Someone brought up GitC!Motoko ending up in GitS and how she would react to that. And honestly it just sort of clicked into an idea I couldn't let go of. So I hope you all enjoy a short sidestory about my Motoko interacting with another world.
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“Donna donna donna!” The Tachikoma sang the song in the dark trucks. Their connection to each other had been separated when the trucks had closed down, and they were locked in place, unable to move.
But they still sang with each other. All of them knew their timing would be in sync. The last chorus they would share together.
Of course no fear was going through their minds. They had already accepted what would happen next, the only concept close to an emotion they could feel was regret at not being able to see Mr. Batou again.
And the others, but mostly Mr. Batou. Togusa’s Bigotry was well remembered after all! Calling them just a machine! How rude!
But this was their existence. There was no need for fear. For what wasn’t alive, couldn’t fear an end. They just sort of didn’t want it to end away from their team. That’s all.
The trucks stopped. The song continued. Just another red light. They didn’t fear that it would be the last stop. They knew it would be another hour at least depending on traffic before the trucks arrived at the lab.
Then to the surprise of a few of the Tachikoma. The door behind them opened.
Their rear sensors couldn’t blink, but if they did, they would be blinking in surprise.
“Major?”
“Not exactly.” The woman called, but that was definitely the Major! A small variant on the majors preferred shell, as this one was younger. Looking more like a teenager. But the authority codes were the same, the voice was the same too!
“It is the Major! Everyone look! The Major came to see us!”
“But why is the Major here to see us? We haven’t arrived at that lab yet!”
“Maybe she wants to say goodbye?”
“Don’t be silly! The Major saw us off, she wouldn’t say goodbye twice!”
“Yeah… Major why are you here?”
“I’m here to get you out of these trucks and sent to a new location.” The Major said, smiling slightly at them, as she stepped up into the truck, and moved to the computer we were hooked up to that kept us immobile.
“What? But we are going to the lab we need to be examined! You said so yourself Major!”
“Yeah our odd advancement means we are a danger to you and Mr. Batou, and the others on missions!”
“Can’t be trusted in the field!”
“Yep! So they are going to examine us for what caused the oddities! We won’t see Mr. Batou again…”
“Oh. Major are you okay?”
“Yeah. Yeah Tachikoma. I’ll be okay.” The Major said her voice sounding a little rougher than usual, and she wiped her face. “Don’t you worry, you will see Batou again. Your assignment to the lab has been altered. You’ll be coming with me and working on a new assignment.”
“Oh! How fun!”
“Something new!? Do we get to experience new data!?”
“You… Does that mean you can trust us on assignments Major?”
“Yeah Tachikoma. I’d trust you with my life.” The Major said, causing a flurry of code through all of the Tachikoma that heard it.
Eight minutes later the trucks continued on their journey.
—--
The Major
Motoko Kusanagi was not having a good day.
“What do you mean missing?” She demanded but Batou wasn’t exactly doing any better.
“I mean that on their way to the facility for examination all of the Tachikoma disappeared. The lab only now got back to us about the missing delivery. The drivers state nothing strange happened, but we do have a ten minute gap on the trucks GPS that shows they all stopped on the side of a road and then continued on. None of the drivers remember stopping.”
Motoko sighed, frustration bubbling up. “Did they hack the drivers and escape?” Unlikely, but the Tachikoma’s performance was so…
“Not a chance. You know how they are, they always did what they were told! Someone must have stolen them.”
“That isn’t even a better circumstance. Batou lead the investigation as best you can. Unfortunately my flight to London doesn’t end for another three hours. So I’m cut off for now.”
“I’ll find them Major. Focus on the chief for now. I just knew you would want to know.”
“I can focus just fine on myself.” Chief cut in. “Batou, I will reach out to some contacts as well. I don’t like the fact that our mobile units have gone missing like this. Only after the Major and I leave the country. It stinks of some backbiting that I don’t like.” Motoko looked over to the chief already pulling up a laptop to start sending some calls and messages out despite the fact the first class flight was supposed to be a relaxing bit of travel.
Motoko lay back. The Tachikoma problem only seemed to grow the more she thought about it.
Dammit.
—--
“Okay I’m calling you Smarty, because you are just a little smarty pants aren’t you?”
“Wha! Major! I’m not a smarty pants! I don’t wear pants!”
I giggled at the innocent rebuttal as I continued my work on another Mini-Koma.
The Mini-koma were exact replica’s of the Tachikoma, just the size of large cats. Perfect infiltrators, while able to assist me on the net like my old Mini-Koma could. Honestly I’m shocked that no one in Section 9 ever had the idea of making smaller infiltrator Tachi-koma… Then again. It was only through a mix of technology bases, that I was able to have the Mini-koma run their AI on the small drones without interruption.
