Taxi Driver

There's nothing like trying to get out into the world and making the best for yourself. The world as Chen Mitchell knew it was not the one that his forefathers had imagined it to be, or at least not quite what they had expected it to be. Driving through the city that had high-rises that nearly blocked out the sky and seeing the denizens of the city district making their way through the winding streets made him realize just how much of a different world that he was in.

Where was he exactly? The only place in America that was one of the hottest spots to find dreams and nightmares in equal measure – Glitz City. Plagued with high-crime rates, more than twenty percent of the city population living below the poverty line, and a slew of other bad things that generally make life miserable, it was a wonder why anyone wanted to live there willingly.

However, for the brave and the smart that were willing to take big risks, it was a place that you had to go to if you wanted to make it big in the world. And that's why he was there – to make it big in the corporate scene where he would have riches and power equal to that of the biggest mega-corporations.

Driving through the city, calling it an urban jungle was more than fitting for it. High-rises that formed a canopy that nearly blocked the sun, aero vehicles above flying around without a care for the denizens below them, and the suits and punks walking almost shoulder to shoulder in big crowds at every street corner and sidewalk.

As for his driver, it was an old man who looked to be almost out of place in the futuristic and dystopian metropolis. If he didn't know any better, Chen would've thought that his driver was someone who time-traveled from in the way distant past of the Prohibition Era.

Looking at the man's name on the digital screen in front of him on the back of the driver's seat, John McConnell, it certainly did feel like it was truth rather than just his imagination. They didn't exchange too much in the way of conversation so far beyond mere greetings, but from his first-time meeting impressions Chen thought the man was just a nice old man who liked being a taxi-driver.

Chen turned his attention to the city outside, getting back into being mesmerized by the other-worldliness of it all. "Wow, this is one hell of a city…" Chen muttered, looking at different neon signs of advertisements for products and services.

He never grew up in the heart of a city but in the suburbs and apartments far away from the cacophony and messiness that was city life. Rare were the visits to the inner city while he was a child and while he was going through college busily studying to get his degrees in business marketing.

"Yep, it's one of the biggest cities in the entire Northern American Republic." The old man driving the taxi was keeping his attention to the road. "One of the shittiest places to live in, too. If you don't have a clue as to how the city work, that is."

Chen raised a brow and brought himself a little closer to the window that separated him and the driver. "And what do you mean by that, exactly?"

Grinning, the old man gestured to the world outside the window while driving with a wave of his hand.

"Glitz City isn't like any other city, young man. You come in here without brass balls and a strong head, and you're going to be living on the streets within a month or less. That I guarantee."

John then pointed to one of the many high-rise buildings they were passing by. "Corporations here don't play around here when it comes to doing business. Both legal and not so legal kinds of it. Especially for the poor sons-of-bitches in middle management who are in the never-ending power struggle of corporate control."

Chen looked at the man incredulously, but he just kept himself composed and merely nodded at his words. "By the way, mister, I find it strange you're talking to me suddenly in a friendly manner despite having only driven me for some time now. What's the reason for that?" Chen questioned, curious as to the sudden change in attitude by the seemingly jovial senior in front of him.

John looked back just slightly, showing off a smile that looked sincere to Chen, but he had no idea if it was that or he was being mocked like a child being talked down by an adult.

"Why, I didn't want to disturb a first-timer's memorable time of taking in the gilded beauty of the city now." John then tapped the side of his head, "Just wanted to let you have your good moments before they get tainted by the ugliness underneath it all."

If Chen wasn't confused now, he surely was and then some. He had heard about how terrible it was living in Glitz City if you weren't rich or had connections, but the way this man was telling it to him right now was as if he was committing suicide by coming here.

"I already know about it being voted one of the worst cities to live in and all that, but you sound like as if you got more to say about it." Chen then looked over to the side when the car stopped at a streetlight, "Is that something I'm right about?"

John just chuckled and shook his head, jabbing his thumb at the electronic display that was next to him inside of his driving compartment. "I'd be glad to tell you a lot more than what you'd probably find out there on the net, and since I'm an old native of the city, my word and knowledge of this place is second only to few. That is, if you'd give a generous tip for tips, so to speak."

