Ghost in the City Cyberpunk Gamer SI

Yinko

Well-known member
Oh shit. You're posting here too? If I'd known that I wouldn't have bothered with SB. Though, some of the omake over there are pretty good, and you haven't ported over the Stat Pages.
 

Tel Janin Aman

Well-known member
Comrade
It's interesting to see how the game mechanics are influencing mokoto's thought process. It reminds me of farcry 3 which combined the story and the mechanics of mowing down hundreds of men. The mc eventually described that "killing feels like winning" to his friends who couldn't understand how he was ok with the death and destruction around him and you have recaptured that here.
 

Yinko

Well-known member
Here's something to consider. Smart Guns are rail-guns with technologically advanced projectiles, right? So then, how come when they fire they sound like they are using explosives to shoot the ammo?
 
Chapter 19

Seras

Well-known member
I decided to spend the next few days quietly. No jobs. No running around with Hiromi, although she was at school for the next few days anyways.

I was still sort of coming to terms with my own ability in murder, and I thought some time away from missions where I had a gun in my hand was needed to sort myself out.

The plan was simple. Stay out of trouble and pretend to ‘recover’ from the gig, so I would mostly stay out of sight of anyone that knows me.

Lot’s of things kept me occupied though. Crafting for one. The gig I had just accomplished. Everything in between.

Plus it didn’t help that I had a lot of time on my hands as I drove back out into the desert. Part of the desire was pure XP grind. Being able to really gun the engine on my Quadra Type-66 was amazing. Leaving me giggling at points as I caught some air, or came around a corner of a dune a little too fast and drifting a little.

Little XP alerts came in, but it wasn’t a lot. I wasn’t doing anything truly crazy.

But I was on my way to get something I had left behind.

I soon came up to the location. Slowing down as I came up to the wreck of Scorpions ride. Or at least pieces of it. The Aldecaldos must have already come by from the look of it. The car itself was gone, but I could see bits and pieces of metal left behind.

Plus the GPS told me this was it.

I came to a stop and started searching. The desert didn’t like giving back what it had taken and after a long hour or searching that area of the desert I finally found it.

Like hell I was going to leave behind my HMG! I love that thing! I shot it out of a moving car! It’s like I was in an action movie!

Its barrel was all I could see as I was sticking out of the desert, and as I slowly dug it out I winced.

“Poor girl.” I could instantly tell how bad of a condition it was in.

You see. I had a very special alert from the night before.

With a grin I once again looked at my menu.

*Crafting skill level up!*

I managed to get Crafting 1 from sewing that last night. Although I had stabbed my finger more times than I really wanted to admit.

I remember thinking that Breach was the most information dense of any of the skills I had taken so far.

I was wrong.

Crafting made Breach seem like elementary school math compared to Calculus. It was so dense, with little bits of knowledge in how to craft tons of things. Explosives, weapons, clothes, armor, vehicles, everything. Plus tool knowledge for tons of pieces of equipment, and the instincts on everything from making something to unmaking it.

I could also feel a big blackness in the knowledge like it was reaching for knowledge that wasn’t there at points. Knowledge I already knew would be Engineering.

Two sides of the same side. Crafting was doing it by hand. Engineering was closer to design work or maybe understanding more complicated crafting? I guess I would find out when I unlocked it.

Even without the knowledge though, I could feel the sort of impact it will have on my understanding of tech.

It was kinda exciting.

I realized quickly last night that sewing wasn’t going to give me much experience, even if it was really useful. I still needed to figure out a way of making patches for my Leotard. I might need to buy a new one, or just buy a Netrunner suit to cannibalize.

Still I had a feeling I would know a good way to do it once I explored Crafting a bit more.

But between Crafting and Gun Nut, I had a solid understanding as I pulled my HMG free of the desert. I knew she was dead. When she had been thrown from the car, she had hit something solid, a rock probably. There was a good chunk of her receiver smashed in. Her barrel didn’t look too bad, visually, but Gun nut told me it wasn’t straight anymore. The pieces that let the barrel slide back after firing and be pushed forward with a spring were wrecked.

I sighed as I held her up. Coming all this way only to find out she had died. It was sad.

Not a waste, but just… sad. She had really done work against the Wraiths, and we would have chewed them up if not for the car crashing.

I hefted her up and felt the sand pour out of her. I had come all this way. It would be wrong to just leave her though.

I nodded. I wouldn’t just leave her. “I’ll fix you someday. Who knows. Maybe I’ll even be able to give you a nice upgrade.” I told the gun as I shook her out a bit.

“Bitches do love cannons after all.” I muttered giggling a little at myself as I carried her back to the car. She would sit in my passenger seat while I drove home.

Well… not quite home.

I had learned more than just how to craft from my level up. In fact I learned what was probably the most important part of crafting.

Deconstruction.

I now knew how to take something apart to get at the useful bits.

Which gave me an idea. Especially since I now had wheels.

In the morning I had gone down to the market to the same repair lady that had once basically called me an idiot for not knowing about the map function in my eyes.

She was kinda a bitch, but she was closeby.

“Tools?” She asked looking up from… Oh I recognized it now. It was an internet port for home use. Hook your TV or other devices into it to watch TV or get local web.

“Yeah. I’m looking to get into scrapping, repair, and maybe some tinkering. Best place to get tools for it?” I asked, earning an odd look from the lady. Thankfully I guess getting my haircut and colored made me look different enough she was willing to talk.

“I’ll give you a kit sure, thousand eddies.” She offered brazenly as if it was just a thing.

“That’s robbery for a tool kit. But I’ll tell you what. I’ll pay a thousand, if it’s a complete kit. If everything I’ll need is inside it. If it isn’t… Well I know where you work.” I said, trying to put on my coolest stare.

“Don’t go trying to threaten me, kid. Market security will be more than happy to have you thrown out.” Something about the way I spoke seemed to work as the woman sounded a little spooked despite her tough words to the contrary. But after a moment she nodded. “But yeah. I’ll make sure it’s a complete kit. 1000 eddies.”

A minute later I watched as she started putting a variety of tools from kits that she was selling into a single box. Although a few of the electronics she placed inside looked like personal equipment, something she looked at shrugged and threw it in.

I really couldn’t tell now if she was scamming me. But, well better to just get what I need and lose some eddies than have to spend a few days going to different stores trying to find the basics. Besides, if I found out later she scammed me.

I did know where she worked.

“Here. This is everything someone doing some scraping, salvage, or repair needs. I’m not here to teach you so if you don’t know what something does, that’s on you.” She offered, handing me the tool box.

“Thank you.” I agreed. My eyes going blue as I transferred the funds. A thousand bucks seems like a lot, but tools are always expensive.

I had hurried home and after opening the box and poking around. It took me a while to check over everything, but my Crafting 1 knowledge dump did give me an idea of how almost everything works. Some of the stuff was esoteric.

With that done and a firm understanding of what tools and things I had. I was actually pretty sure the lady hadn’t screwed me over. Overcharged me? Sure. But she had put in just about everything I would need.

With that I went into my room and put on some older clothes, things I wouldn’t mind ruined, I found an old pair of gloves that I think once belonged to Jun, and an older pair of boots.

The glitzy ugly things I had no problem with ruining.

Then I took my toolbox out to my new car.

I had headed out to scrounge over the battle site. Not much had been left, and I was lucky to find my HMG still left over, but not my SMG. That was a pain. So instead of wasting more time. I settled my HMG in the seat, walked around to the driver side, patted my cars hood, and started up her engine with a roar.

“Let’s go to the dump!”

—--

“Oh god it stinks.” I whined as I climbed another pile of trash looking for electronics, or anything else I could take apart.

Seriously, why did I come here!? Who was the idiot that said I should come to the dump!? I’ll kill them!

No wait Motoko murder was still wrong against anyone not a scav, or a Wraith, or a bad guy in general.

Was telling someone go to the dump an evil act?

As I almost slipped and felt my foot fall into something wet and gooey, I decided yes. Yes it was.

Too bad the evil person was me. I did this to myself.

Puking a little in my mouth I continued to work. If nothing else there was a lot of stuff here to scavenge.

I had already found a ton of stuff to work with. I didn’t have any grand plans, honestly I was mostly looking for stuff I would definitely be able to fix, or at least take apart for parts to fix something else.

Grinding my Crafting skill was less about making something useful right now, and more about making something at all.

Really my big goal was just not to spend any money on this… Well any more money.

Eventually I could even make grenades and such. I did have a bunch of them from that Wraith guy I killed. Crazy bastard was practically covered in them, I had klepped them all, and there were even some parts to make more.

I just wasn’t going to try until I was sure I wasn’t going to blow my face off.

But until then I was looking for good scrap.

And trying not to puke.

I grunted as I slowly came back down the side of a trash pile with an old laptop in my arms. It had a bullet hole sure, but I could get a ton of stuff out of it.

Which is when I looked to my left and stopped.

No it couldn’t be.

I looked around and I realized this area did look… familiar.

I dropped the broken laptop. Focusing instead on what I was looking at.

A fridge.

A very familiar fridge.

I walked over and with a hesitant hand I lifted the lid.

