Gloria is happy. Like, genuine joy.

She could barely remember a time when she was happy with her life: from being abandoned by her puta of a husband and taking care of David by herself through her EMT work and snatching high-priced cyberware from corpses that either experienced a Cyberpsycho or people involved on an accident. In either case, she was tired, and the only thing stopping her from a manic episode was David.

Her diamante was the only thing giving her life in this city of sins. And while she knew that David seemed unresponsive to her lately - her fears of David angering the son of a Corpo kid giving her shakes every time she thought of it - it doesn't mean that her boy wasn't that closeminded.

In any case, her job as an EMT continued, and while she longed for a rest, even though that seemed unlikely, Gloria pushed on.

Until one day, she went to Watson.

And by Santa Muerte, it seemed she's been personally blessed by her hands. For what she witnessed that day was something short of a miracle.


It was supposed to be a quiet day for her: responding to the numerous calls that she'll have to respond to and providing care while stealing high-end cyberware from deceased people.

And while she knew that Maine was waiting for a new set of chrome to bulk up his already impressive build, Gloria wasn't a miracle worker. Heck, she was almost caught stealing the chromes underneath her jacket numerous times, and it was either through circumstance, ignorance, or luck that she was able to supply Maine and his crew with chrome.

Shaking her head, Gloria focused on her task: responding to an incident in Watson. According to the reports her overseer had given her, an influx of gang violence arose within the district, with numerous corpses littering the streets. And with Trauma Team not doing shit except for those who paid for their ridiculous prices, she and the rest of her workmates had to respond.

Withholding a sigh, she mentally prepared herself as she drove to the scene. And by Santa Muerte, the place she'd arrived was horrific. Bodies that were either sliced in half, deformed, or blown to bits litter the streets as both NCPD and her team worked to remove the bodies away from the scene.

Managing to hold her breakfast, she strolled forward, doing the work required of her. Interestingly enough, she began noticing a pattern. For one, the people who had their bodies sprawling across the pavement belong to those of Tyger Claws. Secondly, according to the gossip she's hearing from the cops, a single person did this. What's more, said person was the founder of the recently created Builder Incorporated, who, funnily enough, established the Builders: one of Night City's newest gangs.

While Gloria wasn't a gossip mongerer, for she had no time to gossip as she was more busy providing for herself and David, she did hear some riveting rumors about the man. Some said that he was the heir to some legacy corporation, and the only reason why he was able to build his corporation was that he loaned some money from his family. Others said that he was a super-soldier of some megacorp and augmented to be the perfect human, hence the noticeable lack of bioware and cyberwar on his body.

Regardless of the rumors about the man, one thing rang true from what she'd heard: that the man was kind-hearted, a visionary, and a good person.

And to see that contrasted by the supposed work of the man upon the Tyger Claws was jarring. Maybe there was a truth about the leader of the Builders being a super soldier.

Still, she could bless the man for allowing her to steal as much chrome as possible. Gloria doubted the NCPD would bother to check the bodies properly. From what she could see, they were already having trouble with so many incidents popping out of Watson!

And so, with so many bodies still littering the streets of Little China, she quietly sneaks away from the main highway to deposit her stolen chromes at the drop boxes near one of the Megabuildings. H10, to be precise. Gloria's eyebrows rose when she noticed children playing near the elevators leading to the megabuildings. She felt her nose sniff, pausing at the intoxicating smell that permeated her nose. Unconsciously closing the drop box and sending her stolen chromes near her apartment, she finds herself near a food stall. More specifically, a food stall that sells Mexican food.

Seating in the chair, Gloria looked at the holo-book menu detailing every street food. Gulping, she looked at what the cook's cooking before asking, "Uh, is this true?"

The chef gave Gloria a curious look, "Is what true, miss?"

"This," Gloria gestured to the stall, "Is this authentic? Like nothing synthetic or anything?"

The chef laughed before nodding at her answer, "Yeah, all of this is purely organic. No synthetic materials or chemicals. Just pure and organic meat and vegetables."

Gloria gulped at the chef's answer, her mouth watering at the authenticity that she could eat something fresh for the first time in her life. "Then, could I have an Enchiladas?"

The chef nodded at her before saying she'll need to pay ten eddies. Gloria woodenly nodded as her mind rankled with disbelief.

