Ghost in the City: Cyberpunk Gamer SI

[Seras]

"Okay, you had me at Netrunner Combat Zone." Malcolm said after I had gone on a long explanation of what I would be doing.

"That was easy." I muttered as I settled onto the net chair, idly grabbing the cooling cap I had hanging from the chair now. I had bought it before coming in, since this was my first time doing some real netrunning since I lost my Seacho Netdeck.

And maybe Hiromi's remarks about it being like armor had hit their mark, but I would never admit that.

"C'mon Motoko, netrunning is wild. I mean I don't have a Cyberdeck, for me, netrunning is just… Some weird thing some people can do. Getting to see it in action? That's pretty nova."

"Well you know what to do if something goes wrong, right?"

"Activate the disengage, and pull you out only once it allows… And if I have any issues, call Yoko."

"Great. See you on the web." I offered and flopped back. When I opened my eyes I was in my lobby.

I looked around and then stopped.

The Tachikoma data kernel was growing quickly.

The Tachikoma was wandering around, and as I watched it even did a little leap to climb up on top of the small table in the center of the couches.

*What is that?* Malcolm asked, as I was streaming my sight to the laptop.

"A digital form of the Tachikoma AI I'm developing. It's growing really well over here. I'm going to need to do something about that soon." If I didn't get some better hardware for the Tachikoma to run off of, it would slow down its development pretty soon.

Shaking it off, I disappeared into the net. A few quick hops and I was then walking down the dark corner of the web into the netrunner bar.

*Whoa. It looks like a normal club.* Malcolm chattered in my ear as I walked into the lobby.

"Yeah." I agreed, but this time I wasn't going to listen to Sasha that jerk! I walked up to the woman at the counter. "Hi. Umm. I've been here before, but I'll be honest, my… Choom brought me in without explaining shit to me."

The woman behind the counter blinked from her quad eye set up. Each one blinked in a different pattern.

"Saw your match. Surprised you are still alive, hell of a burnout." She said suddenly and then nodded. "Heard that you were new, and the Stray Cat dragged you in without giving you a heads up. Not supposed to do that. Talk to Admin. Follow the IMP." She offered, and opened her eyes, a small IMP Daemon appeared.

It looked like a hovering ball of light and spiraling data, but it floated around and then started into the club.

"Thanks." I followed it in, as it led me through the light crowd of the place before floating over to a man, alighting onto his outstretched hand and disappearing.

"Well if it isn't Ghost in the Shell herself." he greeted, a deep brassy voice, but not unkind. He sounded older than even his digital avatar portrayed though. "Surprised you are still alive, after you got Derezzed."

"I had some chooms keeping my brain from melting." I explained as I walked over, but hesitated before sitting.

"Slide in, slide in. You wanted some data on the rules and regs? Good idea. It was a real shock when you fried yourself for the win."

"Yeah well… I wasn't intending on jumping in head first like that."

"No, nor should you." He added, sounding unhappy. "Normally, I don't just offer easy answers. Young runners come in all the time and the usual path is for them to trade for info, but as an apology for what happened, let me give you a simple run down." He offered, flicking his fingers, and a Shard appeared in his hands.

Obviously a digital representation, but it got the point across.

I took it, and did a thorough scan before accessing the data. It was clear, but not entirely bug free. I wiped what I found and then did another pass just to be sure. Before accessing it.

"Heh, you have no idea how often kids just jam whatever data is offered to them right into their brain." Admin said almost wistfully.

Ignoring the old man's words I instead checked over the data.

It was a… Brochure? I mean that wasn't quite it, but it was close enough. Basically a spiel on what the netrunner Combat Zone was and how it worked.

The dive into the combat server had a protection system built in. Anything too bad would be stopped before it could reach a user, unless of course the user did something stupid and overheated themselves.

That part wasn't in there, but I read between the lines.

It also taught me there were a few access commands I could have used things like auto logout, and a few other features.

"This would have been nice to know." I snarked and the old man hummed in agreement.

Then when he spoke next he didn't sound pleased at all.

"What that Stray Cat did broke multiple rules. She isn't welcome around here at the moment." He said his deep voice sounded rather ticked off.

And for just a moment I felt some sympathy for Sasha. Sure, she wasn't my favorite person at the moment, but…

"It's not… Entirely her fault? I don't think she is handling her current situation very well. I hope it's not a permanent ban? Although I actually don't know how often she comes here." I admitted. Was this like a normal thing for Sasha, or just something she does to blow off steam sometimes?

I knew so little about the woman despite… Well despite seeing her die.

"It's not permanent. She was simply told not to come back until she cooled off." He replied firmly. "Does this satisfy you? Normally one would request more of a harsher punishment."

"No. That's more than enough." I waved it off.

If any punishment was going to be meted out, it should be from me, not some random guy I've never met.

"Thanks." I offered and rose up, receiving a single nod from the man as I wandered over to one of the other booths and settled in, a screen popping up as I settled showing the inside of the arena. It was quiet currently, no battles taking place, but there was an option to view past matches.

"You getting this Malcolm?"

*Fuck yeah I am." Malcolm replied back instantly, as I started the most recent match, settling in to watch how they fought, and generally how this whole thing worked…

You know without being dropped into it.

—--

Junichirou Kusanagi

"C'mon Jun-Chan!"

"Yuto. You know I want to help you."

"Then just do it!"

"Motoko will literally kill you." Jun offered, as he reached up and rubbed at his face.

Yuto getting out of jail was a surprise, he hadn't even remembered his old choom. Not with everything that had happened in his life.

Moving up in the TC, breaking out of the low level runners that he and his chooms had done for so long. The Casino. Kasumi. He stilled as the name ran through him. The white hot rage that had once consumed him, feeling like it was burning him alive was only embers. Still there.

Always there.

But it didn't fill every moment with rage and hate anymore. It couldn't. Lashing out at everyone around him, had almost… Almost hurt Motoko.

So he had let the fire dim, learned to keep it down, how to breathe and for the first time in his life, Jun had learned how to control his anger.

What was the point at getting angry with minor things? Not after he learned what true anger was.

It was why Fujimura-Sama had grown to trust him so much.

From kid drug runner, to Casino worker, to Kamikaze, to trusted lieutenant. And now, an old choom was asking him to potentially throw it all away.

Motoko was right.

Yet, Jun owed Yuto. The boy had saved Jun's life more than once. He owed him. Honor and Jun's own wants to help a friend.

But trying to murder the kid of one of the higher ups was suicide.

"Yuto, let it go. Fuck him. You're out now. You got the whole rest of your life ahead of you. Go find an output and live."

"Fuck that! He disrespected me Jun! You can't let that kind of shit go! You know that!" The boy, no… The man. Yuto and Jun were both men now.

One through death, one through prison. Both had changed, and yet.

Yuto wasn't being reasonable. His desire to flatline Kisaru Moritaka was shortsighted.

Jun sighed, looking around the bar. Thankfully while it was a TC bar, no one really knew who Yuto was yelling about. Yuto was pretty drunk at this point, enjoying his freedom.

And so quick to throw it away.

"Yuto."

"Don't fucking Yuto me Junichirou! We swore to always back eachother up! I know you couldn't do shit to get me out of the slammer, but fuck man! You're borged out! Fucking cold blooded killer now, help me kill this fuck!"

Jun just sighed, looking down into his drink.

Motoko was going to kill him. Or Yuto.

Probably both.

"Yuto. How about we do this the right way. We go down and talk to Wakako. Motoko has a good connection with her."

"Fuck man. What kind of bitch brings a fixer into this shit? I'm not some punk Jun-chan! I can kill a gonk fucker!"

"Yeah, but if you do, you spend the rest of your short life being chased around. Get Wakako in on it, and problem solved."

"I don't have that kind of eddies. Fuck man, you know that." Yuto snapped obviously frustrated with Jun's constant attempts to get him to calm the fuck down.

"How about we try it? I have eddies."

"Fuck Jun. I feel like everything is crazy now. Used to be, you would be the first to jump at a chance to flatline some fuck that crossed us. Now you are arguing against it, and… Everyone else already left."

"They have jobs Yuto."

Yuto looked at Jun with a look that would have killed if it could. "You gonks were my chooms. What happened?"

Jun flinched at the accusation for a moment before firming up.

Things had changed.

But Jun wasn't sure it wasn't for the better.

"We grew up Yuto."

The man exhaled like he was punched. Jun sympathized.

"Come on choom. Let's get out of here, get some sleep. We've been celebrating you being back all night."

Yuto was quiet, staring down into his drink for a long while.

"Do you remember Jun-chan, when we knocked over that Tino shipment?"

"Of course. Craziest night of my life until then. We stole a truck smashed into them, and flatlined them. Stole the drugs and sold it all. Made enough eddies we could buy our own rides." Jun said fondly. Motoko…

The old Motoko, had been absolutely awed at her brother's payday. Had been so proud of him for doing it, and proving he was worth something.

That was the start of his rise in the TC.

Yuto had been the one who planned it all. Jun had just been the muscle. A boy, gonk enough to climb into a stolen truck planning to crash it.

"We didn't used to think. We didn't used to let death scare us. We did it, because it was how we made the world see us." Yuto went on, and Jun frowned.

They had done it to be rich. To be famous. Back then Rep had been all there was.

"Rep is everything." Jun said and Yuto looked up and both men's eyes met.

Jun had believed that for so long. He still did… To an extent.

Jun had once believed nothing was more important. That rep was your life, and without it, you were nothing.

But Jun had come to a realization that he would have burned his rep to the ground to protect Motoko. That he would have left the TC in a heartbeat to protect her.

So rep wasn't everything.

"Rep isn't everything to me anymore Yuto. I found things in life that were more important." Jun stopped as he realized what he had just said.

What it meant for him. He had lost Kasumi, and thrown it all away, but Motoko had made him realize he still had things to live for.

Jun… Jun wanted more than to just burn out into nothing. When he was younger he had been too angry and brash to really live. Raising Motoko had been a constant struggle. But it was worth it.

He felt his lips tugging up into a smile. "I made a life for myself, Yuto. C'mon, I'll let you crash on my couch. I'll introduce you to my boss Fujimura-Sama. We can find you some work, and you'll realize there is more to life than rep too."

Jun tugged Yuto along, regardless if the man wanted to or not. Yuto was half Jun's size now.

Yuto was his choom. He would show him how to live his life too if he had to.

—--

Rebecca

"Any issues?" Hiromi asked, and Rebecca just stared at the younger girl like she was some sort of fucking Hydra.

"Choom, I thought Kitten was the weirdest of your little group, but I think you take that cake."

"I'm not weird! And neither is Motoko!"

"Sure." She replied back with a scoff. She looked down at the box of equipment that Hiromi had just dropped off.

"It's not as good as what we have of course. But I figure if there is an emergency gig over the next while until we get the full package, this will help. Let me know if there are any issues. We can send it to Motoko for alterations."

Hiromi had put together an armor kit. Actual armor, expensive shit even, just handed over. To her. Given to Rebecca who wasn't really a full timer in their group. She hadn't asked, or even known about this until Hiromi had called asking for a meeting.

Rebecca nodded, feeling a little weird. She wanted to thank the girl, and also she wanted to run away. So instead Rebecca fell back on what she always did.

"Thanks Choom! I'll pay you back."

"Why? It's part of our Section 9 funds, and Motoko wants you to go out with us. She… Is always happy to chatter about you coming with." Hiromi added, sounding a little peeved.

"Heh. Still can't admit your crush huh?"

"Shut up! Don't! Don't say that! Motoko might hear! You never know what she is doing, she could be testing a new listening bug or something!"

"I kinda doubt it."

"I don't! Just don't… Okay? Don't."

"Alright just teasing Crush, just teasing. What's this then?"

"Oh! Motoko mentioned she scrolls BD's of the gigs she does right?"

"Oh, yeah. This them?"

"Yep! And the newest one! Sorry to say, you only show up as a blur. You're a bit too distinct, but you are on that one."

"Wait, there's a BD of the raid?"

"Yep! But all of Motoko's BD's are in there. Anyway Rebecca, I need to go. I have class in twenty."

"Well shit choom don't let me keep you… Class? Fucking weird." She muttered as Hiromi jumped back into a sleek corpo car and drove off.

The fucking kid had a personal driver and shit. Some ganger kid Rebecca hadn't seen before. And Crush thought she wasn't the strangest of the entire group?

"Heh." She turned around and walked back inside. Her apartment was the same as always, quieter with Pilar still in hiding, but that was looking to end soon.

She dropped the box on her bed and grabbed her BD wreath.

What was Kitten up to?

She settled in and popped in the first BD.

Instantly Rebecca was staring at glowing letters.

Section 9

And then it started. Rebecca felt her heart calm as she settled into a new skin.

She was Motoko she realized, the thrum of her Quadra suddenly revving up.

She felt the way her arms shifted, her feet pushing the gas and brake, pressing the clutch and then they were sideways. Rebecca remembered it herself, but where she remembered being startled at the motion, to Motoko it felt…

Perfect. She knew exactly what to do. There was no confusion, no unintended motions. The entire drift had been perfectly controlled.

Rebecca felt herself already moving. The sound of gunfire, an Ajax, her Ajax going but only after Motoko had already left the seat and leapt, one jump taking her over the Quadra onto a broken wall, and then leaping across to another broken segment, letting her practically walk into the second floor of the destroyed building.

In her vision she suddenly saw a netrunner protocol, slipping into the Scavs system, and her own voice, husky and sexy slipping out.

*I plucked their eyes. Go.* Rebecca didn't remember Motoko sounding like that…

She was pretty sure she would have remembered.

Her rifle was brought up casually and fired, and the first Scav took three shots before Motoko walked over and casually kicked them off the edge.

No. Before Rebecca kicked them off the edge. She couldn't even properly keep herself separate, whoever edited this BD was a master. Rebecca moved, firing a few times and then seeing the Minotaur. Its twin guns spooled up and then the HMG fire got everyone's attention.

But there was no rush of fear, just excitement, as she leapt. The jump was intense, the feeling of her belly doing flips, but that was all Rebecca, because the BD just sent a sense of pure confidence.

No fear.

She landed, bounced, and then was on top of the Minotaur firing into the Scavs.

Fuck, Motoko was right. This was preem.

She watched through the rest of the BD ending before they even went underground.

Ending with another little message.

Section 9
Do you want to know more?
NETDIR://Section9.Web

"Fucking corpo!" Rebecca wheezed as the BD ended, laughing as she realized just how fucking crazy Hiromi was. "A fucking website!"

Rebecca continued to chuckle as she lay on her bed. Feeling the sensation of Motoko's movements still shadowed over her body.

Rebecca had experienced a lot of BD's. She liked the combat ones of course. To experience battle, feeling the adrenaline slam through her, shooting anyone and everyone.

Unfortunately they usually ended with the poor gonk who scrolled it getting flatlined.

Rebecca wasn't a fan of that.

So Rebecca had used a lot of BD's, she knew good ones. The ones that had a real Maestro editing them together.

Motoko had a serious BD editor working with her. "Holy shit." She muttered as she pulled out the BD and swapped it for another one.

"Inner Universe?" She muttered, wondering what this one was like.

Rebecca started it, and instantly wind brushed across her face. She opened her eyes to the city skyline. Far above the streets.

Her eyes tracked down to a shard in her hands.

Inner Universe. It was even etched in the same style that the BD came in.

Heh.

She slotted it and music started, an interesting song, but not really her thing. Yet she didn't get time to enjoy it, as suddenly she was moving. A shift in her muscles, that made her want to gasp even as her heart refused to beat out of rhythm.

Motoko had jumped off a fucking building!

She was free falling, motionless as the wind whipped past her, and then it was all action.

Reaching out to break her fall on a pipe, she grinded herself into slowing her speed and then once more into nothing. She landed in a roll and then leapt to her feet rushing across the top of one of the walkway bridges between scrapers.

Rebecca forgot herself. Lost in the motion of the world around her, being so unthreatening.

There was no fear, just a self assuredness that flowed into everything.

Rebecca wasn't there anymore. She didn't exist. Just the movement.

She didn't really remember herself until Ramen hit her taste buds at the end of it. Startling her a bit as the salty splash of broth pulled her out of the intense feeling of her body moving perfectly.

She pulled off the wreath with a gasp. Body shaking and shivering as she lay on her bed.

 

[Seras]

Malcolm

"You're actually going to take part?" He asked as he continued to look through Motoko's eyes.

*Yeah. I want to practice it a bit. They have an external connection here. So I'm going to disconnect and let you watch through their cameras. If you see me start dying or something you know what to do.*

"I'll watch your back." He assured her as he threw a few more Shwabshwab back. Blue was the best flavor after all.

*I know.* She replied back with a surety that would have made Malcolm blush if she was looking at him.

Motoko was pretty intense, but there wasn't anyone that Malcolm trusted more. When it came to a serious situation Motoko was the most reliable person he knew. Which still freaked him out sometimes but that was just life.

The video on the laptop shifted loading for a few seconds before it showed an arena. It loaded for a few seconds, terrain forming up until it became a desert space. Bushes and hills becoming the only cover.

*Ghost in the Shell Vs. Hamm3r.* A pop up appeared and then it was on.

A fucking netrunner match. Malcolm popped more ants into his mouth chewing as he watched.

Malcolm didn't even know you could see this sort of shit!

The arena started and Motokoed instantly started moving. Rushing forward, and to the side, once she was a ways away she kneeled down and started… Doing something?

He wasn't sure, but it only took her about thirty seconds before whatever she was doing was complete. He watched as the opponent was moving cautiously out of his spawn point. Looking all around him, and even behind him, as he started activating Daemons.

Glowing orbs appeared around him, and then set off. Seemingly searching around while stopping to scan anything and everything.

They didn't look very smart. He saw the same Daemon scan the same bush twice as it backtracked.

Motoko stood up and Malcolm now knew what she had been up to.

*System Breached!* Appeared on his screen attached to Motoko's half, and suddenly a Minimap was on the screen he could see.

So… Motoko had breached into the system? That was good, he guessed. It must be if Motoko had decided to do it, but it was still weird.

Then Motoko seemed to explode, from her form something hard to see popped out, and scattered, seemingly vanishing into the floor of the server.

It looked kinda gnarly, and there was no update about what Motoko had just done. Instead she started moving. Slowly circling around the arena, seemingly purposefully in the opposite way that the opponent was going around.

Malcolm kept expecting something exciting to happen, but…

It was slow.

Motoko was stalking around. She didn't seem to have any interest in attacking, instead she just seemed to follow in the shadows of the arena, not that there were any, but she seemed to keep a hill between her and the other guy at all times.

Then Motoko came across one of the Daemons. The orb literally floated right past her.

"What?" Malcolm had to wonder, because those things had scanned literally everything. Motoko seemed to be testing it. Walking around it, even moving in front of it, but the Daemon was stupid. When it bounced into her, it just shifted directions to wander further.

Motoko shrugged, something he had seen her do pretty often, and then in her hands a burst of fire slammed into the Daemon.

It melted. That's the only thing Malcolm could think of. The Data steaming from it, as it melted away.

Motoko was obviously pleased. She had a little smile on her face, the most amount of emotion he usually saw from her, when she was in serious mode.

But the attack had an effect. The other guy. Hamm3r? He must have been alerted to the Daemons attack.

Instead of wandering, all of the orbs started rushing straight towards where she was.

She obviously noticed it, as she looked over but instead of running she just took a step back and waited.

The Daemons all floated over a hill. Looking red and angry as they started scanning around, but to Malcolm's surprise they continued to just miss Motoko. Like she was a Ghost standing among them.

They floated towards where the burning remains of the other Daemon was, and it took a few moments, as Motoko wandered around them. Obviously preparing something.

And then it happened.

As the Daemons gathered closer to the flaming Daemon corpse she sent seemingly multiple bursts of her fire into them from different directions. The Daemons reacted, but it was too slow. Only one of them turned and actually started trying to attack back before they all burned.

The one attack was blocked by a wall of weirdness Motoko made, that took the hit and just seemingly fizzled it out.

The enemy runner obviously noticed what had happened, as he stopped charging towards where Motoko was and instead started summoning in even more Daemons. This time they weren't small orbs exploring. He instead took longer, slowly forming a Daemon that resembled…

A thug? It looked kind of like a gangster, but Malcolm realized why this was the Daemon that was summoned, as a moment later it pulled out a gun.

This Daemon seemed to be smarter, instead of running off, it stuck to the runner guarding his back. Satisfied, the runner started forming another one.

It took a while and Motoko was seemingly watching what was happening through the mini map, content to give this runner time.

So Malcolm watched as nothing really happened. Motoko seemed satisfied to wait, and the runner seemed content to spend time generating more and more of his Daemons.

*FlAm3r: Both of these n3rds need to get on with it.* A message suddenly popped on the side of the screen, and Malcolm almost freaked out wondering if someone was hacking him, when a second message happened.

*B/\it: Tell me about it. Ghost is acting weird, but Hamm3r is a fucking noob. Stop playing with the little shit. I saw her last match, she could easily wipe this kid.*

And Malcolm realized there was some sort of chat? He typed into the keyboard and the words instantly went into a previously invisible chat field.

Huh.

He noticed he didn't have a username, and just before he started trying to make one he realized he was literally talking about a netrunner system…

He decided to not respond and just continue watching, even as a few more runners shit talked about the situation.

Finally Hamm3r started moving. Groups of his Daemons gathered together and started hunting. Leaving four of them with him, while an equal sized group left.

He waited and watched as Motoko finally reacted. Moving steadily towards the Daemons.

*B/\it: Why is she focused on the Daemons? If she wanted to attack him, she should have done it while he was summoning. Fucking loser.*

*R0ck4tr3ss: Shitstain fuckin shut up. You always complain and whine about other people but bitch out and never step into the arena. It's obvious she is testing to see what Hamm3r can do.*

Malcolm nodded as he watched the fight continue. Motoko hunted the four Daemons down, murdering all of them with fire seemingly without any real issue. Especially since they couldn't seem to see her.

*R0ck4tr3ss: Why aren't the Daemons responding to her? Some sort of optical hack?*

*Admin: Ghost dropped a Daemon into the arena when she breached the system. I don't want to go poking too deep while she is actively battling, but it seems to remove her from the sight of digital constructs. It does seem to work on Hamm3r as well to an extent.*

*B/\it: The lord speaketh! Hail the Admin!*

*FlAm3r: I've never heard of a hack like that. You got any deets @Admin?*

*Admin: You don't have the funds to pay for such information. Best to leave it.*

*FlAm3r: Fuck off!*

*B/\it: LEL Flamer more like Flamed.*

Malcolm looked away from the chat as it was filled with people laughing and not much else, to focus on Motoko.

He looked over and she was still laying seemingly asleep on the chair. Completely calm. A quick check and her Cyberdeck was still just warm and not overheating her. Everything was fine.

She finished fighting the daemons, and then slipped away. Seemingly waiting to see how the runner would react.

Angrily it seems.

Hamm3r rushed towards where Motoko was. The wait seemingly getting to him as he reached the bubbling mass of his former Daemons burned into flaming puddles he looked around.

*Come out! Stop sneaking around!* He roared looking around but then. Nothing.

Motoko definitely heard him, but she wasn't moving. Pissed, the guy summoned up another mass of Daemons, the orbs again, appearing much faster than the guys in suits, and then they sent out again. Searching.

But it was obvious to Malcolm that Hamm3r was seething.

Once a dozen of the IMPS were summoned, he stopped and started creating the larger Daemons again.

Though Malcolm noticed summoning each one was much much slower than before.

He looked towards the chat wondering if anyone would talk about it? Maybe he could get some answers.

Nothing. They were all just arguing about some random shit Malcolm had no idea what about.

So he just settled in to watch.

—--

Hamm3r I decided was really easy to piss off.

I felt a little bad for Malcolm as he was probably a bit bored, but grinding XP was not for everyone.

I was settled in a corner of the map just letting my deck stay cool, as I watched Hamm3r struggle to summon more Daemons.

Which was weird? I hadn't done much with Daemons, besides the free code for the facehuggers that I got from the perk, but I knew the basics. Each Daemon took a certain amount of Space on your deck to summon. But in exchange you had a program backing you up. Usually with a built in hack of its own to attack with.

Some were of course specialized like my face huggers, or the IMPs that were summoned to search for me. And yeah there was a limit to how many Daemons you could run at once off a deck, but… Was Hamm3r already hitting his limit?

The last two guys hadn't had any issues, but they had both been way more skilled than this guy.

Hamm3r was sort of outclassed. I had realized it when he had tried to breach into the system, and I hadn't even needed to intrude for him to fail.

It was kind of embarrassing.

Still, he was angry, and doing exactly what I wanted. Summoning XP for me.

I followed an IMP as it wandered around until it was far enough away and killed it. Hell Flame ending deleting its data too quickly for it to start any hacks against me.

Once again this set off the IMPs, but I noticed instead of all charging at the last spot they gathered up with Hamm3r as he hurried towards the spot.

I considered leaving a trap, but he would see it, and that would just be a waste of heat.

It was funny but I had learned something from the last time I was here.

RAM might be mana, but the heat of your Cyberdeck was mana burn.

You can't just go all out constantly, or you'll burn yourself out. So I just had to balance my cooldowns, and adjust my mana spending!

Thinking about it like a game, or like how I would if I was playing a wizard or something in an MMO helped.

Besides, I had a different objective than poor Hamm3r. I was here to farm him.

When he reached the burned corpse of his IMP he found nothing.

And that made him even angrier.

The poor kid was already overheating. While he had tried to breach into the server to get the Minimap info. I had breached him back.

Something he hadn't even noticed considering how sneaky I had been.

To my surprise though, when I breached, a lot of stuff had been blocked off by a firewall, and instead I had been given a screen just like the Minimap.

Which had things like his Cyberdecks RAM usage, and current temp.

The arena was an interesting bit of code. I was gonna have to speak to Admin about seeing under the hood. It was kinda cool.

But regardless, each Daemon he summoned cost him a chunk out of his Cyberdeck's RAM to keep up, and it was heating him up constantly.

He wasn't overheating himself yet, but he was getting close.

But still I didn't approach.

I just kept poking.

His IMPs once more wandered around, this time in sets of twos, trying to track me.

He seemed distracted, instead of summoning more I noticed on the minimap the Daemons were moving with more intelligence.

I guess he decided to switch to an RTS?

Finding a pair of IMPs that were far enough away wasn't hard, and once again I snuck up on them, and then blasted them with Hell Flame.

*250 XP Gained.*

*250 XP Gained.*

Smirking, I hurried away once again as all the Daemons rushed towards their death once again.

Poor Hamm3r.

I could hear him cussing at me through the entire arena. Digital shit talking that I just ignored.

Hamm3r tried. He loaded up more Daemons together. I killed them.

He tried staying with them, but after a while where I just didn't do anything he split them up and tried keeping them in larger groups again.

In the end, Hamm3r started absolutely raging at me. At the lack of my appearance, or doing anything.

I noticed he stopped summoning more Daemons.

Which was the moment he rang his own deathknell. If he wasn't going to give me more XP to farm? Then this match was over.

Slowly I came out of hiding, just approaching the man that was pissed and fiery, shouting expletives into the air.

Walking closer and closer, it was inevitable that he would notice me, even if he wasn't looking, the digital scape wasn't like the real world. You didn't entirely see with just your eyes.

He jerked away from me, shocked and startled, and that was when I moved.

Sandevistan activated. A Breach jumped, and a moment later he was down, and his Daemons were burning.

*Ghost Wins!*

—--

When I reappeared in the club I was met with looks of both amusement, and irritation.

"You sure took your time!" One of them yelled out and I just shrugged, but it was a curse from behind me that caught my attention.

"Bitch!" Hamm3r was there, red in the face and really pissed. "What the fuck is wrong with you!" He demanded as he charged forward, but he stopped when Admin was suddenly there hand in front of him blocking him from advancing.

"No fighting here." Admin demanded the older man firm and then he looked to me, and Hamm3r to make sure we both understood.

What could I say? What should I say?

I sighed, really wishing I could run a hand through my hair.

"Sorry, I was trying things out. I didn't think of the time it might take." I offered but Hamm3r just scoffed and flipped me off.

"Never going in a match with you again." He threw out as he turned and headed away quickly disappearing in a log out.

"That was rather cruel of you Ghost." Admin offered and I flinched.

"I didn't mean it like that. I was just…" I trailed off, because how do I explain that I was hunting his Daemons?"

Admin shrugged. "It was a competition, and you just showed how time can be an advantage netrunners often don't get the chance to take advantage of. If you continue to battle in such a way, just be aware of the effects it will have on your reputation."

"Right." I offered quietly.

Because honestly I probably was going to act like that as long as I was fighting someone that used Daemons.

The XP had been too good to ignore. Over 5000xp from all the Daemons in just one match!

It was a massive increase, and if not for the fact Malcolm was waiting on the line I would be tempted to throw myself into another match.

Which is probably why it was such a good thing he was here. I should cool off and take in what I learned.

"Thank you for the opportunity. This was actually very helpful." I offered to the older netrunner and I could see him react with a blink before he formed a smile.

"Well that isn't something I hear often. You are very welcome, Ghost."

I nodded at that and disappeared in my own logout.

—--

"That was kinda interesting, and kinda boring." Malcolm offered when I sat up, and I winced at the words.

"Sorry. You were really useful to have here though."

"Hey don't take it like that. I got to see a netrunner battle on the net, you have any idea how rare that is?"

"Is it?" I asked confused. "I mean, if that combat zone exists, then shouldn't there be recordings?"

"Never seen one." Malcolm replied with a shrug. "It was kinda cool though."

"Huh." I muttered, maybe I'd talk to Hiromi about it. Could be something interesting for the BD market? Or at least a video side of it.

I shrugged and got up stretching, feeling pretty good. A big chunk of xp always left me feeling better.

"Want to get some food?" I asked, and Malcolm nodded instantly.

"I could eat."

 

[Seras]

I can't believe this was happening.

"The Caliburn is the best!" Malcolm argued with this random gonk at the diner pointing at him with a french fry like he was going to stab him,

"Bull shit. It's overpriced, over hyped garbage. Also it's digital acceleration is fucking broken!"

"The fuck it is! It drives perfectly!"

"It's complete dogshit, and you would know if you weren't some gonk fuck street kid Rayfield fuckboy that has never been in a Caliburn."

"Bitch I own one!" Malcolm roared standing up and I just put my head in my hands.

I just wanted lunch. I was even paying. So why couldn't Malcolm just leave the stupid looking guy at the diners bar talking shit about the Rayfield commercial alone?

"What is your last name Arasaka or something? Bullshit lying little punk!"

"Oh I'll fucking prove it choom, I'll have you apologize and grovel to the best car in Night City when it arrives!" He called out, I could already see his eyes having flashed to call his Caliburn here.

Dammit Malcolm, I didn't want to stay here all afternoon. I had…

Okay I didn't have anything else to do, it's not like I had a normal job, but the point stands!

In the end I just flopped my head onto the table as I waited for the car to show up, and did my best to ignore the fact that Malcolm and this random gonk would not stop fucking arguing about it.

Gearheads are the most obtuse of all super fans I decided.

Besides everyone knows the Quadra was the best.

The arguing continued and I was sure both of these idiots would have been thrown out if we weren't the only people in the diner at the moment.

Then about twenty minutes later Malcolms Rayfield pulled into the lot.

"What the fuck." The guy said as he had been looking out the window behind Malcolm and saw it arrive.

"Hah! Get ready to weep choom, because I do own a Caliburn!" Malcolm crowed out his Victory as he sauntered out the door and walked up to the car. The door opened at his approach.

"No fucking way."

"Way." I answered as I rose up and threw some eddies at the owner for the food. I walked out and Malcolm was leaning up against the car with a cocky grin staring at the windows of the diner.

"Malcolm, your ego is showing." I muttered as I walked past him to my Quadra. Right next to the rather modded out Quadra Sport R-7.

I had a feeling I knew the other guy's choice in vehicles.

"Alright choom. Alright. You win on this one. You're daddy certainly has a lot of eddies." The other guy calls out, and that just sets Malcolm off.

"Fuck you! This is my car you gonk bitch!"

"Yeah, I doubt it kid. How about we prove it. A nice little race, my R-7 and your Rayfield, you know how to drive that thing don't you?"

"Course I do!" Malcolm said knowing damn well that he didn't. I sighed as the two boys got into an argument that led to me sitting in the Rayfield next to Malcolm as he squeezed the steering wheel tightly. The R-7 was beside us, engine rumbling as we waited for the light to change.

"I turned on launch control. I'm gonna blow this gonk fucker away." Malcolm muttered and I hummed a bit.

I had a feeling Malcolm was about to get left in the dust.

"Just don't risk your car for a race that doesn't matter."

"It'll be fine Motoko! Just trust me!"

I very specifically tugged on the seatbelt reminding him I was wearing it.

"Fuck off." He grumbled, but then he focused up.

The lights were changing, The R-7 rumbled its engine and I instantly knew what was about to happen.

The Rayfield's launch control relied on the engine being idle before it activated.

Instantly Malcolm, rumbled his engine back, The Turbo charged V10 of the Caliburn roared up, and the launch control activated trying to launch the car at the same time as the brake was held down, then the light changed. The R-7 was gone, burning rubber off the street line, as Malcolms Caliburn sputtered forward and nearly stalled out, before he managed to adjust it and take off.

"No no no no!" He howled as he roared after, but the R-7 was modded and it was obvious that Malcolm wouldn't catch up before they hit the next light.

"That… Was both very smart, and an asshole move." I mentioned as I considered how much car knowledge it took to do that kind of shit.

"I don't want to hear it!" Malcolm snapped as he continued trying to catch up, but by the time we got anywhere near the R-7 it was already slowing down after the next light and pulling over. Then Malcolm pulled in behind the R-7, and jumped out

"What the fuck!" He yelled at the guy that was also, stepping out, with a cocky grin.

"What? You got smoked kid. Better learn to use Daddys car before trying to race it."

"You fucking asshole!"

"Hey Malcolm, chill." I demanded as I hurried around the car and grabbed him. Malcolm was seething, looking like he was going to throw fists over this.

"Hey brats. Watch yourself, or else." The man demanded and I stilled.

Turning around I saw the man holding a gun in his hand having drawn it.

The Nova he was using to intimidate a couple of brat kids. Okay. At this point in time the guy had passed over the realm of acceptable conduct.

He forced Malcolm into a race, tricked him, and then when Malcolm was pissed pulled a gun despite Malcolm not being anywhere near him.

It took half a second to turn his gun into a nice paperweight as my eyes flashed into hacking the damn thing, and then I pushed Malcolm back and stalked forward.

"What? You some crazy bitch? Don't think I-Hey!" He yelped as I continued to approach, he aimed the gun at my center mass and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Which is right when I grabbed his outstretched wrist, twisted, pulled, unbalanced him and launched my other fist right into his face.

Ignoring the scream from inside of his date I enjoyed the moment as he crashed into the asphalt.

"Fuck you asshole." I said simply as I turned back to Malcolm. Malcolm who looked a little conflicted.

"I really wanted to do that."

"Eh, you shouldn't have tried to punch him for tricking you. That was a dick move, but acceptable. Live and learn. But some gonk pulling a gun is a different story. C'mon let's get out of here."

Malcolm didn't move at first. The guy cursed and thrashed as he rose back to his feet, blood pouring down his nose, but eventually Malcolm scoffed and smirked and walked back to the Caliburn.

Then we were off.

"Satisfied?" I asked as he floored it past the R-7 and the fucker.

"No. Not at all actually. I… I got tricked like a fucking gonk, and it's my fault."

"Mistakes happen." I said as comfortingly as I could.

"I just… I feel like a fucking gonk. I should have known better."

"Experience is important… Why don't you start racing and stuff. Practice it I mean?" I remembered there were races all over the place.

Didn't I get invited to a race once? I vaguely recall it happening.

"Maybe I will! Thanks Motoko. For… You know, backing me up."

"No problem."

—--

It was kinda weird, but I felt a bit bored.

I had spent some more time once I got home fixing up the Tachikoma AI some more. It was growing as well as it could, but honestly I was just bored.

I considered calling up Wakako for a gig, but the idea struck me as I was looking out the window and I made a decision.

Getting dressed, arming up I headed out grabbing a bit of my secondary kit. I dragged my armor kit with me to the car but didn't put it on yet.

Then after a quick drive across the city, I walked down the steps into the Afterlife. The pounding music, the Edgerunners all working and planning and plotting. I smiled and ended up settling at the bar.

Then I just waited for a while. Idly I continued to do some more programming work, just some leftover stuff from Yoko as I waited for time to pass.

I was sucking a soda through a straw the bartender had given me when it happened. The whole room went electric, everyone looked up from what they were doing.

Rogue arrived. Just like last time she strode through the bar like she was Queen and the rest of us mere mortals. Groups of edgerunners hurried after her, looking for work, and then either rushed back to their little teams, or started calling out for additional skills.

Then a call came out and I knew I had to accept.

"I need an infiltrator!" The call went out and I turned to look.

Black man, punk style, big trench coat. I nodded. Rising up I decided to avoid all the difficulty with my age.

A slight adjustment, and when I spoke a much more mature, sexier voice came out.

"I can cover that." I called and his eyes turned to me. They instantly glowed as he scanned, but for some reason despite my age, he didn't hesitate to nod at me. "Names Bishop. Give me a minute."

Then he turned right around to talk to Rogue. Two minutes later he came out and jerked his head to follow.

I sauntered after, towards the side room right near the entrance. The tables were mostly empty as it was still midday, but a group of edgerunners were already gathered up.

They looked me over at the same time I looked them all over.

They were an eclectic group.

One guy was in a business suit. He reminded me of Hiromi's dad. Only this guy was armed considering the bulge in his jacket. Also his arms were definitely Mantis Blades. He looked up as Bishop walked over and then looked at me.

Instantly his eyes flashed, and I could tell he was scanning me.

I looked away and at the rest of the group. If he wanted to scan before introductions that was fine.

The next woman was… wild.

A tattered T-shirt showed her bra at multiple points. The image of shark teeth on the front of the shirt looked unique. Maybe something she had made herself? Her jacket was a pretty standard Street Samurai coat, the sort of thing game V always wore, but the big case next to her was definitely her weapon.

The last was another guy. TC? He reminded me of it. Even had a Katana at his hip. His hair reminded me of Juns, only it wasn't fire, and instead some electronic effect. He gave me a once over and didn't say anything, nor did he give off any emotion. Simply observing.

"Alright. This is Motoko. She's an infiltrator. Rogue approved so she's on the team for the gig. Introduce yourself." Bishop seemed to order as he looked over the grouping.

"Samuel Perry." The corpo introduced himself, and then he looked to Bishop. "Are you sure? She's young."

"She's also here." Bishop waved a hand as if it didn't matter. "Rogue vouches for her. That's that."

"Very well. I'm the one that handles diplomacy and my former employment with Militech left me with plenty of contacts." He introduced himself with a casual air, but his eyes were sharp, always staring at me.

"Call me Mira. I'm the sharpshooter." She said, all teeth, which I then noticed were shark teeth.

Bit on the nose, but okay.

"Hakase." The Street Samurai introduced but then an echoing void came up after. Luckily Bishop spoke up.

"He doesn't talk much, but he's damn good with that blade."

"I can tell." I answered, giving the man a look over. "I'm Motoko. I'm an infiltrator, but I'm also a solo, and Netrunner. I look forward to working with you."

"Jeeze, where did you find this kid?" Mira called out but I wasn't really bothered. It's hard to be insulted by someone you don't know, and don't care what their opinion of you is.

"Right, let's get down to it. Two days ago a Kang Tao scientist jumped ship. He is trying to sell some info for protection to the corps, obviously Kang Tao isn't letting this go, but that isn't our concern. Rogue wants the guy gathered up, the info is Rogues to sell as far as she's concerned." Bishop spoke with a confident cadence, and his crew all nodded in understanding.

No confusion, no hesitation. They had worked together for a long time then.

"The problem comes in the pick up. The guy is hiding out in a high end apartment building here in City Central. Normally not an issue, but our target wasn't entirely stupid. He hired some animals for protection."

Bishop handed over a shard, first to Samuel, the corp who plugged it in looked it over for a few minutes and nodded, frowning a bit. Then to Mira who barely glanced at the shard before tossing it to Hakase.

He looked it over for a while before handing it to me.

Inside I understood. It was details about the building, the target, and some information about the animals protecting him, and why this was a problem.

Squad of twenty animals had locked down the top floor of this apartment building. From a tiny clip of camera footage that was on it, it showed the animals carrying LMG's checking the elevator every time it stopped on that floor.

The place was locked down, and somehow we had to extract the guy in charge.

"So can you get to the security system? We'll need a distraction while we get up in the elevator." Bishop asked and I nodded idly as I looked through things.

"You plan on going in guns blazing?" I asked, and the team nodded confidently. "Then I can definitely get you onto the top floor, can probably blind and disable the elevator guards as well remotely."

"You weren't kidding about being a netrunner huh?" Mira asked, and I shook my head.

"No, I'm pretty good. Not elite tier, but good. Only issue is if the security is protected by a netrunner as well. I don't see any information if the Animals brought one, or if the hotel has one on site."

"We don't know, so we go in with a blank spot. Will that stop you from infiltrating and getting us up there?"
"No." I answered back. I could do that even if there was a security runner, but something caught my eye.

"Hang on. Why don't we skip the elevator entirely."

"I'm not walking up twenty stories." Mira denied instantly and I smiled as I shook my head.

"Not what I mean. North east side of the building, there's some heating units sticking out, should be an easy climb up to the top floor. Quieter than using the elevator."

"Let me see." Bishop called, and I popped out the shard and handed it back over. He slotted it and started examining the data, going over it much longer than the first time.

Then slowly he nodded.

"Could work. Would leave the initial arrival a lot less dicey."

"Aww I like Dicey." Mira mocked, and then Samuel was handed the shard to look as Bishop popped it out.

"Doable I suppose. Doesn't really change much. We still need the security opened so we can use the elevator."

"The elevator, is a E6-551. It's got a backdoor by default. I'll be able to unlock the elevator even without touching security. Although I'll still need to infiltrate, unless you want NCPD arriving at the sound of gunfire."

"We don't." Bishop confirmed.

"Then I'll head in and shut down the silent alarms as planned, get you elevator access. Might be able to join you if you like?" I offered, but Bishop shook his head.

"Better to stay with the security and pull netrunner shit from there."

I considered arguing, but shrugged. "Sure." Bishop's group was his group, and I was intruding. Better not to push it.

With that settled the group started moving.

 

[Seras]

The security on the hotel wasn't impressive. Pressing myself against the rear door as the camera swiveled above me, I took a few seconds to breach the security pad, I knew the design, and I knew how to get through without problems.

They all had a factory default admin code from the producers.

I entered it and it popped the door open without even needing to breach it.

Sliding inside, I ducked down and hurried down the hall, the large window that had a staff break room didn't even see me as I moved right past.

The security room was three doors down, and I made it without seeing anyone.

Security here was tougher, whoever had set up the secure room knew what they were doing.

Unfortunately, the security guy was probably from ten or more years ago and long since fired.

The security panel was top of the line about that long ago. I hit the button on the bottom of the panel, flipped it open, licked my fingers and pressed against two of the wire ports.

A zip went through my arm, and the door popped open.

Security, security never changes.

Flipping the panel closed again, I slipped inside, and pushed the sliding door closed. Then as the room was empty I walked over to the rolly chair and slipped inside.

*I'm in the security room. Giving you all credentials now. Go ahead and move towards the elevator.* I spoke into the call that all of us were in.

I did a few checks to find out if there was a netrunner connected to the system, but after nothing pinged me back I relaxed, mostly.

Time to get to work. Entering in elevator credentials was super easy, something done hundreds of times a week.

I easily added the group in, and then started accessing the rest of the system. Locking down any NCPD alerts that would be sent out was almost childs play. It was literally on a toggle. I guess the hotel owner wanted to be able to ensure that sometimes his residents weren't able to call for help through the hotel security.

Moving on I accessed the camera system, and hooked in.

I was the eye in the sky, looking through the camera system on the top floor. The animals were still wandering around, most of them were doing a pretty good job on keeping watch, but at least half were fucking around. One was working out, pumping a dumbbell, another was making a sandwich.

It worked for me. Made it easier.

*Pinging all enemy locations now. Please let me know if there are any optical glitches.* I spoke into the call and then sent a ping through. The golden lights were a bit weird from my perspective, considering I was so many floors below, but it would look fine for the team.

*Wait, each of these lines is an Animal?* Mira asked, suddenly sounding eager.

*Or the target, he is on the security channel with the Animals as well.*

*Huh.*

*Never worked with a runner before Mira?* Sam asked over the line and I heard her scoff in return.

Then it went silent, as I watched through the cameras as they accessed the elevator.

*Straight run to floor 19, best access point looks like room 196. It's empty at the moment, door is unlocked.* I mentioned, as I prepped their path forward. Then I had nothing else to do but focus on the top floor.

Switching between the different cameras I checked where all of the Animals were located as best I could.

Unfortunately there weren't a lot of cameras to access up there.

Instead I started getting things ready.

Weapon Glitch uploaded and sent, letting it bounce around the animals up there. Preparing for the eventual gun fight.

Then I waited. I lost the team on cameras, so I just followed them with what I knew of their route.

Waiting wasn't fun, but it was what I had to do. I was the woman in the chair this time. It was an interesting experience, but I didn't much like it.

The sound of a gunshot coming through the camera meant it was time.

I dropped the Short Circuit into the group, and watched multiple Animals fall over.

Waiting, I saw Hakase for a moment, his Katana shining as it cut through an Animal like butter.

Then it was basically over. I watched on the elevator camera as they dragged an unconscious man into the elevator, and then they were down. The Animals were injured, dead, or still being shocked prone.

I quickly cleared footage, deleting the entire days recordings, and left a small apology message for the netrunner they would bring in to find out what happened.

Then I disconnected from the system and walked back out the way I came. Hitting the alley, I jogged down a bit and slid into my Quadra.

*I'm out.* I confirmed into the line, and started driving. The meeting place after was the Afterlife.

—--

I got there first, which wasn't a shock. They had to drop off the package for Rogue to pick up. Waiting for only ten minutes was no big deal when finally Bishop and his crew came sauntering down the steps. Swagger on full blast.

"Gig complete!" He called out as he walked past the bar, and grabbed a bottle of Brosef that the bartender passed him, then another couple for each member in his gig.

Then Bishop walked over and stood on top of a table bottle in the air.

I was kinda curious about what was going on as he raised the bottle up, his team mimicking him.

"To another gig! To survival for another day! For another blaze of glory!"

"To another!" His team repeated at the end, and I watched on a little discomforted.

Edgerunners.

But I was alone. The other edgerunners around us raised glasses, or clapped a few times at his announcement, a few even wolf whistled.

This was the culture that I missed out on, that I never really understood. To these men and women, it wasn't a celebration of their life, but that the gig didn't have the blaze big enough to end them.

That they could go on to bigger things.

That was what I picked up from them, and this group I had just met that I barely knew… I felt so completely apart from them it was almost enough to make me nauseous.

"And there is our newest assistant! Infiltrator!" Bishop called out, and the team looked at me as I spun slowly around on the bar stool, a soda in my hand. "You do good work." Bishop decided, finally stepping down from the table and walking over with his team.

"Thanks." I offered back, sipping my drink again.

"I'll be straight with you. You handled everything perfectly, no complaints from me. I ran it past the group, and we wouldn't mind running another gig or two with you. See how you fit, if you'd like to join more full time."

I blinked at the offer, glanced over at the faces of the other members, I only saw a smattering of respect.

I was young, but they acknowledged I had done the job.

"I appreciate it. I wouldn't mind backing you up in the future, but I don't think I'm really a joiner." I decided. "I have my own crew that I work with usually. Today was just me being bored and deciding to earn some eddies rather than be lazy on the couch." I explained honestly.