Immediately I closed it ran a few feet away and lost my lunch.

Oh god that smell!

Yep. That was a decaying Rache Bartmoss. As I heaved out my guts my brain was processing what I had just found.

V had found him in 2077. But it was still 2075. Had no one found him in two years? Really?

I finished clearing my mouth and hurried back this time I opened the fridge without breathing I reached in and grabbed his Netdeck.

Quickly took a picture of the inside of the fridge, and slammed it shut.

Then I ran away. Gasping a dozen feet away as I tried to breath without smelling rotting corpse.

The Netdeck still smelled too though. I shivered hurried back to the car. I was gonna stuff this in the trunk and not open it again until I had a plastic bag or something to seal it in.

Fuck. I had found Rache Bartmoss.

—--

So I now had a plastic bag with Rache Barmoss’s netdeck sealed inside, hidden in my room.

That was… Gonna be something I deal with later. No way I had the ability to check the insides without having my brain melted.

And honestly? I didn’t trust Nix. In the Game you take it to the Afterlife where a Netrunner called Nix hacks into it. He nearly gets brain fried but you rescue him.

Afterwards he tells V there wasn’t really anything interesting inside, gives you some special Quickhacks and sends V away right after.

Rache Bartmoss basically created Netrunning. He was… The greatest. Period.

I always got suspicious in the game dealing with Nix. He always treated V like an amateur even after saving his life.

So I was going to skip that entire thing. I’ll grind up my skills and crack the netdeck myself someday.

Until then?

Well I thought about talking to Wakako about the fridge, but… It will keep. Literally.

If no one would have found it in two years I think it’s safe where it is. Especially since I already took the valuable bit.

So I pulled out my haul from the dump and grabbed my toolbox.

Time to get to work.

First My HMG was settled onto the living room table to get a good cleaning and going over, once it was at least clean I set her in my room for now.

Then considering that leveling Technical Attribute was just as slow as Intelligence, I decided to combine them. While I was slowly taking apart the old electronics and other toys I had found. I was also listening to my Mothers Netrunning guide, and hacking the radio.

*100 Technical Attribute XP Gained*

—---

While grinding hacking was kinda boring in a way since for the most part it was just going through code as you tried to slip through the security. Grinding Crafting was more interesting.

Like sure it was slow, but you were getting more than just the XP.

Every time I took apart something I was getting equipment for more stuff in the future. I was finding neat little surprises inside expensive pieces of equipment that still worked despite the ruined exterior.

So it kept my interest a lot longer. Although even so I did get bored eventually.

Stretching, I decided to stretch my legs and grab a meal. Besides it had been a few days of playing around with tech I hadn’t really talked to anyone since I got back from the Badlands.

So I started sending off everyone I knew a text.

*Hey Hiromi, still in school? Is it at least interesting?*

*Ichi, how’s work? Are you still stuck at the club for extra protection?*

*Dr. Vik. It’s Motoko, haven’t had a chance to talk to you since we met up. I hope the chrome has been useful. I’ve actually been looking for some stuff, I was wondering if you could help? I need to update my optics, I’m thinking Kiroshi. Let me know if you have any deets on where I could get a set? Thanks Vik.*

With that I felt at least that I wasn’t hiding away from the world entirely.

Even if I did things kept changing.

The Claw-Strom gang war had been expanding. Mostly I’ve been kept up to date on the news which I would let play while I was taking stuff apart.

The war had spread. It was becoming a full out gang war. Because when you are shooting people on the streets sometimes you get some collateral.

Right now The Valentino’s were shooting both sides whenever they came into their territory. Turns out someone well loved in the Tino’s had been killed in the crossfire between Strom and Claws.

Tino’s were pissed.

6th St were also shooting on sight, but purely to keep Claws, or Strom from moving into their territory.

This of course meant the Moxes were started to buckle down as well. The Claws getting hit hard which made them hyper aggressive.

Mox girls and boys were paying for it. So they were arming up as well.

The entire north side of the city was turning into a warzone.

Damn.

I was firmly staying out of it. Other than Jun I had no connection to the entire trouble.

Which reminded me. I sent out one more text message.

*Jun. Please still be alive.*

I hadn’t heard from Jun in a while. Once again he was not responding to texts or calls.

So with that done I headed outside. I was just buying my routine mystery meat skewer when I got a text in return.

*Hiromi: I’m free bitch! We going partying!*

*Sorry Hiromi. I’m not really up to a party tonight. Glad you are free though.*

*Hiromi: Uuuuugh you are the boringest crazy person I have ever met!*

*Hey, I'm not crazy!*

*Hiromi: Scav Den. SOLO.*

*Which I did fully trusting that I could do it and survive. Mostly.*

*Hiromi: Hence the crazy. Any news about Jun?*

*Nothing.* I sighed as I walked around the block mostly just to do something other than stand around as I got some ‘fresh’ air.

*Hiromi: I’ll ask around some of the Claws I know. I know the war is getting pretty bad, so he’s probably just busy.*

*I hope he’s just busy. I really do.*

*Hiromi: Alright enough about bad stuff. What have you been doing? I talked to Ichi and he has been jobless since his glorious Shobo-Sama is keeping everyone close to the club. So I know you haven’t done any jobs with Ichi. No more scav dens right?*

I didn’t know how to respond, technically I hadn’t hit a Scav den.

Technically.

*Hiromi: RIGHT?*

*Not a Scav den. I did some work for Wakako involving a nomad. It kinda blew up.*

*Hiromi: WHAT THE FUCK MOTOKO! I’m coming over!*

*Okay I’m just walking the block.*

I laughed a little. It was nice to talk to Hiromi even if she was very… Hiromi. She was my best Choom after all.

I ended up getting back to the apartment and camping out waiting at the entrance for Hiromi to show up. The roar of her Kusanagi was something I could hear long before I saw her, and I was groaning because I could tell she was speeding like crazy.

“Hiromi… Slow down you gonk.” I grumbled as I waited for her to come around the corner nearly drive into a lamppost, miss it by a bit and skid up onto the sidewalk in front of the apartment.

“MOTOKO!”

“Hello Hiromi. Do we need to talk about speed laws?” I asked but she ignored me as she jumped off her bike and started looking me over. Her hands poking and prodding.

“I’m fine.” I told her earning a glare from Hiromi.

“You did something stupid again!”

“It was a gig! An official gig! It went bad when the Raffen Shiv showed up. But it turned out alright.” I told her with a shrug. “Well, except my new baby got destroyed. They got pissed when I was firing the HMG out the side of the car and we ended up flipping. My HMG Died Hiromi. I’m Sad.” I whined a bit at her.

“What the fuck Motoko! You… That’s fuckin’ Nova. You fired that big ass thing out the side of a car? A moving car?” She asked suddenly perking up as I gave her a tidbit about the story.

“Oh it was way more Nova than that, they were behind us so I opened the passenger door rested the gun against the door and was firing backwards halfway out the car.”

“That is the preemest shit I ever heard. You crazy girl!” She pulled me into a massive hug squeezing as hard as she could. “I’m gonna have to stick to you from now on, cause you are gonna get flatlined doing such preem shit.”

“It wasn’t that bad. C’mon let’s park your bike in the garage… I want to show you something.” I grinned as I urged her back to the bike and hopped on patting the seat infront of me so Hiromi would get on.

She did, looking like she wanted to keep hugging me or lock me away in a dungeon so I could stop doing ‘Preem shit’ and get killed.

When we pulled into the garage Hiromi parking right next to my car which was in Juns spot. Hiromi was actually grumbling about it as she parked next to his spot.

“Who’s in Jun’s spot?” She grumbled to me and it was only by pulling her back that I stopped her from kicking my car as she got off her bike.

“I am.” I told her once I pulled her back as I walked up and opened the driver's door. “Want to go for a drive?” I teased her as I slipped inside.

“Bullshit. This is a Wraith car, it even has their markings on it.”

“Yeah I need to get it repainted. The previous owner won’t mind.” I hinted as I cocked my head to the passenger door.

“Wait, you're being serious?” She asked, suddenly looking from me to the car.

Which is when I started it up. It roared to life.

Hiromi happily jumped into the passenger seat a moment later looking around as I closed my door and pulled out.
 
Last edited:

PeaceMaker 03

Well-known member
“Bullshit. This is a Wraith car, it even has their markings on it.”

“Yeah I need to get it repainted. The previous owner won’t mind.” I hinted as I cocked my head to the passenger door.

Sounds like she needs to do some crafting?
 
Chapter 20

Seras

Well-known member
Chapter 20


Of course, unlike Hiromi I wasn’t crazy. I followed all the traffic laws.


“Ugh, why are you the most boring crazy person ever!?” Hiromi whined at me as I pulled out onto the street going a normal speed as I started driving around. Mostly just enjoying driving my new car with my best choom riding with me.


“We should stop by the club. Ichi will lose it when he sees your new ride.”


“Really? Why? He already has a car.”


“Oh my god Motoko. You are such a gonk. This is a Quadra Type-66! It’s a preem ride… Well I mean not this one exactly. The Wraiths did a hack job on it, but it still is a monster. What’s the top speed on this thing?”


