Ghost in the City Cyberpunk Gamer SI

[Carrot of Truth]

The Uragan is a 10 shot Rocket Launcher. So she has 9 left.

Pretty sure she definitely has the technical skill to build more missiles for it if she put her mind to it.

 

[Tel Janin Aman]

Now I want her to take her BDs to the nomads and rub it in Saul's face; "See! I totally needed that rocket launcher!"

 

[Guardian Box]

Pretty sure she definitely has the technical skill to build more missiles for it if she put her mind to it.

She will start flying kites with homemade grenades strapped onto them to do airstrikes on a budget.

 

[The Whispering Monk]

She will start flying kites with homemade grenades strapped onto them to do airstrikes on a budget.

Nah...she'll use one of those dueling kites with monomolecular edges...

 

[Carrot of Truth]

She will start flying kites with homemade grenades strapped onto them to do airstrikes on a budget.

Honestly an explosive suicide drone would be better than missiles.

 

[Seras]

Second site of the night.

The first location hadn’t even been a real Scav Den. Just a small storage unit that three gonks that were definitely not official Scavs, just fuckers willing to do horrible things to people.

They were all dead now, and I had the XP to prove it.

*500 XP Gained.*

*500 XP Gained.*

*500 XP Gained.*

I don’t care if you were official Scavs, or just some assholes ripping people apart for eddies. They were all fucking trash in my opinion.

But that had just been on the way to Heywood. The building I was parked just down the street from was the bigger place I had ended up skipping to go to the Maelstrom meeting.

Once again. I accessed the system. Pinged them all, and had the entire place scoped out.

I was once again stacked up on the door. I waited half a second to see if Jun would call me to interrupt again, but it never came.

Go time. I surged through, rifle leading the way. I couldn’t just shoot through the walls this time. The basement they were hiding in was all solid concrete.. Unless I was using my Nekomata or my Burya I wouldn’t get any rounds through.

But I didn’t need that.

The first room was a garage. Two gonks inside. One working on a van. Obviously their meat wagon. The other was sitting in the driver seat obviously helping out.

Both were too slow to avoid my Copperhead as I unloaded on them both as I rushed them. The driver coated the windscreen in blood and the mechanic fell into his tool box very dead.

I didn’t pay attention to the noise of my system telling me I had gotten XP.

*500 XP Gained.*

*500 XP Gained.*

I didn’t slow down. I still had half a magazine and more Scavs.

Obviously the gun shots would alert them. So I didn’t slow down. At the back of the garage was a door that led into the basement area itself. This building had once been some sort of shop. The top floor had big open windows and butted against the street. Obviously they didn’t use it, but this basement was basically a loading and storage area.

The next room now was just a big empty space full of Scavs, and dead bodies. And all their equipment to rip people apart.

I leapt into the room using all my strength and my chrome ankles bouncing well past the door where instantly a few of the Scavs fired trying to kill me.

They missed. Then their guns stopped firing as I shut that down with a toothy grin.

I loved being a Netrunner. One of them I noticed did respond. A faint effort to fight back against the hack on the digital scape, but he was far too slow to stop it as it pinged him, then his chooms, then him again and again and again.

I rolled along the concrete, until I slowed enough. I rose up. Lines of golden light already telling me where to aim.

I popped up and three rounds echoed through the room, The light I was using as a guide post vanished, along with earning an alert.

*500 XP Gained.*

I rolled, slipping out of view behind the plastic sheets they had hanging from the ceiling all over the place to section off Ripper chairs.

To keep the blood splatter down.

Yeah it would still be useful now.

I flipped around, lined up my rifle with the golden lights and just started plugging away.

I got another one, before the others ducked behind cover realizing their weapons were dead.

*500 XP Gained.*

“Who the fuck is attacking us!?” A voice called out sounding terrified and I could practically hear the noise of metal on metal as he desperately tried to get his malfunctioning gun to work.

“Some bitch! Watch out for more! They got a Netrunner!”

“Don’t worry!” I called out in return, using my sexy Motoko voice as well, I was recording after all. “I’m the one who is going to send you all to hell!” I yelled out excited for what came next.

I shifted back up to my feet still crouched and then leapt.

The plastic sheet kept me from view until the last moment when I hit it at the apex of my jump and then ripped through.

They freaked, leaping out of cover desperately pointing weapons that weren’t functional. Only one had a smart idea and grabbed a big fucking machete knife and charged at me.

I hit the ground, rolled forward and he reached me just as my rifle was brought up.

I unloaded on him, easily blasting him away from me with the remainder of my magazine.

*500 XP Gained.*

I dropped the rifle. Reload would take too long, and I had other options.

Lexington was quickdrawn to a position right against my chest as I turned and unloaded into another Scav that was trying to attack me from behind. He cried out as his chest turned into swiss cheese.

Then he died.

*500 XP Gained.*

I started chasing the rest, killing another one who was hiding under a table as if he could just disappear there, and then to my irritation two of them were smart.

*500 XP Gained.*

They delta’ed. I ran at a door that the two had slipped into and was brought to a complete halt as I slammed into it and it didn’t budge.

I slammed the handle again and pushed but the door barely budged.

They had thrown something heavy on the other side.

“Fuckers!”
I turned and ran. I would have to head out the garage and get around the building. They were escaping out the front!

Even with all my speed by the time I made it to the front of the store their car was already nearly down the street, their golden lines fading away as they got too far away from the building net, and already well past the range I could quickhack as I could see them directly.

My Quadra was parked around the back. It would take too long to get into it, and then chase them.

Two escaped.

Two Scavs escaped me.

I had done this because I wanted to practice going loud. But I let two Scavs escape!

I should have blinded them. I should have shown up with my HMG.

I should have stealthed the whole group.

I should have… I should have…

I stepped back and pushed myself against the front of the old boarded up storefront.

Cool.

Get cool.

I exhaled arctic air and suddenly the absolute fit I had been half way into stalled out.

“I’m okay. Mistakes happen, and we learn from them.” I told myself. I had almost just had a complete freakout over letting two Scavs get away.

Yeah that wasn’t a healthy sign.

“Fuck.”

—--

I ignored everything as I headed home.

I still had more Scav dens I could hit, but I was obviously not handling this whole situation as well as I thought I was.

The apartment was quiet as I stomped in flipping off my boots at the door with a few wobbling bounces as I then stripped out of my armor letting it just drop to the floor.

There was a ton of floor space. Plenty of space to leave things for later.