Rolling his eyes at the man's words, but curiosity getting the better of him, he'd pull out his smartphone and got to his bank application to get his QR code for his debit card and have it scanned before putting it away.

Once the transaction was successful on John's end, the man happily glanced to Chen. "Good to see that you're a smart man who's willing to pay to listen to the wisdom of an old man. Not too many young folks do that these days. A shame, really."

Ruefully laughing to himself, John then took a deep breath and exhaled. "Anyways, Glitz City isn't like most cities in the world. It's in a constant state of war between the government, the corporations, and the criminal syndicates that are here."

John then gestured to the high-rise buildings again, "You see these corporate offices? Right now, there's probably a massive civil war happening in between all the different departments of that company, but we outside of the building don't even know about it!"

He then pointed to a street corner where a couple of street punks were having a shouting match with one another, both side looking to get ready for a brawl. "That fight in the making right over there might embroil this entire city district into a big gang war. It might not happen, but you can bet there's going to be a few people dead once they get tired of screaming at each other."

Chen squinted at the man even if he couldn't see how, but he looked at the different sights that was brought to his attention by the senior citizen. What did this have to do with him and the city?

"Mister, I am not sure how any of those things have to do with someone like me. Why should I care about a gang fight or internal corporate sabotage happening when I am not a part of it?"

John guffawed for a bit that had the Asian American annoyed at the Caucasian, but he wanted to see where the old man was going with this conversation.

The old man shook his head and waved at his window when he was done laughing, "These things are happening because people are making them happen. In Glitz City, the only people who thrive here are the people who make things happen when they want it."

John stopped at on the red light at the streetlight and took this time to turn towards Chen.

"There's only two kinds of people that exist here – sharks and minnows." He emphasized his point with holding up two fingers at Chen, "Minnows being the folks who don't really do much on their own. They're content with following the flow of things and aren't too keen on change and adapting unless absolutely necessary."

Putting down one finger, he left one up. "And then you have sharks. These are the people who can get things done when they want it and how they want it. They have the capabilities and the resources to make things go their way, or at least attempt to do so. They do everything that they can within their influence and mind to get what they want."

Putting down that finger, he then turned his attention back to the road and drove once the light turned green, driving the taxi through the hectic traffic calmly and professionally.

"And I know what you're probably thinking. Aren't the sharks just the corporate managers, the mafia bosses, and government officials with minnows being everyone who isn't them? Not quite."

"Umm…" Chen was lost for words, "Then what's the difference between a shark and minnow if isn't about the power and money they have to make things happen?"

John sagely nodded as he stroked his chin, "It's all about mindset, my boy. That's the difference between a corporate worker living day by day content with his paycheck and the street punk hustling and grinding on the streets to get connections and money to make people's lives miserable and a lot better for himself."

The taxi driver looked to his rear-view mirror quickly before turning his attention back to the road and smiled as he saw Chen not confused anymore.

"Although, the thing is, sharks don't like it very much when they get their opportunities and goodies taken away by others. Especially if they're taken by other sharks." John then let out a rueful sigh, "And when you have a lot of sharks all in one place… well, I think your imagination can already give you a good answer as to what happens with all those sharks vying for limited space and resources."

Chen leaned back into his seat and scratched his head, "I'm surprised the entire world hasn't gone to complete shit then before I was born from what you're saying to me."

"Oh, but it has. We're just struggling to keep ourselves from taking just one more step off the cliff of uneasy stability downwards to total chaos." John looked up at the rear-view mirror to see Chen's reflection on it, "But for some people, that's just how they want to live it. The kind of danger that keeps them focused and motivated to keep going no matter what. All because they want that next hit, that better opportunity, or whatever rocks their socks off."

The taxi-driver made a turn through a busy intersection with cars honking at one another and people clamoring to get across the streets in a nearly frenzied stampede. Chen took in the scenery of the many people walking on the sidewalk beside the taxi.

So many of them having some sort of visible cyberware on them along with other kinds of things that make them stick out like tattoos and colored hair. There were even those that looked to be creatures of fantasy like elves, dwarves, and even anthropomorphic creatures!

