Cybernova, page 10
“So, we’re going to put the van here, right Zeke?” I ask, pointing to a side alley within view of the store but out of sight from their cameras and guards. I remember Dex mentioning it a few days ago.
“Right, that’s where you and Dex will be since both of you are actively wanted, and there’s no way you won’t get recognized.” He then pauses, looking more nervous than before. It quickly dawns on me why.
“Oh, so that leaves you to join Ash in the field? Aren’t you also a wanted man?” I reply, my concernedness adding a bite to my words that I didn’t intend.
“I understand your concern, but yes, I’m afraid it has to be this way. I hate doin’ this risky shit, you know that. But I was mulling it over, checkin’ the headlines, and they aren’t necessarily lookin’ for me. They know you two disappeared from my shop, but for all they know, I was just doin’ my job, right? Plus, I’ll wear a disguise.” He gestures to a facemask, sunglasses, and ball cap lying on the table. “I don’t know, man, I just don’t think it’s safe to send Ash in alone, and I got nothin’ better. And besides, how do we even know Ash is still uncompromised? They found her apartment, after all.” He looks a bit defeated.
“I’m not compromised,” Ash interjects confidently. “They don’t have me listed on any wanted lists. I checked last night, while I couldn’t sleep. They may have been looking for me, but it seems like it’s on the lowdown. Chances are the local store staff isn’t queued into it.” She speaks in a reassuring tone, trying to cheer up Zeke. I’m also happy to hear it.
“Okay, yeah! Zeke, it’ll be alright. She’s not officially wanted; you’ll hang back and wear a disguise, and there’s no reason they should be looking at either of you long enough for it to possibly be a problem. Just get in, make the purchase, and get the fuck out.” I join in, trying to add to the positivity. I’m hyping myself up as much as Zeke, to be honest. Regardless of how good this plan is, it’s going to be our only one.
“Alright, you’re right.” He doesn’t seem terribly convinced, but I can tell he’s trying to put on a brave face. “In that case, it’ll be Astra and I acting as ‘business partners’ while you two watch and listen from the van.” He does air quotes as he says business partners.
“Sounds good, and if anything goes wrong, I’ll be ready to get in there and get you out. And remember, aside from your own safety,” I glance at each of them, “the most important thing is to get that fusion cell, no matter what. I’m on borrowed time until that thing is ours.”
Ash and Zeke nod solemnly. They seem to both be lost in thought.
“So, what was the other item you wanted to discuss? You said Dex had an idea?” I ask, changing the topic.
“Right, thanks for reminding me,” Zeke says, pointing enthusiastically at me like I gave the correct answer in math class. “So we’re doing this, ultimately, to take down CYBR Corp, right?”
“Right,” I reply.
“That was rhetorical, but thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“The thank you was also rhetorical.”
I scowl at Zeke, once again defeated in a battle of snark.
“So…taking down CYBR Corp..?” Ash chimes in, snapping us out of our brotherly squabbling.
“Yes, so I don’t know about you guys,” Zeke continues, “but I feel like if we’re gonna have any chance of making a legitimate, long-lasting change by either taking down CYBR Corp or restructuring it under more friendly management or what have you, we’re gonna need some leverage and a solid backup plan.”
“That’s a fair point,” I reply, the scope of our goal seeming much more daunting, “so how do we do that?”
“With cold, hard facts and just a touch of sensationalism,” Zeke says, smiling triumphantly.
“Right, meaning?” Ash asks.
“Meaning, while we’re stealing this fancy-ass battery for Olly, we also steal some data from their internal servers. We, or I should say Dex, can use that data as proof of the terrible shit CYBR Corp is doing. We get leverage against them, and then it’s just a matter of using it.”
“I’m impressed. Dex really cooked up a plan.” I reply, nodding. “So, what do we do with the dirt we dig up? And, for that matter, what kinda dirt are we talking about?”
