Clapping his hands together and rubbing them nervously, David moved forwards to the entrance of the kitchen and leaned in. Mama Welles was sitting at the table, flicking through the news on a tablet and drinking from her cup of coffee. She had welcomed him into her home after his mom died, made food, and looked after him. What he was about to do felt like a bit of a betrayal. He could feel sweat running down his back as he tried to work up the urge to talk. Working his tongue through his mouth as he tried to form words, he finally just started speaking and hoped what he said made sense.
"Hey uh, abuela? Last couple jobs, I came into a lot of money. So I've been thinking about something." The simple metal and ceramic fixtures of the kitchen lent a subdued air to the words as he realized he wouldn't be seeing them every morning anymore.
She took a sip and looked up. "Mmm, you're moving into your own apartment, yes? Do you need some help moving your things?" His prepared speech had been immediately derailed, and as he tried to reorder his thoughts, she snorted and rolled her eyes. "Nieto, you are a grown man now. You have steady work, nasty though it can be. It was good to have you here, but I had no expectation you'd be living here for long. Jackie probably would have gotten his own place before now, but he was saving up. Just come by for dinner at least once a week and make sure you call me if your crew ends up on the news so I don't worry."
"Oh. Well. Good?" He sat down at the table, then frowned slightly as he stared at the ceiling. Flat metal, just like everywhere else. Somehow he had been hoping there would be something to justify his glance. "How do you do that? I had a whole conversation ready and then you had it without me?"
Mama Welles shrugged. "You and Jackie, you are not so complicated as you think you are. Ambitious, clever, but predictable. I'll save your room if something happens, but you need your space. Besides, I assume you want to have that chica over without worrying about how soundproof the walls are."
"We— It's not like that!" Lowering her coffee, she fixed him with a raised eyebrow. "It's not! I don't even know if she'd want to—" He cut himself off, both because he wasn't sure how to phrase it, and because her gaze had transitioned to actual incredulity and a bit of scorn.
"David, you are a wonderful young man with a big heart, but none of that bullshit. We both know that Rebecca wants to bend you over backwards and ride you like the NCART. She also seems to genuinely care about you, so it seems you lucked out, ay?" David had responded to this by wrapping both hands over the back of his head and taking an intimate look at the kitchen table. Scowling, his abuela reached over and grabbed his hair, yanking him up. "Idiota, look at me. Stop blushing like that."
"Ow! That hurts!"
"Good!" She swatted him across the back of the head. "Every other street in this city has holowhores flaunting themselves in the window, and I know you sold BDs in your class. Stop acting like you never seen a titty or something. Just take it slow, you don't wanna lose a friend or start a brawl if you break up." Resting his chin in his hand, David glanced off to one side. She had a point, it was just that something about this felt different. He was used to seeing joytoys beckoning or ads that had someone with nothing on. They felt predatory, serpentine. A grasping hand wrapping itself around your chest and a voice whispering in your ear.
With Becca, she was more like a choom who also occasionally made jokes about wanting you to have your pants off. "...You think we will?" It wasn't a crazy idea. Corpos got married and stayed together because it looked bad if they didn't. He had seen too many broken families to be entirely comfortable with the idea that lo—that relationships were forever. He liked Rebecca, but there was no way he was ready to follow that potential train of thought. That just brought to mind red hair against pavement and the crackle of flames.
"Maybe. Maybe not. Could be you're not as alike, or you want different things. Could be one of you is secretly a real piece of shit. No way to know for sure. Still...I think that she does care, mijo. Long as you don't hurt her? Even if you don't work out, that's a loyal girl." She was still smiling, but it had grown hard and flinty as her voice dripped with venom. "If you abuse that, I'll take a pair of Jackie's pliers to your chinga myself."
"YES! YES MA'AM!" he yelped, sitting up straight as the mental image of his grandma marching towards him with a rusty metal tool sent every nerve in his body shivering. "Well, I'm going to go out, be back later!" Bouncing to his feet, he jogged over to the door and then out into the street.