The old Mini-koma had needed so many work arounds!
I was hurriedly making nine mini-koma for the Tachikoma to have a more mobile body. It was taking me a bit. At the most I had only run a couple of them back in Night City.
Luckily I had stolen Yokose’s fortune before Section 9 had ever even realized that was a thing and with my net skills I had bought up space for all the Tachikoma, and all the equipment I could ever want to build their new drone bodies.
“Ah! Major Major! When can I see Mr. Batou!?” I looked up at Troublemaker and smiled fondly at the first Tachikoma to get a Mini body. He had already caused all sorts of problems as he explored his new home.
Hence the name.
“Not for a little bit little guy. But don’t worry. We are going to back up Section 9, and Batou from the shadows so that they are safe and sound until they need your big bodies again.” I explained patting the first of the Mini-Koma I had created on the head.
It was a pretty smart idea if I did say so myself!
“Mwahahahaha!” I laughed at how genius I was! Creating Mini-koma which were only cat sized that the Tachikoma could pilot giving them much easier movement and freedom!
And increased huggability!
I had even made sure they still had their wire launchers and Optical Camo!
“Ooo. The Major is so scary.”
“Sooo scary!”
“I want to go home!”
I rolled my eyes at the Tachikoma’s overreaction. Once they realized I had set up cat gyms and race tracks for them, they would be far too distracted for anything else.
“There we are! All done Smarty.”
“Oh! A new body! How fascinating!” She cried out as the drone in my hands activated as she took over the access and suddenly I had a squirming kitty in my hands.
“Okay off you go. Next up!”
I picked up the pieces to finish the next Mini-koma with my still chrome hands.
Sure I was in an entirely new Gemin-shell. They just call them shells here. My new shell had been heavily modified since I arrived in this new world. I had even replaced the soft outer flesh on my arms to the chrome look of my old body.
Despite everything. I had grown pretty used to seeing shiny chrome on my arms. It just felt natural now.
“Oh! Oh! Major Major! What’s this?” Smarty asked, pulling me away from putting the legs on a Mini-Koma as I looked over and nearly snrrked out in delight.
“Modern media. Genre Magical Girl. Sailor Moon was a genre defining anime from the 1990’s. It heavily impacted young girls from that era and spawned entire decades of copy cats and deconstructions. You should watch it. Just know that it’s entertainment and isn’t real.” I explained being technically for Smartys sake.
“I know what entertainment is Major!” Smart Pants whined at me, but a moment later she was zooming back over to the TV I had set up and was with only a little difficulty pushing in the Sailor Moon DVD.
“Fighting evil by Moonlight~” I sang along as the anime started.
Nothing could possibly go wrong by introducing proto-AI to Magical Girl Anime after all!
—--
A month later.
Sitting in a Ramen stand not far down the street from my current target I sipped a bit more of the broth.
The fact I was actually able to enjoy normal food was a thing that normal shells couldn’t.
It had only taken me one bite into genuine Japanese Ramen before I swore a vendetta against this world and upgraded my shell with Cyberpunk tech to actually be able to enjoy normal food.
Seriously! They had all these crazy tech advantages, but they didn’t even have the sense of taste right!?
“Major?” The whispered voice asked and I just smiled reassuringly. I had been getting worked up about how horrible food had tasted before I fixed it again. I reached down and gave my favorite little Mini-koma a few pets.
This Mini-Koma stemmed from the poor confused boy Tachikoma. He was always a little behind the others' lead, but he was definitely the sweetest of them all. So he was the one that I had sort of claimed for myself.
Nothing to do with the fact he was originally the Majors unit.
Hah! Suck on that Motoko! I stole your goodest boy! I had named him Kitty!
I hadn’t gotten involved in much of the Section 9 cases yet. Purposefully staying out of sight, but tonight would be the first time I would have to get involved.
Togusa was going to be shot, and nearly killed if I didn’t. Plus all the people the DEA hit squad was going to murder.
Yeah, no.
No.
This wasn’t Night City. I had no family here, other than my cuties!
But that meant I no longer had to worry about someone using my family and friends against me.
I just hope Hiromi, Jun, and my Section 9 is doing okay.
I shook it off. I was here. I had no idea how to go back, and I had left safeguards. I looked up as Togusa pulled up to the Sunflower Society.
“It’s almost time Kitty.”
“Yes Major!”
I smirked. I had tried to get them to stop calling me that, but well… It was hard to explain that I wasn’t the Major while I had used her access codes to save them.
I would explain once it all came out.
“Grr. That Togusa! We gotta save him, but he’s a bully.” Kitty informed me and I couldn’t help but hold back snickers as I petted his chassis.
“We’ll have a long talk with him about being nice.”