Bishop blinked his glowing eyes flickering for a moment before he chuckled.

"You hear that? The infiltrator takes gigs to not be bored."

"Well damn, I can't blame her. Sneaking into a comfy office and watching through the cameras must be a real preem gig. Kinda wish I was a runner now." Mira offered, but it was joking, she smiled toothily, which I returned in kind.

"It was an easy gig for an infiltrator, but it could have taken much longer, and been more difficult for the rest of us." Samuel the corp offered nodding towards me, as he raised his Brosef taking a seat a few down the bar. "To long developed skills."

I raised my drink in exchange. "To no doubt dealing with really annoying people on the daily. I don't envy your skills." I sent back and the previously cold man, broke into a smirk at my words.

"See at least someone acknowledges the difficulty of working with people."

"Oh God, don't get him started. He'll whine for hours about all the assholes and make us listen to it." Mira begged.

And slowly the group melded into the bar, and I realized why on the flipside why Edgerunners were what everyone wanted to be.

There were few friendships stronger than those forged in the heat of combat.

"So what's with all the chrome anyways? No Realskinn?" Mira asked a few minutes later as the conversation turned to everyone simply chattering about the gig. I had thought about leaving, but I was being included enough that it felt nice.

"I like chrome."

"Gross. Should get some Bioware! You'd look great as… A lizard maybe? Get some scales? Oh no! I know, maybe a wolf, there is something lovely about a cute wolf girl!" Mira gushed and I realized with horror what she was.

"Exotic!" I snapped finger pointing, she didn't just have shark teeth as an aesthetic choice, but because she was one of them!

"Heh? Yeah duh? Didn't the teeth clue you in."

"No! Ugh." I groaned as I remembered the stupid Exotic club, and the failed gig. How annoying that had been. I had been forced to watch that club for hours trying to find a way in!

"Oooh? You got a problem with Exotics?"

"It's so annoying! Can't hack them, can't stealth by them unless you do something about scent. They tend to have upgraded bioeyes, so even normal stealth isn't as good. Again, you can't blind them with a quick hack! It's so frustrating!" I whined and looked at her, eyes meeting hers with a glare.

Her own glare went from harsh to blinking in surprise and then fighting back a smirk.

"Wait… So you don't like exotics cause-"

"Cause they are so hard to stealth around! I had a gig I failed because it involved an exotic bar that I couldn't infiltrate! I ended up having to call Regina and tell her I couldn't do it. Never heard from her again."
"Wait. The Lions Den?"

"Don't remind me! I spent so long trying to find a way in!"

"Pfft! Ahahaha!" She broke into laughter and I glared at her, but she didn't care and just laughed harder.

"It's not funny."

"It's hilarious! Okay! Okay! You are officially invited, you should join me at the Den sometime. You're a bit young, but fuck it, you're an Afterlife merc. You should enjoy yourself. I have to bring you around, and tell everyone!"

"Hell no."

"Aww c'mon it's great! So many people to pet!"

"Mira, lay off. The kid's a teenager."

"So? There are kid's her age that are Exotic!"

"You know that wasn't what you were offering." Bishop responded rolling his eyes, and I just huffed.

"If I ever have to sneak in, I'll remember you."

"Hah! Good luck. We got some great security… As you know!" She cackled teeth flashing wide.

Tsk!

—--

Back home with a fresh pocketful of eddies, I realized that my sense of money was skewed.

I had been given a couple grand of eddies, not a bad payout I think? But for me it was kinda light for a full gig.

If it had been Section 9, the weapons, and equipment the Animals had 'left' behind would have been another couple grand easy.

But that was fine. We were a bit different, more willing to scrounge for the eddies. I had a feeling it wasn't considered 'cool' to do that sort of thing.

I shrugged. I didn't care about being thought of as cool, as long as people know I wasn't someone they could fuck with.

Home again, I noticed Jun wasn't home, and I was once again feeling bored. Grabbing my guitar I strummed a few notes thinking about what to play.

I was feeling pretty mellow, something chill…

Fingers started strumming and I smiled as I heard the notes. I knew what to play.

"Underneath the bridge. Tarp has sprung a leak. And the animals I've trapped. Have all become my pets." I mumbled aloud, as I just let myself remember another Nirvana song.

'Something in the Way' was very simple, but it just… Felt nice.

I played through the song once, and then just let it trail off.

"Need to actually record that… And the rest of the Nirvana songs." I hummed a bit, a familiar refrain and I laughed as I decided I might as well.

I grabbed my music box, plugged it all in, and started working. My Cyberdeck handled the cutting and editing of the tracks, adjusting the sound levels as I sang and sang and sang.

—--

"No, I don't have a gun! No, I don't have a guuuun!" Come as you are belted out with all the emotion I could pack into the song continued on. Every riff was locked into my brain, burned into my memories and the emotions I remember with every sung word coming out as heavily as I could.

Which is when the door opened.

"Sorry." Jun greeted me as I stopped mid word.

"That's okay. Welcome home!" I greeted as I stretched, but then I looked over and frowned. "Jun?"

"It's nothing Imouto." He responded back, but I could tell he wasn't okay. I rose up and padded after him, as he went to the fridge and grabbed some food, and he rolled his eyes as he noticed me looking at him. "It's just Yuto, I tried calling him, and haven't heard from him… I'm worried he's doing something stupid." He tells me and I relax.

"Oh okay then." I moved away, if it was just worry about his choom that wasn't something I could really help with. I headed back to the couch, and picked up my guitar might as well finish the song, when Jun settled in.

"That tune… You played it before right? A long time ago. You've improved a lot."

"It… Yeah, I've gotten a lot better. Figured it all out basically." I muttered, feeling my ears redden, Jun remembered me playing badly!

He laughed at my embarrassment and then settled onto the couch, but I could see that he wasn't relaxing, his eyes flashed as he was making calls.

So I did my best not to disturb him, focusing on editing some tracks and getting it right.

I had finished Something in the Way. So maybe I'll play that for Jun once he was done?

But before I could jump into it, Jun stood up with a sigh, and started leaving.

"Jun?" I asked, but he didn't say anything just dropping a heavy hand on my head to reassure me, before heading right back out.

It was going to be one of those days then huh?

Jun left, and I got back to it.

 

[Seras]

The next morning I was attacked first thing in the morning.

"Motokoooo!" Hiromi whined as she launched herself at me as soon as I opened the door. Swinging the Motoko seeking ballistic missile around to bleed off the momentum, I closed the door with a kick and settled the Door Shotgun back in place as I hugged Hiromi tight.

"Fun day! I demand it!" She said while her face was buried in my shoulder.

"Okay. What do you want to do?"

"I don't know. You decide." She responded back and I just laughed.

"Well I'm afraid I wasn't planning on much today, I got the music bug and I was just recording some songs, but we can go-"

"Yes!" She demanded and rushed over to the couch to flop on it. "Serenade me!"

I scoffed at her demand but smiled regardless. "Okay, this is Come as you are." I informed her and set up the song to play through the music box as I settled in, and then I started up that famous intro. The deep tones were good. Not perfect, I really needed something acoustic, if I wanted to really hit the best notes, but my guitar could fake it well enough.

Well enough for this anyways.

Then I opened my eyes, locked them onto Hiromi, and crooned. "Come, as you are, as you were, as I want you to be!"

The song ended with me letting the last note drift for a while, and then I smiled at Hiromi, because playing music like this was just… Fun.

It was fun.

"God Motoko." She breathed and then shook herself off. "Okay that's it! I'm done! That's it!" She nearly screamed as she rose up and paced and I blinked, nearly stepping back in shock.

"What? Hiromi? What's wrong?"

"The fact you don't do this more! You… Motoko. You sold a song to Denny! To a major label! I mean… You should do this more! It's amazing! Put a band together! Put on shows!"

"I don't… I like music as my hobby, Hiromi, but I'm not really… Crowds and stuff you know?"

"Ughhhhhh." She whined, smashing her face into the couch and screaming. "Why are you so…"

"You just gestured at all of me." I joked, heh. Hiccup. Aw man, I haven't seen that movie in… Well it's gone now I think..

No, I shook it off, focus on Hiromi.

"I don't know what to say Hiromi."

"Don't say anything just… Listen for a second? Put some songs together. Like just a few! And let me set up a gig for you. Pleeeease. If you have stage fright, we can work with that. But Motoko! You have so much talent here, it's killing me to see you just not use it." She pleaded and I looked away.

"Hiromi. I'm a merc, not a Rockerboy."

"Be both!" She denied my argument instantly. "You like Silverhand! You can't argue this. You like him!"
"Comparing me to Johnny Silverhand is pretty rude." I muttered, but Hiromi wasn't having my nonsense.

"Motoko, I'm serious. Please for me? As a super special present, let me put together a gig for you. A real one, on a stage somewhere. I'll set it all up, all you have to do is prep the songs, and then I'll do the rest."

"Hiromi-"

"For my Birthday!" She demanded and I blinked. What?

"Wait, is your birthday coming up? Hiromi! You have to tell me these things, I don't remember anything!"

"Yep that's right! My birthday is coming up!." She begged and I flinched because…

Super uncomfortable, Hiromi! This… I wasn't comfortable with this!

She realized it at the same time, something on my face showed it and she slumped.

"Nevermind."

"It's not… I don't…" I shut up, and actually considered it. I had started the music thing purely for myself, a hobby, and a remembrance of what I had… Lost.

And also as a way to return myself to who I should be. A reminder of the good things in life, and that I shouldn't just drop into the endless void of chrome and combat.

It was great. I loved it…

But what was the reason I didn't want to share? Guilt? None of the songs were really mine, but I was the only one that knew them. Was it worse to let them never be, or claim them as my own?

Difficult, but not really that hard for me in the end.

No, the real reason? It was because I was fucking scared. Me. Badass, Afterlife Merc. I'd gone toe to toe with borgs with a smile on my face, been shot and just glared or cussed out who had done it, but I was afraid of people listening to me play a song.

Hiromi, wasn't being fair trying to push this either, but at the same time.

I knew Hiromi. She wasn't doing this because of eddies, she really thought it would be good for me to do it. She was proud of me, and wanted to show the world. She was excited to be there.

Dammit.

"O-one gig." I agreed, and suddenly Hiromi who had been looking dejected as she realized she had pushed too much jerked up.

"Really?"

"Yeah… I, I'm afraid, but it's stupid fears, not real ones. You can set up a gig… I guess I need to figure out a set."

"I'll do it! You won't regret this Motoko. I swear it. You'll love it! The crowd and the music, and everything! Oh! I'm so excited! We need to figure out an outfit for you too!"

"What's wrong with my outfit?" I asked, looking at my super cool tactical leotard, and jeans.

"Nothing, for merc work, but it's not Rockerboy! Don't worry I'll help! No! I need to call the boys! They need to get in on this, and I'll need their help as muscle! Eeeee!" Hiromi bounced around the room, and all I could think was that this was a mistake.

—--

The embarrassing level of excitement from everyone was getting to me. Malcolm had arrived not long after the call went out, but Ichi was working so it took him a while, but Malcolm had only thrown fuel on the fire of brazer Hiromi.

So now I was dealing with her absolutely freaking out, as I went through my list of recorded songs to make a playlist…

What songs should I pick?

I had made a pretty good selection by now. Rise was definitely going on the list, I really liked it.. Maybe This Fffire next? It was a very Cyberpunk song…

Let you Down. It had to be on the set. Probably towards the end was the best bet, then Nirvana after? I could start with Smells like Teen Spirt, and end with Come as you are?

No, I should do The Pretender… But where to put it? Just after This Fffire? No wait, Smells like Teen Spirit… I had to move it.

I groaned. Rockerboy was actually helping me here. Setlists, performance, was all part of the skill, but a part of it that I pretended didn't exist most of the time.

Looking up from my Music box, I winced and looked away from Malcolm and Hiromi colluding, They were both standing close to each other with toothy smiles as they plotted.

This was my life now… Wasn't it?

I sighed, and finalized the list.

Smells like Teen spirit, Rise, This Fffire, The Pretender, and Let you Down

Five songs that I could play together… Now I just had to psych myself up for an actual concert…

No, I should probably edit the songs, with better equipment. I could really bring a lot out of them with some real instruments.

"Hiromi." I spoke up for the first time in a while. "I think I'm going to need a recording studio, to clean these songs up if I'm going to play them on stage, so-"

"Yes!" Hiromi cheered. "Okay! Let's go! We can text Ichi the new meet up spot. C'mon!" She demanded pulling at me, and I sighed as Hiromi tugged me away.

"Do you even know of a recording studio we can use?" I asked, and Hiromi threw me a grin.

"Of course I do! Denny's one! The one you wrote Tank at!"

"That place is expensive." I muttered as Hiromi continued to drag me along Malcolm following along nothing but amused.

"It's not that expensive, Motoko! Besides, you get a deal for use of the rooms. It was part of the contract I put together for Tank."

"Wait, why don't I know about this?"

"I sent you the contract Motoko." Hiromi reminded me with a flat face, and I did my best not to look away awkwardly. I had read through it… A little. At least enough to know I wasn't selling my soul.

"This is why I'm your manager." She said and this time she said it with a happy smile. Hiromi was happiest, when she was showing off her skills after all.

"You know I'll need my guitar and stuff." I mentioned, as Hiromi had pulled me out of the apartment and down the hall by this point. She turned, realizing I didn't have my instrument.

"Ah."

—--

We drove through the city, finally reaching the parking spots near Denny's recording studio, and I felt kinda awkward, carrying my equipment, down the alley way and into the same blank faced door. Somehow during the drive over Hiromi had already scheduled one of the studio's for me, and so we had access. The door opened and we walked into the same long white hall.

"Room 1-16." Hiromi called out as I headed that way, and slipped inside.

The studio was empty. Just for me. Staring at the space I felt myself actually warm up. Sure my Music box was good, but electronic simulation of different instruments was only so good.

There was nothing quite like the original.

I settled my guitar and Music box to the side and headed out immediately for the instrument room.

"Motoko?"

"I need some stuff! Malcolm, I could use some hands." I asked, and he followed after. It took a while to move and set up the drum set, but it felt great to have it there set up and shiny.

Then I checked over and grabbed a few more instruments, once that was done it was time. I settled, pulling up the tracks I had already recorded. I went to work.

The quality of the microphones alone made a massive difference, better instruments would enhance that, and finally the actual recording equipment, was much higher end, than the program I had made my music box out of.

But it didn't matter. The Music box was still incredibly useful, saving the recordings for later.

And I went to work. Playing through the songs over and over, removing errors from the early tracks I had recorded, adding some flare to each instrument, in a way I couldn't before.

The vocal tracks were sung, recorded, and edited with much finer equipment than I had before.

All the while, I let myself fall into the utter focus required to handle all the tasks. I lost track of my friends.

By the time I was doing the drum track for Smells Like Teen Spirits, and just absolutely going to town on for it, I noticed Ichi was standing in the recording room as well.

So I hit it even harder. This was the first song of the story I was telling, I had to draw attention while playing it, otherwise I might not keep them for all the songs.

And so I continued on, hammering through the songs over and over, cleaning every technical piece of the song I could, over and over and over.

It all ran into itself and it was only when I had to stop to go to the bathroom that my chooms grabbed me and sat me down.

"Easy Motoko, you need anything? Food? Here, have some water." Hiromi demanded, while Malcolm handed it over.

I rolled my eyes at their worry, but drank down the water anyway.

"I'm fine. Just in the zone to get this all done."

"You got some time Motoko, it'll take me a while to find a location and set it up."

"Red Dirt." I finally said, decision made. "Can you set up the gig for that bar?" I asked, and Hiromi blinked, looking confused.

"Maybe? Where is it?"

"Arroyo."

"Wait, I know that place. It's fucking ancient." Ichi spoke up and I flashed him a smile.

"Yep. It was the first place Samurai ever played at."

"Ugh." Hiromi groaned, but she nodded. "Okay fine. If that's where you want to play… I was going to try Lizzies or something."

"Nah, maybe after, if I do another gig." Red Dirt wasn't just the first place Samurai played, it was also small…

Hopefully the smaller crowd would help.

I stood up and went back to work. I didn't want to keep spending money considering I knew just how much these recording studios cost.

—--

Malcolm

"You know… I knew Motoko's kinda bullshit sometimes. Sometimes I wonder, how the fuck did she do all this. How can she learn all these crazy skills so fast… Then I see her do shit like this, and I don't think it's that crazy anymore." He uttered, staring at Motoko, just a teenager same as him.

A girl that has less than a year of memories? He watched as she didn't just play multiple instruments, but absolutely destroyed them. Energy she usually reserved for the middle of combat, coming out as she sang and played with a frantic energy that she had kept up with for hours already.

Just watching her made Malcolm exhausted.

"She's amazing." Hiromi added, which was just such a Hiromi thing to say. Of course the girl with the biggest crush in the city would think her crush was the best thing ever.

But fuck if Malcolm wasn't feeling some feelings for her right now either.

The energy, and force Motoko put into the songs, and he had listened to the complete track of the first few she went through was already amazing.

Dammit, why did his best friend that was a girl have to be kinda hot?

He shook it off. If Hiromi found out he even thought that, she would make his life hell.

He glanced to Ichi, who passed over a look.

Yeah.

They both looked away, knowing Hiromi wouldn't have noticed, she was the one most enthralled with Motoko's inexhaustible energy.

"So… I'm gonna call everyone I know and tell them to show up for this gig. You?"
"Obviously. We have to tell Jun. He'd kill us if we kept him out of it."

"Oh don't worry." Hiromi added. "I have complete confidence in Motoko. I'll throw up some fliers as well. We'll turn Motoko's first gig into a blast!"

Malcolm winced. He knew Motoko well enough to know she had liked the idea of the gig being in a small place to get away from the massive crowds.

Sorry Motoko. You shouldn't have stolen Hiromi's heart if you didn't want her to use her massive corpo powers to your benefit... Or detriment.

"I like this one." Ichi offered, and Malcolm listened in nodding along as Motoko had switched to singing, and absolutely roared along to the rock song. Taking the headset he put it on, and listened to the song playing along as Motoko sang.

The lyrics… Yeah that was a cool song, felt very old school. No electronic beats or anything just pure instruments, and lyrics, but it still felt exciting, there was so much going on.

"I called the Red Dirt. Got a slot. They agreed pretty quickly, the pay is shit though, but they wouldn't budge." Hiromi grumbled suddenly and Malcolm realized that while Hiromi was staring at Motoko like a particularly nice looking XXL burrito, she was also handling business.

Hiromi really scared him. It was a good thing she was on their side.

"Want to tell Motoko?"

"After this, she'll get distracted if I tell her now. Best to let her finish." She offered and Malcolm had to nod. For a girl that was so confident, she got embarrassed easy.

But Malcolm went back to just listening to the song and nodding his head along with the beat.

Preem.

—--

"I can't believe you already set it up!" I whined, as I wiped a towel over my head.

Not sure where Hiromi had found a towel, but I wasn't going to question it.

"Of course! I'm your agent, and manager. It's my job." She said and I took particular note of the additional title Hiromi had given herself, but didn't bring it up.

"I thought I would have a bit more time to settle with the idea." I grumbled, but Hiromi shook her head.

"You already made the decision, and I've never known you to back off once you make one!" She said looking proudly, and I didn't have the heart to tell her, I had been thinking of calling it all off.

Dammit.

"So you finished all the songs?" Ichi asked, having been looking at my Music box as it beeped away.

"They were already done, but with actual instruments, and better equipment. I was able to clean them up." I walked over and picked up the music box, the update was complete. "I'll need to do some hologram work, to make sure everything matches up, but I can do that anywhere."

"So who are you going to tell about your gig, other than Jun?" Ichi asked, and I hissed, feeling the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, which was impossible as that Neural Link covered the whole section, but I still felt it!
"No one! Tell no one! Especially not Jun! Never Jun!" I demanded, and got kind of awkward looks in turn.

They wouldn't tell Jun, or else!

Sending a firm look to all of them, I nodded and then looked at all the equipment left in the room.

"I guess I have to clean up."

"Leave that to us." Ichi offered instantly, standing up. "Just make sure we don't break anything?" He asked as he headed into the room, and I smiled.

"Sure."

Hiromi I noticed was distracted on a call, so I left her to it, as I went to help the boys put everything away.

 

[Seras]

I had finished the modifications on the holograms that night, before finally going to sleep and enjoying my eight hours of instant sleep. Waking up feeling refreshed, I knew I would need to get out of the apartment, or I would pick at the songs trying to fix them, when they were already great.

Feeling antsy, I knew that I needed something that would keep me moving.

Squats while holding dumbbells ended up being the exercise of choice. Hidden away in the TC gym downstairs in a corner, I was given some privacy so no one could see just how much effort I was putting into the work.

Dripping with sweat, my legs felt like they were butter, but I needed just a few more reps to be satisfied.

I didn't exactly enjoy the exercise, but there was a knowledge that if I could just hit the next level, and then level 10, I wouldn't need to do this ever again.

Perfect physical fitness for as long as I lived was a very tempting proposition to just keep pushing a few more.

I winced as I felt my leg finally give, unable to keep myself going.

I gently placed the weights down and took a second to stretch.

Then because muscle pain sucks, I pulled a MaxDoc out of my pocket, I took a second to huff it, and instantly felt a tingle go down my legs.

Muscles abused and at their utter limit, tingled as they were refreshed, feeling like I had just gotten up that morning.

Stretching my muscles I let myself get ready, and then picked up the weights again.

I had checked, and John, wasn't around today and so behind the little corner, out of sight I went back to it. This time doing crunches.

Body 9. The plan was I would earn it today! I went at it. Inhaling and exhaling as I moved, abs hauling me up and down, the extra weight in my arms making it all the harder. Slowly my muscles refreshed from the MaxDoc started to burn, started to weaken and tire, but pain was temporary, especially when you can literally just take some medicine and feel fine a moment later.

There was something very freeing about knowing that any pain I had to deal with could end in moments.

Something that you knew would end, and end quickly had less fear to it.

What was my body besides just a machine? What was Motoko, but a girl in the shell?

I changed exercises, push ups were easier, as my arms were chrome, but they still worked the core, and some of the muscles in my back.

I was sweating, as I lowered myself to the concrete over and over. Drops falling down my nose, running over my eyes, but my Kiroshi didn't sting from the sweat, so I ignored it, and just continued on, down and up. Up and down.

Muscles pushed to their limits and their limits ignored.

I was cool, frozen solid as I continued to work.

*100 Body XP Gained*

*Body Leveled up!*

Collapsing onto the concrete I lay there for a minute just breathing trying to catch my breath. I had done it.

Body 9.

I struggled for a few moments to pull another MaxDoc out of my pocket and huffed it down, and then I rose up and stretched feeling just fine.

Frowning at how sweaty I was, I decided it was time to get a shower…

I pressed a hand along my Leotard…

Gonna need to get this adjusted a bit. It was kinda tight all of a sudden.

—--

Spending the day getting my outfits adjusted to make sure it fit wasn't what I had planned, but it kept me out of the apartment.

But only for so long. As I walked inside, I stared at the guitar sitting innocently against the living room table, and felt it creeping up my spine. The realization of what was coming.

I had agreed to go out on a stage and play songs for people. Living actual people.

People I didn't know!

I walked over to the couch, fell to my knees, grabbed one of the cushions and slammed my face into the cushion as I screamed.

What was I doing!?

Only once I was done did I rise up gasping for air and then centering myself. I had agreed to do this. Hiromi was right, I was being such a gonk about it. There was nothing to be afraid of, and there was a part of me, that wanted to get up on stage and be a fucking rock star.

But that part was currently quivering behind a mental couch pretending it didn't exist for getting me into this!

I shook it off. Slapping my cheeks with my cool chrome hands and breathing in and out. "I'm not fucking Bocchi." I reminded myself. If that girl could do it, so can I! Totally ignoring Bocchi being a manga character!

It still counted!

"Shake it off." I ordered myself. Having gone over all the songs already I had cleaned them up as much as I could. Each of the five tracks were ready, I was ready…

Well, the songs were ready anyways.

Stalking around the apartment a few minutes later I realized I was getting lost in my own head and I needed to do something.

I got up and walked straight out of the house. I didn't want to bother Hiromi or the boys, they were supportive about this, but also a bit too close.

Jun was out too, because he couldn't know! So who else could I go and chat with… Wakako?

The fact that thought had gone through my head told me how rattled this had made me. No, that was silly, but I did have someone else I could chat with.

Jumping into the Quadra I gunned it out of the garage, heading straight towards Kabuki.

—--

Lizzies was active, the start of their after work rush was just starting as I arrived, but I managed to slip into a spot without trouble and then went hunting.

Rita should be here… Well if not Rita, then Judy, but honestly Judy wasn't one I would really go to for advice. Girl doesn't exactly have her own shit together.

She wasn't the outdoor bouncer, and there wasn't a line yet, so I was able to walk up to the woman at the entrance.

"Is Rita here tonight?" I asked, and the woman looked me up and down.

"Who wants to know?"

"Motoko! Rita's a choom."

"Hmm. If you say so. She's inside, check the roof."

"Thanks!" I called out rushing past and doing just that, hitting the stairs up and then bursting outside to see a basketball game going full blast, and Rita watching over the roof.

Why the Mox had someone up here keeping an eye on things didn't make sense to me, but I wasn't about to question my good luck.

"Rita!" I called out as I hurried over, she had been leaning up against one of the AC units just watching the game.

"Motoko? Haven't seen you in a while kid."

"Yeah it feels like it's been forever. I haven't really done gigs that work as BD's so I haven't stopped by for Judy in a bit… But um… You got a minute?"

Rita looked me over not seeing me injured or anything and she shrugged. "Sure, you want some privacy?" She offered and I waved her off. It was fine.

"No it's nothing like that. So… I've been making some songs and stuff. One of them I made got the interest of Denny! The drummer from Samurai, it was Jazz and fun and stuck in my head, but she wanted to buy it, so I said yes."

"That's… Preem!" Rita offered perking up in surprise.

"Yeah, Hiromi did a great job getting a good deal too, but that's not it… Hiromi talked to me, after hearing another song I was making a new one technically… She convinced me to… Well get up on stage. I have an actual gig scheduled and everything, but I'm totally freaking out about it!"

I turned to her, sort of looking for something, advice, wise words, anything!

Instead Rita started laughing at me.

"That's amazing!" She said, offered out between giggles. Actual giggles.

"I was really hoping for more than that." I pouted.

"I'm sorry! It's not! You just look so freaked!" She continued to giggle and I pouted, and finally she managed to control herself wiping a chrome hand over her mouth to try and stop the smile across her lips. "Okay, I'm good. Sorry."

"Mean." I mumbled back.

"Oh come on, it's funny! Motoko, I've heard you play before, you're good. And if you already sold a song, that's amazing. You have nothing to worry about, and hey, even if you fumble it, or make a mistake it's fine! You're a kid. You can only do well out there." She offered, trying to sound mature, but the way she kept wanting to break into laughter wasn't helping.

"Thanks I guess." I mumbled. So much for Rita's big sis energy… No wait, this was literal Big Sis energy. Fuck, I needed like, Mom Energy right now or something.

"So you are going to play your songs? Where at. I'd have heard about it if it was here."

"No, I don't know if my stuff fits Lizzies. I picked a bar, Red Dirt in Arroyo. It's where Samurai had their first gig, so it's special. I wanted to play there."

"When at?"

"Tomorrow night." I whispered, revealing the truth. I had so little time to mentally prepare myself! Or as was probably more likely, time to find a way to run the fuck away. "I don't feel like I'm ready for this. If I'm really cut out to be a Rockerboy. I don't even like crowds!"

"Alright, I see you need some real words here. So here it is. Tomorrow night Motoko, take your guitar and get up on that stage and play your songs. Play them, loud and with all the emotion you can so that even the corps at the top of their towers hear you. That's what it means to be a Rockerboy." Rita said, her tone serious as she reached out and put both hands on my shoulders.

Chrome to chrome.

"I will. I just feel anxious." I said and then I stopped and took a breath in and out. "No. It's not anxiety… It's excitement." I told myself. Good advice from a past life.

"Hey! That's what I want to see. That's right!" Rita agreed, smiling. "Of course you realize I'll have to show up now."
"I mean… If you want? You were the person that gave me the idea to play music, so if anyone deserves to hear it… It's you." I told her, looking up into her eyes, and I watched as her chrome face normally still shifted, into a look of surprise.

"God kid. Pull shit like that tomorrow, and you won't have any issues." She said, and then so quiet I couldn't quite make it out, and I'm sure I heard it wrong, she said something that sounded like. "Damn Heartbreakers."

—---

My luck of course didn't hold out.

I kept expecting there to be some random occurrence, a Scav attack. Maelstrom war. Or anything that would interrupt the time of the gig.

Or maybe I just hoped it would, but nothing happened.

So I slipped into the Quadra, guitar in the passenger seat, music box on the floor and drove over to the Red Dirt Bar.

It was time to head over, talk to the owner, and set up. At least that is what Hiromi told me. She was already there apparently?

I have no idea what madness Hiromi was plotting, but the fact she was there already told me a lot. The drive over didn't last long enough, and before I knew it I was pulling into the little parking lot beside the Red Dirt Bar. I could even see Malcolm already out there…

Beside his Rayfield… Malcolm you fucking gonk, you're gonna get that thing stolen out here!

I pulled up beside him and stepped out.

"Malcolm, why did you drive that?"

"Heh! You're kidding right? I'm going to a rock party tonight! Of course I need to show up!" He said waving his hand at the car.

"Malcolm if someone steals your car I'm not hunting it down."

"Okay one… Please? And two, I doubt it! The Rayfield has amazing security!" I just stared at him for a while, before he sighed. "Should I send it home first? Catch a ride home with Ichi or something?" He asked quietly, like a kicked dog.

I stared for a while, there were people starting to arrive, and it was obvious Malcolm was getting attention… I sighed, running a hand over my face to keep myself from smiling.

"If someone steals your car I'll help you get it back. Go get 'em tiger." I said, slapping him on the shoulder.

There were quite a few people looking at Malcolm with interest. Good luck buddy.

I headed to the passenger seat and pulled out my Guitar and Music box.

Deep breaths. I turned and headed inside. The bar was tiny. One main room, a set of stairs to the second floor that was just a viewing level.

One tiny bathroom, and a small storage room that led back outside. Bar to my left, and there it was…

The stage looked so much smaller than I remember.

The massive Samurai mural was there, but the rest of it felt like it was barely big enough for me, much less an entire band.

"Motoko!" Hiromi cheered at me from the bar. "Come over! Meet the owner!"

Walking over the older man behind the bar gave me a look over and a nod. "So you're Motoko Kusanagi. Well, I wish you luck kid. Payment'll get sent to your manager when you're done." He offered and then turned to take an order from an early patron.

"See! All set!" Hiromi offered and I nodded, looking away over the bar.

Why was I doing this?

"Just relax Motoko! Here, c'mon!" Hiromi demanded pulling me away and towards the little storage room. I let her lead me away and then once the door was closed she spun on me. "Motoko! You can do this!"

"I know! I'm just… It's embarrassing!" I whined childishly rubbing my face.

"Pfft. I guess even you lose some of your cool sometimes too huh?" She teased and I stuck my tongue out at her which she returned, and soon we were both giggling.

"You can do it."

"I know."

"Good! Then get dressed. Where is the outfit we got for you."

"I'm not wearing it." I told her firmly. The monstrosity that Ichi, Malcolm, and Hiromi had decided was somehow going to be my Rockerboy outfit was a definite no.

"Aww, it was sexy though."

"It's fine. This is what I'm comfortable with anyway." I was wearing my jeans, and Leotard, with my jacket on top, and I even had my fingerless gloves. Hadn't worn them in a while since I didn't need them anymore, but it felt right.

"At least the-"

"Hiromi, I know you think it's sexy, but it's really not me." I denied her. The less said about the hat the better.

"Fine, it's your gig after all. We have a seat up front, you should come hang out for a while." Then she leaned in with a smirk. "Ichi has been flirting with a waitress for the last ten minutes, and fumbling with it every time."

"Okay, that I have to see." I agreed and we both smirked as I followed Hiromi back into the main room. I looked around and nodded. It wasn't very active, less than twenty people so far.

Everything was good. That size of a crowd I could deal with.

Settling onto the table I noticed that Malcolm was inside now, and both boys jolted as Hiromi and I arrived, and then pretended nothing was wrong.

"What are you two up to?"

"Nothing!" Both boys denied at once, only making it more obvious they were hiding something.

"Okay sure." I argued with a snort, and slipped onto the stool seating. Heaving my guitar on top along with my Music box.

Now… Now I wait.

It was actually pretty fun.

Ichi was failing at flirting with the waitress indeed, his own overeagerness was hilarious, especially since I could scan the woman and know she was twice his age.

Double hilarity.

Malcolm actually had some attention from the men and women that had seen him come in with a Rayfield. Although to Malcolms annoyance, it was mostly questions about what his dad did for a living.

Hiromi though was busy, barely taking any part in the conversation as she was constantly on calls.

Then, it grew closer. Twenty minutes until I was up.

And in walked Junichirou Kusanagi.

"Who squealed?" I demanded, harshly looking at my chooms. "Just tell me, I'll only kill you a little!" I hissed at the little traitors, and all three of them looked away.

"So it's treason then." I whispered out, realizing they had all betrayed me.

"Of course we had to tell Jun, Motoko! He'd have killed us if we didn't!" Ichi finally squealed first, as Hiromi waved at Jun but was distracted on a call still.

I growled at the two boys before flushing as Jun walked over and pulled me into a tight hug.

"I'm so proud of you." He whispered into my ear, which was just outright breaking the rules!

"So why this shit hole?" The person that had accompanied Jun asked. Alice looked over the place with a look of distaste.

"Hey!" The owner called out, but Alice just ignored him as he turned to just grumble to himself instead.

"I didn't expect you Alice… And I wanted a small place for my first gig." I answered back. She nodded at that.

"Well it is small. And Jun asked me to come, when I heard it was you playing I had to come." She offered, but I could tell that wasn't the truth, she was making eyes at Jun the whole time.

Fair enough. Jun probably asked her to come since she was more musically inclined, and she knew me, not realizing Alice didn't give a shit about me.

But Jun was here now! Dammit!

This was supposed to be a small event!

Minutes passed as Jun and Alice settled in, at another table. There wasn't enough room at the one my chooms had claimed.

To my discomfort more people were coming in, already the stereo was playing Samurai songs, and the noise was drawing in the crowd.

My fingers tapping away at the table must have been obvious but not one bothered me.

And time moved ever closer.

 

[Seras]

A/N: If you want to listen along to the songs, check out my Motoko's Music Box Playlist here on youtube. I think listening to the songs as the chapter plays will be fun!

Motoko's Music Box

Partagez vos vidéos avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier

www.youtube.com

----

I was just starting to relax when even more people I knew came inside the small bar. At least this time some of them were expected.

"Rita!" I called out to the woman who was already making her way over, although Nox alongside her was unexpected, along with a few of the other Mox members I didn't know.

"Hey kid. I'm on time right?" She asked, and I nodded.

"Yeah about ten minutes until showtime." I answered back weakly, and she sent me a gentle smile and a pat on the back.

Then Nox was there.

"Nova! Motoko! You didn't tell me you were playing a gig! Sup 'Romi."

"Call me Boss!" She demanded and Nox just scoffed ignoring her. I was distracted from their little spat though because Rita had seen Jun.

"Hey Tyger Boy." She greeted with a sultry sound that every Mox jerked at including Nox. All of them staring in shock.

"Hey Mox Girl." Jun greeted back, maybe for the first time ever making me willing to admit that Jun might, for just a little bit, have some actual game.

Rita looked at me and I shooed her off, knowing what she wanted.

Besides, I was too anxious to deal with this right now.

I idly watched as Alice and Rita realized they were both at odds, and the awkward atmosphere that Jun completely missed as he happily chatted with both women.

Jun was so dense.

"Motoko?" Hiromi asked, and I looked at her. Nox was also looking at me eagerly.

"Sorry, I was distracted, what's up?"
"Tell Nox that I'm his boss." Hiromi demanded, and then Nox interrupted.

"You aren't my boss! Motoko and I are partners! Tell her Motoko, we had a good thing right? I handled distribution!" The boy pleaded and I looked at both of them for a moment before just laughing at their silly argument.

It helped ground me a bit, reminded me I was just a teenager, and it was okay to have teenager problems.

"You're both great." I told them instead with a smile, and that at least stopped the argument, although why Jun was rolling his eyes at me was annoying when he was the one with two girls currently flirting with him!

I rolled my eyes at him back which had him chuckle.

The time ticked down and down, and finally.

I rose up, guitar in hand, music box in the other.

—--

The bar had gone quiet. The stereo behind me playing Samurai had turned off, and it was now under my control as I plugged my Music box into it.

The lights were off, and there were more people here than I would have liked. I peeked behind me as I fiddled with the music box and could make out the crowd in the shadowed bar.

A general murmur was going through it. I could hear a lot of people asking questions about my age, and why I was at this sort of bar.

Lot of people were wondering if I was going to play some shitty pop music or something. This was a rock bar after all.

I pulled out the personal link cord, and stuck it into the Music box, then I pulled another one and slipped it into my guitar I was hooked up.

Deep breath.

Exhale.

I stood up, and looked up at the lights, technically I had been given access to the lighting system, but I had no set up for it. So I just hacked into the equipment, and threw a few changes at the rather straightforward program it was inbuilt with.

The lights shifted, most of them angling sort of around the stage, as my holograms would work best in lower light.

It was time.

Turn on my BD Recorder. Take a few steps towards the mic, feeling my Personal link stretch a bit, but it was fine, I had plenty of cord left.

"Hi, I'm Motoko, and I'm going to play a set tonight. I uh… Don't really have a band name picked out yet… And uh, I'm a solo act for now until I get some band mates. So for tonight uh… Just bear with me." I offered, feeling like my throat was dry as I spoke in front of the whole crowd.

Come on! I've murdered more people than this in one go! Why was I so worked up?

Cool. Be Cool. I stretched a bit and then it was time, behind me the holograms activated.

Images of me, showing much more confidence, than I felt right now appeared. Drummer Motoko even spun the sticks like I had programmed her to, showing an easy confidence.

"This first song is called, Smells Like Teen Spirit." I explained, then without waiting my strumming began. The opening chords that Kobain had wowed the world with so long ago.

A few moments later the drums started, and the energy of the room picked up. Then mellowed for a moment, as it was time to sing.

"Load up on guns, bring your friends! It's fun to lose and to pretend!" I sang, and there was an electricity in the room.

I realized then, just how much Rockerboy taught beyond just music. My eyes roved through the crowd, settling on faces, as I sang directly to them, drawing them in, the music distracting them from everything else until it was just them, and me.

I shifted the way I moved, a motion almost like dancing, a consistent motion that mirrored the song, a motion that drew people into following along.

Yet without a full band, I was climbing uphill. I should have the rest of the band showing off their energy synergizing, but the music box holograms could only show what I had programmed, and I hadn't considered everything that I would need.

So it was all on me, the energy, the motion, the song.

And I didn't let myself hesitate, or slow.

I was the front runner, and I could do this.

"Our little group it's always been, and always will until the end."

These lyrics I emphasized heavily, singing them loud and clear.

Smells Like Teen Spirit had a lot of nonsensical lyrics, it was supposed to, but until someone understood that, it was a bit weird. But here? With those lyrics, they all understood.

All of the people in this club had probably been Street Kids. Had lived with a crew, and had probably lost some of them.

I called to them, a siren song to their past, I played the song of teen Spirit, and the crowd reacted.

More and more people were head banging along. I glanced up and the second floor were actually coming from their tables and resting against the bannister, and I sang to them all.

My friends, my family, were an oasis for my eyes, because they were into it entirely. Hiromi was practically falling off her stool with how much she was into it. Jun had the biggest smile on his face.

Rita looked shocked and was head banging along with the rhythm.

It was right. This felt good. Even with everyone else around.

"A DENIAL!" I roared out the last lyric, as the music finally came to an end, the last chord slowly fading away in the bar.

It was quiet, for a moment, and then Hiromi practically jumped up on her stool and whistled, and the crowd reacted cheering and pounding feet, or slapping brosef bottles on the bannister.

"This next song." I started, because I didn't want the energy to fade, and instantly the crowd was quiet. "This next song, is called Rise. Little less Rock, but bear with me." I added, again, and got a laugh from Ichi at my remark, so it was good.

I activated the Music box, selecting the song. Rise, was a weird song. League of Legends hadn't been my game, but the song was pretty nova.

Then holograms changed, different instruments, mostly electronic sounds now although it still had normal instruments as well.

Then the sound started, without waiting and the crowd watched as I walked to the mic.

"Welcome to the world, no heroes and villains!"

I could see the more pop sounding song wasn't as instantly engaging, as Nirvana was to a dive bar, but that was fine.

It was my voice that was going to drag them in this time.

When I sang, I saw the shock on everyone's face.

Smells Like Teen Spirit, was a ballad about teenagers. So of course I had let my voice out as a teenager.

But this? This was the next step. When a teenager becomes something more.

My voice was huskier, deeper, no longer the same, and the obvious change had dragged all the attention on to me as I sang. As my own voice played back up for me from the speakers, I sang, drawing them into the story.

Drawing them into what they had all seen.

"Prove yourself and Rise! RISE! MAKE THEM REMEMBER YOU!" I roared, my voice changing again as the song hit its apex. Getting older, getting stronger!

Making them see the connection between the songs, letting them know, I wasn't just playing random songs, but telling a story.

The moment the song was over, I walked away from the mic. Showing that I was doing something else. Quickly changing the lights to a different hue, the sudden shift startled everyone, but I had to capitalize, before they could even process, I started again. The tapping of cymbals was heard.

"Eyes, burning away to me." I crooned as I turned, my voice sounded older again, husky and mature, and as I turned I dragged their attention onto me again.

The more pop sound of Rise, into the rock of This Fffire, by Franz Ferdinand echoed off the walls.

"Noooow there is a fire in me! A fire that buuuuuuurns!" It was perfect, I had drawn them all in, all eyes were on me, and they were all listening.

So I gave them it all.

"This fire is outta control! I'm gonna burn this city! Burn this city!" My gaze went out over the crowd, and I sang to them all, releasing my emotions onto the crowd. Cool and Rockerboy Synergizing letting me go full out.

I demanded their attention, my motions forced them into my rhythm, my siren song stole their minds. It was more than just playing. Rockerboy wasn't just playing a song, it was a performance.

Although I was alone, It was enough. The unexpected songs, the tricks with lining them up without rest. The way I kept the noise lively and new.

Then it ended, once more the note trailed off, and I had sucked in the wonder of everyone present.

"That was This Fffire." I said, and the crowd roared. The song was a titular Rockerboy song. The exact sort of thing a bar dedicated to Samurai would die for.

Realizing my thirst, I looked over and saw Hiromi, I made a grabbing motion to her, and as always she was right on it. She grabbed a bottle of water and chucked it at me, I fumbled the catch with only one hand as I had to leap for it, a moment later I managed to snag it, and earned a laugh from the crowd.

I spun the bottle around popped it open with a thumb and chugged the water down for a few moments, before placing it on the floor and then getting ready.

"The Pretender." I whispered huskily as the lights shifted to red, and white, and then the gentle strums of the Foo Fighters song began.

"Keep you in the dark, you know they all pretend." I sang softly, like a lullaby, once more the shift in tone drawing eyes as people wondered what was going to happen, but then drummer Motoko started absolutely beating the shit out of the drums.

The speed picked up, and I stopped singing softly.

"Send in your skeletons, sing as their bones go marching in! Again!"

The pick up and return to rock had absolutely enthralled the crowd, and I was in it, going full out, letting my real anger seep through as I roared it out.

"What if I say, I'm not like the others!? What if I say I'm not just another of your plays!? You're the Pretender! What if I say that I'll never surrender!"

And soon the crowd was actually roaring back. Singing along to the refrains they knew, as I thrust a fist into the sky watching as they all copied me. From Hiromi to Jun, to every nameless face.

First time the song had ever been played in Night City outside of my room, and the crowd was already going wild.

That's Dave Grohl for you I guess.

Then it cut. Going quiet, as I whispered the lyric, I could see the crowd go silent to hear, and then my eyes flashed. The lights above me went from red behind me, and white infront to nothing but red as the song went full out.

"What if I say I'm not like the others!" The crowd roared back, I wasn't roaring at the crowd, I was roaring along with them, against the bullshit day to day, against the corps pushing down.

"SO WHO ARE YOU!?" I screamed pointing out over the crowd and they roared right back.

I was on my knees, finger pointing as the song ended, and the crowd was into it. I was breathing heavily despite how fit I was, that was a lot of yelling and moving around.

Now… Now to end it.

The lights flashed off, then slowly, they each shifted behind me, each of them a different color, and pattern.

A Kaleidoscope, as best as I could make one.

The song began. The massive change from the rock track grabbed attention, and I saw some of the mood bleed out of the room.

That was fine.

It was actually better. This was the ending. The eventual path that all those that try to be Edgerunners find.

Teenage arrogance. The Rise of someone walking the path. The Fffirey heart of someone at the top. The anger at the betrayal of a Pretender… And the heart crushing realization of when you are let down.

Let you Down by Dawid Podsiadło. Sasha's song. The emotional connection I had to Sasha was complicated to say the least.

So I used it.

"Feel the rhythm of the streets. Neon lights, and neon dreams." I crooned, this time my Sexy Motoko voice on full tilt. I made my voice as husky, as mature as I could.

This was the end.

"Forgive me for letting you down." I crooned, and I met Jun's eyes. He remembered this song. I remember he thought it was for him, not realizing just what it truly was.

But that's okay. This isn't just Sasha's song anymore. It's a song for any Edgerunner.

The end of the path.

"They will finally feel the flames, the flames that run down through my veins. I will make the city burn." I sang a fun call back to This Fffire, but then it continued. "We're not planning to return."

And that was it. The moment that every song built up to.

The moment some Edgerunner decides to make a statement in their death.

Dawid had certainly written an amazing Cyberpunk song.

Slowly, as the song ended, The Kaleidoscope of lights died out.

One by one the colors faded. Then as the last note died, so did the set.

I took a step away from the mic. Even as the crowd realized it was over stirred and roared their approval. I stood there, sweaty, and out of breath, and just took stock of how it had gone.

"That last song is called Let you Down." I spoke into the mic using my normal voice, and then it was over. "Thank you all for listening. That was the end of my set."

I turned away from the crowd feeling floaty as I kneeled down by my music box to unplug it, even as the crowd cheered my chooms loudest of all.

My mind was filled with what I had just done, but most of all. It was towards an alert I had received.

*100 Cool XP Gained*

*Cool Leveled up!*

Cool 10.

—--

"That was the craziest thing I've ever done." I told my chooms as I stared into a soda.

"It was amazing!" Hiromi argued, and Malcolm nodded but I couldn't look at them.

We were still at the bar, hanging out at the table we had claimed, but it was just too much. Jun had taken to shooing away the strangers that had come up to congratulate me, because it was just too much.

I felt hot, my ears were burning, and I couldn't believe I had actually done that.

Hiromi had talked me into it, I had agreed, but I couldn't believe I had gone through with it.

"I made a complete fool of myself." I whispered, and Jun suddenly dropped an arm over my shoulder.

"Never. That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. You were perfect. What was that you did with your voice?"

"I just altered my voice a little, it's not that hard." I whispered, unable to tear my hands away from my face.

"Heh. I can't do it." He offered, and then Malcolm was there, punching me in the shoulder, which had him wince a moment later as he hit my chrome.

"Ow… Don't freak out Motoko. That was amazing. Those songs were absolutely nova. I hadn't heard all of them yet." He offered but I just kept my head in my hands.