“Honest, I got no clue what sorta dirt we’re lookin’ for, but there’s no way we won’t find some seriously heinous shit from even the most mundane of CYBR Corp hard drives. As for the plan, he thinks one of us should make a broadcast,” Zeke explains, “we’d have to hack into the CYBR Corp network from the inside, which isn’t exactly my idea of fun. However, it’d give us a chance to play a recorded speech laying it all out there: who we are, what we’re trying to accomplish, and, most importantly, why CYBR Corp deserves to be burned down in a fiery storm of hatred from all those oppressed and abandoned by them. All while displaying the stolen footage and data for all the world to see, the data ripped directly from their own system, proving we’re right. And when people see that, they’ll be hard-pressed not to join the revolution.”
“That’s awesome. Then we’d actually get some help with this thing. We can only get so far with the four of us.” Ash replies, excitement filling her face.
“I agree, that’s such a good idea! So, I’m guessing we’ll use Ash’s Holo to swipe some data while she’s making the deal? And Dex probably has some sort of virus ready to go?” I ask, grinning at the idea of increasing the fuck-you factor of this heist.
“Yup, he’s got it all ready to go.” Zeke smiles back at us.
“Fuck yeah!” Ash exclaims, pumping her fist in the air.
I nod and smile, buzzing with the excitement of working with my best friends to stick it to the man.
Man, it’s just like old times. I really fucking missed this.
It occurs to me that I haven’t actually spent any meaningful amount of time talking to either of them in, well, years. Sure, I’ve seen Zeke for tune-ups and casual chat, but I closed myself off from him pretty hard right around the same time I broke up with Ash. I feel so stupid remembering all that. I really don’t know how I thought it was the best thing to do. I can feel the shame burning in my cheeks.
“Hey, Olly, are you alright?” Ash is looking at me, concerned.
How am I so bad at hiding my emotions? Or is she just that good at reading me? I’m gonna go with both.
“Yeah, I’m…well, no, actually I’m not. It’s just I feel so bad for pushing you both away for so long. I feel like I missed so much time with the two people who were closest to me, the two people I cared, no, care the most about. Do you think, I know we have shit to plan, but like, do you think maybe we can just talk for a minute about how the past few years have been? I’d really like to.” My eyes are starting to well up with tears, but I blink them away.
Ash looks at me with a melancholic understanding in her eyes and nods. We both turn to look at Zeke.
“Okay, yeah. I’m glad you asked, Ol’.” His stressed expression has been replaced with a look very similar to Ash’s, his demeanor softening.
Without a word, we walk through the hallway back to the common space and sit on the old couch together. I sit in the middle, with Zeke on my right and Ash on my left. This is where Zeke and I used to play video games for hours on end back in the day. The old TV is even still hooked up. It’s like nothing has changed, but of course everything has.
I really miss that…
“So, what did you want to talk about?” Ash asks me, breaking the awkward silence.
“Well, I guess I just wanted to talk about how things have been over the past few years, since I, since we, well, you know…”
Come on, Oliver, you can do this.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is I’m sorry for being such an ass and for pushing you both away. And I’m sorry for not reaching out for so long. Zeke, we’ve seen each other, but I feel like I haven’t actually talked to you in years. And Ash, well, before our meeting at The Museum, we hadn’t really talked for…years. And it’s all my fault. You two were the most important people in my life, and I pushed you both away. But, well, I don’t know. I was so scared…so scared that you both would be taken away by CYBR Corp, just like Miles…” The words stop coming, and my throat feels dry. I can feel tears forming in my eyes.
But I can’t think about that now. My brother wouldn’t want me crying about him at this moment. He’d want me to move on and be happy. So, right now, I just want to talk to my friends, who are looking at me with tears forming in their concerned eyes right now. I clear my throat and wipe my eyes.
“Sorry, anyway, I’d like to tell you both about how my last three years have been. So, ok, I’ll start… So, after everything, well, after I shut myself off from the world, I fell into a deep depression, almost as deep if not deeper than when Miles died. I just felt like everything was hopeless, like…I don’t know. Nothing felt worth it. I wasn’t working, I wasn’t making money, just draining my savings month to month. I spent most of it on stims just to take the edge off. When I wasn’t high, I wondered if it was all worth it, but even ending it all seemed like more trouble than it was worth. I kept having to move into shittier and shittier apartments. I had a roommate for a few months, but he would always conveniently ‘forget’ his Johnnies for rent until one day, he straight up stole nearly everything of mine he could pawn off, including the stims. All I had left was my daishō since I locked it up.”
