“Man, it’s been like a month since I last saw Misty, how’s she doing?”

  “Good, good, she’s been askin’ bout you, ya know.”

  “Oh? What, she wanna try and read my tarot again?”

  “Heh, well that too.”

  “Hey, I’m always open to seeing her, you know that.”

  “But?” Jackie asked as we walked down the alleyway on the corner of Bradbury and Buran, not exactly Jig-Jig Street but it certainly does alright for Watson’s standards.

  “But… nah, you know what, let’s give it a shot this time.”

  “What, the tarot? Really?”

  “Yeah, what the hell, why not.”

  “Oh hell yeah!” he shouted, pushing me along by the backpack, “C’mon, can’t wait to see what she says. Prolly that your Qi is all outta-whack.”

  “Okay first of all, that’s Chinese, you big oaf.”

  “Yeah but I remember you said you’re like one-quarter Chinese, can’t ignore that side, y’know? Gotta give equal attention to the whole being.”

  “Wow, you really are like Misty, huh.”

  “Hah! Hey, I’m just sayin’ what she’d be sayin’.”

  “Well stop, it’s freakin’ me out,” I lightly teased him.

  “Nah, never,” he laughed as we headed into Misty’s Esoterica, Misty’s little shop on the left of this alley. Not exactly prime real-estate, but good enough to keep the lights running – with a few generous donations from yours-truly, anyway.

  –

  “Eeey, Misty!” Jackie opened his arms wide, “How’s biz?”

  “Eh, how d’you think-oh! V!” she brightened up as I walked in behind him, “What’s up?”

  “Nothin’, gotta see Vik about my implants, figured I’d stop in and say hey,” I smiled, leaning up against the wall. I do love how this place smells. Today it smelled like fresh blackberry – I swear, wherever she got her incense, I gotta pay ‘em a visit.

  “Alright, let’s get down to biz,” Jackie interrupted, “V’s gotta get her cards read.”

  “Oh, really? Finally talked her into it?” Misty smiled, looking over at me. “Alright, well you first, big guy.”

  “Hm, lookin’ forward, as always.” Misty produced her deck, a gift from Jackie some five years ago. Yet the cards themselves still looked immaculate. She always took extremely good care of what’s hers, especially anything related to her boyfriend.

  “Alright, let’s see… Palms down, please.”

  “Sure, sure.”

  Misty flipped over the first card and laid it down. “Hm… The reversed Magician. A sign of disconnect, manipulation, perhaps even treason. You will discover new relationships, yet not everything will be as it seems. However, it may also be a sign that you have hidden talents or purposes you have yet to discover. An ominous card, yet a sign of a bright immediate future…

  “Strength. A card associated with a fiery temper, passion, romance, driving your inner self to do great things… Your resilience will take you far. Far enough to overcome your obstacles, is for you to say…

  “The Chariot. You’ll direct your life how you see fit, seizing control in ways you never thought possible. Just be wary that the path you chose doesn’t end in tragedy. There will be decisive actions in your future, you just need the strength to be there when it presents itself…

  “The Devil reversed. You’ll break free from old chains, embrace a newfound freedom and clarity, yet this may approach more quickly than you anticipate. I predict a lack of closure. Be sure to take it easy, consider your options, for they’ll be quick and fleeting.”

  "Aw, doesn't say anything about a happily ever after? I'm disappointed," Jackie laughed, "Nah, thanks, Misty."

  “Ooh, sounds spooky,” I grinned at him while wiggling my fingers, “Alright, now me!”

  “What, really, V? Hah, finally,” she smiled, shuffling her deck as Jackie stepped away, “You know, I’ve been waiting for many years to give you your reading.”

  “Yeah, I know. I guess I’m just not that introspective of a person.”

  “Oh, I beg to differ,” she retorted, “You seem plenty spiritual and introspective. Perhaps too much so. You’re not unfamiliar with the arcane, you’re afraid of it.”

  “Hm…” I thought to myself before replying to her, “Well, if anyone can help ease me into it, it’s you.”

