Waking up in a jolt, I try to remember the dream I just had fast enough for the memory not to fade.
My day to day has not changed much, but the last few dreams had interesting scenarios and situations. Even remembering that dream of being in the octagon fighting. It was exciting.
I haven't told Vik that those repeat outside of his care. I have no way of stopping them and there seems to be no negative side effects or I did not find anything specific that is causing them. And waking up means that me becoming brain dead was certainly not right.
The major difference is that lately dreams have been rather short. This time I was a security specialist working for an even less cool version of Microsoft, but this one differed a little from other ones I had the last few days. This time I stared at my screen at work, and the dream felt boring overall.
But it ended as usual, with the dream rapidly dissipating once I regained some sense of self and realised that it was a dream or simply unreal.
My working theory is just my brain trying to entertain itself, since I can't entertain myself any other time or way besides the short time I hang out with people. Any TV show I saw here so far was worse than huffing paint and injecting yourself with heroin at the same time due to them just being big commercials.
It was 8 am and I got 6 hours of sleep. Which was longer than expected. Stupid internal alarms don't work as usual. Useless pieces of trash.
I quickly gather my things and a small bag with a change of clothes and a towel. I had another spar session with Jackie and Vik and I'm already bound to be late, morning traffic tended to be awful.
Grabbing a few protein bars along the way I disarmed the mine and got out. It has really gotten warm and light beams into my eyes, blinding me in a flash.
The exit of my little roof hideout was positioned right against the east, making most mornings feel somewhat nice. But it should not be this bright at this hour.
Squinting my eyes I found out they installed a huge holo ad screen positioned right at the roof of the opposite building. It was not the sun.
"Buy! Best drink ever! 112 times the daily intake of B12! 15 times the flavor!"
The screen was shining holo ad and showed a crowd of people bowing down to a bottled drink, with special effects. All of them.
Note to myself: destroy the ad. I don't want to live next to it.
Going down the ladder I looked on the street for a moment, looking down on the bus stop and I saw that one just left. No need to rush now.
Slowing down my steps I began thinking about the topic I had wondered about for a long time.
Do I need to intervene to save David's Mom? Pretty sure her name was Gloria. At this point most of the conditions laid out in the show are now the same, meaning that the road accident may happen at any moment.
I can't worry about "preserving the story" anymore. It's already fucked up enough with Tech Ortodoxy and them most likely stealing the DR11 secret Militech shit I stole myself. At this point I'm not even sure V will even become a merc. Last time I asked Jackie, V was doing decently well at Arasaka, albeit overworked.
The hard part was figuring out what to do with David. He is a special freak, but he needs grounding and support to not go insane. I can't imagine going out of my way and setting up two teenagers to fuck, that being David and Lucy. Let's just hope that his mother would be enough for him to borg out slowly and not go cyberpsycho for at least a few years.
I would love to have a pet Adam Smasher of my own, and David certainly can be made into him if done properly.
Getting down I finally reached the nearby bus stop. A car would be so nice. Sprocket, do your magic.
…
"Man? Are you okay? Didn't mean to-"
I sit up from the punch that knocked me down flat on the ground.
"Just.. give me a second Jackie"
"Take it easy, Hermano."
Sparring with Jackie was infuriating. Due to the weight difference and the size difference, including reach, most things simply did not work. Jackie was 6'5", and I was only 6'1".
Vik walked over from the side of the ring and offered already opened bottle of water.
"Thanks. You are a lifesaver."
"Don't forget-"
"Yeah yeah, I'll drink just enough to water my mouth."
Vik was really strict about doing the sport the right way, and apparently drinking water in the middle of working out is harmful.
"I got busy myself. What has Jackie has gotten you with this time?"
I was in the middle of drinking and raised my finger signaling to wait.
Jackie spoke up as he leaned on the ropes.
"It was a regular 123 combo. Just bad luck I guess."
I passed the bottle back to Vik.
I exhaled and rubbed my face.
"Yeah. Just distracted. Let's get back to it."
Jackie grinned and rolled his shoulders.
"My man. You ready to get folded again?"
Vik commented "Just remember that I'm next. Don't go overboard."
Jackie walked over in a stance and reloaded his hands smiling. He still did it wrong and always would, but that was the charm.
We got back to sparring.
He cut the distance in a moment and drove a straight punch toward my guard so hard it rattled my forearms. I stepped out to reposition but he shadowed me instantly, shoulder to shoulder, chest to chest.