I stripped out of my Section 9 clothes, the armored weight feeling far too restricting right now. Both jacket and pants were thrown onto the floor leaving me feeling a lot cooler as I wiped some sweat off my head.

Then I flopped face first onto the couch.

The couch wasn’t right. It was too cushiony. It didn’t smell like home either.

I screamed into the cushion slamming my fist down into it over and over until I was out of air.

Then I rolled off the couch and stood up. Annoyed at the stupid inset couch I had to climb out of just to get back on the floor.

I ran into my room. There was only one solution to this frustration I was feeling.

I grabbed my guitar and my music box.

I could have stayed in my room, but I didn’t want to be in there right now. So I hooked myself into my Music box and dropped the box onto the couch as I paced around the back of the couch.

I wanted something angry. Something fitting, but I wasn’t sure what to play.

I felt frustrated. Burned on the inside because everything that was happening just…

“I’m going to burn this city.” I muttered the song coming to mind instantly. Not exactly my favorite band. Not even my favorite song, but I couldn’t deny that there was a reason it fit Edgerunners so well.

And right now I was feeling full of fire too. Franz Ferdinand’s This Fire… Yeah I could make it work.

I switched up my voice, I wasn’t going to try and copy the singer from Franz Ferdinand… At least I was pretty sure that was just the band name and not the artist…

Oh well. No way for me to know now.

And so my voice went huskier. Heavier. I wasn’t going to play the song with the almost joyful chaos feeling the original had.

I was angry.

So I let that out.

I practically growled out the first line. Letting the anger and frustration at the Scavs. At Jun and his stupid new apartment. At everything.

“I’m going to burn this city!” I roared, slamming the guitar to get the notes just right. And I just let it all out. Like Rita had said. A hobby was important. A way to feel the emotions I kept locked up tight with Cold Blood.

Catharsis.

“I’ll burn it down!” I said the last lyric, before rolling into shredding the guitar, Hyping the noise up louder and louder, faster and faster until it just stopped.

I exhaled and flopped onto the back of the couch, feet resting on the cushions as I just hunched over and exhaled all the fire in my belly.

I ran a chrome hand through my hair. The unique texture was always a weird feeling and I practically luxuriated in it for that moment. Sweat sticking to the metal as I breathed and cooled off.

I didn’t feel very calm even still.

It wasn’t that they escaped. That was just the trigger. The fact was I didn’t like change very much. I liked my routines, and any change that happened was okay as long as it was my choice.

I pulled my music box over. The vocal and Guitar track would both need some work, trying a brand new vocal and guitar style on a song was kinda new to me.

I went to work. Both as something to distract myself with, and also I guess I just wanted to hear it as well.

—--

I stopped as I heard something loud bonk into the door. I quickly pulled off my guitar and grabbed my Lexington aiming at the door, because that had been a really weird noise.

Then the doorbell rang.

I quickly stacked up at the side of the door and then in a flash I opened it, the pneumatic door popping out of the way and I was aiming before quickly yanking my gun into the air to keep it from aiming at who had rang the bell.

“Hiromi?”

“H-Hey Motoko…” She said and we both stared at each other.

Hiromi had a big red mark on her forehead.

It took me a moment to realize what had happened.

“You don’t have the door key here yet.” I reminded her and her semi pout turned into a tearful look as if demanding me to take back what I had just said as she held a hand over her forehead.

I quickly holstered my Lexington and pulled her inside and into a hug.

“That never happened.” She demanded and I made all the right noises of acceptance. “I wanted to surprise you! I got excited.” She explained and I just nodded and rubbed her back as she buried her face into my shoulder.

She was so used to having the key to our place that she had tried to rush the door. The door hadn’t opened.

Poor Hiromi.

I brought her over to the couch and settled her in. Ignoring her faux sniffle that she pointedly threw a look at me after demanding I don’t acknowledge it.

“How did you know where the new place was? I thought I would have to come pick you up and show you.”

She seemed to shake herself a bit and sat up straight. “I called Ichi of course. He helped you move, so I got the address and everything. I couldn’t use the elevator, so I had to use the stairs.” She whined at me, I actually blinked at that.

“You should have just called. I would have come down to get you.”

“I wanted to surprise you!” She whined and I couldn’t help but start laughing.

“You did!” I told her with a big smile and then she realized I was teasing her and whined at me in distress.

“Jerk! Gonk! You aren’t! Ugh! You have your guitar out! Play a song for me!” She finally demanded as she turned a bit red, but not as red as the mark on her forehead.

“Hiromi, I don-”

“Pleeeease.” She whined, putting her hands up to her chest and begging.

“Fine. I’m working on something new anyways, I could use a separate ear.”

“Yeeeees!” She hissed, wiggling and kicking. “Serenade me!” She demanded as she sprawled out on the couch looking eager.

“Not really that kind of song.” I muttered. I hadn’t completed the drum track just yet, but I could still just enjoy doing another vocals and guitar play through.

First I went into my room and came out with the speakers and Amp for the guitar. I had recorded everything digitally so I wouldn’t disturb my neighbors. Even if musician neighbor might not mind.

So I picked up my guitar plugged it into my music box, plugged that into the speakers and amp, and then I started another rendition of This Fire.

I played. I roared, and sang and slammed my guitar. The emotions hadn’t diminished, only been released a little and so I raged a little while I sang. I turned the almost peppy song into something darker.

A threat.

“This fire is out of control!.

I’m going to burn this city, burn this city!”

And so I played for Hiromi, but mostly I played for me.

For the Motoko that didn’t want to obsess with killing every Scav in the city and just wanted to do whatever crazy thing that came to my mind.

For the Motoko that as much as she wanted to fight and kill, didn’t like at all that others could turn it back on her. Could harm her. Could harm her friends. Her family.

I was breathing heavily when I finished the song. I closed my eyes, I couldn’t look at Hiromi. Because I couldn’t handle someone not liking the song at that moment. I pulled off the guitar and stood up, taking a moment to remember where the fridge was. I grabbed a can of… Whatever the hell this was. The logo and stuff was so artsy I couldn’t tell. I popped it and drank it down.

Eh. I’ve had worse, but I felt off. Weird. It took a moment as I pulled up my system to realize what had happened.

*Cool Leveled up!*

Cool 9. No wonder I felt… Better. Was it that? No, not better. Not exactly, but… Cooler. Like the stress wasn’t hurting me as bad.

Then I turned around running a hand through my hair, “So what did you-oof!” I grunted as Hiromi slammed into me and squealed.

“Eeeeee!”

“I guess you liked it then?”

