilisk. Upon returning to the camp, Panam has another heated argument with Saul, who feared Militech could trace its stolen merchandise back to the Aldecaldos and told her they would have a "family council" soon to decide Panam's future in the clan. Cassidy then had the idea to, after unloading, leave the large, stolen convoy trucks in front of the Wraith camp Saul was held at previously in order to shift the blame for the heist. Panam and V then part ways as she and the others prepare to assemble the Basilisk.
 * If V does not tell Saul about Panam's plan, the mission proceeds as planned with V's assistance. The group decide to block the Militech convoy's path using an abandoned train system and camp near its control towers that night. Panam also begins to open up to V further, admitting them to her close circle. If V is male, he can also speak to Panam about their feelings for each other (see Romance - Optional Prelude). After an intense firefight against the Militech escort, the ambush on the convoy is successful and the group returns with both supplies and the Basilisk. Upon returning to the camp, Panam has another heated argument with Saul, who feared Militech could trace its stolen merchandise back to the Aldecaldos and told her they would have a "family council" soon to decide Panam's future in the clan. Cassidy then had the idea to, after unloading, leave the large, stolen convoy trucks in front of the Wraith camp Saul was held at previously in order to shift the blame for the heist. Panam and V then part ways as she and the others prepare to assemble the Basilisk.
 * If V does not tell Saul about Panam's plan, the mission proceeds as planned with V's assistance. The group decide to block the Militech convoy's path using an abandoned train system and camp near its control towers that night. Panam also begins to open up to V further, admitting them to her close circle. If V is male, he can also speak to Panam about their feelings for each other (see Romance - Optional Prelude). After an intense firefight against the Militech escort, the ambush on the convoy is successful and the group returns with both supplies and the Basilisk. Upon returning to the camp, Panam has another heated argument with Saul, who feared Militech could trace its stolen merchandise back to the Aldecaldos and told her they would have a "family council" soon to decide Panam's future in the clan. Cassidy then had the idea to, after unloading, leave the large, stolen convoy trucks in front of the Wraith camp Saul was held at previously in order to shift the blame for the heist. Panam and V then part ways as she and the others prepare to assemble the Basilisk.


 * The next day, an enthusiastic Panam calls V, asking to take the newly assembled Basilisk for a spin together. After returning to the camp, Cassidy, Mitch, and Panam tell V that they left the implicating loot from the raid on Militech near a Raffen Shiv camp to shift the blame. Panam and V then hop into the tank after Mitch makes some last minute adjustments. Panam instructs V to jack in to practice movement and target shooting with the tank's neural impulse interface outside of the camp. After that, Panam shows V the dual interface by joining them in the neural connection with the Basilisk, thereby linking their nervous systems and sharing their sensory awareness. If V is male, Panam will then use the interface to make erotic advances, which V can accept and thereby initiate the romance storyline (see Romancing Panam). In either case, Panam and V's experience is cut short by a Raffen Shiv ambush. After fighting them off with the tank, they head back to the camp, which is also under attack.


 * After the Raffen Shiv have been fought off, Saul wants to talk to Panam, who then expects to be kicked out of the clan for her foolhardiness. Instead, however, Saul makes Panam the new co-leader of the clan by his side, admitting he was wrong earlier, mistaking her willingness to risk everything for the family with recklessness. A surprised Panam and Saul then decide to move the camp to a new location for safety reasons. To cool down, Panam shares a drink with V at the camp's bar and reiterates that they can always count on the Aldecaldos for help. She also asks V to join the clan, who has to decline in order to "finish some things first". After passing out from a Relic malfunction, V then wakes up in Panam's tent at the new camp location and has the choice to finally tell her about the worsening problem with the Relic and that Johnny Silverhand's engram is in their head. Panam will react concerned but understanding and then walks V to their ride. On the way, Saul, Mitch, and Cassidy will express their relief of seeing V back up on their feet. Before bidding goodbye, Panam repeats her and the entire family's willingness to help V at any cost. As their earlier joint kidnapping of Anders Hellman turned out to be a dead end, however, V does not know how the Nomads could help yet and is left with simply thanking Panam for being there for them. If V is male and initiated the romance earlier, he will give Panam a goodbye kiss.


