Ghost in the City Cyberpunk Gamer SI

xachariahxx

Well-known member
I liked Hiromi's heart to heart with Motoko. One interesting thing is the physicality (or lack) between. She's willing to poke Motoko, but unlike several times in the past doesn't hug her to comfort her. It kind of shows how she's freaked out.

I was hoping this update would show how she plans to fence this because I want it to go through Wakako so she gets some solo rep for real jobs.

Mainly because I think it'd be funny if the Tyger Claws call in for support for a job Jun's on, and she rolls up as the contracted heavy hitter Solo.
 

Seras

Well-known member
I liked Hiromi's heart to heart with Motoko. One interesting thing is the physicality (or lack) between. She's willing to poke Motoko, but unlike several times in the past doesn't hug her to comfort her. It kind of shows how she's freaked out.

I was hoping this update would show how she plans to fence this because I want it to go through Wakako so she gets some solo rep for real jobs.

Mainly because I think it'd be funny if the Tyger Claws call in for support for a job Jun's on, and she rolls up as the contracted heavy hitter Solo.
I hadn't really considered the difference in physicality but I like that a lot. I guess I did write it that way.

Sorry to say she doesn't go through Wakako, although she does do more jobs for her soon. She comes up with a great idea in the next part about what to do with the chrome.
 

PeaceMaker 03

Well-known member
I hadn't really considered the difference in physicality but I like that a lot. I guess I did write it that way.

Sorry to say she doesn't go through Wakako, although she does do more jobs for her soon. She comes up with a great idea in the next part about what to do with the chrome.

Looking forward to the next post in the story of Murder Hobo CP2077 edition.
 
Chapter 15

Seras

Well-known member
—--

When we loaded up the elevator with all the crates, and after everyone had searched through the scav den for extra loot. All the boys now had a new weapon of some sort. Ichi even claiming the DB-2 Satara. I was tempted to claim it myself. I had enough equipment I didn’t really need it. Plus Ichi looked so happy when he pulled it out from underneath a table.

We were ready to go.

I had taken a few minutes with Omaeda’s help to breach the Scavs computer security as well. The other Netrunner had looked pretty irritated with my ‘assistance’ in pulling the data, but after a quick discussion, he was going to sell the data off to another Netrunner he knew who would be interested, as long as any data on other scav locations went to me.

Sure I could have pulled it as well, and I likely would have just sold it to Wakako, but Omaeda was Ichi’s Netrunner. If I was going to keep using Ichi’s crew, I needed to keep them happy.

Although potentially the only reason Omaeda had agreed was because of the looks the crew had given me when they came across the Borgs body. It was back to that fearful side glances.

I used a Burya guys. Stop acting like it’s weird. Anyone can kill a borged out Scav with a hand cannon.

We took the elevator down and finally I got to see what the crew had gathered up.

Omaeda had his van, which ended up being mostly useless as the boy had the back filled with scrap already. Which seemed to piss him off when he realized he wouldn’t be able to take a crate.

Malcolm had a car, an old beat up Thorton Galena, which was basically a little hatchback.

With the back seats down, and a lot of effort Malcolm with Omaeda’s help got a crate in the back.

But Ichi was reliable. He had actually done as asked. A Villefort Columbus. It was basically a ‘modern’ moving van, and the back was empty.

“I, uh, called in a favor with one of Shobo-sama’s lieutenants. I did a job for him that saved his hide a few months back. I asked him for something I could move a lot of stuff around with, and he gave me the key shard for this. I uh… Just don’t scratch the paint, or ding it up okay?” He muttered to everyone.

“Sure Ichi. We will be careful. Oh look it even has a little ramp. That’s useful.” I called out showing everyone my discovery, and with that we were able to load up the five crates of Chrome into the cars.

“I think that’s everything!” Hiromi called out wiping her brow.

Despite the fact she hadn’t really done anything but ‘supervise’ the loading.

“Oh! One second. There is something I can’t forget!” I called out as I headed back up the elevator. A minute later with a bit of effort I came back down struggling to hold my new baby with one arm.

“Motoko…” Ichi sighed looking at me as I struggled to carry my new HMG to the van.

“She is very important Ichi.” I tell him firmly as he sighs and helps me load her up.

Then we all climbed in.

And realized we had no idea where to go.

“Who buys a bunch of chrome?” I asked Hiromi and Ichi from the back seat of his truck as they clambered in.

“Ripperdocs. We could head back to the Ho-oh Club as well. I bet Shobo-sama would buy the chrome off you. Or a Fixer. But make sure to call them first, never a good idea to drop off a job in a Fixers lap without asking first.” Ichi replied, his experience on the streets revealing themselves.

“Ripper docs… Actually that gives me an idea, and a chance to meet someone I wanted to have a future relationship with.” I told Ichi and pulled up my map system. I ended up unable to find directions to where I wanted to go, but I did find the next best thing.

“Sending you the deets Ichi”

“Misty’s Esoterica?” He asked as I sent him the text.

“Not exactly. It’s the Ripperdoc behind the shop that I am interested in.” I tell him with a small smile. “Trust me.” I was forced to add at the confused and unsure look I was getting.

“Alright. Your gig. You're the boss.” He said with a shrug and I could see his eyes flash gold as he must have called Omaeda and Malcolm to follow him.

While that happened I went ahead and called the NCPD line and gave them the information about the scav den cleared out and the bodies. Along with a victim still alive but drugged. It was really strange because the bored sounding woman on the line took all the information without showing any actual enthusiasm and then thanked me for the information.

I don’t think she actually meant that. Still I turned my attention back to what lay at my feet.

I had so many plans for this baby.

—-

“This is it?” Ichi asked as we parked. Right in front of Misty’s Esoterica.

“Yeah. Have everyone sit tight. I need to go around the back and talk to the Ripper. Keep an eye on the trucks. I shouldn’t take too long.” I asked Ichi and he nodded. HIromi, of course was already out of the truck waiting for me.

I stepped out and looked at the entrance to Misty’s Esoterica with smile. Like walking into a dream.

It looked the same.

“Hello?” A quiet voice called out as a woman straight from Blade Runner walked around the corner from the back of her shop. “Oh I was right, I did hear someone. Welcome to my Esoterica. How can I help you today?” She asked looking Hiromi and I over as I smiled at her gently.

“Sorry, I actually have other business, is Doctor Vektor in?” I asked and Misty almost pouted for a second.

“He is.Yours isn’t a face I know.” She mentioned as she blinked slowly at me.

“No. This is my first time. I’m a new client I guess you could say. Motoko.”

“Misty, as you might have guessed. Alright come on, I’ll show you the way.” She offered with a smile as she guided us through the back and then into an alley. I could see Hiromi starting to frown a bit, but I knew that Viktor was one of the best Ripperdocs in the city. Definitely the best in this area at least.

More importantly he wasn’t the type to rip out a kids spine without anesthesia and chip them with a Sandevistan only to not give them the meds they would need.

No Vik was… Honorable. In a city almost completely devoid of it. There was a reason that I had instantly thought of him.

Misty guided us to a set of stairs leading downward lit by a small green light, and I could feel Hiromi tensing up as she drew close to me. Door opening showed just a dark space with some junk on the floor.

The fact she had her sword on her and was gripping it told me she was feeling particularly uncomfortable being led into a dark hole.

I just smiled because I was completely comfortable. We hit the bottom of the stairs and Misty called out. “Vik? You got a new client.” She said as she looked through the protective door blocking the way.

“Is that so?” A voice called out and the gate opened as Misty waved us in.

Inside was a small Ripperdoc office. It wasn’t perfectly clean and tidy, but there was a sense at least that it wasn’t a back alley ripper, despite Viktor being just that.

The man was sitting at a desk as we walked in. Hiromi was looking around like she expected an ambush.

Viktor though, seeing the two of us smiled gently and rose up.

“Viktor Vektor. Nice to meet you.” He offered offering a hand even if it was covered in Ripper mods.

I took it casually to make sure I wasn’t pricked.

“Motoko Kusanagi, and this is my choom Hiromi. Nice to meet you Doctor Vektor.”

“Oh please, Call me Vik, or Viktor, if you must.”

“Vik then.” I agreed, easily earning a smile, even Hiromi was calming down.

“Now how can I help you? Need something installed, or just a checkup?”

“Neither, both? It’s complicated. I have a business proposition for you. I’m hoping you’ll be willing to help me out. I heard good things about you, so I am hoping the rumor was true.”

The man blinked a bit behind his glasses. “Well I doubt I have too many rumors about me anymore. I keep pretty quiet.”

“It was about how you were a good guy. Don’t rip people off, or install hacked chrome.” I tell him which for a moment he actually seems a little proud of that.

“Well I try to live up to that. What can I help you with?”

“Right. Let me be blunt then. I’m a merc, and I just cleared a scav den.”

I heard Misty do a little gasp beside us as she had settled onto the table to watch our meeting take place.

Vik though I watched as his eyebrows snapped together.

“I have five crates of chrome. All sorts of stuff. From bargain bin junk, to, well I don’t know. I’m not really a chrome merchant.” I say rubbing the back of my head a bit. “I’ll continue to be blunt. Most of it is stuff I won’t get much from. Even if I tried to find people that would pay in eddies, Most of the chrome isn’t great. It’s why I came to you. I want to trust you. To believe your rumors, that you are a good guy, so here is the deal. I give you the crates. All of them. Everything in there except maybe some good stuff if me or my chooms can use it. You can do whatever you want with it. Help people that need it. Sell it if that’s what you want. But in exchange, I could use a Ripper I can actually trust. And maybe some advice on if any of the pieces are worth chipping in.”

I finished talking and let the room take in what I had just said, I could feel Hiromi tensing up next to me, probably wondering what the hell drug I was on.

Giving stuff away in Night City? To someone that isn’t even your choom?

Vik was looking me over with a strong stare. The boxer that he used to be seemed to be looking me over trying to figure out the angle of my punch.

There wasn’t one though. I just trusted Vik, and considering what he was like in the game, if I gave him a bunch of cheap chrome, I expected a lot of people struggling without, or with failing limbs might find cheap to free chances to get new limbs soon.

At least that was the hope. A guy willing to ignore a 20k debt from a merc. That was the sort of kindness you didn’t see in Night City often.

I wanted it for myself.