I want to leg kick him so bad, but we are doing strict boxing and nothing more. Low kick could do so much, he has no guard there…
Then a punch grazed near my temple, despite me weaving as hard as I could.
I then tried to counterattack but Jackie already hopped to the side with another hook.
I felt the air shift a split second before the left uppercut shot up at my jaw. I barely tilted in time. The glove skimmed along my cheekbone.
Another straight came for my ribs. I caught it on my elbow, grunted, and pivoted off his right side.
Ducking down I had a straight shot for his liver. I threw my left hand as fast as I could and it landed beautifully.
Jackie staggered two steps. No sound. No complaints. Only a sharp inhale as he guarded up again.
I pressed forward. Head movement. Slipping between his counter jabs. Trying to herd him into the corner.
His guard stayed high and compact. Every opening he gave lasted less than a blink.
After a few jabs I tried throwing a hook to the jaw, but Jackie stepped forward for a clinch. Knee kicks would be wonderful here. Maybe even a 12 to 6 elbow strike, if it can even reach.
He redirected my weight and sent me stumbling three steps back. He then began throwing his regular jabs. And then… YES… he goes for the 12 combo again.
I dodged the first punch. Slipped the second. Bent low for the third. And threw the nastiest hook I could manage, putting my whole body into it.
Oh shit, this is a friendly spar. I tried stopping the momentum, and it messed my balance. The shot landed on Jackie's jaw, making his head spin, but he got a big head.
Then a hook landed flat on my ear right as I was trying to step away.
…
I lay my ass on the canvas as my ear rings. Looking at the light up above my vision is blurry.
"-Jackie…-you-"
Slowly ringing stopped and I blinked heavily to dissipate the dizziness. Did not work.
I turned my head and saw that Vik squatted near Jackie, as Jackie himself appears to be completely out. God dammit.
Standing back up slowly I rub my ear to find out that it began to bleed. Hopefully only the outside part.
I walked over to Jackie, who has his eyelids half way closed.
"Holy shit man. Is he good?"
Vik checked his pupils with a small medlight.
"Your punch bounced his brain a little."
Jackie himself began to wake up and he straight up forced himself to open his eyes and be conscious. Phew, not a full on concussion then.
"... that was quite a shot, Caelen."
"Fuck man, I'm sorry."
"Don't… its 1:1 for us today, choom."
Viks shook his head.
"Take your time."
I offered a hand to Jackie, who took it and pulled himself upwards, almost taking me down to the canvas.
"I'm up for another few rounds. How about you, man?" Jackie said confidently.
"Maybe at a slower pace."
Vik nodded.
"Good idea, don't be dumb."
We got back at it, and this time it went as usual. We trade some shots and had our fun until Jackie got out of the ring and went for a gig he had, which left me to spar with Vik, who has been demolishing the speedbag this whole time.
I got out to drink some water and wipe off the sweat, as well as the small cut on my ear. Vik in the meantime changed into the proper gloves for the spar.
I returned to the ring and Vik followed.
"Watching more fighting sports, are you?" Vik asked.
"Huh? No."
"Strange, pretty sure you learned a few moves. You didn't reinvent those, did you?"
"I can't invent for shit."
"Nevermind then. Let's go?"
"Go easy on me."
"I will. It's me who will treat you after all."
I used my mobility to get in range quickly and threw a few jabs, which Vik effortlessly blocked and threw a few of his own. Guess we both are tired.
…
Fucking hell.
"Whew. Your footwork is truly something kid."
I leaned on the ropes as Vik was already wheezing from exhaustion. I was no better.
"Vik… what the fuck was that combo? I counted 18 punches in a row. I couldn't do anything."
"In my hayday…"
"Fuck your hayday."
"Hey."
"I'm just saying. I'm afraid that young Viktor Vektor might become my nightmare."
He straightened up and left the ring, sliding under the ropes.
"You are right about that. You would not be able to even touch me then."
I followed him, preparing to leave. It's been a good two hours since I arrived.
"To be fair if this was by any different ruleset but boxing I would have a better shot."
"Well, you already have one over me with the skin weave. And then beat the old man with legs or take me down on the ground?"
I grabbed a towel and headed for the shower.
"Seems more practical."
"Boxing is about control and tactics, not a way to tear the opponent down."
"Then why do you watch these walking bioware ads fight? Isn't this just going down to the arms race of companies behind them?"
"Better than nothing, Caelen. Better than nothing." he said solemnly.
