[Look, I know it's not a good timing to be on an emergency leave but I was in an accident! How would I know if the highway would- hello? Hello?] Gloria heard the other end of the holocall empty and silent, and soon enough she received the final text message from REO Meatwagon HR:
She was fired. Her final pay will be out this Saturday and due to the reason for dismissal being her failure to uphold her end of the contract, the care package would not be sent.
Gloria threw her pillow to the opposite wall, grasping her forehead with her other hand in frustration and anger. All those years she had worked for them, all those lives she had saved with the best of her abilities! She worked her ass off and pretty much sold her sold to keep herself stable as REO Meatwagon's Emergency MedTech, and what do they do the moment she was put in a pickle? Fire her. Cut ties and tails and say 'goodbye choom, thanks for slaving away to us like a gonk but we don't think we need you anymore'.
She couldn't believe it. She couldn't fucking believe it.
It wasn't easy for her to keep this job, with all the constant discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Hell, it wasn't easy for her to get the job as an EMT in the first place. Most of Santo Domingo residents wouldn't have been able to get some sort of stable job at a Megacorp, and it was a miracle to Gloria that she managed to become one of the exceptions.
She had tried to stay as clean as possible, safe pay and safe job for David.
Now she had debts to pay to Arasaka Academy for the damages David had caused, and she didn't have a proper income to pay it. She didn't have enough for the Arasaka Academy course fees either, barely enough to pay for the electricity and water bills and the rent. Gloria was already planning the future out with her head, trying her best to stay calm and look for a way out. She could still try smuggling cyberwares, except it would be harder to do so now that her source of it was cut off. Maybe she could use her expertise to become a ripperdoc- but where was she going to get the standard cyberwares, let alone a place for her operation?
Gloria shouted in anger, smacking the blanket in sheer feeling of helplessness. She planted her face in her hands, trying to think up of some solution. Maybe… maybe Maine could help her out a bit, find some connections for her to start with.
But Gloria knew Maine. As much of a softy he was, he was still a bit brutish and loud- which meant most of the people he knew properly were all part of his crews- the edgerunners themselves not in a position of large connections or influence to be able to pull that kind of strings.
This was hell. This was Night City for those who slipped up and fell off the edge.
Gloria heard a knock on the door, which broke her depressing concentration.
"…Come in." Gloria answered, the door opening a moment after. Gloria's eyes widened at the sight of the individual walking in. Water and disinfectant was sliding down just above the purple armour of Spartan Cell- the particle shields still working excellently. Cell was holding a couple of things in his hands- a pen, paper, and a compad. As Cell was scrolling through the compad while entering into the room, he looked up to see the pillow slumped defeated in the corner of the wall and quietly looked to Gloria.
"… Is this a bad time?" Cell asked while pointing at the pillow Gloria had thrown. Gloria shook her head as she looked back up at Cell.
"No, no… just, something I have to go through. Is there a reason for the visit?" Gloria answered, trying to calm down and put up a respectable
"… Riiight. Well, guess I should quickly get to the point, aye? I'm here because we've got your file here due to needing to know who are patients are and if there's any sort of accidents or complications we need to be aware of during their treatment. You know, standard information the medical centres get. Occupation, age, family history, and all those what nots. And we've come across your occupation as a… what do they call you- a med tech? Was it? A paramedic."
Gloria blinked, huffing with a grin that stretched out just enough to make it visible it was made out of frustration as she rested her forehead on one of her arms. "I used to be, yeah. Up until a minute ago." She answered in a harsher tone than before.
Cell looked back to the pillow, and then back to Gloria. Letting out a short "Ah." In realisation of what had just happened. "Then the rest of might be easier. I'm going to be blunt with you here- do you have any future plans at the moment?"
Gloria sighed. "I wish… I was just trying to find new job prospects while healing up. Why?" Gloria watched Cell punch his finger onto the compad screen as he slowly walked backwards, leaning his back on the wall before flipping the compad over for Gloria to see.
"Well, because Reds and Blues would love to have someone already with experience to be part of the hospitals we own and run now. Also because of your relations to Leonard-131, which makes you one of the people we'd like to properly secure and have stick to us for safety."
Gloria stared at Cell before she sneered.
"So you want to have me and my Dee stay on a short leash?" Gloria heard Cell suck in air through his teeth in response to her quite scathing summary. Yet he didn't seemed to deny the claim, tilting his head before bending his knees and bringing his own head down to her level.
"I mean, harsh way to say it but I guess you're not wrong. UNSC doesn't really like the fact that there's a Spartan's wife and a half-Spartan just running around without their proper knowledge, more so when you guys are closely associated with… you know, 'them." Cell said as he pointed out the window to the Arasaka Tower in the distance. It wasn't hard to miss the black monument, noted to be one of the tallest building in the city- Reds and Blue's own Night City Headquarters rivalling it with both width and length like it was some architectural cock-measuring contest. "A lot of the higher ups were actually panicking at the news of you and David's existence, not that we had the time to address it properly. War and everything blowing up in our face was pretty hard to ignore, you know?"
"And what if we refuse?" Gloria asked, a little on edge as she tilted up one of her eyebrows. Cell only shrugged in response.
"I'll be honest with you, we'll not force you to choose. But I do know that according to what one of our Spartan has told us about David- he's not fitting into the Arasaka Academy anyway. What's this about 'property damage' and 'large repair bills'? Not to mention him being bullied in class." Cell's dry remark and comment about David's personal life certainly made Gloria's brow furrow. Her logical side understood what was happening: David had already called her, about how their place was under eviction notice due to not paying the rent before the deadline, and how her mijo had stayed in the Arbee HQ in the Badlands for the night.
But the side representing her as David's mother got the better of her in that moment. Because to her, what Cell said sounded like the Spartan was subtly threatening the mother and son into complying. The way Cell spoke about David and his struggles- her mijo- like a file in a database set her on edge.
"And what are you implying?" Gloria responded with a sharpened tone, on edge and cautious. Like an angry pregnant cat hissing at the sight of the giant human hand reaching down. However, Cell was not unfazed. This certainly wasn't his first rodeo of negotiation under hostile atmosphere, and if he had his way- it won't be the fucking last.
"Nothing sinister, if that's what you're thinking. I know what it's like to be forced into a life you never wanted to be part of. If David wants a quiet and safe life? We'll stay clear away from him. Last thing we want to do is re-enact the whole Spartan II recruitment shenanigan. That affected Leonard-131 deeply, we have no intentions of repeating that for his wife, nor his son. That, I can assure you." Cell answered, making his tone calm and constant. Trying to make sure it didn't sound threatening to Gloria. "However," He added. "I know your current circumstances and situation. And both of us are aware that both David and you have been dealt short ends of the stick, and are now trying to find a way to survive the whole mess of a City. You can correct me on this if I'm wrong."
