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— Night had fallen by the time they left the All Foods plant.
Jackie rode like a demon, weaving through the traffic until they pulled up to the base of a towering mega-building in the Watson district’s Little China.
“Mano, this is the place I was telling you about.
Great food, and it’s Eastern-style,” Jackie said, hopping off his bike.
Levi looked at the “restaurant.” It consisted of a sun-bleached canopy, a grime-streaked glass display case, a rusted oven, three chairs with exposed, yellowing foam, and a dumpster.
“You’re sure this is good?” Levi asked, eyeing the food residue and grease stains on the counter.
“Best street food in Watson!” Jackie tapped the glass.
“Hey, Boss, one order of Chinese cold noodles.” He turned to Levi.
“What do you want, Mano?
My treat.” Levi sat on the least disgusting chair.
“What’s on the menu?” “Cold noodles, sushi, pasta, veggie meatballs.
The usuals,” the vendor replied, pointing to a flickering blue holographic screen dangling from the canopy.
Levi looked up.
‘Fluffy Meat Floss?’ ‘Easy Beef?’ ‘Holographic Snacks?’ ‘Gold-Medal Veggie Meat?’ ‘Poop Rice Crispies?’ ‘Lo-Dog?’ ‘XXL Pink Wrap?’ ‘Pineapple Pizza?’ Levi’s brain short-circuited.
What the hell kind of nightmare is this?
Back in his past life, even at his brokest, he’d never eaten anything this synthetic.
The menu contained zero real meat—it was all vat-grown protein or sludge from the All Foods plant.
Even the “vegetables” were clearly hydroponic pale imitations.
“Is this it?” Levi asked.
The vendor laughed, tossing a “Lo-Dog” onto the grill.
“Looking for real meat and fresh greens, eh?
That’s for the Corp-rats, friend.
Down here, we’re lucky we can afford the lab-grown stuff.
Half the city is starving.
If you’re picky, try the signature: veggie meatballs and pasta.
It’s reliable.” It sounded like cardboard.
But hunger, a brutal and honest dictator, forced his hand.
“Fine.
Give me that, and a bottle of water.” Two minutes later, a bowl of pasta drenched in oily sauce and a few rubbery “meatballs” sat in front of him.
Levi decided to wash his mouth out first.
He grabbed a cup, took a massive gulp, and immediately spat it out.
“Goddamn!
Why is this water so astringent?!” It tasted like it had been filtered through a chemical factory floor.
Jackie picked up the cup and downed a mouthful, smacking his lips.
“Tastes fine to me.” Right.
Jackie had grown up on this sludge; his taste buds were probably immune to poison.
“Boss, you got bottled water?
Pure?” The vendor looked at him as if he’d asked for a gold-plated toilet.
“Bottled water is for people with corporate badges, friend.
We don’t see that stuff down here.” Levi realized then: Night City didn’t just lack real food; it lacked the basic necessities of life.
He sighed, forced himself to swallow the chemical water, and shoved a forkful of plastic-like pasta into his mouth.
It was incredibly chewy—he chewed for ten seconds and couldn’t even break the strand.
He forced it down, feeling his soul wither a little more with every bite.
He looked at Jackie, who was happily slurping down his noodles, and twitched.
“Jackie, you actually like this?” “It’s not bad, Mano.
You’re having trouble?” “If I ever see real meat and fresh vegetables again, I’m never letting go,” Levi muttered.
“Eating this…
I feel like I’m going to starve to death in this city, even on a full stomach.” Jackie studied him for a long moment.
“Mano…
are you a rich kid from some high-level corporate family?” “Why would you think that?” “You only want real meat and fresh water, you’re too trusting, and you act nothing like a gutter-rat,” Jackie said.
“A real底層 (bottom-feeder) would be running for the hills the moment they saw me.
They wouldn’t dream of being my friend.” “I thought I was being careful,” Levi sighed.
“But no, I’m a bottom-feeder too.
I just happened to be born in a place that wasn’t a hellhole.” Jackie looked envious for a fleeting second, then tilted his head.
“So, if you come from a peaceful place, why come to Night City?” Because I didn’t have a choice, you idiot!
“An accident,” Levi said, rolling his eyes.
“Forget it.
Can you help me find a place to stay?” Jackie dropped the subject immediately.
“Sure, Mano.
What are you looking for?” “Just keep it cheap.” “Follow me, Mano!
I know just the spot!” Jackie paid, beckoned for Levi, and headed straight into the massive bulk of Mega-building H10.
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