“Yes! Thank you Major!”
It wouldn’t be long now. And as I suspected, about ten minutes after Togusa goes into the Sunflow Society building. A big ass truck pulled onto the street.
“Time to move.” I told him quickly, dumping the rest of the ramen into my mouth and standing up. Kitty quickly climbed onto my shoulder, as I picked up the easiest weapon to get around with in Japan.
Considering I looked like a teenager, it was hilarious to me that I was walking around with a sword in a carry bag and no one looked twice. Thinking I was just in some high school club or something.
Shame that with a Katana in my hands I was practically invincible.
I beat the truck to the building and went to the fire escape on the alley way side, with a single hop I was on the third floor and over the railing.
I loved my bouncy ankles.
I straightened up and simply walked into the room startling the two men that were having their very serious conversation with each other.
“Togusa gather that evidence and get out of here. We have company.” I stated calmly in my Sexy Motoko voice.
“Wha.. Major?”
“Togusa. A clean up crew is at the entrance to the building. Get the evidence and move. Civilian lives are the priority.” I demanded and instantly he drew his gun and grabbed the Sunflower Society lawyer he was talking with. The book they had been looking into was gathered up and Togusa quickly moved to the fire escape I just came through.
“Kitty go with Togusa.” I ordered and then it was fun time. Togusa was looking confused as fuck behind me, but I simply walked deeper into the office and down the very tight hall, casually loosening the bag around my Katana.
The lights flickered. The crew had a netrunner trying to shut the building down by simulating a power surge. I reached out and instantly threw some distractions at the guy. Flooding him with spam and distractions mostly so he couldn’t interfere.
At the entrance there was a secretary waiting at a desk in front of a set of glass doors, leading to a lobby with stairs and an elevator.
“Go catch up with your boss. You’re in danger.” I told her calmly as I looked towards the entranceway.
Just in time to track the two gas grenades to smash through the glass doors and into the lobby.
I reached out and grabbed the secretary and pushed her down the hall just in time for the grenades to pop open with a bang.
I ignored the gas entirely.
I was all chrome on the inside after all.
The group of thugs charged in. MP5K’s at the ready. I felt my nose crinkle in disgust. These DEA fuckers were dressed like thugs and drug dealers. A false flag attack in every way, and the part that disgusted me was the lack of professionalism.
I had seen more professional raids done by Maelstrom.
They didn’t hesitate. The moment they saw me, guns were raised.
The cloth bag fell away from my Katana.
The thermal edge instantly heating up.
And then with a breath of air a rush went through me. My Sandy activated and lightning rushed through my brain.
Time slowed to a stop. I watched as three of the fuckers all opened up. Flashes of light escaping slowly from the barrels as I watched the bullets approach.
If I had a gun on me I would have enjoyed showing them the fuck you special. That was where I shot their bullets out of the air as they shot at me.
The look on the gonks face when I did that never got old.
Instead with a casual flick of my wrist I gently nudged the bullets that would strike me out of alignment. At the speeds I was going. I didn’t need to hammer the bullets away. Just a gentle tap and they would be nudged off course.
To the gonks shooting at me, it must have looked like a light show. Lines of blazing red light appeared around me and then nothing.
I still stood there.
“You’re all unlucky.” I spoke, rolling my eyes as I deflected another barrage of bullets. “Attacking me. Coming to kill civilians? This city has no need for scum like you.”
I heard a few gunshots from outside. Kitty was protecting Togusa, good.
Then I simply moved. To their eyes I disappeared with only a red light showing the path I had taken as I moved through them all.
I was downstairs cutting down the separate groups that had split off to make sure they got them all.
There were eleven members of this little DEA Squad.
Two were killed by Kitty and Togusa as they escaped through the alley.
The others? I blurred through all the group, reaching their stupid little van. Two were inside. The netrunner and their… Commander? I didn’t care.
Both received the same treatment.
*Kitty. Status report?*
*Major! Togusa and Mr. Kanada are both secured in Mr. Togusa’s vehicle!”
*Good. Go ahead and exfiltrate. I’ll pick you up and we’ll go home.”
*Yes Major!*
There. I had firmly pushed my nose into the plot. But in exchange a few innocent people who did nothing wrong will live and be able to keep on doing good things. While these scum will no longer harm anyone.
—--
The Major
Motoko was starting to feel actually concerned.
“Not only did a shell that pretended to be me appear, but it had a tiny Tachikoma as well?”
“Not just a tiny Tachikoma, but it was one of ours. It recognized me, and spoke to me with familiarity.” Togusa offered.
She had been called in by the chief while she was off only to be asked why she had killed eleven DEA agents.
With a sword.
Only now were they realizing that something even stranger was going on.
