Chapter Fourteen:
The Wastelands:Jackson Plains.
The drive out here was tedious for not a lack of trying but eventually I find myself off the beaten path gliding over dirt and sand. The Aldecaldos camp was so removed from the road I wasn't sure my flimsy vehicle could make the trek. Nothing but sandy dunes for miles the city a sparse outline. The mid-day sun beat downs hatefully. I drove cautiously ; not a trace of civilization in sight.
I arrived at the Aldecaldos camp. It was a mixed village, there were some many parked motorcycles and desert terrain vehicle, giant cargo trucks and makeshift shacks all littering a good half a mile of expanse. When I pulled over and step out of my car the first thing I noticed was the silence. Not a bird or sound, not a mumble. There was no chatter or whistles, only an endless desert wind drifting through and people on edge staring at me. The whole camp had their sights on me. I looked around nervously and made no sudden movements.
Only than did whispers clutter the air. Voices croaking, "Outsider!" I march my way into the middle. What was I thinking infringing upon a Nomad clan without proper invitation. No! Fuck that I came to do something.
"Easy does it, no sudden moves Ryan,!" Mottly cautions me inside my mind.
"Don't gotta tell me twice."
"You must be lost stranger?" A man with dark, thinning hair and a stubble. He has various scratches, a scar on his right cheek, and various implants on his face and neck. He has a prosthetic left arm. Who wears a camo green coverall, makes his way over to me.
"Not lost, just looking for someone is all." I say politely.
"Hmm reckon I could help. Who's it your looking for?"
"A woman by the name of Myra Bright." I say with trepidation.
"Hey someone get Saul, we have an issue." The older male pull his smg out at me. "Hands up now, where I can see them.
I comply instantly as everyone in ear shot raises a gun or two at me. My heart sinks, I haven't any notion why they automatically got triggered. I didn't do nothing. What the actual fuck, and if I use my Accelerator it would make things worse.
"Mitch what's gotten the whole clan riled up?" A muscular bronze skin man with long black hair and green eyes walks over to us.
"Tell him what you said kid?" The man called Mitch demanded.
"Um, I'm looking for Myra Bright." I mutter.
"Hmmm I see, and why would that be boy?"
"You see, she's my mother." I say softly.
"What!" Mitch said gasping.
"It can't be, Ryan?" The male says.
"Yeah that's me." I say confused.
"I can't believe it, after all this time, I didn't think you'd come looking for her."
"I just want to no why she abandoned me as a kid? Why she left our family. I just want a answer."
"Kid, I don't know to say this, but she's dead. Died in 2068. My poor baby sister gone before her time." He says.
"Baby sister?" I say shocked.
"Indeed, and that would make me your uncle, Saul Bright leader of the Aldecaldos."
"I-I have a uncle." I cry collapsing to the ground. I punch the sandy ground with all my strength busting my knuckles open, letting the crimson ruby blood drip and coalesce with yellow grainy earth. I lose a mother and gain an uncle. I wanted the truth, I wanted some sorta answer of her abandonment. But the truth lies buried with her.
I've lost the right to my anger, to the pain I feel. I can't hate a dead woman, can I?
"That's not all, Aiden come here." Saul says breaking the tension.
"Yes uncle Saul?" Say's a medium height sliver hair boy with tan skin.
"He looks like you're father!" Mottly says to me.
"Now that you mentioned it." I reply.
"Kid I want you to meet someone special, say hello to your big brother Ryan!" Saul says.
"Brother!" I shout. There was no fucking way, all this time nearly alone with the expectation of Mottly. There was brother of mine out in this world. If it wasn't for his resemblance to my father, I wouldn't accept it. Regardless the anger at my mother boils in my stomach. There is resentment me towards the boy. He got her last year's
He'd usurp our mother. What should of been my life he got to live what I always wanted. But then again he never had a father, so that's makes it fair. Noo he's innocent, I shouldn't begrudge a child who didn't ask to be born.
"Shocking, isn't it. When Myra left you with your father she came here to help out the clan, we were in dire straights. But unknown to her at the time, she was already pregnant with Aiden. One day she she stop getting her time of the month and we'll the rest was history."
I still felt a mix bag of emotions, confusion but the overwhelming feeling is jealously. What's wrong with me? Aren't I entitled to these feelings? No matter what I do convince myself it fails. I- I hate him, deep down I do.