Everyone was staring at me! Everyone had heard me play.

"Aaaaaa." I whispered, and a moment later Jun chuckled at me.

"It's cute how embarrassed you get about this stuff." He explained to me, and I finally jerked up to glare at him.

"I'm not cute when I'm embarrassed!"

"Kinda."

"Yep." Hiromi and Malcolm both cut in and I turned to glare at them, but both of my chooms just sent me smirks.

"I'm back!" Ichi called out dropping off some more drinks for everyone including a new soda for me. "You know if nothing else. Getting Motoko to play so we get free drinks is pretty nova."

"Oh! Yeah! We should make Motoko play every time we go to a bar so we all drink free!" Hiromi chirped, and I sent her a look of horror that only had her smirking at me all the wider.

"You have my vote." Ichi offered, and Malcolm, despite already chugging his drink, threw up a hand to signal he was agreeing.

"Hey!" I snapped, but none of my chooms seemed to mind my existential breakdown!

"Hey kid." A voice from behind us drew my eyes away from my chooms. Jun looked the man over and stepped aside, letting me see the barman.

"Yeah?"

"You did good work. Wasn't sure about it when I heard you didn't have a full band, but you did a good job bringing the energy up." The older man offered, rubbing at his chin. "You ever want to play again, you call me up. The Red Dirt will be happy to host you, but if you want some advice? Get a band to play with. I think you got something there, and a real band will really bring it out."

I felt my throat clench up as the idea of having a band was a little too much, instead I just nodded at his words. He seemed to pick up on my anxiety and just laughed.

"You'll get used to it. All the great's do." He assured me, then he looked over to Hiromi, and his eyes flashed. "Payment for the work." He offered and Hiromi had a look of the cat that caught the canary.

 

[Seras]

The next morning I woke up to stare at the sunlight coming in through the armored blinds and just wondering what the hell I had done.

I wasn't being sarcastic either.

The fact was, going up on stage like that was a fundamental change to what music was to me. Before I had done it purely for my own relaxation, and now? Now it was something more, maybe something I wouldn't be able to control.

I shook it off and got up. There was no use in worrying about what was already done. I had a lot of work to do today.

Getting dressed I headed out, and straight towards Lizzies. While Nox had been at the Red Dirt last night, I hadn't decided whether I would do this or not then.

Honestly after sleeping on it I still wasn't sure, but I knew I should. That it was silly to be so embarrassed about my playing in front of a crowd.

As I pulled up to Lizzies, I frowned when I didn't see Rita, which wasn't unusual. I would have liked to talk to her about everything though, get some of her big sister counsel.

I entered without any trouble, and headed down to see Judy.

"You're here early." I commented as I entered into her little sanctum, seeing her working her way on a computer already. Honestly I had just expected to do another drop off.

"Huh? Oh, it's morning. Been here all night." She finally replied, blinking at me with a face that spoke of lack of sleep. "Haven't seen you in a while." She offered and I winced, at the judging tone.

"Yeah, I haven't had any BD's that I could let out… And I guess I've just been focused on my own stuff… How are you? Edit any interesting XBD's recently?" I asked as I moved into Judy's basement. Settling on a chair.

She gave me a look of amusement at my question. "None that I'll share with a kid." She offered and I couldn't help but laugh. True enough. I wasn't very interested in hearing about her weird porn.

"I have a BD… This one is a bit different than before, so I'm not sure. How much would it cost to have this BD edited, for like… Personal stuff?"

"How long is it?" She asked instantly all business.

"Oh… Um… Just over twenty minutes?" I offered, trying to think how long each song took.

"Hmm. Alright, I'll do it, but it's not gonna be cheap. What's it about?"

"I did a gig." I answered back, and Judy blinked at me.

"That doesn't explain anything."

"Oh, not that kind of gig. I did a music gig. I played on stage. It's the BD recording of it."

"What? Let me see!" She demanded and I flushed at her interest.

"It's not that interesting." I tried to demure, but she wasn't having it.

"Sure it is. I liked your other music. I pulled a copy of Inner Universe and listen to it sometimes." She answered, back.

"What why?" I said almost strangled, and she just laughed at me.

"Cause it's a good song you gonk. Besides, it's interesting knowing the person who wrote a song. Alright, I'll edit this one." She waved at me, and I pulled the shard free.

She took it and quickly inserted it into her system looking it over.

"Some interesting emotion patterns on this one."

"Well, I was pretty nervous."

"Not really seeing that, emotion profile shifts rapidly… Were you singing the emotions of the song?"

"I guess?" I answered, I suppose I had done that. When the song was sad, I was sad, when it was angry I'd been angry.

"Huh. Alright this'll take a while. I won't be good company while working on this. Want me to call you when it's done?"

"Sure!" I stood up smiling at Judy's offer. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

"Eh, it's fine. It'll be nice to edit something that isn't hardcore fetish shit." She offered and I flushed a little at her words.

—---

When I got back home, I was surprised to see Jun and Akari together. Considering the last time I had seen Jun wa with Alice, and Rita.

But something was wrong. Jun was brooding in his stupid bad boy way. Something was wrong. "Hey Akari. What's going on?"

"You remember Yuto?" Jun asked after a moment, and I felt myself frown.

"Your choom. The one that got out of prison."

"He went through with it." Jun said as if that should explain anything to me. "He tried to murder Kisaru. He flubbed it though." He explained and I shrugged.

"Okay?"

"Motoko. I'm his friend. Fujimura is already getting some questions on if I'm involved."

"Okay? But you aren't. Tell Fujimura he tried to get you to help but you said no."

"Motoko. Just being involved in plotting to kill a higher up in the Claws is enough to lose your head. I should have told Fujimura as soon as Yuto asked me about it. I didn't. Which makes me part of it."
"Shit. Stupid fucking gangster politic bullshit." I cursed then I realized that Akari was here. "And Akari is here to help?" I asked, only to get a flinch from the woman, who had kept her face onto Jun this whole time without shifting.

"Not exactly." Jun explained, my confusion must have been obvious as I turned to Akari.

"I'm Jun-Boys Guard dog. Bark bark." Akari cut in. Her voice was decidedly flat. "If he tries to help Yuto, or I find proof he was involved… I'm his killer."

The next moment I realized I had activated my Sandevistan. Without thought, pure instinct I had moved. A threat to Jun. I reacted to neutralize it.

I slammed into Akari, faster than she could react, knife flashing, it was only the woman's own sandy activating that kept my knife from plunging straight into her eye.

It was the only weak point in her chromed out skull to get to her brain and kill her instantly.

The mental calculus was processed without a thought, without higher thinking.

It was only Jun that kept me from drawing my Burya and finishing the job as Akari struggled to keep my knife from plunging in. He grabbed me from around my chest, seemingly purposefully holding tight against my holster so I couldn't draw it as he dragged me away.

I slumped a bit in his arms, but mostly to make him think I wouldn't struggle.

She had threatened Jun. So she would die. Simple. Life was really simple sometimes.

Then Akari started laughing.

"Oh fuck! I forgot how much of a crazy little shit you are! Is that a sandy? You got one! Haaaah! How fun!" She offered despite still being half splayed over the couch.

"Motoko. Akari doesn't think I'm involved. She told me what she was ordered to do, and we were trying to figure out what to do when you came home. I trust her. She isn't going to hurt me." Jun whispered to me, but I only had eyes for the threat.

Then to my shock, Akari actually raised her hands up into the air.

"Not about to kill Jun-Boy. He's too cute to kill."

"My brother isn't cute. He's a burrito goblin." I told her bluntly, and then wiggled. "Let go Jun, I won't kill her." I told him, and when he didn't release me I looked up at him and glared until he finally released me.

I sheathed my blade and looked between the two. There was a moment where Akari was staring at me, and we both had a silent understanding.

My threat ranking had just gone up substantially in her eyes, and there was actually a bit of fear in her motions now.

I wasn't the cute kitten scratching her, I was a big cat with capability. It changed our relationship in a way, but that was for another time. It's not like we were that close.

"So if you just do nothing and Yuto gets caught?"

"Then probably nothing." Jun offered smiling, he patted me on the head. "But, if Yuto manages to kill Kisaru? I don't know. I told Fujimura I knew about it. I'll probably pay for not speaking up." He mentioned, and I glared.

Not acceptable. Stupid Yakuza bullshit. I didn't want Jun to have to injure himself for these fucks.

"Then why don't you just hire Section 9 to track him down. I'll even give you a family discount." I offered and Jun looked like he was considering it but eventually he shook his head.

"Motoko. I owe Yuto. More than I can say. I refused to help him with this… But I can't… I don't want to catch him. I know what'll happen if we do." He answered truthfully even with Akari right there. "I hope he realizes this was stupid and leaves. Maybe if he gets out of Night City… I doubt it though. Yuto was always a dumbass."

Jun sounded fond when he said that which only made this more uncomfortable.

Cause I was honestly considering taking care of this problem. Then Jun looked at me, and despite being blank faced, Jun somehow knew what I was thinking.

"Motoko. Promise me to leave this one alone. It's fine as it is, and I won't be part of taking him out. I owe him too much for that."

Was Jun reading my mind? I looked at him with an intense stare, imagining throwing out his Burritos and he didn't flinch or glance at the fridge.

Yet somehow he knew what I was thinking!

"Stop looking at me like that. It's creepy." He demanded and I looked away. Okay, he hadn't gotten mind reading powers, yet how had he known?

"You two are still a riot." Akari commented, looking more at ease. "Aaah I missed this, Little Killer, you should join us more often. I'd love to do some work with you again. You little monster." Akari uttered, but I scoffed at her, and ignored her words.

"Maybe I'll talk to Fujimura about this. I don't like it." I muttered, but Jun just dropped a heavy hand on my head.

"Don't worry. That's my job." He said and then to put word to fact he turned and settled back on the couch nearly instantly turning back into his brooding mode…

Dammit, now I understood. Akari hadn't been brooding alongside Jun when I got home. She had been staring at him while he brooded, just enjoying the view.

Ugh. Jun's bad boy vibe was so dumb, cause I knew how many burritos he ate in a day!

"Promise you'll tell me if something happens." I demanded and Jun nodded.

"I promise." Then he waved me off, returning to his brooding over his choom.

Ugh.

I headed into my room.

—--

*Judy: Don't worry. You won't need to pay. Nox and Mitsunashi both wanted to sell it. It's ready if you want to pick up a copy.*

I blinked at the message, as I was tinkering a bit with a quick hack. I wanted to try and get more functionality out of my net hacks, so I was tinkering with them. The only reason I was getting anything done was my Inspired Programmer. I was literally using the inspiration the perk gave me as a distraction from what was going on.

Then I read the message and knew something was wrong.

*Motoko: What? No, I just wanted a copy for myself, it's not for sale!*

*Judy: Too late for that Nox already picked it up, looking eager.*

*Motoko: JUDY!*

*Judy: Sorry not sorry. It was… Interesting.*

I jumped up and called Nox.

*Motoko! The BD is noooova!*

*Stop! You can't sell it!* I demanded, but then to my horror Nox scoffed.

*Sorry. I already got orders from Mitsunashi. Full production is underway. You'll have to talk to her.*

*It's my BD!* I demanded.

*Heh. Sorry Motoko, I agree with the bit-Hiromi this time. This has got to get around.*

I hung up on him and called Hiromi.

*Motoko! I'm so-*

*Call Nox and tell him to stop! You can't sell my music gig BD! Hiromi!* The line went silent for a minute.

*Motoko? But it's amazing! A live concert BD? Sure there are a few out on the market, but these are brand new songs, and they're good!"

*Hiromi…*

*Motoko, if you really don't want it to spread it around, I'll stop Nox… But can you tell me why?*

*I don't want people to see!*

*People already saw during the gig. You did great!*

*But… But!* I stalled out. I didn't have a good reason not to do so other than I was embarrassed.

I was embarrassed because… Why?

I don't know, but it still made me uncomfortable.

*I'm not comfortable.*
*Is there something I can do to make you more comfortable with it?* She asked and I paced around my room for a minute. Then I took a deep breath, and let it out.

No. I was anxious about nothing.

I took a breath.

Instantly my discomfort disappeared. As I forced myself to feel calm.

*No. It's just my own anxiety about the whole thing. Music is personal to me, me playing it I mean. A BD with me murdering Scavs or something I don't mind… Is it weird that's sort of how I want the world to think of me?" I asked, almost laughing at the idea.

*No, it's very you." She said with a laugh. *But I think this is a good thing. Motoko you've got amazing talent. I want to hear you play more. I want to see you up on stage, and have thousands of people cheering you on. I think you can do it, and I'll do my best to help! I want to help.*

*I don't really see myself as a Rockerboy Hiromi.*

*Then maybe you just need to expand who you think Motoko Kusanagi is, because last night, up on that stage, that's what I saw.*

I didn't have a good riposte for that.

*Motoko, it's just a BD. You've even done music BD's before.*

*It's fine. Go ahead Hiromi. I don't really see any negatives from releasing it. I'm just uncomfortable with the whole thing, but it's nothing but nerves. I've already taken the step onto the stage. I shouldn't… I shouldn't run away from the aftereffects.*

*Nova! Absolutely Nova! I'll take care of it! I'll make sure you don't regret this!*

*I already do.* I teased, but I honestly wasn't that bothered anymore. I had made the decision, and that was that.

Now, I just wanted to get out of the house and do something active.

Ending the call after a few moments of goodbyes, I rose up and started grabbing some gear.

—--

I fired half a magazine before realizing it wasn't what I wanted. I was at the range, and wanted to shoot some guns to distract me, but the silencer was sort of ruining it.

There just wasn't the loud bang I needed.

I paused, taking a moment to unscrew the silencer from the Lexington, and then putting it away in my holster, before lining the gun back up and firing.

The rapid fire retort of rounds flying was much better, and I soon fell into the rhythm, using the sound of the gun shots to stop thinking about music.

This was the music I wanted to share with the world.

Round after round, target after target. Until finally the alert I was waiting for came through.

*100 Reflex XP Gained*

*Reflex Leveled up!*

No wait… I had been trying to level my Handguns to 8! Not Reflex to 9!

Not that I was complaining, but that wasn't what I was working on!

My own exasperation disappeared in moments as I luxuriated in the feeling. I felt looser, quicker, my body felt more able to respond to what I needed it to do.

It felt great.

Still, I was pretty close to a handgun level up… I raised the pistol and started firing.

When I burned through all of my magazines, I took a moment to reload, and fired again, until they were all empty. With that I ran out of the ammo I had brought with, and went to the owner of the range, and bought more.

Fired again.

It felt good to let Cold Blood take over and just feel nothing as I fired over and over.

It was interesting that Cool was a rather subtle stat. It had been pretty high level for so long I had forgotten how it felt when it changed.

Rank 10 Cool.

It wasn't that I couldn't 'lose my cool.' I could still get upset, I could still get anxious, and not want to deal with something.

But the moment I decided. The moment I decided to stop letting my emotions control me, it was like everything changed.

I was in control.

It felt good. One of my favorite things the system gave me, and something I often didn't think about as time went on. It was simply a part of me. Experience, and surety of self that didn't override who I was, but was simply an additive. Something I could fall back on.

Just like someone could practice controlling their anger and still fail to follow through with their practice when the moment came.

—--

I didn't go home after the range. Instead I made a call and went to my netrunner cave.

Thankfully the boys responded, and before I even arrived Malcolm and Ichi were both hanging out downstairs.

"You guys got here fast." I mentioned as the elevator opened, and both of them were camped out in the chairs food strewn about them.

"We were already meeting up to get some food." Ichi explained as he stuffed some chips into his mouth.

They were definitely chips. Yep, couldn't see what it was exactly, definitely. My eyes could magnify my vision? Don't be silly, why would I do something so simple to look at what Ichi was eating.

"Well thank you for showing up. It probably won't be too exciting? I just want to get some more practice in, and maybe offer some services. See what interesting things I can get offered up in exchange."

"Hey, it wasn't the most thrilling thing I've ever seen, but it was still interesting." Malcolm replied.

"And I haven't seen the Combat Zone thing. Malcolm told me about it, but I'm interested." Ichi added.

"Thanks boys." I said earnestly, and then nodded. Settling into the chair I closed my eyes and then opened them on the net.

I checked everything as I noticed Tachikoma's digital avatar wandering around, seemingly much more capable of determining if something was new or not.

It was evolving. Slowly but steadily.

 

[Seras]

I stepped down into the bright light of the netrunner club, waving a hand at the woman that was seemingly just watching the door. She didn't bother to look away from her file but I knew she had seen me regardless.

Walking inside I quickly found a booth and accessed the system, taking a look at the battle that was currently being shown. It wasn't anything special, but I knew Ichi would enjoy it as I kept half an eye on that screen, so he could see it, while I opened up another part of the system.

A chat layer.

There was a main discussion, and then sub chats, for offers, and discussions. Many of them were battle requests, or sales, and purchases of things that were needed.

While I waited, I browsed through what was being sold, and what was being asked for.

Unfortunately it didn't seem like anyone really used this place for programming help. But I did see a few interesting offers on netrunning equipment.

*So who do you think is going to win?* Ichi asked me, and I looked over at the battle screen for a moment.

*Hard to say.* I admitted, although I did pay more attention to the battle since it was giving me plenty of ideas on how a normal netrunner battled.

It reminded me of why I was really here.

I started checking the battle request section, searching. I had just battled whoever I wanted last time, but I was here for a reason.

I found it.

A netrunner looking for a battle, that was a well known for using Daemons. Exactly what I wanted.

I smirked as I sent the request, and waited a bit before it was confirmed, Our battle would be three more down.

*I got a match.* I told the boys and settled in to wait.

St33lSister huh? This should be fun.

—--

An hour later I left the arena with a bit of a wince.

St33lSister had not been happy to deal with my sort of netrunner shenanigans.

I had gone into this battle for two things. One, some experience to level up even more, and two, a test to see how long I could remain completely out of sight against someone that was considered actually skilled.

I uh… Hadn't kept in mind this was supposed to be a fun game, and what happens when gamers stop having fun.

St33l had spent the last two minutes cussing me out in broadcast over the entire arena before retiring.

Definitely going to have to offer an apology to the woman.

But on the other hand? I had killed a lot of Daemons. She had summoned a custom version of the hound daemons, and then backed them up with an array of IMPS and Soldier types.

She was a one woman army. Of course it wasn't extremely efficient, she was obviously using the battle as a way to show off her daemons. Something I had only realized after I had spent thirty minutes tearing through her summons, and forcing her to keep resummoning them.

I had turned the Digital Jungle into a death trap for anything that walked inside, and St33lSister wasn't happy about it.

I kinda was though.

With my HEAT bullet hack, I was taking out Daemons very quickly, with very little RAM usage. The real trick had been keeping out of sight as I continued to mulch her little army.

Two levels.

I had killed over a hundred Daemons, and gained two levels from this battle alone. When I exited the arena, I looked around for St33lSister, but didn't see her unfortunately. I felt kind of bad, but at the same time it had been so incredibly profitable for me I couldn't help but want to do it again.

*That was awesome.* I sent the boys reconnecting as I once more took a seat around the club. I noticed I had eyes on me, but no one had come to talk to me this time.

*That was kinda boring to me, but it was still cool.* Malcolm offered, trying not to offend.

*It was cool for the first bit, but eventually it was just kinda there. The other runner got pissed, what happened?*

*Well normally you aren't really supposed to just kill the Daemons over and over like I was. I was sort of being weird.*

*Motoko weird? Never.* Malcolm responded back and I promised myself I would slap the back of his head when I left the server. I considered joining another session, and started looking through the network. There were a few that used Daemons, not nearly to the same extent though. But as I sent out a request for a match each of them denied me…

I think I might have over done it a bit.

—--

After realizing I wasn't getting any more matches today, at least not without putting up some sort of anty to drag someone into it, I logged out.

The boys were happy to eat on my dime, but eventually we split up. I went back to the netrunner cave while they headed off doing whatever boy things they got up to when Hiromi and I weren't around.

I wanted some peace and quiet to get my stats figured out.

Two level ups was a lot. More than enough to get something good.

But I had made a promise, one for adaptation, one for levels, now just to figure out what I should upgrade.

I was tempted to put another point into my ODA Neural link, but the first point had cleared up most of the constant issues.

Instead I dropped one into my Sandevistan.

Despite being such a high adaptation, I didn't really have any day to day issues with the Sandy. It was just a chip after all, and I wasn't using it constantly.

But turning it on was an issue, if not for my ability to heal so quickly, it might have been dangerous just to use it.

Dynalar Sandevistan Mk.2 *Adaptation Dynalar Sandevistan 1/4*

One point was added, and then I added the other stat point I had free into my Intelligence.

Intelligence 13 (14)

The only issue here, was that I was getting close to maxing out my available Cyberization. I would need some more chrome that enhanced my netrunning to be able to level it higher.

Which only opened me up for more adaptation costs and the spiral continues.

Either way. The points were gone, and I still had lots of skill points.

I dropped another point into programming. Programming 13. I couldn't help but hiss as the knowledge flowed into me, it was so much the density of the information actually made me stop and take a moment.

There were structures, on structures. Tricks, and pathways. Digital understanding that could write code in a way a human mind couldn't reach, and I was starting to touch on it.

The Tachikoma might be a solid seed for a mortal created AI, but what could it do, if I created it fully as a digital entity?

Could I ever understand the ocean better than a fish could? Could a human ever understand the digital sea, as well as an entity born into it?

But it was possible. I had taken another step closer to being able to do it.

Eventually I shook it off and stood up from the couch, pacing around a bit just to let the feeling of my brain filling up cool down. I walked to the fridge, opened it, ignored the many burritos and grabbed a soda, taking a drink of it, and letting the cold liquid ground me.

I was okay, that had just been a lot. I couldn't believe how much more I was gaining in programming. I had thought myself a master when I hit programming 10, but now? I think I was only a master of one way of looking at the programs.

There was a whole other frontier to learn about.

Once my head stopped buzzing, I used a second skill point.

Breach Protocol 12. Technically I could level it again, my Intelligence was 13 now…

I hummed as the knowledge flowed into me. I would take a rest, get some food, do some other things and then put another point into the skill. I hadn't leveled it up to max like I should have last time I really thought about my stats, and it was too important to not keep maxed out.

Satisfied by my improvements so far, I decided to get some other work done.

My 3D printer was set up, and I went to work, grinding out some more grenade cases for now. It wasn't anything special, but it would keep me occupied, and help me level up while I let my brain cool down.

—---

I got a bunch of Crafting and Tech ability alerts, but no level ups when I was interrupted by a phone call.

*Hey Hiromi, what's up?*

*I got it! The armor for Rebecca! I put in an order through the Arasaka channels, and finally got confirmation! Well… Technically Papa ordered it, but it's in! I even got an ECM package, although this one is a Kang Tao version not the Militech system. Will that be okay?* She chattered away excitedly and I felt my own grin spreading at the news.

*Yes! FInally! I've been waiting forever! Yeah that should be fine! Okay! Meet me at the Netrunner cave. I have my equipment here. Have you called Rebecca yet?*

*Okay! No not yet.*

*Alright I'll take care of it. You're the best Hiromi!*

*Hehehe!*

We hung up and I made a call to Rebecca, it took a few rings before she finally picked up.

*Yo. What's up Choom?*

*We got your armor in! I'll need you so I can fit it to you.*

*Wait what? What armo-Oh shit. I thought you guys forgot!*

*Nope! It's just taken a while to get in! Can you meet me?*

*Ah, my brother has the car right now. He's the least known in Maine's crew, so they got him doing supply runs now.*

*Okay. How about I pick you up?*

*Yes. Sure! Definitely.*

I grinned at Rebecca's excitement, and headed out. Hopefully I could make it back before Hiromi did.

—--

I arrived at Rebecca's home parking out front and waiting just a bit before she came rushing out. Her jacket flaring out behind her, and instantly I noticed she wasn't the exact same as before.

"New chrome?" I asked, and she grinned, flexing her arms for a minute, even if I couldn't really see through her jacket.

"Got some quick change mounts!" She offered, as she pulled down her jackets sleeve and showed the seam along her upper arm.

Something that was familiar to me from her design in the future.

"Interested in different Cyberarms?" I asked, smiling despite already knowing the answer.

"Hell yeah choom! Gonna get some big beefy fuckers so I can properly control all the kick." She said, holding her hands in front of her as if holding an HMG, and holding the recoil.

"Preem. You know what you want yet?"

"I have a few ideas. I got my eye on these older Militech Cyberarms. They're absolute monsters. Pre Gorilla arm, but they do the same shit." She went on and on, about the chrome she wanted as I started driving back to the netrunner cave.

It was hilarious that I knew exactly what she wanted, and what they would look like in the future.

It felt kinda nice as Rebecca and I chatted, about chrome and things we wanted in the future.

And not once did she bring up Sasha. I wasn't sure if I wanted that conversation or not, but she avoided it.

Instead something more interesting came up.

"Fucking Pilar, that-Ugh! If he wasn't my brother I'd blow both his knees off."

"So he took the car without even running it by you?"

"He does this shit all the time! Any time he wants it he just takes it! Never bothers to let me know. It's not like I didn't put eddies into that thing!" Rebecca grumbled, arms crossed as she leaned back in the seat, her feet rising up to barely rest against the dash.

Rebecca really was smole.

"Why not just get another car?" I asked, I mean. It wasn't like it was hard?

"Rides cost eddies choom." She replied back with a snort and then I opened my mouth and closed it and then when we came to a red light I stopped and looked at her.

"I got this car for free by murdering the previous owner. Hell we sold dozens of vehicles to Dakota. If you want a car Becca, we can just go get one. Like… It's easy." And then as my smile shifted into something wicked I leaned over. "The corp's don't want you to know this, but the cars in the badland are free." I said, barely holding myself back from laughing. "I have a bunch of cars at home."

I didn't actually have cars at home, but a meme was a meme.

Rebecca blinked at me with those big red cybereyes, and then just burst into laughter. "What? That's crazy choom, the Nomads get pissy about their rides, you know!"

"Not if you flatline them first, hard to get pissy when you're dead… Well, yeah, they piss themselves when they die, but that's neither here nor there."

"Heh. Well if it was that easy I would totally do it." She said, still giggling at my offer, which is when I decided right then and there, that it was in fact happening. As we drove to Straight Lane Apartments, I sent out a text to Hiromi and the boys letting them know the problem.

Pulling into a parking lot down the street, I guided Rebecca inside, all the while explaining to her what this place was, and telling her the story of how it became mine.

"Wait, your Choom bought the basement of this place?"

"Technically? I don't know if she has the actual deed or anything, but I control the elevator access, and no one else can get in unless I want them to."

Rebecca looked around in interest as we entered the apartment complex, and headed towards the elevator.

"I'd uh, appreciate, if you didn't tell anyone about this place? The less people that know about it, the less I have to worry about someone trying to kill me while I'm netrunning."

"Yeah, course. I won't tell anyone. Promise." Rebecca offered as the elevator doors closed and I smiled down at her in thanks.

Then the doors opened to a party.

"Motoko!" Hiromi cheered as Malcolm, and Ichi were already here as well. The three of them already half dug into cartons of food.

"Hi!" I greeted and hurried out of the elevator, heading straight for the case. I flipped it open, and started scanning checking out the Arasaka armor in the same style that we used. It didn't take me long to go through it, checking it over and noting happily that everything was there.

In fact it was in the same condition our armor had been when we first got it, right out of the box.

"Satisfied?" Hiromi asked, and I nodded at that.

"Very! Okay Becca! Before you get comfy, come here, I need some measurements!" I called out, noticing that she had already taken a seat and was digging into the food the boys had brought.

The fact she looked like she fit into the picture only made it better! Steal the smole girl!

I grinned at the thought and then stood up holding the chest rig up. "Let's see what I need to adjust past what it already comes with."

—---

While everyone settled in to enjoy themselves, I went to work.

Rebecca really was small, and this armor was not made for someone her size in mind. Even the adjustable straps would have left the armor swallowing her.

Not exactly efficient. So I would need to cut it down heavily, and then re-adjust where the armor padding would cover.

But honestly, it wasn't bad. I had a full scan of it from my Kiroshi, and a model of Rebecca, and I could easily use the Arasaka CAD software to compare the two, and make the digital adjustments.

I even got a Technical Attribute alert from making the changes!

Then I got to work cutting, between my 3d printer, and my own knowledge of crafting, I actually made the adjustments pretty quickly, under the interested eyes of my chooms I cut, and burned, reshaped the armor, re-used cut armor to alter the shape and in the end came out with a chest rig that when Rebecca put it on, it actually fit,

"I did alter the adjustment straps, so if you need you can mess with it a bit. Also, the arm sections are heavily adjustable, so when you get those new arms of yours they will still attach." I offered to the girl with a wink as she was checking herself out as shifting left and right noticing the fit.

"Damn, this actually fits really good." She whispered out surprised and I just laughed.

"Of course it does! I wouldn't make something that didn't fit you! I still need to work on the rest of it, but this piece is done… Mostly. The ECM hasn't been added, or the lights needed to run it." I explained ticking off points on my chrome fingers for what still needed to be done.

Rebecca just whistled, and the rest of the chooms smiled.

"Anyway! That can wait until after though!" I explained and my chooms all smiled like sharks as the plan we had been cooking up while I worked was brought forth.

Hiromi had called Dakota and Saul, Ichi and Malcolm, had kept Rebecca distracted, and I made her armor so it would fit.

All so that when I was done, the plot could happen.

"Huh?" Rebecca asked, looking around at everyone's smiles that were maybe a bit too shark-like.

"So Becca, you doing anything for the next… twelve hours?" I asked, and she blinked a bit in surprise at that length of time I requested.

"No?"
"Perfect." I added, and then all my chooms rushed off. They would have to get their own stuff after all.

Time to go Raffen Shiv hunting.

Poor Rebecca just didn't understand yet.

 

[Seras]

"Ugh. This is why I don't go out of the city. The sand is fucking everywhere." Rebecca grumbled. We had taken a pit stop a few hours into the drive to let everyone hit the bathroom if they needed, and poor Rebecca got the worst of it.

"Well you aren't supposed to press your ass into the sand." I joked back, and she glared at me.

Rebecca's squeals as she had lost her balance while out squatting in the desert had gotten me to come running, only to break down into a laughing fit when I found her on her back legs in the air after falling over.

"Fuck off! How much longer anyways?" She grumbled at me, arms crossed, but it wasn't very threatening, more cute.

"Not too far. Dakota gave us the exact info. Seriously, these Raffen should know better." I offered back. The gig was easy enough. A small band of Raffen had kidnapped the daughter of some rich woman in the city. The stupid girl had come out to party in the badlands, and the Raffen had gone through and took everyone mid party to ransom them back.

But this girl's parents were more interested in sending a message, than sending eddies.

Which worked for me.

I waved at Hiromi who waved back at me. The whole crew was moving on this gig, just in different cars, but this time Rebecca was with me instead of Hiromi. Ichi once again was stuck driving the truck as we headed out.

I wasn't sure how much loot these Raffen would have, but I was going to find out!

"All done?"

"As done as I can be." Rebecca grumbled, as she climbed back into the car. Then we were off. Our little convoy continued on. As we moved, I went over the information Dakota had given me. Like normal the Raffen had taken over some old buildings in the desert and were using it to hold their hostages.

Technically the gig only cared about the one girl, but I planned on cleaning up the entire group, and so I would have to worry about the hostages as well.

I had come up with a plan that I think would work, and this time it really would be mostly about me.

I would go in first, infiltrate, find the hostages, and then secure them, then once I was done, I would call it in, and the rest of the team would move in, and all together we would take out the rest of the forces with me working as netrunner support to ensure the hostages wouldn't be harmed.

As we turned off the main road, and onto a dirt path I kept an eye out for our contact. Dakota had been keeping an eye on the Raffen for the last three days after the kidnapping, she had been putting together a team to rescue the hostages, but hadn't taken care of until we had shown up.

Seriously, I was going to have to talk to her, she could have let me know about this gig without us reaching out.

Or more likely I knew, I needed to talk to Hiromi about setting up a fixer connection. If Hiromi was talking to all of them, or seeing what gigs they needed done, she could poke me about good gigs and Section 9 could take them on.

I was lazy when it really came down to it. I had plenty of eddies, and not a lot of things I was planning on buying so I kept putting off taking more and more gigs.

Which thinking about it was rather stupid. I did want to get a Full Body Conversion at some point, even with all the politics involved in that level of Cyberware.

Stupid full body restrictions. Blah blah had to have someone vouch for you, blah blah.

I'd probably just put in the paperwork saying I worked for Hiromi and that would be that. One of the benefits of having a choom so into the Corpo network.

I slowed and pulled off, seeing the man sitting at an old bus stop with a dirtbike that was our contact.

"Alright we're here." I muttered, and Becca perked up. Looking suddenly excited.

"Finally! I was waiting for this!" She cried and stepped out as soon as my car stopped. Really I was going to have to talk to her about the seatbelt thing.

I stepped out and noticed Malcolm's car pulled up behind us. The rocket launchers on the top of the thing always distracted me whenever I saw them.

Stupid dibs, that was supposed to be my rocket launcher car!

Ichi's truck pulled up behind that, and Hiromi behind him.

"You lot… Section 9?" The man asked, and I felt my face brighten into a smile before I calmed it, and went stone faced.

"We are. You are Milton, Dakota's contact." I greeted him in turn as I approached him. "Where is the compound?"

"It's an old farm house. Just up the road. I've never been in it before, but from what I was able to gather, it has a basement. That's likely where the hostage is." He explained, sending over some fairly basic data about the insides, but brand new pictures of what it looked like from the outside and above.

The man must have a drone or something.

"Alright. We'll take it from here, unless you have anything else?"

"Nothing that Dakota wanted to pass along." He offered with a shrug, and then just settled back into the bus stop. Feet up on the bike. Relaxing back as if planning on just waiting to see what would happen.

I thought about commenting, but it wasn't worth it, or important.

"Alright, suit up!" I called out as I turned, and I got nods from everyone besides Rebecca, who looked confused, before I smiled at her, and took a moment to pull out the case of her armor from the trunk right alongside my own.

"Suit up." I told her and she looked a little hesitant, as she took it. "Hiromi and the boys can help you get it on." I told her.

"Don't stress about it, it's pretty easy once you get the hang of it." Hiromi added as she walked over to help.

"Yeah sure. Can't be too hard." Rebecca admitted, sounding more sure of herself.

"Alright go ahead and arm up as well I'm going to head in first." I told them already, pulling on my chest rig, strapping it in, as I started securing my weapons and equipment.

Everyone got to it. Hiromi walking Rebecca through suiting up, it thankfully let me focus on preparing.

Attaching the silencer onto my Copperhead, I nodded as it was secured. Time to get to work. I made the call connecting everyone together and then headed out into the desert.

These guys wouldn't likely have any sensors in the desert, but I would still be heading in alone on foot, so I could try and find out before we got closer.

Stomping through the desert once again I wanted to laugh to myself at how often I found myself sliding through the sands outside Night City. The Raffen just couldn't help themselves, and I guess they were an easy target considering how rarely they would go into Night City. Low risk, high reward.

I controlled my breathing, moved cautiously, and let myself fall into a rhythm, checking everything as I stalked closer and closer. Soon enough I crested a ridge and could see the farmhouse, and the cars surrounding it in the distance. Staying low and hiding in the shadow of a bush I sent up to date information to my team, marking the cars to focus on.

More interesting was that I couldn't see any defenses, this place didn't even have cameras set up that I could see.

Moving over the ridge after making sure no one had eyes on me, I moved closer and closer, lining up with a section of the back side of the farmhouse that didn't have any windows. I approached closer and closer, until I quietly leapt over the fence that surrounded the property.

*I'm in.* I confirmed to the team. There was no hesitation, this wasn't my first, infiltration. I followed along the back of the house until I was on the shadowed side, Then slowly peaked in through the armored windows.

It was a Kitchen, and it was empty so far that I could see. Taking a moment I gathered as much about the layout of the house as I could before moving on.

I didn't trust the window guards to not squeal if I opened them, so that wasn't my entrance. Everything was so old and rusted, that I would have to worry about noise, which meant the front was the best access point.

Sliding along the wall, I peaked around at the cars. None of them were on, but with their Crystal Dome it was impossible to tell if someone was inside them with their doors closed.

This would be so much easier, if I could get eyes on someone and just ping them.

Slipping through the shadows, I crouched and made my way to the front door. It was unlocked, and an old style door, instead of one of the electrical doors that were so popular in Night City. I crouched up to it, and slowly opened it, peeking inside.

The front hallway was empty, but I could hear sounds of a TV playing. Obviously these guys had gotten some power going. I slipped inside, closing the front door silently behind me.

I felt the cold flow through me. Time to move and find the hostages. The assumption was they were downstairs, but this farmhouse did have a second floor as well.

I'd check down, but have to be careful about what was above me.

Sliding along the wall I came to the first opening. On the right the hallway opened into a living room, where the sound of the TV was coming from, and there was a small door to the left to the kitchen I had seen before. Further down the hall was a few other rooms, and stairs up.

Where was the basement entrance?

I prepared myself and peeked around the corner into the living room.

Instantly I engaged my Sandevistan.

The couch was facing the doorway, the TV was up against the wall I was against, and there was a Raffen sitting on the couch drinking a beer.

I moved, even as his eyes widened in surprise at seeing me, my knife came out and before his voice could make a sound I chucked it, the knife moved through the air like it was in slow motion.

Then it crashed into the man's throat. I was right behind it, the metal cut off his cry of alarm, as I grabbed the hilt of the blade and jerked it out, tearing his throat out and silencing him permanently.

My Sandy turned off and I pushed the man down into the couch so he would bleed out into it, instead of on top of me.

*100 Blades XP Gained.*

*500 XP Gained.*

I waited, listening urgently for any noise. A ruffle, a cough, the sound of a boot on flooring.

Nothing.

I released the corpse and turned up the TV a bit. Unfortunately I hadn't pinged him before the murder so I was still going in blind. Idly I noticed my Sandevistan didn't feel too bad. It was still warm, but that was the actual chrome's heat, and not my nerves on fire. I shifted my neck a bit as I I checked the room. I felt good.

My eyes roved over the room, before I noticed that it had a strange shape. Instead of being square or rectangular, there was a harsh angle in the corner. The same corner that would be across from the stairs up.

I think that was where the basement access was.

Heading back out of the living room I moved quietly down the hall, Copperhead raised. Knife was quieter, but if things got bad I was ready to fire. There across from the stairs, was a door, and as I gently opened it up, I found the basement stairs.

*I found the basement. Heading down now, move in.*

Then I slowly went inside, testing each step to make sure none of the construction creaked as I slipped down. It wasn't dark though. No, the lights were on, and as I headed down I heard it before seeing. The sounds of quiet crying.

I slipped farther down and caught sight of the situation.

A large basement, well lit, with a pile of teenagers tucked into a corner sitting on the floor.

It looks like they had been given access to a small bathroom nearby, but that was the extent of their comfort.

Then there were the Raffen watching them. One guy was sitting at the base of the stairs in a big chair with a tactician.

No one saw me yet as I was just peeking through the small gap where the stairs left the ceiling. I quickly breached into the Raffen, and then when that was done, sent a ping through.

The golden light branched off and I noticed that he wasn't alone. There was another light leading near him in a corner of the basement I couldn't see.

Two of them.

Then another three lights upstairs.

I connected the information into the network with my chooms, so Section 9 would have the information on where the Raffen were.

Now what to do?

Even silenced my Copperhead would make noise. A bullet smacking into concrete tended to make noise…

Then again the hostages would make noise when I appeared as well. They always do.

I gave myself four seconds to come to a decision, and in the end got up and moved bouncing off the stairs so I landed at the bottom skipping everything in between, and giving the Raffen no time.

Sandevistan activated, and I once again felt the warmth on my neck, but it wasn't as bad. Then I moved. I back flipped, landing on the back of the large chair, behind the first Raffen, my knife slipping into and then out of his throat in a single motion as I kicked off again, bouncing off the wall I saw where the second Raffen was. A couch settled into a corner facing a TV although it wasn't on this time.

He was just starting to react, as I leapt, his eyes dilating, in slow time as his brain registered the movement. Registered that something was there. Something dangerous. The adrenaline spiked, his brain sparked, but it was all far too slow. I landed on top of him bodily pushing him into the couch for a second before simply stepping away, his throat now ripped open leading his life to trail out over his dirty shirt.

Sandevistan off, a burning fire up my neck told me I was at my limit.

*500 XP Gained.*

*100 Athletics XP Gained.*

*500 XP Gained.*

I almost laughed at the odd XP. I guess doing backflips counted.

Focusing on the hostages, who were also just starting to react and raised a hand to where my lips were hidden under my helmet.

A single finger telling them to be quiet, I didn't move for a few moments letting them all register what was happening and see my motion.

It mostly worked, a few gave squeals of shock at the sudden death, and at my appearance, but the ones that were smart shushed their fellows and soon the entire room was quiet again.

Taking a few quiet steps forward I returned to the stairs and waited, my directional microphone pointed upwards, trying to catch anything.

It was quiet. The three lines of light leading above didn't shift. Nodding, I turned to the hostages.

That… was more people than expected.

I had thought we were talking about four or five, but this was more like twenty hostages stuck down here. I ignored them though, instead focusing back up the stairs as I could hear the sounds of vehicles approaching.

Section 9 was here.

I felt myself grow a sinister grin as I raced back up the stairs, setting up at the entrance to the basement with my Copperhead pointing towards the stairs.

I could hear the Raffen upstairs tumbling around hearing the sound of approaching engines that weren't their own.

And I prepared myself.

"LET'S GO! Ahahahaha!" A familiar voice rang out and suddenly a roar started up. I could hear the rounds slamming into the second floor as Rebecca opened fire with the Ichi special.

Ichi had set up the behemoth for a quick mount of his HMG's. So of course that would be where Rebecca ended up.

I could hear the hostages below cry out in fear at the sound, but they were completely safe. The HMG was firing up into the second floor, I could see the golden lights flicker out as the HMG rounds punched straight through the old farmhouse.

In the end, two of the lights flickered before the HMG went silent.

*You know it's a pain in the ass to reload those things right?* I asked over the line as I raced upwards.

*Aw, C'mon! Do you have any idea how long I've been wanting to let loose with one of these baby's! Militech's Mark thirty-one, is practically my dream! Aaaah! I want to keep firing! Ichi! Reload! Pleeeeease!*

*Not a chance. I'm safe in here. Armored Cab.*

*Alright, alright, clear comms. I'm going after the last one.* I offered back fighting my desire to laugh at Rebecca's cherry sweet pleading towards Ichi.

Malcolm had rushed in as soon as the guns stopped and formed up behind me as we went upstairs. Might have to talk to him about getting some Lynx Paws, he was a bit loud, but it didn't matter.

We found the last Raffen hiding in a bathroom that somehow had kept the rounds from reaching him.

He died quickly enough with a couple shots of the Copperhead.

*500 XP Gained.*

—--

"This is a mess." I grumbled as I grabbed what was left in the fridge the Raffen had stored up and took it downstairs. These kids weren't just from one kidnapping. It was more like three. The Raffen had the bright idea of setting up parties in the Badlands and then coming in and kidnapping anyone that had eddies.

So some of the kids had been stuck out here for more than a week, and the Raffen weren't doing a great job of feeding and watering them.

Made worse with the fact those that were still here after a few days meant their parents weren't able, or planning on actually paying the ransom.

Why waste food and water on dead kids after all?

Fucking Scum.

"Alright, I got some more food here." I called out as I stomped down the stairs. Technically we were only here for one person, but I wasn't so cold that I would leave these people to die.

Malcolm was actually doing a damn good job playing hero, having gone downstairs to check on them, he had worked to get them all comfortable, getting them food and water.

More than a few of the teens closer to our age were making doe eyes at the big damn hero.

It was cute.

On the other hand…

As I walked down, there was a sudden tenseness in the atmosphere. I guess my cold blooded murder of the two Raffen had left an impression. None of the teens seemed brave enough to want to interact with me.

"Thanks." Malcolm offered, grabbing the food and drink from my arms and starting to pass it out.

Ichi had already commandeered Rebecca, and they were going through everything they could find for loot. Although I had noticed Rebecca giving the vehicles outside strong looks.

I already knew which one she would take too. There was a nice Archer Quartz that she had been keeping an eye on. The little two seater would fit Rebecca perfectly.

Either way I was more focused on helping Malcolm.

After the food and drink was handed over, Malcolm continued to act as the face, calming everyone down as he assured them he would get everyone back to the city without any issue.

Eventually everything calmed down. I found our actual target, and sent a picture to Dakota confirming rescue.

She would be sending a truck to pick her up, and then the rest of the kids were our responsibility if we wanted to do something.

I headed back up, to check in with Ichi, who didn't look enthused.

"We aren't getting much out of this one Motoko. The vehicles, a few things of value inside, what they were wearing, and that's about it. They didn't bother to set anything up here." He explained as I met up with him and Rebecca searching through the old rooms.

"Eh, can't win them all. It's fine we did this mostly for Rebecca anyways." I offered shrugging, and the girl looked up as her name was called, before looking a little pleased.

"Thanks Choom." She offered and I smiled back at her before remembering I was wearing my helmet still. Taking it off I gave her a smile in return.

"Alright, find what we can, and load it up in the other vehicles first. I think the behemoth is mostly going to be full of our friends downstairs."

"Dakota isn't going to take them?" Ichi asked, and I shook my head.

"Apparently she was only paid for the one, and doesn't care. They are our responsibility." I answered back with a grumble. It would have been a lot easier if we didn't have to transport twenty two people.

"Well at least we'll have room?" Ichi said looking around the room and the complete lack of loot piles.

"Yeah, alright you two finish up, I'm going to make sure we have water for our friends on the trip." I headed back out, and went in search. It's not like I could use the taps. The water was awful, so I would have to find something else. There was probably an old SCSM somewhere.

 

[Seras]

"Alright, everyone up. Slow and steady now." I called out as we were guiding the people into the Behemoth. There was an understandable hesitation in wanting to enter the massive truck.

"Hey, it's alright! We'll be heading into Night City to drop you all off, it's not like there are buses out this far yeah?" Malcolm called out, reassuring everyone as he even ran up and climbed onto the back of the behemoth. "I'll be in the back with you. Come on. Let's go home!" He shouted and that got them moving.

I shrugged. Malcolm had done a better job than I had in getting the hostages to relax. He jumped into the back of the truck with them, to be their contact as Ichi started up the truck. I would drive my Quadra, Hiromi would drive Malcolm's car. And Rebecca?

I looked over and blanched.

"That is not what I expected you to pick." I whispered to myself Rebecca had not jumped into the Archer Quartz, the little two seater that I thought she had been eyeing.

No, she had jumped into a massive Thorton Mackinaw. The same truck Panam drove, only Panam was normal sized. Rebecca looked like a kid while sitting in the drivers seat, but I couldn't deny her massive grin was rather telling.

I walked over and climbed up to see what she was up to. And I laughed as she was working on the switches and things on the dash.

"Trying to figure it all out?"

"It's a lot!" She argued, flushing a little embarrassed at her confusion.

"No worries. That one is the Crystal Dome Opacity. That one is the wheel differential. That ones the scanner." I started, and each time I waited for Rebecca to play with the switches to get a feel for what it did.

"That one I have no idea. Some custom option probably." I offered and of course Rebecca flipped the protector on the steering wheel and hit the switch.

The roar of two machine guns built into the front of the truck went off and absolutely destroyed an old shed next to the farm house.

We both went silent for a moment.

"Ffff-AHAHAHAHAHAH!" Rebecca broke into horrendous Goblin laughter as she realized her new truck had weapons.