“You are going to be world famous, I’m gonna be your super awesome manager and it’s gonna be the best!” She cheered in delight and broke into a few chuckles. Not exactly what I was hoping would be her response, but I guess as long as Hiromi was happy.

No wait. I don’t want to be world famous!

Dangit Hiromi!

—-

“So how long until the whole song is done?” Hiromi asked as she sat beside me on the couch. I had grabbed the laptop to once again allow Hiromi to see what I was doing on the Music box as I recorded the digital tracks to finish the song.

“Not sure… I’m sorta trying something different on this song. Originally.. Well it was supposed to be more upbeat almost? It sounds weird, but yeah. I’m just making it darker. More Samurai, less Us Cracks.” I explained and Hiromi giggled at my description.

“You should make an Us Cracks version! Jun would listen to it!”

“Ugh. Please don’t remind me.” I grumbled at her, but in the end I shrugged. “I think I’ve got most of it. I’m mostly just… fiddling now. Making sure I didn’t flub anything, and making sure all the tracks line up and actually flow.”

“It’s so crazy how good you are at everything.” She muttered, and I actually stilled a little.

This wasn’t the first time Hiromi had said something similar. Not the first time someone had noticed that I was picking up on things too fast.

“I… I just-” I started to stutter tensing up, but Hiromi practically leapt on me in response.

“Whoa. Ah. I didn’t mean anything by it Motoko! You’re so amazing. I’m just a little jealous! You can do basically anything it’s just a little… intimidating? I guess. Trying to keep up.”

I quickly shoved my guitar off my shoulder and reached over to grab at Hiromi to her surprise as I pulled her bodily into a hug.

A tight one so she couldn’t escape.

“It’s not a race… And I’m way behind in tons of things, but I don’t… Please don’t think you need to compete. I need my best choom.”I said burying my face into her neck as I used everyone lick of knowledge to grapple Hiromi in an unbreakable hug.

“Hey! No way am I going anywhere! You are stuck with me forever!” Hiromi responded and I nodded into her shoulder as I still refused to let go. Hiromi didn’t seem to mind just patting my back this time. “You okay Motoko? The song, and now this… You seem a little… Stressed?”

“I don’t think I’m handling all the stuff that happened as well as I would like.” I admit speaking into her jacket letting the texture muffle the words a little and create the disconnect that lets me share. “I hate that we got attacked at home, and now, Jun moved us here, and I didn’t want to move Hiromi. I miss home already.”

“Oh.” Hiromi whispered and then tightened her hug on me as well.

—---

“Sorry.” I ended up saying a while later when I finally pulled away from Hiromi. I hadn’t cried, but it was definitely a close call. Thanks Cool.

“You don’t have to apologize! I’m just… No, that's gonna come out wrong.” She said and then flushed at even saying that.

“What?”

“I just… It’s nice that you aren’t completely put together? Getting homesick after a move… I guess it just means I don’t have to be perfect yet either? Sorry that sounds stupid since this is obviously bothering you, but…”

“Nah. It’s okay.” I bumped her shoulder to add weight to my words.

Hiromi perked up, obviously deciding to change topics. “I like your new song! It’s very Rockerboy! Are you going to record it into a BD like the last one? Or are you finally ready to let your number one Manager Hiromi set up a gi-”

“Nope.”

“Aww.” She whined, but I was laughing.

“Number one Manager?”

“Hey, just being honest.” She said with a wink and we both broke into laughter.

“You gonna stay the night tonight?” I asked suddenly, and Hiromi nodded firmly. Good. I could use the company.

 

[Tel Janin Aman]

Mokoto is trying to fight it but she can't escape her rockerboy future. Soon she'll be starting riots with a song just like johnny himself.

 

[Carrot of Truth]

Motoko singing about burning the city down while hating the city, Guess she is slowly morphing into Johnny Silverhand 2.0.
She just needs to make this music for when she solo's Arasaka tower.

 

[xachariahxx]

In this chapter Motoko looked to be grinding up Assault... but what do the straightforward skills like Assault look like at 20?

I can imagine Pistols/Assault 10 because peak humans can land 4+ mile snipes with 2" accuracy and at urban fighting ranges land 99% of shots on moving targets. Basically John Wick level. But peak human is at 10. What are you doing at 20 with a rifle that you're not doing at 10 or 15 or something?

I can imagine the other skills. Hacking 20 is an unleashed AI descending on netware. Ninjutsu 20 is a Hitman silent assassin who gets a perfect run every time. But... bullets don't seem to get much better than always hitting people in their weak spots.

 

[Seras]

In this chapter Motoko looked to be grinding up Assault... but what do the straightforward skills like Assault look like at 20?

I can imagine Pistols/Assault 10 because peak humans can land 4+ mile snipes with 2" accuracy and at urban fighting ranges land 99% of shots on moving targets. Basically John Wick level. But peak human is at 10. What are you doing at 20 with a rifle that you're not doing at 10 or 15 or something?

I can imagine the other skills. Hacking 20 is a god-AI descending on netware. Ninjutsu 20 is a Hitman silent assassin who gets a perfect run every time. But... bullets don't seem to get much better than always hitting people in their weak spots.

20 Assault would be a cyborg soldier. Shooting bullets out of the air casually and getting their shot exactly on point whenever they want sort of stuff.

Like some gonk shoots you fire twice, first bullet hits their bullet, second goes into the barrel fo their gun disabling it. like just absurd inhuman shooting.

 

[xachariahxx]

20 Assault would be a cyborg soldier. Shooting bullets out of the air casually and getting their shot exactly on point whenever they want sort of stuff.

Like some gonk shoots you fire twice, first bullet hits their bullet, second goes into the barrel fo their gun disabling it. like just absurd inhuman shooting.

Yeah, I realized once I thought more about it.

- Cyberpunk has ricochet bullets, so getting multiple kills with each bullet. Or multiple 'shots' worth of damage as you dismantle 'borgs with ricochets in their internal weak spots.
- Shooting people through walls or around corners. Not necessarily with ping, just being that good. Bonus points if you get bounces.
- And like you mention, the Kusanagi special that the Major pulls off in GitS:SAC, shooting down bullets with other bullets.

Basically she'd be a walking kill zone with a mile+ radius. Now I'm hoping she makes it to 20 with one of the straightforward skills.

 

[Seras]

Was it weird that the strangest part about waking up with Hiromi gripped around my waist was that we were in a bed and not on an old couch.

“Unfamiliar ceiling.” I mumbled looking at the white plastic of the beds roof section, this being one of the weird all in one Cyberpunk beds rather than the couch or my old bed at the apartment.