…
Getting out of the basement gym I headed for the nearest convenience store as Vik headed straight back to his clinic.
I text Sasha.
"Good morning. I'm in the store. Do you want anything specific?"
There was no answer for 7 minutes as I wandered the store aimlessly, looking at different snacks. I usually go for only those I have tried or Sasha said are good.
"Idk, whatever. When will you arrive?"
I drag my hand across my face in frustration.
"I will buy you cat food if you don't say what you want. Bet you will like that, pseudo-exotic."
"HEY! I just think the look is neat!"
"The hospital you are at does offer cosmetic implants for exotics. Maybe it's fate? Get yourself a pair of cat ears and hear this: TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT."
"Rude. Ok, I have a plan. Answer the call."
I answered the call that appeared at that moment and it prompted me to share what my optic sees. Fuck it.
A voice rang in my ear.
"Hi. I will now pilot you to good snacks."
"Like Remy?"
"Who?"
"Nevermind. Just tell me the names."
I stared at the shelves full of snacks and my feed in a window was somewhat janky, that's what I get for only getting a single eye cybernetic.
"Uuuuuuuughhh."
"I'm walking to the cat food."
I turned slightly and heard a frustrated growl. That's new.
"Stop. Okay, okay. Take the Explosive Delights, then those jellybeans."
I took them and looked over at the expiration date and the nutritional values.
"What are you looking for?"
"Just checking if it's any good."
"It's not supposed to be good, they are snacks."
I turned back and placed the packages into my left hand.
"What else?"
"Maybe like three packages of Booby Ooozy Crunch? Those were good, they changed the formula I think."
"Two will do." I said and grabbed two. What a glutton.
"The third one was for you!"
"Yeah okay." I said and grabbed another one.
"Let's go for drinks."
I looked around and located a fridge full of drinks. Mostly alcoholic.
"You up for a beer or two? Don't want you to get wasted like last time." Sasha asked.
"You are on medication. And I'm never drinking again."
"Everybody that says that drinks again."
"Ha. Got me there."
"Okay no beer, maybe something fizzy?"
"Sure, fruity stuff?"
"Yeah, just grab the cherry one."
I got my hand to the cherry drink right at my eyeline.
"Not that one. That one."
I shifted my hand downwards.
"Not that! That! Over there, by the other-"
"I CANT FUCKING SEE WHAT YOU ARE POINTING AT!" I yelled.
Immediately other customers nearby looked at me for a second, and I had to gesture that I'm on a call. Did not make me look any less insane.
"Oops."
I turned back and grabbed the last kind of the cherry drink they had.
"You got it!"
"Awesome."
"Will you get something for yourself?"
I stepped back and grabbed a bottle of Real Water, which was way more expensive than any flavored drink. It contained at least 99% actual water.
"You are a professional ragebaiter."
"I like you too."
"You like me for free food, nothing more. Anything else?"
Sasha laughed in my ear and I waited for her to finish and answer me.
"No, I'm good. Thanks."
I ended the call. She is really really bored.
…
"I get this part. What's the issue with this method? How does it even break?"
Sasha chewed the gummies and began explaining.
"The yarxd library it uses is buggy as all hell. Many netrunners get zeroed when using it, and have tons of memory leaks as well. There was a rumor that it was made by an actual child."
"The library? I used it for one substructure though?"
"Yeah, just having it loaded is a risk. How did you get it anyway?"
"I bought it."
"Where? Yoko's place?"
"Yes."
"Oh damn. She is really letting that trash sell without me as an admin."
"Any ideas for how to sidestep the issue? I was thinking of calling a value of the connectors to pinpoint and sort the priority values for the defence."
"Hmmm. Sounds good. How did you come with it?"
"I think… I did it that way on my job. Don't exactly remember."
"What job?" Sasha popped up interested.
Fuck.
"I meant to say I tried that before and just decided it's too basic."
Did I do that on my job? Where else?
"I heard there was a method out there to spoof the connector values. Something using the… hardware something… how do you call it?"
"Hardware data manipulation?"
"Yeah, that. You've been studying a lot? Good for you Caelen." Sashsa said and tapped on my chest, barely reaching.
"Oh yeah, about that. What are you usually doing here?"
"Tv, sleep…. Oh, forgot to tell, I have physical therapy scheduled for today, they found that I could move my legs now a little, so that's a thing now. Look."
Sasha pointed to the blanket over her and her feet dangled pretty fast.
"Still a week until motor functions of lower extremities are restored?"