"Of course it has weapons." I mumbled, why did my Quadra not have weapons!? I should attach weapons!

"This is awesome!" Rebecca roared out and I couldn't help but smile at her.

I was just happy, she was happy.

—--

The trip back to the city wasn't too bad. We had to stop a few times for bathroom breaks for the hostages, but Malcolm had stayed with them specifically to be able to reach us in case something like that was needed.

Ichi didn't want someone peeing in his truck.

When we all reached the city we released everyone at the first bus stop, which while half were relieved we weren't kidnapping them, the other half complained about us leaving them on the edge of the city and not driving them all home.

Pretentious little shits.

Luckily no one pushed past complaining and we were soon on our way. The small bits of loot we had gathered would be dropped off for Hiromi to sell, and Dakota had already taken the other vehicles we had left behind, adding a bit of eddies for the gig.

More interesting though was Rebecca.

We had given Rebecca a monster truck.

"I kinda regret everything now." I mumbled, as I watched her drive off, nearly driving over another car that was driving too slow.

Rebecca was splitting off to get her car painted and registered. And then she had said she really wanted to show it off to her brother.

In the end I was pretty happy with how everything had worked out.

Dropping off the loot didn't take long and twenty minutes later we were all gathered up at Lizzies for an after gig party.

—--

After the party I headed home. Flopping onto my bed and passing out for the night. I woke up the next morning without much to do, so I ended up settling onto the couch and messing around with some Quick Hacks.

There was a lot that I still wanted to work on, my netrunning resources still weren't complete, but the fact was, a lot of the high end stuff I wanted to do was out of reach still.

My mind often ran back to the Laughing Man, from Ghost in the Shell. The ability to in real time hack into someone and change what they were seeing.

The Major even used it to make herself invisible in a later episode, but the complexity of something like that was beyond me. If I wanted invisibility I would need to somehow hunt down some Optical Camo, which was basically impossible to find. It was a cyberware that was rarely put out on the market, as it was highly coveted. Any stealth solo wanted Optical Camo.

Imagine a thief that could go invisible. Of course they would want it.

Unfortunately I would have to take out some Arasaka ninja, or Militech hitman to get my hands on it at this rate.

So since neither option was reasonable, I was stuck doing something else.

Currently I was cleaning up another request from Yoko. Someone wanted a skeleton key to a network. Basically, they didn't have a netrunner good enough to breach into the system themselves, but they still needed to get in.

That's where I came in. They sent the data to Yoko, and she passed it off to me, as a test.

Well, really it was more that she just didn't want to do the work I think. But it was alright. She promised me some favors for the work, and it wasn't really hard.

I knew exactly where the security system was weak, and with a bit of work, I had a quick hack that was small enough even some rezzer could breach through the system.

I sent it off to Yoko, but only after sneaking a little bit of code into it, that would basically blow confetti into her face when she opened the file.

She might have thought it was slick to send along a Daemon into the information packet she had sent me, but I was pretty sure she wouldn't catch my little present until it blew up in her face.

I could only hope she was around other people on the net when it happened.

Stretching as I rose up from the couch I noticed Jun was missing. Him and Akari had been disappearing together a lot recently, but it was all because of that little shit that tried to get Jun into trouble.

Jun might not want me tracking him and killing him, but I swear if Jun had any further blow back over this nonsense, I would hunt that little shit down. Old friend or not.

I was just thinking about going out and grabbing a bite to eat when I got a call from Hiromi.

*What's up Hiromi?*

*Motoko! Okay, listen! You need to turn on the radio! Right now! Go to Growl FM! 89.7! This is huge! Aaaah!* She squealed into the phone, and suddenly I felt… A disturbance.

*Hiromi, what did you do?*

*I talked to a ton of people! Radio now! It's almost time! Ash said it would be coming up next!*

I blinked, because… What station was Growl FM? I don't remember it from the game, was it gone by then? Then because I knew what I was going to hear, I glanced over to the radio and flicked it on with a quick breach.

"Of course that doesn't mean Biotechnica are innocent in this. The Securicine reveal will be a black mark the corp may never recover from. Or from their last stock prices, they already have. That's the truth of the game folks. Anyway, here is an amazing amateur track that was played last week at a little dive called Red Dirt. I want to introduce the whole city to Ghost in the Shell, and this will be, Smells Like Teen Spirit."

I need to sit down. I stumbled over and managed to flop into the couch as my song started playing.

I could hear Hiromi chattering away in my ear, but I was too shocked at what was happening to properly hear her.

My version of Nirvana was on the radio and Hiromi had set this up. It was a copy of the BD track. I could hear the distortions of the club, people chattering and talking and singing along in the back.

It was like a live track almost. Well, the quality wasn't all there, too much deterioration from the mediums, but it was… Okay.

It was okay.

I'm okay. This was okay.

Right. If I told myself that, I would believe it…

The song finished.

"So that's the first track that was played, and I'd say the artist Ghost? Ghost in the Shell? Apparently it's the whole thing? Whatever, it's nova. I liked it. I'll probably try out the other tracks from this set as well, quality isn't great, but that's the name of the game with our pirate station isn't it? Anyway, let's switch over to something a bit older."

I flicked the radio off.

*-Believe she agreed! I talked to Judy, and she talked to Rita, and Rita apparently knows Ash, which I guess should be obvious, she is a Mox after all. So Rita put the-*

*Hiromi.*

*Motoko! You are still there, I was starting to get worried you know?*

*Hiromi.*

*Yes?*
*I honestly don't know whether to cry or scream at you right now… I'll talk later.* I hung up.

Then I flopped over into the couch and screamed into the cushions.

—---

A few hours later after ignoring phone calls I had told Hiromi to meet me. The fact was I didn't wait for her to come up though.

The moment she had parked her car and headed the the elevator I was inside, as the doors opened she startled for a moment seeing me right on the other side of the metal doors.

"We need to talk." I informed her, and then hooked my arm around her elbow and tugged her inside.

"Wha-Motoko, hey." She muttered before realizing I was smiling at her. "I'm sorry I didn't ask before going through with it, but I was put in touch with Ash, and it was a one in a million chance! I had to accept…" I didn't answer as the elevator started up without me pushing a button.

As if I hadn't hacked into the building security and had my own overrides by now.

The elevator ride was quiet as Hiromi seemed to realize I wasn't responding and she started fidgeting.

Finally the elevator reached our floor and I dragged Hiromi along, her faint resistance no where near enough to slow me down, before I entered the apartment and finally let her go.

Then I started pacing, not even heading to the couch.

"What the fuck Hiromi?" I demanded, and she jerked.

"Wha-I, I just wanted your song to get big!"

"That's not the problem here." I told her. "You know I'm uncomfortable with this, I only agreed to the Red Dirt gig because… I think I was ready for that. I was ready to try it, and see how it worked, but this… I wasn't ready for this Hiromi. You pushed past my boundaries and you didn't even ask."

She opened her mouth to respond before closing it. "I know. I didn't ask, because if I did, I knew you wouldn't be ready for it, and the opportunity would be gone. So I just… Did it. I knew you'd be mad… But I hoped I could convince you this is a good thing. An opportunity like this was huge."

"I'm not mad it's on the radio Hiromi, I'm mad you did it behind my back! I trust you. Completely. You handle all my eddies practically, and I never second guess, or check to see if you are cheating me or something, because I don't have to. Because I trust you." I told her, and my words had their intended effect.

Hiromi flinched, her face paling a bit as I stopped pacing and just stood in front of her, glaring at her until the overconfident demeanor shifted into the real Hiromi.

"I just wanted to… I wanted to be your manager, and get your career started, and… I wanted it." She slowly whispered out, and I nodded.

"I know. Your desire to keep pushing for more is one of your cute points." I admitted, then I stepped in to wrap her in a hug.

Honestly I wasn't that mad. Not really, not about the song on the radio. My words had been the truth, I was more hurt Hiromi would do this behind my back, despite knowing I wouldn't be okay with it.

But I also knew that Hiromi wasn't perfect. She made mistakes just like I did, and she wasn't trying to be malicious.

She was just fixated on improvements, and growth, and sometimes that blinded her.

"Hiromi. You're one of the few people I trust completely. I don't, no, I won't break that over something like this, but… I hope you'll treat my trust with a bit more gentleness from now on." I told her, still hugging her tightly.

"I will." She whispered into my neck, hugging me back tightly.

"Great. Good." I nodded and stepped back. "You're my manager after all, I don't think I can find a better one, especially one that I can actually trust, so… We'll have to make this work."

She nodded her eyes watery, but not quite falling into tears yet.

"Okay. Okay. So, my song. On the radio." I started pacing again. "You said, they wanted a studio version? Ash?"

"Yeah, she said the live version is okay, but if you want it to really blow up, we need a studio version." Hiromi spoke softly, her voice gaining strength now that I wasn't letting what happened come between us.

"Fuck. I don't know if I want to do this." I muttered still pacing.

Okay Motoko, cost benefits. The costs are, people might start knowing me. The benefits? Eddies? Hiromi will get more experience dealing with high end deals with something I don't really care that much for.

If someone tricks us and ends up with lots of eddies or something, I'll just let it go, or kill them depending on how bad it is. The benefits of my wide range of skills.

So…

"Okay. Let's set up an appointment for Denny's studio?"

"I can do that." Hiromi confirmed with a fierce look on her face, excitement filling her now that I had accepted.

I watched as her eyes flashed gold as she started making a call and I kept pacing for a while. I never expected this Rockerboy thing to get this big! I was just doing it for fun, and I mean, sure hearing my own voice on the radio had been…

Well It was kinda flattering, and cool. If horrifying as well.

But was this what I wanted? Rockerboy Motoko? I considered it, Cold Blood flowing over me for a second. I wanted to think about this without a single emotion getting in the way.

I had decided to become a merc because eddies, and because it seemed to be the right path. I liked it. I enjoyed the challenge, and the growth and the killing. As fucked up as that was.

Music? I enjoyed that too. I liked it, it was a rush, and fun, and it was the only way I would be able to hear some songs that I missed.

So was I going to try it out as a career? It would take a lot of time away from… Well… I blinked, realizing my schedule wasn't limited by anything. I mean eventually I was planning on getting a Gemini, and with my healing, and with technology improving, I might end up living for a very very long time…

I looked down at my hands. They weren't shaking or moving, I didn't do that anymore thanks to the Cool Nerves perk, but even without it I don't think I would be showing any signs.

I would do this, see how it goes, let Hiromi push it as hard as she could and in exchange I would spend some time, make some music, and if it doesn't work? I just go back to killing like normal. Who cares if I succeed or fail?

The fact that it didn't matter, that I didn't need to be anxious about trying out a new career, that its success simply didn't matter?

It was kind of freeing.

"Okay! I got a slot in an hour, all paid up-"

"Hiromi." I cut in, causing her to stall out and stare at me wide eyed as I looked at her confidently, hands on my hips. "I've decided. We aren't going to play around with this. Let's hit this hard. I'll start doing songs, you start pushing it, and I'll even do some more gigs. I want to see how far this Rockerboy thing can go."

"Oh my god." Hiromi whispered her eyes practically had stars in them considering how excited she looked at that moment. "This is going to be the best!"

I nodded. Glad I still had my best Corpo in my corner.

 

[Seras]

"A deniaaaal!" I hit the last note, letting it sound clean and clear.

Technically I didn't need to do much work to get a studio clean track prepped for radio release. I had technically done it all before, but if I was going to make an official track I wanted to spruce it up a bit. This would be the version of this song everyone considered as the official one after all.

So I took some time and cleaned everything up, using the instruments in the rental room to make sure all the songs sounded as good as I could make them.

Then with Hiromi watching eagerly I created five copies on five shards.

"There." I told her, as I handed them over. "That's the best I can do-"

"It's amazing! You're amazing Motoko! Now it's my turn. I'll talk to Ash again, but maybe I'll try to contact Morro Rock as well!"

"Okay. Whatever you think is best." I decided and Hiromi perked up at my acknowledgement.

Nope. I wasn't uncomfortable. It was fine. If everyone started noticing me, I'd just change my face or something… Laughing man hack to make myself look like someone else. Boom. Problem solved.

Nodding at that, I decided since my job was done to go celebrate.

Hiromi and I split up, she was going to track down Ash, and try to get the songs on the air, while I decided it was time to do something completely different.

I pulled up to the Deravaja Dojo and stepped out nodding at how there were plenty of people around. Walking inside, I headed to the back and found Sensei as usual standing on the Tatami glaring at people until they did better.

He noticed me with a glance and then I enjoyed the fact he gave me a sort of double take with just his eyes as I approached his side calmly.

"That corner. Forms."

"Understood Sensei." I agreed easily. I was here to grind. Blades 7 was a disgrace especially since my Reflex stat which governed it was already at 9.

What kind of ninja was I with a low Blade skill?

I grabbed one of the shinai and found the corner he had ordered me to, and fell into the forms, moving through each movement with a cold blooded focus.

—--

*100 Blades XP Gained.*

*Blades skill level up!*

I nodded, as I finished the forms, taking a moment to breathe deeply. I had earned the level up half way through, so I had used the rest of the forms that I needed to finish under Sensei's eyes to adjust to the new knowledge. It felt good. Great even. I felt better, just with that one level up, proof that I was improving myself. Blades 8 was a good level.

"Musashi, you are against Kusanagi." Sensei suddenly called out and I looked over, the man really did have good timing. I had just finished the warm up, now time to put it into practice.

"Huh? I don't see the Oni." A young man called out, looking around in surprise. I took a moment to look him over. He was in a Gi, and I could tell at a glance, he was good with the Shinai he held in one hand.

He was definitely one of the main students of the Dojo.

"Sensei was talking about me. Motoko Kusanagi, Jun is my brother." I offered as I approached the man and he looked me over for a moment.

"I remember now. I've seen you around before." he greeted, as he looked me over. I could tell there wasn't much awareness in his eyes. He knew nothing about me, and didn't seem to care. But a moment later he shifted, giving me a small bow which I realized was actually the start to the bout. Musashi didn't care much for talking apparently.

I returned the bow and then he engaged bringing up his Shinai and moved, his feet barely leaving the floor as he rushed in.

Parry guided me in, locked my blade on his strike and forced it down, away from me. It didn't surprise him, or even make him hesitate, a moment later he continued on shifting his blade up and in a strike that I deflected back with a firm guard, and gave him my own swipe, which he seemingly disappeared from taking a few very fast steps back to dodge it.

This guy wasn't a joke. He was damn good.

Then he was back in, blade swinging and I let myself go on the defensive. The boy was good. Not overall as good as I was of course, definitely not as good on the defense especially, but he had a good enough foundation, and a reach advantage I found myself either needing to take risks to attack, or just falling back on the defense.

Stupid tall idiot.

Why does everyone have to be taller than me? I wasn't that short to start with! I was going to master the blade and cut everyone down at the knee so I was the tallest! I shook off the silliness and grew cold to focus on the battle in front of me.

Once more his attacks became relentless using his reach to strike in ways that if I was any less skilled would hit me, but I could hold him off, but couldn't push forward. Then I noticed something amusing. I was in better condition than he was, his relentless attacks wore on him, and his breath was coming out harsher and harsher.

If I couldn't defeat this incredibly skilled guy outright, then I would just let him wear himself out and defeat him that way.

We continued, and I could watch as his frustration mounted, his continued failure forced him to try new moves, angles, He suddenly shifted, locking blades, and trying a trick to disarm me.

It wouldn't have worked, I know how to disengage, but he had made another mistake on top of that, so I decided to punish him for it.

He twisted, and it should have ripped the shinai from my grip, only my wrists were chrome. My entire wrist spun around, and since he had left himself open, I bonked him on the shoulder as I returned to my guard.

"Musashi. Fight your opponent, not who you want your opponent to be." Sensei called out and I could see the white hot rage flow up the young man's face, his neck, then cheeks, then ears all went red.

He took a few steps back and shifted back into a stance showing he was ready for another round.

"You're quite skilled." I offered, and instead of actually being taken earnestly, he very quickly lost his cool. I felt my amusement flicker into irritation, as he didn't even wait for any further acknowledgment before he rushed forward.

Striking in a flurry, using his height and weight to try and batter through my defenses. He gave up completely on anything but force.

But this guy was no Darth Vader. I deflected, and since he was going to be like that. I decided I would purposefully taunt him now. I started getting showy, parrying his blade away with a twirl, my shinai flashing in front of his eyes, before resuming my stance, to show how little he was pushing me.

Musashi, seeing me taunting him as he continued to fail, completely lost what little was left of his cool, and at that moment, I struck. My blade slammed into his wrist, and then I moved, angling my blade in and around and when we disengaged, his shinai came flying out of his hand. The same move he had tried against me, but against him it had worked.

He didn't curse, or do anything like I expected as I caught his blade and offered it back to him.

Just stared at me with a blank face as if everything that he expected had shifted.

"Kusanagi, forms." Sensei called out and I slumped. He had seen my flourishes and stuff to piss off Musashi and was punishing me for it.

I offered the Shinai back again and this time the young man took it, but he didn't thank me for the match when I offered my own. I shrugged and hurried to the corner to get the glare of Sensei off my back.

I watched out of the corner of my eye as Sensei pulled Musashi aside, and after a few quiet exchanges, I watched a glare be sent towards my body from the young man.

That could be trouble later.

—--

Taking a quick shower at the dojo I was heading back home. The exercise had actually done a good job of taking my mind away from the whole Rockerboy drama.

Thankfully I was feeling better about it once I came to the realization that if it failed it was literally a none issue.

So stopping for food, I headed home and came into the apartment with a bag of take out smiling a bit as Jun was there, along with Akari.

"I got food!" I called out and Jun grunted from the couch, but did look interested as I walked over with the bags and started putting everything on the table. "Hungry?" I offered Akari and she looked at me for a minute before breaking out into a smile.

"Sure, I can eat."

"Something going on?" Jun asked me and I smiled at him a little.

"Good and bad I guess. Hiromi went a bit crazy. You ever listen to Growl FM?" I asked, and Jun shook his head.

Which was obvious, it didn't play enough Us Cracks or other pop.

"Sometimes." Akari added and I settled onto the couch.

"Hiromi talked to Ash, the host and she played some of my songs." I explained and Jun suddenly started coughing having been half way into a box of fried rice already that apparently he started choking on.

"Hoo? That's pretty interesting." Akari offered, but Jun, after coughing and banging on his chest, looked to me in shock.

"Seriously!?"

"Yeah. I chewed Hiromi out for doing it without my permission, but it's done. I spent most of the day at the music studio making studio versions of the songs I played during the Red Dirt Gig, so Hiromi is probably currently calling up every radio station to try and get them played."

Suddenly I was swamped by massive arms as Jun lifted me right off the couch and started spinning me around.

"Motoko! That's amazing!" He shouted up to the ceiling, utterly pleased as he spun me around over and over.

"Okay enough! Put me down! Grrrr!" I growled as Jun continued spinning me seemingly refusing to let go. Before I finally started kicking a bit to show I was done and he let me back onto my feet.

"Will they play your song again? If they do, I want to hear it." Jun offered and I just scoffed.

"If you want to hear it, I'll just play it, or give you a shard or something. The current version doesn't sound great, since it's from the live show."

"I still want to hear it." He argued, going to the Radio to turn it on. I turned to Akari and rolled my eyes.

"Heh. Don't worry little killer. Jun-chan is just happy."

"I know that." I Responded back grumbling as I settled in, watching Akari reaching over and snagging all the good stuff out of Jun's meal…

I allowed it. Punishment for spinning me around like that!

"Any news on Yuto?" I asked, Akari quietly as Jun fumbled with the radio. His trouble not at all because I was purposefully fucking with the channel select making him go past the correct channel every time he tried to go to Growl FM.

Definitely not.

"Oh? Interested in hunting him down, little killer? Want to add another to your score?"

"I don't keep track, that would be tedious." I answered truthfully as I ate some food. "But you are still hovering around, and you aren't doing it just to hang out with Jun, you still have that air about you. Like you are here because you were told to."

"Hah! You have sharp eyes as ever! Yep. I'm still guarding your bro. But I've told Fujimura-Sama that nothing is going on, so I'm mostly here to cover Jun now, in case the Sushi shows up and tries to talk to him again."

"Sushi?" I asked, not sure why she used that word.

"It's what we call guys that are dead men walking. Uncooked, but still dead. Getcha?" She asked and I snorted at the term before nodding. Yeah I get it.

"Well that's certainly a visual." I muttered, but Akari just grinned at me.

"Motoko! They aren't playing your song!" Jun whined at me, and I gave him a bland look in response.

"Jun, my songs aren't the only one the station plays."

"It should be!"

I just rolled my eyes as I settled in to finish eating. Jun spent most of the meal bothering me about my music.

Stupid Oni-Chan.

—--

"Wow, you do need practice." I told Malcolm as I stared at his electronic score at the shooting range.

"Oh come on!"

"Yeah Malcolm! You need practice!" Hiromi teased beside him as her own score was much more respectable.

"Yeah Malcolm." Ichi joined in as well with a smirk that Malcolm almost punched him for. Ichi hadn't even done a round yet.

"You three are a riot." Rebecca offered standing in her own lane, her Ajax in hand as she was reloading it. Rebecca had definitely been more… Eager, than even Hiromi, but it didn't mean she was actually more accurate. Of course Rebecca had also fired all of her rounds in seconds, where Hiromi had plinked down the range.

This whole chain of events that led to all of us gathered at a gun range for practice had been simple enough. Malcolm had mentioned to me after meeting up with him for lunch that he felt like he needed more, to really act as a Solo, so I had invited him for a range day.

Then since range days were fun I had invited everyone else too.

I hadn't intended on inviting Hiromi because of school, but she had found out somehow and had decided this counted as a Section 9 activity so had joined us.

Honestly I just expected she wanted a break from class, but I didn't call her on it, I could understand being frustrated with a classroom.

"Rebecca, how quickly can you reload that thing?"

"I mean… Fast enough?"

"Get a few mags together and try to work on quick reloading as you run out of ammo, okay? I can give you some tips for faster reloads as well if you want." I offered, miming the motion with my own Copperhead as I aimed it down the lane, and then dropped, the mag flipped the other mag on the table into the receiver without any fumbling and mimed firing again.

"Sure Kitten, I'd appreciate that." She said quietly, then turning it into a smirk as I pouted at her.

"Yeah Kitten." Malcolm teased jumping on his chance for revenge.

I turned to glare at Malcolm who just smiled at me, but Rebecca had my back.

"Don't need to hear that from you, Stick."

"Stick?" I interrupted smiling because the moment Rebecca had said it Malcolm went a little red.

"Oh he didn't tell you?" Rebecca asked with a smirk and I looked at Malcolm, my face straight just waiting for the story to come out.

"Oh no. I'm not saying shit." He grumbled and glared at Rebecca who just cackled at him, before turning to the group and looking pleased to share.

"Stick here tried showing off his baby to me, and missed the gear shift, nearly sent himself into a pole." Rebecca explained and Malcolm moaned as I turned to him to give him a look.

"Really Malcolm? Again?"

"Again!?" Rebecca asked before cackling even louder and Malcolm's ears were turning red, which meant it was time to stop teasing him.

"You've been doing that race practice?" I asked, and Malcolm perked up a bit.

"I have! I asked around and got in touch with a guy that sets up some street races. Mostly I've just been checking out the routes they take, and racing through them, getting used to my baby." He explained and I just smiled at him in turn.

"Just make sure you don't miss the 'Stick' this time." Ichi razzed him and then Malcolm actually did lash out punching Ichi's shoulder sending the other boy away with a wince as he started rubbing where he was struck. "Ass."

"You're the ass!"

"Boys, you're both beautiful." Hiromi added, having turned back to the lanes. "Besides Ichi, Malcolm isn't the only one with a new nickname." Hiromi added, and I looked to the boy who instantly faced away, but I was insistent, and eventually Ichi slumped. Rebecca was too busy giggling into her arms as she was doubled over.

"It happened when we were moving stuff, and uh. Rebecca was with me. I was distracted and didn't notice the speed bump." He explained, and Rebecca then finally cut in.

"Yep, So he's Speedbump, now." Rebecca offered, and I just laughed at his nickname giving Ichi a commiserating smile and then whipped them all back into firing down the lane.

 

[Seras]

"So there we are, Pilar, is acting like a gonk, and this borg is just looming over him. Pilar looks down to the electronic key he had to Maine's car and he says, 'Well you can't really blame me for this, your security sucks.' And Maine just glares." Rebecca spoke standing on top of the couch we were all sitting around at.

Somehow after the shooting range Rebecca had decided we all needed to party some more and here we were.

"Did Maine bash his head in?" I asked, and Rebecca started cackling.

"No, it's better! Maine looks down at the electronic key, and hits my bro where it hurts, he says. 'Your toy didn't work, so I can.' And PIlar the fucking Gonk, gets outraged. 'It would have worked if it wasn't for that fucking kid!' And points at Sasha."

I chuckle at the image of younger Sasha being a little shit as Rebecca continued.

"So Maine basically dragged Pilar to the car and forced Pilar to try again, and it actually worked! Pilar really did make a working hack key for Maine's car. So Maine decided if he could do that, he could do it for other rides, and so Pilar was brought into Maines crew." Rebecca explained and I laughed at the end of the story.

I looked over and saw that while I was interested in Rebecca's story the rest of my chooms weren't that into it. They were each distracted by their own thing. Hiromi had disappeared at some point, while Malcolm and Ichi had both been distracted by one of the girls on the dance floor.

I smirked at their very obvious stares, and the fact she was at least a few years older, and obviously not interested.

"How're they doing anyways?" I asked, trying to sound casual, as Rebecca took a sip from her drink.

"Same old. Sasha is getting more freedom, things are cooling down. Maine even traveled to the Afterlife to check in for some work. They didn't tell me if something came up though." She explained, but at the end I picked it up. A hint of bitterness.

Rebecca had been a bit squirrely about joining us for range day at first. I looked her over and she noticed before sighing.

"It's nothing. Just pissed that Maine is still treating me like a hanger on, and not a member." She offered, and I nodded at that. It must grind at her, to have us accept her so readily, and Maine still hesitates.

I would just have to keep offering her honey until she was fully a member of Section 9, and Maine could go jump off a bridge.

I nodded. Yeah, Operation Steal Rebecca was working out wonderfully.

Movement to the side caught my eye and I looked up to see Judy approaching suddenly.

"Hey, I heard you were up here." She greeted, and I offered her a smile and a wave.

"Yep. We are doing a celebration day. Hey Judy, how're you?"

"Tired." She decided after a moment and without a word she sat down. A drink in her hand earned her full attention for a few moments, and then she sighed as she finished. "I really liked your music BD." She finally said and I blinked in surprise at the response.

"Oh."
"So uh. Here." She said, pulling out a shard and offering it to me. I took it and realized with a quick scan that it was just my Red Dirt Gig BD on a shard. I looked at it in confusion and turned to Judy and she sort of sighed. "Would you sign it?" She asked, and I very slowly blinked. Forcing my eyes to close and then open to make sure this was reality.

"What?"

"What Music BD?" Rebecca asked, interrupting my own confusion as she stood up on the seat and peered over the table at what I was holding.

"I did a performance, like up on stage a while back." I explained, a little awkwardly. "I just played some songs, but I gave Judy the raws for my BD's and I scrolled one then." I looked up at Judy. "You want me to… Sign it?"

"Please." She agreed. "That thing is going to be worth eddies in a few years." She said surprisingly confidently and I felt a little odd.

"What?"
Judy just rolled her eyes at me. "Motoko, you have technical skill, and you're good at writing songs. You sing with emotion, you play well, you've made new songs, songs that aren't corpo trash. People are already starting to like your music." She explained and I just looked away awkwardly, which didn't help, but Rebecca was right there.

"Okay this I want to see. You mind letting me see?" Rebecca asked Judy, who nodded waving her hand. "Sure, but only if Motoko actually signs it." She said again, smirking at me, as I looked at the shard.

I breathed in and out.

"Sure." I said after a moment. It didn't matter. I took the marker Judy had and signed it, and a moment later, she took the BD and popped it into a BD case, and then pulled out a different one and handed it to Rebecca.

"Here." She offered and Rebecca grinned as she took it, and grabbed one of the BD wreaths that were all over the bar, and settled in. I watched as she slipped the shard inside and then as she slumped back into the world of the BD.

"You doing alright?" Judy asked suddenly. I looked at her in confusion and she looked a little bashful.

"Yeah why?"

"You looked pretty uncomfortable when I asked for your autograph. Figured… Nah it's nothing. You being careful? New artists can get in trouble in Night City. Especially ones that don't have backing to protect them."

I opened my mouth to blow off the question, but instead took it seriously. Breathing in and out I figured out what to say.

"I'm not extremely worried. Hiromi has good Corpo training. She'll see most of the traps coming… I hope. And it's pretty hard to threaten me physically. I'm confident in killing anyone that tries to make a run for me, unless they are absolutely top tier mercs… But yeah. I'm still a little uncomfortable with it I guess."

Judy nodded, sipping at her drink some more. "Well, I can't offer much." She admitted softly glaring towards the corner of the room which I followed her eyes and saw none other than Suzie Q. "Suzie's been pulling back on a lot of our work helping people lately. She'll just say you aren't one of us, so why should she offer to help."

"I appreciate that you want to help Judy, you've always been cool with me, even with all my crazy shit. Well other than when you sold my BD without asking." I said pointedly.
"Just don't dump another Only Thing BD on me without a fucking warning, you cyberpyscho…" She said purposefully avoiding what I said. "But just because the Mox won't help… Doesn't mean the Mox won't help. Maybe even as an apology as well." She offered, and I nodded, she was basically offering what she could, and I appreciated it a lot.

We both went silent after. Judy relaxing and enjoying her drink, and seemingly absorbing the atmosphere of the club, while I went back to watching the boys who had both been shot down by the girl they had their eye on. Both boys had deflated pretty badly when she had gone for some older pretty boy with a fake platinum chain, who was trying too hard to look rich.

Which is hilarious, because if the girl was interested in eddies. Ichi and Malcolm definitely had more, my chooms were loaded thanks to me.

Well, I looked over at Malcolm. His tendency towards expensive cars might mean he wasn't as loaded as he appeared.

Did my chooms have money problems still? We hadn't really discussed it much. I mostly let Hiromi handle money and I expected my choices to be good, but I was also weird about eddies, and Ichi had his Grandma, and Malcolm had his family…

I moved around the still Braindancing Rebecca and settled in next to the chooms.

"Hey guys."

"Motoko." Malcolm greeted with a grumble. The boy was practically face down on the table.

"Don't worry about it choom. She wasn't the sort of girl you wanted anyways." I offered, but Malcolm just sent me a look.

"I wasn't going to marry her Motoko." Malcolm replied, and Ichi and I both snorted at the same time. Ichi's failure as well, seemed to weigh on him less as he patted Malcolm on the back.

"It's alright Choom." He offered and Malcolm sighed.

"But we both failed. I really wanted to beat you." He whined and Ichi laughed.

"Not all bets work out." Ichi replied and I blinked at that.

"You guys bet on who could pick up a girl?"

"Well… Yeah?" Ichi said, blushing a little. "It was just a bro bet." He offered and I looked confused as Malcolm sort of faux coughed.

"It was just to mess with each other, Motoko. We would have teased whoever lost, but uh, We both did. Bummer."

"Well, I'm kinda glad you did. That girl looks like trouble."

"I wasn't going to date her either." Malcolm whispered into a sigh, looks like Malcolm didn't care if she was trouble or not.

We all relaxed, and eventually Malcolm perked up, returning to shooting the shit with Ichi, and girl watching.

I mean Lizzies was a BD bar, so I wasn't sure if this was really the best place to try and pick up girls, but boys will be boys.

"Woo!" Rebecca suddenly cried out and I jumped a bit reaching for my gun before relaxing. "That was NOVA!" She cried out jumping up onto the table as she pulled off the Wreath, I noticed Judy grabbing it and taking the shard a moment later.

Then Rebecca turned to me.

"What the hell!? You've been holding out on me, Strings!"

"Strings?"

"Yeah, you definitely ain't a kitten! You played those strings like a pro!" Rebecca offered and I smiled at the fact I had apparently earned an upgraded nickname before Rebecca flopped onto the table in front of me, staring me in the eye.

"Why didn't I get an invite huh? Your choom Becca wants to go to a fucking awesome concert you know?"

"Sorry." I answered back, but I was definitely a bit uncomfortable. Rebecca was a bit close. "I just didn't really want to invite anyone for it? It was supposed to just be a me thing, and someone invited Jun, and then it spread." I said giving a side eye to my chooms who looked away.

Rebecca glared at me for a moment longer before switching into a smirk. "Fine, I'll forgive you, but I get free tickets to all your shows!" She demanded and I just laughed back.

"Sure Rebecca. All of my many future shows that I'm totally planning." I said with a roll of my eyes. How many gigs would I really do in the future? Like… Two? I was really only doing this for fun.

—--

That night I spent a while working on the Tachikoma. Cleaning up more of its code, slimming it down again, making sure what it actually needed to know was saved while junk code was removed.

I was basically letting the Tachikoma tell me what it had learned through the day and then I was cutting or reinforcing the data to make sure it was accurate.

No Tachikoma-chan, Jun's head wasn't a good place to place the metal blocks. I literally have no idea where you came up with that idea…

Okay so I may have saved that particular data and might maybe use it later, but that was beside the point!

Random processes could pop up with decisions that I had to remove because they were absurd.

And so the night went. Tachikoma was currently inhabiting its actual shell, and I was pruning its decision making as I also sometimes took control, and practiced moving around. It was a good combo, letting me teach the Tachikoma directly what I wanted it to do.

I was idly listening to the radio as I worked, my mind a blur of programming meaning I wasn't really paying attention, until suddenly I heard it. A familiar set of chords.

The intro to a song that I was incredibly familiar with, because I had played those chords.

I turned away from Tachikoma, as Growl FM began playing The Pretender.

To hear Foo Fighters on the radio? It was nostalgic, it was… Nice. Even if I couldn't stop shivering at the sound of my own vocals.

That was me.

I listened until the song ended, until it moved onto another song from someone I've never heard of.

But… That was going to keep happening. I was on the radio now.

The sound of something falling over had me turn and I stared at the Tachikoma. I was still plugged into it, synced in, but I had stopped acting, so it had taken over its controls again and followed through with the instructions I had been giving it. The set of blocks were pushed off the edge of the table.

I let myself refocus, smiling at the little bot correctly doing what it was supposed to.

"Good job Tachikoma-Chan."

—--

The slap of fists into the padding was filling the air as Hayato and I went at it. I had woken up feeling like doing some fist fighting, and invited Hayato for a workout.

She spun, letting off a spinning kick which was pretty outside of her normal move set, as she usually didn't like taking her eyes away from her enemies thanks to her Keren giving her increased perception.

I could only assume it felt like a long time as you spun around that you simply had no idea what was happening.

I braced letting the kick land on my forearms, which if not for her shin padding she'd have felt it more than I would before, charging in to grapple.

"Nooo!" She howled rapid fire as I grabbed her and lifted her bodily off the floor before slamming her down into the tatami mats.

The sound of her breath blown out of her was my signal for victory.

I gave her a few moments to catch her breath before I had to tease her a bit.

"That was an impressive kick." I offered and she pushed me away with a scowl.

"You and your stupid defense! Moron!" She yelled at me, and even sent a faux kick from the floor that made me jump up and away laughing.

"That was a bad time to kick."

"It should have worked! You don't have a Keren, and you aren't using your Sandy!"

"You practically told me what you were doing. Your eyes kept flickering, and you were light on that leg, it was obvious you were psyching yourself up for a big kick."

"Ugh!" She hissed glaring, standing up and wiping some of her hair from her forehead. Strands sticking with how much she was sweating. We had been at this for a while. The two of us, going at it, and to my surprise Hayato hadn't cut it short like she had last time.

We were just pitting ourselves against each other for the win.

"You will have to tell me what make of Syn-Lungs you are using." She said, sounding a little out of breath as she stood up and resumed her stance.

"I don't have any. I'm still using my natural ones." I said as I retook my stance as well.

For a moment Hayato looked irritated, before it disappeared. But I still caught tiny snippet of her cursing under her breath. "-StupidExcercisenut!"

"Hayato?"

"Prepare yourself!" She shouted out and then charged, and we were back at it, blows coming in, once again I was on the back foot from her Keren's speed, giving her so much time to adapt and adjust for each of my blows, whenever I did go on the offensive, she was frustratingly elusive, slipping and ducking each blow as casual as could be.

I jerked back and she got a nice punch through smashing into my cheek, but I jerked with the hit and retaliated by grabbing onto her extended arm.

"Ohnotthisagaiiiiiin!" She yowled, as I gave her a nice hip toss sending her tumbling onto the mat, and once I had her down, her enhanced perception wasn't strong enough to stop me from pinning her again.

"This is supposed to be a match for good martial arts, not dirty grappling." She grumbled, and I just laughed at her.

"Grappling happens in every fight once you aren't in a ring. You'd best get used to it. Make sure it doesn't catch you by surprise. Besides, Jiu-Jitsu is a great martial art."

I ignored her grumbling as I let her up and once again she rose up to her feet to go again. I laughed and we went back into it.

Whatever had happened in her life to give her this much energy was pretty fun.

I just continued fighting, enjoying the slow trickle of Street Brawling, and Body alerts I was getting as we smashed into each other.

"Hayato-Sama." Her guard called out suddenly and I pulled back, I saw the flash of fury over the girls face before it blanked out.

"I ordered not to be disturbed." She spoke simply quietly, and actually slow paced. It told me she was honestly pissed.

"Forgive me Hayato-Sama. Nakagawa-Sama demanded I interrupt. You are requested at home." He offered apologetically even bowing to the girl as she glared and just breathed in slowly in and out.

"Very well. I will have to cut our match short." She told me, and I nodded.

"Till next time." I offered, and she nodded seemingly pleased that I wasn't upset at her sudden leaving. I took a moment to put our pads away in the storage chests around the area, and then headed for the showers.

A quick shower to wash the sweat away was enough for me to feel better as I left the dojo, I would have to come back again tomorrow for another match with someone. I really wanted to get my Blades and Street Brawling skills up. Relying only on guns was the hallmark of a bad assassin after all!

What was the movie again? Leon the Professional? Yeah that sounded right. Sure taking advice on assassination from Hollywood was a mistake, but it sounded right, so I was going to go-

I stopped. A horde of TC gangsters were sitting on my car. I took it all in, reading the body language, and instantly knew shit was about to go down.

What the fuck?

"Go on. Don't stop walking." A voice behind me had me turn and there was Musashi, and a few of the guys from the Dojo. All of them with live blades at their sides. Well now, this was unexpected.

I went to start hacking into everyone around me as I slowly turned to keep both groups in sight as if I was taking in what was happening and not already plotting to kill them all, when I felt it. A Netrunner was in their system protecting them. They hit me with the equivalent of an electronic slap, trying to push me out of the system and give me a warning that they were there.

I might be able to break through their defenses and attack, but I had no connection to them, even while they had one to me.

I was on the defensive until I could get them in sight. Thankfully they were attacking me, and I could back trace it easily enough. A line of golden light went through the walls around the Dojo. They were there.

"What's going on?" I demanded, trying to get some information about what the hell was going on, but Musashi behind me scoffed. He took a few steps forward that told me he was some sort of ring leader here.

"That is none of your concern. You will be coming with us. Perhaps if you are quiet, and do not irritate me, I won't get to enjoy showing you true talent with a blade?" He asked aloud, looking at the gangsters around us that were all grinning amused.

I glanced back at him and just had to wonder. What were these idiots thinking? I wasn't important to the TC, but I had connections.

"You realize my Brother the Oni, won't take this lightly. Nor will Fujimura-Sama." I spoke, and then to my surprise I was slapped. I had seen it coming. Musashi had telegraphed the move just fine, so I jerked my head as he struck to lighten the hit, but he still did it.

"Don't bring up Fujimura-Sama's name so casually. Your Brother is one of the reasons we are speaking. You will come with us. Moritaka-Sama commands it." He continued calmly, and I realized that Musashi for all his Samurai aesthetic was a dirtbag.

"If Moritaka wants to speak with me there are proper ways to do this. Are you sure this is how this needs to go down?" I asked, but I was already ready.

"You are nothing but a welp, and Moritaka wants to ensure the Oni knows his place. You will-"

I leapt bouncing well past Musashi's reach as he tried to reach out. I flipped, landing on the edge of the wall surrounding the dojo and then flipping inside, out of sight of anyone.

So this was about Jun? What he had done? Who was Moritaka? And most importantly… How many of these fools should I kill for this?

As I landed I faced a woman, early twenties probably? She glanced up in surprise at my sudden appearance.

And then I leapt forward pushing all of my power into a punch slamming her stupid face into the concrete wall behind her.

The golden light connecting me to the Netrunner that was trying to protect these fools cut off.

Getting your ass knocked unconscious will tend to disrupt hacking attempts.

I watched her slump, blood already gushing down her broken nose.

*250 XP Gained.*

So she was still alive. I ignored her and leapt again, this time just avoiding the first gunshot from one of Musashi's goons.

Looks like despite carrying blades they had guns too.

Screams of surprise from the vendors that surrounded the inside walls rang out, and suddenly it was a madhouse.

But I was leaping up onto the roof of the Dojo and from there I disappeared. Time to get to work.

 

[Seras]

'Musashi' Daisuke Smith

"Where the fuck did she go!?" He yelled out as he raced back into the walls of the dojo.

Fucking dammit. This was supposed to happen outside the dojo! Sensei wouldn't interfere, but there would be trouble after if they caused trouble here!

"She jumped on the roof! Misaki is fucked!" One of his chooms called out in Japanese, looking over Misaski was indeed fucked. The girl looked like her face was punched in.

Fuck. Moritaka was not going to be pleased about his Netrunner getting hurt.

"Find the bitch! Block the entrance, keep an eye on the walls. There is no way out except through here! Watch her car!" He called out and the men all nodded.

Musashi wasn't the highest ranked member in the TC, but his Grandfather was well respected, and that carried a lot of weight.

It was why he could take on the name Musashi and no one argued against it. He would live up to it regardless. Fuck all those fools that mocked him for his choice.

He would show the Tyger Claws his worth.

But first he needed to beat this girl black and blue… Maybe take one of her legs. She had already lost both arms, so what was one more limb?

If that Bitch hadn't tricked him and beaten him in the match in front of everyone, then maybe he wouldn't need to cut her to make sure she understood. He had only lost because they were fighting with stupid Shinai and not live steel!

Fucking Sensei. That old man didn't understand that a true Samurai needed live steel to show his true talent!

And fuck that little whore for mocking him! Him! She was nothing! A fucking street rat that was only allowed around because her brother was a weapon for the Kamikaze.

"Find her!" He yelled and his men ran off. A few were helping each other to climb onto the roof to find her.

He stomped around. Already he could see Sensei coming out to the front of the Dojo but with a look the older man took in what was happening and he stopped. He didn't interfere but his eyes went yellow as he made a call.

Tsk!

They needed to find her. Now, before Fujimura-sama was informed, and that fucking trash Oni showed up.

Moritaka-Sama would not be pleased if his desire to have leverage failed. Moritaka-Sama's son, Kisaru, had nearly been killed by some trash wannabe, and he was not pleased. The Oni had known, knew the assassin in question. Now Moritaka-Sama had plans to force Fujimura-Sama into something,, but it would all fail if they didn't have the girl!

What the fuck was she made of? Who just leapt over ten foot walls without trouble!?

Of course she had chrome, her brother was the Oni, but this was too much!

"Where is she!?" He yelled again but received no response. Only confused looks from his chooms as they hadn't found anything. "She's not a fucking ghost find her!"

*Is that what you think?* He stilled, nearly jumping at the voice in his ear. He glanced around in shock before calming realizing what had happened. A call had gone through his agent without even ringing, and the girl was talking to him!

*Give up, when we find you I will ensure you will not escape again. Surrender now and perhaps it will not be permanent.*

*That's cute coming from some nobody.*

*You dare! I am-*

*A dead man.*

"Fuck! Musashi! Brian is dead!"

"What!?" He cut the call and rushed over around the corner in the alley was Brian. Brian who was stupid, but good muscle. Musashi kept him around because the boy had no ambition. He just liked hurting people and that was good enough for him.

He was dead. Throat cut open and left in the middle of the alley.

"The basement! She went into the Dojo!" He yelled out, noticing some blood stains on the door.

"Can-should we even go in?" One of his men asked, and he scoffed.

"Let me handle the thinking, get the girl!" The boys rushed in to find her, and Musashi grimaced. This was already becoming an issue.

*You won't find me in there.* The call hadn't ended. He had ended the call, and yet it was still connected.

*You're a netrunner.* It clicked and he grimaced. That was bad.

*Oh? You didn't know that? No… No, I refused to believe you morons didn't do any research into your target before you tried to kidnap me. Maelstrom did more research when they tried it, are you stupider than a bunch of Maelstrom goons?*

*You're a nobody. You may have some talents, but they don't matter. You won't escape.*

*Escape? Oh you poor fool. I'm not running.*

"Musashi! Carter! He's fucked! S-stabbed through!"

"What?" He looked towards his men, the idea of Carter dying… That was impossible. He followed towards the other side of the dojo and there was Carter. His own Katana stabbed through his heart. "How is this happening?"

"Musashi. This isn't right. Something's wrong!"

"Shut up! I know that!" This was falling apart, and he had no idea how!

*You should call for help. You'll need more men at this rate.*

*Fuck you! I'll cut off one of your limbs for every one of my chooms you've killed!*

*Unfortunately for you, I don't have that many limbs left. So I guess there is no point in me stopping.* He blinked at her tone. The amusement was obvious.

This fucking whore. He was going to-

"Musashi!" A voice called out and he looked away. And he already knew what he was about to be told.

*You're trying to distract me. Keep me from focusing you down!*

*Is that what you think? You really don't understand what kind of situation you're in.*

*Fuck off!* He forced the call to end and focused.

"Stay together! She is picking us off one by one! Move in groups! No one gets left alone!" He roared and then despite himself he did something she had suggested.

*Moritaka-Sama Forgive me for the impudence. We have a problem.* He began once the ringing ended, and the call went through.

*Explain. Now.* Moritaka growled and Musashi felt his status plummet.

*She's dangerous. She's killed some of my men, I need more people here to make sure she can't slip away… She's a netrunner, and already knocked out Misaki before we could react. My apologies.*

*Foolish. I should have sent someone competent, if this is the result. I am sending Komorebi. Hold her until he gets there if you can do at least that.*

*That won't be a problem, I have no intention of going anywhere.* A voice cut in and Musashi stilled. The girl. She was on the line!

*Who is this? Musashi?* Musashi tried to speak, but instantly he realized his line was cut off his voice wasn't going through his own agent!

*This is Motoko. Musashi is still here, but I hacked into his agent forever ago. So you're the one that wanted to kidnap me huh?*

Moritaka scoffed before responding. *You are being ordered to appear before me.*

*You could have just called, instead you sent a hit squad my way. I've already killed a few of them. Why should I not continue?* She asked, still sounding mocking.

*Killing a few pathetic boys that can't even complete a task isn't my concern. You will come one way or another.*

*Once this Komorebi gets here you mean? I don't like threats. You wanted to play it this way, so I'm treating it like that. I'm going to kill all the boys you send here. Then, once you stop sending them, I'm going to come for you.*

The call went quiet for a while and Musashi eventually tried to continue.

*Is it working?*

*I hear you Musashi. Find her. Collect her be as brutal as you like.*

*Yes Sir.* Musashi agreed, and the call ended.

Fuck, she had just challenged Moritaka-Sama. She was going to die now.

"Musashi?"