Gloria briefly glared at Cell, but let her gaze fall to the floor. Unable to object or deny. Her emotions wanted to, but it also gave her compulsion to acknowledge what was the truth: Her heart told her to shield David from whatever danger would come to her sweet little boy. The blood and sweat and tears she had gone through, patching up mercs and gangoons and poor civilians, smuggling chromes to sell to Maine, just so David could go to Arasaka Academy, live a safe life as a corpo of the greatest Megacorp there is. Rising to the top of Arasaka Towers, she could just picture the boy. David in a sharp Corpo suit, walking confidently through the gleaming halls of Arasaka Tower, the kid's name etched on a plaque by an office door. Arasaka Executive wasn't just a job; it was a title, a position, of safety and stability.
And then there was his father, her husband: Leopold. Whatever UNSC had done to him, all she knew was that they took him away, stripped him of his old life and made him suffer so much that he flew all the way down here to hide. Only for him to go to New Mombasa to fight with them, sacrifice his own life. Gloria loved Leopold… or Leonard-131, whoever the man was- she loved him. And she loved their son, David.
But god forbid that David goes down even remotely down that path, she wouldn't allow it. So long as she breathed- David will not end up like his father. She had done so much just so David could live a longer, happier life.
But she wasn't dumb- she knew what David was up to. How couldn't she? When David came back with a bloody face, she freaked out so much over it. Gloria wanted David to stay in Arasaka Academy, and of course she knew what he was going through. That's why Gloria told him that's why both of them needed to prove those suits wrong.
But Gloria was already aware of what her son felt about it. She just wanted to tell him to endure, for his own sake.
"I can kinda see what's going through your mind right now." Cell interrupted, pointing at her. "Kinda… written all over her face." Gloria only stared at Cell as the Spartan chuckled.
"Yeah, Arasaka Academy, for the talented and… what not. Safe place to put your son in, no? Forget about all those attempted sabotages and assassination from your own colleagues. The fact that one wrong word, one wrong hand shook and all that effort goes down the drain." Cell muttered out as if he was the one who experienced all this. Gloria only blinked in disbelief, and slight denial of the harsh truth of a corpo life. Cell recognised it too, and his shoulders slumped in disapointment.
"Come on. We've been recruiting nearly everyone that was down on their lucks, militech soldier, NUSA veterans, former Arasaka Executives- for fuck's sake, you've seen one already! Genjiro! The one who's running Reds and Blues towers over there! He used to be an Arasaka Executive! A good one at that! Do you know what his life was like? Much better than the two of you, that's harsh but for fucking sure! Look, Mrs Martinez- Genjiro came from a prestigious family in Japan, his own parents were high ranking Arasaka members. He went to that very prestigious Arasaka Academy in the original Japanese Headquarters, and passed first in his class. Do you know what they did to someone like him? Tried to kill him because one of his so-called friend sabotaged him. He was on the streets for a year before we found him. He's a very talented guy! Of course, he's no scientist or engineer- he's got good enough knowledge on basic concepts and understands it well enough to know how it could be presented to the market. Really good at that! And do you know what Arasaka did to someone as talented as him? Used him as a fucking toilet paper to clean up their horse shit, wipe their ass, and throw in the bin. A. Fucking. Disposable."
Gloria blinked a couple of times before her eyes widened. Cell only chuckled as her expression changed.
"Yeah, yeah. Gears are turning in your head now? Let me make it obvious: You've been busting your ass as a paramedic for REO Meatwagon. Scraping every bit of cash possible to invest in a better life for your kid. But if Arasaka can think of someone as loyal and capable as Genjiro as some one-use bacterial wipe, what will they think of your son? Hmm? If… if your kid, made one shitty mistake, one thing that can be fixed and addressed with a one-to-one chat. What do you think they'll do? In fact, let's beg this question- what the fuck did you bust your ass for if all that ends up for David is back to Santo Domingo slum?"
A pregnant pause filled the air- the silence crushing and ironically deafening for Gloria. The silence had helped with Cell's question to sink into her mind. No matter how much she tried to deny it. She was emotional, but she was also smart. All she heard was Cell lightly breathing, waiting for his words to sink in before he fires off another logic bomb.
Gloria blinked. Looking out the window, to Arasaka Towers.
"… Genjiro told me that one of his subordinates was a board-member of Arasaka Towers, had him send a confidential statistics of Arasaka Academy and its students. Do you know what the first thing Genjiro did when I asked him about Arasaka Academy last night? He fucking grimaced. I asked him why, and he told me over the phone why: They thinly veil it as a constructive competition between students, it's really just a toxic environment. Several quitting, mental breakdowns… students committing suicide. Rates increase in those that didn't come from wealthy families who works for mega corporations. Sounds like a horrible place to study in, and getting absolutely fucking nothing in return. That's not what you want for David, right? He's a strong and smart kid. I've… I've actually talked to him last night. He was given a tour of the Graveyard and he walked into my office, I showed him the restoration process for the Tuna fish and he looked so excited to witness it. He's a good kid, I'll tell you that. You want him safe and happy, and we all want him safe and happy.
"… We?" Gloria asked with a slight shaky voice. Cell looked to the floor, giving her a moment to recollect herself and her emotions.
"We, Mrs Martinez. The Spartans. To you, his your son. To us Spartans? He's our nephew. Especially to the Spartan IIs. Every one of them missed Leonard-131, he was their brother. No matter what. They all love the kid, and for good reasons too. Trust us when I say this: We all want what's best for David. Arasaka is… anything but."
Cell sighed a bit, realising how much he's been gone off tangent again. He always did this- he always fucking ranted in some way. He took the paper and pen, walked up to Gloria, and placed it gently on Gloria's lap.
"Like I said, we can't force you and David to do anything. But just know that we will be monitoring David, circumstances forced us to do so. And if it makes it any better, the people previously in charge of UNSC, the ones that spearheaded Spartan IIs and other unsavoury projects are no longer with us. None of us likes them enough to repeat that path either. A lot of us are victims of it, after all."
Gloria looked down at the paper placed on her lap, picking up the pen and reading the page.
It was a contract- an employment contract.
"Make sure to read all the fine prints, especially the pay-rate we've offered you. You can negotiate it with us if it's unsatisfactory."
Gloria's optics nearly bulged out at the numbers. Those were almost 4 to 5 more zeroes added in than her pay-grade in REO Meatwagon.
Gloria quickly snapped her gaze to Cell, who was waiting for Gloria's answer. Gloria tried to speak, but found her own panic and disorientation catch the words in her throat. Cell understood with no problem when Gloria was pointing at her offered salary.
"I mean, yeah. You'll be working as a paramedic. With possible night shifts under emergencies. Of course we'd have to compensate you properly for it. Though you should keep reading the fine prints- this one here says that you'll have to remove your cybernetic implants and have it replaced with ours."