That sounded kinda selfish, but it was true. If I could become someone Vik likes, then I could have a really good relationship with one of the best.

“Didn’t wake up today expecting something like this. Alright. You want to know what kind of chrome you have, and if there is anything worth anything? Let’s take a look.”

“Great. The trucks are outside Misty’s. What’s the best way to bring the crates down?”

“Let’s back them up to the gate, I can open it up. Try to keep some eyes off.” he chuckled as he rose up and actually sort of shooed us out of his clinic. I could hear Misty whispering something, and Vik chuckling a bit as he patted the girl on her shoulder.

We all walked up and out. Hiromi sending me looks the whole time but I threw her a simple thumbs up which made her roll her eyes at me before huffing a bit.

We pulled the boys into helping, and ten minutes later we had all five crates lined up against the inside of Viks clinic. Misty was still hanging around as well, and now the boys were here. Looking around the place as Vik popped the lid on the first crate.

I could hear his soft intake of breath as he looked over the many limbs laying in the crate.

“Yeah. Fuck scavs.” I said simply from beside him. There were at least twenty pairs of limbs in this crate alone.

That’s twenty people dead, no it was more. Because not all the limbs were paired.

“Yeah.” Vik grumbled a bit with a hint of a growl in his throat before he sighed and rubbed his eyes a bit.

“You sure about this kid? This is a lot of chrome, even with its origins.”

“It’s because of its origins that I brought it to you. Might be able to help some people at least.”

“Maybe. Most of this is mid range stuff.” He whispered looking through the pile. “Got a few high end pieces. Nothing I can see that is combat rated, but…” He pulled out an arm that instead of the chrome lines, had a black lacquer. “This an Arasaka piece. The sort of thing they hand out to low level corporate. It’s quality work.”

“But not combat rated?”

“No it’s a… Show piece. Lots of bells and whistles, but no good if you want to hit someone with it.” He hummed, taking a moment to settle on the right word.

“Is there anything in there that would be useful to a merc?”

“Not this crate. But there is more than enough chrome in here to buy something high end. I can’t pay for all this. You sure you don’t want to sell it to someone else?”

“I’m sure.” I answered simply which did cause the little huddle around Hiromi as the crew were obviously arguing about the lack of a payday.

Idiots. Setting up a connection to a really good RipperDoc, one that uses anesthesia when operating and knows what he is doing? Worth more than a few eddies.

Plus Vik was cool.

He started going through the crates, and there weren’t any combat limbs. There was a few things that caught the boys ears.

“Smart link system here. Solid one too. Militech.” He called out pulling out the… Well it was plastic bag with the palm of a hand inside it. Thankfully there wasn’t any… Meat attached.

I shivered. Fuckin Scavs.

Viktor just kept going through cataloging what we had brought him. The fact that he had found something everyone could use had the whole crew breaking away from their complaining huddle to come see.

Like a pile of puppies when food is put out. I smirked a little at the thought.

In the end, there wasn’t much we could end up using. My hopes for the.. Optics. Yeah let’s go with that. Saying eyes makes it a little too much. The optics ended up being about on par with the stuff I already had.

“Sorry.” Vik offered in the end looking actually apologetic. “Scavs don’t tend to go for people who can fight back. They usually scan their target, make sure they are unarmed. Someone with combat rated Cyberware, or Mantis Blades or something they won’t even approach.”

“Yeah that’s why I figured you would get more use out of it than I would.” I told him.

“Yeah. Listen. I can’t take all of this.” Vik said. “You're a bunch of kids. Taking on scavs… You probably risked your lives. I don’t have the cash to come close to all of this chrome.”

“Your skills as a Ripper are worth more than some eddies.” I tell him with a shrug. “If you feel really bad. I think one of the boys wants that Smartlink. Maybe give us a discount on the chip, and we call it square.”

“Heh, You’re a weird one. Motoko wasn’t it?” He asked looking me over for a moment as if he was memorizing my face.

“That’s right.”

“Alright. Considering how much stock you just dropped off in my lap, I don’t mind chipping that in for free, but I can’t accept all of this for nothing either.” His eyes went blue and a moment later I had a deposit.

“That’s too much!” I couldn’t help but argue instantly, only to get laughed at by the doc.

“I’m basically scamming you kid even with that. Take it.” He refused, adjusting his glasses as he grabbed the smart link… Hand. “Let me do a few scans on this make sure it doesn’t have any malware or anything, and whoever wants it?”

“Me!” Malcolm called out instantly, earning looks from the rest of the crew.

“Motoko!” Hiromi whined to me but I put up both hands.

“Don’t look at me. Decide amongst yourselves who gets it. Oh also. Here is the pay for the job.” I tell them as my eyes turn blue.

Vik had dropped ten grand on my lap. So I passed two grand to everyone. I was now two grand richer!

“You should get it, Motoko.” Ichi said even as Malcolm looked like a kicked puppy.

“No thanks.” I tell them with a shrug. “I don’t use smart weapons. So it isn’t really necessary to me, and there is some work I was thinking about doing on my arms first anyways. So might as well wait.”

Despite Hiromi looking like she wanted to argue with me. The Crew huddled back together and after a minute there was a general grudging agreement.

Malcolm was pushed towards the doc.

“Alright. Got my patient then. Hop on up. Let’s get you chipped.”

I smiled at the eager look on Malcolm's face as we all settled in. The actual chrome was a bit of a bust, but Vik was good people.

Plus I bet if I asked him to keep an eye out for some chrome he would be able to help out. We all waited around as Malcolm got his first piece of real chrome.

Not that it really would do much for him, I mean he had optics, everyone did. But they weren’t combat optics.

Regardless, after Vik finished chipping Malcolm, and gave him some drugs to take to help adjust to the new hand we all left after I got Viks number and he mine.

—--

“I still can’t believe we had all that chrome, and you just gave it away.” Surprisingly Ichi had started complaining to me as soon as we hopped into his truck.

“I didn’t give it away. I paid a Ripperdoc a bunch of chrome to have a solid rep with him. If I ever drag myself into his shop bleeding from a few holes he will patch me up.”

“Rippers do that anyways!” Ichi argued.

“Yeah. I agree with Ichi on this one Motoko. I don’t get it.” HIromi argued and I sighed.

“Just trust me. Having Vik on our side is going to pay dividends. He’s good people.” That should reassure them.

It did not reassure them.

“Good people. Ugh Motoko.” Hiromi whined putting her head in her hands. “Why did we let her decide anything? She still has amnesia brain… And probably worse since she attacked a Scav den solo.”

“It was her gig.” Ichi replied, sounding strained just to say it. “Not happy about how it went, but we also didn’t put in any risk. I’ve been paid less for moving crates before.”

“Yeah but this could have been a big break!” Hiromi whined looking back at me. “I’m removing your gig choosing privileges.”

“You can’t.” I argue back, rolling my eyes at her.

“I’ll tell Jun what you did.”

“I would tell Jun what I did, if I ever see him.” I told her it sounded a little petulant even to my ears.

That quieted the argument for a minute.

“Sorry Motoko. I know Jun has been… Difficult.”

“Yeah.” I agree before sighing. I was quiet on the rest of the way back. Ichi pulling up in front of the apartment which I was grateful for. My arm still hurt. I ignored the looks I was getting as I pulled my new baby out of the truck. The HMG really was a monster. I could barely get it around with only one good arm.

I waved off Hiromi’s help as I hefted the HMG in my arms and hauled it into the apartment. Getting plenty of looks as I stepped into the elevator.

An HMG, 2k eddies, a pile of other weapons that I had stuffed in a bag I found, and a relationship with Viktor. All for the low price of murdering a group of people and almost dying a few times.

I walked inside. Once again Jun wasn’t home. I dropped the HMG on the living room table. Kinda liking how it looked sitting there. Then I flopped on the couch.

My arm still hurt. I laid down and went to sleep.

Wait… “FUCK!” I cursed as I jumped back to my feet. “Fuck fuck fuck!” I cursed myself I was a moron! “I forgot to check if they had any cars parked in the garage! I could have stolen a new ride! Fuck!”
 

xachariahxx

Well-known member
You know what, this actually seems pretty fair.

When you find and clear scav dens in the game, it's not like you end up with $100k of eddies or gear. Nothing close to it even if you count quest rewards.

If you earned $10k eddies in 2077, that'd be considered a huge payday for a random den, and that's what Motoko got. The weapons are usually the biggest reward, just like here. $10k and 2 usable weapon upgrades? 10/10 best quest ever.

As for cars, that seems like a dangerous thing to steal. It's fine for a joy ride, but a stolen (stolen twice probably) ride parked outside your house is a big risk that you get attacked.
 

Tel Janin Aman

Well-known member
Comrade
Something I'm confused on is if mokoto is saving stat points or not getting them. It makes sense to save them for when she can't grind up body easily anymore.
 
Chapter 16

Seras

Well-known member
I was practically humming when I went for my jog the next day. I had some more eddies in my pocket. I had leveled up, and had a stat and skill point I needed to figure out, and my arm didn’t hurt anymore.


I definitely didn’t make any massive blunders like not searching for new wheels. Nope. That was some other Motoko.


Definitely.


Knocking over the Scav den was in every respect a good thing. My morals hiding in the corner after I beat them like a red headed step child aside.


Scavs were monsters. So even that didn’t bother me too much. Walk through a scav den and see the dead ripped apart bodies of the people inside, and you won’t have much difficulties committing murder as well.


Now I just needed to find more scavs. I jogged down the block as I plotted. I had unfortunately run through my knowledge of scav locations.


I considered going to Wakako to ask if she had any info, but it was probably best if I relax and let myself decompress. I did just murder a lot of people. It was probably bad for my mental health to instantly look for more people to kill.


So instead I jogged around the block going slow on my way to the Gym. Every device I walked past I tried Quick Hacking with Ping. Time to train! Even if I couldn’t level Quick hacking itself yet, I still needed to grind Intelligence.


Plus after an hour of slowly making my way to the gym, I would have some time to hammer at a sandbag!


—-


Back at home after a shower.


I still had a smile on my face because of my level up at the gym.


*Street Brawler skill level up!*


Level 4 felt great. Combined with Grapple, I felt actually pretty confident in a brawl. I mean not against a gorilla arms borg or something, but if a Scav grabbed me, I think I’ll survive.