“Don’t know.” I muttered although I was shifting a little as I lied.


I didn’t know the exact top speed, but there was nothing but open roads on the drive into the city.


“Ooh did my cautious driver Motokoooo drive fast?”


“Only out in the badlands.”


“How fast did you get? No, don't give me that flat look tell meeeee!”


“Fine. I hit about one-eighty before I let off the gas and coasted back.”


“Yeah! That’s what I’m talking about! This thing can go! C’mon hit it.”

“Hell no Hiromi, I’m on a road with traffic!”


“Fuck ‘em!”


“Not a chance choom.”


“Ugh boring.”


“But we can stop by the Ho-oh club and show off to Ichi.”


“Yeees!” Hiromi said breaking into giggles as I maneuvered to hit the freeway connecting Little Chinatown and Kabuki.


I smiled as I got a little alert for driving XP. I was smiling as we turned stopped out on the road to the Ho-oh club. They had actually blocked off the little alley entrance which led to the club.


Instantly as well I could see Tyger Claws looking alert and concerned.


Wraiths weren’t often seen in the city. But it’s not like anyone living in the city wouldn’t have heard of them.


Thankfully as usual, Hiromi took care of that, popping out of the car and waving around and acting like all the Tyger Claws knew who she was.


“Hey hey! Where is Ichi! He has to see this!” She called out practically dancing towards the entrance to the club.


I stepped out and settled against the car Ichi would be out soon, and I didn’t want to leave my new car alone in the middle of a Tyger Claw club.


I got some odd looks from a few of the people hovering around.


Obviously they were guards. Looks like the club really had pulled in more people to guard it.


Shoba either was paying the Claws to do it, or his club was more important than I expected since there was a gang war going on.


I was distracted from waiting when I got a text.


*Vik: Hey kid. Sorry it took so long I decided to check in on your request. Took a bit but I found what you were looking for. Come on by. But I need to say this. The chrome you dropped off has been going to a good use. I have to admit I kept expecting some kind of trick in the days after like you would show up to try and force me to pay more or set me up against a gang, but I was wrong. Listen kid. You did a solid good deed. I’ll send some pictures just so your good deed doesn’t just disappear into the wind.*


I blinked in surprise at the heartfelt message.


Then I started getting pictures. Little kids with new chrome. Chrome I recognized. Little kids that looked poor, but now had legs. Where in the picture before they had none.


A boy who was showing off his arm to his mom. His obviously full prosthetic arm.


And they kept coming.


I had been right. When it came down to it. Vik was the sort of guy that did real honest good, in a city that had almost no one doing that.


Damn. I wasn’t crying. You’re crying!


“See Ichi! Look at Motoko’s new ride! I told you it was preem, Sh-Motoko?!”


“Wha? Oh. Jeeze Hiromi you startled me.” I snorted trying to keep my nose from running.


“Why are you crying! Was someone mean? What happened?... Jun?” She asked quietly as she hurried up close to me.


“No No.” I waved my hands as I wiped my eyes stupid sudden rain showers getting my eyes wet. How rude! “I just got a message from Vik. It’s good news.”


“Who?” Hiromi asked and it took Ichi a minute to remember.

“Wait, that weird Ripper?”


“He isn’t that weird.” I grumbled at them, my eyes turned yellow as I forwarded the pictures to both of them. Bombarding them with tons of pics.


Hiromi went silent for a bit as she looked through them, Ichi just seemed to glance over them confused.


“Okay?”


“Those are the people that we helped by handing over the Chrome we didn’t need.” I informed him, but he just seemed to shrug.


“It was your chrome. I still would have preferred selling it.”


“Huh. I didn’t expect this.” Hiromi said after a bit looking me over as if she had never seen me before. “I honestly never took you for someone that would do something like that. Or get tearful about it. You’ve changed so much Motoko. Sometimes I forget, then moments like this happen.” She snorted a bit before waving it off. “So Ichi what do you think of Motoko’s wheels?”


“Preem. I’m jealous. I’d ask where you got the money for it, but considering I don’t think you paid for it.”


“Not an enny.” I offered with a smile he snorted.


“You hit a Wraith driver?”


“He hit me first, I hit him last.” I said a little darkly before shrugging a bit. “It’s a long story. I was on a job for Wakako. I was an extra to cover my clients back. Things got… a little out of control.”


“She fired that HMG she found, out the car, while running away from Wraiths.” Hiromi added. “She’s been quiet about the rest though. She is terrible at telling stories.”


“Really? That’s… Nova.” Ichi offered blinking as his eyes went a little distant imagining. “I’ve been stuck here. You really got a job from Wakako? The Wakako?”


“Yeah. It wasn’t that hard. I walked in and asked if she had any work that needed doing. Then I had to break into a Tino’ chop shop and steal an info shard. It got a little-”


“Out of control?”


“No, I kept control just complicated. I can’t say much but let’s just say another fixer was involved.”


“Ouch. “ Hiromi winced at that. Probably imagining way worse than it was.


“It was okay. I got in and out without any trouble and Wakako was impressed.”


“Damn.” Ichi whispered, his voice sounding a little rough as he seemed to shake it off. “So you're gonna let me drive this thing right?”


“Hahaha. No.” I deadpanned which he tsked at.


“Damn.”


“I mean you are a better driver than Hiromi.”

“Hey!”


“Nah. Hiromi is better than me, you just have to get her drunk first.” Ichi said and it took me a second before I realized he was actually being serious.


“Being drunk doesn’t make you a better driver!”


—---


After we hung out with Ichi for a while we split up. Ichi was still on the clock in a way, and Hiromi and I now had an appointment.


“No way am I letting some back alley Ripper work on you and not be there to keep an eye out.” Hiromi argued as she refused to let me drop her off back home once I told her what Vik had told me through text.


“Vik isn’t like that. He’s good people. And a good ripper. I’ll be fine.”


“You aren’t going without me. Besides we are almost there so stop arguing. Gonk.” She pointed out as I sighed and nodded simply driving quietly through the city towards Misty’s Esoterica.


We pulled up out front and Hiromi and I headed in. Before we slipped through the back gate though I wandered into Misty’s shop.


“Hi Misty!”


“Oh Motoko. And… Hiromi?” She hesitated as she tried to remember Hiromi’s name.


“Yeah you got it.” Hiromi confirmed although she was still not being friendly.


“Hey Misty, I’m going down to see Vik, but can you keep an eye on my car? It has…”


“A bunch of gang ink?” She asked with a kinda stilted smile.


“Yeah. So can you make sure no one damages it? I really need to find someone to repaint it. Or do it myself.”


Misty looked a little conflicted, before she nodded. “I’ll try to warn anyone away. Might be a good idea to get it painted though… You’re not a Wraith… Are you?”


“No way!” Almost shouted waving my hands a bit. “I was on a job working for a nomad, and we got jumped by the Wraiths… Its previous owner doesn’t need it anymore.”


Misty nodded, releasing a sigh of relief. “I’m glad. You kinda scared me for a minute.” She smiled at me as she waved me towards the back. “Go on. I’ll make sure everyone knows you klepped it from a Wraith if they come around.”


“Thanks Misty, you’re preem.”


Hiromi followed me as I practically hopped along. Finally going to get a good set of eyes. I was gonna be able to see through walls! and my hacking would be so much easier! My current set of some no-name company eyes or whatever were okay. For Civilians. They had the basic stuff, and even let me do the calling thing without needing a phone.


Jun must have splurged to make sure I could do that. My guess was that my old ones before the scavs had the same functionality and Jun wanted to make sure I could still do it.


Anyways, Kiroshi were the top of the line optics. There simply wasn’t much better than a set. Scanning mode. Near instant net code connection. Hookup for Smart weapons.


Color options.


My current eyes couldn’t change the eye color. They were the color Jun must have chosen for me when he bought them. A sort of blue.


Maybe it was my natural eye color? Or maybe Jun thought I would like the color? Anyways. I couldn’t actually change the color of this set. I would have to go to a ripper and have them take them out to change the color.


They were cheap optics. Like the bargain bin phone at a phone store. Sure it might be a smart phone, but it had none of the options a real smart phone would have.


I hurried down the steps to the clinic, kind of excited.


Sure having my Cyberdeck installed had been awesome as well, but it was like… It barely made any impact. I just had a little port hidden on the back of my head now.

This was new eyeballs.


Not just new ones, but some of the best I could get. A real serious upgrade. My first step on a path that I was going to have to come to accept.


Transhumanism.


It made me want to ask a question that many Motoko before me had asked.


I had a Ghost. Right? No matter how much of myself I carved away my soul would still be there. A human had a ghost, a sentience, that couldn’t be removed by simply stripping the body away piece by piece.


It was the very essence of what made Motoko… Special? Well Special-ish. She wasn’t alone in being a nearly complete cyborg. It was her talent that pushed her to be amazing. But it was her Ghost. The question if she had one, if she was really the same Motoko as she had been born as that made her… Compelling.


“Motoko?” Hiromi asked, I had stopped before I entered the bottom of the steps. I had gotten lost.


Did I have a ghost?