Gloria looked to the fine print Cell had tapped on, and honestly? It wasn't that bad of a deal. In fact, this single contract could change both her and her mijo's life drastically. All it would take was just a single flick of a pen on the bottom of the page.
"… Why?" Gloria finally forced out in disbelief.
"What do you mean why? You're a paramedic- a trained one at that. We've got people lining up to be soldiers and scientists and engineers and sales teams, but Project Caduceus needs more paramedics. Just now I've had to go to former Trauma Team employees and offer them the same job as you. They've already taken it- but you can take your time to decide. The offer isn't going anywhere."
Gloria silently stared at Cell walking around her bed and back to the door, turning around just as the door slid open and showed the hallway.
"Oh, and no matter what you decide on… we will compensate you and David heavily for Leonard-131's tragedy. You have our word on that." Cell announced before he handed Gloria a compad, a single video feed of a broken down city filled with flaming cars and shattered concrete chunks littering the floor… not to mention the corpses of elites and grunts littering the streets. A single man clad in armour, helmet placed on the side, was sitting up against a rubble. Gloria recognised the face, looking back up at Cell.
"This is…"
"The final moment of Leonard-131." Cell confirmed with a grim tone. "It was recorded on the security feed in New Mombasa. It might be cruel, but I thought you'd at least wanted to know what your husband was doing in his final moments. Maybe now, or maybe later with your son. Or not, we understand if you don't want to watch it at all."
Cell stood up and walked out of the room, the door sliding down to leave Gloria all to herself… until the door slid back out again for Cell to quickly pop his head through.
"Oh, and probably not my place to say this but… for Christ's fucking sake, have a proper chat with your son about his life and decisions, will you? It's his fucking life, not yours."
Gloria blinked a few times before her frown started to form. Clearly a little miffed and offended at the Spartan sticking his nose into family business- and it only frustrated her even more when Cell disappeared from her view before she could even properly retort.
Then again, she wasn't in the mood to get angry when she had this compad right in front of her.
-oOo-
"Little piece of advice, Martinez. Learn, to take a hint." Katsuo had dragged David to the underside of the Corpo Plaza, a little away from Arasaka Academy.
The only people here were Katsuo, his lackeys, David, and the few homeless that didn't take up on Arbee's offer.
"About what?" David replied with a dry and exasperated tone. He was already sick and tired of this, and hated that Katsuo and his goons were blocking the only entrance out.
"Our class. You're not welcome. Got it?" Katsuo announced apprehensively.
"Huh? If this is about yesterday-"
"Who said anything about yesterday?"
"What?"
"You probably figure I give you a hard time 'cause you're poor. Simply untrue. I'm rather charitably inclined, not your fault you were born on the wrong side of society. There's no rule that a street kid can't make it at the Academy, provided they pay their way." David was getting even more disinterested in what Katsuo was saying each syllable, looking at the wall he was leaning on and just sighing in exasperation.
"What cracks my chrome is something else entirely. Know what?"
"Look, choom. I haven't understood a single thing coming out of your mouth."
"That right there!" Katsuo shouted, pointing at David.
"Hmm?"
"Time to get gone. Just drop out, why don't ya?"
"Huh?"
"You're a misfit, an anomaly. Human, but trash. And there's nothing that can change that. Rot in you runs as deep as your bones, Martinez. Best you can do is not spread it to the rest of us."
Beggars and homeless were looking at the two students as they rummaged around trash or puked out moonshine they had last night.
"Did I just short-circ? Said you didn't care as long as I paid tuition." David replied tensely.
"I heard your mommy came in to see the principal," Katsuo replied back with a little sneer in that mocking tone of his. "Ask forgiveness for your little stunt."
David glared at Katsuo, who was tilting his head all the way to his left shoulder in an insulting gaze straight back at David.
"Caused quite a scene crying for her baby boy, begging for him not to get expelled. So shameless. You know, since we're chatting, I've just always wondered. How could she afford to send you to Arasaka Academy anyway? Care to explain, Martinez?" Now David was looking straight at Katsuo with anger, breathe becoming heavier and filled with emotion, just waiting for it to light a fuse within him. "Go on. Tell us. How does mommy pay your way?" Katsuo still went on, needling David. "What's any Night City bottom-feeder do to make a quick eurobuck, huh? Oh! A couple of pretty salacious things come to mind."
That was it. David heard enough of it.
"Tire of this shit!" David shouted as he stopped shaking his right leg, ready to just push through Katsuo and leave.
"Hold on, choom. Who said we were done?" Katuso had no intention of letting David leave, blocking his way.
"Fuck off!" David shouted, ready to go around Katsuo. The suit's son bumped his chest at David, forcing the Santo Domingo kid to take a step back. A smiling was creeping up on Katsuo's as he continued to push the kid back, his hands raised up in the air.
Before the creases in Katsuo's hands started to glow red, David stumbling back. Katsuo had activated the functions of his Strongarm 400
"H-huh? Are? A…re? Arerererere~!?" Katsuo taunted David, wagging his hands in a mocking tone at David like he was calling a dog over.
David's anger got the best of him, flying a punch out at Katsuo.
And Katsuo's Kung Fu chipware activated, letting his body go on autopilot as a hand chop blocked David's fist.
Katsuo looked at David with a sinister grin, Corpo Kid's eyes turning red as the slotted chip ran the pre-programmed moves.
"Got anything slotted? MMA freeware maybe? Hmm? Hmm. Aww!" Katsuo sarcastically asked as he used his Strongarm cyberware to push David's hand out of the way, before the next move on the Kung Fu chipware playlist began running.
David looked at Katsuo. David indeed did not, but he had something better.
He had Spartan CQC slotted directly into his muscle memories, no thanks to Killshot.
Katsuo flicked his jacket back and took up a stance, dashing in with both of his fists in front of the David's face.
David's own instinct kicked in, reflexively stepping back and taking the stance Killshot made him copy and learn.
Katsuo started to rush his fists in David's vision- series of feints. Just like Killshot and Leon had done.
Holy shit, David thought. The titan chooms were right. These gonks really did start with that move!
And what was better to David (and not so much to Katsuo) was just how much slower Katsuo's fists were. David would not have time to read the move if he hadn't practised and learned.
But here he was, following Killshot's lesson down to a capital T: He focused on the area between Katsuo's chin and chest, looking at the shoulder movement.
The fists started coming in for real, David predicting it from the movement of the shoulders. He quickly dodged and weaved all of them without breaking a sweat.
Compared to Killshot and Leon, Katsuo's own moves had much more opening, no doubt thanks to being slower and having a more predictable body language. David took advantage of that with ease, a punch in the ribs and uppercutting right under the solar plexus.
'David, remember when your punching a cross or a hook: aim the fist behind the target, not directly on the target. Most people just target the target itself, and instinctively stops as soon the fist touches it. Not a lot of force carries in for that, that's why martial artists tries to punch through it. Visualise your punch going past the point of contact, okay?'
'And a jab?'
