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Cyberpunk Edgerunners: David Martinez With A System! [12]
🕑 Added 2025-01-20 14:06:07 +0000 UTCOwning Afterlife didn’t matter. Even reaching the top as a merc didn’t fucking matter— Because Jackie wasn’t there to see it. But now? Right now? Jackie Wells was alive and breathing.
Standing right in front of him. David could barely contain his emotions, but before he could say another word— Jackie raised a brow, smirking slightly.
“It’s Jackie, not Jack. Por favor.”
The way he said it— That signature teasing grin, the slight tilt of his head— It was exactly how he had always been. David had to suppress the urge to just hug the guy on the spot.
Jackie’s brows furrowed slightly, his smirk turning questioning. “Wait a sec—do I know you?” David snapped back to reality, quickly forcing a casual shrug.
“Uh… no. Just heard of you.” Jackie’s grin widened.
“Damn, am I getting that famous already?” David just laughed awkwardly, trying to play it cool.
Jackie watched him for a second, as if trying to figure something out— Then just shrugged it off, reaching out a hand.
“Well, since you already know me, let’s make it official.”
“Jackie Wells, born and raised in Heywood.” David grinned, clasping his hand firmly.
“David Martinez… uh, Santo Domingo.” David gripped Jackie’s hand tightly, feeling the weight of the moment settle into his chest. This meeting… this goddamn meeting… It was exhilarating.
Unreal. Like he had stepped into the past, into the very first time he met Jackie in 2077. No matter what background the player chose back in the game, Jackie’s attitude had always been the same—
Warm. Welcoming. Like an older brother you could count on. And now? Now, Jackie was right here, in the flesh.
Still alive. Still the same old, lovable goof. David felt a lump rise in his throat but forced himself to keep it cool.
“Santo Domingo? Rancho Coronado or Arroyo?” Jackie tilted his head slightly, his grip still firm.
“That’s pretty close to Heywood.” It made sense why David might’ve heard of him. Jackie had rolled with the Valentinos for a while, and the 6th Street gang—which had a stronghold in Santo Domingo—had clashed with them more than once.
Shit had gotten ugly a few times, so yeah— Maybe a kid from Santo Domingo would’ve heard his name floating around.
Still, it was a little surprising that David had come all the way out to Watson. Not that Heywood was super close, but it was still better than Rancho Coronado.
As if something clicked in Jackie’s head, he suddenly grinned. “Oh, right! If you’ve got time, swing by the Wild Dog in Heywood sometime.”
“I’ll take you on a proper tour of Night City.” David chuckled.
“Yeah… I’ll take you up on that.” Seeing Jackie like this, still so full of life, still talking about small things like showing him around the city—
It made him wonder. Maybe… just maybe… He might actually get to meet V someday too. The future was suddenly looking a whole lot more interesting.
“David, Your Time’s Running Out.” Misty’s voice cut in, snapping him out of his thoughts. He turned to find her pointing at her wrist, mimicking a watch.
Oh, shit— Time was slipping away. David’s eyes widened in realization.
“Fuck! Sorry, I’ve got stuff to do—we’ll talk later!” With that, he bolted.
Leaving the shop in a hurry, he sprinted out into the streets of Watson, past storefronts flashing with neon lights.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a massive display window, where gyrating figures performed for an audience—
Sleek bodies, seductive movements— Pole dancers twisting in fluid, hypnotic motions.
But he had zero time to appreciate it. He wasn’t about to miss his ride.
“Shit, I’m gonna be late!”
“That Kid’s in a Hurry.” Jackie watched David disappear into the streets, scratching the back of his head.
“What’s he rushing off for?” Misty just smiled.
“He’s a student at Arasaka Academy.” Jackie’s eyes widened slightly, then his expression twisted into mock horror.
“Arasaka Academy? Shit, this kid’s a corpo prince?” His tone was over-the-top, exaggerated—
But his mind had already wandered somewhere else. Somewhere… unpleasant. Because he knew another guy from Heywood who had joined Arasaka. A guy who used to be his best friend.
And now? Now, that friend was just another corpo lapdog. Jackie’s grin twitched, threatening to drop into a scowl— Until Misty spoke up sharply.
“Jackie.” Her voice was firm, displeased. Jackie laughed it off immediately, throwing up his hands.
“Relax, chica. I’m just messin’ with you.” Jackie rubbed the back of his head, his grin shifting to something more subdued.
Seeing Misty’s serious expression, he didn’t push the joke further. But as he turned his attention back to the shop, Misty silently reached for her tarot deck.
Without saying a word, she pulled out a hidden card— One that had been drawn alongside the Moon card, but left unrevealed. Her fingers brushed over the surface, her gaze darkening slightly.
“The King…” A card that represented dominance and ruthlessness. A ruler who would not hesitate to let corpses pile up to achieve his ambitions.
But…
Since David had already left, she had no way of knowing if it had been drawn upright or reversed.
And that made all the difference.
Yet, regardless of its position, when combined with the Moon and the Magician— It didn’t suggest anything good. Rather, it pointed toward a path of upheaval.
A path that would see him shaking the foundations of Night City itself. Misty’s fingers tightened slightly around the deck. She glanced toward the shop entrance, her gaze lingering. She was worried about that kid.
….
“Made It… Barely.” David leaned forward, hands on his knees, panting hard.
“Hahh… finally… made it…!” He had booked it from the train station the moment he got off, sprinting all the way to Arasaka Academy’s towering entrance.
In the end, he had barely made it before class. Even lunch had been rushed—just a few bites of whatever synthetic nutri-crap he could grab.
And, god— The taste was fucking awful. That weird, processed texture. The so-called “meat” that didn’t taste like meat. The lingering chemical aftertaste. If he ever got rich, the first thing he’d do was swear off synthetic food forever.
As he caught his breath, a few passing students shot him odd looks— Some with mild curiosity, others with thinly veiled disdain. Arasaka Academy was full of corporate brats, after all. A panting kid from Santo Domingo, barely holding it together at the entrance?
Yeah. He stood out.