"... Yeah, I could probably walk in a week. Why do you say it like that?"
"It's a proper medical term."
"I heard enough of those to last a lifetime."
"Sure. Anything you want to do after getting discharged specifically?"
Sasha became thoughtful for a moment.
"Well, there are some personal matters. Then meet up with the gang, maybe meet Kiwi. Hang out a little."
"Hold on, so you are considering working with them again? I thought you said they can't trust you?"
"I gave it some thought and I think we can at least talk about it."
"Gotcha. Then?"
"Figure out a few gigs, get some money. I have rent to pay."
"I meant something more long term. Anything?"
"Sounds stupid but I want to buy myself a cat."
"Why buy?"
"Cats gone extinct in Night City, genius."
"No, they are not. I saw one today."
"Stop joking, it's common knowledge."
"Not even fucking with you here, there is one place on Jig Jig street-"
"What were you even doing there?"
"Fucking joytoys and slinging dope. What is it to you?"
"Caelen, I meant cat, not pussy as in vagina."
"Do you want to see cats or not?"
"That would be great."
"It's a bald type of cat though, Egyptian something."
"Sphinx?"
"Yes. Still cool?"
"Fucking nova."
We spoke, mostly about technical stuff with small tangents for hours as Sasha's pissbag slowly turned red from the coloring in the drink I brought.
"This was-" Sasha paused to yawn, which took her a few seconds "very fun."
"Well, I think I can make a prototype ready based on the things we discussed by tomorrow. I think it's close. What do you think I can sell the new lightweight ICE like that for?"
Sasha laid back and stretched her neck, keeping her eyes closed.
"At least 5k. How many hours have you sunk into it?"
"Shit. Must be around 90 by now, not including the time I spent thinking about it."
Sasha raised her eyebrows in thought, with still closed eyes. She began to move her spine on the back of the hospital bed in a weird way.
"You got it done fast. But we can calculate it like that, an hour of your work costs lets say 40 eddies an hour. So it already comes to 3600 just hours alone. Additional expenses?"
"Tons. I think I'll send Yoko the finished product to judge, she takes a cut after all."
"Yep. My girl has every reason to pump that price up. But it still has to be sold in limited quantities to drive the price up even more. Maybe even go physical shards only."
"That's actually a nice idea. Appreciate it."
"Can you help a little. There is a deep itch I have on my back. I can't exactly move to reach it."
Sasha accessed the bed side console and began turning and folding the bed that way she lays on her side.
"Where?"
"Lower back, near the scar."
"You could totally reach that yourself."
"But the doctor said-"
"Okay okay."
I stood up to help her, but saw briefly in a reflection of the vitals monitor that her eyes flashed red. It's a prank. She is doing something.
I immediately check my system for anything and cut off all connections. Last thing I saw is an unknown process trying to reboot my optics but I just closed the left cybernetic eye and let it glitch out as the process was too deep already.
As it executed Sasha still lied in position for me to scratch her bare back, surely expecting me to stumble or something.
"Oh, yeah. That's the spot, thanks." she said calmly as I worked with only one eye.
I knew that shit would pay off. Two eyes are for losers.
Sasha pressed the other button on the console and the bed returned to standard position.
"Won't work. Why did you even make your eyes flash when you tried anything sneaky? Stupidest shit ever."
"Well-"
"What did you expect?"
As I said that my interface lit up as it booted up a… "Over_there_indicator.exe"
"Whats this?"
It showed me arrows, circles and other 3d shapes pinpointing to Sasha's back.
"I thought you would not get it on the first try. I made it after you struggled to find the drink today."
"How do I delete this malware right now?"
"You do not. It is helpful."
"It is a virus."
"It is a feature."
"Oh my fucking god."
…
Getting out I felt myself near death as boxing drained me physically and Sasha mentally. On today's agenda was actually locating Gloria Martinez, which is easy, because I remember a few key points.
She works in the EMS, and lives in a megabuilding H4 right here nearby in Arroyo. And I have the NCPD citizen database downloaded by the courtesy of Vik.
After locating my current plan is to use minimal interference to secure her survival, which might mean forcing her to use public transport and not her car. Destroying a car is very similar to fixing, just in reverse, so it will be easy.
The bad news is that I will probably have to hack megabuilding and its internal NET structures to extract all the information. Which might take a while because of how crowded it can get and if it's the right building at all. Hacking EMS or NCPD is an unacceptable risk for now.
Luckily, there is a clothes shop nearby. Time to get a proper disguise.