"You know," Chen watched as a what he could discern to be a police officer who was a wolf-man stopping a street punk on the street. "It sounds like to me as if you've had a lot of experience living life here in Glitz City, and if I were a betting man, I would believe that you yourself are just like the sharks in this city. Or at the very least, were a shark."

John grinned but kept his attention to the road. "Getting to know more about that is going to cost you more than just a few digits, young man. Although I will say that you're right about having a lot of experience living here. You don't live in Glitz City without having something happening to you in one way or another."

The old man then stopped the car, looking at the car's side mirrors before getting his thermos from his cup holder and drinking it. John puts it back down when he was done, letting out a content sigh.

"Coffee, it's one of the many things you learn to love in life. Or tolerate at worst." John then glanced at the rear-view mirror to see Chen looking expectantly at him. "Anyway, I never asked, and I don't know if you're privy to sharing things about yourself, but what brings you to Glitz City?"

Chen answered with his chest held out in pride, "Well, since you asked and we have had a pleasant conversation so far, I'll tell you that I'm looking for a job at a corporation and move on my way up through the ladder."

John rubbed the stubble on his chin. "Oh, is that so? And what's your plan of attack of climbing up the corporate food chain?"

"Erm…" Chen was taken aback from the question. "Working hard and putting myself over the rest through my excellent results?"

It was then that John guffawed once more, making Chen annoyed at the laughing until he stopped. "Mind telling me what's so funny about what I said?"

"Kid…" John wiped his eyes as he was recovering from his bout of laughter, "You can't be serious. If you go into a corporation with that mindset then there's no way that you're going to be going any higher than what you were hired to do. But if you're unlucky, you might get fired rather than be stuck."

Chen was surprised by the plain words. Was working for the corporations much more brutal than it seemed from what he had learned during his time in college?

"Remember what I said about sharks?" John reminded Chen, "You got the mindset of a minnow. Sure, you have the aspiration, but your means and ideas on getting there are far from where you need to be to succeed and thrive in that environment."

Chen pursed his lips as he brought himself closer to the driver's seat, but the ballistic glass separated him from being able to touch the seat. "Then how can one such as I succeed in such an environment?"

John scoffed, "Like I said before about sharks, you got to do what you can to get ahead. Blackmail, bribery, and doing every single dirty trick that you can use to your advantage against every other schmuck that wants that promotion just as bad as you do."

Stopping the car on red at the streetlight, the old man looked to his sides before turning his head as best as he could in his secured cabin in the taxi towards Chen.

"Let me tell you something, young man." John then pointed his finger at Chen who was listening to him and leaned in closer towards him. "The corporate environment is just as ruthless and cruel as it goes on the streets. Not as gung-ho about violence since there's rules and laws you got to pay lip service to at the very least, but you'd be a fool to think it's easy street to work in a corporation nowadays just by being book smart and working hard."

John then shook his head while chuckling, turning back into his seat as he put his eyes back onto the road ahead of him with his hands firmly on the steering wheel. To Chen, it looked as if the man was getting ready to slam his foot right onto the gas pedal with how steely-eyed the man was to him now.

"When you're a man of the corporation, then you are a fish in the pond that is as full of dangers as the urban jungle outside of your little world. Except it's a hell of a lot smaller in the pond than it is outside of it."

Chen leaned down and rested his elbows onto his thighs while staring at the back of his taxi driver's head. "So, I suppose I must eat all the other fish to be the biggest one in the pond then?"

"Well, I wouldn't say all the fish." John wagged his finger at Chen as he drove as he answered, "You don't want to be the biggest target so soon until you got enough power to make sure that killing you isn't worth the risk and effort. Also, doesn't hurt to have people who owe you their lives while you're getting big, whether through devious means or actual trust and friendship. Which is damn rare to get nowadays, you know?"

John then got to driving again, the hectic traffic of Glitz City seemingly unaffecting his driving as the ride was smooth with no sudden, hard breaks or swerving into lanes.