  “D’aw, you’re sweet,” she smiled, laying the deck out on the table, “Alright, let’s see… Focus on the recent past and where you want your future to take you. Okay?”

  “Mmm, got it.”

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Ah… Death.”

  “Wow, off to a good start, huh.”

  “Hah. Bit more complicated than that, V. Death marks a transitory period in your life. It represents the link between this world and the next. That it may be time for you to take the plunge and transform into whom you were truly meant to be. It’s a card of purpose, shifting times, and release.

  “The Tower reversed. You’ll see the world crumble around you, yet remain steadfast in the foundations you laid long ago. Don’t forget to take the time to appreciate the new beginnings. You may find yourself transforming into something new, beginning a journey that will result in a stronger fortress in its place.

  “Justice. A card symbolizing karma, truth, honesty, and personal values. People will reveal how they truly feel about you, and leave you with an open heart and soul laid bare. Should you falter on your path, seek guidance from your inner truth.

  “The reversed Wheel of Fortune. This change will bring about a period of introspection and deep inner turmoil. But should you regain control, you’ll find that you can grow stronger than you ever thought possible. It’s a symbol that without luck, you need purity, skill, and patience to prevail.”

  “Wow. Um… thanks,” I glanced over to Jackie, not exactly sure how to reply to that, “So, uh, how do I interpret all this?”

  “That’s entirely up to you, honey,” Misty smiled, “Not my place to say.”

  “I guess that’s fair…” I muttered, “Anyway, I’m sorry but I really should go see Vik.”

  “Sure, he should be in his office.”

  “Great, thanks.” I bowed and headed out back with Jackie briefly following.

  “Hey, chica!” he shouted, “Thanks for tryin’ somethin’ new.”

  “Gotta expand your horizons at some point, right?” I shrugged a shoulder at him and walked outside, leaving him and Misty to do their thing.

  Viktor Vektor’s office sat in quite possibly the most unassuming location for a ripperdoc, though this man was far more talented than any ripper I’ve ever been to, certainly even more so than the one Arasaka assigned me. But I’d never really know it at first glance. Vik used to be a boxer before he bought out Misty’s basement for use as a clinic, but his honest demeanor and genuine care for his patients saw a spike in steady customers as word spread. By all accounts, the guy’s doing quite well for himself, though he maintained an air of humility. The one bright spark in an otherwise dim city, as far as shops were concerned, was right here on this corner. Jackie, Misty, and Vik.

  Vik was like an uncle to me by now. I’ve known him for about three years, ever since he did work on my implants after my Trauma Team surgeon proved less than satisfactory. I never wanted them replaced, merely updated, and they gave me such a fucking hassle that I just said, “Never again,” and went out-of-pocket instead.

  “Hey V, what’s up?” Vik asked, “In for a checkup?”

  “Yeah, the usual.”

  “Well, step into my office,” he moved his chair out of his desk, tightening the Arasaka Exoglove strapped to his left hand. “Notice anything unusual? Eye implants are gettin’ old, ya know.”

  “Yeah, I’m aware,” I nodded, “But unless you’re planning on putting in organic eyes-”

  “Doubt that’d fly at your job.”

  “Ugh, don’t remind me,” I rolled my FAKE eyes at him.

  “Alright, so, let’s see,” Vik took out his handheld scanner, “Hm… looks like your hormone regulator needs toppin’. Gonna give ya some fresh estradiol and spironolactone for that. Got a bug in the old optic circuits, too.”

  “Oh? What kinda bug?”

  “Eh, just another minor glitch. Would turn off your TimesSquare marquee at random times.”

  “Interesting, uh…”

  “Heh. No, I can’t leave it in,” he chuckled, “Sorry.”

  “Hey, worth a try,” I smiled and bit my lip. “What else?”

  “Not much, to be honest, just the usual wear-and-tear. How’re the arms holdin’ up?”

  Eh, decent enough.

