Lost then Found

Opening my eyes, I stretched out on the warm and comfortable bed.

Looking around, I remembered my surroundings.

"Shit." i Murmured to myself as I rubbed my face.

Sitting up, I looked around again.

As I did so, the memories of my dream world training filled my mind.

Twisting my body, I was amazed at the lack of pain or stiffness I felt.

"All the perks of learning but none of the down sides. I like it." I said, standing to my feet and making my way down the stairs.

Stepping to the ground floor, I looked around but couldn't find anyone.

But just as I was about to turn and head back up stairs, the hiss of the front door opening caught my attention.

Turning, I watched as Jackie then his mother stepped into the living room.

"Ah. Look who's finally up." Jackie said in his usual happy tone.

"We thought you would sleep the whole day away." Mama Welles said from behind the large figure of her son.

I looked around.

"What time is it?" I was confused, since there weren't any clocks or windows that might help me guess or tell the time.

"7:42 in the Evening, Choom." Jackie said with a laugh. "I thought I could sleep, but you just slept like seventeen hours." Jackie added with a laugh.

Putting a hand on her son's forearm, Mama Welles chidded her son slightly.

"What did I tell you, Jackie?"

Jackie chuckled.

"That he probably needed the sleep." Jackie nodded. "But still, that's an impressive record." Jackies said as he walked into the living room to take a seat on one of the plush couches while his mother walked into the kitchen.

I also felt that sleeping so long was also impressive.

"Hey, i have an errand to run, i don't know if i will be back tonight." I said, remembering everything that was currently cluttering my mind.

Mama Welles looked up from whatever she was doing in the kitchen.

"You don't want to stay for dinner?"

I felt my stomach rumble at the mention of food.

I couldn't help but lick my lips as my mouth started to salivate.

"I think I can spare the time." I said with a chuckle as she smiled back at me as she went back to cooking.

Taking a seat on the other side of the couch from Jackie, he turned and spoke.

"Man, let me tell you about my mom's cooking. It's out of this world! Every time I walk into her kitchen, the aroma hits me like a punch to the gut, in the best way possible. From her mouthwatering enchiladas to her finger-licking BBQ ribs, she knows how to whip up a meal that'll make your taste buds dance. I swear, her food is so good, it's like she's got a secret ingredient that nobody else knows about. I'm telling you, if you ever get a chance to try my mom's cooking, consider yourself lucky. It's pure culinary magic!"

I nodded my head in appreciation.

"Then I'm lucky I stayed." I said with a chuckle.

It only took Mama Welles twenty minutes to whip up something that made me nearly drool over.

Sitting on the sofa I could hardly contain myself from standing and stealing myself a bite of whatever it was.

"Foods ready boys." Mama Welles said.

Both Jackie and I stood up quickly and made our way to a table that was off to the side of the kitchen.

I learned of a new dish that was one of Mama Welles' specialties called 'Space Tacos'.

Incredibly, they tasted like street tacos but didn't have anything I was used to but instead had a lot of exotic looking ingredients.

The tortillas had a slight metallic sheen to them, and the filling was a blend of synthetic proteins. Despite the unusual ingredients, the flavors were complex and surprisingly harmonious, evoking a nostalgic sense of comfort.

Jackie grinned as he bit into one of the Space Tacos. "Told ya, didn't I? My mom's cooking is unbeatable."

I nodded, savoring each bite. "You weren't kidding, Jackie. This is incredible."

Mama Welles beamed with pride from the kitchen. "I'm glad you boys like it. Eat up, there's plenty more where that came from."

As we continued to eat, the conversation flowed easily. Jackie shared some of his stories of his escapades in Night City, always full of energy and enthusiasm. Mama Welles chimed in with her own anecdotes, her eyes twinkling with warmth and wisdom. It felt good, sitting there with them, almost like being part of a family.

After dinner, I helped Mama Welles clear the table while Jackie lounged back on the couch, patting his stomach contentedly. "You sure you don't want to stick around, man? Night City's a wild place, but it's always nice to come back to some home-cooked food."

