Chapter 13 - Prospecting Friends 2 (2/2)
”Come on. Our shift is done. The night shift guys are here. Let's go to Tilda's,” said Nancy joining them.
”This early? It is only. Holy crap! We are going to be late for barbeque.”
”Always lose track of time when playing,” said Nancy shaking her head.
All seven of them got into Balthazar's car and they started off to Tilda's. Tilda's Barbeque was quite a famous restaurant. It was a prime spot for many youths and for professional outings. They place also had a noise proof room for karaoke. They got into a noise proof private room.
”So, what brings you here? Especially after an attack on your citadel.”
”I was injured and took a well-deserved break. I missed you guys and just decided to drop in.”
”You were that seriously injured!” asked Nancy genuinely worried about him.
”No. The family just wanted me here. Grandpa wanted me here till the storms over. The sudden attack by the apes and the reports have them worried a little.”
”So what game are you playing these days. War god's tempest is the most popular one. But vita nova is coming, and it has partial bio-feedback. The talk is that we can control the character however we wish in it. It would be game changing. We are all eagerly waiting for that.”
Soon, the food and drinks were served, and they got into talking about old time, the teachers, the times the got away from classes to play games. They all got drunk, sang, talked about old times and soon they fell down inebriated one after the other, until only Rudra and Balthazar remained.
Balthazar never drank before he became a legal a.d.u.l.t. So, he never drank with them. Though they weren't lightweights, compared to Balthazar who had trained persistently in the military and had the pico-tech serum running through him, they couldn't hold long enough. Balthazar was surprised that Rudra hadn't been downed yet. It looked like Rudra's natural physical endowments extended to his capacity for liquor too.
Only Rudra and Balthazar were still awake and were loaded. Balthazar decided that this would be a good time to ask him about the workshop idea.
”So, what are your future plans?” he asked Rudra trying to get the point in a roundabout way.
”Future plans? They were always the same. Establish my own workshop, cyber cafe, keep playing and maybe finally be able to put my name in the VR or entertainment industry. You know.”
”How are you going on about it?”
”Whoa! Did my father possess you? What's with all these questions?”
”Nothing man. I thought that with your potential and a bit of help from your father, you would have established your own cyber cafe by now.”
”I could have done it a year ago, if my father supported it. David doesn't even give me a decent salary though I manage the cyber drome. I took on responsibilities of the technicians too, but he refuses to raise wages. Shameless.”
”Why don't you join some other cyber cafe if he is that bad?”
”Another one? In this city? Dude cyber drome is the biggest one in the city. Someone in your family also owns a share in the establishment here. No sane cyber cafe would poach me into their team.”
”There are other cities you know?”
”I know. There are a few that would offer to take me. But, what about my team. They won't be willing to accept a completely new team. I can't leave Harry, Slaine or the others behind. I am not that strong without them either.”
He quickly gulped down a pint and burped loudly.
”I am stuck at this place. My only hope is to get my dad or someone to sponsor me.”
”No worries then. I will sponsor you. Get out. Live your dream,” said Balthazar through his drink.
He was suddenly shaken by someone holding his shoulders. It was Rudra.
”Are you serious?”
”Of course. I am. I can sponsor a workshop and also got a place that could be used to start it up. We just need to get the equipment and set it up.”
”Are you for real? You are not joking, right?” asked Rudra whilst continuing to shake Balthazar
”Stop shaking me. I am sober enough. Not joking.”
”That's great. Really great. I am going to resign immediately. I don't need to listen to that shithead anymore.”
”Now you sober up. At east have a look at the place before you go ahead and do something like that.”
”Hahaha. Yes. You are a god send. When shall we go?”
”No hurries. We are all quite out of it, right now. We can go there tomorrow afternoon when the team is awake.”
A few drinks later, they decided to call it a night and booked a room in a motel nearby for the inebriated team. Balthazar insisted that he had to return home and would meet them in the afternoon tomorrow.
He got into the hover-car and set it into auto-pilot mode and left for home. As soon as he reached home, he went for home. ”Today, had been quite productive,” he thought as he set his alarm and dozed off.