Chance and information go hand and hand in this world, its backstreet sense.
I walked down the path, items packed on my shoulders, walking as fast as I can to the nearest Association that gives fixer licenses, Associations are the biggest Fixer Collectives around, and are given the governmental power of handing out licenses, I'll have to go to the Feuer Association, they are easier to handle than the Ling Association nearby.
Remember when I told you everything is up to chance? Yeah, somehow, news about my resignation went out of the office into the backstreets extremely quickly.
Some hooligans decided to confront me about it.
"Oh, look at you, when some kid dies, you leave in fear!", they shove me around, not with enough intent to harm, but the mockery was real.
I gritted my teeth, I said to myself this is for the old me before moving on from their provocations.
Halfway to the Feuer Association, some real robbers saw me. I had to fight back.
They were obvious, pipes in hand, eyeing my duffel like treasure, I opened my case and took out my longsword. They got shook up seeing resistance, but they thought I was weak, this is their unfortunate chance today.
Three robbers, three pipes, three attackers. I readied my blade, if I had a chance to win this ganging, I'll have to cut down on enemies first.
I've seen countless gangsters fight out on the streets and fight inside with the Saw Collective Fixers. With that, I target their center man, poising it as a chaotic wide slash.
The two on the side dodge with ease, but when it was the middle robber's turn, he got his stomach slashed open. First robber out of three neutralized.
The first one dashed into the fray and went for an overhead, I sidestep and go for an upperslash.
It grazes his cheek, but I see the fear already. Two down, one left.
The final robber goes behind me for a knockout, I block with my arm, it hurts, but is worth survival.
I go for quick thrusts, one misses, but one lands near his kidneys.
2 with ruptured organs, 1 catatonic.
I decide to end their misery now, it's a good way to tell myself I have to stop sticking to the past.
I walked past each person lying down, with a downsweep of the blade decapitation after decapitation, I walked up to the catatonic robber, kicked him to the ground, and with a cold face.
I stab him through the heart. This is survival, I shouldn't feel sadness for those undeserving of any, why did I cry for those fixers then?
After the altercation, I continued down my goal to Feuer, having to pass by a Saw Collective Fixer who greeted me near Ling and suggested going inside of Ling. I told him I was going to Feuer instead, he offered to escort me there, I quickly rejected and rushed away. The Saw Collective hasn't placed a bounty for my head yet, either the person I spared didn't snitch, or they are just slow in the head.
I almost started fighting after seeing a guy get mugged, a girl get harassed, and another robber that eyed my stuff but didn't go near because I had blood on me. I wished to help, but it's better to mind my own business.
I reached the Feuer, entered the doors, the receptionist wasn't even surprised at the blood.
"Harsh journey?"
she asked with a deadpan face.
"Yes, busy journey."
I replied with the most human look I can without going crazy from talking to people. I have a bad case of antisocialism and paired with my want to help people in horrible situations, but that's the old me, or that should be.
I placed $1,000 on her desk, she knew what I meant, and things moved quickly.
We entered a room, and she opened her hand, gesturing to me to enter. As I entered, I saw a large concrete room, one dummy, Fixers on a taller platform looking below.
They told me to show my skills, and I did so.
A thrust, a slash, a downward slash, nothing impressive.
They looked deeply and said
"Pass, Grade 9."
I walked out with a Fixer license that day. Was I really going to do this? To become a fixer?
If this is the way to live a comfortable life, I'll have to take it.
I walked past the border patrol, flaunting my Grade 9 Fixer pass, they scoffed, but they couldn't do anything.
I was inside, I was inside the Node, the supposed pride of a district.
Everything felt similar yet alien.