'Ten eddies?! That cheap?! Where was this in my entire life?!' Gloria could only lament as she felt the smell of the Enchiladas assault her nose. Her hands shook as she took hold of the Enchiladas, gingerly taking a bite of the food before taking one more. Eventually, she felt her plate empty, her eyes watering at the Enchiladas Gloria ate.

She felt her shoulders grabbed by someone, her eyes locking onto the chef, with the chef nodding in understanding. "I know the feeling, seƱorita. We could only thank God that He finally sent some noble to this city."

Taking a breather, Gloria composed herself before looking at the chef again, "Then, who's responsible for this?"

"Well, technically, it's a corporation that's responsible for this, but since the founder is currently busy killing swathes of Tyger Claws, I guess you could say he's responsible for this whole thing." Gloria blinked at his words.

"Wait, he? Do you mean to say that the one responsible for this is the one who's also massacring the Tyger Claws in mass?" The chef nodded before cooking for the other customers in his stall.

Gloria couldn't believe it at first. Or rather, doesn't want to. Then, she went to the other stalls, determined to hear if what they say is true. And lo and behold, they all tell the same story: of how the newly-established Builders Incorporated provided life to the markets of Watson, of how the Builders eliminated the violent crimes near Megabuilding H10, where it originally started.

And Gloria doesn't know if it's because she was tired that day or wants to believe in the corporation that could make her dreams come true. Instead, she made up her mind.

On the same day, after finding the miracle occurring in Watson, she quit her job and, at the same time, sent a file of job application to Builders Incorporated.


Blinking her tired eyes away, Gloria stretched her body before standing up. Seeing David gone before she could say hello always gives Gloria a bitter feeling in her heart.

Despite having their fortunes turned as soon as Gloria found herself employed under Builders Incorporated, with the company she's now working on providing the tuition for David and her living expenses covered for a year, David still resents the fact that he couldn't help her. And while Gloria appreciates David's words, David needs to finish his schooling at Arasaka Academy.

With Builders Incorporated's newly-established subsidiary company, Builder's Learning United [1], lacking the resources needed to provide an education equal to that of Arasaka Academy, Gloria, despite wanting to not continue David's education at the AA with how much he's complaining about the people there, continued to enroll David there.

Nevertheless, Gloria knew that she'd made the right choice that day. As she prepared for her day, she greeted the gangers patrolling the Megabuilding she was staying. Gloria could see children roaming about, parents walking behind them. Much of the stalls within the Megabuilding are supplied by-products produced by Builders Incorporated. Each stall Gloria passed by provided a variety of foods ranging from Mexican, Southern, French, English, and Japanese.

Gloria still couldn't believe what was in front of her. Even after a month of working for the corporation. But still, this was her reality now, and she couldn't be happier than that.

As she went underground to ride in her beautiful car, an old Yellow Thorton Galena G240, she couldn't help but think back on the words said to her by her fellow employees when she first started her job.

"The moment you work, the moment you'll never leave. That, I can guarantee you." And while she was initially suspicious of the cult-like words that sprouted from her co-workers, after a month of working within the company, her co-worker's words do ring true.

After parking her car at one of the factory's parking areas, she felt her body relax. Even though the NID is under the hands of the Builders, Maelstrom gangoons still roamed the area. She could only feel safe near the three megabuildings that litter Watson or one of the Builder's areas of control, like the factory she's working.

Nearing the station where she was to work, her gaze turned to her co-worker. "Hey, Maria! I didn't know you were back."

"Oh, you know. I'm doing fine since the company covered my medical expenses." Maria Lichtermann, a mother of four, replied as she cupped her face in joy. "If it wasn't for the company, my baby could've been aborted or worse." Gloria nodded at her words.

Since joining the company, Gloria received numerous benefits. From having a Platinum Trauma Package to having their house insured by Builders Incorporated and providing the funds for David's tuition fee for only having to work only eight hours a day with free time on Saturday and Sunday. Coupled with two weeks of 10 days of paid sick leave if something happened to her or David and having a five-week vacation plan? And being paid the same amount as an Arasaka or Militech gonk?

She truly made the right decision when she left for greener pastures.

Before she could ask for her well-being, the bells within the factory rang: signaling the start of their shifts.

And as Gloria packaged the 'bone meal' into the containers, Gloria had only one thing on her mind.

'May our boss be blessed with a long life. Except for Arasaka, may he rot in Hell.'


[1] Think of this company as Kumon.