When I settled onto the couch I looked first at my baby, the HMG and then at the radio.


Intelligence. I reminded myself. As fun as playing with the HMG would be.


I really needed to get to the point where I could actually do some netrunning stuff.


Intelligence. I got XP for it whenever I trained Breach or Quick Hack. Which was the most consistent method I had figured out, but it was slow.


I needed to raise Netrunning. I could have handled the fight with the borg a lot easier if I could hack his optics, or just shut his Cyberware down.


So I headed out into the city. Pinging, and Breaching every Vending machine I could find again.


—--


That night I gained four Intelligence XP alerts.


But not a level.


It was just on the edge of being too mindless for me to enjoy the grind. But every time I got the alert it made me feel better.


Plus since I was literally breaking into every vending machine I walked past. I did get myself some treats from time to time.


Over the next two days I really didn’t do much more than grind.


I had even taken to trying to sneak around while breaching. Training myself on how best to move while hacking to keep myself out of sight.


I hadn’t earned anything for Ninjutsu yet, but considering I was pretty visibly walking down the street and pretending to sneak around…


I just did my best to pretend no one could see me acting like a massive dork.


It even let me work some athletics training in, as I was jogging around the city.


But grinding can’t go on forever.


I was mid Breach on a vending machine when it happened. I got a text.


*Wakako: Come to my parlor. We need to talk.*


That was it. Not a woman of many words Wakako. I shrugged, finished up my breach and rose up from where I had been crouching behind a trashcan. Ignored the old guy next to me that was fencing stolen clothes by the looks of it, pretended he didn’t exist as I walked casually down the sidewalk.


I was pretty far from home, would have to take a train on the way back.


But I wondered what Wakako wanted?


A short train ride back to my area I walked down Jig-jig street, bypassed the dolls, and ignored the lecherous looks from the gonks, walked into Wakako’s parlor.


“Good you’re here. Come in, stop wasting time.” Wakako called out before I could even walk up to her receptionist. Shrugging, I passed through Wakako’s bead door.


To my surprise though, Wakako wasn’t alone.


A man was lounging in the chair in front of Wakako, looking bored. Although as he looked over his shoulder his eyes shot up.


“You're kidding. She’s a kid.”


“I am not.” Wakako said bluntly. “You wanted a gun for hire. Here she is.” Wakako answered as she pointed a well manicured finger at me. “Meet Motoko Kusanagi. Fourteen. Three days ago she raided a Scav den. Alone. I verified this myself. No footage unfortunately, but 11 scavs were recovered from the site.”


“Twelve.” I couldn’t help but admit after Wakako finished. She looked at me suddenly, eyes hard. “I uh… Stashed one in a fridge. They probably just thought he was a victim.”


Wakako nodded in acceptance of my words and turned back to the man.


The man hummed a little but shook his head. “That’s great, impressive and all. I don’t work with kids.” He answered flatly, pointing at me.


“I don’t even know what is going on.” I interrupted again, looking to Wakako. “Can I get brought in on the sitch?”


“This is Scorpion, a Nomad. Due to some circumstances he came to me for help on a gig.” Wakako said simply waving at me. “You don’t have time to overly argue about what help you can get. You wanted someone that could watch your back for the eddies you offered? Out of my pool of talent few would even hear you out at the price you offer. The girl has proven herself that I am recommending her for your job. Here is my offer. Take it or leave it.”


“What’s the gig?” I interrupt again. “Before he hems and haws about it, maybe I should find out if I’m even willing to take it?” I turn to look at the man. “No offense.”


“None taken.” He grumbled looking to Wakako and she once again pointed to me. “Fine. Here are the deets. I got a deal going on. Gotta keep it… Low. The family wouldn’t like it. Basically got a Raffen Shiv that owes me a favor. Saved his life a year back. Despite all the bad blood… he used to be an Aldecaldos. Knew him as a kid. Little snot-nosed brat.” The man sighed rubbing at his bald head.


“I get it.” I prompted and the man got himself back together.


“Yeah well, I saved his ass during a storm. We talked some shit. He won’t be welcome back, but… He got in contact with me a week ago. Said the Raffen found something preem. Something I would very much like. Now it’s not that I trust him. I don’t, but I don’t think he is trying to ambush me either. He has something I want, I have some eddies and… Well family stuff. Anyway. I’ll need someone to watch my back. Just in case, we are going to Raffen territory after all.”


“So since you can’t bring the Aldecaldos into it, considering you came to Wakako to hire a gun.” I confirmed.


“About sums it up.”


“What’s the pay?”


“Not really sure it matters.”

“You need someone you can trust at your back in a potential firefight. I might be a Street Kid. But I’m a professional. I’ll fight to get us both out of there if something goes bad.” I answered simply. “That of course depends on the pay.” I add in at the end with a shrug.


“Two-thou.” He offered but I sensed it immediately.


We were haggling.


“Three. You are putting me in the path of the Raffen.” I added. The fuckin Scav nomads. Or better they were crazy Mad Max villains traveling the dusty roads and thieving murdering and raping their way through the desert.


“Two-two. Good chance it will just be a long quiet drive and a nice paycheck.”


“Two-three. And I’ll not ask you for ammo pay.” I countered.


He was quiet for a minute before he sighed. “Two-three.” Agreeing to bring me along.


“Excellent. Now both of you. Get out.” Wakako ordered with the irritation only an old woman can give when forced to stay around younger people.


“Thanks.” Scorpion offered with a roll of his eyes at her, but his eyes went blue a moment later and Wakako nodded.


Seemed she got her payment.


I followed Scorpion out of the Parlor before he turned on me. “Listen… It’s against my better judgment to bring you on. I don’t… The nomads don’t bring kids into dangerous situations like this.”


“I’ve gone solo into a Scav den. It’s not my first gig.”


“Right… Alright, listen it’s already late, and I’m not looking to have to camp out in the desert. So we will head out tomorrow morning. Sounds good?”


“Yeah, it sounds fine.” We flashed each other our contact information. A weird feeling that I was starting to get used to.


“Perfect.” He grumbled as he headed out into the darkness of Jig Jig street.


“Raffen huh. Fuckin scavs.” I whispered thinking about this gig. The Solo’s guide said I should determine what level of violence to bring to a table for every Gig. And prepare to kill if necessary.


Yeah I think I was ready to kill in this case.


I went home and sent Jun a text asking if he would be home tonight.


I never did get a response.


—--


The next morning Scorpion and I confirmed after a quick back and forth how our meetup was gonna go.


He was not pleased that I didn’t have a ride, and he had to come pick me up.


Nomads. Practically married to their rides and expect everyone else to be too.


Of course I got to see his irritation at waiting out on the sidewalk for me disappear into a sort of awed shock.


Because I was bringing my new baby.


With two arms it wasn’t too bad to walk out of the apartment much to the fearful gaze of all the people I walked past as I carried my HMG at my side. SMG around my chest all fully loaded and ready for war.


Honestly I think Cold Blood was active, because I felt completely calm as I walked around Scorpions cute little hatchback car.


It was a Thorton Galena according to the information that I had picked up from living in the city, but it was heavily modified.


Obviously.


“Damn.” Scorpion muttered looking me over, as I settled my baby in the back seat. Before pulling the seat back in place.


“I like to be prepared. Just be happy you aren’t paying for ammo.” I told him as I settled into the seat.


It was then I noticed.


He had his jacket hood up. I shrugged. If he liked driving around with a hood over his head, I wasn’t going to comment.


“Alright then.” He uttered, actually sounding a little impressed, “Well get comfortable, it’ll be about four hours for us to hit the meeting site… And it might be a while before he shows up. So I hope you ate.”


I sighed at his words and gave him an apologetic smile.


We stopped at a diner before leaving the city limits.


—--


Other than needling each other about our choice in music stations it was a quiet drive. Scorpion was obviously used to driving alone. So I kept that in mind, besides even if this was the easy part, I was on a job.


I kept my eyes out on the world around us and myself prepared for a battle. I had thought keeping focused for so long would be difficult, or draining, but it wasn’t. I simply felt that coolness in my mind that made it so easy to stay focused and alert.


I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to stay cool forever. Yet. But it would last more than long enough for this gig. I would relax more on the way back.


Eventually a few hours into the drive as we drove through long desert roads Scorpion broke the silence.


“So what made you into a merc? Not a normal job for a kid your age.”


“A couple things I guess, but really it just felt right. I have some skill, and I wanted to do something with it.” I offered with a shrug. “Better than sitting around doing nothing I guess.”


“Crazy. Mercs die you know?”


“Everyone dies.” I countered looking over to him. “I don’t go out to die, but I know it can happen. Honestly I was more afraid of killing someone else, than dying myself at first. Or having someone I care about die. So that’s what drives me. If I can get better, get good equipment, get good cyberware. I’m more likely to be able to save my friends and family when something goes wrong.”


“You sound like a Nomad.” He offered with a chuckle.


“Nah. I like putting my feet up in my air conditioned apartment too much for that.”


“Low blow about the AC.” He said quietly a moment later and I couldn’t help but chuckle. I guess hanging out in the California desert every day could get a bit warm sometimes.


“Sorry.”


“Nah it’s alright.” He chuckled and we fell back into listening to the radio as we drove through the dust.


—--


Scorpion, Driss Meriana


“Alright. I called Connor, should show up in about an hour, he isn’t happy about how late I am, but.” Scorpion shrugged it didn’t matter. Connor would get over it.


She gave a single nod after hearing him before continuing her walk around. Scorpion had to admit. The girl was… Professional. They had stopped off at a pretty common halfway house. A place to hide out in a storm if necessary.


She had immediately cleared it, and then began walking a perimeter. Checking over the area. Scorpion had to admit, it was nice to know she was at least reliable.


Then again he wouldn’t really know how reliable she truly was until the bullets started flying. No, shook his head, throwing away the thought. If the bullets started flying. He trusted Connor not to betray him here.


Not when he was also carrying letters and pictures from home along with his eddies.


It would be the first pictures Connor would see of his niece.


The girl his Merc, which still embarrassed him to have actually brought along, was doing a solid job of looking around. She moved… She moved like she had military experience. He would know. The unification war had left its marks on many of the Aldecaldos himself included. He still sometimes woke up in the middle of the night reaching for the controls of his Tank.