'Jab's are for setting things up. Calculating and controlling the distance, check response times, defence manoeuvres that keeps the other side at bay, disrupting enemy rhythm, setting up the rest of your attacks. Relatively, not a lot of force needs be behind a job compared to the others. Though if you're strong enough, you could probably knock a guy out with just jabs. I saw Leon do that once in a bar.'
David remembered Killshot's lessons regarding punches too, letting the force send through Katsuo fast and serious. Corpo kid was coughing up dry air and heaving at the impact, the two goons of a student he carried with him quickly looking grim and worried.
Katsuo glared at David as he continued the moves the Kung Fu chipware was running, flurry of blows that David dodged and blocked, and an attempt to grab his necktie or jacket soon became an overreach that allowed David to punch the forearm away and make Katsuo lose balance. David's fists hurt like hell when the punch came into contact with Katsuo's Strongarm 400 cyberware, but at least it was enough to agitate Katsuo even further.
A dash in and a jab to Katsuo's nose made Katsuo grab it and jolt his head back in pain. Katsuo was feeling several mixed emotions. Anger, frustration, and utter confusion at how someone with low-grade chrome like David could be a better fighter than the Martial arts chipware his father had bought for him.
It didn't make sense. It didn't make a lick of sense that this piece of street rat would be better than him.
Katsuo jumped and performed a flying back kick, expecting David to be caught off guard and allow the corpo kid to retake the initiative of the fight.
Killshot taught the CQC basics and fundamentals really well- David didn't have a force or experience of a soldier, but he sure as hell got enough to outskill some kid that never fought in his entire life.
David dodged, dashing in when Katsuo couldn't even dodge or react, and punched him squarely in the face, sending Katsuo flying to the wall and crashing into a portable toilet, breaking the door and the bowl as Katsuo rolled out, screeching.
David hissed and grabbed his wrist, rolling it in pain at punching so hard. Blood was dribbling out and down Katsuo's nose. Katsuo's two goons were already scared shitless at how good David was at fighting, and not wanting to get into David's line of sight- quickly made a dash for it.
"What the fuck…! Those are 'ganic knuckles!" Katsuo sputtered out of the mouth he was covering along with his nose, blood now driblling down to his chin. Tears welling in Katsuo's eyes. "You broke my nose! You Asshole! I scanned you with my optics, you don't have shit!"
David stood there, looking at Katsuo. His breathing was heavy after the sudden workout, but it was already becoming calmer. It helped looking at what a pathetic mess Katsuo had become after all that shit the suit kid had talked to him.
"You're done, you know who my father is? An Arasaka exec on the Academy's board! You're so fucking gone! Do you know how easy it'd be to have you expelled? You should've quit while you were ahead, you rat bastard! I'll-"
David started to zone out of Katsuo's rant. At this point, Katsuo was just like that Six Streeter kid that broke his own wrists punching him- a little bitch.
"Whatever, Choom. Like a give a shit." David muttered as he walked out of the place, and away from Arasaka Towers.
David walked across the glass bridges, thinking about what to do now. Clear as day that he was no longer welcome in Arasaka. But that was fine- he had another place to go.
He looked right next to Arasaka Towers, what used to be the yellow building of Biotechnica HQ was a oak and silver tower of Reds and Blues.
Yeah, bet he'd feel more at place there than in Arasaka. Maybe hang around there a few more hours till he goes to see his mother.
David walked into the HQ, met with a large lobby filled with benches and chairs, with a couple small open terrarium filled with grass and lemon trees.
Cafes were also peppering part of the wide open lobby, several people taking breaks by ordering coffees and sandwiches or cakes. Talking with each other, or playing with holograms that lit up on the tables.
Few of them were just kids that came here to play, others were clearly taking note of the place, by the looks of the floating drones and audio recorders.
A few Spartans and ODSTs walked past him, clad in their combat gear and with disciplined trigger fingers, aiming their gun to the floor.
David walked up to one of the terrarium, in place of a plaque was instead an audio player. David tapped on it, only to be met with a sound of heavy cellos.
[So I just found out that apparently, a lemon… isn't naturally occurring. And, is a hybrid by CROSS breeding, a BITTER ORANGE, AND A CITRON! WHICH MEANS, LIFE NEVER GAVE US LEMONS, WE INVENTED THEM! ALL BY OURSELVES!]
It was the voice of Cell, shouting over the orchestra of Symphony No.9 in e minor from the new world. David took a step back, staring at the Lemon tree as near-triumphant scores were being played almost dramatically over this small tree.
David heard a few snickering next to the terrarium.
[AND JUST SO YOU KNOW- A BITTER ORANGE, IS A HYBRID BETWEEN A POMELO, AND A MANDARIN! WE HAVE BUILT THE VERY FOUNDATION, THE LEMON STANDS ON!]
David couldn't help but laugh as the Symphony increased in volume. Many CEOs would like to put up an authoritative, near god-like persona to uphold the images of their company and for the workers within.
Then here was perhaps the smartest idiot alive, making a fool of himself for all of the lobby to see.
The took a few steps back, only to realise that there were more eyes on him than before. Or more specifically- eyes on his uniform, the Arasaka Emblem emblazoned red on the black material.
He stood out like a duck among the pond of Swans.
He decided to cough a little and walk up to the receptionist area- a spacious desk with protective clear shielding for the safety of the receptionist should there be any possible dangerous altercations.
"Hello! How can we help you today?" A young lady in Arbee uniform cheerfully answered as David arrived, although she quickly sneaked a look at the Arasaka emblem on his uniform before looking back at the kid in the eyes.
David scratched his head, he didn't really think this through but… no harm trying, right? If he has to leave, then he'll just go see his mom.
"I'm here to see Spartan Killshot, told me he'd be here to deliver something to Genjiro. Wondering if he was still here?"
The reception blinked, before clearing her throat with light coughs.
"Of course! Let me just have a check." Normally, Receptionists in other institution would use their implants for calls. Arbee receptionists, however, used a physical device installed on the desk to call someone. She waited a few moments, before whoever was on the other end picked up the phone. "Mister Genjiro?" The Arbee receptionist asked in confirmation.
"Yes, is there something the matter?" Genjiro replied from the other line, calm but worried evident in his tone, as he was not expecting to be called.
"We currently have a guest for Spartan Kenichi Ara… Apologies, Spartan 'Killshot', and the guest told me he would be with you right now?"
The call had a pregnant pause, before Genjiro cautiously asked back. "He is. May I get the name of our guest?"
"Of course! Sorry, I should have got your name, mister…"
"Martinez, David Martinez." David answered, seeing the receptionist bow in gratitude for the quick answer and immediately relaying the name to Genjiro.
Another pause, clearly talking about this to Killshot, before Genjiro answered again.
"Thank you, Mary. May I have you call someone to escort our guest to my office?"