I shook my head. This wasn’t even the Ghost in the Shell universe. So in the end. Who knows?


“Nothing nothing. C’mon Hiromi.” I take the last step down the stairs.


“Vik? Are you in?”


“Oh? Motoko. I was wondering when I would see you.” His security door opened and I walked in smiling as he gave me a nod of his head. “Come take a look.”


The small thermos like object held a set of eyes. Not that I could see it as it was sealed until they were installed.


“Kiroshi optics.”


“Mk1’s So don’t fall totally in love. I’m not a miracle worker.” He chuckled. As I looked the thermos over.


“No way. This is a miracle for sure. Thank you Vik. I honestly wasn’t expecting you to have them so soon.”


“Well I owed you one.” He offered simply before pointing me at the chair. “So ready to get chipped?”


I took a deep breath and released it.


“Yeah I am.”


—--


I slowly came to as I blinked my eyes.


“You might feel a little discomfort at first. Blurred vision, low contrast, glitches…”


Alerts were popping up in my mind as my eyes were connected, but I didn’t really have any issues as Vik finally pulled back. I slowly looked around. Everything was so clear.


“Well, how’s it look, feel alright to you?” Vik asked as he seemed to look me over.


“Feels alright. No pain or anything.” I answered, sounding a little distant. I was distracted.


Imagine living your life seeing in 720p, and suddenly you were in 4k.


Everything. I could see everything! Darkness barely stopped me. I could see the dust in the corner from across the room.


“You doin’ okay Motoko?” Hiromi asked as she walked up she was still looking a little skeeved out about the back alley ripper.


“Yeah. Sorry I just can see everything now. It’s kinda… Distracting.”


“Yeah your new eyes are on another level. I didn’t know you were using a set of Arasaka Rainbow With a name like that you expect a lot, but these were bad long before they ever came out.” Hiromi mentioned as she looked me over. I blinked. My old eyes were Arasaka make? Huh.


“Yeah. I guess I hadn’t really considered it. I mean they were my eyes.”


Vik gave off a chuckle as he nodded, taking the pair of… My old eyes. To put into another thermos. Waste not want not I suppose.


Weird. It was kinda weird to know that he was walking away with something I had considered a part of me. Then again they weren’t my ‘ganic’ eyes anyways.


It still felt weird.


“So. What color are you gonna go with? I still think Neon green would suit you.” Hiromi offered as she came up close to check my new eyes out.


“I’m not copying your hair Hiromi… I’m thinking a reddish purple color… Yeah I have the exact color I want in mind.” I said smiling as I imagined “The Major” And her eye color.


Man I was getting pretty close to her in looks now. Just needed the fully borg body.


“Well alright. I’ll admit. This guy isn’t as much of a back alley ripper as I expected. He was… competent.” Hiromi whispered as she kept close. “How did you even find this guy anyways.”


“Vik is kinda a legend Hiromi.” I whisper back although I was still kinda distracted because I could see Hiromi’s pores crystal clear.


Seriously, super vision was kinda distracting. Also it was weird, blinking felt… Weird.


“Hey Vik. It feels kinda weird when I blink.”


“Yeah that’s normal. Kiroshi have a water protective layer on top of the eyes. On one hand it means your tears won’t lubricate your new eyes, makes em feel a little smooth when blinking. On the other hand, in serious situations you don’t have to blink.” He offered as he wheeled back over.


“Now let’s make sure everything is as it should be. Go ahead and try the scanner.” He asked as he seemed to settle in in front to of me.


I blinked and my eyes just… Did it. A flick of a thought and my vision went red, and everything became so much more. I looked around, sweeping my eyes over Viks clinic. Almost everything highlighted at first, but as I ignored pieces of his equipment I didn’t need to know about, or Viks TV on the desk it unhighlighted.


“It might take a few seconds to adjust, but first time is rarely the charm…” He stopped whatever spiel he was about to say as he seemed to look at me and Hiromi, before shaking his head. “Never mind. “Scanner should eventually sync with your thought processes an’ read your intentions.”


As I looked around I caught sight of Hiromi, and instantly I realized I could send a quickhack at her. No messing around waiting for my eyes to get her net code. The scan was nearly instant. Man I had forgotten how much easier Quickhacking was in the game, but really it was just because of these eyes. A second glance and I had Hiromi’s information ready and able to send a Quickhack her way.


“What?” She asked as I shook my head.


“Nothing just amazed at how quickly it pulled up your information.”


“Speaking of, I’m injecting an NCPD file search.” He mentioned as my eyes suddenly showed an install bar as something updated. “Run into any ne’er-do-wells you’ll know exactly what they ne’er-did-well.” He said almost laughing a bit at the end, an often used joke I think.


Hiromi was fake gagging behind his head.


“Thanks. That will help me collect bounties.” I muttered, the idea wasn’t bad I could get around the city and start taking out anyone with a price on their head.


Vik was looking a little pale as I said that. “Maybe, just use it to run away from the bad guys. Kids should know how to use a gun, sure, but best to avoid trouble.” He offered, and I didn’t argue despite the fact we both knew I wasn’t going to do what he said.


“Thanks Vik. For everything.”


“Now don’t say it like that. You’ll make me feel like that’s a goodbye. Sides still need to cover a few things about your new Mk1. You’ve already been introduced to your new scanner, but the Mk1 also has a built in External Lens Disruptor. In layman's terms, any surveillance cam will catch your face as a blur. Just remember. Your body’ll show up crystal clear.”


“Really? I didn’t know that.” I muttered, was that a thing they did. I don’t remember that ever being mentioned in the game. Then again Cameras were more alarm systems in the moment, rather than something that bites you a day after you got spotted.


“Cool.” Hiromi offered grinning a little widely. “I got a few ideas for where that will come in handy~” She practically purred as she looked like a cat that caught a canary.


I instantly put my hand up. “Not a chance. I’m not a thief Hiromi… Unless I’m stealing for a Fixer I guess… Does looting count as stealing?” I asked her, and I could hear Vik do an aborted chuckle beside me as he was checking some diagnostic on his screen.


“Course not. Klepping is only klepping if they are still alive. The moment they flatline it’s not klepping.” Hiromi answered simply.


“Right.” I chuckled at bit at Hiromi’s blunt explanation.


“Also here.” Vik handed me a Max Doc, or at least something similar. “Take two whiffs now, and another two in an hour.” He urged me on until I took my whiff. “Good. Don’t forget.”


“I won’t! I’ll even set an alarm.” I assure him doing just that with my new Kiroshi’s. Man that was kinda cool.


“Preem, we done?” Hiromi asked sounding a little bored now that the fun stuff was over.


“Yep I’m finished, unless you want something else chipped in, but I would say wait.”

“No. That’s what I wanted today. I’ll get used to these before I start messing around.”


“Excellent. Good call.”


“Now last thing and probably the most important.” I told Vik, getting an interested look. “How much do I owe you?”


—--


“I can’t believe you paid him full price.” Hiromi grumbled at me as I walked


“Course I did. Vik does good work.”


“He owes you thousands of eddies from that Scav loot.” Hiromi reminded me as we passed through the alley towards my car.


“No, he got that for a low price, but that loot was for rep.”


“Ugh you are the wooorst.” Hiromi whined at me as we climbed into my Reaver. Giving Misty a wave as I did which she returned. Looks like she had done a good job keeping the care unbothered.


“It’s good business. Besides, I got Kiroshi optics.” I reminded her as I set out, driving was kind of wild. Everything was so clear, but it was more than that. I could literally tell how fast a car was going compared to me. It just popped into my mind with a glance.


As I maneuvered through the city I actually felt really comfortable behind the wheel. So much so that I was even driving a bit faster than normal. I suppose it was inevitable that I got an alert.


*Driving skill level up!*


I smiled, Driving 4. I wonder what Perk I would get next level?


“What’s got you so happy?”


“Nothing. Just enjoying my new optics.”


“Is’ cute, You being all over the moon for some Chrome. You used to be way worse before. Course you never had anything as high end as Kiroshi.”


“Oh? Was I big into Chrome?”


“Of course! Why do you think you got… Let’s talk about something else.”


“Think I got targeted by the Scavs?” I asked and Hiromi looked away from me instead of answering.


“We can drop it.” I assure her, not bothered in the least. I wasn’t exactly afraid of scavs. Not with how many of them I had already murdered.


“Good. So where are we going?” She finally asked and I just shrugged.


“I’m honestly just driving around enjoying hanging out with my choom.” I told her as I decided to slip onto the freeway towards home.


“You’re such a gonk. I know you don’t want to hit a party so let’s head back to your place. Food and a movie sounds good.”


“Sure! That sounds fun! I can show you what I’ve been messing with in the last couple days!”


“What?”


“Well I decided I wanted to try doing some tech stuff. I want to try making some gadgets for when I’m on a gig. Plus I want to be able to keep my guns ready to go. And maybe mod them out a bit.”


“Huh. Playing Techie huh? Alright cool. You will have to show me what you have so far.”


“Not much. I hit the dump yesterday to find some stuff to take apart.”


“Eww Gross Motoko! If you want Tech stuff just hit up a shop or something.”