Wandering down the streets of Heywood, he had to marvel at the incredible discrepancy between each turn. The Glens closer to corporate Plaza were just up the street, towering buildings gleaming with wealth and power. Down here in the southern part, Valentinos and Sixth Street ruled. As he walked, he considered what his uncle had told him when they had sat, drinking and staring at that cyberware a week prior. Let it settle in, see how you take it, and if you're not handling it well, we'll pop it back out.
His mind swirled as he walked towards the water. He passed unconscious junkies, distracted gangers, and even people just aimlessly wandering with no clear purpose, but his mind couldn't really focus on any of them. The question still hadn't really settled for him.
Did he want to try getting by without it? Was it worth risking what happened to Maine? He had a pretty strong aug chipped, and it had been working for him so far. Ain't no way he was gonna get by with only that, though. Using the Sandy too much left him aching and sore, his muscles unable to keep up without tearing. That Scav with the speedware had been a warning, and he was going to have to prepare for someone else to have shit like that. Worse, they might have a Sandevistan like his.
Lower-grade Sandevistans were out and about, but from what Vik had said, they didn't speed people up near as much as his did. Even so, expecting to outpace someone and getting a shotgun to the gut…if he wasn't prepared, that would be a mistake he would only make once.
Dammit, why was he hesitating? What was the worst that could happen from one implant? If it started going south, he'd just dial it back. Right?
Maybe that was what Maine had thought, at the beginning of his career. The big man could have given himself the same justifications right up until the point he stopped thinking, stopped being Maine. Stopped being human. Would the others have to run away from him too?
Suddenly, his heel landed on something slick and flew upwards sharply, sending him toppling backwards. In a panic, his mind immediately flew to the Sandevistan, but before he could activate it, he stopped. Very sharply. A hand was grasping his belt, stopping his fall and leaving him balanced on one foot. From his left, low to the ground, a deep voice rumbled in amusement. "They say sammā-sati, mindfulness, is one of the steps on the noble path towards an escape from suffering. I find awareness, both of oneself and one's surroundings, is helpful in many other less lofty ambitions as well, my friend!" With a sharp yank, he was pulled back to his feet.
The man who had stopped his pratfall was big. Bulging with muscles, he stood almost seven feet tall. However, the first thing he was greeted by was a pair of extremely muscular calves at face-level. One hand was supporting his bulk, and the other was extended and holding David up. The man appeared to be doing handstand pushups on a small blanket just off the side of the street, in a little corner between two walls. He was muscular and bulky in a way he had rarely seen before outside of certain Animals or someone like Maine. The arm he had extended showed no trace of chrome, nor any on his face, legs, or any other exposed skin. The telltale signs of a Night City buddhist monk.
David had seen some of them around the city at times. Bead necklace, orange robes, bald head. This guy was wearing a sort of sleeveless, high-necked shirt and a loose orange robe bottom, possibly because any sleeves he had were torn off when he flexed. Still, he had the bald head, bead necklace, and general air of poverty, down to the bowl in front of him, with a small pile of eddies and some wrapped food placed in it.
Dropping out of his pose, the man got up and offered David his hand. It was like being caught in a vice, his skin warm and rough as it completely covered David's own. "Apologies, you looked like you were about to take a nasty fall there. You may call me Antaka. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Oh, uh… David. My name's David. What was that about mindfulness?"
"Ah, it is one of the tenants of the Noble Eightfold Path. Do you know much about Buddhism?"
"Not really? I uh… guess it never really drew my attention. I mostly just see monks like yourself around town talking about how cyberware kills your soul or something."
"A simplistic summary, but not inaccurate!" he said cheerfully, voice loud and deep enough to resonate in David's chest. "I will spare you the preaching, then. What is troubling you?"
"Well, I uh… kinda suspect I know what you'd say. It's about whether or not I should install a piece of cyberware—" he began to say, before the monk placed his hands on his hips and firmly shook his head.
"Don't."
"Yeah, big shock there." David sighed, ruffling his hair. "I know, there's problems, but I don't really believe what you believe. I don't think cyberware is evil."
"I know. That isn't why I'm telling you not to."
"Huh?"