"Will do, sir! We'll escort the guest to you and Spartan Killshot right now!" Mary, the receptionist, immediately followed through as soon as the call had finished, walking out the door behind the receptionist area and appearing back around.
"Please follow me! I'll take you to Spartan Killshot!"
-oOo-
David stepped out of the elevator to be met with a view of a large office occupying the entire floor, the reinforced glass wall looking down on the memorial park below, Mary bowing to Genjiro as she closed the elevator door and went down.
"Wow, Nova…"
Genjiro, who had been sitting on his desk, only smiled as he got up and walked to David, Spartan Killshot was sitting on the couch with a glass of soda with ice laying on the table.
"David Martinez, it is good to meet you." Genjiro spoke sincerely, extending out a hand for David to shake. David nervously laughed as he gripped the hand and shook it. Genjiro was eyeing David's uniform before he used his finger to point at it.
"Student of Arasaka Academy?" Genjiro asked.
"I… yeah, haha…" David answered with an awkward grin. He understood how he looked, an Arasaka Academy in the middle of Reds and Blues headquarters.
But Genjiro only chuckled, yet David notice the slight pain and sadness in Genjiro's eyes.
"I was an alumni of Arasaka Academy too- I was in the Japanese Academy, in the main HQ of Arasaka."
David blinked. He wasn't expecting Genjiro to tell him that.
"How is it? Arasaka education?" Genjiro asked further as he poured David a glass of carbonated drink with ice.
David clicked his tongue and kicked the floor lightly.
"Total ass. It's bullshit."
Genjiro only chuckled as he handed David his soda, nodding in agreement.
"It is indeed, total ass. It took me too long to realise the same thing. After I was robbed of my life, my job, and my effort. Meeting Cell had only cemented my thoughts so. For that reason, I admit that you have learnt much faster than me. And I commend you for it."
David looked a little longer at Genjiro, and realised that he had seen him before- during his first day at Arasaka Academy. He was one of the Arasaka Execs presented on stage to congratulate the students.
"Speaking of," Killshot interrupted the two as David took a sip of his drink. "Why aren't you at school? I dropped you off to school only like, 10 or 15 minutes ago." David's coughed, spilling a bit of drink on himself.
Genjiro quickly grabbed a box of tissue and offered it to David, who took some to dab his shirt with. David grimaced at having to answer Killshot's question, but hey- they were all going to know sooner or later, one way or another.
"Thanks. Yeah, well… I got into a fight. Beat the shit out of him, so I'm no doubt expelled. Especially since there was that property damage we have yet to pay, and the fact that principal even offered my mom to transfer me to another institute yesterday…"
It was Killshot's turn to cough a little at the news, he quickly put his glass back down on the table and lightly coughed into his arm. Genjiro quickly offered the same tissue box to Genjiro, which the Spartan gladly took.
"ありがとうございます。"
"どうも。"
David looked anxiously as Killshot wiped the carbonated drink and syrup off his techwear jacket before the Spartan looked at the kid.
Contrary to David's worries, however, Killshot was smiling.
"Well, shit. Guess today's the day, huh? Who knew."
"You're… not mad?"
"Well, I'd be pretty fucking mad if you finally got into a fight and lost. What the hell did I teach you if you did? So, did you win?"
David grinned as Genjiro rested one leg over another, showing off his red knuckles to Killshot.
"Yeah! You were right! Leon was right too, that gonk used that flashy punching move to start the fight! So much for that new chipware he got from his Corpo dad, huh?"
Killshot snickered as he grabbed his glass again and brought it to his mouth, his voice echoing out the glass as he prepared to take a sip.
"Let me guess, the kid you were talking about? The one who was giving you shit, bullying you."
"Yeah, Katsuo Tanaka! And his goons delta'ed out of their the moment the gonk got his ass beat and was crying like a little bitch! … wait- Killshot, I'm not getting bullied!"
"Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night." Killshot drily replied as he finished taking a sip and rested the glass back down on the table, resting back into the couch.
Genjiro on the other hand, furrowed his brow at the mention of Katsuo Tanaka, and soon turned to David with a question.
"This kid you told me… Katsuo Tanaka."
"Hmm? Wha- yeah?"
"Is his father an Arasaka Executive by any chance? Member of the Academy's education board?"
David blinked a couple times.
"Yeah, he's dad was Tetsuo Tanaka, I think."
So it is him… David heard Genjiro mutter as the man soon started to chuckle, before it developed into a full blown laughter.
"あのクソブタ野郞 メが。。。結局やられたんだな。 (That pig-headed fuck… finally got what he deserves, huh?)"
David blinked a bit before his neuroport translated what Genjiro had said.
For Killshot, it was his native tongue being spoken in the room, all he did was snicker at how happy Genjiro looked as the Arbee executive and head of marketing looked down at Arasaka Towers right next to the Arbee Night City HQ.
Genjiro turned around, smiling until he properly faced David again. Coughing into his hand.
"I'm quite unfortunate to tell you that such action may have tipped the line. Work politics in Arasaka is quite hostile and violent. You are most likely expelled at this very moment. However, if it does come to that- Feel free to come back here. Tell the receptionist that I have asked for you. I'm sure we can provide you with a much more stable support at Reds and Blues. It's the least I could do for someone who decided to stand their ground and fight the son of a traitor."
David laughed with an awkward grin in response to Genjiro's offer and smile. Genjiro sure looked and even sounded happy about this.
"Guess that means you're free today." Killshot commented, David quickly whipping his head around in excitement, more than ready to confirm with vigorous nods. "You have anything planned?"
"I mean, not really? I actually came here because you said that you'd be going for a tour around the city, and maybe you need a guide? I know my place around here, so." David offered, scratching the back of his head as he waited for Killshot's answer.
Killshot softly nodded his head in thought, before he finished his glass and answered David's offer with an ultimatum. "Yeah, I could go for a tour of the city guided by a Night City native: Provided that the citizen doesn't have unfinished business."
"…Unfinished Business? I don't have anything like that? Let's go!"
Killshot raised his hand in front of David in defence and the silent message to stop. "Yes, you do. Your school, remember?"
David groaned in frustration. "I don't have school, remember? I quit! Punched a gonk and got expelled."
"Which means you'll have to tell that to your mother. She expected you to stay in school. Now that you broke your promise with her, go see your mother and hear what she has to say. Maybe get slapped, listen to her get angry. Or better yet- have a proper talk with her about your life. What you want, what she wants. What you two can agree on or willing to argue about. I can wait in the hospital while you guys have a chat. Talk with your mother to the end, and then we can go around exploring the city. Deal?"
David kicked the floor and hanged his head down, but soon enough, after a few moment of silence, he looked at Killshot.
"… Alright, deal…"
Killshot nodded, before standing up and stretching out a hand to Genjiro. Genjiro took the hand, and both parties bowed while shaking.
"ご厚意に感謝します、源次郎。 (Thank you for your hospitality, Genjiro)."