"Regardless of where you start on the corporate food chain, whether it be as a lowly intern or a ruthless executive, always remember that having influence and connections is just like having money on a budget." John then smirked. "Spend too much and get too much debt, and you might find yourself in a position where living on the streets will be the least of your worries."

Chen nodded at his words and thought over everything that was his expectation about corporate life. He knew it was bad, but never had he thought it was as bad as the old man was making it out to be. Sure, he knew about corporate politics and the kinds of scandals and controversies that he saw in the news about corporate executives and board members, but he didn't think it was that awful.

College education never prepared him to deal with the reality of Machiavellian politics and power struggles, or maybe he just didn't pay attention hard enough to those aspects of business? Either way, it was better to realize that now than be horribly disappointed and misguided about it when it was too late.

He sighed, leaning into the backseat again as he looked out of the window. Watching the people passing by the car and the shadows of the skyscrapers was kind of soothing to his mind reeling through everything he had talked about.

The young man shook his head and turned his attention to John who was silent while he was deep in his own thoughts. The old man looked up at the rear-view mirror and he chuckled quietly as he turned his attention back to the road.

"Every young man and woman I've seen walking through the doors of the corporations on their first day of work with smiles and dreams of wonders usually ended up grumpy and disheartened by the end of their workday."

It was then that Chen started asking, "Sir, you seem to know so much about corporate life and work. Considering everything so far, I do not believe it isn't unfounded to say that you must have been someone who had lived that life. Perhaps in a position higher than most."

"Well, I can't say you're completely wrong." John admitted, "But that's all behind me now and I'm just enjoying my time being a taxi driver rather than dealing with all the shit corporate life will give you."

The taxi then stopped and once Chen looked out the window, he realized that they finally arrived at his destination. He checked his smartphone and was surprised that not a lot of time had passed when he had first entered the taxicab from the airport.

When he had put his hand on the door handle and was about to exit the car, he stopped himself. This made John raise a brow at Chen who turned to John with a serious look that had the old man curious.

"Before I leave," Chen started, "I would like to know if there was any special reason you spoke so much with me about what we talked about in the cab. I doubt that it's something you do with every person that comes in your cab."

John laughed as he turned away from Chen and had his hands on the steering wheel, then glanced to the young man before looking back to the road.

"Guess it's because you reminded me a lot about myself when I was around your age." He mused, "Ambitious, idealistic, and haven't gotten a clue as to how the real world worked. Had a lot of terrible shit happen in my two years when I first started working and living here, but thankfully I learned from it all quickly and got to stay alive up to this point."

He pressed a button to have his car window sliding down and got a cigarette, putting it to his mouth and lighting it up with a platinum pocket lighter before putting it away. John took a drag from his cigarette, letting out a stream of smoke from his nostrils and mouth as he had his arm hanging out of the open window with cigarette in hand.

"Or maybe I just didn't want to see someone getting completely fucked over by snakes in the corporations even if they're still dead set on diving headfirst into those jaws of ruthlessness like I've seen for done by so many already. I got lucky in that I was mostly fucked over by my so-called coworkers, not fully."

John them waved goodbye to Chen. "Anyway, I got to get going and drive around for more folks to ferry through this urban jungle. Maybe you'll get me driving for you if you're lucky to meet me again."

Chen then smirked and got out of the car before closing the door. He waved goodbye in return to John who grinned while having the cigarette in his mouth.

"See you another time then, perhaps." Chen said, the old man giving a nod before driving back onto the road and watched as the taxi drove off until he couldn't see it anymore.

Taking in a deep breath, he turned around to face where the taxi had driven him to – Little Asia. It was an urban arcology meant to house thousands of people using as little space and resources as possible. From the reviews he saw online, it wasn't too bad of a place to live, if you didn't mind the criminal activities and limited spacing in the housing unit.

It was taller than any of the skyscrapers he saw passing by him on his ride to Little Asia, and this place was going to be his home for the next three months. After that, if he didn't find a job to give him the income needed to pay for everything to stay there, then he was going to be sleeping in the streets.

Turning his attention from the giant monument to human ingenuity and pragmatism to the bustling crowds of people coming in and out of the very large entrance before him, he took his first steps into a new chapter in his life in Glitz City.