It would usually take a few minutes of holding onto the steering wheel of his Gecko before he could relax.


But this girl was way too young to have been in the war. What did Wakako say? Fourteen? She would have been nine then.


Far too young for even the corps to draft her.


Although there were a hundred other options that could cause her to move like a trained soldier.


Scorpion decided to push it out of his mind. Wakako had recommended her, and he hired her.


He settled onto the hood of his Gecko to wait, watching as the girl finished her perimeter check before she actually climbed up the side of the way house, settling in next to a piece of the wayhouses AC unit that caused her to practically disappear from view.


Damn.


He shrugged it off and waited. Time ticked down as he simply enjoyed the peace of the desert. Unfortunately as always things can’t go easy. Before he saw connor he saw the storm.


“Hey! Storms coming in. If he doesn’t make it before it hits, we will need to get inside.” He called out as he noticed the dust cloud building up from the south.


Wouldn’t be long.


Fortunately only a minute after that he heard wheels.


He knew the sound of every engine in the desert. Which is why he relaxed A Thorton Colby, Connors ride. He settled in signaling the girl with a thumbs up. Which he saw she returned poking up from the roof.


Damn she was hard to see.


Connor’s ride pulled up. And Scorpion had to wince. The Raffen symbols and alterations covered the older Aldecaldos images.


You could barely see them.


The younger man that slipped out was just a teenager. Barely eighteen really. Scorpion sighed.


“Connor.”


“Driss. Good to see you, you old Scorpion.” He offered with a smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes.


“You got it?” Scorpion asked, looking at the little trailer that Connor was pulling.


“Course.” He said popping the hatch and showing off the preem Brennan Apollo. A motorcycle that Driss had been trying to get a hold of for a while.


He always wanted a bike.


“Alright.” He pulled out the shard from his pocket. “Letters, pictures, videos, everything… Your mom forced me to tell you this. Make sure, you take care of yourself.” Driss added as he handed over the shard.


“Yeah. She would say that.” Connor added sounding quiet as his shoulders slumped.


Getting expelled from the family never came easy. Sometimes it was a relief to the family. Sometimes… Well sometimes kids did stupid shit.


“Thanks Driss. Alright. Give me the eddies and this thing is yours.” Connor added quickly. “I want to get out of here before anyone notices. You threw off my schedule. We were supposed to meet up yesterday.”


“Sorry I had to run to Night City wanted to… Ah it doesn’t matter.” He shrugged. His eyes shifted to blue as he transferred the eddies.


“Cool.” Connor said with a sigh of relief as they both hurried over to the trailer pulling it off Connors pickup, and wheeling it over to Scorpions Gecko.


The storm was getting close.


“Might have to camp out.” Driss offered seeing that the storm was getting close.


“Nah. I need to hurry back. Hopefully no one will even notice I was gone. You don’t… Well you kinda know, but you don’t really know what the Raffen are… You hear that?” Connor offered turning as his face went white.


“Engines.” Scorpion agreed. Looking concerned himself. “That’s the same direction you came from.”


“I recognize that engine. Fuck. They followed me.” Connor said, suddenly rushing to his ride. “Get out of here. I was never here!” He yelled out quickly as he jumped into his truck and took off.


“Fuck.” Driss cursed, he was still holding the trailer not even finished attaching it to his gecko.


But suddenly another pair of hands were there. “Leave it. We need to go. Five vehicles.” The girl said as she appeared beside him. Her voice was completely calm as if talking about the weather. Pushing the trailer hitch off the Gecko and leaving them free to run.


“Dammit your right.” He growled, dropping it and rushing to the driver seat. He slipped in seeing the girl pushing the passenger seat forward and was maneuvering her big ass machine gun.


“I guess it was a good thing you brought that after all.”


“We’ll see.” She said calmly as if everything that was happening didn’t concern her in the slightest.


They peeled out. Scorpion flooring it to get out of here.


But it was too late. By the time they heard the vehicles they were too close.


“They see us.” She said as she was looking out the back window.


“Yeah. Hold on. I’m aiming for the storm. Hopefully we can lose them in the dust.” He called out, swerving off the road heading towards the wall of dust coming closer and closer.


She didn’t say anything after that and Scorpion focused on driving.


Ramping off dunes, dodging dips, he used every ounce of skill he had to try and lose them.


But the Raffen were just as good. They were just as used to the desert as he was.


They even had two bikes with them. The sound of their engines growing closer and closer.


“I’m rolling down the window.” She said suddenly and he looked over as she poked her head out and suddenly her SMG went off a few moments later he could hear the sound of one of the bikes crashing into a wreck.


She jerked back into the vehicle as he heard bullets start arcing up the back of his car.


“Dammit they are shooting at my baby!”


“They are shooting at us too.” She muttered flatly before peaking out again and another rapid fire exchange.


The second motorcycle peeled off to Scorpions relief, but suddenly he jerked. His gecko started dragging through the sand instead of skimming over it.


“They shot your tire.” She said flatly as she slipped back into the back seat. Her SMG dropped onto the floor as she grabbed the HMG in the back. It took her a moment as she looked around trying to figure out the best way to do it, but then she grabbed a seatbelt, a few moments she had it wrapped around her right arm, as she held the HMG on her left. Then she opened the passenger door.


The wind nearly slammed it shut but she pushed it back open with the butt of the machine gun.


She damn near stepped out of the car while he was going through dunes and Scorpion was sure this merc was insane, but she siddled out carrying the HMG.


And then she started firing. He winced the sound was thunderous, and he could see the way she was resting the guns back against his passenger door.


He could see the bolts holding the door together strain as she allowed it to handle some of the recoil.


Dammit.


But a moment later in his rear view mirror he saw one of the Raffen trucks, with its entire front covered in bullet holes slide sideways and start crashing.


She kept firing.


Damn. He was gonna have to thank Wakako for introducing him to the only merc in the city that walked around with an HMG wasn’t he?


Unfortunately his luck didn’t hold out.


His tire must have finally finished shredding itself apart as his gecko bucked at just the wrong time.


Instead of sliding over dune he smashed into it.


The loss of the tire, the fact he was gunning it to try and escape.


Too late.


The Gecko flipped.


He lost track of everything as the car started rolling. Eventually everything stopped.


He was dizzy and forced to blink the growing dust out of his eyes as he looked around.


He was alone in the car. Girl and her HMG were gone. He reached down… Up. And slowly popped his seatbelt off. Grunting as he fell onto the roof of his baby. He winced at the glass that was coating his landing pad, he reached down to pull his gun as he tried the door.


It was jammed. With a grunt he slipped out of windshield, forcing himself to move, because he knew what came next.


Unfortunately by the time he crawled out of the car there was already a shotgun pressed against the back of his head.


He dropped his pistol.


He knew this was over.


His gun was slipped from the sand and he was forced to roll over, wincing as he was pretty sure one of his ribs were broken he looked up into the gas mask and goggles of someone he didn’t want to see.


“How’s it going Frank.”


“Well well. Look who I finally caught. Scorpion you son of a bitch. I’m going to enjoy bartering you back to your family. Get him up.” Frank ordered and Scorpion sighed as his arms were grabbed and he was hauled up.


Suddenly shots rang out.


Bullets started flying and the Raffen moved as one grabbing weapons and firing into the dust.


It took them a moment to find their shooter.


The girl.


She was on her belly, face covered in blood, a pistol in one hand as she looked like she had crawled over to start firing.


He tried to call out. To tell the Raffen to leave her alone, but it wasn’t going to happen. A few rounds shot back at her, but eventually they all heard it even over the sound of the storm kicking up.


Her gun clicked as it was out of ammo.


Immediately one of the Raffen charged, as he watched her struggle to reload. Seeing the man approaching she hefted herself up on her knees as she rose to meet him, the man going to knock her out found a knife instead as she whipped it free and stabbed him in the leg.


His scream was loud, and it cut off a few moments later as she seemed to crawl over stabbing as she went and then sliced his throat.


She was grabbing the Raffens rifle when a shot rang out. A small cloud of blood burst from her back as she fell backwards rolling into the sand and down the dune.


Scorpion looked away, Frank had grabbed his own rifle and taken a shot blowing a hole through her chest.


“Get him up. I’ve lost enough people over this shit.” Frank grunted, sounding not at all pleased with the situation.


“Sorry kid.” Scorpion whispered. All he could do for her. He now had his own problems.
 

Skitzyfrenic

Well-known member
Naw, she'll take the meds. IIRC she used meds in the Scav den, and it was important to establish that when Motoko uses MaxDoc or BounceBack or whatever, it acts like a health potion. Vicky-Toko will live as long as she has access to meds.

This will be the chapter that starts the Motoko Terminator rumors.
 

xachariahxx

Well-known member
I like the subtle nod that Ichi and crew didn't sell Vicky out. Wakako had bad information, but she got it from NCPD or the news, since Vicky told Ichi's crew about the 12.

Wait, did that mean I had bullets in me still? Dammit. I would have to get to a ripper to check. How was I supposed to ask that? “Hey Ripper can you tell if I still have bullets in me from these holes that just happened?” I mocked myself before sighing.

Was it ever resolved if the bullets disappear or not? She never had Vik check her over in the intervening chapters.

If not, it's going to be a hell of a time explaining it when she gets her lungs in.

"Lets see, you've got 3 bullets in you, some shrapnel, and... is that a half a quart of sand?" "Edgerunning is wild."
 
Chapter 17

Seras

Well-known member
Ichinose
The night after the Scav Den Raid.

Ichi was drinking. What else could he do? He just made more eddies in a few hours of work, than he had in any span of days working for Shobo-Sama.

But he knew he couldn’t do the same job that Motoko had done. He talked to the older Tyger Claws when he was playing gofer, or doing odd jobs for them. They often liked to talk. About previous gigs they had done. Of the firefights they had been in.

So he knew exactly how dangerous it was to hit a scav den. Sure if you were properly borged out, you could do it. Scavs often weren’t the best fighters, or the best equipped.

But they were all armed, all ready to murder you. Gunfights sounded cool until you were in one and the other guy was firing back.

“What’s up kid, you've been glaring at the bottom of your drink since you got back.” One of the very same older Tyger claws asked as he plopped his can of Asahi on the table beside Ichi. “Seriously, you look like you're going to kill your beer.”

