Gloria was well enough to leave Vik's clinic, but she still needed rest. David let Maine know and sat out the afternoon's shooting practice to pick her up and bring her ho.
"Mom, I cleaned the whole place last night. You can go straight to bed when we get there."
David helped Gloria into the cab. He couldn't quite stretch to the Delamain premium plan yet, but he'd booked the best he could afford.
Vito had sent Jackie and Misty ahead to sort out the H10 apartnt paperwork. He got into the cab with David and Gloria.
"How are you feeling, Mrs. Martinez? Vik's touch still holding up?"
Gloria's complexion was still a little pale, but she kept her voice steady.
"Doctor Viktor is exceptional. I feel much better. Give it a little ti and I'll be able to go back to work."
"Mom, you don't have to. You rest. I'll handle the money."
David was quick to jump in.
"Trauma Team probably isn't going to take you back in any case — they did plan to strip your cyberware and sell it. Better to listen to David and rest for now. As it happens, I need soone with serious dical experience on my logistics side. Think about it, Mrs. Martinez. The pay cos out a little better than Trauma Team."
Gloria hesitated. She didn't want to keep taking from Vito, but Night City's reality didn't leave much room for not working.
"Thank you, Vito. I hope I can actually be useful to you."
Vito shifted gears.
"David. How are things going out there? Nothing too dangerous?"
David caught the real question underneath and answered accordingly.
"Nothing dangerous. Right now it's training and simple jobs. I'm not in front of any of the serious stuff."
Gloria settled slightly.
She turned to her son.
"David. Don't let your hacking go. You have real talent, it's just—"
She stopped. Sighed.
"Don't worry too much, Mrs. Martinez. David's got his head on straight. The Arasaka Academy thing was genuinely strange — them wanting him back that badly, odds are they wanted to use him as a test subject and introduce him to Johnny Silverhand through the process. Better where he is. With his family, for now."
David added:
"That's right, Mom. Don't worry. One day I'll be standing at the top of Arasaka Tower."
The three of them arrived at the H4 apartnt complex in Santo Domingo. The familiar walls did sothing for Gloria's color. They had a light dinner together and she went to rest. David packed up the last of Vito's things, took the load in both arms, and followed him out to the car.
"Not bad, kid. You've clearly been putting the training ti in."
David went slightly red.
"Thanks, Vito."
Vito put a hand on his shoulder.
"You're getting bigger every ti I see you. Keep going. I might need your help one of these days."
David nodded.
"Anything you need, Vito. I an it."
On the way, David passed along Rebecca's question about the gun modification. The timing worked perfectly for Vito — he'd been thinking about starting a gun modification business. In Night City, hardware and people were both undervalued, but a unique modification could change the math on both.
"Tell her to send a list of what she wants done. Maine's team gets preferred pricing. Anything rare or unusual, bring the base model in."
"Got it. I'll ssage her now."
They arrived at the H10 skyscraper. The elevator opened with a ding and hit them both with a wall of synthetic cleaner and discount perfu. The hallway walls were shedding plaster. At knee height: a child's graffiti of a dragon breathing fire onto stick figures. Higher up: tags and slogans layered over each other.
They found room 3204. Just as Vito reached for the door, Jackie and Misty ca around the corner from the direction of the open-air boxing ring.
"Hey, Vito! Ready to see the new place?"
Jackie's volu was calibrated for outdoors.
"Sure. I have a feeling my Night City ho is going to be described as tactically compact."
Jackie laughed.
"Perfect way to put it."
Vito opened the door and waved everyone in, then took stock of the room.
"Oh, Vito — you still haven't introduced your young friend."
Vito realized he'd forgotten.
"Right. My apologies — my palace overwheld . This is David Martinez, a talented edgerunner and my little bro. This is Jackie Welles, a capable motorcycle rider, assault specialist, and Vice President of the dical Dispute Resolution Group. Misty already knows David, no introduction needed there."
David and Jackie shook hands.
"I've t your mother. Is she doing better?"
"Much better. Thanks to Doctor Vik and Vito."
Vito put one arm around each of them.
"Save the pleasantries. What do you say we have a housewarming party?"
"Now you're talking!"
"Fine by !"
"Just make sure David doesn't drink too much — he has to go ho tonight!"
They picked up drinks and supplies and turned room 3204 into a cocktail bar.
Jackie mixed his legendary recipe, and Misty smiled with the warmth of soone who'd just seen sothing she recognized. Vito mixed his own recipe and passed it around. Everyone's face did sothing interesting after the first sip.
Then Jackie mixed a Johnny Silverhand for David. David pinched his nose and swallowed. Coughed without stopping. Everyone scrambled for mini Cokes to help him recover.
"It's harsh and it burns. What a cocktail."
David managed between coughs.
"That drink has the sa fiery temper as the man it's nad after."
Jackie patted his back.
Vito rembered sothing.
"David. Have you gotten your lungs replaced yet?"
David shook his head.
"Not yet. Too busy training. Once the program wraps up I'll go get it done."
"Fair enough. Speaking of which — don't you have training tonight?"
David's face changed. He'd completely forgotten to tell Lucy he'd be busy with the move. He grabbed his phone and called.
"Hey, Lucy!"
"What?"
"I forgot to tell you — I'm at Vito's place today. I'm not going to make training. Really sorry!"
"I know."
"Oh. Uh. I an. You. And I."
"Anything else? If not, I'll go."
"Uh. No. That's it."
The call ended.
Maine had already told Lucy about David's day off. Thinking about how flustered David had sounded, Lucy let the corner of her mouth do what it did.
"Idiot."
Back at the party, Jackie put his glass down and pushed for sothing.
"Misty. Do the cards for us."
Misty produced a deck the way a professional makes sothing appear out of nothing.
They went one by one.
Jackie drew the Chariot.
Vito drew Strength.
David drew the Wheel of Fortune.
Three people. Three completely different cards.
Jackie scratched the side of his head.
"Misty. I don't know anything about this. Can you explain?"
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