"とんでもございません、キルショット様。あなたとお話しできるのは光栄なことです。正直なところ、かつての試みが私の人生をすべて奪われる結末に終わったため、再び心から荒坂に仕えるとは思ってもいませんでした。しかし、もし荒坂があなたであるなら、再び忠誠を誓うことに何の迷いもありません。 (Not at all, Killshot-Sama. It is an honour to have talked with you. I honestly did not know if I would be serving another Arasaka with my heart and soul, considering my last attempt ending with my entire life robbed away. But I feel like if the Arasaka is you, I have no trouble serving loyally again.)"
Killshot looked to the ground and blinked with melancholy etched over his cornea.
"記録を見たなら、私がそれを納得させるつもりがあまりないのも分かるはずだ。 (You'd have seen the files, I wouldn't be so keen on convincing you to act as such.)"
Genjiro smirked.
"ええ、見ました。そしてもし記録映像が完全なものであれば、すべてを知ることになるでしょう。しかし、キルショット様、これだけは知ってください。UNSCに関するどんな秘密を知ったとしても、あなた方の行いが私に死ぬまで仕える理由を十分に与えてくれました。あなたの行動は、私にそれを宣言させるに十分なほど大きな声で語っています。 (I did, and if the documentary is complete I will know all. But know this, Killshot-Sama. Know matter what secret I find out about UNSC, all of you had given me enough reason to serve you to my dying breath. Your actions have spoken loud enough for me to declare so.)"
Killshot looked up at Genjiro, a slight smile etched on the Spartan's lips.
"…ありがとう。本当に、その言葉がどれほど私たちを救うかわからない。 (Thank you, truly. You don't know how much those words mean to us.)"
"それとお伝えしますが、キルショット様、あなたに差し上げたのは言葉だけではありません。 (And know, Killshot-Sama, that it is just not my words you have.)"
Both bowed once more as Killshot took David to the elevator and left.
Genjiro was honest in what he told Killshot. He had been going through the shard and had his team make sure the files could be read properly on an ordinary computer. He had seen what Cell had said, what the other Spartans had said.
If anything, it made them look just like the War gods and heroes his country's history and Shinto Mythology had recorded and/or worshipped.
From both their abilities and their hearts and ideals, they were Nobles he would follow through and through.
-oOo-
"Yeah, so… that's why I punched the guy and left. Probably expelled now…"
David remained in the guest seat, looking to the corner. He had explained everything to his mother. And he was just waiting for the moment she would get angry and shout, or burst into sobs and cries.
He understood that his mother busted her ass off trying to keep him in there. And what he just did practically threw away 17 years of her effort.
The silence was more than deafening, it was crushing. God, David wished Killshot to be in the room as well, but no- Killshot was waiting in the lobby, reading newspapers and magazines and talking with his fellow Soldiers and Spartans.
David quickly stole a side eye glance at his mother, trying to see how she was taking this. She was quiet, but the fact that she was blinking and sighing while looking out at the window.
"… If, If it helps… Genjiro offered to take me under his wings if I ever needed to. So I can still be a corpo if you wanted me to. It's not Arasaka, but honestly… fuck Arasaka."
"David."
"What? They didn't like me anyway! Besides, Arbee's just as much of a Megacorp as Arasaka and Militech. I mean, they absorbed Biotechnica, right?"
"Did the Arasaka Towers ever look at small?"
"I…" David was about to defend himself even more, only to be caught off guard by Gloria's question.
Gloria wasn't crying. Not yet. No, it felt more like… she was letting things go. She almost looked at peace.
Maybe it was because of what Cell had said, maybe it was because what she had soon realised.
Maybe it was because she had an excellent example in the name of Genjiro about why her dream for her little mijo wasn't so safe and successful after all.
"… Mom?" David nervously asked. Gloria only looked at her son, and just outstretched her arms.
"Come here, Dee." Gloria spoke softly, David did as his mother asked him. And walked over to give his mother a hug. Gloria patted David on the back, taking note that his knuckles and wrist were tinged red.
She had thought that she and David just needed to prove their environments wrong- that they can rise through the ranks, that David can reach the top of Arasaka Towers.
Maybe, he can. But then what? She didn't acknowledge it until now. Maybe she did so intentionally, because she was aware just how helpless they were to the city and the world and its system.
"Dee." After a few moment of silence between the mother and son, Gloria opened her mouth. "Were you ever happy to be in Arasaka Academy?"
"… No." David blinked, but answered honestly.
Gloria held back some tears, sniffling just a little. Of course she did, she didn't like to admit that all she did up till now for her son, the 17 years of work and tragedy that she had to endure was all for nothing.
But the world was too cold and cruel to give her the benefit of the doubt.
"Are you okay, mom?" David asked as he felt his mother's shoulder shake a little. Yet Gloria just tried to breath calmly, keeping her emotions in check before it spilled out.
"Everything I did, I did it for you, Dee…" A shaky breath carried Gloria's words out of her mouth as controlled as possible. David looked to the corned of the walls. They had this conversation before, in the car before the accident.
"I… I know, that's why you're never home."
"I just… I don't know what I should do anymore…"
David sighed.
"Look, if you still want me to get a good education- Genjiro told me himself he'd be willing to give me his support. He's an Arasaka Academy Alumni and an Arasaka Exec. That's gotta be something for us, right?"
"Mijo…" His mother asked back. "What do you want to do?"
David tried to answer right off the top of his head, but found himself lacking a proper answer. This was… this was the first time Gloria had properly asked him that.
What did he actually want to do?
A pregnant pause lingered between the two's dialogue. A few moments of silence that Gloria patiently took to hear her son's answer.
"I don't know…" David finally answered. He was honest. "I don't really know yet."
Gloria also took a few moments of silence in return, to help process what her son had said and what that meant for the two of them. In the end, she softly nodded her head as she brought David closer into her arms.
"That's okay." Gloria answered as she rubbed David's back with her palm, still sniffling a little, the edges of her eyes going red. "We can find it out together… We can find it out together, Dee…"
David buried his head in his mother's shoulder before he broke out of the hug. Gloria was wiping the edge of her eyes with her finger.
"And what are you gonna do now, mom? Still going to work at REO Meatwagon after you're able to walk out of the hospital?"
Gloria smiled a little softly at David, but shook her head.
"No, I got fired."
"… WHAT?!" After a moment of silent disbelief, David exploded. "That's fucking bullshit! You've been working for them for so long!"
"Dee, its-"
"And then you get into an accident that forced you to stay in the hospital and they fucking kick you out?!"
"Dee,"
"Who the fuck they think they are?! Mom, we've-"
"David, it's fine!" Gloria shouted to interrupted David's own rant. It was heartwarming to see her son caring about her that much, but she didn't really need it.
Gloria took the compad and papers, showing the contract.
"Cell came in this morning to drop these off. He says he's happy to hire me to work with them in the hospitals."