“Hatake… I took a gig from a friend today. And…”

“Ah. You lost someone? Went bad?”

“No. No the opposite. It was over before I even got there, I was just… The cleanup crew. Nothing more.”

“Huh. So you made some easy eddies. What’s got ya down?”

“The friend that called me into the job. She’s… Ugh. It sounds so stupid. I’m jealous! She went from being in the hospital to running jobs that I couldn’t pull off. She is younger than me! How does a fourteen year old clear an entire scav den by herself!? I don’t get it!”

“By herself? You sure?That’s…”

“Yeah I’m sure, she didn’t even call us in until it was all over. We are supposed to be her chooms. I mean if she said she was going to try and hit a scav den I would have had Hiromi sit on her, because it’s dumb!”

“Ah I get it. She did something impossible. Something beyond what you think you could do.”

“Yeah.” He grumbled glaring at his beer.

“Well kid. I’ll be honest. A kid your age? A fourteen year old able to do a job like that? That ain’t normal. She’s an edgerunner for sure.”

“I know. She…My goal was to be an edgerunner, not her. Motoko never wanted that before, and now? She is already doing it.”

“Don’t be stupid kid. You don’t want to be an edgerunner. They burn bright, but only a quarter as long. Your choom? She’ll be dead before she’s twenty. Hell if she is already doing this shit? Before sixteen. Don’t live your life like that Ichi. Burn slower, and longer. Trust me. As a guy in his forties. I’ve seen a lot of chooms, men and women better than me at fighting, but also better than me at dying.” Hatake offered taking a swig of his beer.

“I don’t think I can help it. Feeling jealous.”

“Yeah, well. Just remember becoming an edgerunner has a cost. That level of skill. That willingness to put your life on the line?” Hatake shook his head. “If she is your choom, then do your best to help out, but make sure you know the line. Edgerunners don't always realize what is dangerous for normal people. The closest I ever got to getting flatlined was when I backed up an edgerunner choom. Got shot up for my trouble.”

“What if I want to do that? Become an Edgerunner. Make it big, and prove that I’m not just a Gofer?”

Hatake sort of nodded his head for a moment before sighing. “Then be ready to be used up kid. Used like a tool. Used as a weapon. Being a gofer aint bad. At least you know you’ll come back home after a days work. Instead of being thrown into the trash because it’s convenient.” Hatake sounded like this advice was personal. That this advice came from experience.

Ichi wasn’t sure if he could accept it though. To give up on his dream of making it big. Of becoming more.

—--

I grunted as I heard the trucks drive off. This storm was starting to piss me off.

With shaky hands I reached into one of my thigh pouches and pulled out a max doc. I had found a few of them in the scav den, and since I now knew how useful they were, they were standard kit.

I huffed it and a moment later my body didn’t feel like I was dying.

I grunted as I sat up, crawling over to a nice rock that I could rest against as I caught my breath.

Getting thrown from a fast moving car into the desert? Not fun. Smashing into a rock on the way? Ow.

Getting shot again? Double ow. I winced as I reached behind me and felt the hole in my Netsuit. Yeah the bullet had gone right through.

Fuck.

I was gonna have to start crafting soon just to repair my clothes. Why did people keep shooting me! I sighed. Coughing a bit at just how much dust was swirling around me. I could barely see through how thick it was getting.

And it was starting to get hard to breathe.

I rose up unsteadily, and then even less steadily as I nearly fell. My leg wasn’t great. I messed it up when I went flying from the car. Worse, the wind was getting strong. I fought against it as I climbed back up the hill towards Scorpions car.

Might be able to take shelter inside until this storm was over.

I clambered up the hill and just at the top I tripped.

Coughing a bit I pulled myself up and realized I had tripped on a corpse.

Oh yeah. The guy I stabbed. Instantly I noticed something I needed. Rising up and heading back to grab the goggles from his head. After a minute of struggling to get them clear enough of dust to see I put them on and while it wasn’t great. At least I could open my eyes.

Then I grabbed the guys dust mask.

It was gross. But as I put it on, I could breath a lot easier.

I continued searching him, gotta get loot after all. I smiled as I found my knife. That went into my sheath. A little more digging I did find my pistol as well. I was honestly super relieved. That had been a gift from Jun. I didn’t want to lose it.

Okay. I could see, breath, and I had a weapon.

Let’s get to work.

—---

Scorpions car was a wreck, even if I did have the key shard I wouldn’t get it moving.

I sighed. As I looked outwards. I knew the general path. My eyes GPS meant I knew exactly the direction to get back to the wayhouse.

So since I didn’t find anything of value. I started walking. Trudging through the desert. First I would get to the wayhouse. Then I would start searching for the Raffen base.

I had considered just sitting tight, hitchhiking back to the city.

But I had been hired for a job.

The Solo’s guide had mentioned that some gigs would blow up in your face. That you would have to make a decision about what kind of Solo you wanted to be. The sort that once the job gets out of control walks away. The ones that lived long lives, but were never respected.

Or the one that when shit blew up they stood up and got to work.

Considering how pissed I was? Yeah. I think I’m the kind that got to work.

It took almost an hour to reach the wayhouse. Trudging against dust and sand up and over dunes. I noticed that the trailer with the motorcycle that was what caused all of this was gone.

Connor was going to be answering some questions next time I saw him.

I hauled myself inside. Taking a moment to pull off the dust mask and the goggles. I headed into the bathroom and found the sink. Running water.

Thank god.

I washed my face allowing my eyes to stop aching from all the dust for the first time in over an hour. Then I washed the goggles and the dust mask as best I could.

Drying them a bit. I wiped them down and put them back on.

I felt like I could actually fight now. I did throw a bandage that I ripped out of an old sheet around my shoulder. Didn’t want people to see the hole that was still there even if it was mostly closed after the Maxdoc.

Ow.

I was just getting ready to head back into the storm, to stumble around in the direction of where I had seen the sand trails the Raffen vehicles had left as they chased us, but I heard it over the howl of the wind.

A car.

I slipped into a dark corner, behind the door Unity ready.

The engine cut off, and I could hear cursing but I didn’t hear the engine start again. Instead I heard it. Someone coming up to the door.

Someone opening the door.

Someone stumbling inside.

Someone familiar.

“Fuckin’ storm. Fuckin Frank! My bike! Bastard klepped my bike.” He moaned as the door closed behind him as he took off a mask and goggles like the set I had, and spat dust out of his mouth.

I struck, a kick right to the back of his knee, arm hooked around his own.

Ow. My shoulder wasn’t happy with the movement.

But it worked, sending him slamming into the floor on his back. I settled on his chest. With my Unity pressed against his mouth.

“What the fu-Ack!” He squealed when the barrel of my unity slipped past his teeth.

“No talking.” I said simply as he stilled. Feeling my gun in his mouth did a great job shutting him up. “I have two questions for you Connor, you are going to answer them very clearly. Because otherwise you get to repaint the floor. Did you set up Scorpion?” I asked as I gently pulled my gun out from his mouth.

“No! I told him! I told him he was late! If he had shown up at the time I told him it would have been fine! He was supposed to be here yesterday! Frank and the others were busy there was a boxing match everyone was watching! But Scorpion was late!”

“Alright. I’ll give you a pass on that. Next question. Where did they take Scorpion?”

“It’s an old gas station nearby! Here! I can send you the location! Just don’t kill me!”

My eyes flashed as I received the text with the GPS coordinates.

He was right. It was close. “Now get ready, you are giving me a ride.”

“No.” He squeaked out. I pushed the barrel of my Unity just a tad deeper against his face.

“No?”

“I can’t! They’ll know if I get close! They have sensors all over the desert looking for vehicles. If I bring you close they’ll kill us. Both of us! I already need to get out of here!” He whined pathetically at me.

I sighed. “Fine.” I stood, up and stepped back into the storm. Leaving Connor on the floor to his fate.

Sure I could have waited. I could take a nap and get my leg back into shape, but I wasn’t sure how long Scorpion had before the Raffen killed him. I don’t remember super well the Raffen missions from the game, but I do remember they weren’t gentle on their captured people. I didn’t have time to take a nap.

So I pointed myself towards the GPS marker I set up and started trudging. Hopefully I would actually find them, and not just be led into a trap.

—--

I was in luck.

The little setup that looked like it used to be a gas station with a few little stores all around it was now covered in Raffen Shiv markings. Mostly “Wraith” graffitied over the old concrete that I only could barely make out in the storm.

I settled against the wall letting myself think this through. I found them. Scorpion was inside, along with a small army of Raffen.

Since I was here, alone, with someone I needed to rescue. I had to do this right.

The Wraith that I had killed before, Both the one on the Bike that I had blow apart with my baby… Which was now long gone.

Dang. I just realized my poor HMG was somewhere in the desert. Dammit. I shook it off focusing back on my current issue.

Between the biker and the Wraith I had stabbed to death I had leveled up. That meant I had two stat and skill points.

So I spent them.

Cool 8, and Ninjutsu 7. I had been planning on spending my points on Intelligence and Breach, but in this case. I once more needed stealth on my side. So I dropped both points.

I shivered a bit as it felt like my mind grew a little bit colder. No more like I was just that much more capable of ignoring anything but my objective. Pain, emotions, fear. All of it simply frozen solid.

I rose up to my feet. Ignoring the limp I had been battling with the whole way as I walked around the edge of the brick wall covered in graffiti.

I slipped into the compound like a ghost. It was almost startling how simple it all felt. To move without making a sound. The storm which I had been fighting through the entire path was simply accepted. Instead of fighting it I let it flow through me. Helping instead of hindering.

My senses felt sharp as I started hunting.

I had no idea how many Wraiths there were in the compound. So I would simply have to clear them out. One at a time.

The first thing I found wasn’t a victim.The feeling of my danger sense was what alerted me. Told me I was about to be seen. I slipped backwards instantly looking around the corner of the building I had just walked out from. It was a camera. Set up in the ceiling looking out over the center of the little bundle of buildings. I smiled as my eyes shifted to gold. I started breaching. It took a few minutes, but when it was done. I was through. Then I sent my Ping Quick Hack.

My eyes shone as I got small little alerts over my hud telling me general where everyone was. It wasn’t like in the game. I wasn’t seeing people through walls. Instead it was like a little icon showing me generally where they were.