“But it’s cheaper to do it myself.”


“But it’s cheaper.” She mocked back at me. “Coming from the girl who just gave a Ripper money when he was planning on chipping you for free.”


“I owed Vik for his services! He is super talented!”


“Okay Motoko. Do you… Like have a crush on the guy or something? Is that your type? You know old?”


“Hiromi!” I screeched, actually feeling my face flush. “I do not have a crush on Vik! He’s old!”


“Yeah I know which is why I’m askin-”


“Nope! We are done with this topic. We are driving home and watching a movie. I do not have a crush on a guy old enough to be my…. Grandfather? I’m not sure exactly how old he is, but he isn’t young.”


“Pfft! Oh man I am going to tell every-one.” She drawled it out slowly as she continued to tease.


“Don’t make me kill you… They will never find the body.” I glared at her, earning a smirk which slowly disappeared as I kept my unblinking stare on her as I drove.


I had wider vision with my Kiroshi, so it was safe.


Hiromi coughed a bit. “Alright, you win.”
 

Karmic Acumen

Well-known member
I guess this would be the kind of teasing that a teenager would resort to, but in true teenager fashion it's still annoying that people can't respect someone without being accused of lust.

But shouldn't they stop by a place to repaint the car before going home to watch movies?
 
Last edited:

xachariahxx

Well-known member
Ah Kiroshis. Motoko technically hasn't made it home, so I wonder now if she'll do the Cyberpunk special. That's where you spot a couple of badguys with a bounty, stop in the middle of the street, get out and kill and loot them, then go back on your way.

"What? Oh don't worry Hiromi, I just wanted the street rep and those were scavs!"
 

Seras

Well-known member
Ah Kiroshis. Motoko technically hasn't made it home, so I wonder now if she'll do the Cyberpunk special. That's where you spot a couple of badguys with a bounty, stop in the middle of the street, get out and kill and loot them, then go back on your way.

"What? Oh don't worry Hiromi, I just wanted the street rep and those were scavs!"
You say that and it made me flash back to a scene of me playing the game. I was driving through Pacifica looking around and I spooted some scavs in an alley. They weren't doing anything wrong just kinda hanging out.

So I stopped my Kusanagi got out murdered all of them and then climbed back on and went on my way.
 

Bear Ribs

Well-known member
It's Fanart Friday. Have some.

I know Motoko doesn't have a katana yet but at the rate she's grabbing stuff, I figure it's just a matter of time. I don't know how long her coat is, originally I envisioned a longcoat but I decided it was too generic, also the katana wouldn't work with it. Seriously, how do people stash a katana under a longcoat?

gGnVRz6.gif
 

Seras

Well-known member
It's Fanart Friday. Have some.

I know Motoko doesn't have a katana yet but at the rate she's grabbing stuff, I figure it's just a matter of time. I don't know how long her coat is, originally I envisioned a longcoat but I decided it was too generic, also the katana wouldn't work with it. Seriously, how do people stash a katana under a longcoat?

gGnVRz6.gif
It's a shorter jacket like the one she wears in 2045, so yeah that's about right. Aaaaand I may be writing up to the scene where she gets a Katana in the story. It's still a good bit away, but it's happening.
 
Chapter 21

Seras

Well-known member
After spending a night watching terrible movies Hiromi left in the morning, unfortunately her parents wanted her home.


So I settled in for some more tech work.


First thing first I noticed I had an odd bit next to my stats.


Technical attribute 1(5)

Crafting 1


It was the first thing I noticed when I opened my stat page. I decided to check through my alerts, because I had gotten a few when Vik installed my new optics.


*Due to Cyberization, Maximum value has increased by 4. Technical Attribute.*


I blinked, what did maximum value mean?


I had no idea.


I continued through the alerts. Most of them were simply describing the uninstallation of my old optics, and installation of my new ones.


Except for one message.


*Adaptation Kiroshi Mk1 0/2*


What the hell was Adaptation!?


I checked my stats page and it did have a Cyberware section. Under it I had two options currently. Although I did have plenty of minor bits and bobs that everyone tended toward.


I guess like V the Gamer only tracked the bigger stuff.


Militech Paraline *Adaptation Militech Paraline 0/0*

Kiroshi Mk1 *Adaptation Kiroshi Mk1 0/2*


Okay so what was adaptation? And why did the Paraline Cyberdeck have a 0/0.


I tried clicking on it and to my happiness I got something, if not a complete answer.


*Spend 1 Stat point to improve Adaptation?*


No. I pulled back. I needed my stat points. And for now I had no idea what adaptation meant. I mean I could guess. Adapting my Cyberware? But I already had it installed. It was working as it should.


I shrugged. I would mess with it another time. At least I had one question answered. Ish.


Then I moved back to the stat page. Why does my Tech have a number next to it? I honestly couldn’t get an answer. There wasn’t a damn options menu, or a players guide with this Gamer system.


So I shrugged it off. It had something to do with my eyes, and bigger numbers were better. So I would just accept it was a good thing and move on.


But I did notice one last thing since I was playing with my stat sheet. I still had a perk to choose. Well two actually.


Blades and Street Brawler.


Both were easy choices.


Parry: With a blade in hand, deflect attacks.


Honestly there was only one reason to pick this Perk. Eventually I could parry bullets. Listen, if anyone ever says they don’t think cutting a bullet out of the air with a katana is cool. They are lying. Sure it would cost me a few perks, but I didn’t really plan on running around with a Katana very often, and defense was always super important.


Then there was Street Brawler. Which I also already had my path picked out.


Improvised Weapons: Sometimes in a brawl anything you can grab needs to be used, know the best way to fight with day to day items.


One more perk in that tree away from Gun-Fu.


Instantly though my mind was a whirl. I looked around at all the tech stuff I had been planning on tinkering with and I kinda cringed at just how deadly everything around me could be.


That could both come in handy, and be a little distracting, if everything I looked at was processed as a weapon first.


I shook it away. First I needed to continue disassembling all this tech. I smiled as I familiarized myself with old junk and slowly I got more and more alerts.


Until finally, the sun setting long ago I got the alert I wanted.


*Technical Attribute Leveled up!*


Tech 2? Yes! Now I could level Crafting more!


I yawned despite myself and looked around, realizing I had barely eaten all day. I stretched and groaned a bit as my spine popped as I decided to grab some chow before I hit the hay.


—--


I was glaring. My hands were completely calm despite my constant desire to start throwing stuff.


*Jun: I’m alive.*


That’s it. After so long? After not knowing if Jun was dead in a Maelstrom base somewhere? He just sends I’m alive?


And he refused to respond to any messages back either.


I was gripping my soldering iron a little too tightly as I slowly turned it off and set it down.


I needed to go kill something.


No. I shook that thought away. I was not going to turn to murder for stress relief. That is absolutely where I draw the line. I took a deep breath and let it out. Deciding to grab something to eat instead. As I was getting dressed I considered it.


Jun was alive. That was good. But he was withdrawing, and I had no idea what the Claws were doing to him, or making him do.


Considering Jun’s personality? I had no doubt that next time I see him, he will have a lot more chrome. If that was the case. Next time. Would I be dealing with Jun as he lost himself? Cyberpsychosis?


“If the Tyger Claws don’t take care of Jun. I will end them.” I whispered to myself, unable to stop the words slipping from my mouth.


I honestly wasn’t a fan of the claws in general. The whole sex work thing tends to piss me off. Even if Judy’s plan in the game was destined for failure.


Mine wouldn’t. I wouldn’t go after their business. I would just kill them until they stopped existing if they let Jun get hurt.


I sighed pushing myself away from the table to head to the bathroom. I was getting worked up. So I walked in and turned on the tap. I washed my face a bit and looked into the mirror. Almost flinching as reddish purple eyes stared back.


I had forgotten for a second that I changed my eye color last night. It wasn’t hard, Kiroshi was top of the line. Of course they would have an option to adjust color.


They still felt weird. I realized it was that little thing in the back of your mind, an irritation that told you something wasn’t quite right. Like something is in your eye but doesn’t hurt, but you still know something is wrong.


I suppose that was how I would process Cyberware. A slight discomfort.


I think I had figured out what Adaptation was. I closed my eyes letting myself breath for a minute.


It wasn’t bad. Just different. I’d live.


I stepped away, turning back to my table. There was a part of me begging to go outside with a gun in hand. To go find some more scavs, or take a job.


I shook that part away. Settled down on my couch.


I had taken apart most of the scrap I had gathered by now. Learning a ton as I did. Or rather ‘learning’ as the XP continued to flow. I had a few ideas of neat toys that could help me out on jobs, but all of the actually useful stuff was way outside of my skill level, much less a price range.


But I now had parts. So I took a laptop, broken and stripped for now. And started putting it together. Simple really I had scrapped multiple of them from the dump so I had all the parts I needed, and as I worked, the XP both Tech, and Crafting flowed in.


I guess my system liked me actually making something rather than just disassembling.


It took me a bit but when I was done. I turned it on, and the OS actually started.


I was using the Hard drive that was in one of the laptops and it started up. Asking for a password.


Half a second later I pulled out my connect cord from my neck and plugged it in. A moment to breach it and I was in.