I blinked as I realized I hadn’t set myself an eight hours like usual, but something had actually woken up, and it wasn’t Hiromi’s snorting snores in my ear.

“Ah. The Rockerboy is at it again.” I mumbled. The faint rumble of bass coming through the walls had woken me up.

After a bit of wiggling I managed to work my way free of Hiromi’s death grip, getting her attached to a pillow instead as I got up and stretched.

I hadn’t done the insta sleep so I was actually a little drowsy still. I grunted quickly as I stretched out my back.

Quietly I padded out to the living room and noticed Jun’s boots were by the door. I guess… Okay that was slightly useful in quickly determining when my gonk brother was home or not.

He must have come in pretty late. I hadn’t even heard him…

Okay, I was going to put some of my own security up. The old apartment had been small enough that if anyone entered I would notice even if I was asleep, but now if I was in my room. I might not notice at all.

I walked up to the fridge and then slammed it shut.

It was full of XXL Burritos.

Full.

“Time to cannon ball a fucking gonk.” I determined and headed to his room. His door swished open and I saw that Jun was passed out in a mess of blankets.

Jun was a messy sleeper.

He was about to become a whole lot messier as I prepped myself with a few stretches and then I leapt.

Elbow dropping onto him.

Gently. I didn't really want to hurt him.

The loud “Oof.” That burst out of him meant I had achieved my goal.

But Motoko was no fool! I had learned from my previous mistakes!

I instantly got up and delta’ed.

The angry Oni roared and rushed after me, struggling to free himself from his blanket bindings. I easily made it to the living room before him and I only had a moment to decide a strategy.

Couch? Not deep enough to hide.

Kitchen? Too full of Burritos.

My room? Obvious choice Also full of potential weakness with Hiromi. She would likely help Jun just because. Or Jun would use her as a hostage. Neither were acceptable.

The roar of the Oni behind me urged me on. I leapt across the room rolling and turning to see him rumble out of his room, red eyes bloodshot and angry.

“MOTOKO!” He roared, as he charged.

Unfortunately for him. I was a Ninja.

I charged back, leaping just in time to miss his grasping hands, and planting a foot right onto the top of his head letting me get just a bit more distance away as he spun in rage to catch me.

“Too slow! Nyayaya!” I taunted wiggling my tongue at him. The Oni raged and chased, but there was one benefit of our bigger apartment.

It had a higher ceiling.

I was able to continue to leap away as he chased, planting my foot right on top of his head as many times as I could until finally I tired out the beast.

Not that I wasn’t worn out as well.

“How… About a… Peace talk?” I offered breathing heavily as I rested against the wall near the couches. Jun was over by the kitchen where I had just left him once again face resting against the fridge.

“Motoko! Why!?”

“Why? You need to ask me that you gonk!? Open the fucking fridge!”

“What’s wrong with the fridge!” He demanded back opening it and looking around, seemingly making sure his burritos were still there. “Looks fine to me!”

“You fucking moron! You filled OUR fridge full of your stupid Burritos! You can’t even eat that many before they go bad you gonk!”

“XXL Burritos are good for three months, Motoko. You should know that.” He replied in a tone saying I was the moron for not knowing and accepting this as fact.

“Oh my god, how often have you eaten three month old Burritos!?”

“What?”

“I think I’m gonna be sick!” I mumbled at the idea. They already tasted awful, what would old XXL burritos taste like?

Of course that was my mistake. I took my eyes off the Oni.

A moment later two impossible to budge arms wrapped around my chest and held me tight against him.

“Caught you.”

“Yeah but you’re the one that eats those things. So I think I’m still the winner.” I told him.

Jun didn’t like that.

Jun will remember that.

“Hey. What are you doing?” I demanded as Jun started moving. “Jun? Hey Jun! Hiromi! My Brother has gone Cyberpsycho! Look at the fridge!” I demanded to Hiromi who we must have woken up as she was blinking sleepily at the fact Jun was carrying me across the apartment.

Then he took me into the bathroom.

“Hey! He-ey! Jun! Don’t you Da-Eeeee!” I squealed as Jun carried me right into the shower and hip checked the shower controls.

Jun didn’t seem to mind the freezing cold water as he held me right into the blast for a long while as I struggled to free myself.

—--

“You okay?”

“F-f-f-fi-n-ne!” I chattered at Hiromi as she rubbed a towel around my shoulders. Jun was a madman!

He stepped out of his room rubbing a towel over his own hair and looking like he had won a million bucks.

The grin on his face was something I swore to remove in the most annoying fashion possible.

“Y-o-ou kno-w-w th-this m-means war!” I snarled at him but Jun had won the battle despite my surgical initial strike.

“You okay Hiromi? We didn’t wake you too early with the roughhousing did we?” Jun asked and to my irritation Hiromi giggled.

“No Problem Jun! I got an interesting show out of it after all.” Jun just smirked at her, as he headed into the kitchen and to my disgust grabbed a burrito for breakfast.

“You want one?”

“N-NEVER!” I chattered but Hiromi shrugged and accepted breakfast. I couldn’t even look at her after.

That burrito probably gave her super cancer! Ignore the fact I’ve eaten them from time to time in the past! That was the past!

“What XXL burrito Corpo has you in their Pocket Jun-nii? Just tell me and I’ll make them disappear! We can buy you some new tastebuds!” I begged him but instead of answering he just chucked one of the burritos at my head, and I was too cold to dodge.

I glared at him as the burrito thankfully didn’t splatter across my face but definitely crumpled against me deforming around my face.

“That’s disgusting Jun.”

“Eat your breakfast you brat.”

—--

The doorbell rang not long after. Hiromi was already gone, needing to go to school today, and Jun was just eating his second XXL burrito of the day.

Disgusting.

I quickly put my laptop to the side. A slight push with my feet put me into a handstand on the back of the couch and then I was back on my feet and walking towards the door, room for doing cool gymnastic stuff was, I would admit another small benefit of the new place “I’ll get it!” I called to Jun who didn’t look like he was making any attempt to get the door anyways.

Jerk.

I for once wasn’t actually armed. Even I didn’t sleep with my gun holsters on me, but I had done some of the basic prepwork last night. Right next to the door was my Carnage shotgun, which I prepped with my left arm, gun pointing downwards but ready and opened the door with my right hand.

As soon as I saw who it was, I was tempted to raise the shotgun up. But Jun would get angry.

“Fujimura.”

“Kusanagi.” He greeted me in turn, to my surprise he was alone. Probably the first time I had ever seen him somewhere without at least one or two of the Kamikaze at his back.

