cyberpunk: Travel to 2075

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David's Thoughts

"Ahhh!"

David's body convulsed violently on the sofa, almost losing control as he ripped off the Braindance wreath he was wearing on his head.

The immersion brought by the black-market Braindance was so intense that David, lost within it, struggled to distinguish between fantasy and reality.

As the scenes before him and everything he perceived slowly faded away, David broke out in a cold sweat, finally remembering what he was doing.

He wasn't James Norris; he was David Martinez. Right now, he was helping a prosthetic doctor he knew by testing the content of a black-market Braindance before it hit the underground market.

This was part of David's routine as a part-time Braindance dealer. Every time he acquired a new product from the prosthetist, he tested it himself to ensure its quality before selling it to others like him. His unique perspective made him the perfect benchmark for classifying these experiences.

But this time, the Braindance hit him harder than expected, leaving him in a daze, struggling to recover.

"Didi."

A message from the prosthetic doctor chimed in his head.

"How's it going, David? This Braindance is fresh off a cyberpsychotic corpse, extracted less than two hours ago. What's your take on the experience?"

"Doctor, it's insane—you're a genius!"

"Haha, the real genius here is JK, the editor behind this masterpiece. It's an unrestricted Braindance, and JK is the best in the business."

"Honestly, my head's spinning, and I feel like throwing up."

"If you're feeling like a cyberpsycho, then it's doing its job. But before you hurl, why not jump into the next one?"

"No, Doc, let's call it a day."

David declined, rubbing his head and replying, "I saw some familiar faces in the Braindance. The impact is a bit overwhelming; I need a break."

"Calling it quits so early? I had a surprise for you next time—something epic. What do you mean by familiar faces? Don't tell me one of the NCPD officers in the vid is someone you know? That's quite the coincidence!"

"Yeah, something like that. Anyway, I need to rest first, Doc."

Ending the call, David exhaled deeply, the suffocating grip of the Braindance easing off him. Then, he covered his face with his hands.

It would've been fine if he just knew someone in the NCPD. The real problem was that the person he recognized wasn't an "extra" but the main character in the Braindance.

Something's definitely off here...

The afternoon's events replayed in David's mind. His schoolmates, trying to partner with him in the Braindance trade, treated him to a fancy restaurant just to secure a deal.

But the truth about one of them—that he could command the NCPD and face down cyberpsychos—felt surreal. Could it be that David was still trapped in the Braindance?

The timing was too close for comfort. The prosthetist had said the memory was extracted from a cyberpsycho just two hours ago. Could it be that right after David parted ways with them, they went to face a cyberpsycho?

Did he almost confront one with them?

The thought, though unlikely, sent a thrill through David. He'd followed every bit of cyberpsycho-related content he could get his hands on, one of the few in Night City who understood the danger and power these individuals wielded.

Seeing Karl's team take down such a formidable opponent with ease planted a seed of longing in David's heart.

Every man dreams, at least once, of becoming the strongest in the world. The sheer strength displayed by Karl and his team ignited David's imagination.

They really do exist...

David's eyes drifted to the Arasaka Academy uniform lying nearby.

Tomorrow, he would see Gaius again. He couldn't wait to ask him about the cyberpsycho fight. Having experienced Braindance killings, David was eager to know what it felt like to face one in real life.

Would it induce fear, anxiety, or a surge of adrenaline?

For the first time, David looked forward to attending Arasaka Academy.

In that rigid, oppressive environment, he glimpsed a spark of hope.

But thinking about school reminded him—he hadn't mentioned buying the next batch of Braindance to the prosthetist. Gaius assured him the supply would be ready within the week, so there was no rush.

Right now, he needed to wash his clothes. The luxury restaurant visit had left stains on his uniform, and with only one set, he had to ensure it was clean by morning.

Arasaka Academy's uniforms weren't costly for regular students, who could purchase extras. But for David, with no spares, it meant nightly washes. His lack of uniforms had earned several reminders from the school's AI system to get more, but it was a low priority.

"insufficient balance. Halting drying process."

The washing machine's abrupt stop snapped him back to reality.

"Mom, did you forget to pay again..."

David sighed at the damp clothes in the machine. It wasn't unusual; this was a regular occurrence.

Normally, he would wring out the water and find a way to dry his uniform overnight. But today was different.

David had 10,000 eurodollars from Gaius sitting in his account. Gaius mentioned the earnings from this batch of Braindances would be all his, needing only to buy enough to make a mark in the trade.

Glancing at his balance, David figured he'd still have over 5,000 eurodollars left after the purchase. Without hesitation, he topped up the washing machine with 100 eurodollars.

"Buzz buzz buzz."

Watching the machine resume its cycle, David felt a wave of gratitude toward Gaius. The 10,000 eurodollars was a windfall, and even the 100 eurodollars he just spent was more than he usually earned in a week selling Braindances.