Arm & A Leg
Welcome to Night City. In this city, towering skyscrapers pierce the night sky, and bustling streets are littered with corporate drones, hustlers, and druggies alike. Everyone here is a puppet for someone else. Everywhere you go somebody wants to write your ending. I myself was enticed by this city, and blinded by these neon lights, I chose this life. I guess that’s how I ended up bleeding out on the sidewalk of this pawnshop.
I know it’s a bit cliche, but my life wasn’t always like this. I was supposed to have a future working for a megacorp, make hella eddies, and probably be a bit of an asshole. I had the smarts, the skills, and enough charisma to deceive your average choom. My folks desperately tried to make sure that I received the ‘perfect’ life. They were both born in Miami, worked in Miami, and lived there ‘til it sank in ‘99. Talk about starting the new millennium off with a bang...well more of a sploosh. Soon after Atlantis appeared, a towering oasis for the ultra-one percent, hovering over the remains of the former city. The only reason my parents got in was due to sudden vacancies in jobs because of the ‘unforeseen circumstance’.
In order to stay on Atlantis, they ended up both working for the militaristic mega-corporation Militech. My dad was hired as a mechanical engineer. He revolutionized some of the best tech and vehicles out there. Although, he liked to work on muscle cars in his free time. On the other hand, my mum was an accountant. in the era where eddies dictated power, she had mastered the art of navigating economic currents. Everything was going great for them, of course, nothing is permanent.
To make things short...my mother was made the fall guy by her boss. As it later turned out, the boss embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars, and when the heat was near, he fudged the records to make it appear as if my mom had done this. Of course that bastard gonk was caught, but not before my parents were already ‘punished’ by the in-company investigators. Suddenly, little Max had no parents, no home, and obviously no money. You probably know what was soon to follow. After I was pathetically compensated for Militech’s little ‘oopsie’ I had to find a new life for me. One where I could use my skills without anybody asking questions. Thus, Night City fit the bill entirely.
As for why I find myself involved in this particular robbery? Well, let's just say it involves a classic case of gambling debt, a dash of bad luck, and a healthy dose of desperation. But hey, when life gives you lemons, you squeeze into someone's eyes and make for a quick getaway, right?
I'm hunched over the wheel of Quadra Turbo-R, the cracked fibers of the steering wheel provide me with a grim reassurance, as I know my baby has never failed me before. The muscle car’s engine emits a low growl which helps to drown out the sound of my accelerating heartbeat. I peer out the window and view the area around me. Most of the buildings are abandoned, with trash, junkies, and filth overgrown on the surrounding sidewalks. I find comfort in this, as some things never change in good ol’ Night City. I look at the dashboard and tap on the screen as the radio comes to life.
The radio host shouted, “What is up my chooms and choombas respectively! Welcome back to 98.7 Body Heat Radio. It’s once again time for your midnight minute news recap.” He continues by saying, “It is only the second week of 2054, yet the reported death count is already at fifty-one. My brother, my friend, my choom, things are really getting worse. Prayers to all those in the morning. New specialized panels from Militech & Arasaka are being sent into satellites, in an attempt to better harness gamma radiation waves from the sun. That’s bonkers am I right!”
Just as the host delved into the next segment, two men burst out of the convenience store, clutching their goods. The alarms blare out in panic and can probably be heard in every blasted direction.
The car doors are yanked open, as the two breathless thieves leaped inside.
One of them shouts to me, "Go, go, go!"
With a devilish smile, and tinted shades to match, I look at the rear-view mirror and state to the passengers, “Well boys, looks like the fun is about to start!”
I slam the gas pedal, and the Quadra lurches forward, tires screeching against the asphalt.
As I burn rubber, the city’s neon lights reflect off my windshield beautifully. The pursuing sirens grow louder, creating a classic dance of cat and mouse. The roaring engine becomes a battle cry as the cityscape begins to blur past, and the lights seemingly fade away.
Out of nowhere, red and blue flashes danced across my rearview mirror, announcing the arrival of the relentless enforcers of Night City order. Panic clung to my chest as the police car closed in behind us, its cold steel frame added a sense of dominance over us.
"Hold tight, we're not losing them," I muttered, my growing tension becoming visible.
The police car drew alongside, its passenger-side window rolling down to reveal the cold gaze of the officer. "NCPD! Pull over, now!" the cop shouted through a megaphone, but I tightened my grip on the wheel, accelerating instead. The police car nearly matched our speed, and the officer in the passenger seat raised a sleek silver pistol.
“Duck!” This being the only word I can muster out before anything else.
The night exploded into chaos as gunfire echoed through the narrow streets. A bullet grazed my arm, eliciting a slight grimace, but the thieves fared worse. The crack of police gunfire mixed with their screams. One of them took a fatal shot to the head, as their brain matter splattered all over my dashboard. The splatter was a mixture of red and pink, dripping onto the carpet. However, the other clutched his blown off leg in tremendous agony. Weirdly, the goods shifted ominously unharmed in the backseat.
Somehow, I outmaneuvered the cops. As I pulll up to the drop-off house, I watch in guilt as the wounded thief is now slumped against the shattered window, blood seeping through his fingers. I watched pitifully as his life left his eyes.
I close his eyes, and with a deep sigh I state, “I’m so sorry choom, but this is Night City.”
Stashing the loot in my bag, I limped away from the car, blending into the shadows until the heat subsided. I slightly chuckle to myself, as my arm throbs with pain. I guess that’s how I ended up bleeding out on the sidewalk of this pawnshop.
Suddenly, a sleek black pickup truck slowly arrives right in front of me. As the window goes down, a familiar figure emerges from inside.
"Diana," Max breathes a sigh of relief as the woman smiles, her steely gaze betraying a hint of concern. "Looks like you've got some explaining to do."