In Cyberpunk 2077, the side quest called “There is a Light that Never Goes Out” takes you on a journey with a criminal named Joshua on his last day before his execution. At the end of the quest, you are faced with a difficult moral decision.
Cyberpunk 2077’s “There is a Light That Never Goes Out” quest explained
Before deciding whether or not to accept Rachel’s bribe in Cyberpunk 2077’s “There is a Light That Never Goes Out” quest, it’s important to understand the backstory. The quest begins with you being hired by a man named Bill Jablonsky to help him avenge his wife’s murder. While explaining his situation, a cop car with the murderer drives by, and you get involved in a pursuit.
At a certain point, the cop car stops and you have the choice to kill everyone inside, including the criminal Joshua. If you don’t do this, the police will shoot and kill Bill. Joshua, who has reformed and become a Christian, then offers you a job. Your companion Johnny encourages you to accept the offer.
Joshua offers to pay you the same amount of money that Bill would have paid to stay with him on his final day. Another person named Rachel is also in the car and questions where the money is coming from. Joshua responds that it is from the “studio,” which remains mysterious. The car stops at a house, marking the end of the Sinnerman quest and the beginning of the “There is a Light That Never Goes Out” quest.
Joshua takes you to the house of a woman named Zuleika, the sister of a man he killed years ago. Zuleika wrote to Joshua while he was in prison and got him interested in Christianity. Joshua reveals that he wants to be crucified and have his execution filmed through braindance, hoping to teach Night City about emotions, love, and agony. Zuleika disagrees with this idea, and Joshua tries to convince you to support him.
Suddenly, Zuleika’s mother, Gloria, arrives home and recognizes Joshua. She angrily kicks him out of the house. Distressed, Joshua turns to you for advice, while Rachel reveals that she represents the Braindance experts who want footage of the execution.
If you have been trying to discourage Joshua from going through with his plan, Rachel will stop you outside of the PieZ restaurant and make her offer.
What is Rachel’s offer in Cyberpunk 2077?
Rachel explains her motives to you: she believes Joshua’s religion is a delusion and that he is only pretending for the sake of profit. She offers to pay you double the amount Joshua is paying to leave him alone on his final day.
Johnny Silverhand, your companion, appears and advises you not to accept Rachel’s offer.
Ultimately, you cannot change Joshua’s mind about going through with his plan. Rachel is asking you to abandon Joshua on his last day in exchange for money, which raises ethical concerns.
Should you accept or decline Rachel’s offer?
Accept
If you accept the money, the quest ends and you get a good amount of payment for walking away.
While there are no long-term consequences, it may not align with your moral values to allow corporate exploitation. However, if you lack sympathy for Joshua, you can take the money and leave.
Decline
If you decline, the quest continues and you can learn more about the situation. You join Rachel and Joshua inside PieZ, where Joshua eats his last meal. You can engage in conversations with both of them, and the discussion becomes spiritual. If you stand up to Rachel, Joshua will appreciate your support.
Afterward, you accompany Joshua to the Braindance Studio, where he will be executed. Joshua asks you to pray with him and be with him during his crucifixion.
This ending is somber and thought-provoking, similar to works like “Dead Man Walking” and “A Clockwork Orange.” If this appeals to you, you can choose to decline Rachel’s offer.
Personally, I declined Rachel’s offer in order to explore the quest’s full potential and see where the journey led. I found it rewarding to delve deeper into the moral complexities, and I encourage you to do the same.
Cyberpunk 2077, quest, There is a Light That Never Goes Out, moral choice, acceptance, decline, Rachel, Joshua, execution, braindance, Christianity