"Just find her already! Moritaka-Sama says not to be gentle! Collect her! Are you a Tyger or not!" He roared out and his men got back to it. He started looking as well, but as he searched, he only found dead bodies, and the cowering fools that Sensei had gathered into the dojo.

"Have you seen her?" He demanded loudly and no one spoke. Not even Sensei who just looked on with a firm look. Derision evident.

"Speak! Moritaka-Sama has given these orders!" he yelled out to the group, but no response came. Just the students who were cowering in fear at the death surrounding them, and those that were calmly sitting seiza waiting, for they had protection, or had felt danger before.

It kept growing quieter. He looked around, checking the room but found no one. Only Carlos, who had stuck to his side when he ordered everyone to go in pairs.

He charged out, but as he went from room to room he realized with horror.

Josh was dead neck cut hanging over the railing for the stairs.

Mitchell, his partner, had his brains blown out over the wall.

Everywhere he went he found his chooms dead, not a single one of them seemed to have been alive long enough to call for help.

Musashi felt fear, and he realized that there was almost no one left. "Follow!" He demanded and Carlos did. The half Mexican boy was quick on his feet, and he had long put away the blades he had handed out for the reassuring weight of a Unity.

Musashi raced through the dojo for the front, ignoring the look Sensei had left him. The man's heavy gaze didn't matter to Musashi. He had outgrown this place!

He raced out and then through the gate to find…

He stilled, as the loud ringing noise of metal on metal rang out.

The girl was here, back to him, and the ringing noise was her cleaning the blade of blood, by placing it into the crook of her elbow and sliding it through. Chrome on blade had left the noise loud enough that no one could have missed it.

Carlos beside him pointed his gun.

But a moment later she was there, a Sandevistan!? She had moved so fast, Carlos had fired twice and missed and then he was dead.

The blade she held cut his head off in a single move as she blurred past him practically brushing him without actually touching him.

He jerked around, almost happy to look away. His chooms that had been left behind to watch her car were dead. She had been cleaning their blood off her blade when he arrived.

He only had his sword and he drew it as he spun preparing for an attack, but it didn't come.

She was standing there a few feet from him. Far enough to give Musashi a moment, but close enough to be dangerous.

Her eyes, her face, her body language all spoke of how calm she was. Despite blood splashing across her cheek giving her a sinister edge, she didn't seem bothered, her breathing was even and relaxed, and the blade she held at her side didn't waver.

He shivered, was it cold here?

He felt cold. A chill. Was this Sakki? The air of murder? He knew some of the true samurai in the Tyger Claws spoke of it at times.

But… To feel it from this girl? She was just a kid! This was… Insufferable!

"I'll kill you for this." He hissed rage, taking away the fear. He aimed his blade knowing the girl was at least honorable enough for this. Trash that she was.

"Hmm. You know? I haven't actually had a real sword fight before? I wonder… Are you enough to test my limits?" She asked, as calm as ever and completely unbothered by the death surrounding her.

"Say that again when I have your limbless body on the ground." He growled out, but unlike any normal fool that heard his words she just smirked, seemingly amused more than threatened.

Musashi breathed. He had subtle chrome, things that a good swordsman needed. He could do this, he simply needed to surprise her. That shouldn't be hard. He hadn't used his best moves on her during their one spar.

He wouldn't waste such things on trash. Not when he wanted to aim for the top. To defeat Sensei. To defeat Norio-Sama. To defeat them all, and become Musashi.

"Are you going to stare at me? Or are we-Oh there we go." She muttered as Musashi charged at her taunting. He would silence her!

His blade flashed, calm swipes, gently scraping along her blade, neither of them unskilled enough to have the actual edge of their blades touch, The sides of their swords used to deflect and adjust cuts, keeping the killing blade fresh.

Again and again he swiped in, pushing, trying to use his strength and fury to intimidate to dominate.

Yet it failed. She was like water. Sweeping his blade aside without struggle. And already Musashi knew to his fury that she was actually winning on technicalities.

But this wasn't a spar!

He locked the blade with her own trying to catch her off guard and pushed. He was bigger than her, stronger! He forced her back, and ran with her. While the street behind her was long, there were obstacles, and of course the Dojo wall that he planned on bashing her against.

He almost felt victory but just as she was about to be pushed into the wall his charge was stopped.

"That's bullshit." He growled into her mocking smile. She had stretched out, right as she should have been pushed into the wall, and extended her right leg against the wall and his charge had stopped cold as her chrome arms were more than enough to hold his blade from pushing her back any further.

He had her on mass, but braced against the wall she stopped his push cold.

"Losers always call bullshit when they are losing."

"Losing? You are pinned. Die." He growled, throwing a forearm against the other side of his blade to push even harder, as he used his now freed left hand to dig into his jacket.

She would die from a gun as easily as a blade!

Before he could grab it, she scoffed and suddenly she moved.

Kicking off from her leg on the floor she spun, causing his blade to arc through where she had been, but earning her freedom despite his wild swipe.

If his other hand had been on the blade she'd be dead.

Instead her blade flashed.

"Aaah!" He shrieked as flesh parted under the blade. He flinched away forgetting his pistol for a moment as he swiped blindly to force her back as she stumbled away.

She cut his cheek.

No. No no! "No!" He screamed as his face bled. This was impossible! He couldn't be cut by some no name punk!

"Oh no, I think I broke his little fantasy." She muttered to herself and then sighed. "What's wrong? Did you just realize that things aren't going the way you expected?"

"Fuck you." He hissed once more reaching for the gun, but a moment later she was there. His arm pinned down and blade against his throat.

No. No! Her Sandevistan! She had moved too fast!

"Now now. You're only keeping yourself alive because I' enjoying something new." She offered as she slowly reached into his jacket and pulled free his pistol tossing it up over his head over the wall. Then she backed away, adjusting the blade so it was at his throat until it was the very tip and then he swiped it away, earning space from her.

He was breathing heavily. His hands were shaking… He was afraid. This girl. This tiny miserable slip of a girl was going to kill him.

He could see it. His arrogance had been cut from him. He was going to die.

He was going to die.

He was going to die!

"Oh?" She muttered her head cocking to the side slightly seemingly amused as she watched him with those unblinking red eyes. "Did you realize what sort of situation you are in now?" She asked almost mockingly, as if his realization of the danger was funny.

But before it could get worse. Before she could finish him, he heard it. Motorcycles! He knew those engines, he just had to keep her distracted for a bit longer!

"Y-you know what's going to happen to you for this? I'm a Shatei! You struck me! Killed my men, you'll be punished, and so will your brother! Unless you surrender now kowtow thrice! I'll grant you forgiveness if you do!" He taunted, knowing she would respond. C'mon just don't kill him act like the superior bitch you've been acting up until now!

"Shatei? Some bullshit title or something? Whatever, just sounds like I have more people to kill after this." She replied drily and took a step forward, he stepped back, but his back hit the wall.

"Do you-"

"Listen if you are just buying time until they show up, I don't mind. I'll wait if you like, just shut up. You're voice makes me want to kill myself." She replied back, cutting him off and Musashi just felt his jaw drop. Was this girl a moron?

He kept his blade up, and his mouth shut and then it happened. The sounds of bikes finally reached them. From around the corner a small squad of Tyger Claw killers came around. Engines rumbling as they drove up and parked.

"Ko-Komorebi-Senpai! Please! She's-"

"Silence." The man barked out cutting Musashi off completely. He looked around, his face covered by his Menpo, a sinister grin hid most of his emotion away as he looked from the dead bodies, to the girl, to him.

"You fucked this one up."

"She's! She's!" He didn't have the words. How could he describe a girl that murdered all of his people? That had proven his… Superior with a blade?

"I said silence. You girl. Kusasngi's sister. You will come with us. Moritaka-Sama wants words with you."

"And I already told your boss that I would kill this sniveling trash, and any men he sends after me before hunting him down." She answered as calm as a summer shower. No hint of fear despite four real Tyger Claw killers here.

Despite Komorebi-Senpai. The killing flash standing against her.

"Heh. You got a mouth on you. Your brother isn't here to save you, nor will he. He's in enough trouble. Put the blade away and let's go. I have more important things to do, than rescue a fuck up from his failures."

"Senpai." Musashi muttered weakly, but no one looked at him, only the blade still pointed at him kept him still.

"Make me." She replied back just as calmly. "Frankly, I was having a nice day until some dumbasses with more balls than brains decided to threaten me. I don't react well to threats. So unless someone starts giving me nice apologies the only thing that is going to happen is me getting in some more fun sword fights."

Komorebi looked between Musashi and the girl before nodding.

"You were in a match. Very well. Go ahead and finish it."

"Wha-Senpai! You can't-"
"For the last time! Silence! You fucked up! You even got yourself into a true battle and you beg for help! Either succeed and get the girl like you were supposed to, or die."

"Harsh." The girl offered, but then to his horror she turned her full attention to him.

"You can't! I'm still a-"

"That's true." Komorebi-Senpai spoke, cutting him off. "If you kill him it'll be trouble. His grandfather has-"

Then Musashi blinked as there was a flash, a cold bite of something and he blinked as the world around him spun around a few times.

 

[Seras]

*750 XP Gained.*

I swiped out cleaning my borrowed blade of blood as I took Musashi's Katana in my other hand.

"Sorry, I'm so tired of hearing people tell me how important they are. You were saying something?" I asked the man that oozed danger. Even with the Menpo he wore I could tell his jaw was open a bit as he realized what I had done.

This had already gone way too far for me to care about future trouble.

Tyger Claws had come to kidnap and harm me. To hold me against Jun. As far as I was concerned. Everyone needed to die.

"Well, I'll be damned. This might actually be interesting." He offered as he stepped forward idly pulling off his Menpo and tossing it behind him where one of his men snagged it. "Komorebi Izuku. I have some stupid nickname that I don't care for." He greeted me slowly drawing a pretty nice Katana from his hip.

"Motoko Kusanagi. I like to go by Ghost in the Shell, but some of the Tyger Claws that know me call me the Onryo, or Yurei I suppose."

"Heh. Fitting." He agreed, glancing at the dead bodies around me. "You certainly are. I'll try not to kill you, but I can't allow you to resist. Those are my orders."

"When I take your life, I'll ensure your family know, you died with a blade in your hand." I responded back just as smoothly, and the man actually looked pleased by my words.

Fucking sword maniacs.

Then again I was about to have a Katana battle myself so how much room did I have to talk?

I breathed in and out, and settled my stance. I would be on the defensive at first. I had no idea how good this guy was. Luckily I had two blades, and no one really expected the Dual Wielding to be effective.

There was a flash of a headlights, a car traveling the street behind us, that set us off. He moved. Sandevistan. I recognized it and activated my own.

He was still fast. Definitely a higher end Sandy, he blurred, but the reaction time I gained was enough. His blade flashed, glowing under the streetlights and I deflected it off with a twisting parry, and pushing him back with a swipe in turn.

He stepped back, both of us turning off our Sandy as it would be needed for the future. The men behind him gasped in surprise.

"She blocked it!"
I blinked, was that… Was that supposed to be some super move or something? Like 'Light Speed Flash' Or something?

Oh fuck. Right. These were Tyger Claws. I was dealing with a bunch of weebs.

But the two of us didn't say anything, he simply went in again. This time he attacked with skill and not just speed, a surprisingly dangerous series of moves, twice I had to actually step back despite having two blades to keep myself from being cut.

This seemed to push him on, but as he continued he quickly realized the truth.

He couldn't touch me. My defense was simply better, no matter how hard he tried to batter through, or slip a blade into openings there simply wasn't enough for him to make the strike.

Which is why I was watching calmly and prepared for when he would activate the Sandevistan again. Because that would be what determined the winner here. Who activated their chrome at the right time to slip a wound through before the other could activate their Sandy and defend.

We continued our battle, him hammering away, his endurance far greater than Musashi. Either good Syn-Lungs, or just trained endurance.

But the difference between Musashi and this guy was night and day. Musashi was a skilled arrogant kid to Komorebi's actual worked in talent.

Plus he had good chrome.

This was much more fun.

I felt myself growing a smile as we battled, a web of steel around us as I deflected and swiped making sure he couldn't go entirely on the offense. The sing of steel scraping against steel filled the street, the sound of cars and people still all around us.

For a moment I wasn't Motoko the Merc, I was Motoko the Street Samurai.

Then it ended, not because one of us activated a Sandy, or because a blade found flesh, but because suddenly Komorebi's eyes went yellow as he stepped back, getting distance before meeting my eyes.

"Do you mind?"

"Oh no please go ahead." I offered back just as cooly, neither of us out of breath or even seemingly tired from our match.

He nodded and took the call that came in, while I focused on what I had earned.

Dozens of alerts flickered through my attention, but the ones that most interested me were Ninjutsu of all things. I had felt it while hunting all the boys down, acting as a shadow killing them one by one.

*Ninjutsu skill level up!*

*1 Perk Point Gained.*

Ninjutsu 10.

I had felt it, and used it in the last little fight. There had been no doubt in my mind while ripping these idiots apart that they could find me unless I wanted them too.

Now I had an extra perk. To grow even further beyond the skill. I looked through the list while Kemorebi continued to have a seemingly serious conversation.

I searched, using the time to try and find the perfect option considering that there wasn't much else to do. There were a few things that caught my eye, but one of them finally made me lock it in.

Ninja Running: Not being seen is stealth as well. Move quietly, and quickly.

I blinked and a whole world of information slipped into my mind. I knew exactly how long it would take to move out of someone's line of sight, and how to move fast enough to escape it. I felt myself smiling despite the situation when I realized that I could go full Batman on people and disappear as they looked away.

How fun.

I also had a half dozen Blades XP. Which was a lot for just one fight.

*100 Blades XP Gained.*

Komorebi spent a little longer on the phone call before finally his eyes blinked and the light disappeared.

"It seems this situation has reached the higher ups." He offered with a sigh. Looking almost disappointed. "Our little match is over."

"Oh?" I asked, not bothering to hide the sinister edge to my words. I had promised to murder anyone that stupid mob boss sent after me.

"Apologies, but I am being recalled. A meeting has been called about this situation. I no longer need to bring you in."

I felt like twitching even if I didn't move.

Of course I would find an actual sword battle to the death and it would end early. I wanted it to continue. To cut down this fucking gangster and his men, and then go and assassinate the man that was responsible for all of this.

But a moment later I got a call, my eyes turned yellow. I closed my eyes for a moment and when I opened them I offered an apologetic look to the man. "Give me a moment?"

"Take your time." He replied back and I nodded.

The person on the line was Jun of course.

*Motoko! Thank God you picked up, you need to run now! Something big happened, and some of the Tyger Claws will be after you!*

*I know. I'm fine Jun, I'm standing across from a Komorebi, but he jus-*

*Run! Motoko run right now! Komorebi is-*

*Already leaving!* I called out speaking over Jun's freakout. *He just got a call to head to a meeting and he isn't going to force it with me anymore. What's going on Jun. I was jumped by a bunch of shitlings, and-*

*They dared!?* He roared into the phone then he went really quiet. *I'm sorry. This is my fault Motoko… I'm…*

*Jun, apologize if you need to later, explain now. Please?*

*It's Yuto, he made another attempt on Kisaru. Kisaru was injured and Moritaka-Sama is friends with… It doesn't matter. Some of the people involved decided to bring me in front of them as punishment, but Akari… She backed me up. Told me what was up, and we got to Fujimura-sama. He demanded a full meeting, and so things should be calmer, but…*

*She okay?* I asked, realizing that Akari could be in a lot of shit for going against orders.

*That's up to Fujimura-Sama… I hope so. But this is getting big. They are holding a meeting. Like I said, a lot of the Oyabuns will be there… It's about Yuto, and what punishment I will be given for allowing this to happen… Motoko I got… I got a message from Fujimura-Sama, he is saying you need to come to the meeting too? Why do you need to come?* I could tell Jun was talking outside of the call, sounding distracted.

*Tell him to fuck off.* I grumbled still staring at Komorebi who was patiently waiting for my call to finish, his hand near his blade in case he needed to draw again.

*Motoko! Be polite!* Then he went silent again and I just rolled my eyes. *Motoko… Did you kill some gangers?*

*Yeah? There were like a dozen that went after me.* I replied back instantly. Best if Jun understands.

*Fuck.*

*Language.* I instantly teased back, but Jun didn't respond.

*Motoko. I'm going to this meeting, and you need to come too. We need to offer an apology for you to the higher ups so they don't put out a kill order for you.* Jun said, sounding serious, but I just scoffed.

*I'm getting real tired of Tyger Claw assholes telling me what to do today Jun.* I snapped back, making sure my anger and frustration was apparent.

*Please, Fujimura-Sama says we can get this handled tonight, but you need to come.*

I tsked, as I considered it but eventually my desire to not have to fight for my life constantly won out. *Fine.* I looked around and walked over to Musashi's corpse pulling the fine scabbard for the Katana I had been using out of his belt. A moment later it was sheathed, and I had to look towards the corpses of the assholes around my car to try and remember which one of them I took the second Katana from…

I slumped and just tossed it aside. It wasn't high quality like Musashi's anyways.

"Looks like I'll be seeing you again soon." I called out to Komorebi as I ended the call with Jun and sent a last glance towards him and his chooms all standing near their bikes.

"Perhaps we will get to finish this match another time then." He offered with the sound of someone looking forward to it.

"Yeah, I'll kill you later." I mumbled back, but instead of offending the man he only grinned at me before turning and climbing atop his bike.

This whole situation was a fucking disaster. I looked down at the blade in my hand. Well at least I got some loot out of all this.

—--

"Motoko!" Jun rushed me as I parked and practically dragged me out of my car as he pulled me into a hug.

"Juuun!" I whined, but let him check me over. Finally seemingly satisfied he looked almost constipated as he tried to find the words.

So I ignored him tilting my neck to look at Fujimura standing behind Jun.

"I told Moritaka… Moritaki? I forget, I told him I was going to kill him for trying to kidnap me. I mean it."

Fujimura didn't frown or shift at all at my words. Instead he did something much more powerful. He ignored me.

That kinda hurt Fujimura.

"Motoko! You can't kill Moritaka-Sama! Don't say that again, you'll just cause issues."

"Do I give off the vibe that I hand out death threats and not mean them or something? It's annoying! When I threaten to kill someone everyone should be shitting themselves!"

"I take your threat seriously. But you will not unless you wish your brother's life to be forfeit. If you wish to protect him, then come. And do little, and say less." Fujimura finally spoke and I scowled at his words.

But he hit my weakpoint which pissed me off.

"It's okay Motoko. Fujimura-Sama is angry as well. I'm his underling and for another Boss to try and go after you and me… It's bad. There might be killing tonight." Jun whispered the last part and I nodded.

Great. Yakuza politics. Just what I didn't want to deal with.

"Slayed a whole bunch of Tygers tonight did you little killer?" Akari said as she sidled up to me, now that Fujimura was walking off.

"A bunch of kids led by a moron, yeah. Musashi."

Akari stilled and hissed a bit through her teeth. "You don't think it was?" She asked Jun and Jun didn't react instead just nodded.

"Oh that's bad."

"Yeah Komorebi said he was important or something. I wasn't listening. The moron threatened me with shit he shouldn't have." I defended myself, and Jun just wrapped an arm over my shoulder and Akari just ignored me.

Great.

"Come." Fujimura called and I scowled at being called like a dog, but Jun was moving and dragging me along. I was pulled in behind Jun on his stupid Mizuchi while Akari got on her own, and we all followed behind Fujimura's car.

While we drove I sent a message to my chooms that stuff was going on with the TC. Just as a heads up stuff might get crazy.

The return messages were soothing as I read their outrage and support.

Finally we pulled up to a large skyscraper. Each of us stepped out and into the entrance way and then into an elevator that went all the way to the top.

Jun and Akari both bracketed Fujimura like they were guarding him which was funny to watch while I stayed aside, giving them all space.

I wasn't looking forward to this. Not at all.

—--

"Just… Don't talk unless you are asked a question, okay?" Jun whispered to me as the elevator opened to a pretty high end penthouse. As we stepped out, we walked down a short hall that had plenty of Japanese aesthetic choices, up to a door that was already bracketed by guards. To my surprise they weren't wearing Tyger Claw colors, besides a few tiny things I noticed. These were the black suited Yakuza types instead.

They both stepped aside as Fujimura stopped forward. Jun and Akari on each end, and me taking up the rear, which didn't give me great sight of things considering Fujimura and Jun were both big guys.

Stepping in, I noticed to my right there was an outdoor area of the penthouse with an actual sand garden, but my eyes were more caught on the security suite that met us.

Jun and Akari began handing over weapons, although Fujimura I noticed didn't have to.

"You too Motoko." Jun offered and I scowled at the demand, I wasn't about to disarm right now! But Fujimura looked to me, and offered me words that surprised me.

"Trust me girl. You and your brother will be safe. Keep the Katana, put the rest away." He offered and I was surprised at the authenticity in his words.

I sighed and walked forward pulling free my Burya and placing it into the small cubby they had opened up to store weapons. Lexington went next, along with my knife after they looked at it, and the second knife I kept strapped to the back of my belt. And the third knife that was hidden in my thigh ammo pouch.

I had found a lot of knives from Raffen over the time, it was funny how I hadn't really needed them until now.

I was going to end there, but Jun nudged me and I glared at him, before huffing and opening some of my pouches.

Frag Grenade one. Frag Grenade two. I looked to Jun and asked him with just an eyebrow if he was satisfied.

Then armed with just the katana just like Jun and even Akari we headed further down the small hall entrance and into the main room. It was set in a very traditional Japanese style, but I could see the modern peak through. But more interesting was the large Tyger Claw symbol set into the wall. Done up to look more like a traditional emblem than normal, and under it sat a very good looking older man.

He might have grey at the temples, but he wore his age like aged whisky, a calm air around him and a very expensive looking Kimono… Yukata? I always forget which was which.

It looked Japanese and expensive.

As we entered Fujimura walked very slowly and calmly as if following a path before stopping before the man and offering him a full bow. Jun and Akari joined him, although I pointedly didn't.

I didn't even know who this was, and I don't bow to some random gonk.

The three rose and moved across the room. Passing many other men already waiting, seemingly for us, including Komorebi who I recognized despite the man having changed into a Kimono as well.

Fujimura guided us over to a section where a few of the traditional cushions rested that Fujimura settled all of us on.

For once I didn't fight it, and settled into a seiza that wasn't too bad and just watched the show.

I looked over the crowd, old men in suits or Kimono all looking at the man at the front. Waiting, although a few glanced our way seemingly irritated.

Everything went quiet when the man at the front raised a hand carrying a paper fan. A moment later a group of women in fancy Kimono came out, passing out a saucer of Sake to everyone. Only once the fan dropped did everyone drink.

I wasn't sure if it was rudeness that I was excluded or kindness since I didn't like alcohol. So I decided to not worry about it.

Then a moment later the man at the front started speaking.

"I have been informed about the situation. Normally such things would not require my direct attention, but the seriousness of the allegations merit my personal attention. Moritaka, how is your Grandson?"

"Kisaru is alive." One of the old men spoke, his voice like gravel, and familiar. Considering I had heard that name before I looked over. The old man was grizzled, and had very obvious chrome over part of his face, a neck replacement, and very high end Kiroshi as well. Wealthy and old. That's the sense I got from him. "But this is the second time my son has come under threat! There will not be a third." He added petulantly, a threat that was eye rolling.

One of the few that didn't look irritated by the threat was a familiar man sitting next to him. Komorebi, the Tyger Claw I had fought, was sitting next to him. Our eyes met and I knew the man wanted to continue our fight.

Yet despite the petty threat the man at the front of the room nodded. "I agree. This matter must be put to rest. But first, there is the matter of honor. Fujimura."

"Yes, Shinobu-Sama."

"You're man was aware of these assassination attempts before they were acted on?"

"Not as such Shinobu-Sama." Fujimura offered with a bow. While still sitting.

"Do not lie here Fujimura!" Moritaka interrupted and Fujimura simply remained bowing as the… Leader? Was that guy really the head of the Tyger Claws? Well he just looked on for a while before nodding.

"Explain."

"Junichirou knew the assassin from their youth. Before the man was sent to prison while covering for Moritaka Kisaru's actions."

"My Grandson did no such thing!" The old man growled, but no one seemed to be interested in that. I guess Yuto was right, everyone knew Kisaru was a piece of shit.

"Moritaka." Shinobu I guess his name was, said bluntly, and then he looked back to Fujimura.

"When Yuto was released, he reached out to Junichirou, and did bring up desiring vengeance… For the perceived slight." Fujimura added, stopping Moritaka from interrupting again with a quick addition.

"The boy was not taken care of? Threatening to assassinate one of my lieutenants was not enough to act?"

"Junichirou owed much to the assassin from their youth, and has assured me he denied any willingness to help, and had directed the assassin away from his quest. Hoping to stop this entire series of events." Fujimura offered, ending with a bow.

"And yet my Grandson twice now has nearly been killed!"

"Junichirou had no involvement in that."

"So he says! I want the assassin, and I want something done about this! For a member of the Tygers to allow an assassin to continue to act without stopping them! There is no accepting this!" He rumbled glaring with his beady eyes.

"Hmm. Junichirou, that is true. You knew this man was plotting murder of a lieutenant and did nothing?"

"When Yuto brought it up, he was very drunk. Nakagawa-Sama. We were celebrating his release from prison. I denied him, explained to him the foolishness of his words, and instead pressed him to live his life. I even offered him work, as he was once an apprentice to the Tygers as I was." Jun offered, sounding calm, but there was a hint of nervousness in this voice.

"So a man calls for the murder of my Grandson and you do nothing? Are you a Tyger, or some Maelstrom plant?" Moritaka cut in, and Fujimura twitched as Jun slowly turned to the older man.

"I am not Maelstrom. I have always been Tyger Claw." Jun offered cooly, surprising me at how calm he was. That was definitely a targeted insult.

"So you say."

Nakagawa, the man in the front grunted, and everyone went silent turning to him. "And then, today I am informed that there was more trouble. Moritaka?"

"I sent a group to collect the boy's sister. I wanted to ensure I wouldn't have some Cyberpsycho breaking down my door to finish what his friend started. My people were killed." He had been blase about the response until the end, when his voice turned dark.

He looked over at me, and our eyes met.

I allowed nothing to show, but my brain was processing ways to murder the guy. Just for fun. This wasn't the time or place for it, but I went through all the ways I could end this man's life.

There were a lot.

Instead of acting on it, I simply continued to stare, eyes promising death.

 

[Seras]

"You had no right to call for the girl's presence." Fujimura interrupted my staring contest with his words, as everyone in the room's attention shifted to him. "The girl defended herself from a threat, and was right to do it."

"Is that so?" Moritaka asked, turning to Nakagawa. "Is it normal for our men to be killed when demanding compliance from those under us?"

I turned to Fujimura to see how he was reacting, and he gave me a very tiny shake of his head. Telling me to stay out of it.

"Hmm. Fujimura?" Moritaka demanded as Fujimura didn't speak.

"There are proper channels if a meeting is needed. Kidnapping the family of our associates at blade point is not one of them." Fujimura replied and then looked to Moritaka. "In this case, I ask for censure in turn. Going after one of my lieutenants by targeting their family can only cause strife in our organization."

"The girl murdered one of my up and coming! Daisuke Smith is the son of Robert Smith. A man you are well familiar with! I had to assure him I would take care of this matter to keep his respect from wavering." Moritaka hissed out. Then pointed right at me. "My own man confirms the boy she killed was already disabled!" Moritaka hisses back and I felt a few eyes turn to me.

I kept silent for now. If someone wanted to talk to me, then I would be happy to explain that I would kill anyone that attacks me.

Anyone.

"Mr. Smith is important to our current production, but he was told when his son was inducted there would be dangers these he now learned. Moritaka, targeting family members is unacceptable. There will be censure for this." Nakagawa replied, I could see Moritaka go a bit pale at the words, but his anger seemed to keep the flush to his skin lively.

Then Nakagawa turned towards Fujimura's group, straight at me. "And you are Motoko Kusanagi. Daughter of Natasaha and Kuze Kusanagi."

"That's me." I agreed blandly, looking up at the man and wondering what exactly was really going on. Politics obviously, but I was wondering how much danger I was in here.

"You killed the boy? 'Musashi' I believe he called himself?"

"Yes." I said without hesitation and I could see Jun wanting to shut me up, but I wasn't about to try and hide it. After all, the reason I was putting up with all this was to make sure I wouldn't have assassins coming after me constantly.

But if I was going to have assassins anyways, it was going to be for something I did.

"He is the son of an important assistant to our work." Nakagawa offered and I just stared blankly at him because that wasn't a question or anything I cared to respond to. Finally he spoke again. "Do you know the cost of his life? What will need to be paid for his death?"

"Nakagawa-Sama the-" Fujimura spoke but quieted instantly as the old man held up a fan.

"I was asking the girl." He said and there was silence and so I spoke.

"No, I just know that I value my life more than his. He came at me with a blade. He wanted to live by the sword. So he died by one." I shrugged, "I'm more surprised that him getting himself killed is such a shock to everyone."

Jun sent me a glare at my casualness, and it wasn't the only glare I received across the room. Moritaka seemed to be pissed as well.

Fujimura then sat up, a signal that he wished to speak and Nakagawa lowered his fan.

"Motoko Kusanagi was involved in this entire situation as an attempt to blackmail one of my men. As you all see, even after this attempt was a failure, I brought both with me for this meeting. If a meeting had been called, Junichirou would have come as his duty. The girl is a family member, and not a soldier. She should never have been involved. I ask for acceptance in her defending herself in this situation."

"You dare?" Moritaka called but Nakagawa raised his fan.

"Her defense of her life is not my concern. The death of Musashi is. Punishment will be meted out." Nakagawa spoke. "But that is still secondary to the problem that brings us here today. Kisaru Moritaka, and the assassin."

"Nakagawa-Sama. I ask that any punishment that would be placed upon Motoko be placed upon me instead. As her older brother I am responsible for any of her actions." Jun suddenly spoke up as he fell into a deep bow while sitting, and I felt myself frowning.

The room was silent for a moment and I noticed Fujimura didn't look happy either.

"I think that will be acceptable." Moritaka suddenly said, surprising all of us. "The girl's mistake is her brothers in truth. I believe we can convince Mr. Smith we acted appropriately to punish the one that cost him his son's life."

What? That made no fucking sense to anyone! Why would Jun pay for this bullshit? I glanced over and noticed Fujimura looked pissed.

The glare that went between Fujimura and Moritaka made me realize what was really happening.

Moritaka was trying to hit Fujimura. Jun and I were just in the crossfire. We were being used as pawns to damage Fujimura, either his reputation or his powerbase.

This whole thing was literally just yakuza politics.

I was going to murder that man, but first I had to figure out how to get Jun out of this without a punishment he wouldn't survive.

"I disagree." A voice called and everyone turned to another side of the room. If Fujimura, and Moritaka had their own little faction groups, then this guy was in charge of another.

But… I recognized him? Where did I know this guy from?

"Okina-dono?"

"The boy Junichirou, and his sister both have proven themselves before. I owe my life to both of them. I believe this situation has gotten out of hand. Perhaps punishment can be put aside as simply the folly of youth. No harm was intended. Only self protection." The man offered casually and I could see the heated glare Moritaka sent him.

I blinked. Okina? Where… Ah! It was Sushi Boss! The Tyger Claw boss Jun and I saved from the Edgerunner borg that we both had to work together to take out. Holy shit!

He looked over and gave me a small tilt of his head, and I was actually kind of blown away.

A Tyger Claw boss that actually remembers a favor he owed to someone? Completely unexpected!

Nakagawa nodded at the man's speech. "I will take it under consideration. For now, Fujimura. You were placed to hunt down this assassin. Why is he still at large?"

"Forgive me Nakagawa-Sama. I did hunt him down, but his trail grows cold with a connection to 6th Street. I informed Ichida-Sama about this just yesterday. We were discussing what should be done considering the involvement of an enemy."

"Is this true?" Nakagawa asked, turning to one of the men closest to him. Dressed in an actual red suit and not Japanese formal wear.

"It is Nakagawa-Sama. The matter would have been on today's docket."

I could practically hear Moritaka's teeth grinding as Fujimura proved he had been doing his job hunting Yuto.

"Then we will-"

"Stand aside!" A voice yelled from the entranceway, and everyone went for their weapons before finally a form walked into the main room.

I blinked.

Dressed in a very fancy Kimono, hair done up in an elaborate style was none other than Hayato. Wow. She cleaned up nicely. I had to admit that the elegant look suited her… Well maybe not the angry face, but the rest of her sure. Okay maybe the angry face was cute too.

10/10 angry Yakuza princess.

But what was she doing here?

"Hayato, what is the meaning of this-" Nakagawa went utterly silent as not only Hayato entered, but so did Wakako.

I blinked. What?

What?

I had the same feeling you got when you saw your teacher outside of the classroom. Something about this was wrong. Wakako was best when she was sitting in a scummy Pachinko parlor smoking up a storm, and watching midday TV.

"Father! I demand an explanation for this!" Hayato spoke clearly but faster than perfectly normal, she was obviously upset, but while Hayato was talking everyone was looking at Wakako.

"Mother?" I heard whispered aloud from more than one man in the room.

I blinked because the Ichida guy had also said something similar. So he was one of Wakako's sons?

I blinked, remembering that Wakako had like nine children? I got the feeling more than a few of them were in this room.

And wait. Did Nakagawa just call Wakako Mother in law? But if Wakako was Mother in Law, what did that make Hayato?

I looked at my friend. Huh.

That was about the same moment said friend noticed me, blinked once, and a myriad of reactions all ran through her face before she seemingly couldn't stop herself.

"Motoko?" she said in a blurst of sounds talking much faster than normal.

I considered what my reaction should be. Polite?

Nah.

"Sup Hayato." I offered with a raised hand. Greeting her happily.

"Hmm. I got a report that you caused trouble." Wakako interrupted before Hayato could respond, as she walked over, walking right past the still confused looking Hayato as she approached me.

"I just defended myself." I responded back a little darkly. I was getting pretty done with everyone blaming me for not letting some arrogant little shit kidnap me.

"Is that why my Son in Law dragged you here? Because you killed Daisuke Smith?" She seemed to ponder the crowd. Then to my surprise she reached out and patted my shoulder. "I can already see what is happening here. Son in Law, there seems to be some confusion, so let me clear it. Motoko Kusanagi works for me." Wakako said bluntly and the room went silent at her proclamation.

Moritaka I noticed looked pretty irritated, but said nothing in response.

"The girl works for you? Truly?" Nakagawa asked.

"She does." Wakako said in a tone of voice that was very evident she was wondering why he was questioning her.

"But that still doesn't explain this interruption." He seemed to grumble looking at Wakako and Hayato. "Hayato, you should have been here an hour ago."

"I would have been father if not-" She trailed off in a splurge of word vomit, her face red, telling me she was very irritated. Before she paused, took a breath and continued.

"If not for the message that I was given that requested my presence at home. When I arrived, there was nothing happening, and I was hurried away by my guards… I called Grandmother to try and figure out what was going on." Hayato explained and Nakagawa looked less than pleased as he turned to Wakako.

"The message was sent from a burner account. More interesting is where my Granddaughter was when the message came. Tell him." Wakako called and Hayato looked confused.

"I was at the Deravaja Dojo. I was sparring with Motoko." Hayato said slowly, her confusion for once making her speak at a normal rhythm.

"You were… With the girl?" Nakagawa demanded, pointing at me, and she nodded.

"Yes. Motoko is my sparring partner now. John introduced her, and set us together… She challenges me well." Then Hayato looked from Nakagawa, to Wakako, to me. "I was with Motoko, and she is now here… Motoko, what happened after I left?" She demanded from me instantly.

So I shrugged. "I took a shower to wash up and left the Dojo, on my way out Musashi and a bunch of his punks jumped me. They were trying to kidnap me. So I killed them."

"Musashi? I saw Musashi as I left! Are you telling me this message was from him? Did that pathetic fool send me on a wild chase just to get to you?" Hayato sounded pissed as she spoke, she turned to her father…

Holy shit. That was her father. Hayato was literally the Tyger Claw Princess… I mean I had called her the Yakuza princess, but she literally was!

I really hope no one found out that I punched her in the face pretty often.

"Father!"

Nakagawa raised a fan and she fell silent. "Mother in law. This girl Motoko murdered one of my lieutenants."

"So?" Wakako asked in response, seemingly completely uninterested in the accusation. "She is one of mine and should not have been bothered with this nonsense from the start." Wakako said, making me look up at her, in a slight bit of relaxation.

It was unexpected, but it was flattering that Wakako was speaking up for me. I mean I didn't even really do many gigs for her. For her to act this way, she must actually secretly in her cruel dark heart care.

It was sweet… And terrifying because I was sure I would be paying for it later. She was going to work me to the bone or something.

"Then we will speak about the costs of the girl's actions later Mother in law. The Assassin must die. Fujimura, this is your people's mistake. It is on you to fix it."

"Understood Nakagawa-Sama."

"Good. Hayato, come with me. Mother in law, please join us." Nakagawa then stood and everyone besides Wakako and I bowed, and then Wakako dropped one more pat on my shoulder before following the man into another room.

Only once they were gone did everyone rise. Before anything else Moritaka stood and walked over.

"Do not think this is over. Your Kamikaze group won't last. Not with the constant mistakes like this." Moritaka said to Fujimura, but the man just looked him over for a moment.

"Moritaka-Dono, my securing of the Japantown Projection has already been decided. The Kamikaze completed their task as required. And I have few complaints about their after war actions. Today is a mistake that we will pay for, but it will not stop my work."

"That you think this is something that will be brushed under the rug shows your ignorance Fujimura. I will be watching you closely from now on. Any mistakes will not be allowed to hide in the shadows."

"You have your tasks Moritaka-Dono, and I have my own." Fujimura replied and I had a feeling a lot of undercurrent was going on, but I wasn't entirely in the know about what the fuck was going on.

Was this really all Tyger Claw Politics? If it was, I was going to murder some fuckers.

Moritaka looked me over a moment later, and scoffed. "Wakako will not protect you either. You will pay for your actions today, murdering a member of the Tyger Claws will not be forgotten, or forgiven."

I just stared at the man, and wondered if I was really going to have kill this guy right in front of all of his people, when Jun stood up.

"You go too far. My Sister is only here because you decided to put her in the crosshairs of loyal men. Tyger Claws doing their duty trusted by their higher ups. You forget that Nakagawa-Sama already stated you would be censured for this!"

"Fool boy. Watch your tone." He spoke and I noticed Komorebi had followed after Moritaka was now close enough to react with his blade.

A threat. That's fine, I was about ready to make my own threats.

I stood up slowly, wiping my jeans a bit as I stretched my legs. "I don't take it lightly when people try to have me kidnapped. Moritaka, right?" I asked and Jun was there, hand on my shoulder holding me back.

"Don't Motoko."

"Tsk, a child playing at being a gangster isn't anything new girl. Be silent, or I'll have you taught a lesson."

"By who? Your guard Komorebi? The guy that wasn't able to beat me before when I was alone facing all the men you sent after me?"

"Heh." Komorebi chuckled at that, cutting of Moritaka who had looked like he was going to demand my head right there. "You sure got some steel in your spine. Motoko Kusanagi. I'll remember that. I think I'll end up crossing blades with you again."

"You won't." Jun said, then rumbling and furious. "None of you will ever touch my sister." Jun took a step forward, but it was Fujimura that stopped him.

"I agree. You already face censure for getting a family member involved in our business. Perhaps I will push for a more direct punishment. My boy might have made a mistake in not stopping the assassin, but he is just a boy. Well known for making mistakes, what man in this room hasn't when he was that age? But you? Men our age don't make mistakes. You flaunt your disrespect of the rules blatantly."

"Watch your mouth Fujimura. Watch it close. You may be high after the tiff between the Maelstrom, but you are not at my level yet!"

The whole place shifted when a door opened and out came Nakagawa. "I see my men are getting along." He spoke coolly after a moment receiving bows from everyone as he walked closer. "Fujimura, I want this issue taken care of."

"Yes Nakagawa-Sama."

"Moritaka, allow Fujimura and his boys to clean up their mess with no further issue. My sympathy to your son's injuries. I am glad he is still alive."

"He is strong. An Assassin will not be his end." Moritaka said with sudden confidence.

For a moment he turned to me with a look but he said nothing.

Instead he turned to others and began speaking to everyone. Giving them orders, or asking them to assist others.

The TC were mobilizing.

I guess finding out an assassin targeting a higher ups kid was with 6th Street would do that.

"Fujimura-Dono, and Jun-Kun." A voice spoke and it was Okina. He looked then to me, and offered an actual smile. "And Motoko-Chan. It is nice to see you. Even in these circumstances. I never got the chance to thank you for you and your brother's actions that night."

"Ah." I said because he was talking to me. "Well it was nothing, we were involved from the start."

"Perhaps, but not many would, or could have done anything. These circumstances are… Unpleasant." He decided on after seemingly tasting the word. "But have no fear. Even without Wakako-Sama, you and your brother have others behind you."

"Thank you." I offered, because it was actually an earnest offer.

"Will you need any assistance, Fujimura-Dono?" He asked, turning to the older man after.

"No Okina-Dono. I believe once we decide on a path forward through 6th Street or not, my men can handle this problem."

"Good. Don't hesitate to call if you need assistance."

I stood there for a while as more and more conversations broke out over the room. None of it interested me, instead I opened my agent and made some texts to my chooms. Just letting them know I was alive, and that things were okayish.

As I was responding to the third text from Hiromi in our group chat of her freaking out, I noticed someone approaching.

"Hey Hayato."

"Motoko." She greeted back and looked at me for a while before seeming to firm her resolve. "Come with me."

I looked to Jun who was distracted and shrugged. Following her, we walked into the same room Nakagawa had entered before and I wasn't surprised to see Wakako inside, already smoking a cigarette while sitting on a couch and looking annoyed.

"Good. Motoko come sit. Hayato child do not frown so. This situation is irritating but no longer unstable."

"Yes Grandmother."

"That's so weird." I muttered and Hayato turned to give me a glare while Wakako just put out her cigarette.

"Weird?"

"Just… I knew Hayato for a while, and I didn't know she was your grandkid. And I've known Wakako forever. It's just weird to see you both together, and to know you are related." I answered and Wakako just scoffed, obviously uninterested in dealing with my nonsense, while Hayato huffed.

"I told you who I was!"

"You never told me you were Wakako's grandkid." I denied laughing, cause she really hadn't.

"My name! Hayato Nakagawa! Na-ka-ga-wa!" She growled out enunciating each syllable.
I looked at her blankly for a minute before I chuckled out a laugh. "Hayato, I didn't know the leader of the Tyger Claws was named Nakagawa until like twenty minutes ago?"

"How!? Everyone knows that!"

I just shrugged. "I didn't."

"Then… Then why did you agree to spar with me?"

"Cause you're fun to fight? I didn't have a lot of practice against someone using a Keren, and it's kinda nice to fight someone my own age and stuff you know?"

My words had an odd effect on Hayato who looked flushed for a moment before seemingly growing angry. "You're an idiot!"

"Little rude." I mumbled, but that only set her off more.

"I can't believe someone so stupid is able to challenge me! This… This shouldn't be possible. You're too stupid to be this skilled."

"Super rude." I added.

"Hayato." Wakako offered and Hayato went silent. "You are allowing your emotions to overcome you dear. Breathe, you should apologize. Motoko is an idiot, but it's rude to tell someone that to their face."

"Is this gang up on Motoko day? First Musashi and his group, then this whole bullshit, and now you two?" I grumbled at the two, but Wakako just gave me a look telling me she was very amused to be able to torture me, and Hayato while not amused, didn't seem to disagree.

Fuck they were related!

"You… You really didn't know that I…" Hayato asked and I just looked at her for a while and she then scoffed and laughed and just broke into laughter.

"She! She has nothing between her ears! Grandmother! She's!" She started laughing then. Practically dying of laughter as she bent over, and Wakako had to look away to hide her own amusement.

"Okay if everyone is just picking on me, I'll go." I grumbled because wow super rude you know?

"Motoko." Wakako spoke and I stopped my attempt to leave. "There is something I wish to discuss with you… Outside of my granddaughter's realization."

I sighed for a moment. "Fine, can we make it quick? I didn't exactly plan to deal with all this Yakuza politics bullshit today."

"Yakuza! We are not Yakuza!" Hayato snapped, unbending from her laughing fit at my words but I rolled my eyes at her, and focused on Wakako but she waved at me, and I sighed and settled into a chair.

This wasn't going to be something I liked.

 

[Seras]

"Hayato, sit down dear. Motoko, child. Politics will not go away, take it from me. Once you are involved you will be so for a long time despite your wants." Wakako offered and I grimaced. Yeah that was what I was afraid of Wakako! "Now, despite the difficulties it will bring, I wish to hire you for a long term gig."

"Okay?"

"I wish to hire you on a long term basis, to not assassinate Moritaka Kuwabara." She spoke the words that instantly made me frown.

"Okay one. I've never taken a gig to not kill someone before."

"It's not so unusual when dealing with a skilled mercenary that has come into their reputation." Wakako answered and I was frowning because this was weird.

Hayato thought so too. "Grandmother? What are you talking about? Motoko is skilled, but she couldn't kill Moritaka-Oji."

"Oji?" I whispered to myself, but Wakako looked at Hayato for a moment.

"It would not be the first member she killed." Wakako said, and I had to use Cold Blood to freeze myself solid so I didn't give any tells.

Instead I raised an eyebrow. "News to me." I spoke plainly. Wakako looked to me at my words, at the same time Hayato looked justified and looked back at Wakako as if she was right.

"The only thing that is news to you girl is that I am speaking of it. Jotaro was cleanly done, to this day only a few select people know about the situation." Wakako added calmly and I noticed Hayato looking between us in confusion.

Her head shooting back and forth rapid fire was pretty funny.
"Jotaro? The club owner? Ichi's Boss?" I questioned purposefully acting confused, controlling my emotions to fake it, but Wakako just smiled at me, as if she didn't believe me at all.

Hayato though was looking between the two of us confused.

"Grandmother?"

"Motoko Kusanagi, is a very competent killer Granddaughter. An Assassin by trade in fact. If she sets her mind to it, I have no doubt that Moritaka will die."

The room was silent for a moment. "I am an assassin, yes." I said more for Hayato's confused look than anything. "But that has nothing to do with Jotaro, which I was definitely not involved with. I have an alibi."

"Of course, I am sure it is quite solid." Wakako offered casually. "The issue has long been resolved, and assumptions on who did it have spread. None expect the teenaged assassin I employ from time to time. Nor will they." Wakako added waving a hand and sending the smoke of her cigarette swirling.

"Good." I said back a little defensive cause I really didn't need more shit.

"You… Are an assassin?" Hayato asked, the surprise in her voice making me focus on her.

"Sometimes." I answered Hayato's question with a shrug. "I mean, technically I prefer to think of myself as an infiltrator. I like sneaking into places, but killing someone after sneaking up on them is kind of assassin one-oh-one."

Hayato looked at me. Up and down, and her face shifted into a look of disbelief.

"Hey! That's rude! What part of me makes you think I'm not an assassin! Wakako you tell her!" I demanded, getting a little outraged about the disbelief on Hayato's face.

Wakako just rolled her eyes, ignoring me, and then snapped. "Focus. I am hiring you for a job."

I tilted my head at her.

"One condition." I demanded and Wakako nodded as if it was expected.

"Jun stays safe. If Moritaka leaves Jun alone, I'll consider the gig in place. He causes any more trouble for my brother and the bets are off."

"I will speak to my son in law. Junichirou will face no repercussions for his failure, and Moritaka will settle down from his aggressive actions against Fujimura. He'll likely already be getting a talk about that. Foolish man." Wakako grumbled and I nodded slowly.