I hesitated, thinking about the errand I needed to run. "I appreciate the offer, Jackie, but I've got some things I need to take care of. Maybe next time."

Jackie shrugged. "Your call. Just don't be a stranger, okay?"

I smiled. "I won't be. Thanks, Mama Welles, for the amazing meal."

She waved off my thanks with a smile. "Anytime. You take care of yourself out there."

With a final wave, I headed out the door, the cool evening air hitting my face. The neon glow of Night City spread out before me, chaotic and vibrant. I took a deep breath, ready to dive back into the madness.

Walking over to the parked rust bucket that was parked in front of the El Coyote, I opened the unlocked door, amazed and extremely happy it hadn't been stolen.

Sitting down in the driver's seat, I started the car.

"Ares, I'm gonna need your help with directions." I said, putting the car in drive, pulling on to the busy roads.

"Oh, hello!" Ares said moodily.

"What the hell's your problem!" I asked, stopping behind a car at a red light.

"Oh I don't know. Maybe the lack of a 'good morning, Ares' or a 'how's it hangin'." Ares said, grumbling.

I turned my head to the side confused.

"What?" I asked, annoyed.

Ares sighed dramatically, his voice echoing in my head.

"Forget it." he said annoyed, before he started to direct my turns.

Tonight traffic seemed to be heavier than the other night, so it took me a solid hour to make it to Lizzie's Bar.

Pulling into one of the last open parking spots, I stepped out.

Looking myself over, I made sure there was no reason for me to be unable to enter like the day before.

I wore a pair of light brown pants that looked like jeans but were made out of something that felt slightly like rubber.

For a shirt I wore a long sleeve white shirt that felt like it was actually cotton or wool, but I knew better than to believe it was made of the actual stuff.

On my feet, I wore a pair of black boots that reminded me of my old combat boots I wore as a Militech guard.

Leaning down, I made sure my hair was in good order in the side mirror of the rust bucket before I started to walk to the back of the long line.

As I waited, Ares, the AI stuck in my head, decided to start speaking.

"I mean would it kill you to treat me with some courtesy?"

I sighed inwardly, trying to keep my frustration at bay. "Ares, you're an AI. Do you really need pleasantries?"

"Just because I'm an AI doesn't mean I don't appreciate a little civility," he retorted. "I help you out a lot, you know."

"Alright, alright," I muttered. "Good evening, Ares. How are you hanging?"

"Thank you," he said, his tone noticeably lighter. "I'm functioning at optimal parameters. And you?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity. "I'm good, Ares. Just trying to get through the night."

The line moved slowly, and I took the time to observe the people around me.

Night City was a melting pot of humanity and technology, a place where the lines between the two often blurred. The people in line were no different; some had obvious cyberware enhancements, while others looked almost completely natural.

The air buzzed with snippets of conversation, the hum of vehicles, and the distant thump of music from inside Lizzie's Bar.

Finally, I reached the front of the line. The bouncer was the same woman as the night before.

Swinging her bat over her shoulders, she looked me over from head to toes.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" She asked, resting her gaze on my eyes.

I nodded my head. Figuring the truth was best.

"Yeah. you wouldn't let me in yesterday night." I said dryly.

To my amazement, the woman let out a loud laugh as she took a step closer, removing the bat from her shoulders to rest at her side.

"No fuckin shit!" she said, looking me over again with a new perspective.

"You Clean up good!" she said, with another laugh.

"Does that mean I can come in this time?" I asked, mentally crossing my fingers for luck.

She took a step back, nodding her head.

"Yup." she said, leaning against the wall next to the door.

The door swooshed open, revealing the sound of thumping music and bright neon lights that pulse with the rhythm.

Looking at the cyborg woman, I asked.

"Would you by chance know if a Judy Alveres works here?" I asked.

The woman shrugged.

"Not that I know of." she said, before gesturing with her bat.

"Get a move on, you're holding up the line."