“Wow, that really fuckin’ sucks. I’m sorry to hear that, man,” Zeke says. He places a hand on my shoulder.
“Yeah, thanks, it’s all in the past now, so it’s whatever. But I guess I owe him thanks to some degree because, at that point, something changed for me. I was still depressed, but I realized I was tired of letting life push me around. I quit stims, and I vowed to never do them again. I started training in Kung Fu again, just practicing on my own for a month or two while going out every night to watch the fights in Ritorujapan. I joined my first fight about two years ago and got my ass handed to me by a super-modded guy. That turned my depression into rage, and I vowed to prove that I could win those damn fights, just me, with my minor cybernetics and martial arts training.”
“Uh-huh, and that’s where I come in,” Zeke comments.
“Yep. I trained even harder and, as Zeke knows, started to push myself too hard. I kept entering fights, and I actually won some of them. I lost way more of them, though. Zeke kept having to fix me up. But I made enough money to get a relatively alright apartment and buy back some of my tech that guy stole from me, so it was alright, I guess. It gave me a reason to get up every day, and that’s all I needed, or so I thought. Then everything changed when I helped Zeke save Dex from the Retribution, and when…when I saw you again, Ash. I realized how dumb I was to isolate myself and that what I really needed all along was someone, or a couple of someones, to help me through it all. And I hope it’s okay if I think of you both as friends again…I know I fucked up pretty bad, and it took me way too long to figure it out, but I miss you both, and I want to be there for you, and I hope you’ll be there for me, too.”
Tears are fully streaming down my face now, but I make no effort to stop them. I feel happy. I feel so much lighter than before, like a weight’s been lifted from my chest. I didn’t even know I was holding onto some of this, but now that it’s out, I realize it’s been weighing on me for years.
“Olly, of course we’re your friends, and in case you didn’t notice, we are here for you. We’re in this thing together now, and nothing can change that.” Ash says, taking my hand and gently squeezing it.
She’s smiling at me, and there’s sadness and understanding in her eyes. It makes me cry even more.
“Yeah, look, man, I don’t know what you think the deal is here, but I never stopped being your friend. Or did you forget who fixed up your dumbass every time you did one of those fights?” Zeke chuckles, his eyes wet with tears, too. “But really, you’re my bro, my best friend, and nothing was ever going to change that. I just knew that you needed to go through some stuff on your own. It’s all in the past, and I forgive you.”
“We both forgive you,” Ash adds.
“Thanks, you guys…that means so much to me.” I’m smiling and can barely see through the tears, but I don’t care. I feel so warm inside. I haven’t been this happy in so long. I pull them both into a tight hug, and we all cry softly for a moment, holding each other tightly.
Thank you, guys, I don’t know what I did to deserve such amazing people in my life.
After a few moments, we all pull away, wiping our eyes on our sleeves and sniffling slightly. And, most importantly, sharing a gentle smile of understanding.
“Now, if you’re interested, I can tell you about what’s been goin’ on with me,” Zeke says, seemingly trying to act casual.
“Yeah, go for it,” I respond. I am actually intrigued because he hardly ever talks about himself and his personal life. He was even like that back when we hung out a lot.
“Lay it on us!” Ash adds.
“Alright, settle down.” Zeke smirks, then says, “So, let’s see. In the past few years, not too much has changed for me. I kept my business going, which honestly took up most of my time. It doesn’t help that I kept giving free repairs and parts to this knucklehead,” he gives me a slap on the back of the head, “but I managed. I love running that clinic, and even though it’s tough at times with the occasional opportunist looking to steal my stock or what have you, I wouldn’t change that for anything. I got to meet so many different people, and it’s really rewarding to help those who need it.” He trails off for a minute, staring into the distance. There’s a look of pride on his face.