There wasn’t anything interesting. This laptop belonged to some woman a nobody. I mean there was literally nothing but crappy games, useless stuff like that.


I restarted the system and started wiping the data.


Who knows maybe I’ll just sell the laptop? Could make some eddies.


When it was done I nodded and put it to the side.


“Now what else can I fix?”


—--


I had a fan now. It buzzed merrily away next to the radio, and I basically just controlled it by hacking it every time I wanted to change its settings.


It was cool.


Heh.


But more importantly, putting junk together gave me that sweet sweet XP alerts.


So much so that Crafting had leveled up!


*Crafting skill level up!*


*1 Perk Point Gained.*


I was giggly because perks let me hyper focus, or gain stuff that my normal skill didn’t cover. In this case the options were crazy!


Crafting was so… Wide. There was perks that spread out into tons of stuff.


Salvager. Get an eye for locating scrap.


Enduring builds. You can make it stronger. Tougher. The tricks of the trade to make your product rough and tumble.


And so much more. There were a lot of perks I wanted in crafting, but I would have to pick what I thought would be the most useful. Which is why as I browsed through the lists I came across the one thing that had me grinning.


Robotics wizard. Others make machines. You make life.


I knew it was premature. I didn’t have the skill to be making robots. But at the same time. There had been an idea I had that I couldn’t just ignore.


It was possible. Dangerous. Stupid maybe. But possible. I even had an idea on how to solve the whole lack of processing power that would have made my idea impossible.


So I picked it.


Worse comes to worse, I end up not using it much.


Instantly though my mind was full of knowledge. This time it was kinda weird. Not just how to make robots, because part of that was covered under base Crafting. But how to make them better.


“Heh. I could probably sign on as an engineer at a Corporation and design Cyber limbs.” And it was true. Sure I couldn’t use most of the higher end stuff from the perk, but it still gave me an eye and experience in smoothing robotic designs that would make me a very useful cog in a corpo machine.


“Oh well.” I shrugged, settling back onto the couch. Looking up to hack into the TV to change the channel to something mindless so I could go back to work tinkering when I got an alert.


*Breach Protocol skill level up!*


Breach 3 huh. That was lucky!


—--


“Bitch!” I cursed as I waved my finger. I had just zapped my finger like a gonk.


“Idiot! Moron! Don’t touch the fucking active electric wire you… you!” I cursed as I danced around the room. Fuck was I electroBOOM now?


“Okay I need a break… Also stop talking to myself.” I rumbled as I walked over and powered everything down. I had been tinkering all day. Mostly just grinding out Technical Attribute since I was maxed in crafting.


It was slow. Sometimes painful work.


But I was close to another level, so it was all worth it.


I opened up my contacts. Unfortunately Hiromi was locked down again. Her parents were worried about her running around with the active, and escalating gang war burning down the city every day, so she was stuck in school.


Ichi was still working for Shobo.


And Jun wasn’t responding.


I didn’t really have anyone else.


That thought made me sad. For about five seconds.


I wasn’t going to let that get me down! So I decided to wander out into the city. I had stats to grind. Things to improve at! I wasn’t going to let myself get worn down by Jun being a massive pain in the ass!


As I headed out I started quick hacking stuff again. Pinging every device I could find mostly just for something to do. It was sorta relaxing in a way, to just… Interface with everything around me.


Even if all I was doing was sending a ping through the system it felt like I was a piece of the network. It was nice.


Of course the actual quick hack XP was a little slow. So I started pinging people as I jogged past. Enjoying the small web of lights my Kiroshi’s displayed across my vision as I pinged more and more systems around me. Soon it felt like I was jogging through a spider web, seeing how so many things were connected.


Really. A lot of stuff was connected. Vending machines were a dizzying maze of connections between them. I stopped and just watched for a minute.


*Intelligence Leveled up!*


I stopped double checking that alert. Intelligence 4?


Already!? How did Intelligence level up so quickly? I hadn’t even gotten a quick hack level!


I went back through my alerts, and yeah I got a pretty nice little surge of Intelligence XP as I was jogging. But why? Sure I was pinging people as well as electronics I could see, but that doesn’t explain the sudden surge.


What did I know about the intelligence stat? Well not much. In the game it was the control stat for hacking. It also gave you more Ram for every point. No wait I remember reading the actual stat description in the game.


“Determines netrunning proficiency.” I muttered thinking back to all the stats in Cyberpunk.


Intelligence wasn’t… Well intelligence, or how smart you were exactly. It was processing speed… But more. It was understanding!


“I realized everything was connected… If almost everything is connected, even through different internets… Then that opens a lot of possibilities doesn’t it?” I muttered looking up as I got an alert.


*100 Intelligence XP Gained*


“I guess I’m on the right track.” So I had been thinking of Intelligence wrong from the start. I was thinking it was how smart I am, but that isn’t right at all. It’s more about netrunning! Understanding, processing power. All of that fell under intelligence.


After all I remember a lot of skills I would normally think of falling under Intelligence fell under Tech in Cyberpunk.


I looked over at a vending machine, following its network connection to the roof of a nearby building. That was the network node then. Where a lot of the vending machines were connected through.


I instantly found a way up using a nearby fence and grabbing onto the edge of the building I clambered up. Settling next to the node.


I pulled out the cord from my neck and clicked it into place.


Security blocked me out, but I wasn’t exactly hacking into Arasaka tower.


A few minutes of slowly peeling through the ICE, I breached in. There wasn’t much there, Internet traffic mostly sending and receiving data from the vending machines, nothing I was too interested in, no I was more focused on the connections themselves.


I stood and pinged the node, with the security already punched through it activated instantly.


A spiderweb erupted from the satellite dish it was connected to.


Reaching out from it in all directions. I looked around, staring at the connections just taking in the sight of something so ethereal.


I looked at the web and decided to try out an idea. I was already at its central node. Where everything connected through. So I should be able to… I closed my eyes. I hadn't actually done this yet, letting myself enter the net in a way. Actual Netrunning… I closed my eyes and let myself fall through the cord.


Suddenly I was in a world of light. Of data. My body wasn’t even there, Instead I was just an awareness. My connection was not good enough to form an actual digital avatar. Still I was there. In the net.


Connected.


I can’t even describe where I was. Nothing was solid. Just lights, and data transferring on connections making bridges, a web streaking out into pure darkness, but I could move through them. I accessed one of the connections letting me move from the node I was out to one of the peripheries. A vending machine from the data I was able to access with a mental touch.


With a thought I activated ping. Quick hacking the device I was literally inside the CPU of. A wave of light. A mass of data erupting in a wave that ran up the spideweb before bouncing around more and more.


It was Beautiful.


So this was the net. This is what it looked like in Cyberpunk.


No wonder people were so interested in it. To see it. Experience it as more than just a window on a screen.


To be data.


I pulled back, going back up the connection to the node, and unjacking.


I couldn’t even pull the pull the jack out before I was on my ass gasping.


“Fuck!” I hissed my head felt like it was on fire! I reached back and felt the port that had my Cyberdeck installed in it, and I had to hiss.


The entire area was hot. Like an overheating computer.


“Fuck.” I cursed again standing up a little woozily as I rushed down the building, a single glance had a vending machine dispensing some cold drink I had no name for. I had already breached the entire system after all.


I pressed the can against the back of my head, letting its icy coldness combat the heat.


“No wonder they use the damn icebaths.” I grumbled. As I sat on a bench and just let my head cool down.


So that was the net. A net I had taken my first step into. A child in netrunners terms.


“So where does the child go from here? The Net is truly vast and infinite.” I whispered, out an old quote leaning back and staring up into the sky.


—--


After cooling off I went home, an eye on my alerts told me I had gained a ton just from my brief foray into the net.


*Quickhacking skill level up!*


Which put me at level 3 for that, and a ton of Intelligence alerts.


I was almost ready for the next level. That was how much I had learned about the net with just stepping a toe into its depths.


Of course my head was still warm, and I wasn’t exactly up for trying that again. At least not without an upgrade, or an ice bath prepared.


Considering my apartment didn’t even have a bath, that made things more difficult.


I flopped onto the couch staring at my wild assortment of tech that I had been tinkering with reached out and grabbed the wire that had shocked me this morning.


Time to get back to work. I kept at it until late when I decided to sleep so I would be ready for the next day.


That night I was woken up by shooting.
 

Yinko

Well-known member
Honestly there was only one reason to pick this Perk. Eventually I could parry bullets. Listen, if anyone ever says they don’t think cutting a bullet out of the air with a katana is cool. They are lying. Sure it would cost me a few perks, but I didn’t really plan on running around with a Katana very often, and defense was always super important.
Monwires count as blades. So you should be able to cut bullets out of the air with a wire. Which is pretty damn cool too.
Considering my apartment didn’t even have a bath, that made things more difficult.
Ice pack, or craft a small freezer that conforms to the back of your neck.

EDIT - What happens 10-20 years down the road, will her crafting skills become outdated because they are geared towards the tech level of 2077, or will she be able to keep up or even surpass them? Could she potentially craft her own cybernetics?
 