Antaka sat down, and patted the ground next to him. "Sit. Let me explain." Once David had cautiously sat down, he reached out and tapped David on his chest. "I say don't do it not because it is a corruption of the soul, but because of karma. It is action, driven by intent. Action without intent is a mistake. Intent without action is a thought. Together, they produce things which bring back to us results, good or bad."
"Okay, I'm following you. If someone thinks about punching someone else, but doesn't do it, it's not the same." he mused, tapping his chin for a second. "So, wait, what does this have to do with the cyberware?"
"I disdain cyberware. It is a burden upon the soul, and leads to harm of oneself and others, but in your case, I speak of the same root problem that cyberware brings. Distraction, uncertainty, and chaos. You are troubled by this question, and it is bringing you no peace considering it. Tell me, were you troubled like this before you had this thing in your life? It seems this item has simply tied you down."
That was…a worryingly reasonable argument. He had been obsessing over this cyberware for ages, and now he was worrying over whether having it might lead to more problems. If he just sold it, he wouldn't have to worry. "I mean…it'd be really useful."
"Is its use something you really require? A watch is useful, but many places tell the time. A car is useful, but it is not required. In the case of cyberware, you may just as easily carry a sword or strengthen your body, but many prefer to take the path that seems easier." Antaka reached down and unwrapped the burrito someone had left in his bowl, and began to eat calmly.
"I'm training my body too. I'm not being lazy," David snapped back defensively. "Besides, I'm an edgerunner. I gotta defend myself sometimes. Not like the murdering assholes I get sent after are gonna let me walk away without a fight!" Just 'cause this guy was happy to sit on the side of the road doing pushups and eating handouts didn't mean that was his life.
"Peace, David. It's not an insult. This is what you have been forced into by the world we reside in. You are buffeted, as are we all, by the tides of others' actions. We can only do what we feel is right. In my case, I am spending my day attempting to offer aid to a troubled young man. Give what you can, if only a little." Taking another bite, Antaka tilted his head. "Although in some cases, I do wish people would stop giving me burritos. They get tiresome after a while."
Laughing a little, David let his head fall back and rest against the wall. "You got a point, choom. My life got turned upside down a few months back, and it's been wild ever since." Staring out at the passerby, he sighed. "My mind's all a jumble, I guess. It's hard to decide what to do."
Mouth full, Antaka chewed for a few moments, then swallowed. "I am a monk, yes? You speak of troubled thoughts, of difficulty finding peace. Is this another scenario where you know what I will say, but feel compelled to ask anyway?"
"Oh. Gonna suggest meditation?" David said cheekily, and the big monk just nodded back with a smile. "I mean, I've tried sitting there and not thinking of anything, didn't get too far."
"That does not surprise me. I remember a brother who attempted a spinning kick after only a few weeks of training in martial arts. He did not fare well either." Finishing the burrito, Antaka tilted his head slightly. "You are new to a difficult practice. Centering oneself is a journey that can be very long for many. Here. Close your eyes. Listen to me, and breathe as I do."
This seemed a bit shady, but he did have his back to the wall, and it was kind of hard to imagine this monk waiting until his eyes were closed to try mugging him. Slowly closing his eyes, he waited. Antaka began breathing deeply, and he tried to follow along. It wasn't long before he realized there was a rhythm to it. Like music, it followed a cycle of ups and downs, in and out. After a few cycles in sync, Antaka began speaking softly.
"I think you will appreciate this one." His voice took on a soothing and musical cadence. "Oh spirits of the city, guide me to find peace in this place of violence and conflict. Let me be pure in my intentions, and seek always to consider each drop of blood I must spill. I shall act with intent, and accept that which results."
Time seemed to stretch on as the sounds of the city became a drone beneath the soft bass of Antaka's voice. He spoke of conflict and peace, of concepts that went a bit over David's head as well. Probably some Buddhist stuff, things about Naraka and the cycle of life. Ending suffering. It was weird, but it was helping. He felt his mind clearing, and it was like dropping a car you had been towing.