But it didn’t matter.

I saw enough. The Wraiths were all connected to the security system. I could see the few wandering around, but most were bunkered up to wait out the storm.

My first Victim was quickly chosen.

A tarp covering a door to keep the dust out of a smaller room that had their security systems. I peeked in through the window knowing exactly where to best do so to remain unseen.

There was one man inside, grumbling to himself about the dust as he watched some TV on one of the monitors. The rest showed only dust.

I crawled in without even ruffling the tarp, With Ninjutsu 7, I no longer felt like a kid playing hide and seek. No, I had training. Years of reflexes and instincts, muscle memory and not quite memory, but just an understanding of what to do.

The man was eating some instant noodles. I let him finish slurping his last bite, chewing it and swallowing before my knife slipped through his throat. He gurgled weakly for a moment, his arm trying to reach for an alert, or trying to save himself.

I didn’t let him.

*100 Ninjutsu XP Gained.*

*500 XP Gained.*

*Blades skill level up!*

Hmm. Blade 4. Nice.

I reached behind my neck and grabbed my connection port. Pulling the cord free I clicked it into the computer system.

Breaching the system directly… It was harder. Breaching a single camera’s security was easy. Breaching into an actual security setup? If I hadn’t just murdered their security guy I had a feeling I might not have even succeeded. I could see the computer sending an alert popup about an intrusion. Even as I worked.

Luckily there was no one to see the alert.

And after a few minutes I was in. Their system was completely under my control. More importantly, I finally got the alert I had been waiting for.

*Intelligence Leveled up!*

Intelligence 3! Yes!

Instantly a daemon was uploaded. Something I hadn’t even thought of, just an instinctual reflex. It was sent out to all the Wraith attacking their network.

Their optics would suddenly have difficulty spotting me as the Daemon would try to blur me out of their sight.

There. I breathed out as I slipped back into the storm. Time to ghost this gig.

—-

Frank Elder
Raffen Shiv: Wraith

This show was dumb. Frank decided as he flicked off the channel. With the storm going on he had come down to his little underground home away from home.

Well it was just his home now.

He stretched. He could hear the storm finally letting up. Might actually be able to get something done today. He rose up from the old beat up couch that he probably would need to get replaced soon.

The Blood stains were getting a little much.

Scorpion was still hanging around. He smiled looking towards the man. He was hanging from his wrists by a set of chains.

“Hang in there Scorp! We’ll think about reaching out to the Aldecaldos in a few hours… Maybe!” He laughed at his joke as he walked past the man, The glare he was getting for his words caused him to alter his path, a heavy fist into Scorpions stomach reminded the man that he was a prisoner. Scorpion's heavy cough told him he would need to let up soon. Didn’t want to kill the guy he was a chance for a payday after all.

Well, didn't want to kill him yet. If he could work it out, he would get the eddies and kill old Scorpion as well. That would be a nice bonus.

“There. A reminder of where you are.” He told Scorpion reaching up and slapping his cheeks a bit, laughing as the nomad moaned at Frank's roughness on his his bruised face.

Feeling a little upbeat at the situation he walked up the stairs. Sure Connor had turned out to be a bitch. Dealing with his old family was a big no no. Especially since he hadn’t told Frank. If he had, they could have ambushed Scorpion.

Instead they had to chase him down. Losing people, equipment. It was a mess.

Ah well. They would get a nice paycheck for ransom, and Connor… Well he had nowhere to go now. The Aldecaldos wouldn’t harbor him, and now the Wraiths would know he was weak.

Frank smiled. He would quite enjoy ripping the boy apart. It would be a good way to remind the others not to go against his will.

He walked into the upper floor and was surprised no one was around.

“Harold! Where you at? I want that windshield fixed on that Revenant! Harold!?” He looked around confused. The garage was empty. “Harold!?”

He walked out of the building looking around the courtyard. “Where the hell is everybody! HEY! I want everyone back to work! These cars are still full of holes!” He roared.

But other than the wind. No response came back.

He drew his Overture. The big revolver was a good weapon. The noise and power gave him a certain respect whenever he had to shoot someone acting up.

“Someone better be on the cameras.” He growled rushing across the dusty courtyard to the security room.

He walked in and stopped.

“David?” He called, noticing the body slumped over. He rushed up and saw it.

Throat was slit.

“Fuck.” He reached over and hit the alarm button.

Instantly a noise echoed through the area. It lasted for a few seconds more than long enough to alert everyone.

But as Frank headed back into the courtyard nothing happened.

He looked around waiting for his men to show up.

Slowly he realized there weren't the usual hoots and hollers of his men. No gun fire. Not the sound of engines starting up, or even boots rushing around.

It was a ghost town.

He jerked around searching for anything.

Not a thing moved but the dust.

He moved. Rushing into the barracks. The boys would be fuckin’ around on some BD again. Surely that was it.

He entered into a charnel house. The floor practically pools of blood as four of his boys lay dead.

Henry was in his bed, BD wreath still active even with his throat opened.

Kengo was slumped in ‘his’ big ass chair. It was comfortable, and Kengo had hauled it across the entire desert ontop of his little packrat of a car.

Someone had stuffed a screwdriver into his ear.

It was still quietly dripping blood down the handle into the growing puddle.

The other two were slumped over the back of the couch.

He didn’t need to look any further. He knew they were dead.

Who the fuck was doing this? Sure the Wraiths made enemies but this was crazy.

No one in this desert had this kind of skill. No one took out a room with four men without setting off an alarm. That was Corpo Intelligence type shit.

He left the room in a hurry searching.

Every room he came across that was supposed to be occupied was now only occupied by the dead.

Boomer. The crazy bastard who had been with Frank since the beginning. A friend from his old nomad family that had left right alongside him, and to this day still carried far too many grenades had his head caved in by the looks of it. A fucking carpenters hammer stuck in the back of his head. His body slumped over his workbench.

His empty workbench.

Frank swallowed as he looked around.

No one.

Who had done this?!

He was losing his cool. He knew it. His gun was starting to get a little twitchy as he held it out infront of him. Then he came to a decision.

Fuck this.

He was going to get to his car, and floor it. He would join the other Wraith group at the cement factory. Sure he would have to shut up and take it from that asshole Hook. But fuck it. Better to lick boots, then get murdered by some Arasaka ninja.

They hadn’t even hit an Arasaka shipment!

He slipped into the garage, breathing out a sigh of relief that his Reaver was still where it should be. His baby was fast. It would get him out of here in a hurry. He was done with this shitshow.

He made it three steps before suddenly gunfire erupted around him. He cursed ducking down and was only saved because of the Subdermal armor he had chipped in a year back. The bullet that just knocked into his back would have been it.

He fired blindly towards where he thought the gunfire came from his Overture barking as he ducked behind the cars deeper into the garage.

“I don’t know who you are!” He yelled out as he kept moving he just needed to get to his car. “But I don’t want any of it! Whatever you want! Just take it!”

He crouched down. Not a sound reached him.

Fuck whoever sent some sort of corpo assasin after his gang. Who the fuck did he kill to deserve this? He couldn’t think of anything that would bring this level of heat down on him.

He slowly snuck around his Reaver. If he could just get in the door. But as he was reaching for the door a gunshots bark echoed through the garage. The noise made his Overture sound like a puppy.

He had noticed it. The gunman a blur in the corner of his eye and dropped which was the only reason he was still alive.

Boomers van now had a hole in it that looked like someone shot a sniper rifle at him.

Fuck was that a Burya!? He reached up and fired twice in the direction that he had seen the blur and rushed out of the garage as fast as he could.

No way he could get in his Reaver and start it up without that handcannon blowing a hole through him.

He dashed into the rec room. The stupid arcade games giving him a bit of cover as he poked his gun back around wall and fired his last two rounds. Quickly reloading as he listened for any noise.

But there was nothing. Not a sound other than the electronic noises of the arcade machines.

Reloaded Frank stood up and moved towards the window peaking out through the metal shutters.

Nothing. No movement. No sound.

He shivered. He just had to… Draw them away and double back to the car.

If he couldn’t get out of here he was dead.

He moved out through the building, glad that they had made paths through the stupid shops that used to be here before they took it over. Let them move around without having to go outside during a dust storm.

Now it may be saving his life.

As he thought that he heard it. A noise behind him.

He turned and fired. Every round slamming through the thin walls towards the Arcade room.

He had definitely heard something!

He once more reloaded grumbling to himself. Reloading a revolver in the middle of this shit was stupid.

He would get a smaller gun when this was over.

Ducking through to another shop he continued moving. Hopefully whoever this cocksucker chasing him down was, they would lose track of him.

Although the fact he hadn’t even gotten eyes on them yet?

Fuck.

He crept up to a window to take another peak. But again his dusty little former gas station was quiet. Not a thing moved.

And not a soul other than him and this ninja was alive.

He hunkered down for a minute simply staring out the window. Come on, where are they? They had to be somewhere!

But Frank couldn’t see anything, nothing moved.

Then suddenly that roar echoed out. And he yelped. The wall he had been standing against now had a hole in it, and it had nearly blown a hole through him.

He started moving again.

Fuck fuck!

They were definitely tracking him. Probably high powered optics. Which meant he wasn't going to be able to sneak away.

Fine. He called up his Reavers auto drive system, and ordered it towards the entrance of their little setup. He was near there now, he would rush into the car and speed off.

It had to work.

He heard the engine start up with a roar and it started moving, driving out of the garage towards the entrance.

C’mon faster! Fucking auto drive!

Then he heard it. Beep. That means the door was open and it was waiting. He moved. Jumping out a window and rolling just to keep his momentum, he had to be a small target just to survive.

He leapt into his car practically jumping into the passenger seat he was so desperate. His hands fumbled to push him into the driver seat, he dropped his revolver just to grab the wheel but then to his horror.

The passenger door slid open.

Standing there was a… Girl? A child? But no, not just a child, because that was a big fucking gun.

Wait. “Wai-”

The sound deafened him as much as it blew him out of his own car. He came to weakly coughing up blood and he realized he had a hole in his chest.

“Fu-” he couldn’t even curse, blood flowed out from his lungs.

“You just had to try to run. Note to self Motoko. Kill them all without letting them realize what’s happening, it makes this job so much easier.” He heard the soft voice of the girl as she walked around the back of his ride. His attempts to talk were met with failure as he coughed blood that just didn’t seem to stop.