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Chapter 22

Seras

Well-known member
It wasn’t unusual to have gunfire going through the city but for it to be close enough that I actually woke up? I was glad I wasn’t injured, so when I startled awake in the middle of the night, I was able to move instantly. Grabbing my Unity from my belt hanging on the desk chair in my room. I snagged an extra magazine as I hurried to the window to peak out from the armored shutters.


There was a war going on outside my apartment.


I could recognize Tyger Claw Kusanagi’s and a Maelstrom truck as the two forces went at each other.


At first I wasn’t sure what to do. Did I even want to get involved in this? I didn’t see Jun, but he could be down there fighting.


Then one of the Strom Borgs fired a damn rocket out of his arm, and it slammed into my apartment building. The building shook and I had a moment looking around wondering if my apartment was about to collapse.


Thankfully it didn’t. But I could hear screams from below! There were people in this building!


I rushed out. Rushing down stairs and while the security gate normally would have stopped me from going to a floor below. It wasn’t like I hadn’t already breached the security of the entire building. It opened for me, and I rushed to the apartment that had just been hit.


I hammered on the door for a moment but I couldn’t hear anything over the gunfire.


So I ‘looked’ at the door a bit harder and it popped open, surely it must be from all the explosions! I would never break into everyone's security systems! That would be wrong.


So I had broken into her security before, and since Wall Breaking was a great perk, I already had a backdoor.


The door opened into a warzone. The window normally covered in security blinds was destroyed, metal shards and bits of brick laying across the apartment.


More importantly, was the injured older woman laying across the floor covered in rubble. She had probably been doing the same thing I had. Peeping out the window to see what was going on.


I ran forward doing my best to stay low so I wouldn’t be spotted through the hole and landed next to her. She was breathing.


Barely.


I didn’t have my med supplies on me either. Glaring at myself for not grabbing any more of my gear, I ducked as a spray of bullets came through the hole. It wasn’t even at me, just the general mayhem outside. I couldn’t stay here, and neither could she.


Moving someone injured like this was a bad idea, but hell if her spine was broken she could buy a new one. I heaved up her arms and dragged her through the apartment back out into the hallway. Then through the security gate.


The stairwell was the most armored part of the building, she should be safe here. I checked her pulse again and she was breathing, but I wasn’t a doctor. I rushed back upstairs grabbing a Bounce Back out of my supplies. I would have to buy more med supplies soon. I had only gotten so much from the scavs.


Back into the stairwell I could hear people from the building freaking out. I ignored it as I rushed back down the stairs. As I reached her, I popped the lid off the Bounce back and jabbed it into her chest pressing down on the button.


She gasped, and shook a bit, but her breath evened out and sounded fuller.


Bounce Back was awesome like that.


Whatever science magic was inside, would hopefully keep her alive. But I still had some things to take care of. I rushed back into the lady's apartment, and took a moment to look out the massive hole.


Tyger Claws on bikes and a Maelstrom kill truck. The damn thing was more like an armored carrier than a truck.


I wasn’t sure who had hit who, but considering I could see the mangled wreck of a Kusanagi under the wheels of the truck I could guess.


Fine.


At a glance Parkour told me everything I needed to know.


Three stories up?


No problem. I jumped. Instant coolness washing over me, as I fell.


There were plenty of things to leap down from as I moved, each floor had AC units or just jutting ledges.


It was easy. Three hops and I was in the air falling through the sky.


I landed feet first into the back of one of the borgs. It was the surprise that knocked him off his feet more than anything. No one expects the second floor double drop kick. I had picked this borg specifically out of all of them.


My Unity wouldn’t do shit against them. The Tygers pistols were bouncing rounds already. So I slipped my Unity into the back of my pants making sure it was safe.


Didn’t want to blow my own ass off.


I had picked one of the borgs that had a weapon I could use.


As I slammed into him I reached out grabbing the end of his gun. As he fell he automatically let go. Everyone does. They reach out to halt their fall, it’s instinct, even for a Borg.


Unfortunately that meant I was able to spin his Carnage shotgun into my arms as I literally stood on his back.


He was cursing, climbing up to his knees when he must have felt the shotgun press against the back of his head.


I pulled the trigger and it was only thanks to recoil control that I didn’t get knocked right off him. But I didn’t. Instead his head disappeared, and I was now standing in the middle of a gunfight.


*1000 XP Gained.*


But now the Strom were on the back foot. The Tyger Claws now, no longer completely on defense.


I moved leaping off the borg as I pumped the shotgun, the noise monstrously loud to my ears as I ducked and rolled under the Maelstroms truck. Disappearing just in time as suddenly one of the Borgs opened up with a machine gun where I had been standing tearing up the asphalt.


Mostly concealed, I brought the shotgun up and fired. Shooting another Borg in the leg.


Although it didn’t do what I wanted and blow his leg off, he still fell to the ground screaming, as I pumped the shotgun again.


From the weight of the gun I knew I only had one more round. Gun nut once again helping me out.


I continued rolling moving out from under the truck, but now on the opposite side.


They had lost sight of me.


That would cost them. Especially since the door to their truck was still open. I slipped in, unseen by both groups as they continued to fire on eachother. The inside of the truck stunk of drugs, and blood.


Charming.


I slipped over to the drivers side, easily taking over the truck.


The morons had hit the Claws jumped out and started gunning them down.


But now I had their wheels.


I floored it. Turning the wheel as I did so I smashed into the surprised face of a Maelstrom borg, the truck rocking as I hit him and kept going.


We stared at each other. My purplish eyes meeting his red glowing optics as he hung onto the front of the truck as I continued to floor it.


I could see him gathering his wits, pulling out a pistol.


He must have been confused though, as he watched me reach behind me and even as I accelerated I threw the seatbelt over my chest.


A moment after we slammed into a brick wall.


Everything was chaos for a moment as I was jerked around and smashed against the drivers seat.


But I had a seatbelt on.


The car quieted a few moments later and I glanced up, ignoring the feeling of blood rolling down the side of my head after I had bashed my head against the door. I looked into the glowing red eyes of the borg.


“Still alive huh?” I asked my voice sounding a little distant. Probably a concussion.


“B-biiitch.” He gasped out in a staticy pained voice.


I reached over and grabbed the Shotgun.


“W-wa-it.”


I did not wait.


I pointed and fired.


*1000 XP Gained.*


“No.” I answered only after I was sure he wasn’t a threat. Seriously, only idiots stopped to talk and monologue during a gun fight. Shoot first, then say the witty one liner.


Wasn’t like you were saying the one liner for them anyways.


I pulled the seatbelt off with a groan my body was not happy with me. As I pushed the drivers door.


No give. I ended up having to crawl out through the broken windshield hissing a bit at the cuts on my hands and feet.


“Should have put on my boots.” I grumbled as I stepped out of the truck. I turned to look at the firefight, but it was wrapping up. Maelstrom had more people at first, and they got the drop on the Claws, but we were in Claw territory.


Where at first there had only been five Claws fighting against about that number in Borgs, now there was three times the amount of claws pulling up on their bikes and firing into the three borgs that now had no way to escape.


The gun fire stopped not long after. When a borged out Tyger Claw pulled out a set of Mantis blades and went in.


Bloody work.


I started walking up and I winced.


There hadn’t been just five Claws at first. Looks like seven. A pair of bodies were being looked over. But with just a flash scan I could tell they weren’t breathing.


That’s a shame.


I walked into the group of claws that were all talking and shouting amongst themselves ignoring them entirely as I walked to the Borg I had killed.


He should have some more ammo for this thing, and I was growing kind of fond of the Carnage. I totally get why Rebecca liked it now. Sure it was ugly, and a little smashed together, but it shot good.


I liked it.


As I knelt down and started searching through his dirty coat, I was unfortunately noticed.


“The fuck is this?” A loud voice called out and then a blur of japanese that I only recognized as a lot of cursing. But the Bosozoku brat was also pointing a katana at me.


Was I gonna have to flatline this kid?


Oh! This borg had a shotgun shell bandolier!? Okay I have to admit, that’s pretty fuckin preem. I quickly unlatch it and with a bit of effort I yanked it off him and whipped it up and over my shoulder.


Mine now.


Always wanted one of these.


“Who the hell are you!?”


“Nobody important.” I offered as I rose up the guys Katana was drawing a little too close for my comfort.


“Chill out Higa. This girl is crazy, came in and flatlined that Strom literally dropped on him from above.” A girl said as she hurried over. “Put your Katana away, the Maelstrom are already dead.”


As he looked away I idly swiped a shell from the bandolier and slipped it into the shotgun.


Just in case. Then since he was just that distracted despite standing close to me, I went ahead and loaded a few more.


This guy was kinda… Blind.


“I don’t know this bitch! She is standing in the middle of our battle! Looting!”


“Enough.” A voice said from beside me, and I blinked, I hadn't noticed. Not a sound had come from the guy until that moment. Sneaky!


I looked over and the Tyger Claw borg was standing beside me. “Don’t.” Although he wasn’t looking at the kid.


He was looking at me. So I was looking at him. If he thought he was going to win a staring contest, jokes on him.