When it finally ended, he opened his eyes and stretched. HUD said he had been there for almost an hour. Sure didn't feel like it, he mused to himself. "Wow. I do feel better. I gotta be honest though, I might still chip that chrome I was talking about."
"If you do, then I hope it brings you peace. In the end, one chain is only that. Only you may know how many you must break when it comes time to move on." Standing up as well, Antaka rolled up his blanket, gathering up his bowl and other accouterments. "I must be off. Hopefully we see each other again, David. I enjoyed talking to you. I feel you have a good heart, something rare in this city." With that, he strolled off down the street, humming to himself.
Watching the monk go, David shook his head. He had been a weird guy, but it did seem like his advice had helped. Turning, he started walking back towards the Coyote Cojo. The day was bright, and as he moved forwards, he could see the Glen in the distance. As he got closer to the bar, something occurred to him. He had a lot of eddies now, between the payout from Faraday and the chunk of change he had picked up off the last job. Not enough for anything crazy, but definitely enough to spring for some place nice. Worst came to worst, he could always move back home.
It stopped him nearly in his tracks when he realized that he had come to regard the Welles house as home. Shaking it off, he kept moving forwards, eyeing the buildings as he got closer to the north side of Heywood. Finally, just on the edge of the Glen, he spotted a holo-tag advertising an apartment for rent.
It was pricey, but some quick math told him he could afford it without too much trouble. Uncle Jackie had been looking for a nice place too, and it seemed like there were a couple apartments available in this little cluster of buildings. Dialing, he waited till his tio picked up. "Hey, I'm looking at an apartment listing not too far from the Coyote Cojo. It looks preem, but I'm not sure if I might be getting scammed."
"Hmm. Well, I think I know what to do there," his uncle said. "Gotta call in an expert."
With a casual wave, they swung the door to the apartment complex swung open as Jackie and David followed after V. Jackie looked hugely amused, and David was looking around in ill-disguised awe at the clean and decently fancy interior. It wasn't on the level of a city center apartment or somewhere really exclusive, but it was certainly nice. Cracking their neck, V marched towards the desk. They had broken out one of their old suits for this, and their best coldly unimpressed expression.
"We'll take a tour of the vacant apartments please. If they're up to standard, have a contract ready." To their credit, the receptionist only took a moment to get over the shock before nodding.
"Of course. May I ask for a credit check before we go any further?" At this, V simply raised an eyebrow, and folded their arms.
"You could, but I have no desire to waste time here. I have a meeting in an hour, and need this wrapped up. If I couldn't pay, why the hell would I sign a contract?" The receptionist swallowed, and nodded jerkily. Gesturing towards the scissor-gated elevator, which slid open with a clatter, they quickly led the group inside and hit a button.
The doors opened into a well-apportioned apartment with a massive window forming one wall. It had a living room and kitchen as one room, the countertops tucked onto the back wall and a TV set into the wall at a right angle with the window. The bedroom door was set in the back wall, with a side room next to it. It wasn't the penthouse apartment, that was probably outside David's price range. Went for something like forty thousand eddies a month, almost but not quite Corpo Plaza prices. If the kid had tried to rent something like that, V would have slapped him.
You worked your way up to the penthouse, you didn't try to start there. Looking around, they considered the layout. This looked familiar, why did it—ah yes. The Biotechnica mole. It had been one of the last cases they dealt with in Counterintel. Turned out the idiot had been buying drugs from some boostergang and then had tried to skip on payment when an unexpected expense had left him short. Keeping their voice level, V glanced over at the receptionist. "So, you did clean up all the blood and replace the furniture, right? After the last person here got flatlined."
"W—how did you—I am afraid I don't know what you're talking about." Wow. He was a horrible liar, but then again, it was only luck the information had been available.
"Oh you do. Please don't treat me like some badlands sap who won it big at a casino and will be out of here in a month. I want my employees to have security where they live. If people are getting murdered in their beds…" V trailed off, an unimpressed look on their face.
"I can assure you, we've increased security and patched the hole that led to that incident. I am…also authorized to offer a small discount on rent, as a sign of good faith." The man looked physically pained to be saying this, but his armor had been cracked. Smiling widely, V nodded.