“Fujimura-sama! Come in!” Jun said as he had stood up quickly. Probably realizing I had no intention of actually inviting the guy inside.

I didn’t grumble, but I thought about it real hard as I stepped away and put my Carnage back against the wall for next time.

He stepped in and walked over to Jun.

“Junichirou. How are you settling in?”

“Very well Sir! The apartment is perfect for us. Thank you again.” Jun replied, even offering a little bow.

“Good. If you have any problems you know I am down the hall.” He said and then took a seat on the couch.

But before I could get annoyed at him just sitting down as he liked, I couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Wait, you live here too?”

“I own this entire floor.” He stated simply. Hmm. He was kinda a dick, but I couldn’t deny that it fit. He could fill the floor with people that would protect him and offer them homes all at the same time.

Fujimura struck me as the kinda guy that would do one thing with multiple benefits.

“Kusanagi. Sit.” He demanded and I realized that he was talking to me.

Instantly my hackles rose up. I was going to give him exactly what I thought about him ordering me around in my own ‘home’ but I noticed Jun looking at me with a stupid pleading puppy dog face.

“Fine.”

I settled onto the couch. “What do you want Fujimura?”

“Your rudeness during the meeting you barged into has been noted. Kusanagi.” He said to me and I just ran an eyebrow up at him. Like I care? He seemed completely unbothered by my lack of reaction.

“Word was put out among our connections for information on who exactly was involved with the assault on your home. The Scavs that attacked you assaulted you with their entire group. They are gone. That should be the end of that problem.” He offered and I could see Jun relax with a sigh.

“Wait, why would that be the end? If the Scavs are willing to attack us once why not do it again. We obviously pissed them off… I pissed them off.” I acknowledged my own responsibility in this.

“You are young, and lack the understanding of why Scavs still exist in this city.” Fujimura replied back instantly. Then seemed to realize that Jun was looking to him wanting to better understand the situation as well. So the older man let out a faint breath that could be a sigh and continued. “You think of them like the Tyger Claws. Or perhaps the Maelstrom. That is incorrect. There is no leader of the Scavs. There are hundreds.”

“Right. They are fragmented to make sure if one group gets wiped out it doesn’t hit the rest, but that-”

“Incorrect. They are fragmented because many of the groups you call Scavs have no relation to each other at all, never have, and never will.”

“But then how do they work together? They all wear similar things! Act the same, hell most of them I’ve run into speak russian!”

“Many Russian immigrants find their ability to earn eddies in Night City difficult. So they group with like minded men and become another nest of rats. Similar to others but with no true connection between them.”

“Copy cats… You are telling me every group of Scav is just a copycat of the idea? They…”

“Not all. The Russian Bratva started the concept of the Scav in Night City many years ago, but since then? Yes. Even many who are born within Night City will call themselves Scavs. Will speak Russian even if they are not a native speaker.”

It struck me then.

I knew this. I knew what this was. The fact struck me like a fist.

It almost made me dizzy at just what I was dealing with. “Stand Alone Complex.” I whispered aloud.

Multiple people with no association, all working towards a common goal, copying a criminal.

That Scavs weren’t a gang with a leader I could murder and be done with it. They were the dispossessed looking to make eddies, and copying something scary to protect themselves. Putting on a mask to easily describe themselves…

“Hmm?” Fujimura prompted, hearing my whispered words.

“Nothing. Just an explanation that I wasn’t expecting. How do you kill a group that pops up without any central control? A completely random group of people all committing horrible crimes?”

“You don’t. You send out the exterminators from time to time to clear out the infestations and then move on.” Fujimura said, and I couldn’t help but look up because, the way he said it.

That wasn’t an irritating old man explaining things to a kid.

It was… Gentle. Or as gentle as a man like Fujimura could ever do.

“Let it go Kusanagi. Kill them when you find them. Exterminate them when you can. But don’t dedicate your life to something that will never end.”

“That’s stupid. Even if it's a Stand Alone Complex. There are ways to fight back! I just have to make the idea of Scavs so toxic that no one will ever use it again.” The words were out of my mouth before I realized it, but the truth of them made me nod. “I’ve already started a way to do it. I kill them and every time I do, I send out a BD. I can show the city. Over and over. That being a Scav will just get you killed. Quicky. Brutally.”

Fujimura didn’t speak for a while, just watching me with a flat face.

“I told you most Scavs are without leadership, but don’t think that means all of them are. The Bratva will not ignore you. They will destroy you swiftly, and without compromise.”

I had nothing to say to that. Bombing. Snipers. An actually competent kill squad.

I wasn’t invincible, and worse yet, my chooms were either.

Why was this so hard?

“Of course that is only if you continue to work as you have been. Alone. The Claws make it a point to remove Scavs from our territory whenever we find them. This is something the Bratva is already aware of, and they do not often settle in our territory for this reason. You’re path to be an edgerunner won’t bring you what you desire.”

I met his eyes and had to admit.

He was right.

If I tried to do this like a Night City Edgerunner. I would end up dead. My chooms would die, and likely everything would go to shit.

If I tried to join the gangs, my path would be different, but I would just be a disposable tool.

If I joined a corp, that’s just another flavor of gang.

I knew all the paths that someone in Night City could take. I knew the downward spirals they all inevitably fell into…

Could I avoid the same trap?

I stood up and just walked back to my room. I didn’t want to deal with Fujimura anymore. I had things to consider.

—--

I ended up taking a nap. Eight hours passed in a blink, but in the end it made me feel better. It made me feel more in control.

I walked out into the living room to an empty apartment. Jun obviously was at work or out, and I just didn’t want to deal with the quiet. I turned on the TV and ignored the stupid shows, but at least it created some noise.

The couch didn’t make much noise as I flopped on it. Not like our old one that squeaked, or poofed out air depending on where you landed.

Was it weird that despite this apartment feeling closest to something from my last life, that it now felt foreign?

The apartment had carpet. My feet tapped out an arpeggio as I thought.

I think I had to stop for a while. Too much had changed all at once, and between the Kamikaze and my own actions we had done a pretty good job of wiping out a whole lot of Scavs.

There would always be more.

Well there would be more until I killed them all and salt and ashed the very idea of being a Scav in Night City.

But until then. I needed to slow down. For my own sake.

Besides, I could use the time to gather more Scav den info.

No. I stood up then as I realized what I was doing. Obsession was something I had always had a… Well I wouldn’t call it an issue exactly. But it could be. And right now it was.