"That's enough! You need to ease up, or soon you'll be punching the life out of the poor thing. Calm yourself!" Mottly shouts in my head. He was right, how far had I taken it? Could I actually lash out at Aiden?
"Sorry Mottly, this all abit too much. I should of never came poking. But god-damnit it still stings."
"And it's gonna for a while, but please I'm begging you don't take it out on him, he's your flesh and blood. Maybe just maybe being an older brother is what you needed." Mottly pleas with. And I swallow the anger and stare at the boy.
"Hey there, I guess you're shocked too. But wow a little brother. " I say slowly still processing everything.
"Oh... Hi." He says meekly.
"Don't mind him he isn't used to strangers. Let us head to my tent. Everyone at ease." Uncle Saul told the camp as we walked over to his tent.
"Go on inside kid." Uncle Saul offered me.
"Thank you." I reply timidly.
Inside the tent it was as lived as any tent I had been in. Beds, a table and a single chair.
"Have a seat, how was the journey from Night City to here?"
"It was long, tiring, but to be honest a nice drive." Small chat, I wasn't here for small chat. I just want to truth but I can't fault him for trying to get to know me. Noticing the cuts on my knuckles from earlier he hands me a small first aid kit and I tend to hands.
"So about my mother," I push the conversation towards that.
"Aiden go play outside I'll send your brother out in a moment." Saul tells him ushering him out the tent."So, Myra left you with your father when you were but a wee tot, tell me about the guy she left you with." He spoke breaking the ice.
"Dad was a busy man, but dedicated to working hard for us. I don't have many memories of my mom. Just how heartbroken dad was when she left. He was a good man, but his ambitions got him in a position where he used and discarded. He gave his life working for Arasaka, the bastard's."
"Saka huh? Myra must of loved him something awful if she ran away to the big city and settled down. As kids she was a free spirit, he most of be one hell of a guy. And I'm sorry for your loss." Uncle Saul said wiping a tear.
"He was working for a different self made tech company, when they got brought out by Arasaka. They saw his talents and took him on. But his heart and head was always with us, his main priority. I can't fathom why'd she gave it up?" I spoke bluntly.
"People change, things happen. And if I'm honest. I had a big hand in her return. If I knew doing that would of caused this pain you're experiencing I'd never would of. It's something to this day I regret." His voice hoarse and lornful.
"What do you mean?"
"Our clan was falling into ruin, our numbers were thin and we nearly faded into oblivion. With the loss our parents not so long before, the older generation was fading away rapidly. The younger generation living a life post war. Changes had to be made and your mother was always good at rallying people together. She crawled so I could run." He says."
"Ohhh." Was all I gasp out, the man before me stole my mother from me. The momentary amount of hatred nearly cause me to put a bullet in his head. But sanity won the day.
"Kid, had she not passed she would of likely been head of the clan. But in her memory and in her honor, I swore her hard work would never be for nothing!" His voice stern and serious.
"Tell me, how did she pass?" I dreaded asking, to finding the answer.
"We were raided by the local scum to theses area. The Raffen Shiv, a tribe of rouge Nomad's. She was caught up in the onslaught, protecting Aiden."
I felt my heart shatter at that moment, a medley of disgust, and anger boils and runs up my thorat like bile. I wanted blood, didn't care who's. Someone has to pay. But it's a bit to late. Damnit why must my feelings get no validity. Why do I have to accept what is and move on. I'm only eighteen being asked, what people in their forties struggle with. It's not fucking fair. I yell at myself. But I swallow it all, letting it dissipate. I'm only hurting myself more, and the one at fault are long gone.
I still have a chance to get even, at bigger target, I'll take all this suffering and strife and aim at my true enemy; Arasaka! They murdered my father and they can still be made to pay for it. So for now, all I can do is sit on my hands till then. Slowly I face Saul with tears dripping down my face.
"I'm sorry uncle." I said.
"Don't be, she would want you to hold your head high, and survive. She would not want you to suffer. If she was with us I'm certain she'd be proud of the young man you are today." Uncle Saul says trying to comfort me.
"You're right, thanks for the advice Uncle." I told him.
"Anytime kid, anytime."
Through the stillness and quite I hear the sound of someone running, or so I thought. After a moment of silence I hear Uncle Saul sigh.