“I was trying to find your rifle, you know? You shot me earlier with a rifle, and I wanted to repay the favor, but then I couldn’t find it. It took so long you ended up realizing what was going on. My mistake. I don’t like playing with my prey.” She said as she knelt beside him. She wasn’t just holding a Burya, she had his Overture.

“Alright. You’ve made me shoot this stupid thing enough my arms are hurting. Well I’m not one for letting someone suffer. Even a scav. Err. Wraith. Same thing really.” She commented simply as she raised his revolver.

“Oh. Shit. Stupid. Almost forgot. Stupid Motoko!” She lowered his revolver which made him want to gasp in relief, even if he realized he was dying.

Too far for a hospital. No medical attention, and no one to do it anyways.

She reached behind his neck and started forcing shards out of him manually.

“Fu-” he gurgled again wanting to tell this kid to fuck off. How did he get killed by a kid? He murdered girls like her before breakfast!

“There we go.” She muttered pulling out… That was his rides key shard. “I’ve been without wheels of my own for long enough don’t you think?” She asked waving it around before slotting it in.

Instantly she raised his Overture once again. “Now I don’t have to worry about damaging the shard. Good bye.”
 
Last edited:
Chapter 18

Seras

Well-known member
*750 XP Gained.*


I nodded as I turned away from the corpse. I slipped into the Quadra Type-66. The “Reaver” Variant. It was a design that altered practically everything to make it a vehicle that can survive in the desert.


But then again. It was still basically a muscle car. It looked… well the base model was awesome, but this one looked a little worn.


I shrugged still a car. Still cool.


I quickly took control and reversed it back towards the gas station that had the underground basement. What kind of gas station had a basement? I had been looking for twenty minutes for Scorpion, only to find out there was a basement when the gonk I just flatlined had come up probably looking for a snack or something. I was lucky I had been able to jump behind a cabinet as my danger sense alerted me to him coming up.


Then of course he had subdermal armor which made my Unity nothing but a pea shooter against him.


Ugh. I was really getting tired of dealing with people in armor.


My wrist hurt. It wasn't broken, not this time at least. I could actually fire the Burya without breaking my arm thanks to Recoil Reduction giving me some serious tips on saving my bones. But it still hurt!


I shook my irritation away. Pulling up to the building I jumped out and rushed downstairs. My limp was starting up again now that I wasn’t in combat and the adrenaline and Coolness flowed away.


I was going home, taking a shower, and taking a nap. Right after I rescued Scorpion. I walked down the steps into the little basement section I hadn’t known existed.


I winced as I saw him. Scorpion looked bad. Hanging from the ceiling by his wrists, and it looked like they had worked him over bad. His face was a mess.


“Fuck Scorpion. They really took you apart.” I told him as I approached looking for the controls to drop him down.


“Whazt?” He jerked awake a bit looking up through only one eye that wasn’t swollen shut and I saw as he realized who was there, could see the shock in his eyes.


“Mot’ko?”


“Nice to see you survived as well Choom. C’mon let’s get you out of here. I don’t suppose you know where the Aldecaldos are camped? You are gonna need some medical attention.” I told him as I finally found the release for the chains and grunted as I did my best to slowly lower him but it wasn’t easy. He weighed a lot more than I did.


Finally he was on the ground and he was looking at me like he had seen a ghost. “C’mon now Scorpion no time for naps. Here huff this.” I pushed a Maxdoc I had found in the camp into his mouth and after that at least he seemed more alert even if it was obvious I was now on a time limit. He was bleeding bad. “Let’s get you moving.” I told him as I did my best to heft an arm over my shoulder.


Only to wince as he brushed against the gun shot wound.


Yep, that was still there.


“You g’ shot.”


“Just a flesh wound.” I assured him as I hauled him up and started dragging his weakly working legs.


It was a struggle up the stairs but I got him in the passenger seat and settled in myself.


“Now Scorpion, where do I take you?”


A few moments later his eyes shifted yellow, and I got a text.


Coordinates I could use in my GPS.


Cool.


And with a nice purr that I could get used to my new car rumbled to life and I hit the gas.


Seriously, Scorpion needed a doctor. He looked like shit.


—-


He passed out on me during the drive even as he moaned in his sleep at the rough terrain.


Nothing I could do about that. The roads out here were more suggestions than anything.


Still having a GPS meant I could zone out and focus on everything that had happened.


I had killed a lot of wraiths in that camp.


Eight men had died without any alarm being sent. Eight men that I had murdered as quickly and completely as I could. My knife had seen a lot of work, but so had anything I could get my hands on.


I was kinda proud, in a horrible way, of the screwdriver kill. That had been a tricky set of movements that I only barely managed to get through without anyone screaming.


I looked through the stack of alerts and sighed.


*Street Brawler skill level up!*


*1 Perk Point Gained.*


I guess the improvised weapon counted as brawling, and now I was at Street Brawling 5.


*Reflex Leveled up!*


This must have happened early, because now that Reflex was at 5, my Reflex skills got room to advance.


*Blades skill level up!*


*1 Perk Point Gained.*


Blades had maxed out at 5 as well. I guess it made sense considering how many throats I had slit.


But killing had repercussions.


I had gained 4750XP for killing everyone in the compound.


*Level up achieved!*


*One Stat Point Gained.*


*One Skill Point Gained.*


And now I was level 5. I shivered a bit as I thought about what that meant, but also how awesome it felt. Gamer brain loved leveling.


Motoko loved leveling too.


I sighed.


I liked Murder.


It was fun. Challenging. Thrilling. I pushed away the stat menu to focus on the road.


Fine. I liked Murder. I liked killing.


But I liked killing bad people. That was the part that I could accept. I wasn’t killing innocent people, and I wouldn’t. I killed the worst sorts. The ones that prey on others.


Just because I enjoyed it… Doesn’t make me a bad person.


It didn’t.


—--


Pulling up to the Aldecaldos camp in a Raffen Shiv Wraith marked car might have been a bit… Well I could have done it better. I had just been in a rush.


But now I had an army of angry nomads all pointing rifles at my car as it came to a stop inside their camp.


Probably should have stopped outside.


But then again Scorpion looked really bad.


I turned off the engine letting the Nomads hear it die out as I popped open the door and slowly revealed my glove clad hands. Showing I didn’t have a weapon in them.


Not that it mattered. Quickdraw could handle that easily enough.


“Scorpion is in the passenger seat! He needs some medical attention.” I called out once I was out of the car and the nomads could see me.


It took a moment but someone came up behind me putting a gun against my back as they peeked into the car.


“Fuck! Get that door open! Scorpion needs help.” A gravely voice called out behind me and I just waited as a few Nomads rushed up and opened the door and quickly started hauling their family member out of the car.


“You gave us all a scare… girl.” The voice behind me said although not unkindely.


“Yeah sorry. Was in a bit of a rush. Scorpion passed out on the way over and it worried me.” I could feel the gun removed from my back then and most of the nomads lowered their weapons as well, although a few kept their guns aimed.


I turned around to see a cowboy.


Look he had an Overture and a cowboy hat. He was a cowboy.


“Motoko Kusanagi. Merc.” I introduced myself as I slowly lowered my arms.


“Cassidy Nomad. Thanks for bringing Scorpion in, what happened?” He asked in a drawl that I couldn’t help but pay attention too, he had a nice voice.


I sighed. “Long story. I’m a merc that Scorpion, well I’ll let him tell that part. We got noticed by some Raffen, and chased down. They caused us to crash, and well. I couldn’t kill all of them before they put a bullet in me.” I gestured to my shoulder which had the bandage bleed through a bit with all the work I had been doing.


“Need a Ripper, least we could do for bringing back our boy.” He asked but was already sort of trying to guide me over.


Guess looking like a kid did have some advantages.


“No. No thank you. I’ll head back to the city. I have my own doc I trust.” I countered instantly. I didn't want to get into that rabbit hole. It would just be easier to heal after a nap. “Anyway they left me for dead and took Scorpion. I bet you would have heard from them sometime soon asking for a ransom.”


“Yep, likely.” He said simply although I could see he wanted to argue with me still, but I continued my story.


“Anyway I tracked them down, took them out, and pulled Scorpion out. He gave me the coords for your camp. Here we are.” I answered of course instantly glossing over everything that I had done. Which Cassidy obviously noted.


“Well thank you for pulling Scorpion out of a bad situation. We won’t forget it.” He said with a tip of his hat and I shrugged.


“I was hired and contracted to be his security. It was my failure that left him captured in the first place.” I waved off any appreciation for what I had done.


Fuckers deserved it. I noticed, but didn’t pay any attention to the mans raised eyebrow.


“Oh here.” I looked to him and felt my eyes go gold as I sent him a text. “That’s the camp I cleared. Might be useful to grab some stuff yourself. I know there were more vehicles parked in their garage, and I didn’t get a chance to loot much once I noticed that Scorpion was in bad shape.” I offered after the message went through.


“Mighty kind of ya.” Cassidy agreed, looking me over again. “You sure you don’t want to see our doc? We don’t have the best gear, but he is competent. It’s a long drive back to the city…”


“Nah. Other than the fleshwound I’m fine.” I told him, gesturing at the bloody hole in my shoulder. I could see that there were plenty of nomads listening in as we talked, and since I had passed on everything I felt like sharing I gave him a final nod.

“Well that’s my job done. I’m outta here.” I told Cassidy as I moved to slide back into my ride. Cassidy moved to stop me but didn’t quite finish the action.


“You’re an odd one, since you ain’t accepting any help, drive safely. The Aldacaldos will remember what you did for them today.” He offered as he bent down to talk to me as I belted myself into the drivers seat.


“Thanks Cassidy, but I just did a job. Nothing more.” I answered as my new car came alive in a rumble, Cassidy pulled back and gave me room as I pulled out of the Nomad camp.


Too bad I hadn’t seen Panam, she was cool.


And I hadn’t managed to loot the Raffen camp. I sighed, saving Scorpion was more important. And I was at least an hour away from the camp now. Might as well just drive home. Recover. Besides, I revved the engine a bit as I put my foot down.


I got a nice bit of loot.


—--


I drove fast on my way home. The long roads let me absolutely gun my new car.