We were safe. The Scavs wouldn’t have any idea where we lived, and we had protection. I would do some work on the security today, and then… Then I would stop thinking about Scavs for a few days. Minimum.

I reached over and grabbed my Guitar. I wasn’t good with sitting and doing nothing. So I would just make music for a while instead.

 

[Abhorsen]

Ooph. It sucks that time you realize that you are not capable of righting a wrong.

 

[Seras]

Ooph. It sucks that time you realize that you are not capable of righting a wrong.

Yes. Coming up to the reality that without something absurd being done, you are only going to be bashing your head into an iron wall isn't fun. Thankfully Motoko is capable of constant growth. She just needs to grow strong enough to overcome the hurdles.

 

[Carrot of Truth]

Just break into Eurodynes house and start jamming, With some totally not plagiarized music and become a rockstar.

 

[Seras]

Just break into Eurodynes house and start jamming, With some totally not plagiarized music and become a rockstar.

I did consider if Motoko might pull a V and just break in and start playing some Samurai. But to be fair Eurodyne did almost shoot V before realizing Johnny was there.

 

[Carrot of Truth]

I did consider if Motoko might pull a V and just break in and start playing some Samurai. But to be fair Eurodyne did almost shoot V before realizing Johnny was there.

Well Motoko could just do like with Regina except stand out infront of his gate and jam some Nirvana, I feel like Nirvana would appeal to him for some odd reason.

 

[xachariahxx]

That's not even that crazy in the cyberpunk world. I can absolutely see an agent wanting to promote their band, so they hire some edgerunners to smuggle the band into a place with the record execs and forces them to listen. Or kidnap the exec for a private show.

The only weird part would be Motoko doing it herself.

 

[Guardian Box]

He was about to become a whole lot messier as I prepped myself with a few stretches and then I leapt.

Elbow dropping onto him.

Gently. I didn't really want to hurt him.

Cat behavior.

“Too slow! Nyayaya!”

Cat speak.

“Hey! He-ey! Jun! Don’t you Da-Eeeee!” I squealed as Jun carried me right into the shower and hip checked the shower controls.

Being treated like a cat and spritzed with water after misbehaving.

Are you finally seeing the light, or are you still in denial about catgirl Motoko? :V

 

[Seras]

The day had come and gone. Then the night. Jun hadn’t come home, and the sun was rising. I had taken a break after an hour of playing music, and gone out. Spending a couple grand on some additional security for the apartment. Then Installing it all. Of course it was just off the shelf junk.

It wouldn’t really stop anyone.

But I was currently programming out a bit of a trick. The thing with door locks is that they are never really going to stop someone. Instead I was going to keep the entire thing looking off the shelf, while inside the programming would have a bit of a trick.

Sure you can break into the apartment if you really want.

But I would know.

And knowing is half the way to avoid a trap, or a surprise raid.

I was still working on the code. Making the security system send an alarm if it was hacked wasn’t hard. But letting it work without alerting the netrunner breaking in was.

So I was fiddling with a few design options to sneak the alert through.

It was progressing pretty well with Inspired Programmer keeping me full of inspiration.

*Ringing* I blinked at the noise checking the agent view.

*Malcolm! What’s up?*

*Motoko I need help! Fuck! Cocksuckers shot me!* Malcolm gasped into the line as soon as I chirped my greeting.

Instantly I was moving, rushing for my room to grab my guns.

*Where are you? Tell me everything.*

*Fuck. Shit I’m bleeding bad. Okay okay. I’ll send you my ping. I'm on a train right now.. II lost them, they stopped chasing me when I got on the rail. Fuck. Oh god. I was buying a car! They were trying to jump me. Steal the money and those fucks! It was supposed to be my car! They fucking killed me over this shit!* His voice broke down into a quiet moan.

*Okay I’m on my way. I’m pinging everyone as well, in case someone is closer. We’re on our way Malcolm, just don’t pass out okay. Stay awake.* I demanded as I scooped up my boots as I ran into the hall and raced to the elevator. I hit the button requesting it and then again and again.

Too slow.

I turned and rushed for the stairs. I slammed into the door and fought my boots onto my feet. Then as I slipped into the stairwell I leapt.

I landed on the railing two stories down, then I leapt down again.

Again and again. I leapt past some people hanging out in the stairwell. Kids adults. Whatever. It wasn’t a concern.

*I’m still with you Malcolm, talk to me buddy.*

*Fuck it hurts. Never been shot before! Those assholes!* He whined and cried into the line, but I would rather him do that, then have it go silent. The last jump I dropped three stories to land in a crouch on the garage level. Startling some of the Tyger Claw kids that were smoking and hanging out under the stairs.

I slammed into the door and rushed for my Quadra. The door opened at a glance as I leapt inside from the passenger side.

Sliding into the driver seat, I gunned it backwards. My eyes instantly connected to the cameras on the Quadra to roar out of my space.

I didn’t bother to spin around. Tires screeching through the garage I slipped my Quadra into a reverse drift to make the entrance ramp and continued roaring backwards until I hit the top of the ramp absolutely maxing out the engine as it leapt into the air. I hit the ground and Spun, finally facing forward already in the street and ignoring the honks of people that I had nearly crashed into.

My Quadra roared. All 1000 horsepower roared as my foot hit the pedal all the way down.

*I’m on my way!* I said again into the phone as for the first time I really truly ignored traffic laws.

I raced the streets. Swerved through traffic, and ignored lights. The sidewalk was perfectly good for getting around traffic as well to my current estimation.

I had no care about anything because one of my chooms was in trouble.

Malcolm was my friend.

I wasn’t ready to lose a friend to this city.

*Talk to me Malcolm. Tell me about these assholes.*

*... Fuck. They… They were selling a Rayfield Motoko. It was a second gen Caliburn. Yellow silver. The best… The best paintjob. It was so beautiful. And cheap… It was only 70k. I wanted it so bad. I decided… I thought fuck it. It’s my dream car, you know? I… I have a poster of it above my bed. Dreamed about that car since… Forever. If I had it… that means I made it you know?*

*Yeah Malcolm, and you will. Believe me. Just keep breathing choom. I’m almost there.* And I was. Malcolm was still in Westbrook. Just farther south. Near Charter Hill. He had sent me an active GPS ping, and it wasn’t moving. *Did you get off the rail?*

*Yeah… Yeah they kicked me off. Bleeding too much I guess… Fuckers.* He mumbled.

Fuck.

*Hey Malcolm, listen to me. You keep your damn eyes open, and keep breathing! You hear me?*

*Yeah… I gotta listen to you right? Boss? Heh. Who would have thought I’d be working for your gonk ass. Fuck. It’s been great though…* He trailed off.