“That’s awesome. I really hope you can keep doing that after all this,” I gesture broadly, “is done with.”
“Yeah, you do so much to help. Good for you, Zeke.” Ash jumps in, lounging onto the arm of the couch. She looks like she’s a little more comfortable.
Now that I think about it, the awkwardness has started to fade into a familiar comfort that I’ve missed so much.
“Thanks guys.” Zeke continues, his face suddenly lighting up, “But the biggest thing that changed, and I don’t think anyone really knows about this, is that my sister, Laura, she had a little boy. So that makes me an uncle! I actually love being an uncle. That kid is so sweet and kind. And he’s smart too, much smarter than I am, and he’s only three! Not that it’s a high bar, but still.” He laughs a deep laugh, and Ash and I join in. “Only trouble is, his dad never stuck around long enough to care. So I send what I can to Laura once a month. I’m still trying to do that now, but I worry about them. I can’t make money while on the run, after all. I know she’ll be alright, and she has a job, but this city isn’t kind to those who need help. It’s a real mess. But that’s exactly why I’m here and why I’ll always try to help those in need. If not me, then who, right?” Zeke lounges back a bit more, seemingly feeling more relaxed as well.
“That’s a good way to look at it.” Ash comments.
“Yeah, uncle Zeke, you’re such a kind guy,” I say. It’s a genuine compliment, but we always have to throw in something on top. That’s just how we’ve always been.
“Yeah, no, don’t call me that.” He chuckles. “But thank you both. I really hope you get to meet little Ben someday.”
“I hope so, too,” Ash replies.
I nod in agreement.
“But enough about me, what about you, Ash?” Zeke jumps in, keeping the conversation moving, something he’s incredibly good at.
“Well, there’s not too much to tell. But let’s see.” She looks a little less relaxed all of a sudden, sitting up straighter.
“We’d love to hear it,” I say, taking her hand in mine, just like she did for me a moment ago.
“Okay,” she continues, taking a deep breath, “so I guess my story is sort of similar to yours, Ol’. I didn’t really have too much going for me at that time. I had some friends from earlier in life, but I couldn’t remember the last time we talked. I reached out to some but didn’t really hear back. I tried my best to scrape by just living a normal life. I didn’t have much money. I just worked whatever minimum wage jobs would take me. It was fine for a while. But I got real tired of scumbags hitting on me, or worse, and the wannabe gangsters holding up the shop while I worked the graveyard shift at a gas station. There’s only so much B.S. I could put up with, you know?” She looks up at the ceiling, an old pain distorting her face.
“I’m so sorry to hear that. You don’t deserve any of that.” I squeeze her hand gently, wishing I could do more to help ease the pain. It makes me so sad to see her hurt.
“Yeah, well. It’s sort of just part of being female, I guess. You’d think after all these years something would change, but some shit never does. Besides, I can handle myself, and I know how to defend myself when it comes down to it. Thanks again for teaching me, Olly. But it still doesn’t change the fact that it sucks every time.” She starts crying, but I can tell she’s trying not to.
“No. Pardon my French, but fuck that,” Zeke interjects, saying precisely what I’m thinking. His face is filled with disgust. “We can’t keep accepting that that’s okay. We know you can handle yourself, but you shouldn’t have to. It’s messed up, and it needs to change. There’s a lotta things that need to change around here, and that’s exactly why we’re here. We start with CYBR Corp, and then anything is possible.”
“Exactly, there’s a lot of injustice in this world, and the fact that on top of that, you have to face that kind of harassment is never okay,” I add, trying my best to smile reassuringly. “We’re here for you.”
“Thanks, you guys…I guess it’s just easier to say it’s fine and keep moving than it is to actually face it.” Ash wipes her eyes, and she cracks a forced smile. “So, anyway, I got fed up with trying to live a normal life, so I started getting involved in rallies around Nova City, rallying for human rights causes of different kinds. It was small and didn’t accomplish much, but I found people that I felt safer with and more connected to. And I was telling the corrupt, even in that small way, to go to hell, which was all I really needed.”