"So it appears that Aiden been spying on the conversation." Uncle states. "Listen let's put a pin the Convo, go outside and get to know the kid. "
"Alright uncle." I say before exiting the tent. Heading back out I see Aiden hiding besides the tent.
"Aiden, do you want to play a game?"
"Yeah sure." He replies hesitantly.
I nod my head.
"Alright let's get a feel for each other, maybe we're a lot alike." I say walking over to him.
We just stood there staring at each other not saying a word. I felt Aiden take a step back.
"Alright so we'll play tag. It's like running around the yard, but without the risk of being seriously hurt. Deal?" I say.
"Deal." Aiden replies.
We ran round the desert next to the camp for what seemed like hours. But it was only a couple of minutes. Both of us panting from our heavy breathing.
"Alright to the camp site." I call out.
"Ok." Aiden replies.
It was a two minute walk to the camping site, with the effort it took to run it seemed to take forever. We reached it.
"See having a older brother ain't all bad." I smile. Aiden just look at me not knowing what to say.
"Suppose so." He replies.
"How about a hug?" I suggest.
He looks at me in disbelief. I bend down and he does as I asked.
"This is strange." Aiden says.
"It's just getting to know each other." I laughed.
Aiden laughed too, it felt good to see him laugh.
"So what should we do now?" Aiden asks.
"Well, let's get some water, we both need a drink." I say. We made our way over to the pumping station they had set up.
"So what was Mom like?" I asked.
"Well, she was a bit peculiar to say the least." Aiden replied.
"She sounds tough." I said.
"Well you know what, she did have a good reason for doing it."
"Why?" I ask.
"She was very strict too, made sure I kept up with studying. But there was always this vacant stare in her eyes, like something was missing." Aiden said with a smirk on his face.
We reached the water I took out some bottles.
"Here, you drink first. I can wait.
"You're very generous." Aiden said in appreciation.
"No problem kid, did you know that you remind me of our father?" I asked.
"How so?"
"Looking at you, you look like him." I laughed.
Aiden just gave me a strange look.
"You've never got to meet him, he would of spoil you rotten. " I chuckle.
"You think?"
"Sadly he passed away a couple of years ago. But definitely, you'd be the baby of the family." I replied to Aiden.
"Oh."
"So Uncle Saul takes care of you huh? What's that like?" I asked.
"Not so bad. He is kind of like a father figure to me." Aiden said.
"I bet, I can see why." I said, Aiden looked at me questioningly.
"What do you mean?"
"He's gotta be caring man too look after an entire clan." I explained. "But hey is there any other games you wanna play?" I want to change the subject and not burden him with details his thirteen old mind couldn't comprehend.
"I'm kinda tired. I think we should head back and start preparing dinner." Aiden says.
"Sure if that's what you want?"
As we approach the camp, Aiden stopped and turned around. "Hey, before we head back in, what kind of food did you like?" Aiden inquires.
"Anything honestly but I love chilli or anything Mexican.
"I love burritos." Aiden beams.
"Same here." I replied.
We both walk over to Saul's tent.
"So what do you say, we go and pick up some stuff for dinner?" I asked.
"Sounds great." Aiden said with excitement.
We reach the tent and find enough of everything, only thing left is to cook it. We set up the makeshift cooking spit back outside and go to fetch our cooking utensils. After collecting them we walk towards the food pile.
"You want me to get the food?" Aiden asked.
"No no, I got it." I said.
I walk inside the food storage tent and grab another bottle of water and small plates and load them with some supplies. I walk back to where Aiden has stood.
We get to work rather quickly. Setting up everything efficient, he rather quick to the game. He's very mature and well manged for a kid. I say kid but there a five year difference.
"I'll get the food started."
"Alright." Aiden replied.
"Can I add the stock and the salt and pepper?" Aiden asked.
"Of course." I reply by giving him a thumbs up.
Aiden walks back over to me and sits down on the ground.
"Here we go." I say as Aiden adds the ingredients to the pot.
Aiden picks up the bottle and opens it, he sprinkles the salt and pepper. He then slams them down.
"Now we wait for the stock to boil, you monitor it, why'll cut up the meat and veggies, you just add the noddle's when the stuff bubbles." I instruct.
The two of us dine on hearty beef stew. To think I was an older brother all this time.