I did want the man dead, but doing so would just cause more trouble in the long run. So if we could end any trouble now? I sighed. It sucked, killing leveled me up, but also time gave me time to kill more and get stronger. One day I'd be Adam Smasher. Able to simply kill anyone I please without considering repercussions, but I wasn't that yet.

"Okay fine. Deal. I'll let him live."

"Let him?" Hayato continued to sound disbelieving about my skills which kind of hurt, but Wakako nodded.

"In that case, I believe your brother is already leaving." I perked up at that and decided it was time to go then.

"Alright Wakako. I'll leave… Thanks, for helping out. I was starting to consider drastic actions." I said and earned a glare at the very idea.

"Don't be a fool. You are useful, and I will not allow you to throw away your life so pointlessly."

"Yes yes. I understand. I have no intention of dying." I said to Wakako as I rolled my eyes, but I did send her an honest thankful smile as I stood. "See ya later Hayato." I waved with a happy smile to the girl's irritation as she glared at me at my chipper tone.

Outside I saw that Fujimura was leaving. Jun and Akari at his side and I hurried over.

"Good. We are leaving." He said and just rolled my hand at him because that was obvious.

And we left. I collected my weapons and Jun was quiet as we headed down the elevator.

"I wish to hire you." Fujimura said suddenly and I frowned.

"What is it with everyone wanting to hire me today? Maybe I'm not in the mood to take gigs for the Tyger Claws right now? Ever think of that?" I grumbled and Jun reached out and cuffed the back of my head. I retaliated with a swipe at him in turn.

Fujimura just continued, as if Jun and I weren't being siblings in such close proximity to him. "Yoto needs to die, your capabilities in tracking would make this easier."

"Fujimura-Sama." Jun offered a token protest but it sounded weak. Pathetic.

I instantly hated hearing my brother sound like that.

"Kusanagi." Fujimura snapped back and Jun flinched, and I glared, but I closed my eye and thought it through.

I considered it. Just saying yes. I mean, I had offered to do that for Jun before, but this was different now.

Everything was different now.

The Tyger Claws had made their mark on me, and I wasn't going to let that go for nothing.

"You'll have to reach out to Hiromi Mitsunashi. She's Section 9's Fixer contact. She'll quote you a price. Don't expect any discounts this time." I said firmly. I could trust Hiromi to make sure this sort of thing didn't come cheap.

"If Yuto strikes again, or in the worst circumstances manages to finish his goal, Junichirou will not be let off." Fujimura reminded me sternly, but I just threw him a raised eyebrow.

"That argument would have worked better this morning. Before I had people I thought I had some level of trust towards trying to use me as a political piece. I don't take kidnapping attempts as a joke, Fujimura."

The elevator was quiet, and I hadn't actually turned to look at Fujimura the whole time. Using a piece of the reflective stainless steel in the elevator to get just a bare hint of his face.

"I understand. You hold me to blame, and there is truth to that. But I wasn't the one that caused this. Your brother is a useful subordinate, I wish to keep him alive."

"Maybe a small discount then." Was what I said as the elevator opened and I walked out.

"Motoko?"

"I'll talk to you later, okay Jun? Take care of yourself." I said, I needed some space from all of this.

*Motoko!* Hiromi yelled as I called and noticed that all my chooms were already on a line.

*Hey everyone, sorry about the scare. Everything got crazy for a while.*

*Are you okay!?* Hiromi demanded and I laughed as I settled into the Quadra and started driving. I wanted to get out of this TC bastion as fast as possible.

*I'm alright, and unhurt. I'll give you a full rundown, but Hiromi you might get a call from Jun's boss Fujimura. It'll be a Section 9 job to hunt down someone… Don't hesitate to grill him a bit, but offer him a discount at the end… A small one. The gig is for Jun, but I'm pissed with them right now.*

*Got it, but-*

*Are you all together?*

*Yeah we met up at Hiromi's place. Considering your warning.* Ichi cut in.

*Alright. Should I head there, or should we go somewhere else? Things are calm now.*

*My rents are out, so come over Motoko. Besides… It's safe here, so I want you here.*

*Alright. Since I'm driving let me give you a rundown of what happened.*

—--

"Huh, is that new?"

"Yeah, the Rents always buy new entertainment systems. I don't use them much." Hiromi said and I chuckled because they were certainly getting some use now. Ichi and Malcolm were both playing some VR game.

"I can't believe they would do that!" Hiromi vented at me as I followed her inside. "How dare they!"

"Well the gonks that tried it are either dead, or in a lot of pain, and the one in charge… Well I can't touch them. So I'm just ignoring it."

"I got a message from Fujimura already." Hiromi added as I walked over and flopped onto the couch.

"Well, you know my opinion on it."

"Yeah. Looks like we'll need to do some hunting, but it's very likely, if Yuto is with 6th St. right now. That we are going to be the ones to take him out. To avoid any TC connections."
I just shrugged. "We'll kill him then. He caused enough trouble to piss me off."

"Hey Motoko!" Malcolm called as he pulled off the VR set. "Didn't hear you get in. Ichi, finish up Motoko is here.

I laughed at the boys as they disentangled themselves from the game they had started.

"I see you boys kept busy while I was dealing with things." I teased.

"Nah, we only started after you called. We were worried." Ichi said as he took his headset off. "You okay? No injuries?"

"It's fine. Just casually getting attacked by a squad of Tyger Claw brats, and then sword fighting one of their elite. I'm okay." I bragged a bit before going very very cold. "But I don't take this as a joke. The Tyger Claws are on my shit list." I spoke practically arctic air as I looked at all my chooms to make sure they understood.

Hiromi was the only one who looked as furious as I was on the inside.

"All this because they wanted Jun?" Ichi asked.

"I think…" I muttered trailing off as I sighed letting myself get warmer. "I think there is more going on that I can really understand. Wakako specifically wanted me to not go after revenge for this, and I think the fucker that did this got in trouble for it… I think this all stems from the stupidest thing humanity ever created… Politics."

Hiromi spoke up then. "I don't think we have the clout to really let the Tyger Claws know our displeasure… Yet. Don't worry Motoko. I'll remember this." I almost felt bad because Hiromi was much more vindictive than I was.

I waved it off. "That's… That's later stuff. What did Fujimura say exactly?"

"The hit for Yuto Gonzales. Fujimura wants him found and killed. Proof of death is required… Bring him in bodily or at least his head. They want real confirmation of his death here."

I waved it off. I could do that. "The problem is where he is."

"Right, intel that Fujimura provided." Hiromi said her eyes glowed blue as she started sending me a file transfer request.

I of course accepted, but went through the file very very carefully before opening it. Only the normal sort of bugs were on the program and those were zapped. Hiromi wouldn't have even noticed them with her Arasaka soft protecting her.

I'd really have to do something about that though. I didn't like how trusting Hiromi was with just taking files.

That was for another time though. Browsing through what Fujimura had sent me I nodded. It was actually not bad. He must have found someone solid to hunt down Yuto, or more likely the TC as a whole were pissed about this and they pulled their serious runners.

They knew where in Arroyo he had been hiding out, at least as of the day before he tried again to kill Kisaru.

So that meant I would have to check if he was still there, and if he was, finish this. Otherwise start hunting.

"Alright. This safehouse he was at. Ichi, what do you know about the area?" I asked and instantly as Ichi checked out the cleaned file I sent over he shook his head.

"Not much. I sometimes do some stuff in Arroyo, but not up there. Rancho Coronado is mega 6th St. Territory. Anything in the shadow of the damn belongs to them."

"Then I'll have to go in on foot and check it out." I decided. I tapped at my thigh for a while. I remember how awful hunting shit down in Arroyo had been last time, and that had been in industrial areas. They might have more cameras, but I could guarantee they'd have a lot of netrunner defenses.

"I'll head in from the highway. Not a terrible jog over from a good way away. I'll do it tonight." I decided and everyone nodded. "I'll want some backup just in case… And then I actually smirked. "I know the perfect thing."

—--

Fully equipped, relying on the night vision of my Kiroshi and doing my best to avoid any sensor nets that might be put up. I was slowly creeping down the desert mountain around Rancho Coronado. RC was surrounded by a mountain that a dam was built into, but it meant that other than some drops, there were plenty of places I could sneak into the area from once I was dropped off on the freeway above.

The others were close by including the secret surprise in case I found any trouble, but hopefully that simply wouldn't be needed.

I needed this to go clean. The best resolution for this entire series of events was me killing Yuto, Fujimura taking credit for it, which would help balance out Jun's 'mistake' which was a bullshit thing to blame him for.

Then it would be square, Jun could continue his life without this bullshit, Wakako would clear up the issue with Moritaka, at least she said she would, and I could go back to being proud of myself for never really joining the Tyger Claws after all.

Because this was all bullshit.

I dropped down and used some old shrubs for cover as I noticed a light. Just someone smoking on a balcony, but if they had good Optics, or just happened to catch some moonlight they could spot me.

I flipped on my directional mic, just in case anything was spoken aloud and waited. Five minutes later, without more than some grumbled curses at some game on their agent. The cigarette was put out, and the person headed back inside their little apartment.

Then I double checked to make sure I hadn't missed anything and continued on.

Slipping out of the shadows like a snake I continued moving. I hadn't noticed any sort of sensor defenses so far. It was a far bet that 6th St. would bother considering in turn they'd get hits on their net every time a kid ran around to play, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

And this time I was in luck. I made it all the way to the back yards around the ramshackle housing and from there, it was practically childs play to start slipping into the shadows and staying out of sight.

Luckily Yuto had been hiding out in one of the basement sections along the outer street.

At least if the intel was good, and I wasn't going to walk into an ambush or something.

While there weren't a lot of people out and about on the streets this late at night, on the floors above there were.

Small gatherings around burn barrels, and kids playing along the rooftops under the watchful eyes of their parents. The whole thing had a very run down feeling even for Night City.

For all the 6th St. Gang talked about improving neighborhoods, the fact they had fallen into drug dealing and other gang activities meant any improvement they had made to their homes had eventually dried up.

It was sad.

I kept moving, making sure to hide not just in the shadows, but behind objects as well. The quality of optics in the area could be terrible, or ex-special forces depending on who is around.

So I took it slow and careful and made my way to the building that Yuto might be in.

Crawling on the ground wasn't fun. But it did make use of the two foot wall that bordered the building just before Yuto, so I was crawling along when I heard.

A noise that wasn't odd anywhere else, but was here. A vehicle.

I laid lower, blending in with a bunch of garbage which was gross, but it let me break up my outline even more as I felt something approaching.

The noise of the truck marked it as something big. I heard it getting closer and closer, and just really didn't want it to be some pickup for Yuto or something, but then it came right past me, and then kept going, towards the the other side of the block.

I peeked up and narrowed my eyes as a horde of 6th St. Guys climbed out and headed into one of the hab blocks.

Eventually everything went quiet again.

Whatever that was, it wasn't for me.

I moved on.

I didn't head directly for the stairs leading down into the basement area, instead I crawled around the outside of the building looking for any windows into the basement, or something.

Other than one window that was completely covered there was nothing.

Irritated at the failed attempt I headed back towards the basement stairs. Giving it a slow approach I kept an eye on the roofs around the building so no one would accidentally see, and then slowly slipped down the stairs brutal concrete stair ways were actually good for hiding, as the light that should have shined down on the stairs was long burned out, or broken.

I approached the bottom, and there was a monstrous steel door. Armored and secured, and I glared as I realized this might take a while.

I quickly scanned it through and realized with a relief that it had electronic security.

If it had been an old style key, or worse relying on someone on the other side to open it, this could have gotten irritating. I found the security pad and hummed.

Militech base, slightly modified, but old even so. With a moments work I popped open the metal front and looked into its guts, careful not to let it separate too much or else a wire might come loose and send an alert. Carefully taking my knife I slipped it into the gap careful not to cut anything wrong and slipped it in deep. Until the tip touched one of the connections deep inside.

With my other hand, I licked my thumb and awkwardly slipped it in, until my thumb touched another connection and then I tapped my knife against my thumb for just a second.

I heard the security lock release. And pulled my knife free and resecured the security case.

With a bit of work I quietly slipped the security door open, and moved inside, Copperhead brought up leading my way.

The hallway inside was dark, but quickly opened into one massive basement that had been converted into a studio apartment. The open space had a few couches around an entertainment system and a bed in the corner.

But otherwise it was empty.

I hugged the walls before checking the one other door in the room, but it was a bathroom, and was also empty.

So where was Yuto?

The room had no signs of where he could have gone at a glance. So I started digging.

Buck a Slice box on the table. Along with some half drained Brosef.

No easy laptops, or security systems to hack into. I checked around the bed, but didn't find anything obvious. Just old bedding that hadn't been made.

I explored the whole room without finding anything.

Honestly it didn't look like Yuto had been here at all. I narrowed my eyes, it was always possible this was a trap, or at least bad intel. I hadn't gathered it myself after all.

Finally I gave up finding any clues and was about to head out when I heard it. Bootsteps on concrete. Looking around I realized there weren't any good hiding places in the mostly bare room. The entire place was too open.

Then I looked up.

A moment later I leapt up into the ceiling, where old pipes, and A/C vents spiderwebbed across. With a bit of work I wedged myself inside, and went quiet. Time to see who was visiting.

 

[Seras]

I breathed in and out, utterly silent. As I watched what happened out of the corner of my eye keeping my body blended with the shadows.

The man that opened the door had a Militech Crusher Shotgun, and was sweeping the room. Obviously concerned. Had I set off an alarm, or been seen?

After a minute of following a similar path I had taken clearing the bathroom, he lowered his gun and just cursed.

"Fucking assholes not locking the door." He said aloud as he finally relaxed. Ah, just bad luck then. I would have laughed if I wasn't in complete control of every muscle in my body keeping myself perfectly still. Even the best infiltrator could be beaten by bad timing.

He took a moment to place his gun beside the couch and then headed back to the entrance. A moment later he came in carrying a bag full of food, and he flopped onto the couch.

Hmm.

I wasn't really in any hurry, but I didn't want to be stuck here either, especially since this guy wasn't Yuto.

Intel had probably been wrong. Dammit.

Maybe another of the buildings or something had been where he is staying?

I prepared myself as the man turned on his entertainment system to watch TV. The noise would easily hide me while I escaped, but then I heard him curse a name that suddenly had all my attention.

"Fucking Yuto. Prick! I told him not to log me out!" He grumbled as I looked down a bit and saw what the problem was.

Television channels in NC used a subscription service. The ads that played around the system was one of the ways poor people paid for the service, basically making it free if you allowed the ads.

Right now the TV was covered in ads, and I saw that the user logged in was listed as [YUTO] which meant I was in the right place after all. I felt my smile tug up into a grin that only grew wilder and wilder as I realized that this wasn't a complete failure.

I watched the man work on the system for a bit, but he seemingly couldn't find the remote, or access to the account. So he cursed a ton and started searching for a show without it.

But more importantly, it meant Yuto had been here, and this guy knew him.

Since he was just sitting there, I started breaching.

As the man turned on a recording of Watson Whore Season 1 episode 6. Which jumped straight into a sex scene…

Lovely.

I breached into his agent, and quietly stalled out any ability to make calls.

Once I was sure, I dropped from the ceiling, and the loud moans from the screen hid the small noise I made as I touched down and spread out to dampen the noise.

Then I crept right up.

One of the reasons that Fujimura had handed this whole gig to me and Section 9 was because the TC didn't want a gang war with 6th St. So they wanted this completely detached from them.

That was why I had hoped to go through this entire gig without being seen…

Well there were ways around that. I snuck around and disappeared his Crusher, and then approached from behind.

I waited for it to get loud again and reached out.

Chrome arms wrapped around his head and pressed my knife against his throat.

"Quiet." I demanded not in my own voice, and while he surged upwards in surprise I was more than strong enough to ride it out until he had a moment to realize what was happening.

He opened his mouth to shout, but 'sharp' was a sensation that tended to quiet screaming.

I gave him a few seconds long enough to realize what situation he was in, to realize his gun that was on the other side of the couch was gone, I noticed by the way he slightly twisted his head.

And then he relaxed.

"Good. I'm not here for you. Or for your chooms." I told him confidently. Sexy Motoko Voice whispered in his ear. "So you should know what I am after. Yuto. Where is he?"

Slowly I eased off enough the blade could still be felt, but that he could swallow a bit.

"Don't know. Honest. I was letting him crash here for Roger! They met in the slammer. I know the kid met with Captain Sherman, made it all good. So I just said yes. You uh… Tyger?"

"No." I told him truthfully. "I'm just a merc. Just doing a job to catch an asshole. Which is why I need to know where he went."

"I don't know! Roger's the only one that'd know. He and Yuto left yesterday! Haven't seen either of 'em since."

"Roger huh?" I spoke as I breached back into the man's Agent. Finding a listing under Roger.

"Roger Almeda?"

"Y-yeah!"

"And you don't know where they went?" I prodded poking a little tighter for a second so he couldn't just instantly respond. "Because there are a few ways this encounter ends. One of them ends with me appreciative of your candor. The other doesn't." Then I gave a little so he could speak again.

"W-What's candor mean?"

I blinked. That was not the answer I was expecting, and I think dipshit realized that too as he went real quiet.

"Answer my question first." I demanded cutting to the point with a gentle nudge of the blade.

"I don't! I swear! Roger's thing with Yuto was approved, but it was his Op. They figured hey, TC knocking off TC's not really a concern ya know?"

"Yeah well shit has a tendency to spread." I grumbled a bit as I considered what to do. I had a phone number, which I could track if I went into the net, but that would require the guy to even pick up.

Which meant killing this guy was the best bet…

But that sort of went against the idea of trying not to cause a gangwar.

I was about to decide when I noticed it. Pushing my hostage's vision down so he couldn't see I took note of something interesting.

The account on the TV just got kicked off, because someone else had logged into it.

I stared at it for a bit long enough my hostage started getting visibly nervous, but a plan was coming together. I breached the TV and confirmed the account details, saved it to a shard, and smirked once more full of teeth.

Well that just made my life easier.

"Alright pal. Here is what's going to happen. We are going to make a call to your choom. Stay quiet okay? I'd hate to make this friendly phone call a homicide."

"S-sure."

I hacked once more into his agent and routed my call through him.

A few moments later the call picked up.

*Grant what'd ya want?*

*Hello Mr. Almeda." I answered using my Sexy Motoko Voice. *You are currently harboring someone that I would very much like to find.*

*Shit. What'd ya do to Grant? Huh, you asian cunt! I'll fuckin' kill you!*

*Currently nothing. Nor do I really have much desire to harm him. I'm a professional. I don't leave a trail of corpses. How much for you to walk away and let Yuto meet his fate?* I asked, because as funny as it was to remember from time to time. I was doing pretty well for myself. And eddies could save me a lot of time.

*Fuck you. I'm not accepting shit from some corpo bitch.*

*I'm a freelance merc Mr. Almeda. Hardly a corp. C'mon what's the point. You know Yuto is going to get what's coming to him. Just walk away you can make some eddies, and go back home to your real chooms, and not the gonk Wannabe Tyger Claw.*

*Fuck. You.*
*Well it was worth a try. Just so you know, while I don't kill anyone outside my target, if you are protecting him, that does put you under the scope.*

*Heh! I'm a Lieutenant. You want to try and off me? Come and get it bitch. I have an army at my back!*

*I doubt 6th Street will do much more than a meager amount to protect Yuto. We both know that.*

*Then come and try bitch!*

*Tell me where you are, and I'll happily do so!* I mocked, knowing the coming answer.

*Fucking find me!* And the line went dead.

"Alright… Grant was it?"

"T-that's me."

"Alright. I've gotten everything I can here, which is disappointing, so it's time for me to leave. Luckily for you, I have nothing against you, so we can make this easy. I have two ways to keep you out of the way for a bit. One is painless, but lasts longer, the other hurts, but you'll be good to go in about ten minutes. Your choice."

"Uh… Painless?" He asked, and before he even finished his optics went out, and I rose up, he jerked away and swept his hands around as he realized what had happened, but I was already heading out.

It didn't take me long to slip through the security door, and lock it behind me.

Maybe a bit mean, since with his optics out, there was little chance he would be able to get out without assistance.

But I'm pretty sure he had lied to me, so fuck him.

With that I slipped back out of the building. Grants muffled yells for help well hidden by the building's thick floors and walls. Without eyes, and without any ability to call someone, he'd be stuck in there for at least a while.

—---

"So we don't have anything?" Ichi asked, and I shook my head.

"Actually, I think I know exactly how to track Yuto right to his safehouse, but it'll take some netrunning, and maybe some favors. The NCTV service could be protected pretty well."

"NCTV?" Hiromi asked. I nodded looking around the gas station across the Arroyo. We had stopped here to discuss what I had found. Turbo's bright light hung down on us, but thankfully the place was quiet.

"Yuto the dumbass is still logging into his NCTV sub wherever he is. I literally saw him do it in real time, because Grant the guy in the basement logged in, and it kicked him out. That means he's actively using it wherever he goes… Even if he bolts I'd put eddies that Yuto is a complete dumbfuck and so we'll always be able to track him given enough time… If I can get into the NCTV system and track the address."

"Fuck yeah!" Malcolm shouted, startling all of us. "That's what I'm talking about!" Malcolm whooped as he jumped and cheered.

I blinked at him, before laughing, I couldn't help it. All of this shit going on, but Malcolm was just excited to do our job.

"Alright. I need to go into the net, so I'd like at least one of you with me. Malcolm, still needs to put his car away." I said, eyeing the rocket launchers set up on top of Malcolm's car.

That was the secret to my exfil if shit had gotten bad. 6th Street would have faced heavy artillery if I ever needed a real escape.

"Aww. Alright. I'll probably catch up with you after though."

"I'll go with you Motoko! Besides, I'll be the one to inform Fujimura about when we complete the gig so it's best if I stay close." Hiromi added with a smile.

"I'll come with." Ichi offered with a shrug, and with that everything was decided.

We drove off not long after, and I sent a text to Jun to let him know we were on the trail.

*I'm glad you're safe.* Was all I got back and I knew from the lacking response that Jun was still feeling conflicted about this.

Yuto was his choom. What if someone told me I had to hunt down Malcolm or something?

I'd refuse and start shooting, but…

I wasn't Jun, I had no attachment to this guy, and this all could have been avoided if the dumbass had just not decided to get revenge against an important guy in a powerful gang with no backing.

Hell, I could have assassinated this guy without any real problem. Yuto just didn't have the skills to back up his actions.

I felt a momentary conflict myself.

I didn't like the TC. I didn't like killing someone for them, after what they had done. And this was Jun's old friend.

There was a bit of history there with old Motoko as well… What would she have felt? Would she be calling for Yuto's head, or would she be trying to protect him?

I shook it off.

That was that, and this was this.

I was me.

Shaking off the moral concerns, I focused on what I was going to do. Which was the job I had agreed to do, and the Tyger Claws would uphold their side of it. Wakako had my back, and Fujimura… Well he obviously wanted Jun as an underling. So Yuto would die, and things would go back to normal.

And maybe in the future I would assassinate someone once Wakako stopped paying me to not do so.

I could wait.

Tomorrow. A year, ten? What does it really matter? That was the thing about revenge, people were always in a rush to get it, but I felt my blood pump through my heart cold.

I could be patient when it came to revenge. When I wasn't being paid, and it really didn't matter if they lived or died. A little wait to get them later when they weren't expecting it? That was no problem to me.

As long as they didn't cause any more problems I was content to wait.

I wondered… When they saw me ten years from now, what would the person I killed face look like? Would they even remember? Would they realize that I had patiently counted down the time?

"Heh… Hehehe!" I laughed to myself as I drove through the Neon of Night City.

"Huh? Motoko?"

"Urk, Nothing!" I assured Hiromi as I waved off her concerns at my sudden evil laughter.

—--

I slipped into the web with a blink and let myself adapt for a moment before jumping out into the web and heading towards my first stop.

The NCTV Services Site, just needed to check it's security and if I could slip in I would, if I couldn't I could always go talk to Yoko.

The site was huge, which was well within my expectation. Practically everyone in Night City needed a sub to watch TV. So of course the server would need the capacity to handle all of that traffic.

I slipped into the main entrance along with normal traffic. Just accessing the website. Yep, just going to check my bill. Nothing to see here.

The server was pretty bare bones visually. It certainly wasn't a site meant to cater to Netrunners. So the front page looked like an empty room with a few options to access symbolized by a terminal, and then doors.

Locked doors. I took a moment in the lobby just to feel around. I had no doubt there would be a runner on this server. The question was how active they were, what kind of security they had, and if they'd notice my increased load.

Probably not considering how large the server is, but you never know. Some people kept an eye on the smallest of things.

Walking around since the lobby was netrunner-less, I pressed a hand against the locked door. This was a login terminal. But instead of even trying to enter credentials. I just started breaching in. It was hard, really hard. Instantly the security didn't so much fight back, as just act as a nearly impenetrable wall.

The login system was the biggest entry point for normal people after all. It had to handle a crazy amount of traffic.

Slowly I seeped in tendrils. Bit's of data accessing through the Login systems, UI. The redirect to access the password reset system was where I made my entry point, and a moment later I was in the door and into the main server.

Already my facehuggers were dashing into the server to try and hide me, and I did everything I could to limit my impact on the server. Slowly I let my sense of the server around me grow, and I realized that I wasn't alone.

There were definitely netrunners here.

I didn't have long then. I quickly started breaching into the admin section of the server.

I needed to access Yuto's account data. They'd definitely have the address where the service was going to on the backend. I just needed to find it.

I moved, going through a few hallways full of daemons that thankfully didn't notice me as I crept through their guard and into another section of the server, I found it. The admin access point.

It looked like a cube, with a bunch of chains around it securing a big lock. A bit on the nose, but I started hacking, doing my best to keep it subtle.

The security was good, but wasn't the best. I realized pretty quickly it was an old security program. One of those corporate programs with catchy slogans like 'Ultra-secure' or something like that.

I cracked it in forty seconds taking a look around and not seeing anything paying any attention to this section of the data fortress I poked my hand in.

Finding his account was easy since I had his information from seeing him log in. A few moments later I gathered the address data including the most recent activation.

Saved and stored I pulled free and took two steps before I threw up an ICE Barrier.

The splash of code that sizzled off it was a fairly nasty worm that would happily chew your data into junk.

"Got you." A netrunner said and even as I watched another showed up, and I could practically feel the attention of more coming.

"Not bad." I commented in turn as I poked my head out from behind my shield. "Let me guess, some sort of additional code required when accessing the admin server?" I questioned realizing the truth of it instantly.

"That's right. Now you are going to tell me exactly what account you gave infinite access to, otherwise I'm going to trap you here until you squeal."

I blinked.

"What?"

"What do you mean what? What account did you just give an upgrade to? If you make me search through the server myself I swear to god!" The Netrunner growled practically sending death code at me with just his eyes.

"Okay hold up. I didn't alter any account data."

"Bullshit!"

"No, seriously. That's now why I'm here. Let's talk, yeah? I'm already done, so we can be cool." I stepped out from around my data and held my hands up. Not quite the same thing as it was in the real world, but netrunners were human. We all understood what it meant.

"Talk then. And tell me what you did." The netrunner that caught me glared, the guy had a visor over his eyes, so I couldn't see that. But his mouth was caught in a snarl.

"Right. I'm a merc. Hunting down a guy that kept trying to assassinate some guy he shouldn't have. I managed to find where the guy had been before, but he was already gone… But he's a moron. He had logged into his NCTV account at his safehouse. Guess what I saw while looking for clues? He logged in at his new safe house." I laughed, because it was still hilarious. "So I just grabbed the address from his account. That's it."

The Runner looked to his chooms that still looked ready to attack before he waved them back a bit.

"Prove it."

I rolled my eyes, and pulled up a file of what I had grabbed. It appeared in my hands as a shard and I tossed it over.

He didn't touch it at first. Letting it sort of hover in front of him as he scanned it down before eventually he risked it and seemed to nod.

"It checks out?"

"See, not a scammer, just a headhunter." I offered. "Listen, I want to go and catch this guy, but I know you guys catching me here is a bunch of work. How about I give you the log of my access points, you can do some cleaning up and you can tell your bosses you ripped the data out of me or something?"

The three men and one woman all looked at each other before sort of shrugging.

"Gonna cost you more than that." The lead runner said after a moment.

"Alright. How about a code debugging for each of you. I'll give you an RSS, you send me the code, I'll clean it up for you, and in exchange we're square."

"Seriously?"

"It's something I'm pretty good at. Yoko, from the Roundabout uses my services." I enticed them and that seemed to get them all looking around in surprise. I guess Yoko was known to them.

"Deal, and I'll be contacting Yoko if you flake on us! She'll enforce the deal!" The main runner demanded and I shrugged.

"That's fine. Here. Use this, send the code over whenever. One program each." I offered flicking some deets, and then I threw my access log over as well. "There. We good?"

It took a moment, but he nodded. "Yeah. We're square as long as you leave and don't cause any-."

"Perfect." Then in a blur I vanished, Breach jumping four times straight through them and through their security pretending it didn't even exist, until I was back at the lobby and then out.

They probably got a huge surge from that move, but I had things to do. I jumped back home.

Time to hunt down Yuto.

—-

NCTV Corporate Security Netrunner Andrew Markone

"The fuck?"

"Dammit! That was a huge surge in traffic. I'm going to need to check the servers!"

"No seriously, what the fuck, did she just vanish?"

"I think that was… Holy fuck, that was multiple Breach Jumps through the server and security instantly. She's gone. Long gone." He muttered to himself staring at the server data and just…

"Glad she didn't fucking flatline us."

"Yeah. I don't get paid enough for that."

 

[Seras]

"I can't believe this jackass was trying to hide under our nose." Malcolm grumbled. I had been gone long enough for him to catch up, as we gathered in the netrunner cave.

"Tell me about it." I hissed. Yuto had been hiding in the same apartment complex that Jun and I had used to live in. Right in the middle of Japantown!

Yuto was lucky that he hadn't actually bought our old apartment. If he had I would have taken that a bit personally…

It made me think back to our old home. I still kinda missed it, but… I did like all the extra room in the new apartment, and the nicer building.

Dangit. I could never let Jun know that I agreed with his decision about the new apartment now.

We were moving in to take him out. Yuto and Roger were both hiding out inside from what I could gather, so it made things complicated.

Would killing Roger cause issues with 6th St?

Would disabling him even be possible, the guy was mid way up in 6th St. he could be borged out, or just a guy with some army training. So we set up the plan. Ichi and Malcolm would stay at the bottom floor in full rig while I went up to the second floor to find these assholes.

I had my quick hacks ready, but I wasn't going to hesitate to fire as well. I'd rather they both be dead and have this issue solved with some Tyger-6th St. issues, then let it continue on.

I parked my Quadra while Ichi's van parked behind me and all three of us jumped out with Hiromi staying in the Quadra as overwatch for the boys.

Then we charged in. Just as planned Ichi and Malcolm both took the entrance, one facing out, and one facing inward. While I rushed the stairs.

The security remembered its master, and opened without hesitation as I rushed up to the second floor on silent footsteps. Rushing to the room at the end of the hall, I posted up.

There was a security pad, but this apartment's entire security system had been under my thumb for a long time. I prepared and the door popped open as I charged in rifle raised.

Empty?

I quickly checked the bedrooms, and even rolled into the kitchen to sweep the bathroom.

Empty!?

I rushed back to the main room and looked around. This apartment was empty. Not lived in…. Something was wrong. The address for the access had been here.

I looked over at the entertainment system and scanned it. Nothing, but no. There was something.

The cable line that ran to the wall! I scanned it and followed it along and instantly noticed it was running into a black box before splitting off… Someone stole cable from this apartment in the past, rerouting everything through. This was old work. So likely Yuto wouldn't have even… The next door apartment!

I heard a crash and instantly Hiromi spoke up.

*I see him! He just jumped out of the second floor window!*

I heard gun fire and cursed as I rushed to the other apartment down the hall, it opened just as quickly. I rushed to the open window and jumped out. A second floor drop was nothing, and as I fellI caught sight of him across the street.

Yuto leapt into a beat up car, parked down the street. One that I hadn't registered as anything unusual and started driving away.

I hit the floor with an easy landing.

*Hiromi!*
I called out, but she was already on it. The Quadra roared to life, and the passenger door opened as she spun the wheels to let me enter. I jumped in, and we were off.

I glanced back at the boys and Ichi and Malcolm were rushing for his truck.

*Try to catch up!* I called to them and heard their acceptance as we were off.

I focused on Archer Quartz that Yuto had leapt in that was tearing up the road ahead of us.

My Quadra was faster, but I also wasn't driving. I threw on the seatbelt and leaned out the still open door bracing my Copperhead on the edge of the car.

Unfortunately I couldn't get a shot. Hiromi was playing catch up, and the heavy traffic meant I was being careful with my aim.

When Yuto hit the first red light, he just drove up onto the sidewalk to avoid the traffic, scaring off pedestrians, and I winced as one person got clipped.

"Careful!" I called out to Hiromi as she went to chase him.

Ahead Yuto floored into the street and cut off another car, the Galena spun out to avoid him, and Hiromi slowed to avoid it, giving Yuto another lead.

I lined up a few times and fired a few bursts into the back window, but it cracked across the armored rear glass, and caused Yuto to drive even crazier.

The Quartz he was in was definitely modded. Probably Rogers.

I growled as the asshole literally just turned off the road and drove straight through a strip mall.

"Don't follow him!" I yelped as Hiromi made to follow, but eventually decided not to, instead staying mostly on the road as she gave chase.

I kept my rifle pointed, but between the pedestrians stalls, and the chairs and tables sent flying as he rammed them I couldn't get a clear shot.

"Try to stay on him!"

"I am!" Hiromi snapped back and I nodded, as I watched his Quartz hit a set of stairs a bit roughly, but managed to drive up and then skid back onto the road.

I glared at the red that stained the front of his car. He hadn't cared about not hitting people.

Then he took off, and despite our efforts, he was getting a strong lead as we were stuck weaving through traffic.

Slowly though we started catching up. Yuto faced the same traffic and crowded streets that we did, meant that we were able to make use of the paths he created through the sidewalk or through muscling against cars pushing them out of the way.

I brought up the Copperhead and aimed.

We had a straight away, and ahead Yuto had to slow to push a Galena out of the way.

I fired, then again, and the passenger windshield cracked but held.

It also startled Yuto into accelerating and just bulldozing his past a few cars.

It wasn't exactly doing well for his car though. And I could see sparks underneath as something was hanging down and scraping now.

But I felt my eyes narrow as I realized where we were going.

Arroyo.

"He's making a break for 6th St. Territory." I told Hiromi, who cursed.

"They might interfere if he gets there!"

"Then let's not let him." I took aim again and breathed in and out. I pulled the trigger and his back window gained another spider crack.

Just had to keep it up.

Every time I got a shot I took it. Even if it wasn't a good one. I just needed enough to stop Yuto one way or another.

He started taking more and more risks, and his Quartz suffered from it. His front wheel started rocking badly after he slammed into a concrete barrier trying to push through a traffic block.

The Quartz started losing a lot of oil or gas out the back when he hit a curb and he nearly lost control as the Quartz bounced around.

The Quadra handled it all better even if it was a bigger car, and so it took us time to get through the same spaces he had punched through.

The game of cat and mouse continued with the shots of my Copperhead weakening the armored glass more and more.

Finally Yuto made it out of Japantown and across the bridge to Arroyo, and we chased after him. The roar of the Quadra catching us up much faster than Yuto's damaged Quartz Archer.

Finally we got close enough and a straight enough path.

I flipped the selector and braced and opened up. The Copperhead roared as round after round smashed into the back of the Quartz.

More and more until finally the rear windshield broke, it simply couldn't take any more and Yuto jerked as rounds started firing into the cabin and into the front windshield and hopefully into him.

I reloaded but he spun the wheel and took a turn much faster than he should have.

He slammed into a wall protecting an industrial park, and Hiromi slowed to keep from crashing and then we were there.

It was time.

The Quadra slowed to a stop. I kept the Copperhead up as I started walking over to the seemingly disabled car.

But before I could get there. Cars rumbled down the road and I glared.

6th Street was here.

The trucks had men hanging off the side assault rifles ready and I glanced around realizing what the situation was.

Hiromi was here, and while I was kitted up. This was a major move from 6th Street.

I'd have to take this carefully.

The trucks rumbled to a stop before I could get to Yuto and suddenly I was surrounded. But no one had started firing yet.

"Howdy." One of them called out as they walked over and I took in his cocky confident stride and Overture on his hip.

A cowboy.

Great.

I tilted my copperhead a bit making sure to show that it wasn't pointed at the guys.

"Can I help you?" I asked loudly, even as the soldiers turned gangsters approached.

"Sure, head on out and lose yourself in someone else's turf." The Cowboy offered as he settled into an arrogant stance, his thumbs dug into his belt.

"I'll be happy to leave… Once this one is taken care of." I offered, but from the ways the men continued to approach me, I knew that wasn't the plan they had in mind.

"'Fraid that ain't happening. This is 6th Street turf, if we had random Tyger Claw fuckers showing up and just let them cause trouble it wouldn't be our turf for long."

"I'm not Tyger Claw. I'm a merc. Just doin' a gig. I don't think we have any business unless he's one of yours." I pointed and Yuto was struggling to climb out of the Archer Quartz he had absolutely mulched.

"Maybe we do."

"You sure?" I asked pointedly. "Because that gonk's been trying to assassinate a higher up in the Tygers over the last couple weeks. I was told 6th Street had nothing to do with it when I took the gig to hunt him down. It'd be really strange if that wasn't the case." I said coolly, even as I had started working, I needed to disable as many of the weapons pointed at me as I could. Just in case.

"Well you heard right. But I still stand by what I said. We don't let other punks show up and murder gonks in our territory." I noticed two of the soldiers grab Yuto and drag him out of the car. He was bleeding, I must have winged him at least once. "So I think it's time for you to head off. Unless you want trouble."

I kept my face blank as I heard Ichi and Malcolm arrive, but thankfully he had been smart enough to park as he turned the corner and not charge in. It added another element into the situation, hopefully a good one. I sent him a quick message to sit tight.

"No, but maybe an offer. How much to let me take that one?" I asked and that caused the Cowboy hat to shift a little. Surprise. He hadn't expected a monetary offer.

"Yeah? I don't think you got the eddies for it."

"You'd be surprised. Rogue pays well." I said throwing out her name to try and keep them off balance.

So far more than half the group's weapons would be disabled at a thought. But the question was if I should even let this come to combat.

Thinking it over I realized that the gig wasn't to shoot up a bunch of 6th Street thugs.

At least not this time.

"Well I do. C'mon he's nothing to you or 6th Street. The guy is former Tyger Claw."

"Yeah maybe." The Cowboy said before shrugging. "But no matter what he was, right now, the fact is this is Arroyo, and we don't let shit like this slide. It's part of our good neighbor program."

I caught his eye, staring him down and knew that this guy was feeding me bullshit. They had been called in to save him, and were throwing their weight around to keep him alive.

For some reason. Why does 6th Street want Yuto?

"Alright then. I'm not paid enough to fight 6th Street over it." I lied, with a smile on my face as I backed up.

I could see a few of the gonks wanted to push. To get into a fight, or maybe take us along, but Cowboy just smiled and waved as I slowly walked backwards to the Quadra. And slipped inside the passenger seat.

"Get us out of here. Drive slow, casual." I told Hiromi who nodded and started doing just that. The Quadra slowly backed off and then out onto the street and rumbled past Ichi who quickly followed us, all of us heading down the street until we once more crossed the bridge out of Arroyo.

"Motoko?"

"I don't know." I answered back. While I knew we would be able to find Yuto again, especially through his NCTV access. That didn't mean this wasn't a problem.

"We need to tell Fujimura."

"I'll call him." Hiromi confirmed and I nodded while still glaring out the window.

—--

We didn't head back to the netrunner cave, instead we headed home.

Yuto was injured. He wouldn't be active for a while, likely if 6th Street wanted him alive, they would want to take him to a ripper and put him back together first.

We had a bit of time.

That was why Jun suddenly had four annoyed teenagers armed in heavy equipment drag their feet into the apartment and flop around the couch.

"Hello Motoko. I'm glad you are having a nice day. Oh my day? It's been fine." Jun said after about thirty seconds of all of us flopping around on the couches.

"We almost had Yuto." I answered back and Jun flinched, bad.

"What?"

"Oh you 'almost' caught him?" Akari asked, almost mocking.

"He managed to get into a car and made it to Arroyo. 6th Street jumped in just as we had him, and protected him." I said, a little annoyed at Akari. "Which means that this is even more complicated than we thought. 6th Street are protecting Yuto. What do you think that means?"

"Shit." Jun curses and stands up pacing. "Did you tell-?"

"Fujimura was informed." Hiromi spoke up from where she had been laying flat on her back. FInally she grumbled and sat up pulling some of the gear free. "He isn't happy, and is going to send a few messages to his contacts in 6th Street, to try and find out what is going on."

"It's not a good look." Ichi said then. "If that starts spreading, and the low totem Tygers start thinking 6th Street is behind the assassination attempts… It means they will retaliate, which will drag everyone into a new war."

"That's not going to happen, because we are going to catch Yuto and the whole thing will end with that." I said instead.

Jun though was throwing puppy dog eyes at me. He hadn't had the will to tell me to stop chasing Yuto, but he still didn't like it.

But while he had tried to get me to promise to leave Yuto alone, I hadn't actually done it. So that means I wasn't bound by it! That's sibling rule number four!

But I had no doubt that if 6th Street wanted him alive, they'd be guarding him…

Fuck.

"What's on TV?" Malcolm asked, and a few moments later Jun turned on the TV and everyone seemed to be satisfied to drown themselves in stupid for a while.

I closed my eyes and just let myself process what had happened.

Why had Yuto been in the wrong apartment? If he had just been in the right apartment when I came in that would be it.

My frustration at the completely random freak chance of some old apartment dweller stealing cable meant that I hit the wrong place, and somehow Yuto had known. That was the part that pissed me off the most. How had he known? I hadn't exactly been loud when I entered the apartment.

"I should go check out the apartment. Maybe find out what was going on, how he heard me. Did he have a camera or something? It-" I started to say, but Hiromi waved me down.

"Motoko." Hiromi said and I stopped. "It was just a freak accident. Fujimura will send people to the apartments to look around. If you want we can ask them what they find, but… It's not your fault. We'll get him next time."

I swallowed the words that wanted to bite out of my throat and nodded. Flopping back down.

"I hate losing."

—--

"Roger Almeda." I growled glaring at the dossier that Fujimura had sent over.

Turns out the guy wasn't just some off the street 6th Street gonk.

He was apparently ex-Militech Special forces. He was the crazy kind of Solo that followed Blackhands words religiously. The whole sleeping in a new location every time, and sometimes that meant sleeping in a cardboard box in an alley that's even better because people can't track you to it.

"He's known to us. Dangerous and methodical." Fujimura of all people said. He had arrived at the apartment and handed over the information they had gained himself.

"How did Yuto of all people meet this guy? I thought they met in prison!"

"They did." Fujimura agreed and then there was a glare on his face. "This is conjecture, but Yuto meeting Roger Almeda in prison could have been targeted. He isn't the first young man in prison that has been filled with poison for his arrest."

"Yeah well. Great job." I grumbled as I stared at the info in my Agent.

The second apartment had been heavily secured, and it turned out Yuto's apartment had been watched by some small spy cameras not in the apartment, but secured to the outside of the building across the street.

Roger had an eye on the apartment, and when we arrived it had sent an alert to Yuto causing him to bolt.

Great. I had flubbed it too.

"Whatever." I decided, shaking it off. "I'll find him soon, and this time I'll just put a bullet in him." I said and Fujimura nodded.

"While we would prefer him delivered to us… I'll accept the contract if you can secure his death. We will still need proof."

"Does a BD recording work?" I asked, and Fujimura after a moment, a slight twitch to his lips.

"It does." He finally said after a few moments and Hiromi snickered as she watched on.

"Alright. Then we are back to waiting a bit to see when Yuto pops up again. I'll keep an eye out, but I'm pretty sure our current way of tracking him will still work." I said and Fujimura curled an eyebrow at me, but I refused to say more.

As it stood only my chooms knew how we had tracked Yuto, and I was going to keep it that way.

"You should have called in assistance once you realized where he was." Fujimura suddenly said, causing the room to go quiet as everyone looked between us.

I sighed, raising my hand up I ran my fingers across my face, scratching idly against my forehead with my cool chrome.

"You're right." I acknowledged. "This gig wasn't just for reputation, it was personal. I should have brought you in the moment I realized where he was. More people would have kept him from escaping."

"Hmm. Then I will leave it at that. In this instance. Kusanagi. I want this completed. No matter what resources are needed."

"Understood." With that Fujimura turned away from me and walked over to Jun. They spoke quietly for a bit, but I purposefully didn't listen in.

Time to get back to work.

 

[Seras]

The next day I went into the net, and checked the NCTV server. Thankfully, thanks to my Perk gained knowledge I had slipped a few backdoors into the server as I breached it, so the netrunners never noticed me peaking in again. I was able to slip in without issue and double check the information.

Nothing yet. Yuto's subscription was still set to the Japantown apartment.

I decided not to waste time trying to find him through cameras considering the sparseness of good cameras in Arroyo, and instead focusing on other things.

It turns out, I had a problem, and it was time to solve it.

While at the netrunner cave I opened up the batch of files that Yoko had sent over to me, and pulled out a quick hack I hadn't really considered using before.

Vehicle hacks.

They were… Different from normal quick hacking, but vehicles did have computers that could be hacked just like anything else.

They just also tended to have much stronger defenses, but almost never outright Black ICE.

The idea was simple. I was going to take a Quick Hack that would make the on board computer think there was an emergency and brake hard.

That way no one would be getting away from me like yesterday again.

The hack, like most of the stuff Yoko had sent me, was pretty rough. Full of extra data, or just terrible coding cycles.

I ripped out the important bit and started re-writing it from the ground up, not in the real world, but in my Server Lobby.

That way I could also sit down and finally do some more work for my Tachikoma as well.

I hadn't been giving it the full attention it needed, so I was doing that while programming.

Sitting in my server lobby, feet up on the high end table, one hand programming what I needed my Tachikoma to do, cleaning up junk data, while the other worked on the hack was a pretty fun experience.

The cooling cap kept my Cyberdeck cool enough I wasn't having any issues and it felt good to just sit and do some work.

"Why the hell does this code have data on heating seats!? It doesn't fucking matter!" I yelled planning on sending Yoko a piece of my mind for always giving me such garbage to work with.

The hack really was simple enough. I would breach in using my own skills, so my knowledge from Strong Breach would let me just hammer through a vehicles defenses. This let me slim down the program by removing all the insertion protocols from the hack. Then I would dump it into the car's processor. It would slam on the brakes thinking the engine was damaged.

It created a very slim program in the end, but I continued tinkering with streamlining the process. The many differences in car manufacturers was an annoyance, but even the cheapest Galena had an on board computer.

I just had to adjust the hack to be able to activate regardless of system. Locking down brakes was actually really easy, because anti-lock brakes all used computer systems.

I glanced over at the Tachikoma.

It was currently set up in a server section. A small maze I had created and it was navigating it.

For the first time the Tachikoma truly needed to use its intelligence to explore the maze, learning to move in a space that wasn't clear to the poor thing…

Well right now it was just going in circles only taking the left path…

I sighed and sent an adjustment order, and it stopped letting the process get logged realizing it wasn't going anywhere.

Then it took the left turn again.

Well… It was a learning process.
—--

I slurped up some noodles staring blankly at the television that was playing above the ramen bar.

Boring news, but whatever, it wasn't like I was actually focused on it. I was just decompressing from staying twelve hours inside the net.

It wasn't… Terrible. And I felt okay, but I definitely felt a little burned out.