David looked to the pages, shoulders deflating but his grin returning at the corner of his lips. "They… they did?" He asked in a happier tone. Gloria nodded, looking down at the pages before chuckling.
"They offered far better pay than REO Meatwagon did. Better hours, too. I guess I'll be at home more frequently, now."
"That's…" David muttered, before his grin widened. "That's great! See, mom? I told you Arbee's out here to support us!"
Gloria's smile faltered a little. "Yeah, they do… huh?" She replied. "I was… thinking about the offer for a long time, you know. Despite the offer, they're still people your father ran away from."
David threw his arms in the air in slight frustration. "Dad didn't run away from Cell, he ran away from the UNSC!" David shouted "The old ones, Killshot told us so, right?! If they didn't care, they wouldn't have sent him to tell us everything! Besides, the people at the Graveyard, the Spartans, they all missed Dad! They were all nice to me!"
Gloria nodded in agreement. Maybe it was just her emotional side exaggerating her cautious nature.
"That's why I signed the papers, Dee. I'll be talking about when I'll start working. With the pay I'll be getting with this, we'll be able to live in a better place."
"… With proper washing machines?" David asked cheekily, calming down a little at the better news. Gloria snickered at her son's remark, and nodded.
"Yes, with proper washing machines." Gloria answered. "And, speaking of people missing Leopold…" She put the paper back to the table next to her, and showed David the Compad.
"What's… that?" David asked, pointing at the Compad before Gloria could explain. She took a few deep breaths before handing it over to David.
"Cell gave it to me. He says it was the final moments of your father, Dee. Told me I can watch it by myself, or with you… or just don't watch it all, if we didn't want to see it."
David looked to the screen, and sure enough the first frame of the video was showing David a Spartan without a helmet slumped in front of building rubble- alien corpses with deep blue and purple blood splattering everywhere, mixing in with patches of reds.
And the face of the Spartan looked just like David's- only a bit older, with a stubble. That was dad…, David thought. That was really him, and the Spartans… August, they were right- He really did look like David.
David looked up at Gloria with eyes wide in shock. Gloria only folded her arms and looked to David in the eyes.
"I haven't watched it yet." Gloria replied. "I… I've only just found out last night that he died. I didn't feel ready to… you know, take in exactly how he had died…" David nodded at her reasoning. Yeah, maybe.
But David wanted to watch. He wanted to know exactly what his father was in his final moment- No, not want. He HAD to know. Every day, David woke up feeling like he was destined for something big. And here it was, the reason why he thought so. It was clear that to his father, David and Gloria was everything to him, enough to join a war he couldn't return from.
"Let's… let's watch it." David answered finally, his hands a bit shaky in the pressure exuding out from whatever was in his two hands. "Let's watch it together."
"…Dee…"
"We… we have to know, mom. We have to know what Dad was doing, how Dad died. It's… it's the least we can do."
The slight setting sun shined through the open window, bouncing off the moisture covering the surface of Gloria's eyes, which soon was dropping down to join the rest of the tears in the corner of her eyes. Gloria took a moment to gather herself, before she nodded.
"Yeah, you're right Dee… let's watch it together."
David shuffled to the edge of the bed and sat down, placing the compad on his lap and raising it at and angle so that both of them could see.
David, with a shaking finger, pressed the play button.
Sounds of sirens in the distance, sometimes mixed or even drowned out by sounds of plasma projectiles and lead bullets firing. A single man breathing and rasping for breath, a wound deep in his abdomen ran through by one of the Sangheili Spec Ops' energy sword. Clad in a half-broken and poorly maintained MJOLNIR, evident that it was left to gather dusts and sand and wears and tears until the Spartan and took it up again for one last time.
Someone else entered the feed, Leonard looking up at the whoever approaching with tired eyes and bleeding mouth.
[... John?] Leonard spoke out, Master Chief's footsteps quickening in response, before the green titan took a knee down to meet Leonard's face. Grabbing Leonard's shoulder.
[Leonard.]
[I... John…] Leonard grinned, only barely visible in the security camera. [I don't know what's going on, but I... I stopped them. The aliens, the Covenants… I... the ODSTs...]
[Easy. You're safe now.]
[I... John, I'm sorry... I'm sorry that I ran away... I promised you guys that I'd come back to save the rest of you, but I...]
[Don't worry, you're safe.]
[I... John, the ODSTs... they had something, said they needed it to save Earth. I... I did what I could but... you have to help them...]
[Consider it done.]
[That's... that's good... that's good... John, the others- August, Jorge, Daisy... are they...?]
[... Still fighting. Just like you were here.] John lied, knowing that most of the 33 Spartan IIs that trained with them had long disappeared in the Fall of Reach.
[... John, I'm sorry... I'm sorry I ran away, could you tell them that? Tell them that, at least I fought here... I- I, wanted to see them again...]
[I will.]
[... Thank you, John... Thank you... The... the soldiers, they called me a Spartan...]
[You are.]
[I'm not... I didn't want to be, that's... that's-] Leonard coughed, blood spluttering out with spit. He didn't have much life left him in, only a pint of fumes letting him talk for just a few more moment. [-that's why I ran, when I had the chance, when I got the MJOLNIR... I didn't want to be... Is- is being a Spartan a good thing now? Do they know what Spartans are? What... what are they to them?]
Masterchief held Leonard's shoulders tighter, looking to the floor briefly before looking back up.
[Heroes. Hope.]
Leonard's breathing became raspier by the second. He didn't have much anymore, his fire flickering on ashes now.
[...Th-that's... that's good... we… our… pain, Samuel's… I... wish I was with you guys… to… pro-properly, act... like... one...]
Power left from Leonard's limbs. Eyelids only half closed as the head lay helplessly to the side. All John could do was put the MJOLNIR helmet back on Leonard, and lift up his friend's corpse.
[Leonard-131, files say that he was considered KIA. Committed suicide.] Cortana's voice echoed out from Master Chief's helmet with a hint of sadness and faint confusion.
[He didn't. Spartans don't die, and they don't go down quietly.] That's all Master Chief said firmly, looking at the littered bodies of the Covenant forces as he carried his friend in his arms.
The video ended there, with the two Spartans disappearing from the camera.
David blinked a few times to get the blurry vision out of his eyes, only to feel cold tears dribbling down his cheeks every time his lid closed.
A few drops hit the compad, as he used his forearm to wipe away the tears. Heavy breathing filled his lungs and nose, before he heard his own mother trying and failing to stop quiet sobs from coming out of her mouth. She ended up failing to watch part of the video, couldn't see the love of her life in such a state, sputtering blood and coughing until he just… until he just faded away.
David looked to the empty streets of New Mombasa, now silent and unmoving. Just until 2 days ago, David had thought of his dad as a coward. Coward for disappearing, coward for running away. Coward for dropping all of his responsibilities on his mother.