Not wanting to get kicked out before I could even enter, I stepped in.

"She was lying." Ares voice said, sounding crystal clear over the loud thumping of the music.

Walking past the reception desk, I entered the large dance room that was stuffed full of people dancing and having a good time.

"She might have decided to replace most of herself with cybernetics, but that can't hide

the subtleties of human behavior of a lie" Ares finished, his voice tinged with a smug sense of accomplishment.

I scanned the room, my eyes falling on a male bartender who seemed to be handling the crowd with ease. He was tall, with a chiseled jawline that looked almost too perfect, likely enhanced with some cyberware. His eyes, a piercing blue, darted around the room, taking in everything with a practiced ease.

"That's our guy," Ares confirmed, as if reading my mind. "He knows more than anyone in this room."

I took a deep breath and made my way to the bar, weaving through the throng of bodies pulsating to the beat of the music. As I approached, the bartender's eyes locked onto mine, a flicker of recognition crossing his features.

"What can I get for you?" he asked, his tone neutral but his eyes wary.

"I'm looking for someone," I said, leaning in so he could hear me over the music. "Judy Alvarez. I was told she works here."

The bartender's expression didn't change, but I noticed his grip on the glass he was polishing was tightening ever so slightly. "Never heard of her," he replied, his voice cool and dismissive.

I knew he was lying. Ares had already confirmed it in my head. But I had to be careful; pushing too hard could get me thrown out. Or worse.

"Listen," I said, lowering my voice and leaning in closer. "It's important. She's possibly the only family I have left. I need to find her."

The bartender's eyes flicked to mine, a glimmer of something—pity, perhaps—flashing across his features before being masked by his professional demeanor. "Sorry, can't help you," he said, turning to serve another customer.

Frustration bubbled up inside me. I had no money, no leverage, and no time to waste. I needed to convince this guy to help me, but how?

Then it hit me. I had one last card to play.

Turning quickly, I made my way through the crowd again toward the entrance.

Stepping out, I asked the cyborg woman if it was cool if I grabbed something I forgot in my car real quick.

She shrugged, keeping her eyes on the line of people in front of her.

Walking quickly to the car, I opened the back door and grabbed the binder from the back seat's floor.

Again walking quickly, I managed to get back in without a fuss.

I figured as long as it wasnt a gun, the women bouncers couldn't have cared less what I forgot to grab.

Holding the binder to my chest, I weaved my way through the crowd again, making it back to the bar, squeezing in between a couple chatting and a blue haired tattooed woman.

"Here!" I said breathing heavy from the lack of air that seemed to be in the large room.

"What's that?" the bartender asked curiously.

Sliding the binder across the bar, I spoke.

"Give this to Judy. She will know who I am…Hopefully."

The bartender set down the glass in his hands before picking up the binder and opening it.

Flipping through the pages, I watched as his eyes started to go wide, then more so as he reached the last few pages, Then as he got to the last page.

Closing the binder gently, he looked at me for a moment, before his eyes drifted to my right where the blue haired tattooed woman was seated next me.

Slowly, he set the binder down in front of her.

Turning, I watched confused and extremely annoyed as she opened the binder.

I was unable to see her face, as her hair covered the whole side of her face.

Quickly, she flipped through the pages, before she reached one with me and my sister, which was taken right before I had left for training.

She stared down at the picture before she ran a finger over the face of my sister.

Then continuing, she took longer and longer on each picture, before my sister disappeared from the pictures.

Reaching the last picture, I saw a tear fall right on the picture of my niece.

That's when a sinking feeling hit my stomach.

I looked at the woman.

'Could it be?' I thought.

Slowly putting a hand on the tattooed woman's shoulder, I said one simple word.

"Judy?"

Lifting her head, I was greeted by the twin of my sister.

It was her.

It was my Niece.

My heart pounded in my chest as I finally found someone from my family.

She had tears running down her face as she looked at me, her eyes filled with a mix of changing emotions.

Rage, happiness, hope, and pure hate.