*Yeah it’s awesome, and your brain is amazing at noticing things! Couldn’t have done the yacht heist without you yeah? You were the one to figure out the Scavs. So stay alive Malcolm, that’s an order from your boss!* I gasped out desperately as I made a stupidly dangerous turn.

*Yeah…*

I skidded to a halt as Traffic was blocking me again and the sidewalk was full. I honked and revved into the sidewalk anyways. People scurried out of the way as I drove as slow as I could bear around the cars stopped at a light until I hit the road and revved to skid onto the cross street into the active traffic. Swiftly forcing a position and then accelerating.

Just gotta hope NCPD were busy right now…

At least I was getting responses from everyone. Vik had responded to my frantic text message and he was on his way with med supplies to keep someone alive. I just had to get Malcolm to him.

I was there. The sidewalk was a perfectly good parking spot as I nearly drove onto the escalators running up to the platform.

Driver side door opened, and I was off like a shot, Racing up the escalator until there were people in the way and then I jumped onto the railings and just raced up that.

Then I was on the platform, and it wasn’t hard to see Malcolm.. A pool of blood with bloody footprints leading to him slumped up against a sign and a small space in the crowd, but no one was trying to help.

Assholes.

I leapt. Landing beside him in a single movement.

“Hey Malcolm. Calvary is here. C’mon. Take this.” I offered him a MaxDoc, while I grabbed an Airhypo and jammed it into his chest.

“FuuuuUUK!.” He cursed his breath suddenly much fuller as the Airhypo oxygenated his blood.

Well as much as it could anyways.

“Take the MaxDoc Malcolm.” I demanded and grabbed some bandages out of a hip pouch.

Fuck the bullet hole was bad.

Through and through his chest, just below his armpit and out almost between his ribs on the front.

That was… Not good.

I wrapped a bandage around him as best I could and then hefted him up.

Malcolm was bigger than me, true.

But I was so freaked out, I didn’t even care that he was a bit heavier than me. I pulled him into a princess carry ignoring his cry of pain as I started rushing to the escalator.

*Vik! I got him. Sending you pics. I’ll be rushing to meet you!* I sent Vik as I finally didn’t need to be on call with Malcolm.

*Alright Kid. Just breathe, steady now. Let’s save your choom.* He whispered into my ear, and it was calming as I rushed down the escalator doing my best not to jostle Malcolm, or bump him into anything.

“GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY!” I roared at some fucking morons not idling in front of me, and it was only when I started to try and grab my Burya that they hurried out of the way.

My Quadra was still there idling, Although I wasn’t surprised to note some gonk kid was running off with an arm full of…

Okay stealing my homemade grenades was pretty ballsy. That’s a scary kid for the next few days.

I slipped Malcolm into the passenger seat, and strapped him in.

This was going to get wild.

“H-hey. You’re gonna have to not drive like a… Granny.” Malcolm joked at me weakly as I slipped into the driver seat.

“Yeah.” I agreed bluntly and then floored it again. Vik was heading this way, but it was still far. And Malcolm was bleeding.

I couldn’t tell exactly what I babbled at Malcolm to keep him focused as I raced through the streets, it was all a blur, and I was sure that without Cool Nerves I definitely would have gotten into an accident as I was sure my entire body would be shaking if not for that.

Thank you system. Thank you Gamer powers. Thank you whatever thing gave me the ability to actually act through my panic and try to save my choom.

I almost ran into Vik. Who was driving an old Villefort Columbus van. I slid into a screeching powerslide right beside him nearly startling him off the road as he jerked the wheel a bit, but braked after and then he was there. My passenger door opened and Vik instantly slipped some device with a big canister attached against Malcolms chest.

I heard the pneumatic sound as it activated.

“Fuck!” Malcolm hissed, but Vik was just chuckling, talking calmly, and a moment later. Instead of a reedy wet breathing coming out in a rush from Malcolm, it seemed to even out a bit. And some color very quickly came back to his face.

“C’mon lets get you in the van, and I’ll plug those holes yeah?” Vik said as calm as ever seemingly completely unconcerned about what he was helping with, and I could see how that calm soothed Malcolm who obviously was freaking out at what had happened.

Fuck Vik. You are truly an angel.

—---

Ignoring the traffic build up behind us, we got Malcolm into the van. The van off the middle of the road, and my Quadra out of the way, and Vik went to work.

I couldn’t even start to explain to you the Ripper doc magic that Vik did there on the side of the road in a beat up old Van, but within ten minutes Malcolm was breathing easy, resting in a stretcher and even cracking a joke with the old ripper.

Ichi showed up first. His own Van roared down the road and parked up onto the sidewalk alongside us as he jumped out, nearly leaping onto Malcolm to make sure he was okay.

“Hey, easy Ichi, easy.” Malcolm said, sounding tired, but amused at Ichi’s reaction.

“You alright? Dr. Vik? He’ll be okay?”

“Right as rain, kid. Not the first time I’ve patched up a bullet hole.” Vik joked back but he was doing something with the hole in Malcolms side, his face buried in a screen looking at Malcolms chest.

It took a second but Ichi breathed out and nearly slumped to the floor. “Hey I’m alright now Ichi. It’s okay. Motoko got to me in time.”

“I can’t believe you were gonk enough to trust Granny driver Motoko to come rescue you. Should have called me first.” Ichi said with an almost sob in his voice as he told the joke.

Which is the only reason I didn’t punch him for it.

I didn’t drive like a granny!

“Heh. Knew… Knew you were across town remember? Figured ‘Toko would be free.”

“Well you were right!” I told him firmly from the floor of the van. I wasn’t napping or anything just trying to calm myself. The relief at Malcolm not dying was just…

Too much.

“And I was right.” Malcolm said, waving a hand off his cot in my direction.

“I’m glad you’re alright Malcolm. Fuck. Can’t believe you got shot.”

“Me neither.” He offered and both boys went quiet even if I could only see Ichi looking down at Malcolm with an array of angry emotions across his face.

“Who did it?”

“Some assholes down near Santo. Supposed to be legit, car trade through a site. I checked it out with some guys on the site. Everything looked legit. They sell cars, boosted, damaged whatever. Got a hit for the car I was looking for… Fuck it’s my fault. They didn’t have a fucking Caliburn, probably heard about me looking for one. Thought I was probably some rich kid or something. Fuck.”

“Don’t worry Malcolm. We’ll find them.” Ichi said which surprised me because I was about to say that too.