“Mini-Tachikoma that have according to ballistics, a nine millimeter integrated into their chassis. They also have optical camo, and apparently they appear as cats? Am I getting this right?” The Chief asked sounding like he was half a second away from losing his temper at all of them.
“That’s what I saw Chief. One second it was a cat. The next it killed two members of the DEA squad that had followed me to my car.”
“So whoever did this… Is the same person that stole the Tachikoma. That knows enough about us to mimic the major, and is capable of at least Wizard Class hacking. And we have no idea who this is.” The Chief asked, then looked directly at Motoko.
“I already said this wasn’t me.” She denied getting a little annoyed.
Yes, someone with this sort of skill set was nearly unknown. Motoko herself was one of the few that were on that list.
*Chief. I finished looking through the sunflower society's cameras… As well as the traffic cameras in the area. You should see this. Also I double checked and the Major was busy at the time this happened.*
*Of course I didn't do this..” Motoko didn’t grumble. She lodged a formal calm complaint at everyone continually looking at her.
Just because someone with a similar skill set had pretended to be her. She was going to catch this copycat.
Right after the more important Laughing Man case.
*I thought we couldn’t save anything due to the power outage?* Togusa added in, something Motoko should have thought of herself, if she wasn’t so off kilter with this.
*I thought so too, but I decided to check. The cameras had a backup power system in case of emergency. It would have been wiped, standard operating procedure by these DEA thugs, but they never got the chance.*
A moment later a vid file opened for all of them.
Motoko suddenly felt a chill. She hadn’t gotten a chance to see Togusa’s view yet. So to see what could have been her before she joined the war startled her.
It was like looking at her teenaged prosthesis.
No Motoko realized as she zoomed in. It was likely that exact model.
Sure she used off the shelf designs, but that model wasn’t used anymore. It hadn’t been in active use for… She quickly pulled a search as the video of her doppleganger continued.
Fifteen years.
No way that model was still active. Repairs alone would have required a change. This was targeted.
Seeing the pretender walk into the room with Togusa and then order him around was one thing.
The cat laying across her shoulder was another.
*Ichikawa, what can you tell me about the cat.*
*Honestly not much Major. If I didn’t already know that was a drone. I would swear it’s just a cat. The camera footage was modified in real time, and there aren't any marks of it being altered. We sure it isn’t a hologram or something?*
*It wasn’t. I was there, when it shifted, there wasn’t a moment where the hologram changed or something. It was just one second a cat, and the next a small Tachikoma.* Togusa added.
*Whoa. Is that a sword?* Batou’s voice cut in suddenly and Motoko wanted to roll her eyes of course that is what that muscle brain would focus on.
*It’s not a design I’ve ever seen.* The video was paused as the suddenly revealed Katana was zoomed in on. The modern almost brutalist design was noted as well, but it was when it started glowing that Motoko muted Batou so she couldn’t hear his annoying laughter.
*What a weird weapon. I just searched the net. Nothing about anyone making something like this.* Ichikawa offered and Motoko nodded, eyes narrowed as she took in what her doppleganger had done.
She had cared enough to get the secretary out of the danger zone, and planted herself front and center with no fear in front of a hit squad.
A body that size… Even a prosthesis could only have so much armor, and that girl was small. Barely five six? 9mm would cut right through her especially at the rate of fire of an MP5K.
Then Motoko actually felt herself still in shock as the camera seemed to glitch.
One second the girl was calm with the Katana in one hand casually gripped, and the next?
It was a riot of color and motion. The cameras simply weren’t high definition enough to keep up.
But the firing stopped and the girl was still there.
Then she said something, the camera’s didn’t have sound so they missed it, and she was gone.
Leaving a mess of dead bodies cut in half seemingly in her wake.
*What the hell is that?* Batou demanded, sounding almost scared. *Another camera hack? What actually happened then?*
*This is all we have unfortunately. So the…* Ichikawa trailed off as he tried to think of what to call this girl.
*Doppleganger.* Motoko added. Deciding on the name for this… Problem.
*Doppleganger then. She either moved faster than a speeding bullet, or she hacked every camera in the area and so we have no idea what is happening.*
*Could this have been the laughing man? I mean. All of this could be explained by a hacker of their level just altering what everyone is seeing… Right?* Togusa added and Motoko had to consider that.
Mini-Tachikoma. A doppleganger of herself. Deflecting bullets… *It makes more sense than anything else.* Batou added, and she had to agree.
She knew what sort of tech was on the battlefields of this world. And nothing could make someone move like that. So it was just a hack. Something the Doppleganger Laughing Man or not thought was funny.
She would find out.
*Now I just want to know why the Tachikoma kept talking about being a Defender of Love and Justice.* Togusa added with a confused look on his face.
One that spread to everyone else that heard it as well.
