I spent last night, and a number of hours already this morning planning the direction of this story... the Judy and Natalie broken romance arc threw everything in the air 🫣

Im still yet to create, but I know where this is going, and fair warning, even in the concept stage, I'm in tears 😭

For all those following the Natalie storyline, thank you, and sorry 😥

With eddies coming in from her merc work, Natalie moves into a new apartment. That night, both Natalie and Judy are unable to sleep, as their respective partners sleep soundly.

It seems one last thread of Natalies past is pulling at her, one she shares with Judy.

I know its not a story, but its definitely story related 💀

So, I dont really use my "Natalie" save to just play... but the classic "IRWTSAYH" mission came up... and now I am severely conflicted!

Especially with that pic in the background 🫣😭

No violence, no schemes, no dramatic twists, just two couples, having a catchup 🥰

Natalie starts working with Rogue, gigs that require a niche touch.

Judy calls, wanting to know what happened between Natalie and her father, and as she heads home, Natalie finds someone waiting.

So, I woke up this morning, happy I didn't have work, lazily opened Reddit, only to have my mind blown, and a massive, ridiculous grin on my face 🫣

u/CuriousSherbet4658 - an artist with incredible talent for stories, and stunning imagery, had commented on my post, and given us a glimpse of something that I had secretly dreamed of, ever since I created Natalie!

And its absolutely necessary it be seen by more!

Crow was a defining inspiration behind Natalie 🙌 So to see them together, is absolutely amazing! So thank you 🥹

Full credit for the images >>> u/CuriousSherbet4658

Could you imagine, the shift in Night City power, if these two, and a handful of other Original Characters got together... 👀

It has been one week since Natalie tracked down Nathan.

Returning back to the city she calls home with her past cut away, she uses her skills, going back to merc work. Her years as an NUS operative giving her an edge, brutal efficiency, a clear goal, and the unnerving ability to go unseen, even in the most crowded of streets.

Night City may be unforgiving, but maybe that is where she thrives...

Just going to drop this here... as I take a few days off 😉

Stepping back from the edge, Natalie calls Judy, sometimes, all you need is company.

The Wraiths have turned on Nathan, due to his need for peace as he pursues his daughter.

Judy struggles to accept Vs actions, knowing the impact it would have on her childhood friend, while Panam understands, but urges V to keep her distance.

And Natalie, stuck in her own mind, makes a decision...

CRISIS =

Nathan survives, Panam already questioned why V fired, Judy is disappointed, angry, and Natalie is missing once more. Emotions and relationships are strained, and Natalies mind may be at the brink, can she cope with all she has done, all she has been through?

NATALIE LORE UPDATE =

2052 >

Date of Birth - October 27th. Home birth, Laguna Bend.

Father - Nathan (MIA from family life)

Mother - Samantha/Sammie (Deceased - Killed by Natalie)

Sister - Sarah (Deceased - Age 12 - NUS Conditioning Program)

× In her formative years, Natalie grew up with Judy Alvarez, playing in the streets of Laguna Bend, with Jenni Chapman and other local children.

2057 >

× Father abandons family (Natalie aged 5, Sarah aged 4). His association with 6th Street bringing danger to himself and his family. Soon after, he splits from the gang completely, fleeing into the Badlands after a botched robbery left his team dead, and the blame on him.

× Samantha continues to raise Natalie and Sarah with local support, and lived a relatively peaceful life in Laguna Bend.

2062 > Laguna Bend flooded.

× Victims of corporate schemes and corrupt law enforcement, Samantha had no choice but to flee Laguna Bend with Natalie and Sarah, as heavy handed NCPD officers descended onto the town.

× With their home considered a corporate construction site, soon to be flooded, Samantha struggled to find stability, working small jobs, and bouncing from one hostel to another, before renting a room at the Sunshine Motel in the Eastern Badlands.

2063 > Natalie taken, along with sister and mother.

× While staying at the Sunshine Motel, MiliTech, under contract from the NUS, descend onto the site, rounding up everyone who was staying there. Samantha, along with her two daughters, were forcibly taken by MiliTech convoy to the NUS border, where they were handed over to an unknown NUS Government sanctioned group.

× Natalie and Sarah were separated from their mother, and forced into the N.A.T training program (Project NAT), to become weapons of the NUSA, whilst Samantha remained confined at a seperate location.

× Natalie and Sarah were both subjected to invasive, physical and mental conditioning, tortures and mental experimentation, to wipe them of all traces of "self", creating blank, cooperative, and willing recruits, unwilling and unable to defy orders.

2065 >

× After two years, Sarah could not withstand the training/conditioning/tortures, and died whilst wired into the mental conditioning equipment.

× At only 13 years old, Natalie became a perfect recruit, outshining many others, her mind completely at the will of the NUS. Her continued success in the program gained attention from Rosalind Myers, the newly elected NUS President, who ordered Natalie to be fitted with a secretive, NUS/MiliTech cyberdeck, granting her access to the Blackwall.

2067 >

× Four years of intensive training, tortures and conditioning, Natalie successfully completes the N.A.T program, with the final test forcing her to kill her own mother, proving the effectiveness of the Mental Conditioning experiments.

× Natalie, at 15 years old, is deemed as a deployable asset, and is sent on classified missions within the NUSA, and across the globe, her roles included surveillance, sabotage and assassinations.

2077 > Natalie is deployed to Night City/Dogtown.

× Having been betrayed by FIA agents Song So Mi (Songbird) Solomon Reed and Alena Xenakis (Alex), along with a local mercenary, known only as V, Myers orders Natalie personally to Night City, to retrieve Songbird, and kill Alex, Reed and V.

× Natalie successfully kills Alex, moments before Reed can help her. But during a random confrontation with Barghest (Dogtown Militia), Natalies mental conditioning begins to fail.

× Continuing her mission, Natalie confronts Reed, who exploits the weakness in the NUS Conditioning, accepting his own death, while simultaneously freeing Natalie from NUS control, with remote help from Songbird.

​

Panam meets Nathan, making sure she's covered, but the topic of conversation isn't what was expected...

An unexpected message, a plea to speak, the very person who orchestrated Panam being captured, reaches out to talk, but why?

Going forward without Aldecado help, maybe V and Natalie can help...

I've only gone and put a massive burden on my own shoulders 😅

I know this image is rough, unclean even, I know the trick is with lighting and shadows, but it makes me appreciate artists in this sub who can make the work they do across multiple saves look seamless and perfect!

Those who know, know 👀😅

I'll also take this moment to ask for any genuine criticism, so I can further improve my efforts 😁 But also, people's favourite parts with the Natalie Saga (Scene, feel, intensity), so I can keep a touch of what people enjoy too 🙌

All feedback, good or bad, will be received kindly, I promise 🥹

So I am introducing an ongoing mini series to the 'Natalie-verse' 🫣

As i continue to create and plan the evolving 'main' storyline, these posts will sit either in-between series, or within the main storyline itself, and adds a more relaxed, genuine, sometimes amusing aspect to what has been a very serious storyline so far 😅