“So, to say it simply. You want a second comm channel. Keep your corpo life and edgerunning separate?” Viktor demanded, his rugged face still focused at the boxing channel.
“Exactly that, it’s always easy to talk with you, Viktor. You understand the point instantly.” Ken flattered with a difficult expression.
“What’s the point of it? If you are gonna be moving around like that, people will link your identity sooner or later. No matter how brilliant you are, corpos won’t hire if they find out about your side gigs. ‘Specially if they are big guys like ‘Saka.
“Listen to me and persist for a little more. Once you enter the corpo ladder it’s not too late for you to pursue some dangerous hobbies.”
“Hm, I would like that too... but my pocket doesn’t agree.”
Viktor finally turned to him, eyebrows frowned. “What about your family?”
“...”
Rebellious stage? Viktor felt helpless. “Fought with them or something?”
“...No. There’s no one to fight against anymore.”
Viktor massaged his temple and instructed, “Lie down on the bed.”
“Thanks, I owe you one! ...about the payment, how much is it?”
“Is that all you think about?” Viktor asked as he connected him with the machine.
“You are the weird one, Vik. You are doing biz. Not charity...” Ken lost the strength to his voice at the end.
“300.”
“Great, I can afford that much! And Viktor, is it possible to add some weak Sandevistan model name in the empty fields of my Sandy?”
“Should be possible. What made you think of that?”
“Well, you know. If a netrunner cracked into me, if they didn’t check the specs in detail, the name should keep their interest at bay. I mean, if someone sees an ordinary Sandy, they'll move on. If they realize this one’s custom? That becomes another story.” Ken shared his thoughts as his holo popped up with a message saying, [Creating New Space].
“At least you’re thinking.” Viktor genuinely praised.
“Hm, honestly, I would’ve loved a Self-ICE, but I am seriously lacking in funds.”
“Don’t even think about it. Without knowing how much load that thing already puts on your nervous system, adding more would be foolish–”
“But if I get attacked because of it, there would be no meaning, no?”
“Tsk.” Viktor viewed Ken in a new light. When he met his eyes for the first time, Viktor instantly knew it was another chrome junkie. However, the transformation over the next few days made him realize this kid still had hopes. Grumbling but he still added, “Prototype's carrying offensive ICE. Been sleeping this whole time. I’ll wake it up, doesn’t cost much until something actually tries to crack you.
“But that only protects your spine and its spec. Your brain is still insecure. Don’t go around challenging some netrunners. On the matter at hand, if you either feel your spine or head heating up abnormally, you come back here straight, you get me?”
“Roger that, sir!” Ken even saluted.
“Might as well add that, so much for keeping extra power.” Viktor let out another helpless sigh. He worked on the screen while asking, “So, you’re in your final year?”
“Hm? You mean at ‘saka’s? I’m in my third year, still another year away from graduation.” Ken honestly replied.
“Have some inheritance to get by the final year?”
“The Sandy. 30 grand. That’s all. Well, after the academy fine, I’m just left with 1...”
Viktor snapped his head at Ken like he was looking at a strange creature. “Tell me I’m wrong, but you’re not edgerunning to continue your study, are you?”
“Nothing that grand. I have always wanted to be an Edgerunner... but mom wanted me to stand on the Arasaka ladder. She was so certain that I could definitely stand prouder than any other person.” Ken felt his mind empty as the words just flowed out. “Funny thing is... I never wanted that, you know. I have always wanted to leave Arasaka Academy. So when mom’s gone it was the best chance for me to drop out, but...
“I just couldn’t. My foolishness led to mom’s death. I killed her. So, top of the Arasaka Tower... I will try reaching for it. I’m a genius, so maybe I might just do it, who knows? Haha.”
“...” Viktor turned silent for a moment, reached over and squeezed his shoulder. He had no consolation for the boy.
Night City.
The City of Dreams.
Some chase their dreams... and some die chasing other’s dreams.
He tried to lighten the mood. “Want me to pull out the big baddy?”
“The Sandevistan? No... I’m taking mom’s gift to my grave...”
“Is that so? You’re patched up here. Thought a name for your edgerunning guy?”
Ken pushed through the load of emotions, “Mn, D...”
“D. Alright, with that, you’re done.”
“Sorry for getting all sentimental in your clinic.”
“Don’t mind that. I’m the one poking where I shouldn’t.”
“Haha, don’t say that. I’m grateful to you, Vik. If not for you, I might’ve already died with Sandy being stolen by some street gonks. Uh, Vik, what’s this? NCPD Link...” Ken mentally selected the icon that became visible.
“Opening it should connect you with the NCPD database. If you scan people it should give you their information. Invaluable since you’ll meet people who shoot first...” Viktor rubbed his neck and turned around. “It’s a little heavy on processing power but doesn’t really matter if your gonk brain flies off by challenging the wrong guy.”
“Thanks, I owe you another one. How much for the total.”
“Forget it, you don’t have enough.”
Ken transferred every last of his balance from the bank account to his local shard and transferred everything to Viktor.
However, the transfer failed and everything returned back to his shard.
Ken blinked. “Huh?”
“You have a checkup scheduled in two days, right? We will discuss it then. Don’t go dying before you pay me back.” Realizing he might be intimidating the kid too much, Viktor added. “Come here even if you have no pennies.”
/ / /
Ken connected with the local SecureNet and logged into his utility account. If he was going to be a corpo he needed to keep his record as clean as possible.
Not paying utility bills?
That didn’t mean you lacked the fund. It meant you broke the rule.
- 391 eurodollars
One BigMac.
