Return to good old shithole. Part 1.

I have just realised that with supressing "good old memories" about gramps and past life I have also supressed parts of my personality. Knowledge, experience, skills. In my desire to live "normal" life of ordinary salaryman or manager I have supressed them all and hid them deep inside of me. Anything that reminded or could bring back mentality of previous lifestyle. With help of expensive psychologists and drugs, all these have been densely packed and shoved somewhere deep inside my head.

Why? Because I have been scared of returning to that horrible life of constant rat race within a family. Moreover, I have feared that I may do that willingly. Predator cannot turn into herbivore. What if one day I just comeback to that life after having bad day or getting scolded at job or whatever. It is so easy and tempting to just unleash all that hidden power and ruthlessness to crash anyone opposing me like damn cockroach.

So I have decided to shove it down as deep as possible and dissolve in ordinary civilian life with hope of those parts of me will fade away over the years. But now, things changed. Only after fighting my inner demons I have realised two things. Firstly, I am now in completely different world where my family cannot reach me so now I can live the way I want without any fear of retaliation from them. Secondly and most importantly, I have realised that all my fears of coming back to that lifestyle nothing more than just nonsense. I have been able to free myself and have done that all on my own. There is no more leash on my neck, I am completely free predator and not hound dog with master and leash.

Every piece of knowledge, experience or skill now to my and my use only. They will help me to create my own path, my new life. So it is time to blow off dust from them and start brining them back to use. Hah, how foolish of me, that I have realised that only now. How much different my life in this world could have been. Hahahha, only now I realised all irony of situation. Due to my "dissolving" in ordinary lifestyle I have become too placid and almost got myself into another leash. Everything I wanted to avoid could have been repeated but luckily I got myself out.

Alright, enough of reflecting and wannabe level psychoanalysis, I have almost arrived to Night City.

"Dear passengers, we have arrived at Night City. Temperature outside....."- pilot started his routing speech while I started getting my belonging and preparing for another long drive to Trauma Team HQ.

Stepping out of a plane I have inhaled air of Night City. Same smell of fumes, chemicals and other shit. Ahh, I am back in this good old shithole. Talking about shit, I need to call one old shit.

"Ron, pick up a phone or I will take a shit in your car" - I said while waiting for reply.

"Hey, look who is calling. For almost a year nothing more than short messages saying am alive and dead silence afterwards. How are doing Markus?" - said Ron with cheerful voice.

"Haha, I am also happy to hear that old dinosaur like you is still alive. I am have completed my training and back to Night City. Now I am looking for a job. Got a place for poor professional?"

"Hohoho, look who is talking. Poor professional my ass. But I am really happy that you first contacted me instead of going to Afterlife or Arasaka recruitment office. Listen, I will finish today around 5 o'clock. Let's have a drink at Afterlife. What do you think?"

"I say prepare your liver Ron. See you at 5 in Afterlife."

"Good. I am really happy you are back. See you."

Now, I have a lot of time before meeting-alcohol torture session. Well, I need to find a place to stay so why not have a quick look for place to rent. I had enough of living in barracks and want to have one nice studio or flat. I can stay in a no-tell motel but honestly after having a quick glance via special scanner visor I really don't want to. Damn, even taking a sit can in a luckiest case make you pregnant and in a worst case can grant you whole combo of all known STDs. Nah, screw that. But simply jumping into first good looking apartment can also cause some headache. So I need help of local which know more about housing situation.

Right now most of people whom I know must be busy at work so the only option left is Maine and his Pokémon gang. Ok, Pikachu I choose use.

To my surprise and irritation he didn't pick my call but Sasha did.

"Hey Sasha, what has happened? Why Maine is not picking up my call?" - I asked surprised hearing her voice instead of Maine.

"Hi Markus, nothing much except that Maine is busy celebrating completing a contract. Celebration went so well that he had lost his consciousness and still barely functions."

"God, I am really wondering how much did he drink last night. Anyway, I am back to Night City and wanted to get a nice flat or studio to rent. Wanted to ask for your help since there high chance I may end up cheated by landlords and etc. Consider it as consultancy job."

"Not a problem. I am actually free right now and can help you with that. In case I can just do some Net search and send you info about reliable companies that deal with that."

"That's good. Let's meet at Kabuki Roundabout. I think it is perfect place to start searching. Or are you filthy rich and we can start from Westbrook?"

"Ha, I wish I was that filthy rich. Not yet Sasha, not yet. Ok so Kabuki Roundabout. Be there in twenty or thirty mins depending on NCART."

"Alright."

I have taken quick tube from airport to nearest NCART station. There I got into one of trains going towards Watson. Just as I was approaching Watson I sensed someone trying to hack me. I activated Kerenzikov and started looking for bastard. Gotcha! I see a guy trying to get closer to exit and run to next train section. Seems he realised that prey turned out too be dangerous and cautious for him.

Quick dash and grab him by the neck. Next I smash his head few times against the wall. Little cunt started asking for help but nobody responded. So I kept beating him up until we have finally arrived to station. I tossed him out and started walking towards an exit when I got called out by a bunch of wannabe gangstas.

"Hey shithead, who the fuck do you think you are to do so on our turf?"

Sigh, I am here in Night City for less than an hour and someone already tries to rob me and now threats?! God, you guys just got yourself death section on wheel of fortune.

Quick activation of Kerenzikov and Reflex Tuner, I get out M-10AF from holster. I started aiming for vital points since handgun lacks in power but compensates with not so bad accuracy. 4 shots and 4 dead or dying mobsters right in front of me. Thanks to drills I almost automatically perform 4 headshots making sure that they are dead. Hmm, maybe I better get Tsunami Nue or something more hard hitting? Yeah, Lexington is good for cops but not for people like me who more interested in making sure enemy is dead and not in court giving confessions.

Well, in less than an hour after arrival I managed to kill four idiots and get almost rubbed. I am actually back in Night City. Glad to see you again you old gold toothed whore.