  “Yeah, well your definition of ‘decent’ isn’t exactly everyone else’s, ya know.”

  “Hey, everything still works so I’m happy.”

  “Look, you gotta face the facts, these are specialized implants that require specialized care, okay? Can’t go around abusin’ em and not doin’ anything to maintain your systems properly like you could in the war, they’re gettin’ too old for that now.”

  “I know, thanks, Dad.”

  “Hey, just doin’ my job, y’know I’m always gonna level with ya.”

  “I know. Sorry.”

  “Eh, ‘s alright. Here, come sit down, let’s get to work.”

  I didn’t have many implants, nor did I want any more if I had a choice in the matter. I remember when I first got them, way back in 2064. I looked in the mirror with eyes that weren’t my own for the first time and, well… I couldn’t recognize the person looking back at me. Sure, I looked the same on the outside, more or less. But it didn’t feel like me. I wasn’t sure which was worse, that I couldn’t recognize myself, or that I had to face the facts that I was utterly useless without my implants. Certainly in this job, with this skillset. No matter how good I was with a sword, I could never block a bullet. Not without a little help, anyway.

  “Alright, so let’s see… Your microrotors are in bad shape, need new magnets and bearings. Cables look alright, but there’s some fraying in the joints. It’s within tolerance, but with the way you stress ‘em with that sword of yours, well.”

  “Do what you have to,” I nodded. My tech might be over a decade old, but that means I’m well used to it by now. I remember when they installed my arm implants, first time I moved with them in, it felt like I was hauling around a pair of dumbbells in each hand from all the dead weight. I wasn’t sure if it’d even work. But then I tried using my sword and that power-assist kicked in, and I swung the blade so fast that I couldn’t even register what had happened. At that point I knew I needed a good deck to go along with it. Couldn’t do a Sandevistan, that’s far too invasive. But something with reflex boosters, yeah, I could swing that. So I requested a deck from Arasaka a month later and they came up with something fairly similar to what I have now. Of course, my current deck is a Mk5, as opposed to the original Mk1 I had way back when, but it still functions the same way.

  My eye implants represent my other major gripe. It's not necessarily because I'm against the notion of implants in general, just against them for me. I see the world through my eyes, funnily enough. And I don't like the idea of not quite trusting what is and isn't real. How do I know that the advertisements I see every day are really there? That a person isn't just a hologram? That what I see is a flat floor and not a hidden set of stairs? With remote hacking an ever-present threat, certainly in my line of work, how could I ever fully trust what I see right in front of me if my eyes are manufactured by a corporation?

  As expected, the procedure concluded with no issues after Vik replaced the strands of magnesium-titanium alloy with fresh cables where needed. My muscles would be destroyed instantly if I tried swinging my sword at full-speed without any reinforcements; likewise, the titanium running through my bones created a solid structure that wouldn’t splinter in a million pieces when I ricocheted a full magazine from a machine gun. One of the few concessions I made for the skills I enjoyed.

  “Right, Jackie’s up next,” he smiled and shooed me away, “Now git. Doctor-patient confidentiality and all that crap, you know the house rules.”

  “I got it, thanks, Vik… Oh, here,” I wired him the money, “Something extra for you. For not giving me a hard time.”

  “Hey, it’s no problem, you know that.”

  “Yeah, I know, but… well, I’m trying to deal with this fucking spiritual guru my job assigned me and it makes me want to rip my goddamn hair out.”

  “Hey now, TechHair’s expensive, you know,” he laughed, “Even an older model like yours.”

  “Yeah, I know. Anyway, uh, thanks.”

  “Sure. Come back anytime, V.” He patted me on the shoulder and sent me on my way.

  Fuck, I am not looking forward to work tomorrow. What makes me depressed is when I have a really good day off, all it does is make me wish it’d last just a little while longer. It’s like a dream I’m living in real-time, and just praying that I never wake up. But, not like I’ll have much of a choice now. Frankfurt won’t solve itself. Though I wished to the gods that it would. I’m tired.