Sluuuuurp.

I had checked on the NCTV connection again before logging out, but didn't get anything. It wasn't that much of a surprise. He had gotten in a nasty car crash and I probably shot him at least once. Healing, especially fast healing, was expensive. He was probably put together with tape and spit and left to heal naturally.

I doubt 6th Street cared that much about him after all.

Whatever plot they had for him was likely purely selfish. Yuto was a dead man walking. I could only wonder if he knew it already.

News flicked onto commercials and I ignored the stupid thing trying to sell me Buck a Slice and continued to zone out.

Stupid Yuto. I could be doing more important things than hunting his gonk ass down.

Suddenly notes startled me out of my reverie and I jerked as I stared at the TV.

At the sounds of old brass and thrumming strings.

A song I recognized because the only reason it existed in Night City was because of me.

"Mr. Stud, All night. Every Night. Don't be soft, upgrade to version 2.3 now."

I spit Ramen. Noodles escaped me, and one particular one went straight up my sinuses and out my nose.

No.

No no no no!

Not Tank! They couldn't have! They used Tank to sell Cyber Dicks!?

"Hey, watch it!" The owner of the stand yelled at me waving a ladle at me, but I was too busy coughing and hacking and pulling a noodle out of my nose.

This was….

I stood up. Appetite completely killed. Tossing some eddies to the chef I stomped out.

What the fuck?

—--

I knew Hiromi wouldn't be entirely sympathetic, so instead I went looking for a kinder touch.

"It's not right!" I whined, and Misty nodded at me slowly, fighting off her obvious amusement as she tried to be understanding.

"I can understand how it might be embarrassing." Misty added, doing her best to keep her lips from twitching.

"I'm really not feeling the love Misty." I grumbled, but her grin just got a little wider.

"It's not something I have any advice for, but if you want to hear something… Let it go. It's gone and done. You already said you didn't feel like you could do anything about it, right?"

I grumbled poking at the mystic stuff Misty had on her desk, but in the end she was right. I wasn't going to go killing people for this, and I had sold it. I just didn't expect to hear my song on a- I shook it off. "It just sucks."

"Well if you don't like it, you should make enough songs that you never have to mind if one of them is used for something you don't like." Misty offered almost too casually.

I felt my eyes narrow as Misty did her best to continue to look casual.

"Did Hiromi put you up to this?" I demanded quietly and Misty finally broke, her forced casualness breaking into giggles.

"No, but she did mention about your big concert and all the songs you wrote." Misty said as she pouted at me. "I wasn't invited?"

"I-it isn't like that! I wasn't planning on inviting anyone! It was supposed to be… Just me really, but my chooms have no respect for my imminent mental breakdowns." I grumbled continuing to poke at the golden faux-Buddha on her desk.

"Hmm… I'll forgive you… If I get invited to the next one."

I groaned, flopping onto the table. "I'm not sure if there will be another time. This was supposed to be just a one off thing."

"Hmm." Misty very overdramatically hummed as I looked up from the buddha to glare at her.

"Stop psychoanalyzing me."

"Me? Never, but your Chakras fluctuate every time-"
"Oh no you don't! Calling it spiritualism doesn't change anything. I don't need a psychologist… Well I probably do, but that's another story, and not for this. I just wanted the musicI make to not be about dicks!" I said and then sighed. "And I only planned on it being a me thing."

"And if that is all it ever ends up, that's fine. But I did see the Concert Brain Dance. I don't usually like them, but Hiromi gave me one and I checked it out."

"Ughhhh." I whined embarrassed.

"You had fun. I know because I had fun." Misty said and I puffed out my cheeks as I glared at her.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Okay. You don't have to accept your own feelings yet, but the longer you wait, the more your chakra will be thrown out of alignment. And… If you can accept my own thoughts? I think you should explore this aspect of yourself. Instead of trying to hide it away."

"I'll think about it." I grumbled, but Misty just smiled as if she had already won, which annoyed me because she was likely right.

"Fine! I'm going to go check in with Vik, get an exam done while I'm here." I grumbled, and Misty just laughed at me, as I very obviously fled. Maybe Vik would commiserate with me?

Then I considered Vik's dad-energy and I felt like he would probably laugh and tease me more than Misty. Best not to mention it.

—--

I felt looser after Vik checked me over. Routine maintenance was actually, a pretty nice feeling. Well that and Vik had poked me about how rough I was with my hands. I had worn down my grippers faster than normal.

I looked at my new fingertips plinking them together enjoying the dull sound as the ruber-ish tips gave me extra grip.

"Having fun?" A familiar voice called out and I only took a second before flipping the bird at the approaching man. "That hurts Hermanita." Jackie offered, hands to his chest pretending I had struck him but his smile ruined it.

"It's been a while Jack, going to see Vik?"

"That's right! Got a delivery for the old man." He said, patting the bag in his hand and I couldn't help but look at it curiously.

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Ah ah ah. Can't reveal that Hermanita! Jack's on the job. Confidential stuff." He said waving his eyebrows and I just quirked my own eyebrow back at him.

"But if the old ripper opens it, then it's up to him to keep it secret eh?"

I smiled as I turned and waved at the steps down to Vik's lair. I followed Jackie down and Vik looked up at the sudden entrance, his smile turning deeper as he saw me and Jackie.

"If you broke something already, I'm not fixing it." He said directly at me, and I just huffed as Jackie started chuckling just as loud. The two men's laughter syncing together into a mock track.

"Whatever." I demanded arms crossed and glared until Jackie raised his arms in surrender.

"Alright, alright Hermanita put the phasers away." He begged and then turned to Vik. "Delivery for you, you old ripper. Compliments of the Dragon of-"

"Jack, stop making up names for Mrs. Okada. She doesn't like it." Vik cut Jackie off, but took the bag and opened it up. "And as always her contacts are good." Vik said.

"What is it?" I asked popping up at his side to try and peak in. But despite Vik's flinch at my sudden appearance the glance inside the bag wasn't fun. "Oh it's just some parts."

"Heh, certainly nothing that will interest you Motoko. Just some parts for a client." He said as he placed down the bag and started pulling out pieces.

I took note of them, but it really was just civilian stuff. Even a canister of Real Skinn.

"Well that's it for me." Jackie offered stretching out. "Don't usually like being a courier but." Jackie trailed off shrugging and I nodded.

Wakako was like that.

But considering Jackie was here, and I was still waiting on Yuto's reappearance… "Hey Jackie. Want to grab a drink, on me?" I asked, and Jackie looked hesitant, obviously but in the end he seemed to pull himself together.

"I'm on my way back to the Coyote, meet me there?"

"Sure!"

—--

"So this gonk is being hidden by 6th Street!"

"Heh, you certainly don't have much luck with them do you?" Jackie joked as he tipped back his drink.

"I guess not." I agreed, remembering the last time I had called on Jackie had been for trouble in Arroyo. "Don't suppose you have any 6th Street contacts that could find out why they are protecting Yuto?"

"I know some chooms, and some gonks sure." Jackie said, tipping back another swallow.

"Don't listen to him, Jackie has chooms all over." Pepe the bartender cut in, the man smirked at Jackie's scoffing retort.

"Jackie is good about making allies out of the strangest people." I said, thinking about V.

"Yeah well, this time I can't help. Everyone knows this is a 6th Street and Tyger thing. If I asked around people'd start asking why I want to get involved." He said to me, and I nodded.

"Thanks anyway." I said, but then I looked him over and decided to peel off the bandage. "You know… You never got back to me, about working with me more."

"I've been busy." He said pointedly and I just nodded letting it go.

I wasn't here to push anyways, but if Jackie was satisfied doing courier work… Which I knew he wasn't.

"Well if you ever need any backup, don't hesitate to call. But I still need to figure out this 6th Street thing."

"Wait." He said reaching out to touch my shoulder but he didn't actually grab me. "Definitely seems like trouble. Gang politics, not just scraps between the pendejos at the bottom? Risky shit Hermanita. You be careful. Be ready to bail at the first sign something is off."

"I will Jack. I got my chooms with me too. I'll be careful though."

The older man nodded, and then seemed like he wanted to say more, but instead of continuing he just reached over and slapped a meaty hand on my shoulder in goodbye.
—-

*Motoko: I got him. Going to do some recon, but everyone should get ready...*

The message was sent. I had checked into the NCTV system again and found that Yuto had once again accessed his TV sub.

It's always good that people are too stupid to really keep themselves off the net.

I got the notifications back and then I sighed as I readied the next message.

*Motoko: I got Yuto's current position.*

*Fujimura: Excellent. I will assist.*

*Motoko: Feel free to send some people to come along if you want, but he isn't in a position to really get. I'm going to have to hit Yuto like this is an assassination. Sorry you are just going to get a BD of his death. I doubt I'm going to be able to drag him out from where they got him hiding.*

*Fujimura: Very well. Just make sure the kill is obvious through the BD if you can.*

*Motoko: That I can do.*

I rose up and stretched, disconnecting from my Netrunner chair. I had the address, it was time.

I headed out to the Quadra already considering the best way to do this. I'll admit, I was pretty angry about this entire situation. From the start I didn't like it, and this had gone on long enough.

I slipped into the Quadra after the short jog to the parking lot I had left her in.

My chooms had already sent me a marker for a meetup point, but I was going to be a little late. I needed to do some scouting first.

 

[Seras]

I 'borrowed' a cheap looking car as I traveled over. I knew my Quadra would stand out, since I had chased after Yuto in it last time.

Since I knew where he was, and I knew how hard it would be to get close without being seen, I had come up with a brilliant plan!

"Alright. Everything looks good… Alright Tachikoma-Chan. We are synced up. Time to see what you can do." I whispered to it as I opened my car door and plopped it out on the dirt.

This section of the city was dirty little suburbs of sorts. Run down houses and apartment blocks packed around the canal, and that was what caused the problem. Yuto was in a house down in the canal, and I couldn't get anywhere near it without someone being able to see me.

I scanned around with the Tachikoma as my actual body leaned back in the back seat. I had some practice using the Tachikoma, but this was going to be the first time I had given it a real test drive. I started moving, the Tachikoma's legs mostly noiseless on the grass besides a few difficulties keeping all four legs in mind.

But I quickly got the hang of it, and crawled past the two run down houses and looked down. The Canal area was more than a twenty foot ramp down into another suburb. And that was where Yuto was. The house he was hiding out in was right there, but I had to get Tachikoma down there without breaking.

Nothing for it. I climbed over to the incline and hunched down, and just let Gravity take control.

My Tachikoma didn't have any wheels installed yet, and so I winced a bit at the noise, but it wasn't overly loud for the area. Cars and people, and music played from radios filled the air, so as my little drone slipped down it only made a modicum of noise before hitting the end and rolling a bit.

Using its arms I flipped it back onto its legs and looked around. Success. I scurried over to a pile of garbage to hide out in for a bit in case the noise had alerted anyone, but after a few minutes I slipped out and started towards the house.

Tachikoma stealth!

I actually started feeling pretty happy about this. The movement was working pretty well and I was getting to use a piece of my arsenal that I hadn't gotten a chance to use yet!

Crawling up to the back door I connected into the back door hacking through and accessing the controls. Unfortunately it was a closed system, and wasn't connected to anything else, so I ran into the first problem.

The Tachikoma was a prototype. And because of that, she had a bit of an issue.

She couldn't hear anything. I hadn't actually installed any sort of microphone receiver in the prototype.

Something I decided I would have to fix asap, but until then I would have to rely on my other senses, and whatever I could hack into.

To be careful, I retreated and then had the door open. Waiting for a while to see if anyone came to see why the door opened.

A few minutes later it looked clear and I had the Tachikoma slide inside. Looking over the kitchen I entered, I took in the situation and grinned. With a quick motion I had the Tachikoma open a cupboard and slip inside, as I started hacking into all the electronics in the house.

Most things had some sort of microphone and so without much difficulty I hacked into the radio that was on the kitchen counter, and suddenly with a bit of digital work I was able to hear.

The sound of a TV blaring in another room made me smirk. I did a quick sweep to check for any cameras or something, but this was just a residence, not a gang base.

It wasn't going to be that easy.

Now that I could hear I slipped back out of the cupboard, gently crawling across the kitchen doing my best to stay in the shadows, funnily enough, while it wasn't perfect ninjutsu was transferring well enough I was able to be ninja Tachikoma.

Considering how useful this was, I might have to start running the AI through some stealth programs teaching it how to sneak around.

I peered out of the kitchen into a hallway and realized the sound was coming from my right. A living room space set up with a large entertainment space, and the man I was after sprawled across the couch.

Along with two goons as well.

Target confirmed.

I considered a few things. Could I hack Yuto right now to kill him? I didn't have anything installed that was lethal though.

I grumbled, if I had a more lethal hack this entire issue could be resolved right now.

Shaking it off I noticed something interesting. The two 6th Street goons that were also in the room. They weren't there hanging out with Yuto.

They were there guarding him.

And I don't think it was for his protection. Yuto had the look of someone being held.

I don't think whoever was running this little trouble between 6th Street and the TC, really cared for Yuto.

In fact considering he had failed twice, he might be on the gonks shitlist.

I moved the Tachikoma under a coffee table in the corner and settled in as I started hacking.

I knew Yuto's contact was Roger, but I wanted to know what the fuck was really going on.

So I quietly slipped into the goons' agents.

It was going to take a while, but I wanted all their calls and records.

Knowledge was power, and I would like to find out who was trying to cause so much trouble between the gangs.

—--

"Motoko!" Hiromi called as I finally arrived at the restaurant that was in City Center, just across the bridge from Arroyo.

"Hey Hiromi. Sorry I'm late… I thought they'd send someone else." I mentioned looking at Jun and Akari sitting in the booth behind my chooms.

"I was ordered to come." Jun offered weakly. Far too weak for the man that I knew.

"It's fine Jun-nii. You won't have to do anything. I scoped out where Yuto is currently staying, and honestly… Neither you or Akari can really help."

I pulled up a picture I had taken and sent it to everyone.

Instantly Ichi noticed the issue, Malcolm right behind him. Jun was frowning heavily.

"That's…"

"Right in the middle of 6th Street territory. Practically impenetrable. Especially for a couple of very obvious Tyger Claws." I agreed and everyone was angry to hear it.

Rancho Coronado's strange little section that was technically the dams wash zone, but it had been completely converted into a little suburb. And every inch of it belonged to 6th. Street. The place was packed. Massively populated, and nearly impossible to get into without everyone and anyone knowing about it.

It was also ironically where Maine had set up his little hideout.

There was no easy way to do this without going up close. So that was what I was going to do. "So that's the plan." I finished and got nods from my crew, but looks of concern from Jun and Akari.

"That's dumb." Jun finally said. "How are you going to get out? You can't do this!"

"I'll have a car parked close by. Malcolm will be my wheels in, Ichi and Hiromi will be parked here." I highlighted the location and sent the update to everyone's agent. "If everything goes well, I'll be out before they can do much. If something goes wrong, and I get chased, Malcolm will be racing to meet up with Ichi, and then Ichi and Hiromi will have the heavy weapons ready."

"This is crazy. Do it." Akari said, reminding me that she was crazy, because this plan was crazy and only a crazy person would do it.

Our eyes met, and I nodded.

Oh yeah. I was not happy with this situation. Yuto needed to die. Plain and simple.

"Going in alone is dumb. I'll come with you." Jun started, but I cut him off.

"Denied." I refused, crossing my arms in an X. "You are too slow, and too obvious. This is absolutely doable. This time, speed will be my advantage. They can't formulate a good escape if I hit them faster than they could hope to respond. I won't fuck up this time. I know exactly where Yuto is, I have a direct camera looking at him." I could acknowledge last time I had been too hotheaded. Rushing in myself instead of doing some searching around before we hit Yuto.

But this was different. I had properly scouted the place this time.

I looked around at everyone. "Any questions?" I asked, and only Malcolm raised his hand. "Yeah, I think we should call in more backup. Rebecca's a good shooter."

"Let's do that right now." I agreed with a smile, having once again forgotten that I had more than my small group of chooms ready for war.

Time to fuck shit up.

—--

Malcolm's Caliburn got a lot of attention, and that was intentional. I could have used the 'borrowed' car I had picked up before, but I wanted eyes on the ride instead of on me.

With the Tachikoma in place, I already had all the control over the situation I could ever need.

As we drove up, I reconnected to the signal, and saw that while a few things had moved the three of them were still downstairs watching TV.

It was time.

I was in full kit, although I had considered going either way, but this was 6th Street we were dealing with. I didn't want to end up shot and not having something to protect me.

Besides, as much as I wanted to do this as a full stealth run… That wasn't likely just because of all the eyes on Rancho Coronado to start with.

And there was a part of me that just wanted to send a message.

You can't protect some gonk from me.

That was what a part of my mind wanted to tell 6th Street.

I had pushed it away and ignored it, because getting this done and getting out was more important…

But it would always be there.

I shook it off as Malcolm hit the point and I nodded. To him.

*Go time. Everyone get ready.* Then I opened the door of his Caliburn that had slowed to a crawl and leapt.

I was up on the upper level above the canal, on a street that had a few run down houses overlooking the lower suburbs. As I jumped I raced between two of the run down homes, and in the backyard was a drop leading straight into the backyard of the house Yuto was in.

I hit the canal edge and slid down in an easy motion, riding my momentum until I nearly hit the bottom as I leapt again.

*100 Athletics XP Gained.*

While in the air, the Tachikoma camera gave me access and I pushed through the hacks.

The two gonks with Yuto both went blind and shocked in a few seconds and started crying out as they dropped to the ground.

I saw through Tachikoma's feed the moment Yuto seemed to realize what had happened, and how much danger he must be in. He rose up and made it two steps towards the exit of the living room as he tried to escape.

I had activated my Sandevistan as I reached the door. Speed was my ally.

I caught him before he even made it a few steps, sliding through the kitchen and into the living room as I brought up my Copperhead. I took a moment to really get a good look at him.

There was a moment where he saw me.

His eyes widened, he wouldn't know who I was. My helmet blocked my face, but for just a second I considered the fact he had a past with who I had once been.

Motoko Kusanagi, the wild child.

Then I lined up my shot and pulled the trigger. The Copperhead barely jiggled in my arms as I watched the bullet shoot out in almost slow motion.

My Sandy wasn't that fast after all.

A moment later I turned off the Sandy and it was over.

Yuto crumpled.

I walked over and just to be sure, shot him three more times in the head.

*250 XP Gained.*

Then I was gone. Ignoring the two screaming 6th Street gonks on the floor. I grabbed my Tachikoma and rushed out the front of the house. My escape car already waiting for me. A little Mizutani Shion Reaver. One of the cars that we had stolen from the Raffen. This one was one that Hiromi had nabbed although she barely used it. But it wasn't my Quadra.

I could hear people pointing out my appearance, and I knew I wouldn't have much time.

I slipped inside, throwing the Tachikoma into the passenger seat before hitting the gas. I struggled to get my seatbelt on as I floored it down the street.

There would be people chasing after me, but I had come up with an exit strategy.

I drifted around the corner of the street, avoiding a few civilian cars, with a gentle flick of the steering wheel sending me around them, and then the engine rumbled and I was gone. Straight up the ramp out of the canal and onto the highway.

Traffic was pretty bad, which wasn't a good thing, but I wasn't staying on the road for long. The Shion's ending whined as I jerked onto the shoulder, ignoring the honking and angry looks from those slowed in heavy traffic as I hit the gas, and took the first ramp back off. New Pacific Highway was the road that went past the Biotechnica flats, and out to the customs checkpoint.

But it was also a long distance road that would let me get out of the city and lose anyone following me because without any trouble I hit the gas straight down and flew down the road.

*I'm out and on my way. Target neutralized.* I finally sent over the open line.

*Great job Motoko!* Hiromi cheered.

*So… Yuto?* Jun asked, suddenly and I went quiet.

*I made sure it was painless.* I offered back the only thing I could really say to comfort my brother.

I checked my rear view not seeing any 6th Street cars chasing after me. Likely left behind in the traffic if they tried.

I shifted gears to get that little bit more speed out of the Shion.

—--

I pulled into the parking lot seeing Malcolm already here which was a relief.

As I parked I noticed a few familiar Tyger Claw vehicles parked nearby, including Fuijmura standing over by Jun and Akari.

I guess he had wanted to come check.

Walking over I pulled out a shard and offered it to him. "Proof of the contract completion. BD recording." I explained and he nodded pleased and pocketed it.

"You solved a lot of trouble with this. I'll make sure everyone knows that Junichirou is no longer under investigation." He offered back and looked to Jun.

Jun that looked… Tired.

I walked over and hesitated. I had killed one of his chooms. Should I touch him? Would that be a good, or a bad thing? Should I just let him take some time?

But it was taken out of my hands as he reached out and gently pulled me into a side hug.

"Don't overthink it." He said finally. "I'm not… I wish it didn't have to go this way, but I don't blame you for doing it Motoko. Yuto made his choice."

"Indeed." Fujimura offered, but he wasn't saying it to be gentle to Jun. "Yuto went too far, and he is now an excellent example for the future." He offered, and then looked at Jun with an almost glare.

Ah. I had thought for a moment Fujimura was just being ignorant of Jun's difficulty here, but that wasn't the case. He was actually well aware, but trying to berate Jun about it.

I felt my own glare towards the man come on, but instead of what I expected Jun stood up straighter. "Understood Fujimura-Sama. Thank you." He offered back and then he turned to Akari, and the few other gonks that Fujimura had with him. Some guards of some sort?

"Yuto is dead! Drinks are on me!" He called out, and the gonks cheered, and Akari nodded.

I watched Jun's back as he walked away stepping into a position of mob leader. My confusion was pretty strong. Jun… Wasn't hurt about Yuto? But he just was!

Then I saw it.

Jun looked away while in the middle of the group, and his face told it all.

Hurt, and pain.

He wasn't unbothered, he was playing his part…

"Jun has to pretend to be okay with this, proof that he wasn't involved." I spoke quietly.

"That's right." Fujimura spoke back just as quietly. "This will get out. Make rounds, that the Oni celebrated the death of the traitor. It will be good for his rep, clear him of some of the suspicion."

I watched on, and realized I would have to do something.

But not here. Not when Jun was trying to regain his position with the Tygers. The very idea of it sickened me more than before, but that was Jun's choice, not mine.

Instead I turned away and headed over to my chooms who had been hanging back. Hiromi was smiling proudly as I approached, and Malcolm looked very pleased by even the random people stopping at the gas station checking out his car despite all the Tyger Claws around.

Ichi nodded, but Rebecca pouted.

"I thought there would be more shooting?"

"There might have been." I offered instead. I was surprised at how well this had gone. I expected a car chase and a shoot out and everything too. "C'mon! We just finished a big gig! Foods on me!" I called out and thankfully that was the right call Rebecca cheered and Malcolm joined her.

Everything was… Okay. Not great. Not perfect, but this was Night City. Sometimes good enough was good enough.

—--

"Mother fucker!" I hissed as Ichi Malcolme and Hiromi all grabbed me and held me back as I kicked at the stupid advertisement.

"Whoa, Motoko!?" Malcolm called out, absolutely shocked at how I had just been beating the shit out of the advertisement.

"Calm down!" Ichi called out, but I shook a bit.

"You calm down!" I hissed, unfortunately I wasn't interested in hurting my chooms, and so they managed to drag me away a bit.

"What's got into you?" Malcolm asked, and I shook my head, not wanting to answer.

"Fuck yeah!" A moment later a voice called out and even I stopped pulling to look over as Rebecca drop kicked the ad as well laughing hysterically.

"Rebecca? Why are you trying to destroy it?" Hiromi asked, and Rebecca wiped herself down.

"Huh? Oh I don't have any reason, Motoko was doing it, so I thought I might as well, you know?" She said looking like she was going to continue smashing the thing, but Hiromi shook her head and looked to me.

"That was your song wasn't it? Why are you freaking out?" Hiromi asked and I stopped pulling and looked at her with a glare. I watched as she shifted back a bit.

I wasn't angry with Hiromi though. I was just angry.

"Tank, isn't dick ad music!" I demanded and Hiromi just blinked in surprise at my words.

Then Malcolm started laughing hysterically, Ichi looked away from me as he let go, and his shoulders were shaking.

"That was your song?" Malcolm managed to gasp out and I growled looking back at the damaged ad sign.

"I'm going to break it." I growled and Hiromi jumped on me again. Rebecca just started cackling and looked about ready to start smashing again.

"We have to go. NCPD will be here soon! C'mon!" Hiromi demanded and I growled, but when Rebecca whooped and started running, I figured it was fine.

To my surprise, I could hear the sirens of the NCPD already starting to come closer.

Huh. I guess advertisement boards were something they took seriously. I glanced back and took a moment to hack into the advertisement's camera system and deleted the recording.

No reason to let the NCPD target us.

Then I started running, and soon I was laughing along with everyone as we ran through an alley to escape from the cops.

We ended up down the block and then through a little shopping strip. Stopping to let Ichi grab some candy from a vendor and then continued on.

I wasn't sure where we were going, as we weren't really going anywhere, but that was okay.

The five of us were just… Walking through the city.

Rebecca was ahead of us, arms behind the back of her head as she walked along, and all of us were just shooting the shit.

Then a familiar jingle came over a nearby ad again.

"Mother fucker!" I yelled as my chooms leapt on me to keep me from committing murder on another ad board.

 

[Seras]

The next morning I groaned as I sat up. We had all crashed on my couch watching TV and hanging out, and I had definitely not gotten my full eight hours, but the sun was out coming through the window waking me up.

Stupid California sun.

I looked around. Hiromi was curled up beside me. Rebecca looked like she had kicked Ichi in the face at some point in the night as she looked like she was ready to fight ninjas in her sleep.

Ichi was on the floor looking a little pitiful, and Malcolm had started on the floor and was happily drooling away.

Using Ninja reflexes to switch my leg that Hiromi had stolen with a pillow I got up and stretched. I should get some breakfast for my chooms.

I headed around the room quietly, making sure not to make a single noise as I got ready and then while everyone was still sleeping I slipped out.

There was an okay food stall just down the street. I hit the ground level, and walked out. The morning was busy. People heading to jobs. Heads down beaten by the daily grind.

I walked over to the food stall and slipped into the line. Yawning a bit as I felt sleepy, not something I usually had to deal with, but that was fine, a bit of more natural sleep every once in a while wasn't a bad thing.

I passed over the eddies and started piling skewers of meat into my hands when I heard it.

Gunfire.

I looked up as did everyone. One or two shots was normal, but full auto fire was unusual, especially this early in the morning.

I could see tension rising, but no one started screaming or running off, they just hunched in on themselves and got on with their day.

As the gunfire continued I felt a frown growing on my face.

Then I heard explosions, grenades if I was right.

Something bigger than normal was going on.

I took a bite of my meat skewer and chewed slowly.

Oh well!

I turned and headed back upstairs.

—--

"Not bad." Rebecca offered as she chowed down on her breakfast after I woke everyone up. "Not as good as the old lady that cooks around my place, but not bad."

"Nah, the old guy around my apartment has the best skewers." Malcolm denied, and I had to jump in with a scoff.

"No, the old guy around my old apartment had the best ones." I argued and soon all of us were pointing out where the best meat skewer places were in Night City.

There must be drugs in the skewers because everyone argued that the place nearest to them had the best ones.

We were getting rowdy arguing when suddenly Jun popped out of his room. Already fully suited up in his Tyger Claw stuff.

"Jun?" I asked, because it was unusual to see him dressed up this early in the morning.

"6th Street just did a raid on one of our distributors." He offered as he hit the kitchen and grabbed a burrito obviously for the road.

"Shit. Does that mean there's going to be another gang war?" Ichi asked, and Jun stopped for a moment.

"Not sure, but we won't just let this one go." He looked at me. "This is probably retribution for… Yuto." He explained and I frowned.

6th Street wouldn't react this strongly to just some gonk getting flatlined. Not unless they wanted an excuse to do this anyways.

"I'm going to call Wakako." I said, and Jun shrugged before heading out.

"Motoko?"

"Just give me a second Hiromi. Wakako will know what's going on… Actually I'll send her a text, she might be busy." If there was a surprise attack, Wakako would definitely be busy handing out information.

*Motoko: I'd like any information on what is going on with 6th Street you can give me Wakako. Attacking because of Yuto sounds wrong.*

I nodded as I sent it off, and I was about to bite into my meat stick when Wakako suddenly called.

*Wakako?*

*6th Street are claiming that the multiple dead killed by a Tyger Claw hired assassin are the cause of the attack. At least that is what their lieutenants are saying.*

Wakako dropped that on me for a second and I could feel my jaw drop.

*But I only killed Yuto!?*

*They are claiming multiple other deaths.*

*I have a BD!*

*I'm aware. Fujimura handed it over right away, I didn't see it myself, but it was checked over. I'm trying to confirm if the two men actually are dead, or are just being hidden as an excuse. You want work?*

*I'll help.*

*Good. I'll be in contact with your little fixer.*

The call ended and I rolled my eyes as Wakako still hadn't learned how to say goodbye.

"Motoko?"

"6th Street is retaliating, they are saying I killed some of their people, trying to frame me. I only killed Yuto and had a BD of it. Something is fishy. Wakako is going to give us some work." I looked around the room. "I think we should get suited up."

Ichi, Malcolm, and Hiromi nodded right away, but I saw Rebecca looking a little blank at the whole thing.

But then she firmed up. "No fucking way we just let them blame us for shit." She decided and I smiled at her.

Everyone got moving soon after and we started gearing up.

—--

"Overdressed?" Wakako asked me and I scoffed at her.

"Not with this shit happening."

"Do as you like. Here." She threw a shard at me, but her words stopped me from slotting it. "That's the delivery item. Meet up with Muamar Reyes, a Fixer in Santo Domingo."

"Sure. Anything else?"

"Answer any questions he has. It's a copy of your BD." Wakako offered and I blinked looking at the shard.

"Letting him see what happens so he can pass the information on?" I asked, breaking down what was happening.

"Exactly. He might request some assistance, that'll be up to you, but he doesn't want a gang war any more than I do."

"Understood. I'll see what he needs."

"Good. Motoko." Wakako said as I made to turn away. "6th Street likely already knows you were involved yesterday. Your information has been spreading for some time. Be careful on the drive through. Perhaps take another vehicle."
"Understood. Thanks Wakako."

"Hmm." She scoffed, but to my surprise spoke again. "Hayato has enjoyed having a friend. The girl is pressured to act a certain way because of her status. Thank you."

Honestly it felt more awkward to be thanked than anything else! It was like the hairs on the back of my neck were rising up, which was impossible since my Neural Link covered the entire back of my neck.

She glared at me suddenly. "Don't look at me like a scared cat. Get out of here."

"Yep!" I agreed and quickly ran away.

Time to get back to work.

—--

Rebecca was driving. We had all piled into her truck as I took Wakako's advice seriously. Since Rebecca's truck was the newest, it would have the least connection to Section 9.

I had even swapped out my helmet, and was just wearing my Net Gogs to hide my eyes as we drove through Rancho Coronado onto an overlook.

That was apparently where Muamar Reyes the fixer hung out.

I vaguely remembered this was where you could find him in the game too. So I guess it was just his favorite spot.

Rebecca pulled off the road and onto the sidewalk as she slowed to a stop, and I stepped out.

"Hoh? A whole group coming to meet El Capitan?" The man with the goofiest haircut I've seen in a while called out as I approached.

"Delivery from Wakako. Mr. Reyes." I informed him professionally as I held out the shard.

The guy blinked a bit, seemingly surprised at my courtesy before he just huffed and took it. Interestingly he didn't check it himself, but passed it off to a woman that was in his car who promptly put on a BD wreath and started watching.

"So. You're the real hot shot that caused that trouble yesterday."

"I only completed the job I was hired for."

"Yeah well, you are shaking up a real hornets nest. Offing four 6th Street gangoons is really increasing tensions."

"I only killed one person, Yuto, and he isn't 6th Street. That BD will prove that."

He looked over at the woman before looking back at me. "If you say so." Then he crossed his arms and reset back against the side of his car and seemed content to just wait.

Hiromi joined me and threw me a raised eyebrow, but I just shrugged at her.

Not sure what Reyes was playing at.

Finally not long after the woman took off the BD.

Reyes glanced to us and then leaned into his car, where the two started talking quietly.

I didn't bother to listen in, and not long after he stood up.

"Well unless you somehow managed to fake a BD, you're right. Dammit." He cursed as he took the BD and tossed it to me. "Wakako said you'd be interested in a gig to help out with this." He spoke and I nodded.

"That's right."

"I need to put this into the hands of some people that can do something about it. I'll need some guards, and… Well frankly, I can't promise you'll be safe, but if you can explain it'll help."

I was about to accept it off hand before I stopped.

"Motoko?" Hiromi asked but I stayed quiet.

"I'm not Tyger Claw, and frankly, this entire situation isn't my problem. I did a gig, I got paid. Problem is over." I offered, and Hiromi looked surprised before she slowly nodded, raising her dark chromed fingers up to her lips as she tapped them.

"You're right. If someone wants to cause a war between the TC and 6th Street, it's not any of our business." She replied and I nodded as she realized the same thing I had.

We could walk away.

It was obvious Muamar Reyes the Fixer was going to speak to someone big in 6th Street. That could easily lead to a shoot out, but for what? I doubt the guy was going to pay us anywhere near what such a thing should be worth.

So was I supposed to do this pro-bono?

Hiromi hounded me about getting paid for things. This was one of those situations.

Tyger Claws had tried to kidnap me, why should I do my best to keep a war from starting? I mean, I would always worry about Jun, but I was a merc.

War would be good for business if I was willing to be mercenary about it.

"There is something you're maybe forgetting." Ichi whispered as he approached from behind. "If 6th Street believes you were responsible for the deaths, then you'll be a target." He added and I grumbled, and even Hiromi nodded at me.

"Fine. Hiromi, talk to Mr. Reyes, figure out how much this is going to cost him?"

"On it!"

"Ichi, Malcolm. Just keep an eye out. We are still in 6th Street territory." I added and both boys nodded. I turned to Rebecca and just threw her a thumbs up, because Rebecca was looking fucking nova, her arm up on the window of her truck a big pair of mirrored shades on her face.

She threw me a thumbs up back.

Ten minutes later we were preparing. We would be working as a guard and offering intel to some member of 6th Street that was showing up.

I stared down the road, until I noticed a trio of trucks with 6th Street tags heading our way. I glanced over. Rebecca was inside her truck, machine guns at the ready in case of any trouble. The others were spread around, while Hiromi stayed in the truck with Rebecca, and I stood beside El Capitan.

I was still wearing my Net Gogs, hopefully they would give me enough time to speak before they just started firing when they saw me.

The trucks pulled up and out came a half dozen gangoons. All armed, but looking pretty calm, none of them seemed to care much about the fact me and my chooms were around.

"Alright, then. You called us up here. What is it?" The one who spoke, wasn't anyone I recognized, and with a quick scan I realized who I was dealing with.

Rick Morton stomped up. The man had the physicality of an ex-soldier. Old fatigues, with the red white and blue, and his jacket had a large eagle on the shoulder.

This was the General of 6th Street. The main man. The leader.

I was standing in front of one of the most powerful people in the city, and he very likely thought I was the killer of some of his boys.

Fucking El Capitan, when this was over, if I was still alive I was going to punch him in the dick. A little warning would have been nice!

"General! Good to see you are still healthy, I got some intel for you. Preem shit."

The man continued to stomp over and glanced me over for a second. Thankfully his eyes refocused on Muamar instead.

"You better not be wasting my time. Talk to me."

"Me? Never, you know I don't waste time. I do real business. I heard about your little issues yesterday. Couple of your men killed in your own territory, Tyger Claw action was it?"

"Get on with it, Muamar, I'm busy."

"Well, I got the real story of what happened. Straight from the source." He offered doing the one thing I wish he hadn't, patting me on the shoulder.

A moment later guns were up, and I was staring down a man that would kill me without hesitation while I was in a sub optimal position.

Two dick punches, if I survived this.

I slowly reached up and pulled the tech gogs up over my forehead so my eyes were clear, staring down the rather large Malorian Overture that was pointed in my face.

"I didn't kill your men." I said firmly and clearly.

The silence between the three of us carried on, even as his men continued to point guns at Ichi, Malcolm, and even Rebecca as things grew tense.

"Hey! Hey now, easy! C'mon now General, you know me! I wouldn't put you in this situation if this wasn't serious. Intel remember?" Muamar called out hands raised at the angry 6th Street goons that were still very hostile. I hadn't actually expected it. The guy actually stepped in front of me, covering me here…

Okay, I'll forgive the dick punches.

"Explain. Now." Rick demanded, but not to Muamar, but to me.

"I'm a merc. I was hired to take out Yuto, a Tyger Claw goon who kept trying to assassinate a member of the TC. Yesterday I tracked him down to a home in Rancho Coronado, and I took him out. Simple clean. This morning I find out that somehow multiple 6th Street bodies were found."

"You saying that wasn't you?"

"I'm saying I killed one person yesterday."

"Likely story."

"How about plain and clear evidence." I cut off as the man looked like his patience was ending. Muamar then came in, holding out the shard in his hand.

"She's right General."

"This is?"

"A copy of the BD that I scrolled yesterday. I scroll all of my gigs. Call it a hobby." I explained and I could see behind the mans Kiroshi eyes, that he was considering.

Did he want a war with the TC? If he did, killing all of us would give him what he wanted regardless.

But I had to hope that the man wanted to know who had lied to him more, because he definitely didn't know that I hadn't killed his men.

"Carlos!" He yelled, and a man ran up. "Check this BD." The order was followed and while guns didn't lower everyone was more interested in what was going on as Carlos rushed the truck and settled in to check the BD.

Our eyes never left, and I made sure to not show a hint of fear.

I wasn't entirely confident I could grab the overture pointed at my face before he fired. Not even with my Sandy, he was the leader of 6th Street. No way he didn't have his own speedware.

But I wasn't going to let him intimidate me.

A few minutes later, Carlos was out of the Brain Dance, and he hurried over.

The General took a few steps back and Carlos whispered into his ear. I watched on as the man's face remained blank throughout, but when it was done he waved a hand, and all the guns suddenly dropped.

I supposed he got what he wanted.

"Muamar, you confirmed this?"

"Got it direct from Old Wakako." He offered waving at me.

"And this was you?"

"It was."

"And the reason I shouldn't flatline you for coming onto my turf, and committing a murder?"

"Yuto was Tyger Claw, and someone in 6th Street was hiding him. Imagine what would have happened if on his third assassination attempt he succeeded." I countered with an arched eyebrow at the older man.

If he wanted to play threatening games I could too.

"Then the Tygers would get sent back to their fucking Pachinko parlors in body bags." The General countered to some grumbled appreciation of the men behind him.

"And some of your men would have gone back to their family in the same. Because someone decided to play games. I don't know if you knew about this. I don't know if this was planned, but frankly. I don't care. I took a gig to kill a man, and I did it. I got paid. Gig over. But I didn't kill your people. I'm a professional."

"Yet my boys are dead."

"But not by my hand, and not by the Tygers." I argued back and the men around us were frowning. Unhappy.

"And I'm supposed to take the word of some Asian kid, that it wasn't the Tygers?"

"Don't believe your lying eyes?" I asked, after a moment. "That's not my problem then, I took the gig from Wakako to deliver that shard, and I took the gig from Mr. Reyes to be his bodyguard and explain my side of what happened. If you don't want to listen, that's not my concern."

"You think you are above this? That I won't send men against you?" He asked in turn, almost amused as he questioned me.

"I think that I've done everything I can to prove that I'm not your enemy, but if you want to waste men on killing some gonk kid while also starting a war with the Tygers, that's your choice. Just don't expect to get those men you send after me back in one piece."

Things got quiet for a minute, and I could practically see the thoughts running through the Generals head.

"You got some balls kid." He finally said as he came to a decision. "Don't usually see street rats your age pull off actual hits."

Thinking about his words and the amused tone he said them in, I shrugged.

Hiromi would be happy.

I reached into my back pocket and wormed around a bit to find it. Managing to snag it even though the pocket was barely large enough for a finger I pulled out a slightly rumpled business card.

"Section 9, is always looking for more business." I offered and handed the slightly rumpled card.

There was a sense of confusion, but eventually General Morton took the card and flicked it over. It was still pretty fancy even though I've been sitting on it for a while and I think I ran it through a wash at least once…

He showed it to Carlos, the guy he had sent to look at the BD and both of them chuckled.

"You're a funny one." He seemed to decide on, and then turned around. "Let's roll!" He called out and all the 6th Street goons rushed back to their cars and soon the cavalcade was on its way.

"Well I think that went well." El Capitan said seemingly pleased, and I shrugged.

"We aren't dead or in a firefight, so I guess so." I agreed and he nodded as I seemed to get it.

"I'm out of here too." I decided then. I was sort of done dealing with Gang leaders today.

 

[Seras]

My breath in my ears was all I could hear as I moved. Up and down, over and across. I raced across the city. Legs pumping, and arms pushing and pulling as no obstacle slowed me.

I had felt constricted after everything. Between the Tygers bullshit, and now 6th Street trying to frame me?

So once everyone had split up I had headed outside and just started running. I wasn't sure why I had selected Athletics as my grind for the day, but maybe I hadn't. Maybe I just needed to get away.

So I ran. Heading through the dense urban jungle with no direction in mind. I simply let Parkour guide me over all obstacles..

There were a lot of people I suddenly wanted to kill. I still needed to flatline the stupid old man that thought kidnapping me was acceptable. But I had told Wakako I would let it go.

I needed to kill the gonk fuck that had tried to frame me for killing 6th Street gangoons. Not that I wouldn't have killed them, but I didn't like the fact it seemed planned. Someone had wanted a war between the two gangs, and had done a lot to set it up.

Yuto. Then framing the merc that killed him.

And I had to consider how much I wanted to get involved.

I paused breathing heavily, sweat streaming down my forehead as I leaned against a wall for a moment. So much trouble because some gonk wanted to kill another.

So much trouble for something I didn't care about, and wasn't even involved with. I wiped my forehead and stalked around a bit, cooling down my muscles as I considered.

I hadn't heard anything about the 6th Street and TC thing yet. I would have to stop by Wakako in the morning to find out if everything was back to normal, or if the TC were planning to retaliate back as well.

This could easily turn into another gang war.

I shook it off. It would become whatever it would become.

Wandering over to a few SCSM's I started browning. I could use something to drink.

"Hey Chika." A voice called out grabbing my attention. A tino teenager was sauntering up to me, a few of his boys that had been sitting on a pile of tables in front of a small food place were sauntering up. "Never saw your chrome down this way before." He offered with a smile that made me realize he was trying to be charming.

"Sorry, choom. Not interested." I offered clearly and went back to picking a drink. Ugh. Most of these tasted like cough syrup. Stupid NiCola. I'd kill for just a Coke, or a Dr. Pepper or something.

"Hey c'mon Herman-URK!" He choked out, his reaching hand had grabbed my shoulder, so I grabbed his throat. With a shift of my hips I slammed him into the SCSM I was looking through and held him in place.

I decided on a Grape NiCola. Yuck, and fished out the drink as it came through still holding the boy against the SCSM.

He was scrabbling a bit, but I let him breathe at least.

"I'm not interested, and don't touch me." I told him as I slammed my thumb through the top of the can and started drinking, chugging it down I crushed the can and forced it into his hand. "Throw that away for me, and next time take a no."

Idly I noticed his boys were rushing over, but they weren't a threat. I shifted back, turned away and then leapt.

Backflipping onto the SCSM I let the force push me even higher and jumped upwards again.

Hands reaching out and grabbing the guard rail of a street that ran over the area. With a quick flip I was standing on the guard rail a dozen feet above the boys and looking down on them.

I spun and with a bounce of my ankles to start up, I started jogging up the rail.

And out of sight, ignoring the calls of surprise from the teenaged boys.

I leapt up, jumping nearly on top of a light pole that was lower than me, and hefted myself up, then I took a few running steps and leapt.

The street below me might be filled with cars, but for a moment I felt utterly alone in the entire city.

Then I landed, slipped a little as the light poles weren't designed for people to run on then, and ended up spinning down the entire pole to keep myself from falling.

I stepped off, and I realized I was actually in City Center.

Damn. That was a hell of a run. I looked around at the Corpo suits that were staring at me in surprise as I had appeared from nowhere.

Deciding I had run enough for now, I called for my Kusanagi, and walked over to a bench and took a seat.

What a day.

Since I had nothing else to do, I went ahead and sent out some texts.

*Motoko: Hey Wakako, you know how the 6th Street, and Tyger Claw thing is going?*

I sent the text and sat back expecting to be waiting for a while, but Wakako responded back pretty quickly actually.

*Wakako: There has been a meeting called between bosses. Cease Fire has been called until that is over. You should avoid their territory, but neither side truly wishes for a conflict. Well done.*

*Motoko: Didn't do much.*
*Wakako: You were targeted by a gang, and stood in front of the leader of that gang. You did much. Speak to Hayato in the morning. She was worried.*

I laughed at the last bit and couldn't help but respond.

*Motoko: Are you trying to set up a playdate with your granddaughter? You know I didn't know she was your Granddaughter.*

*Wakako: I'm aware. It is why I allowed your continued contact. Don't disappoint me.*

I blinked because that was definitely a threat. I wisely dropped the conversation there.

My bike pulled up a while later and I rose up, sliding onto the seat and throttling the engine I grinned. It had been a while since I took my Kusanagi out for a spin.

I gunned the engine and let the front wheel kick a bit as I took off, quickly blurring into the traffic and enjoying the feeling of the motorcycle cycling gears as I slipped through the City Center traffic.

I let my body act without thought as I weaved through traffic. I still felt like moving. I didn't head home. Instead cycling up and heading north out of the corporate district and into Watson. Traffic got worse, but for once I wasn't following laws.

I weaved in and out, jumping onto the sidewalk when I needed, I kept moving. Ignoring the press of traffic around me. To my surprise I got an alert.

*100 Reflex XP Gained*

That was handy, and I was smiling happily as I finally made it to a more open area. My engine whined and roared as I raced through the emptier streets of Northside. Up and down ramps, through mostly empty streets. I just felt… constricted and irritated.

I finally slowed and parked on the side of a road overlooking the area.

Neon lights in the distance, and farther City Central in the far distance sending lights into the night.

It was Lucy that thought the lights looked like a prison.

I scoffed as I stepped off the bike and jumped up onto the concrete barrier.

This place didn't look like a prison to me. It looked like…

Opportunity.

The thought made me nod, and I nodded again as I realized it was the truth. Lazy. I was lazy, always had been. But it was time to get some shit sorted.

I plotted as I looked over the city until the plan in my mind was at least a plan and not just a thought.

—--

The next morning I sent a text out to my chooms asking if everyone minded meeting up for dinner tonight.

We had been running around so much together, I wanted to give them some personal time, but I think this was important enough to need a real meeting.

I got an agreement and it was settled.

But first in the morning I reached out, and set up a meeting like Wakako asked. To my slight discomfort the meeting place was the Dojo once again.

Hayato had agreed to a meeting and so I headed over.

I pulled my Kusanagi up onto the sidewalk in front of the Dojo, noticing there were plenty of other bikes parked together.

I stepped out and adjusted my holster. Mostly just to make sure my guns and knife were still in place.

As I walked in I glanced at the spot where Musashi had died, but not even a blood stain remained. Stepping inside, I found no trouble which I had almost expected but as I entered the main room, I did see Hayato, but before that I saw Sensei.

His focus shot to me the moment I stepped inside, and there was something in his eyes. For once, he didn't just point and demand, but actually walked over and approached me as I entered.

"Kusanagi… A moment." He requested, and it really was a request.

Huh.