I didn’t need to blink anymore. Our eyes met, and I could tell he was figuring out the fastest way to kill me. I could just tell. Maybe a Ninjutsu thing.


His eyes were neon I noticed. Changing colors along with his tats that shifted and looked like the animals were readying to attack.


“Yeah yeah. It was just in case.” I finally waved him off. As I stopped readying to pop the katana kid.


Instead I turned back to checking the borgs pockets.


Unfortunately other than a credit shard which I happily klepped, he only had drugs.


A lot of drugs.


I sighed and left them. Not my style.


“Fuckin’ you just gonna let her?”


“It was her kill.” The borg offered with a shrug. “She can take what she kills.” He said simply.


“Tsk, Fine whatever.” He grumbled as his Katana lowered.


“You happen to know Jun… Ah Junichirou Kusanagi?” I asked as I looked the borg over.


The man was silent as he took in my question before slowly nodding. “I know of him.”


“He’s my brother. You haven’t seen him in the last week or so have you? He’s been out of contact.”


“No.” He said simply and I noticed the way he said it… Yeah this guy was suffering from Cyberpsychosis. I just felt it. The man was struggling to care about anyone around him the social apathy, and worse.


The sociopathy. He was still considering how to kill me. I could see it, the way his hands were flexing the joints of his Mantis Blades popping just a tiny bit.


Yep. I’m out of here.


“Cya around Tyger Claws. Try not to get killed on my street next time.” I called out to the group as I turned and headed back to the apartment. Ignoring the bloody footprints I was leaving behind. Stupid glass. Oh well I got a new gun, and getting new guns did make me happy. I might even try to mod it a bit. I bet I could do something similar to Rebecca's Guts. Absolutely max out the recoil and firepower.


Could be fun, all I would really need is to double check the barrel and receiver to make sure it can handle a stronger load.


I couldn’t help but start whistling a bit as I made it to the apartment. Taking the elevator up to my floor I was about to enter the apartment before I stopped.I turned peeking down the stairs and I sighed. The woman I had left there was gone. I headed down looking around.


I really hoped someone hadn’t grabbed her while she was unconscious. But as I came down the floor the apartment door was open and I could see her standing there just looking at her apartment.


“You okay?” I asked and she jumped wincing as she clutched her head but she turned to look at me.


Yeah she didn’t look okay.


“You’re bleeding.”


“Just a flesh wound. You should see the other guy.” I couldn’t help but add. “Really you gonna be okay? I pulled you out of there and gave you a Bounce Back but that isn’t a miracle. You need a hospital?”


The older woman sort of blinked as she looked at me as if my words were just incomprehensible.


“Who are you?” She finally asked and I simply stared at her for a minute.


“Motoko, I’m your neighbor.” I finally decided on as I pointed upwards. “Alright, well I tried. I’m going to sleep. Have a good night.” I told her as I stepped back and then up the stairs. She was looking at me like I was gonna attack her or something.


Weird.


So I entered my apartment sighed as I realized I would need to check my foot and probably take one of my last Max Doc’s before I tried to sleep otherwise I would bleed all over my bed. So I headed into the bathroom cleaning my feet and my head wound, and finding I did have a piece of glass still stuck in my foot.


Ow.


A maxdoc stopped my bleeding, and I then sighed again as I had to get a bucket and clean up the floor, bloody footprints marched across the ground.


With a sigh I finished cleaning up and settled on the couch. Was I forgetting something? I felt like I was. So I settled onto the couch and decided I would enjoy a good eight hours of shut eye. The NCPD lights just now starting to play across my apartments wall.


Guess they finally showed up to cart away the corpses.


—---


I woke up mid afternoon the next day and as I was rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and stretching I finally realized what I had forgotten.


“Jun!” I cursed as I hurriedly pulled up my phone system and sent him a text.


*There was a Strom attack on the street outside the apartment, I’m fine, no injuries, apartment below us had some damage. Just wanted you to know I was okay so you wouldn’t freak… Haven’t heard from you in a while.*


I sat down on the couch and just kinda waited for a bit, hoping that Jun would at least respond back.


Then I realized I was being stupid. Jun was still a teenage boy and was definitely out all night hunting Maelstrom.


He was 100% still asleep. It wasn’t even noon yet.


So I shook that away and looked at my alerts.


*Body Leveled up!*


*Annihilation skill level up!*


Body 6, and Annihilation 4. Finally I had gotten Body to level up again. I guess all the shotgun shooting had finally gained the last bits of XP I needed.


*Driving skill level up!*

*1 Perk Point Gained.*

I pointedly ignored that one since literally all I did was crash a truck… On purpose! I crashed a truck on purpose! That was the plan! Okay I would look at perks later.


But I took a moment to look over my body. The increase to body had some effects. I looked… Muscular. I had actual biceps when I flexed. Motoko strong! I giggled as I did a few stretches enjoying the feeling of my stronger muscles.


I decided to get some exercise in while I got breakfast. Slipping out of the apartment I jogged around the block picking up some food at my favorite little street vendors.


Yet even as I did I could tell that things were changing. The gang war was getting bad. People were more skittish than usual, which is saying something in Night City. People. I could see the damage from the attack still on the street outside the apartment, I pointedly didn’t look at the brick wall I had smashed through with the truck.


That was Maelstrom’s fault, not mine. Definitely not mine. At all.


But things were getting tense.


After breakfast I decided it was time to get something done I had been putting off as I threw myself into crafting.


I drove out to the little netrunners shop carrying my netsuit in hand.


—--


“That’s a lot of holes.” Was the first thing the old asian lady at the little shop I had bought my Netrunner suit from muttered at me as I flopped the suit on the table.


“Yeah people like to shoot at me.” I said as she looked over my suit.


“People like to hit you too.” She told me and I shrugged.


“Hazards of the job.”


“The armor didn’t do much I see.” She muttered as looked over the suit.


“Noticed that. Figured I was just getting hit with something too big to stop. Might be why I’m still alive though.”


“No.” She answered instantly, and I could hear a hint of anger in her voice. “No. Look, the interior panels… They are fake.” She growled, the little old woman was practically leaking smoke as she hissed, her pipe glowing red as she sucked in the smoke.


“Fake?”


“The armor liner is supposed to have a layer of kevlar. This? This isn’t Kevlar.” she peeled the armor apart, and showed me the liner which as she spoke she pulled apart and showed… Cardboard? Well probably not, but something close to it. Her fingers pulled bits apart with just that tiny effort.


“This wouldn’t stop a needle from poking you, much less a bullet.” She looked away from the leotard, meeting my eyes. “I sold you defective goods.” She growled a bit as she threw the leotard onto the table. “When I get my hands on that supplier…” She growled a bit, and considering she hung out in a shop that catered to netrunners, not exactly people well known for not getting revenge I had a feeling her supplier was about to have a really bad week.


“I didn’t even notice.” I added as I leaned down to look over the leotard. Poking at the holes. My Kiroshi scans didn’t notice anything out of place, which was weird. It was only when I pulled the cardboard-like inner liner out and scanned it did I get a scan of what the material was made out of.


“You didn’t notice bullets were slipping through your armor?”


“I had other things on my mind whenever I got shot.” I joked as I looked over the gunk. How did my eyes never notice this? I’ve scanned my leotard before… But I guess I hadn’t really been looking for anything.


This was a good lesson, my Kiroshi were amazing, but they weren’t magic. I still needed to pay attention.


The woman was silent for a moment. Then her eyes went blue, and I blinked as a pretty hefty chunk of eddies was handed into my account. “The eddies. For the trouble, and as an apology.” The old woman offered and I just sorta shrugged.


She didn’t give me the feel of someone that was lying. She seemed to be earnest about not knowing.


“The armor, did you use it on anyone else's gear?”


The woman blinked before cursing. “A moment please.” Her eyes went yellow, but she came back after a minute. Must have been sending a text.


“I can send your measurements to another I know that does modifications.” She offered out of the blue, throwing me for a loop.


“Huh?”


“So you can get your suit replaced?”


“Why would I go somewhere else? I already have a shop right here.” I told her with a calm face. She was probably embarrassed about this whole thing. I know I would be.


“You would still trust my work?”


“Other than the armor, it was comfortable and exactly what I wanted. So let’s fix that, and we are good to go. I need a couple more of them in fact, and I was gonna ask how to repair them if you could show me? I’m a bit of a techie as well, but maybe I won’t have to if the new ones actually have armor?”


“I’ll show you anyway. We can use this one since it’s… Well trash. Come.” She ordered hopping off a little chair and dragging me into a backroom with a workbench and a bunch of equipment.


Oh the woman was less a normal seamstress and more a techie herself. Makes sense there were a lot of components in a normal net suit.


Cool!


“Can you teach me a bit about this? Putting together a netrunner suit I mean?”


She looked me over before shrugging. “I can show you the basics. Everything else I will only teach my children… You are too young for my son.” She informed me flatly as she waved her pipe at a chair. “Sit.”


I chuckled a bit as I settled in. The woman was a master, and I know I only understood bits of what she was sharing, but it was still fascinating to learn.


*100 Technical Attribute XP Gained*
 
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