Ichi looked to me and I just nodded. Both of us understood what was going to happen next.

“Malcolm!” A breathless cry pulled us towards the door, where Hiromi had just pulled up on her Kusanagi. She rushed in, and it was luck that Ichi grabbed her before she almost flopped onto Malcolm.

“I was in class! I’m sorry I didn’t even get the ping until now! Are you-”

“He’ll live kid, Don’t worry I’m patching him up just fine.” Vik said with a smile and Hiromi almost sagged.

—--

We filled in Hiromi on everything, and in the end an hour later Malcolm was at Viks clinic resting.

But I was going to go find some fuckers that shot my choom. I was almost up the stairs when Ichi grabbed my arm stopping me.

“I’m going with.” He said no hesitation in his voice.

He was pissed. Which is why I didn’t want him to come. Even at my angriest, I still had Cold Blood keeping my mind clear. Keeping myself clear to make decisions like shooting gonks rather than talking to them.

“Ichi-”

“Don’t Motoko. I’m coming. Or I’ll go alone. They shot my choom over a fucking car sale. Malcolm wasn’t even fucking with them, but they just- Fuck that.”

“I’m coming too.” Hiromi said as she walked up the stairs behind Ichi, patting him on the shoulder once as she walked right past us both. “What do you both need an invitation?” She asked as she turned and gave one of her superior looks at the two of us.

If it wasn’t such a serious moment between us, I would have leapt on her, pinned her to the ground and… Mess with her hair or something. I don’t know.

“Alright, fine. We all go! But, I call the shots.” I demand looking at the two of my chooms with firm looks.

“I’m fine with that.” Hiromi said and a moment later Ichi nodded.

“Good. First thing first. Go get suited up. These fucks have guns and obviously aren’t afraid to use it. So go get ready.” I ordered much to both of their irritations, but in the end they listened. Hiromi jumped onto her Kusanagi, and Ichi in his van.

I went home myself to grab my own Section 9 equipment.

I was going to make a point against these assholes.

—--

Suited up and ready we all met up near the location Malcolm had given us. “Stay close together guys, and keep your eyes open..” I demanded making sure they both understood before we walked down the block towards where Malcolms little meetup was supposed to happen.

I had my techgogs down blocking my eyes and face, as I wandered through the crowds of Night city people.

We were in Charter hill, just on the other side of the canal cutting off Charter Hill and Arroyo.

I followed the location GPS through a back alley, Through a small alley filled with old homeless tents, and then into a small inner court area for the apartments around me. The place had old shop spaces all closed down and shuttered along the edges. Each of the shutters now covered in years of gang tags.

Hiromi and Ichi both stayed close together, weapons ready and waiting.

But while there were some people here, it didn’t look like our people.

Not that we were sure what they looked like.

Dammit Malcolm. You walked into a deal with no backup, no information on whose these fuckers were!

I let it go as I searched around, trying to find a clue, or just someone I thought could answer some questions when I noticed it.

A puddle of blood. With a trail leading through to the street beyond.

I stepped low and touched it with a chrome finger.

This was where Malcolm got shot. I could actually see the rail line he must have run to from here. Straight through the gap he had escaped through. And the trail of blood.

“This is the right place alright.” I muttered as I looked around scanning the area, eyes flashing checking everything I could.

“Hiromi.” I called out and pointed.

A homeless man was in the courtyard. A little shack of cardboard and old benches in a corner.

She nodded and Ichi followed. She would ask questions, and maybe get some answers. She was better at that. While I was better at this.

The Courtyard didn’t have cameras. Any that might have originally been set up were long gone, ripped out of their mounts for whatever purpose their thief wanted. But that didn’t mean shit to me.

This was still Night City. There were only so many places one could move unnoticed to avoid all cameras.

I circled the building. Marking a map with every camera pointed in the direction I needed. If the people who had shot Malcolm had come, or gone into this set of apartments I would find them.

I met back up with Hiromi and Ichi Hiromi looking a little irritated, but her face shifted as she saw me return.

“Some moderate good news.” She offered with a shrug. “The old man saw the shooting. I had to pay him a chunk of eddies to get the information, but he blabbed quickly enough. Apparently he hadn’t seen the guys before. They aren’t from these apartments, probably came here to make sure they couldn’t be tracked after stealing Malcolms eddies… Wait, did they actually get the eddies from Malcolm?”

I blinked.

Ichi blinked.

“I’ll call him and ask. Keep filling Motoko in.” Ichi said and we all nodded.

“Right. So, they aren’t from around here, but I was able to get what direction they left in. No idea what vehicle they might have, but at least we have a location for where they went.”

“Which way?” I asked and Hiromi pointed me towards another alleyway on the opposite side from where we had walked in from.

“So they are going north… That alley. There’s some cameras at a few restaurants across the street. We’ll be able to ID them.” I assured my chooms and despite Ichi’s eyes glowing yellow he nodded along having been listening in even as he made the call.

“Alright. Let’s go take a look as well before we head out. I want to get some eyes on the area.” I told them and Hiromi and Ichi followed as we walked through the alley. This one didn’t have a tent city in it, but it was filled with doors and ways into the buildings around them.

Not good. Hopefully the homeless man was right, and they weren’t native to the area. I would really hate to have to try and track some gonks through this rat warren of hallways and back entrances.

I leapt to the side as a pipe rumbled and something foul smelling and just as disgusting looking poured out of it into the alley.

“Grooooss!” Hiromi whined, and all I could do was nod along.

“Yeah. Watch your feet.”I mumbled already knowing I would be washing my boots off before ever stepping into the apartment.

We wandered down the alley until finally reaching the street. It was bright and active. No signs of the rundown practically abandoned courtyard we just passed through.

“So what are we looking for?” Ichi asked and I shrugged my eyes scanning the street. I had already walked past this exact spot before, but now I was double checking. Sending out pings to any electronic devices I could see to find what they were connected to.

And slowly I got an idea of how everything was put together.

Of course I was still wearing my techgogs I realized which explained why Hiromi and Ichi were both wondering what the hell I was doing.

“Sorry. I’m scanning everything. I want to see what open systems there are in the area, as well maybe something more hidden.”

“Gotcha! How can we help?” Hiromi asked and I just reached out to pull her into a side hug to quiet her for a moment. I was tracking down a stray connection connected to the net from the cafe across the street but I ended up sighing.

Just some punk piggybacking on the cafe's TV connection.

“Nothing stands out. Unless we want to try and ask all the people on the street if they remember seeing our perps. I think it’s time to head to the net.”