David wanted to shout. He didn't- he wanted to shout that to his father in this small screen. Nobody called him a coward for what he did, no one. The Spartans certainly did not. Whatever people could use to call him a deserter, his final moments showed that he did not end as one.
David hugged his mother to comfort her, and in some ways to comfort himself.
And even as he left the room and walked backed to the lobby, looking at the Spartans helping around the hospitals or stomping to the helipad outside to save another person in distress- he had thought of everything his dad stood for, and everything the Spartans stood for his dad.
'I don't know what the future will bring to us, but if it turns a man's nightmare into a kid's dream? Fucking hell, I know I don't want to let my senior spartans' efforts down.
Because these Spartans, for all their appearances, aren't machines made to be unbreakable. They were people who bled, broke, and sometimes didn't even come back. They knew this, THEY KNEW THIS! THEY KNEW THE COST! And they still walked! Still fought! Because it was the only thing they knew, and that was what a Spartan was.'
David remembered what Cell had ranted as he walked to the lobby, seeing Killshot talk with people nearby before the Spartan IV noticed David standing there with a blank face. David had watched the emergency conference on TV and it was still fresh on his mind.
David knew that his father, even in his final moments, didn't truly considered himself a Spartan. David understood why, Killshot and Cell explained so on two different occasions. The pain and near-torture that Leonard-131 had to witness, David understood why his dad ran away, didn't want to be a Spartan.
"David? You finished talking? How did it go?"
"… Fine, mom was hired to work as a hospital here, and… we uhh, we said that we'll find what I want to do together." David responded, with a facade of a grin covering his face. It did nothing to someone with eyes as sharp as Killshot, but he was considerate enough to not pry into David's personal business.
Killshot stood up, saying goodbye to the other people waiting in the lobby as he gestured David to walk with him.
David walked the streets, mind still swirling.
[Don't walk. Don't walk.]
[Dear David Martinez. We've received news of your violent behaviour towards another student of Arasaka Academy. Because of this, we have no choice but to consider you expelled from our institution effectively immediately. Despite this less than amicable departure, we still wish you well on your future endeavour.]
[Walk. Walk.]
[I told you that you were in deep shit! Look at you, this is why I told you that you should've quit while you're ahead! Fucking delinquent street rat thinks he can rise above what he was born to be- you're nothing, Martinez! You hear me, you're nothing! Just like your poor mother and your missing dad! At least that fuck knew you two were worthless! Probably took the chance to just leave and find something better to mingle with!]
David's furrowed creased at Katsuo's call. Nothing more than a childish tantrum after getting his ass beat.
'Is- is being a Spartan a good thing now? Do they know what Spartans are? What... what are they to them?'
'we… our… pain, Samuel's… I... wish I was with you guys… to… pro-properly, act... like... one...'
Moments of his father, smiling before he perished in his brother's arms were still burned into David's optics.
He could've said the same thing he said to Katsuo before, that he didn't care. But he felt like that wasn't the right thing to say in the moment. Instead, David replied to Katsuo's rant the same way Killshot did.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, kid."
[What the fuck did you just say! You worthless little-]
David hung up the call, looking up at Killshot's face. The Spartan unaware that David had just been in a call as they walked into the City Centre, walking across the pavement to try window shopping clothes and weapons, and sometimes drinking and eating at a local restaurant. Killshot's own rather sleek and clean fashion, and David's Arasaka Academy Uniform allowed the waiters to take their orders and serve food with no hesitation or looks. Minus the few glances stolen from nearby people that recognised Killshot as the Arasaka's extended family in the recent Emergency Conference. Killshot was a celebrity at this point.
"Hey, Killshot." David finally spoke after going halfway through his steak, sun was starting to disappear in the horizon which made the neon lights from buildings and cars all the more vibrant.
"You don't like the food?" Killshot asked, expecting David was speaking to ask about the cuisine.
"No, no. Food's nova. It's just… About the Spartan IIs." David quickly clarified, grabbing a fork to poke into piece of steak and eating it before continuing. "Were they fine with being kidnapped?"
Killshot breathed in deep, rolling his jaw in hesitation for a few silent moment before he spoke, looking straight at David.
"They said that they were fine. Said that being part of Spartan IIs gave them a purpose in life, but… that was a subject of heavy controversy in both to the public and within the UNSC. Dr Catherine Halsey was tried in court for her actions. Though if you want me to be honest- she was a scapegoat for the big wigs. Many consider their behaviours to be of broken minds. Trauma they didn't bother helping the Spartan IIs overcome. A lot of them have become well adjusted enough to talk to non-Spartans without problem, and I'm honestly happy, proud, and honoured that they consider even Spartan IVs like me to be part of their family. With the past they have… I don't want to let them down on their decisions and trusts. But that question is best asked directly to the Spartan IIs, not me."
"Right, okay… okay…"
"Why?" Killshot asked bluntly. "Did… something happen?"
David gently put the fork down on the plate, looking at his food for bit before he opened his mouth.
"Mom and I watched my Dad's final moment in New Mombasa."
"Ah."
"Saw how he talked to another Spartan named John. He said he didn't want to be a Spartan, but in the end… he felt… relieved? Happy? About how the Spartans were viewed?"
"That should be a normal response in my opinion, but… like I said, that's my opinion."
"Right, and… I guess I should ask what's it to be a Spartan."
Killshot folded his fingers together into making a short tent in front of his face, looking at David as he thought up of articulating an honest answer.
"That depends, doesn't it? From one Spartan to another. To one, a Spartan is the symbol of fear. Demons. To another, they are the peak of humanity- a super soldier. But all will unanimously agree that to be a Spartan, is to be a symbol of hope. Of a better tomorrow, and every power that is willing to protect it. It was first created with less than altruistic intentions with even less noble methods. But what do you think is greater- to be born good, or to overcome something as such through great effort?"
"… I… I don't know."
Killshot smiled.
"That's fine. There is no right answers for such questions anyway. But whatever the Spartans represented when the concept was first conceived… now? Now it's a symbol of hope that all Spartans of all generations fight to uphold. And we acknowledge the darkness of history so that we make sure the concept of a Spartan doesn't steer back that way. For those who had disappeared, fighting to make it so."
David listened intently, finishing his food and waiting for Killshot to finish his. He continuously tapped his foot on the floor in patience.
Both were silent, until David finally opened his mouth when the two had completely finished their meal.
"Killshot." David spoke. "I think I want to be a Spartan. Show my dad that he can be proud to be a Spartan, because it carries a different meaning now. For him, and to his side of the family. You know, high time I show just how nova it is to be a Spartan now, and that we haven't forgotten what he had to go through."
David looked to Killshot with eyes showing resolute. For the first time, David had decided to choose what he wanted to do.
However, Killshot's own expressions were grim. The Spartan tried to grin, but ended up sighing, breathing out heavily through his nose.
"… Kid, I was afraid you'll say that tonight."