 * After this, Panam can be found next to Saul in the Nomad camp's command truck. V can ask her how things are going with Rogue (to which she replies that they mostly stay out of each other's hair) or if she had any more trouble with the Kang Tao (which she declines, adding that they still believe it was the Raffen Shiv who attacked Hellman's transport). If she was not romanced and "The Sun" ending is chosen, this will be the last direct interaction between Panam and V. Panam's video message during the end credits will be the same as for the unromanced "Temperance" and "The Devil" endings (see below).


 * Contemplating their next move on the rooftop of Misty's Esoterica and realizing that they have only one last shot left do deal with the Relic issue, V can decide to call Panam and the Aldecaldos up on their offer to help. Johnny Silverhand does not like the idea as the lifes of Panam and "her tarmac rats" will weigh heavy on their soul. Before V takes the omega-blockers to be focused and alert for what could be their last ride, Johnny adds that he has a feeling that V will regret the decision and the "moment that dawns, he won't be there to help". Realizing that Johnny is shut out for the time being, V calls Panam. If Panam was romanced and called a few minutes earlier to say goodbye, she will already be waiting for V to call again (see Romance - Endings). If she was not romanced or V decided not to call her to say goodbye earlier, the phone is answered by a sleepy Panam, who V then reminds that she owes them a favor. Explaining that they immediately need a way into Arasaka Tower, Panam reacts surprised, but quickly agrees to help by simply saying "Ok." after V explains that Mikoshi in the tower's basement is their last chance to seperate from Johnny's engram and survive. After V tells her where they are, Panam says "Don't go anywhere. I'm coming to get you." and hangs up.
 * Contemplating their next move on the rooftop of Misty's Esoterica and realizing that they have only one last shot left do deal with the Relic issue, V can decide to call Panam and the Aldecaldos up on their offer to help. Johnny Silverhand does not like the idea as the lifes of Panam and "her tarmac rats" will weigh heavy on their soul. Before V takes the omega-blockers to be focused and alert for what could be their last ride, Johnny adds that he has a feeling that V will regret the decision and the "moment that dawns, he won't be there to help". Realizing that Johnny is shut out for the time being, V calls Panam. If Panam was romanced and called a few minutes earlier to say goodbye, she will already be waiting for V to call again (see Romance - Endings). If she was not romanced or V decided not to call her to say goodbye earlier, the phone is answered by a sleepy Panam, who V then reminds that she owes them a favor. Explaining that they immediately need a way into Arasaka Tower, Panam reacts surprised, but quickly agrees to help by simply saying "Ok." after V explains that Mikoshi in the tower's basement is their last chance to seperate from Johnny's engram and survive. After V tells her where they are, Panam says "Don't go anywhere. I'm coming to get you." and hangs up.


 * If she was not romanced, V reaches Mikoshi alone or with the help of either Rogue or the Aldecaldos, and then decides to give their body to Johnny Silverhand, Panam's video message during the end credits will be an update from the Badlands and thanking V for all they have done for her. If she was romanced, Panam's video message will be very different (see Romance - Endings).
 * If she was not romanced, V reaches Mikoshi alone or with the help of either Rogue or the Aldecaldos, and then decides to give their body to Johnny Silverhand, Panam's video message during the end credits will be an update from the Badlands and thanking V for all they have done for her. If she was romanced, Panam's video message will be very different (see Romance - Endings).