Which is how I learned I got more Driver experience driving fast. Which was cool.


Half way back to the city I got a Driving level up. Putting me at Driver 3. Which was pretty helpful, because future cars were not the same thing as cars I am used to. At all. At least it was fast. I sailed over the dunes and into the city without any trouble as I pulled into the daily grind in the city.


I got some looks as I drove through the streets. The side of the car was painted with “Wraiths” after all. But as long as I wasn’t pulled over I didn’t care.


I had sand in places I didn’t want to have sand. Shower first.


I pulled into the parking garage near our home and paid out a bit for a permit to actually park there.


I took a moment once the car was off to just sigh and breath.


I was home. Not dead. Job done.


I rose and headed into the apartment stopping to grab a snack from mystery meat stick guy as I headed inside. I knew I was getting looks. Sure I had washed my face in the wayhouse. But I still had blood caked to the side of my head, and I looked like I got in a fight with a dust devil.


And lost.


Everything was going to need to be washed after this.


That and repaired. My poor Netrunner Leotard was getting a little rough.


I felt that small surge of hope as I entered the apartment looking around for Jun, only to find out once again he wasn’t here.


I sighed and walked into the bathroom. The first blast of water came off red and brown, and it took a minute before it started showing at least mostly clear.


I checked out the bullet hole that went through my shoulder and winced.


Yeah that was bad.


I was really glad I could recover with a nap. Otherwise I probably would have died. I can just imagine how much dust and grit got in the wound over the hours trip through the dust storm.


I shook it away. Nap first. Deal with my situation after.


—--


I woke up hungry.


Made sense. I barely ate the day before and I had gone through some shit. I stretched as I slipped out of bed and groaned pleasantly when nothing ached. My leg was fine. My shoulder was spotless.


I grabbed some clothes wincing at how dusty my jacket was.


I decided to leave that on the floor until I could give it a deeper clean. Instead I was wearing some older clothes as I slipped out of the apartment.


I wanted Ramen.


I walked over to Cherry Blossom market. Down the stairs and slipped into a chair at the counter ordering what sounded best as I settled in for lunch.


Figuring I might as well, I sent a text to Scorpion.


*Hope you're still alive. I did see the trailer with your bike at the Wraith Compound. So if your people went, and picked the area clean you should at least have your Preem ride.*


I was just stuffing some noodles into my mouth when I got a return text.


*Scorpion: Still alive. Bike was secured. Bit of an awkward explanation about everything. Heard from Cassidy you left before you got patched up. You already get looked at?*


*I’m preem. Gonna spend a bit of time taking it easy. Eating Ramen right now. After I think I’ll go home, put my feet up and enjoy… The AC.*


*Scorpion: You just had to say it! Joking aside, glad you’re okay. Thank you. Really. Not a lot of people, mercs or not would have come back to pull my ass out of that. I’ve seen the pictures of the Wraith camp. Wakako undersold you. If you ever need backup. Call me. I owe you.*


*Just doin my job.*


*Scorpion: I’m alive. Not many Aldecaldos get to say that after getting captured by the Raffen. So again. Thanks. I’ll message Wakako that the Gig is over. Also Saul, wants to thank you. I passed him your number, so you might hear from him soon. Take it easy Motoko.*


*Anytime.* I left my last message back short as I slurped the last of my Ramen. Dropped a little tip to the chef which earned me a bow as I headed back out. As much as I wanted to go do some more netrunning grinding, there was something I really couldn’t put off anymore.


“Excuse me. Do you know where I could pick up some clothes patches and tools… And maybe some advice for fixing bullet holes?” I asked one of the ladies selling self adjusted clothes in the Market. Earning an odd look before I explained I was a merc.


After that I got some brief explanations, and after a small loss of eddies I had everything I needed to do it myself. The lady even sat me down and started me on how to do it on some scrap cloth she had. I definitely overpaid for the equipment she gave me, but the instruction sped things up. It was definitely worth it when after a few minutes I got an alert.


*100 Crafting XP Gained.*


I couldn’t help but laugh, forcing myself to wave away the lady who had been helping me learn. I was in a Cyberpunk world, but I was gonna get my first level because of sewing?


Hilarious.


I smiled as my attention refocused. Let’s see what I could do once I get to Crafting 1.


I didn’t quite make it. Practicing with old cloth and making stitches meant I wasn’t getting alerts super fast. But the lady kept helping me out until she decided it was late and time to close up.


I was only one more alert away!


I sighed, thanked her and took my new tools back home.


I had plenty of old clothes to mess with after all.


—--


Wakako Okada


Wakako had been a fixer in Night city for decades. She had seen it all. She had seen the fall of Arasaka tower. Had been alive before the Data Krash.


So when she sent out a young girl with a bit of potential out on a gig it was mostly because Wakako needed someone rookie enough to handle a bodyguard job for low pay.


Edgerunners didn’t take bodyguard gigs for low pay. Bodyguard was one of the hardest jobs to do. Especially when your client was running straight towards danger.


Wakako hadn’t lied when she said Motoko was her suggestion to take along. She just hadn’t informed the man she was his only option. A rookie like her could do well on a job like this, long travel times low pay, high risk. It was the perfect chance to teach the girl not to jump on every gig offered, and learn when to say no.


Wakako wouldn’t ever feel a connection with the girl. Wakako and Natasha’s… Friction made that impossible.


But Wakako was old. She wouldn’t hold her mother against the girl.


But this was out of her expectations. First came a text from Scorpion long after she should have gotten an update on the gig.


*Gig is finished. Here is the final pay. Wakako. Thank you. Motoko saved my life out there, and I know if you had sent me anyone else they wouldn’t have bothered coming to my rescue. Make sure your girl is taken care of. Not many people would have walked into a Raffen Shiv camp alone to save someone.*


Wakako was a woman that knew things. It was half the job of a Fixer. A good one anyways.


So this created questions needing answers.


*Explanation is requested. Motoko hasn’t contacted me yet.*


It took a while and this time Wakako was tapping her fingernails along her desk. She was not used to being kept waiting, and even less used to waiting for something that actually sparked her interest.


Then a bigger message came through. Full of images, but not just images. It looks like the Aldecaldos had looted the place to the bedrock, but also had poked into everything doing the same thing Wakako was. Trying to figure out what had happened.


Scorpion had even added in a file that he must have made after Wakako asked about what happened a text document recounting his experience. To her amusement it read like an army report.


She read it all, Scorpions account. The images, the Aldecaldos scouts looking over the absolute carnage a Raffen Shiv camp had been left in.


Wakako had to admit the sight of a man with a screwdriver in his ear in a room full of dead bodies gave her a feeling she didn’t often have.


She was impressed.


Motoko had run into the sort of luck most Solo’s pray never to find a mission going completely out of control. Yet the girl hadn’t bailed out. Hadn’t given up, or even called in reinforcements, or even Wakako herself to update.


She had just gotten up after being shot and hunted down a pack of Raffen scum.


Motoko’s first mission had given Wakako reason to give her some minor tasks. Going through a scav hideout had opened the girl up for more dangerous moves. This job had been a test, to see if she was worth giving any trust.


A Fixer needed to trust a solo can do the job. A solo needed to trust the Fixer not to screw them over. It was a relationship, and it was important.


Wakako had been throwing the girl a bone with barely any attention, because she didn't’ expect anything from her. She had seen a thousand Motoko Kusanagi’s. A thousand young men or women that came to her looking for work. Some even with a modicum of skill or potential.


But this?


This altered Wakako’s entire understanding of Motoko Kusanagi.


That was unacceptable. Wakako prided herself on knowing who she had working for her.


So she sent out a message.


*Gig closed. Confirmation from the client they are very happy. I have questions. Come to my office.*


—--


So I was heading into Wakako’s office wearing a new bandage that I had bled on a bit from the inside to pretend to still be injured.


Dammit, I hadn't expected Wakako to want a face to face.


I slipped into her office making sure to keep my arm rigid as I had it in a homemade sling.


“Wakako.”


“Motoko. Sit.” The older woman demanded as she looked me over with sharp eyes. “I’ve heard about your gig from everyone but you. Explain.”


“Uh… Sorry I was taking a nap after getting checked out. I got shot you know?” I offered trying to defend myself.


“I am aware. Next time message me when a gig is finished regardless… It was foolish. To go back after him. You do realize that don’t you?” Wakako asked me as she put out a cigarette into an ash tray. “No. I see that you don’t. Taking a mission for two-thousand eddies isn’t the sort of job you should be risking your life on.”


“I was hired to protect him. So I did.” I mumbled a bit. Not sure what else to say. I had a job to do, so I did it.


“I see, you will end up used up until you die then. That is your future if you keep going down that path, but you are your own person. Do as you like. Until you end up dead in some blaze of glory though, I will use you. Congratulations Motoko Kusanagi. You are no longer someone I consider a minor agent. I will have work for you. Dangerous work. But work that will leave you with more than two thousand eddies for risking your life.”


“Oh… thanks?”


The older woman chuffed at my response as she looked me over. “One last thing, I need to know what you can do if I am going to set you up on jobs. You’ve used stealth to your advantage. The scavs, and now the Raffen. If I asked you to sneak into a highly secure building could you do it?”


“I don’t know. Maybe. I guess it depends on how fast you need it done…”


She waves me off. “It’s not a real gig. But I need to know if your talents lay in espionage more than combat. You hacked into the Raffens security. Uploaded a Daemon. A nasty one too from my reports.”


“Ah it’s…” I hesitated, not sure how to explain how a rookie netrunner like me has something so good. Daemons were… weird.


“No, don't explain you don’t have to. From everything I have heard you made it through the whole camp without alerting anyone until the end. Could you do that with a corporate factory? An office? An apartment building?”


Ah. I realized Wakako wasn’t asking for details. She wasn’t asking for my stats. She was asking if I had faith in my own abilities.


“Yes. I am confident in my stealth. I’m good at it.” I assured her showing every ounce of confidence I could convey.


“I’ll keep an eye out for a job for someone with those skills. If you can accomplish it… I don’t have anyone with that skillset under my employ currently. Prove you have what it takes and I will have more work than you can ever accomplish for you.”


“I will.”


“Good. Rest. Recover. I will be in touch soon.” She offered before waving me away.


I slipped out of the chair and left feeling pretty good. Stealth missions could be fun!
 
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