"Sure looks good." Mottly professed outwardly startling Aiden.
"Who said that?" He questions.
"That was Mottly an AI construct. One of the last thing father created." I say.
"It's an honor Aiden." He says.
"Neat. I have this toy, well it never did work but it has an AI component that allows it to walk and talk. Or that's what mom use to say." Aiden produce a stuff bear.
"Ah an Mr. Stuffs-o-lot. Hmm, just maybe. Ryan attach your personal link to the bears USB port." Mottly directs me.
"Mind explaining?" I demand.
"Isolating a small bit of my source code and transferring it into the bear. If the AI core is vacant or broke then I'll snuggly fit in. That part of myself will walk, talk and act independent of us. Thus giving Aiden a part of me to him. You're father would want him having something too you know." Mottly lectures me.
"If you'll think it'll work here goes nothing."
A few moments later the bear whirls to life, standing up and walking around. It walks over to Aiden.
"Hello Aiden, I'll be you're new friend, all that's missing is a name." The bear states to him.
"How about Lucky?" Aiden proposes.
"I like that name, Lucky it is, young master." Lucky say's with a chipper tone.
"Uh and I'm back." Mottly chimes in and I feel relieved.
"Neat trick, never know you could do that." I whisper.
"I just wanted to be nice to your brother. Didn't think it would actually work." He confess.
"Are you okay, all here. Nothing missing?"
"I ran a diagnostic, I'm at full capacity. Nothing missing, all functions nominal."
"That great to know. I still intend to keep my promise, we're going to find out the truth of your existence and main directive, besides keeping me safe." I say breathing a sigh of relief. I just never realized how much Mottly meant to me, I would not know what to do if I lost him.
"Lucky, what would you like to do?" Aiden speaks to his bear, I cease to exist at this moment.
"It's up to you young master?" Lucky said starkly.
"That's weird why what's up with the young master crap?"
"Bear has an obedience chip, force the compliance of the AI." Mottly informs me.
"Hmm now if I could get my hands on one." I laugh evilly.
"Ha very funny!" Mottly say's unimpressed.
Suddenly there a small tug at my waist. Aiden wraps me in small embrace. I lean over and hug him back. He very short for thirteen year old. Perhaps a late bloomer.
"I love him big bro." Aiden cheers scooping up Lucky and runs out of the tent.
Saul walks back into the tent, he has a smooth smile on his face. He sits down on the adjacent bed and looks over to me.
"Whatever you did, your sure made the boy happy. I haven't seen him smile in ages. It brings a bit of warmth to my heart."
"Eh it was nothing, we're blood after all, the three of us." I say.
"Indeed, that's why I wanted to formally invite you to stay with us, become an Aldecaldo. You'll want for nothing you have my word and one day you'll be one of our leader heads. Given proper guidance."
I'm stunned finding myself for a lack of words. A family I would have a real family and place to call home with people who care about me. How sweet it's sounds, to feel welcomed. To be wanted, I'd give up everything if it was actually possible. But in my heart of hearts that's something I have to decline. God know I want nothing more. But I already have a family in Night City, one that needs me, now more then ever.
"Thanks for the offer uncle, one day I might just take you up on that. But back home there are people who depend on me, and I have a mission to complete. Having a place to lay my head time to time I hope that's agreeable." I ask him.
"You'll always have a home here, just don't forget about us. You know, Aiden's going to need you, and your going to need him."
"That's why I'm leaving him here, under your capable hands, uncle. I have no doubt you'll go out your way for him."
"Of course I owe it your mother, but enough of that, so tell me about yourself?" Uncle said changing the conversation.
And so there I was explaining everything up to now to my uncle sparing no details. He might be a caring fraternal person, but I too see that he is a man of action. So into the late hours of the night and over a bottle of whiskey, we talked not as uncle and nephew. But two men exchanging stories. This isn't what I wanted, but it was what I needed. And slowly I'm growing grateful for everything. If I ever want to know about my mother I'm sure uncle or Aiden can fill in the blanks as the filled in the emptiness in heart. Life sure is strange, even so in Night City.
A/N: This is re-uploaded version of the chapter. I pray it's better then the mistake I made with it last time. Special thanks to user; Son Of Sparda 2099 for letting letting me know that I gave a bad chapter which was indeed my first draft. Lesson learned, upload sober lol .