- 18 eurodollars
With a cheap physical mask, and a thick hoodie that masked his frame, Ken holo-called.
The video call connected exactly after three seconds.
Gin looked exactly as Ken remembered her at Viktor’s clinic. Spotless without even a strand of hair out of place. “D, I assume. What’s with that getup?”
“I have my situation here. Any gig I can take on?”
“The street is a place of cred and rep. If you are here to play, you should give up. That said, since you have Vik’s vouch I’ll entertain you.” Then, Gin gravely added, “That softy said to give you safer gigs. However, if there really were any safe gigs would mercs be needed? You still have time to back out.”
“Just give me the gig.”
“Well, have it your way. Take the parcel from Japantown and deliver it to Watson’s Arasaka Waterfront. Easy enough, right? Now, don’t get caught and finish the gig by tomorrow night. Also, if you get caught or awol, I’m making Viktor cough up the goods’ price. Good luck, you will need that.”
The comm disconnected and Ken literally slumped on the alley. “Sheesh~ let’s call that a success. Still, didn’t think Vik to vouch for me. I guess he realized I don’t have any other fixers to rely on, haha.”
Ken checked the locations. At first, it almost gave him a heart attack. However, the location was only near the Arasaka Waterfront, not inside. His current disguise would protect his identity against civilian security but definitely not corpo techs. Especially something like Arasaka.
“Let’s finish this job and sleep. I’ll have to continue class starting tomorrow.” Ken checked his equipment, connected his hollow with the NCPD database.
[Synchronizing with NCPD Database]
The holo started to noticeably lag. Ken gritted his teeth and put his main comm channel to sleep.
/ / /
Japantown
The pickup location wasn’t some abandoned warehouse or shady motel like D had imagined.
It was a convenience store in the more crowded part of the area.
“...”
D looked at the marker again. Then the store. Then the marker.
Ok.
“...Seriously?” He pushed through the automatic doors.
A tired cashier barely glanced up from her holo. “Welcome.”
The store looked almost empty. Two salarymen browsed the drinks section while an old woman argued with a vending machine that had swallowed her eurodollars.
D casually looked through the shelves or any suspicious individual. The package wasn’t there. He checked the message again. Only the name of the location and some cryptic signals that felt unnecessary.
Everything pointed to the cashier. “I’m here for the pickup.”
“And you are?” The cashier spoke without a change in her expression.
“Come on ginger, we go a long way.” It was part of the cryptic signals, but he found it funny the fixer made a joke of her own name.
“Wait a minute, I’ll pick it up.” The cashier entered the back room.
A request for a holo popped up.
<Ginger: You are the new guy, D?>
<D: ...> Ok, that was her name. D decided to shut up.
<Ginger: What’s with your getup? You do understand it attracts more attention.>
<D: We’re doing biz here, let’s not get into how I operate.>
Honestly, he understood her concern. In this part of the town, his getup attracted more curiosity than anything else, but wasn’t he swallowing that up?
<Ginger: As long as you understand.>
Ginger didn’t send anymore holos and placed a plain paperbag on the table.
“...”
D picked it up.
It barely weighed anything.
“Alright, have a good night.”
D casually waved at her and the customer in line took over. “It’s so tiring to work even on Sundays... Ms. Ginger’s been working since morning, right? Isn’t the shift too long...”
D casually scanned both of them before exiting the shop.
Name: Ginger Reese
Occupation: Store Owner
Criminal Record: None
Name: Adrian Toule
Occupation: Part-timer
Criminal Record: Assault
“...Handy, but I guess NCPD’s not that reliable, obviously. Her store is just a front.”
Ginger sent him another holo.
<Ginger: Rookie, did you just scan me?>
<D: Eh?> Why would she know that?
<Ginger: You are using a civilian model to scan me, does my security look jokes to you?>
<D: ...> Fuck, the appearance of the convenience store completely misled him.
<Ginger: Take this as a lesson.>
Instantly unlimited red holo screens with [Idiot] filled his vision and a sharp sting shot through his optic nerves.
Scht-chet
Ken’s knees buckled, and the holo rebooted.
“Fuck, that bitch!” Ken dropped to his knees as his head stung.
“Pfft, serves him right. Dressing up like people interested in him.”
“Poor guy, got caught up in some netrunners’ bad mood.”
The passerby commented without stopping.
D felt his vision stabilize in seconds.
<Ginger: Online already? That was fast.>
<D: You do understand I have your goods in my hand.>
<Ginger: Careful, I might think you’re threatening me.>
<D: ...>
<Ginger: At least you have connection if you have NCPD Database with you.>
D didn’t bother to further argue with her. He cut the call and continued on his way.
A message arrived from Ginger a second later.
<I hope you already know.
Do not scan goods.
Do not open.
Do not ask questions.>
“I know, I know.”
Maybe because of the recent intrusion on his optics, D felt oddly at edge. Like someone was watching him.
Not directly.
Like someone had looked, then looked away.
D kept walking. Every muscle stayed ready to activate the Sandevistan.
He passed a ramen stand. A mirror on the opposite wall reflected the street behind him.
Nothing.
A young couple.
A delivery drone.
A homeless veteran sleeping beside an overflowing dumpster.
It was normal. So normal that it made him ill at ease.
Maybe he was overthinking. D tried to ease his nerves. Night City had a way of making everyone paranoid.
Watson wasn’t close. He could call a Delamain, or take the metro, or maybe hire an auto-cab. Then he looked at his balance.
“...Walking clears body toxins.”
Night City disagreed.
{Alternative Titles: Street Education; First Gig; Welcome to the Street; Rookie Run: Delivery; }