 * After having the relic surgically removed by Arasaka and seeking support from a friend, V can call Panam from the Arasaka Orbital Station. If she was not romanced, Panam will not grasp the distress V is in, simply telling them to come home, and then hangs up as Mitch demands her attention. She will not pick up again. Regardless of whether V then choses to return to Earth or not, Panam's non-romanced video message during the end credits will be identical to the one for "The Sun" and "Temperance" endings (see above). If she was romanced, Panam's reaction to V's call from orbit as well as her end credits video message will be different (see Romance - Endings).
 * After having the relic surgically removed by Arasaka and seeking support from a friend, V can call Panam from the Arasaka Orbital Station. If she was not romanced, Panam will not grasp the distress V is in, simply telling them to come home, and then hangs up as Mitch demands her attention. She will not pick up again. Regardless of whether V then choses to return to Earth or not, Panam's non-romanced video message during the end credits will be identical to the one for "The Sun" and "Temperance" endings (see above). If she was romanced, Panam's reaction to V's call from orbit as well as her end credits video message will be different (see Romance - Endings).

Romance
If V has a masculine body (regardless of voice type and genitalia), they can pursue a romantic relationship with Panam. As such, Panam is unique as she is the only potential romantic partner for V, who can also be called for help during Nocturne Op55N1 towards the end of the game.

Optional Prelude
V can begin to flirt with Panam in the Sunset Motel bar at the end of Ghost Town, suggesting that they only get one room together. Although it will upset her initially, not completing the optional objectives earlier to assist Panam against the Raffen Shiv and Nash makes no difference. Panam agrees to sharing a room as that would save them money, pointing out that there are twin beds in every room. If V pursues the matter further, Panam first plays naive and then makes clear that they can "celebrate"... but not today. In their joint room, Panam will just immediately go to sleep in full clothes.

V can resume flirting in the abandoned farmhouse at the end of Riders on the Storm, after Saul went to bed. Although Panam will reject V touching her thigh, they can offer to fulfill her any wish, after which she replies "Careful, you can't know what I'd wish for..." and puts her legs on V's lap. Both fall asleep and Johnny Silverhand chimes in, wishing them sweet dreams. As Panam is about to depart the next morning, V has the option to ask her about last night, to which Panam replies that she is not that kind of girl. After V asks just what kind of girl she is, she responds "That kind." and kisses them goodbye. Johnny then appears again, saying V should ride right after her if circumstances were different, but then and there they can just look. Johnny moves on saying "Damn hard to catch a girl like that. Only hope you've got is they feel a pang and stop to wait."

During With a Little Help from My Friends, V finds some time with Panam alone in the control tower and can choose to tell her that he missed her pretty bad. Panam immediately gets uncomfortable, as she is not used to talking about feelings. If V presses the issue, Panam admits that she also wants to talk about "it", but moves on by saying "My plan was to tiptoe around, test the waters, then retreat back into my shell." She adds that her hesitance is motivated by a fear to cock things up due to her volatile behavior and that, with V, she does not want to act on impulses but prefers to play it safe because - this time - she really cares. Later at the campfire with the other Nomads, V can scooch closer to Panam and put his arm around her while looking at the stars together.

Not initiating any of the advances described above has no effect on the following romance option with Panam.

Endings
If V has romanced Panam, he can choose to call her to say goodbye at the end of the mission Nocturne Op55N1, which will unlock different endings with her. Before calling, V sighs that he only wants to hear Panam's voice but Johnny is wary that V might solicit the Aldecaldos' help against his advice and says "Sure as hell hope it's that and only that." During the call, a sleepy Panam offers her help and, sensing V's serious distress, tells him to call back after taking a few deep breaths and rethinking everything. She then reminds V that she is there for him and hangs up. Following this, only one choice allows you to maintain the relationship, while the others remain ambiguous as to its fate:


 * Opting for "The Star" ending (asking Panam for help, which requires completing Queen of the Highway), will result in the Aldecaldos helping V to get to Mikoshi underneath Arasaka Tower. While the ensuing missions will play out the same regardless of whether Panam was romanced or not (see Biography), some additional interactions are added if her and V are lovers. At the end of We Gotta Live Together, the night before their raid on Arasaka, V will get the option to take Panam into his arms while they are sitting on the cliff edge by the Nomad camp. After V has been inside Mikoshi (and decided to keep his body), some dialogue between him and Panam will also be different. On the Badlands Dam at the beginning of All Along the Watchtower, Panam starts the conversation on a more personal note, saying that they will start everything anew once they are out of Night City. V can then ask Panam whether she would stay with him if he changed his mind and wanted to stay in the city. She replies that she could not leave her family and that she is glad she does not have to make that choice (hinting at the outcome if V chooses "The Sun" ending; see below). During the subsequent car ride to the temporary Nomad camp, V can remark that he is already bringing along everything he could possibly miss, prompting the following exchange: Panam: "Fuck V, you are a sweet-talker, aren't you." - V: "But it works, doesn't it? Say it, say it works." - Panam: "It works. All too well. You're with me now. We will figure out and take care of that piece of shit in your head." - V: "I know." While riding the Basilisk towards the border wall, Panam will confess to V that she once crossed the border from the other side, hoping for "some bright fucking future". V then points out that this crossing will be different, as she is different now. Panam agrees and adds that she now also has V and "the rest of these clowns [the Aldecaldos]". The final scene with Panam and V sitting on the tank will be identical to the unromanced version. During the end credits, Panam's video message will show her somewhere in the desert, telling V that she will not make it back home that night due to a sandstorm. As this is not the first time that she does not have time although they had "plans" together, she admits she never thought being chief would be that hard. She closes by saying "I'm so lucky to have you V. You can't even begin to imagine how much it means to me [...] I'll make it up to you, I promise".


 * Opting for "The Sun" ending (choosing (Don't Fear) The Reaper or asking Rogue for help, which requires completing Blistering Love), will result in V waking up in bed in the penthouse at the beginning of Path of Glory, a few months after Nocturne Op55N1. In the shower, he will find Panam, who did not want to wake him. Panam is upset, knowing that V's time is running out, and confesses that she does not understand why V is not leaving the city after all that happened. She adds that her and the Aldecaldos are leaving tomorrow and just wants to run away with him, so that V can at least spend his last months among friends. V responds that he has to stay, to finish one last job - probably the most important one of his life - to show that, after all Night City took from him, it was for a reason. Panam thinks she understands, and with the Nomad lifepath, V can remark that there are no goodbyes, but simply roads that fork and re-converge. Moreover, V points out that Panam still owes him that story about the guy from Kaukaz, who rode in her trunk... V can then choose to hug her goodbye with the words "'til next time" to which Panam responds: "I will remember, V, always..." During the end credits, a video message from Panam plays, in which she reports that her and the Aldecaldos keep busy and all that she wishes for is a good night's sleep but that you cannot have it all... she then looks at the camera adding "you know what I mean." She moves on offering to take V for a "nice, looooong ride" if he should ever get bored of the city...


 * Opting for "The Devil" ending (accepting Hanako Arasaka's offer to have the relic surgically removed), V can call Panam from the Arasaka Orbital Station during Where is My Mind?. Viktor Vektor told Panam what happened and she is furious that V did not ask her for help instead. She demands V to come home immediately before Arasaka hurts him. Her video message played during the end credits is identical to the one for "The Sun" ending (see above). This seems to imply that, even if V rejects Arasaka's offer and opts to return to Earth instead, he does not or cannot rejoin Panam immediately.


 * Opting for the "Temperance" ending, i.e., reaching Mikoshi alone ((Don't Fear) The Reaper) or with the help of either Rogue or the Aldecaldos but then joining cyberspace with Alt and giving your body to Johnny Silverhand will prevent any further interaction with Panam during the epilogue. In her video message during the end credits, a furious Panam then threatens Johnny, vowing to find him and ripping V out of his head.

Main Quests

 * Ghost Town
 * Lightning Breaks
 * Life During Wartime
 * Nocturne Op55N1 (dependent)
 * We Gotta Live Together
 * Forward to Death
 * Belly of the Beast
 * All Along the Watchtower
 * Path of Glory (dependent)
 * Where is My Mind? (dependent)

Side Quests

 * Riders on the Storm
 * With a Little Help from My Friends
 * Queen of the Highway