"Very good. Well then, let's discuss that discount."
It was two hours later and a significant amount of conversation that had varied from pointed comments to outright bullying, but David now held the key to his new place. Now he just had to move his stuff over. That, and do the first thing one did when they got a preem new ride, set of threads, or pad. Brag.
Hey Becca, check it out. New digs. V helped me get a better price on 'em.
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Whooooooa. Nice place, choom. That in the Glens?
Just outside. Guess the fancy types don't like living too close to the rest of Heywood.
Of fuckin' course. Still, gotta say, I'm jealous. My old cramped shithole in Watson is making me think about moving as well. You moved in yet?
Not yet. Still gotta get my shit out of my old room.
Ah yeah. Need some help?
For a moment, he considered asking if she wanted to move in too. Don't act like a lovesick gonk, David. Nodding firmly, he sent back a message.
Sure thing. I'll order some food to the new place, get my stuff in order. We can use the big TV to watch something.
Hell yeah! It's a date! I'll be over soon.
The actual packing ended up taking fairly little time. He didn't have more than a couple duffle bags of stuff. Even so, the urn of his mom's ashes, his clothes, a few posters and some other personal touches were really livening up the space. After a long day, a good meal and a few drinks, he was feeling pretty tired.
He was sprawled on the couch with Becca, watching another old film. Seemed like she had quite a collection of old movies, not just ones based off of stuff from her favorite author. This one was about a bunch of soldiers in a war against alien bugs. The imaginatively-named Starship Troopers was actually pretty good. He had assumed it was gonna be an action vid, but it felt more like it was making fun of itself, or the subject material.
As the film ended, Becca wriggled slightly, stretching out her back. "Heh. What'd ya think?"
"It was good. You said they made three of these?"
"Yeah, but most old flicks go downhill after the first one. After that it was usually about the money." Leaning back into the crook of his arm, Becca looked around the apartment. "Gotta say though, money buys some nice stuff. New place seems to be doing you some good, too. You seem less stressed."
"Ah, that's actually from the street monk who helped me meditate earlier," he said with a grin, snickering as she jabbed him with her shoulderblade and rolled her eyes.
"Fuck off, that's such a dumb joke."
"No, seriously. Big guy, jacked as hell, he talked to me about some stuff. I decided to wait and see how I do over the next few jobs, then make a decision about the chrome I got. I don't wanna leave the crew having to deal with me if…something happens." He looked down at her, grin fading. "Leave…you."
Her wide crimson eyes stared back at him, a small smile on her face. "I should really make fun of ya' for that cheesy line. Thank you, though." Leaning up, she pressed her lips against the underside of his jaw, and then rested her head against his shoulder. "Though, on the topic… I'm getting kinda lonely in that shithole in Watson. Was planning to move with the new cash I got. You got enough space here for one more?"
The impish grin on her face only widened as he began laughing and choked out, "I was gonna fuckin' ask you that three hours ago. We could have just moved your stuff today too."
"Sounds like you're volunteering to carry the big boxes as an apology then~"
Far away, two men stood close together in an alleyway in Japantown. One was pressed against a wall, cursing and shaking, while the larger of the two held him in place.
"So, you are fully aware of the nature of this implant?" Antaka said cheerily as his fingers dug into the back of the suited man's head. His hand wrapped around the man's entire head, as if Antaka was palming a basketball. This was arguably an improvement over the other people who had been with him moments prior. They had been converted into a bleeding pile of meat and scrapped cybernetics within moments, leaving him alone with his target.
"T-the faults are extremely rare, and the side effects minor! I wasn't the one who decided to ship it, anyway!" The corpo's face was pressed against the concrete alley wall as he gasped, writhing frantically in a futile attempt to escape.
"Ah, I see." Calmly, the monk began to close his fist. The screaming didn't stop until the sharp crunch of bone, trailing off into a wet gurgle. He let go, dropping the man's body with a splatter, leaving it to soak the alley with blood and gray matter alongside the corpses of his bodyguards.
On to the next world, that they might one day return to the realm of men.