I nodded, and he stalked off, back into the office section of the dojo, and I walked with him into what was obviously his business office. He didn't speak at first, instead holding himself solidly and then turning to face me.

"The attack on you at this Dojo was unacceptable. While I was not able to defend you at the time. I have spoken my displeasure, but that means little to you. This place is meant to be a secure location. The sanctity of my dojo was broken." Then he bowed low and I realized he was being serious.

"It wasn't your fault." I argued but I knew that just that wouldn't be enough. "I accept your apology, Sensei. You've treated me well. I won't hold this issue against you."

"You will always be welcome here, Kusanagi." He said and I nodded, getting the feeling he wasn't talking about just coming to train. This was a sort of hideout for the Tyger Claws as well after all.

With that concluded I headed back out to finish my actual meet up.

To my surprise Hayato wasn't suited up. When I found her she was sitting in the main Dojo room on a chair, a chair that wasn't usually there. In a full Kimono? Yukata? One of those. She looked like an actual Japanese Princess if I was honest. Although the chrome of her Kerenzikov stuck out and gave her a cyberpunk feel.

I approved and threw her a thumbs up.

"You look awesome like that." I told her as I approached and her mouth had been half open as she was about to speak sort of flapped as she took in what I said and seemingly had no response.

"What? No! No nonsense right now. Sillyfoolwhydoi- Motoko." She started rambling before shaking herself and stating my name in a serious matter.

"Hayato." I instead greeted her with a wave of my hand and a big smile that had her once more breaking her serious character for half a second before firming up and glaring.

"Motoko! I'm trying to be serious! Sit!" She demanded and pointed at another chair beside her. I laughed instead and walked over to sit.

"Sorry sorry. What's got you so serious Hayato?"

"I need to hire you to kill someone."

"Sure, who?"

I blinked as she blinked. Her face cracked once more as she seemed to have no idea how to respond.

"How are you so calm! I just asked you to flatline someone!"

"Yeah? I do that for a living Hayato. I'd be weird if I wasn't comfortable with it."

"I-Wha? You!" She eventually decided on and glared before calming, closing her eyes and breathing in and out rapidly, which I assumed was meant to be calmling breaths. "I thank you for accepting. This is important, and I don't like having to ask a-a choom for this." She added.

And I did my best not to snicker, because that sounded like something she had practiced saying so she could get it right.

"If you can't ask your choom to flatline someone for you, are you really friends?" I asked jokingly, but Hayato just looked blank as her mouth fell open as she once again seemed to fail to find the words.

Ah I should probably stop teasing her.

"Okay hold on. I'll stop being so casual about this. I'll accept it provisionally. I don't really care much about the eddies, but Hiromi will literally flay me alive with her words if I don't mention payment and stuff. But we can worry about that after." I added as Hayato seemed to pick up on that and looked ready to speak again. "Who do you need killed?"

"Kanada Tsukimura." She said with almost a hiss saying his name with more real anger than I've ever heard. "He is… One of my potential Fiance's." She admitted and I blinked because wow. Wasn't expecting that. She noticed my shock. "He has done something I can't forgive." She added after a moment.

"You don't need to make any reasons to me Hayato." I said after a moment. "I'm a merc. I kill people for a living. If you want him dead because he smells, then that's a good enough reason for me to kill him." I explained and the idea made her snort into a rapid fire giggle before she realized what she was doing and gained control of herself.

"Then… That is it?" She questioned and I smiled, because this was definitely the first time she had ever ordered someones assassination.

"That's pretty much it. Other than payment stuff, but blegh." I stuck my tongue out at that. "But any information you can give me will make it easier. Where does he hang out, a picture of him would help a lot." I explained and she nodded, her eyes flashed and suddenly I received a package.

A very familiar style of information packet. "Wakakos work?"

"Eh? Yes… Grandmother helped me put this together… How did you know?"

"The way the information is structured is her style. It's a good thing. Wakako's gig info packets are pretty clear." I explained and that had the girl relax. I took a moment to look over the information and whistle. "He's a big shot alright."

"He is." She added after a moment with a disgusted look. "I… I spoke with Grandmother and she… I want this done without any question as to what this was… I need everyone to know that it was me that caused his death."

"That's… Complicated. You realize that doing it that blatantly will make people look at me?"

"Do not worry about that! If he is dead I will make sure it is known that it was my hand that called for his death." She said and I looked at her. And smirked a bit because she was once more saying something she had practiced.

She noticed and looked away with a glare, but it made me laugh regardless.

"Okay. Then Hayato Nakagawa, you've hired yourself an assassin." I confirmed for her and she looked surprised at my words. "This is actually going to be fun. I've never done a really blatant assassination before… I think It'll be a good thing for me actually. Maybe I'll finally convince the Tyger Claw goons to stop poking me if I prove I can eviscerate them?" I wondered and Hayato did a little scoff laugh.

"I believe that no matter what you do someone will still think they can 'poke' you." She said with a grumble that told me she had experience with this.

"Fair enough. Any particular death you want for this guy? Gun, blade, bomb?" I asked, and she flinched at the question that apparently came out of nowhere.

"Ah. Uh. Whatever you think is best?"
"Okay. I'll figure out something with a statement then." I assured her, and she nodded. Then she got quiet like she didn't know what to say. "Want to be involved in the whole thing?" I asked suddenly and she jerked like I had struck her.

"What? You mean?"

"Well I'll be calling in my chooms to get this done, everything is easier with a crew, and it'll probably be an all day thing before we get everything locked down. So… Do you want to come with?" She blinked and then her head surprisingly slowly nodded up and down.

"Yes."

"Preem! C'mon! I was already planning on meeting up with everyone for dinner, but for a gig that changes things a bit!"

—--

"Sorry about calling you all in early! As I said we got a surprise gig offer." I said as Ichi and Malcolm both arrived first. We were at my apartment, since I didn't think I would need to do much netrunning since Hayato knew where the guy's house was.

"No problem. I was just hanging out with the folks today." Malcolm offered and Ichi shrugged. "I was going to mow the grass… I uh, paid some kid up the street to do it instead. So I can't complain either." They both offered and then as they came around they noticed my third guest.

Hayato was sitting a little stiffly on the couch, still in her fancy Kimono.

The fact there was a Tyger Claw guy in the corner that I had kindly offered a seat too when I realized he was going to just stand there was the next thing they noticed.

"Motoko?"

"Right! So meet, Hayato! She's our client for this gig, and a friend of mine! We punch each other!" I explained happily and the two boys looked at each other before shrugging at my statement.

"What Motoko means is that she is my sparring partner!" Hayato cut in, in a rush of speech before slowing as she realized what she had done.

"Makes sense. Motoko is a gorilla." Malcolm offered and I scoffed at his words, and watched as he came in and settled on the couch without a care.

"I'm Malcolm, and that one is Ichi. Nice to meet you." He greeted Hayato with feigned casualness.

"Hayato Nakagawa." She greeted and Malcolm twitched and practically jumped off the couch in shock like he had just been burned

"Holy fuck, you're the Tyger Princess!"

"Malcolm! Language! This is our client." I grumbled and he looked at me and then at Hayato who wasn't looking very comfortable.

"How do you even know her Motoko? Why didn't you tell us you know Hayato Nakagawa! The second!"

"Malcolm, you say her name like I should just know anything about what that means. I only found out she was important during the whole kidnapping attempt." I waved it off and then Ichi was there beside me.

"Hiromi is going to kill you for never explaining you knew Hayato Nakagawa." He whispered to me, and while I felt an uncomfortable premonition go down my spine I still jabbed his ribs a bit.

"It's just Hayato. Stop saying her name like she's a thing." I whispered to them, and then looked to Hayato. "Don't mind these gonks, they act like morons, but are actually surprisingly competent!" I said lying through my teeth which I happily noticed both boys had picked up on and threw me a betrayed look.

"I see?"

"Anyway! To business! Hayato needs someone killed." I explained and she did sort of wince at my blunt statement, but a moment later the boys nodded at that.

"Well that's something Motoko can do." Ichi whispered, and then Hiromi entered the apartment.

"Hey, I'm here! We have a client?" Hiromi asked, looking excited but keeping her pace and speech calm as she entered.

"Yep! Hayato needs someone killed." I explained once more being blunt about it.

"Section 9 specializes in asset removal!" Hiromi said, as she settled onto the couch near Hayato, and to my amusement offered her a card. "Have no fear, we will ensure complete customer satisfaction for your needs."

Hayato took the card almost without realizing it and then blinked as she looked it over, and then at me.

"Section 9 is our merc company. Hiromi is our corpo, don't mind her corporate speech it's just how she is."

"Rude." Hiromi whispered under her breath and I flashed her a smile in apology.

"Very well?" Hayato added, still looking a little confused. But then she straightened up. "I understand that you are the one Motoko said would handle payment?"
"That's me!" Hiromi said cheerfully, and then pulled out a shard and handed it over. "And here is our pricing, and plan structure." She said just as cheerfully, and I rolled my eyes as Hayato now looked a little uncomfortable.

I walked over and bent near Hiromi's ear and made a little cough. "Friendship discount." I whispered and then moved over towards the boys. Both of them looked to Hayato to me, and then to Hiromi.

"Hiromi has no idea who she is talking to, does she?" Malcolm whispered to me, and I shook my head.

"No? Why would she?"

"You realize, no you know what. It's better this way." Malcolm said, smiling as he turned his attention back to Hayato and Hiromi hashing out things.

To my surprise, while Hayato had looked uncomfortable at first, she was easily keeping up with Hiromi and arguing back just as easily.

They were getting along surprisingly well.

 

[Seras]

"Kanada Tsukimura." I started off. Eventually payment had been decided and Hiromi looked pretty happy about everything, even if I had to nudge her and remind her about the friendship discount.

With that, Hayato had left having other things she had to do, and left the gig to us.

We were officially on the job.

Rebecca had arrived after a while looking pissed at first, but as soon as she found out what we were doing she had laughed and lost most of her irritated frown.

I guess flatlining a gonk brought a smile to her face too!

"What do we know about him?" Malcolm asked, getting to the real point.

"Not much. But we know where his house is, and I don't think he has any girlfriends, or kids, considering he is trying to get with Hayato."

"Wait… This guy is trying to… Holy shit." Malcolm whispered and Hiromi looked confused about the whole thing before I just shrugged.

"It's not relevant except that he'll likely be alone, but that's part of the problem. Client wants this to be noticeable. So I think I'll check out his home now, if he is home, then we can track him somewhere. If not, then we just wait for him to come home and do the same thing. I figure we stake out the garage of his building, place a tracker on his car?" I said looking to Malcolm for that, and he nodded.

"Great idea."

"Then we just follow him to somewhere busy. Goal is to make his death very poignant. Rebecca, I'm not sure how much shooting we will do, but I'll probably rely on you as part of my escape plan okay?"

"Heh! Sure I'll cover you Strings." She said with a smile that I quickly returned.

"Ichi and Hiromi will be our exits, with Malcolm as cover as well. But I don't want to overplan yet. So let's go find this gonks house and sneak around!"

"Hell yeah!" Rebecca cheered.

—--

*Well well, Kanada is a wealthy guy.* I spoke over the line that everyone was connected too, not that they didn't already see that.

*No kidding. That's a hell of a building.* Ichi added.

I was looking straight up the very ritzy skyscraper, from the rear loading dock.

It was funny how often I infiltrated apartment buildings from the rear, but it really was useful. I could easily move a camera into not looking at me, and electronic locks were meant to keep out drunk, or high gangoons, or street kids.

The security simply wasn't capable of stopping a real netrunner.

I left the others in the alleyway, I would code them into the garage area, but first I needed to infiltrate in.

As soon as I was inside the small back door I shuffled out of sight, there was a hallway leading straight from the front entrance beside the teller desk to the back door.

It was also thankfully where the elevators were, but that wasn't what I was looking for.

I slipped across the hall and into the door that had an Employee Only sign. It was thankfully empty, first leading to a small storage room, which I noticed was full of supplies the front desk would need, including extra security shards for new renters, but I wanted all access. I slipped into another small security door, finding the small security room running along.

I flopped into the seat, and started Breaching.

*Okay, you'll all have Garage access, get down there.* I heard some returning confirmation as I worked the system. They would find someplace close to the entrance and keep an eye out for our target.

My goal was…

*Uploading a picture of the target.* I added, and then went on to search the camera records to see if I could find if he was here…

No, I shook that desire off, and placed an access shard into the system in a slot, and then hurried back out of the security room.

While my netrunning instincts told me to stick to the security center, Ninjutsu reminded me that keeping control wasn't the goal. I had access to what I needed, now I needed to get out before someone noticed.

Slipping back out the way I came, I continued to work through my Agent, before just walking to the already opening Elevator and walking inside.

The door shut instantly, and started taking me up.

From there I accessed the camera system again as I waited and found my target.

*Kanada left his apartment this morning. He's driving a yellow Shion. Sending a picture.* I uploaded it to our network and then smirked as the elevator opened to his floor.

I didn't whistle, but I was tempted, as I walked down the hall. Mostly to keep anyone from wanting to check out who was whistling. He wasn't a Penthouse gonk, but his apartment was definitely the more expensive units. The entire place reminded me of Jun and I's apartment. It was clean and had a certain level of expense in the flooring and walls.

His door slipped open without hesitation as I approached and I walked in and ducked to the side, in his little nook he had set up to drop off shoes.

I started scanning. Had to make sure whatever security he had himself wouldn't catch me.

—---

Rebecca

"Damn she's fast." Rebecca muttered as they headed into the garage.

"Hmm?" Malcolm asked as he looked up from checking his gun. The two of them were stuck in the back of Ichi's truck, the two HMG's ready for their use if they needed.

"Sasha, the runner that Maine uses? She's good, and likely would have gotten access just as fast… But only with prep beforehand. I've never seen her actually sneak into a place without prepping the place first."

Malcolm was quiet for a minute before he nodded. "Yeah, I guess it is kinda weird. Motoko is really good at sneaking around though. Has she popped up behind you yet?"

"No?"

"Yeah she does that. You'll be hanging out and all of a sudden you'll have her hand on your shoulder or she'll crack a joke right behind you."
"What a bitch." Rebecca said laughing and Malcolm smiled along with her. These kids were so weird. The lack of constant ego trips was pretty intense.

That she was the oldest out of all of them, even if she was the shortest also meant they treated her… Differently.

Sure Ichi and Malcolm both had done the teenaged boy thing and checked her out, but Rebecca was fine with that, and wasn't really interested. Neither of them were really her type. Which was a shame, cause finding a cute merc boy was harder than you'd expect. Most of them were jerks.

Like Pilar.

Fucking Pilar.

She was still pissed at him, how dare he say that shit. That she was playing with kiddy shit, and she'd never make it onto Maines crew if she didn't stop playing.

Agitated, she rolled her legs, as she grit her teeth. Swapping what leg she was holding herself up with as she flashed back to her brothers stupid fucking mocking voice.

Saying she would never amount to anything again. Well not in so many words, but she knew that's what he meant. Just because she fucked up a few gigs by being late. Or that time she saved that stupid sad puppy eyed gonk, even though they were supposed to flatline him…

"Hey you nova?" Malcolm asked, and she almost lashed out at him, but there was a weird culture with Motoko's crew. They didn't do that shit. Teasing was always light, and often if Motoko, did go to far she'd apologize after which was fucking weird.

"I'm just dealing with shit." She decided. "And so sitting here without anything to do is shit."

"Ah, gotcha. Why don't we step out then? There's some food places out of the garage."

"Aren't we supposed to be keeping watch?"

Malcolm looked at the nearly closed truck rear door that he was sitting nearly flat enough to look out.

"Can't see much from here, Ichi and Hiromi are still on duty, and we are just waiting for the guy to show up."

She hesitated before shrugging.

"Sure I could use a bite."

"Cool. I think there was a buck a slice down the block."

"Gross, I'm not eating that slop. I think I saw a Kabayans."

"Eh. I guess that'll work. Hold up, let me ask if anyone wants anything." He said before his eyes flashed yellow. *Hey chooms gonna go on a snack run, Kabayan's looks like. You want anything.*

Rebecca relaxed when nothing disparaging came through. Just a few requests then to her surprise Motoko cut in too.

*Ramen if they have anything good? I'm in the mood for some noodles.*

*Sure sure. I'll look.* Malcolm said with a roll of his eyes. "Motoko always wants noodles. She'll offer other things, but don't ever offer a Ramen place, or that's what she'll jump on."

"Good to know." Rebecca said, then she couldn't help but laugh at the silliness of it all. They took this work seriously, but they weren't…

Uptight? No it was more that with Maine everything had to be done like the big guy wanted. Everything was meant to make them look like edgerunners. Section 9, for all they dressed up in armor and high end equipment, were so much calmer about it.

Ah well. Fuck Pilar. She hopped out with her much smaller legs and put her hands behind the back of her head as she followed Malcolm out of the Garage and onto the street.

Just a bit more, and she'd have the eddies for her chrome.

—--

The problem with stakeouts is that they were boring.

I was currently watching Kanada's TV while slurping my Ramen bowl that Malcolm had delivered. I had sneaked a peek at the cameras and noticed my chooms had all set up a cute little picnic in the back of Ichi's truck as well.

Once more changing the channel I sighed as there was nothing on.

Kanada's apartment was now completely subverted. Not that he had much. Just a security system on a separate system from the main buildings.

Slurping up the last bit of broth I sighed.

Waiting around for people was so boring.

Since my meal was finished I went ahead and dumped it into a trash can that wouldn't be noticed if he returned, turned the TV back to the channel it was on, and switched it back off.

With a soft leap, I climbed into the space I had found that was perfect to hide in. Pretty sure it wasn't supposed to be there but the guy had definitely had an entrance way modified when he moved in to have a small area to take off shoes and things, but it had left an empty space above that entrance way.

So I climbed up there, and laid flat staring at a ceiling in boredom.

I idly switched between some programming that I was tinkering with and checking all the cameras as I waited.

A long time passed and I was definitely bored when finally I got a message.

*Yellow Shion just pulled in.* Ichi's voice was excited and I checked the cameras.

Well hello there Kanada.

*Once he is clear, place the tracker.* I reminded them and got a few affirmatives from my chooms as Kanada came up to his apartment.

I watched through the cameras as he slumped in grumbling about something under his breath. He threw his jacket over a chair, grabbed some food from his fridge and threw it in his microwave.

It would be stupidly easy to kill him right now.

Unfortunately, client wishes come first.

Hayato wanted his death to be public. So I waited as he made himself a meal and settled on the couch for a while.

Finally something happened. He got a call. I quickly hacked in and listened.

*What is it?* Kanada demanded and I noticed the call ID registered the call coming from Hiko.

*Nothing big boss, but we had an issue with the Delivery. Some product is missing again.*

*Kuso! I told you to keep an eye on it!*

*I did! You have my word I did! I think the product is going missing upstream. I swear I've been with the package from when it was delivered until we opened it.*

*Fine. Keep an eye on it, and get the camera records ready. I want proof it wasn't us. I'll go talk to Moritaka-Sama.* I blinked at the very familiar name, and then felt myself smile.

Oh… Oh this was an opportunity!

Kanada got up and got ready grabbing his jacket and keys, slowly he put back on his shoes, and I grinned at what was happening.

*He's coming down. Everyone get ready, we're going to leave first and follow.* I called out. Already knowing exactly how to get ahead of him.

He left the apartment, and I slipped off the hidden area and waited at the door for the elevator to come, I had actually called up both elevators, and when he stepped inside once the door closed I was out and moving.

The second Elevator opened and I was inside, the doors closing and sending me down to the garage as Kanada's elevator made a few extra stops.

Once out, I raced across and leapt into the back of Ichi's van which closed just after me.

"Motoko?"

"Just got great news Malcolm. Kanada is about to go visit an old friend, one that I would very much like to make a point to." I said with a grin as the truck started up and pulled out. The sound of a Shion engine starting up behind us, meant it was right behind us as we started out of the garage, and then he was gone, but easily tracked.

We tracked him just a few blocks away to some business that was definitely owned by the TC. Plenty of people going in and out meant it was impossible for me to just stride in through the entrance.

*Got it. It's an upscale bar, second floor is VIP seating.* Hiromi added into the comm and I grinned. While it wasn't anything I couldn't have gathered from a bit of netrunning, Hiromi was much faster at getting basic information about a building or business.

Second floor huh?

I glanced up from a ways down the street and took in something interesting.

That was a mighty large window you had there. A quick scan told me it wasn't bullet proof.

"Okay. I know how this is going to go." I said aloud and looked to my chooms who were all sitting around the back of the van looking around just like I was, and with a smile I told them my plan.

—--

I waltzed inside without any hint of fear. The bar was upscale all metals, and glass. The sort of place that I didn't really enjoy, but no one stopped me.

Why would they? I walked in, and glanced up, the VIP area was a second floor ring that ran around the sides of the building, leaving a large space they could look down onto the people below.

I already knew where everyone was, and I knew where my target was standing.

A camera was pointing right at him, and with the Ping I had on him, I had his position.

I had a Katana on my hip, the same one that Musashi's gangoons had tried to kill me with. I had pulled it out of the Quadra as I called my car for an update to my armory.

This was meant to be loud, but it was meant to be a statement. I still had my professional pride.

Quick and clean, and very poignant.

I stepped forward a few steps and loosened up my shoulders.

I lowered myself and leapt.

The second floor was well within my reach, as I leapt up and grabbed onto the guard rail and threw myself over.

I activated my Sandevistan, to make sure everything went smoothly, and as I landed I could already see people sitting around the boss Moritaka rising up in shock reaching for weapons.

None of which would fire, but my target was too slow.

My katana was unsheathed and before he could turn, before anyone could shout a warning I was there.

Kanada Tsukimura gasped, a weak sounding wheeze as my Katana slipped in, cutting through his heart, and with a gentle move I made sure to cut his spine quite badly, even as I let my momentum carry me on as I pushed him straight forward until I simply stopped letting my Katana slide out of his back as he slammed face first into the glass and out.

The crash shattered an entire pane and glass splattered all around me, but through the whole thing my eyes were locked onto Moritaka Kuwabara.

I held my dripping Katana even as my eyes remained locked onto the man.

Just to let him know I had seen him. I didn't move. This wasn't just a statement for Hayato, but one for me too.

Gangoons stood up and raised weapons that clicked or simply refused to fire.

I gave it long enough for the realization set in, and then I finished what I was here for. With a gentle sweep I completed a Chiburi. A blood shake. Moritaka flinched at the motion, and then I sheathed my blade.

"Hayato Nakagawa sends her regards." I finished and I saw the flinch through the crowd as I simply turned.

The massive glass window was now open and clear and I stepped out. Ichi had pulled the truck up as the glass shattered and I stepped off, basically onto his truck, as he started driving off.

*Kanada Tsukimura is dead.* I sent the text to Hayato.

Gig complete.

 

[Seras]

Hayato wanted to meet up for the completion of the gig. So rather than party, or split up we all headed across Japantown back to the expensive highrise where the TC bosses had their meeting.

Taking the elevator up with the entire crew was interesting. I could feel the tension ratcheting up from Hiromi and Ichi, while Malcolm was more calm, and Rebecca was expecting trouble, and seemingly happy to pull her gun.

The door opened to the same hallway and as we stepped out the TC guards in suits seemed to make a call, and before we reached security Hayato was there stepping back through dressed up as fancy as I had ever seen her.

"Motoko?"

"Hey Hayato." I greeted back as I pulled up the net gogs from my eyes. I was still mostly fully kitted out, just the helmet left behind. She took a moment to look over me, and the rest of my chooms before seemingly smiling instead of looking uncomfortable.

"Good, you will make an impression." She said and made to turn away but I coughed grabbing her attention.

"You didn't tell me why we were here?"

"When I told Father I was responsible for Kanada's death, he wanted to speak to me. You are here as I explain my actions, and proof to father that I am not without my own assistance now." She told me and I quirked an eyebrow.

It was as Hayato moved forward, and we were about to go through security when a strong hand clamped down on my arm.

I followed the pretty chrome fingers to Hiromi who was looking as jittery as I had ever seen from her.

"M-Motoko?"

"Yeah Hiromi?"

"Is that… Is that Hayato… Nakagawa?"

"Mhmm!" I confirmed looking at her, and then watching as Hiromi just stilled and obviously short circuited.

"H-h-h-hayato n-naka, naka, naka! Why didn't you tell me!" She suddenly came too and started hissing in a whisper as she grabbed me and shook me harshly.

"It didn't really come up?"

"It's the Heir to the Tygers! The Tyger Princess. Hayato Nakagawa the second! And you!" Hiromi backed away and started rubbing her face.

"Ah did she finally figure it out?" Malcolm asked, and Hiromi stilled as she turned to him at his words.

"You knew!?"

"Yeah she introduced herself, you weren't there yet though. Ichi! I owe you twenty eddies." Malcolm called out as Ichi was disarming to get through security.

"Nice!"
"B-b-but!"

"Don't worry about it Hiromi." I said, deciding to take a bit of action. "Hayato is a friend, and so we are going to just treat her normally. She's our client right now, so that's that."

"Yes, but I didn't know!"

"Well… You do now!" I laughed and guided her forward. Watching the rest of my chooms hand over their guns and weapons.

Soon we were through and into the large meeting room. I noticed it was much emptier than before, but some of the people sitting in the front were people I recognized from the last time, as well as another familiar face.

"Hey Wakako." I greeted reflexively, and she turned and gave me a look before nodding.

"Motoko. Everything went well, no further bloodshed than what was expected?" She asked me loud enough that everyone was looking towards us.

But I had no shame!

"Tsk." I offered her in turn, actually still annoyed. "As per your instructions. Moritaka is someone I can't target, as much as I might like to finish that loose end. He's still alive, and I'm a professional. No one else besides the target was touched."

"See?" Wakako said, turning to a bald man covered in tattoos beside her. "The girl is competent, and does not allow foolish things to interfere in her professionalism."

"As you say Mother."
I blinked because the big tatted out TC guy didn't look anything like tiny Wakako, but then again that fit as well.

Hayato did her own fake cough and glared at me, and I noticed that while I had wandered off to see Wakako, she had gathered the rest of my chooms behind her.

Nodding, I waved goodbye at Wakako and headed over. Earning a particularly amused scoff from the woman.

"Try to stay close." Hayato whispered to me, and I nodded apologetically.

Then suddenly as if a switch flipped everyone stopped talking and in came Shinobu Nakagawa.

Hayato's dad, and the leader of the TC. Which was still weird to think about.

He entered without a word and took his seat, and instantly got down to business.

"Hayato. You had Kanada Tsukimura killed."

"I did." She said without hesitation. Confident as she offered a bow in her… Kimono? Yukata? Okay seriously one of these days I was going to have to spend a few minutes and learn which was which.

"Explain." He responded instantly with a bit of harshness.

"While you were fond of Tsukimura the elder, his son is not the same man." She argued instantly and I watched as she straightened her back and continued. "The power went to the boy's head. He spoke words that should not be spoken. That he would be the Fourth Shinobu." She offered and there was actually a flinch among the room at her words.

"You have proof?"

"I do, recordings of him saying it to his soldiers while they played. It was his intention to marry me, and attempt a takeover."

The room was quiet and then the man looked at Wakako with an upraised eyebrow.

"Don't look at me. Hayato came to me requesting an assassin, and I provided. I am simply here to see the after effects." She offered as catty as ever, and then continued to watch over the proceedings.

"Mother in Law." Shinobu started wearily before shaking his head. "Please do not give Hayato access to an assassin." The old man actually pleaded.

"I did nothing. Hayato created her own contact, I simply reminded her of the fact." Wakako denied any wrongdoing with a smirk.

"The girl. Kusanagi is one of your mercs."

"Yes, but the meeting between Hayato and her was not my doing, and was actually a pleasant surprise. Motoko is rough around the edges, but is a professional within Hayato's peer group. It's good for them both to meet and create connections."

Wow, that was almost a compliment from Wakako.

"Otou-Sama. You called me here to discuss why I had Kanada removed. I have."

"And this evidence wasn't given directly to me because?" He asked back with a glare, and Hayato almost wilted, before firming up.

"Because, I am Hayato Nakagawa, and I can handle business for the family as well."

The older man sighed, rubbing at his salt and pepper temples that once more made me stare at his face.

He was crazy handsome and it was cruel that he was like an evil gang boss.

Then again he was probably crazy handsome because of all the eddies he had because he was an evil gang boss.

"Then the evidence for Kanada's death will be handed over. Unless Mother in Law has already?"

"It's real. I confirmed it myself." Wakako offered and the men around the room all frowned looking pissed.

Yeah I guess if some early twenties gonk went around saying he was going to marry the daughter of the leader, kill the leader and become the next one, and I was one of those leaders already I'd be pissed too.

"Then the assassination will be condoned… Forgive me, old friend." Nakagawa whispered aloud and many of the men bent their heads.

Tsukumura's pops must have been important.

"It seems you have an assassin on hand, Hayato. Make sure to use such a thing sparingly." The old man added and Hayato practically buzzed.

"I will take that into consideration Otou-Sama… But I will not hesitate to call upon skilled mercenaries when needed."

Papa Nakagawa sighed again at Hayato's words and I had a feeling she might be using her newfound freedom and connection to an assassin to remove a few more people.

Which was nothing but an awesome thing in my book.

—--

"Waaa, I can't believe we were just standing in front of Shinobu Nakagawa!" Ichi whispered once we had left the building proper and stepped into the garage.

"Nerve wracking." Malcolm agreed but he stretched and seemed less bothered.

"Ugh I'm just glad we got out of there. Talk about tense!" Rebecca added as well, before slapping Ichi on the back. "And don't think I didn't notice you practically shivering as you stood there in your armor!"

"I didn't!"

"I have a contact with Hayato Nakagawa." Hiromi whispered as she followed robotically behind us all. She had been doing that since she had worked up the nerve to speak to Hayato on the way down and mention she was the one in charge of setting of gigs.

"So Hayato. How'd we do?" I asked, she had followed us down and seemed set on speaking to me about something but having difficulty beginning.

"You were perfect. Grandmother will ensure word gets around that you were operating under my orders, so no one will cause any issues for you."

"Eh, I'm more irritated that more people are going to know what I'm capable of. I hate people that don't underestimate me. It's so much easier when they think I'm just a brat."

"You will be known as working under me personally. That will do a lot for your rep. Isn't that a good thing?"

"Eh, fifty-fifty. It means I have a better chance of being known while doing something, which is good or bad. Being able to intimidate is useful. But being unknown or underestimated is often better in my view. But it's nothing to worry about!" I continued on when I noticed her frowning. "It was inevitable, and getting known as working for you is a good thing. It means the Tygers should be less of an issue in the future."

"Are we often an issue?" She asked me with an honest curiosity in her voice. "I would expect, with your brother and legacy status. You should be treated well?"

"Not really." I offered back. "Jun's rep helped yeah, but most Tyger Claw guys at the bottom are jerks and don't really think before speaking."

I looked back and saw her frowning. "That is not how it should be. They should have nothing but respect for you, since your parents and brother were Tygers!"

"In a perfect world." I replied back with a smirk, saying obviously that the world wasn't perfect. "Besides I know my way around a blade and more."

"Indeed you do." Hayato confirmed actually smiling, which was a rare sight on the serious girls face. "I will have to face you with Shinai again next time we spar. If you were able to stand against Komorebi, then you were holding out on me!" She said suddenly going on the attack and pushing at my shoulder with a finger, but that didn't do much thanks to my chrome!

"Hey! I wasn't! Not really. I had two blades when I faced him and I'm good at dual wielding. I'm ambidextrous."

"Tsk. I will test that myself!" She argued back and I just laughed at her eagerness for more spars.

Then we stopped. We had wandered off a ways farther from the rest of the group, as I let Hayato guide us, and it seems we were far enough. "Hayato?"

"Motoko, you did a favor for me that I will not forget. Freeing me from that filth Kanada."

"It's not like I did it entirely altruistically." I explained but she shook her head.

"You did it when I had no one else to do so. And Grandmother has already denied me her own contacts for this business. I was stuck attempting to find my own… I will owe John-Sensei much for letting us meet."

"Well… Glad I could help."

"I know… Which is why I feel cruel for speaking further. I need to solidify my place in the Tygers. I am a daughter, and while we are not yakuza, few would see me rise up to be the next Shinobu."

I blinked because… I thought Shinobu was his name? It was a title?

Nevermind, I decided I would ask Ichi later or something so that Hayato didn't start trying to slap me again.

"You need more help."

"I would like to continue our relationship. As Client and mercenary." Hayato confirmed sounding very official.

"I don't mind." I decided. "If you need someone killed, rescued, something torched, or just a big gun fight, you know how to reach me. Maybe we'll talk to Hiromi to set up some for of retainer? Is that a thing?"

Hayato looked very pleased for half a moment her smile bright and happy before she instantly shifted back to her official face.

"I look forward to your future performance." She spoke and I shivered because I had a moment where I felt like I was working an actual job instead of doing whatever the hell I wanted.

"Sure." I offered, deciding that was the correct response and she nodded.

Unfortunately Hayato needed to head back up, so once she was gone I jumped into Ichi's truck and we all took off. Time to celebrate!

—--

"Woo!" Rebecca cheered as she showed off with her Ajax. I had intended on going to Lizzies or something, but Ichi had made a good argument.

It wasn't a good idea to party at Mox HQ after doing work for the Tygers. Even if it had been an assassination of one of them.

So instead we were out at Turbo's of all places.

Rebecca had suggested it, and since we didn't really have a hangout that wasn't just go home, or Lizzies I had no reason to argue.

It turned out to be a good idea in the end, Ichi and Malcolm both quickly fell in love with the attention, as Rebecca was a familiar enough face since this is where Maine celebrated. She was able to start the process of a party.

As everyone gathered around as Rebeca regaled them of the most recent gig. With lots of extra bits added on. I certainly don't recall her gunning down the security guards for instance.

But I guess that was half the fun of being a merc. The tall tales.

I blinked surprised as I noticed Hiromi walk over to the Turbo's little attendant, and not long after come out with a few packs of Brosefs she walked over to Rebecca.

"Hell yeah! Free booze for everyone!" Rebecca cried out and everyone cheered as the crowd Rebecca had gathered turned into an actual party.

"I didn't expect that." I told Hiromi as she wandered over and sat on the seat beside me.

"A small cost for a post gig party." She said confidently, and then stilled a bit and sent me an honest smile. "Rebecca suggested it. Apparently if you turn this sort of thing into an open party it helps with your rep. Tomorrow everyone here will be talking about the cool merc party the night before and telling everyone what we did."
I nodded at her explanation. I guess that all made sense. For a group of mercs, normally their rep was their guarantee, their hope of future work depended on it.

I was just so weird, and we had built up enough of a nestegg thanks to the helpful contributions of Scavs and Raffen that I never worried about where the next chunk of eddies would come.

"Do… Do you or the boys worry about eddies? Like… Do we make enough?" I asked, and Hiromi hummed.

"Not recently. There was Ichi's thing with his grandmother, but since we got the big truck, his morning job has paid out well." Hiromi mentioned I could see the way she was looking through me that she was doing calculations in her head.

"Before all this happened, I wanted all of us to have a meeting." I mentioned, and Hiromi blinked at my words and nodded at the memory.

"That's right. Anything in particular?"

"Us, our future." I mentioned as I stared off. "What our relationship will be like in a few years." I glanced over and Hiromi looked super red. Before I could ask her what's wrong she spoke.

"A-are you sure it's t-time for that? Are we ready?" She stuttered and I laughed a little and nudged her.

"Section 9 has grown so much already. I think it's time we start formalizing things. It's nothing to worry about." I explained looking over at Malcolm who was actually seeming to get some attention as he held a brosef in one hand and talked about some adventure he had.

"A-ah. Section 9! Of course! Right. The future of Section 9. That future."

"Hmm?" I asked and Hiromi shook her head wildly and then ran a hand over her face.

"Right. That makes sense. We've been growing a lot. The Behemoth. The Minotaur. Rebecca joining more full time."

"I'm glad she wants to work with us." I said as I turned to look where she was. Rebecca was throwing her weapon grabbing it and throwing a mag into the rifle looking pretty cool while she did so.

"You know… You never did tell me why you wanted her to work with us so much? She's admitted that she's barely got any experience with her current crew, but you threw her into a solo position."

"I just know she has it in her." I admitted purposefully not meeting Hiromi's eyes. "Plus we needed more people. I had met her, and I knew I could steal her away from Maine and his crew."

"She's also a lot older than us… She's pretty. Mature."

"I don't know of anyone that's ever called that gremlin mature before." I whispered back and Hiromi snorted and slapped my shoulder.

"Don't call her a gremlin!"

"I say it like I see it. But yeah. Rebecca is cool, and I think she's perfect to balance us out. A bit older, but that's not a bad thing, even if she doesn't look it, which sort of ruins the chances of her doing any infiltration we can't handle because of our age. I'll just have to dress up again."

"Dress up?" Hiromi asked and I realized I fucked up!

"Nothing important!"

"I think it is!" Hiromi argued with a grin and I was quick to jump off the bench and make a run for it, Hiromi right behind me shouting for answers.

 

[Seras]

I woke up the next morning feeling well rested and ready to take on the world. A full eight hours and I was ready to hammer life.

I hit the gym first. That final level for Body would mean I never have to stop at a gym again in my life. Which was a temptation that was too strong to put off.

The weights let me push and I found a good chunk of the morning disappear in a haze of aching muscles and willpower overriding my tired body.

No level ups, but it was all about the slow inexorable grind!

I spent most of the morning after that doing some clean up for the Tachikoma. Their brain was growing well, if slowly, but they were at the point where it was easy for them to follow a thought or assumption and come to incredibly wrong conclusions.

I considered calling for that meeting between my chooms that I had planned, but honestly we had been working for days straight.

Today was a rest day for sure. Plus Hiromi had school, which I really should try not to interfere with all the time. Better to give her some school time before I finish calling the meeting and get everyone on the same page.

Of course I wasn't really feeling like putting my feet up and wasting the day. So instead I pulled out my laptop and started working on some design work.

The initial use of the Tachikoma had been an amazing success, but I still needed to get their mobile function working.

Getting them capable of climbing walls was going to be complicated, although the tech definitely existed out there already. I remember the Flathead was easily doing it.

But for now I needed speed.

Wheels.

Tachikoma were supposed to have wheels on their legs and that was a skill they would need to learn to use.

Adding wheels was easy. Adding wheels into their already packed together legs while somehow powering them was harder.

But it was the fun kind of harder.

—--

When the door opened and Jun wearily stepped into the apartment I was still a long ways from completing a working design.

So I happily pushed it away and looked over at my brother.

"You look tired."

"Yep." He muttered and stomped over to the fridge.

"Any reason why?"

"Been busy." He finally offered after grabbing an XXL and throwing it in the microwave. But he wasn't going to elaborate.

"Okay?" I mentioned realizing Jun wasn't in the mood for conversation.

A minute later he settled on the couch and chomped into his burrito and life seemed to return to him.

"I've just been busy Imouto. A lot of issues came up, and I wasn't able to handle them because of… Yuto."

"Ah." I looked away. We hadn't really had a conversation about this yet. The room grew a little awkward and I considered what to do. For Jun Yuto was a friend, a companion, a brother in some ways.

And I had killed him.

"Hey Jun?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to set up a space in our shrine for Yuto?" I asked and Jun definitely wasn't expecting that as he choked a bit on his burrito.

I patted his back a bit and he got himself under control again. "What?"

"You heard me. Despite everything… He was a choom right?"

Jun blinked and just looked over to our shrine.

We didn't use it much, it mostly stayed in the corner and we just left it as is.

Finally Jun nodded slowly. "Yeah. I'd like that."

I smiled as Jun's mood improved and we made plans to head out to get everything we would need. I might have zero connection to the man, but to Jun… This might be the way to get over the guilt he obviously felt.

—--

As we left the apartment to head to some shops it was obvious that things had changed.

I was getting stared at. Normally when Jun and I walked around, he got all the attention with his reputation out there, but this time it was something more.

I was getting looked at, and people were whispering.

"Looks like I'm not going to be able to stay low key anymore." I muttered as we passed a few TC gonks sitting on a set of stairs and all of them jumped for Jun but ended up flinching when they saw me.

"Well you did start working with Hayato Nakagawa-Sama."

"Ugh. Don't call her that." I cringed, because it was hard to keep in mind Hayato was important when she was sort of a mess.

"You should start speaking about her with respect. It could cause issues."

"Nah. I've punched her in the face too many times to do that."

"Motoko!?"

"We spar together Jun. What do you think? I just didn't touch her?"

"No! But… I forgot you sparred with her… Is she any good?"

"She's a pain in the ass with that Keren of hers. Not as good at grappling though, but if she can set the pace of the fight she's solid."

"Huh." Jun muttered as we reached the street and headed down the sidewalk.

"Whatever happened with the 6th Street attacks?" I asked and Jun winced looking around a little before leaning in.

"Higher ups are spreading the word it was a false flag, and that 6th Street already apologized. They didn't but they also don't want to admit they were tricked. Apparently there was a big clean up among 6th Street so they are focused on internal matters."

"Just like the Tygers then." I muttered, and Jun didn't comment, but it was what he didn't say that mattered.

The reason the Tygers weren't retaliating was because they were dealing with internal trouble just as bad as 6th Street.

So both gangs were apparently happy to just ignore the entire situation. Of course neither would admit weakness, and neither would actually apologize.

Gang Wars were bad for business though, and 6th Street had already long ago become a business rather than the protectors they tried to pretend they were.

Jun switched to more casual conversation after that, as we entered the store and bought some stuff for the Shrine for Yuto, mostly just new incense.

—--

I was driving to the gun range, planning on getting another session in when the radio started a new song that made me twitch.

My voice, singing This Fffire. It was so eerie that it kept happening, but I didn't change it. Just letting the song finish.

"And that was This Fffire from Ghost in the Shell, been getting a lot of requests for that one. So I hope all you choomers enjoyed it."

I heard Ash say over the radio before finally turning off the car. I was here.

So weird.

I still wasn't sure what I was going to do about all that mess, but I did know that I would have to come up with something soon.

I can't believe I was on the radio.

Shaking it off I headed inside and started shooting. I was focusing on my Handgun skill today, as it was pretty low for one of the skills I used a lot, and I could get a lot of work done.

As I was shooting I noticed one of the other shooters eyeing me and I stopped and shifted so I was looking them straight in the eye. They flinched and looked away and I glared.

Tyger Claw. So he was staring because he had heard about me.

Stupid rep. It was better when everyone just ignored me.

—--

*100 Handguns XP Gained.*

*Handguns skill level up!*

Handguns just hit 8!

I cheered internally even as I groaned and stretched my slightly aching shoulders. I had been at it for hours!

But I really wanted that level up!

Looking around for the first time in a while I relaxed as I was alone and I took a moment to start packing up.

Processing the odd sensation of gaining muscle memory that I hadn't actually done before. Slight changes in how to hold and point, a slight shift in how I would register when to fire while aiming.

It was all good stuff.

Packing up I decided to grab some food and probably flop on the couch for a while.

As I headed out, I caught the issue. Once again a couple of Tyger Claw gonks were standing around my car.

I shifted my shoulders, giving me easy access to the Burya and stalked forward.

"Hey! Get off my ride!" I demanded and watched the men all shift to stare at me.

Weapons visible.

"Chill choom." The lead Gonk offered and actually raised his hands, but his smile told me he was mocking. "We're just here to talk."

"Talk to someone else then. Fuck off." I demanded, I didn't know who sent these fucks, but it wasn't anyone that I wanted to talk to. Everyone in the TC that I wanted to chat with had my number.

"Don't be like that, we are here with business." He explained his smug smile still stretched across his face. And when I just stared blankly he smiled like he won some game. "Here's the deal. You pissed off some important folk, and in exchange you need to work it off. See?" He explained and I nodded.

That was what this was about. I breathed in and out. My blood was boiling. It would take just a choice to calm down, handle this rationally, call Fujimura or Jun, and make sure these guys regretted trying whatever this was about.

Or I could just not.

I activated my Sandy. Everything slowed down not because I expected trouble, but because I wanted to memorize the look on this smug pricks face when my chrome fist smashed into his face. My ankles gave me plenty of force to truly lay one on this guy.

I moved on.

"Get you ass off my fucking car!" I roared as I smashed into them, one of them let out a girlish shriek as I twisted and leapt then landed a flying kick right onto his face knocking him off the hood of the Quadra.

Then I moved again, a gun was drawn, Sub-Gonk number 2 drew a Shiny Omaha, it was whipped out with far too much wasted movements, by the time the gun was clear of his pants, I had already rolled off the Quadra and lashed out, my foot smashing into his wrist and sending the pistol flying. Then I smashed another fist into the gonks chest.

"I am so sick of this shit!" I yelled out as I switched back to the leader. He was rising up shakily holding his mouth, but I didn't care and slipped into his guard and reached up grabbing the side of his head while my other grabbed under the Quadra's bumper giving me all the leverage I needed to bounce his head off the solid titanium hood.

Then I flowed into another move. The fucker that had been sitting on my car was getting up and I smashed a knee into his face putting him back down on the asphalt.

I drew a blade, not my normal knife, but a throwing dagger that was tucked into my little strap on pouches, and chucked it.

Sub-Gonk number 2 had scrambled for his dropped Omaha and now had a knife in his shoulder. Ninjutsu made the throw so easy I could have lodged it right into his eye if I wanted.

His scream of pain was all the work I needed to do. Kind of hard to pull a trigger when you disable their arm.

Wise words from a movie drill instructor.

Walking over I kicked the gun away, he had dropped it anyway unable to grip it, and reached down, jerking the knife back out earning another scream.

I stared down at the three crying injured men.

I should kill them.

I wanted to kill them. Instead I closed my eyes and made a call.

*Fujimura. You have about ten minutes to send someone to pick up these Tyger Goons that just tried to have a chat with me, before I slit their throats and let them bleed out in the streets and carry on with my day. Here's my cords.* Then I hung up and sat my own ass on the hood of the Quadra my Burya visible and keeping the goons on the ground.

—--

I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

"Motoko!" Jun roared as he nearly jumped off his Kusanagi and rushed over. Akari, I noticed had been riding bitch behind him. Heh.

"I'm fine Jun. Just pissed." I explained calmly. The three men were sitting on the ground in front of my Quadra, the fight thoroughly kicked out of them.

Jun looked me over and seeing the only blood I had on me was my chrome knuckles nodded.

Then he turned slowly, practically looming over the three gonks.

"Hey, c-chill Oni, we were-URK!" Jun didn't finish listening. The man was lifted off the ground with one hand wrapped around his throat.

You know… Maybe I'll let Jun stay tall instead of cutting his legs off to make him more normal sized. Because watching my Ogre of a brother hold a struggling dumbass aloft with one hand was really funny.

"Pfft." I tried to restrain my laughter, the man's legs were kicking in the air, unable to find the ground that was a good foot away.

"You. Dare." Jun rumbled his voice deeper than normal, a rumble in his chest adding bass to the worse.

"Oh my." Akari whispered faux shocked, but as I looked her over I noticed she was very much enjoying Jun's actions.

Ugh. Gross.

"Kushan-i." The leader spoke in broken syllables still holding his face.

I might have broken his jaw.

"We-sh 'ad o'rers."

"What orders?" Jun rumbled the guy in his hand still struggling but I noticed Jun wasn't going easy on his throat. He was turning blue.

"Jush a talk!" The leader spoke quickly hands raised as Jun looked like he was about to beat a motherfucker with another motherfucker.

I watched and sighed, because Jun wasn't going to do that, or rip these guys apart. Honestly I'd have been mad if he had, because they were my XP if they were just going to be killed.

"Fujimura-sama will want to hear exactly what your orders were." Jun finally said with a growl and dropped the other gonk. Who landed badly and rolled into a ball as he gasped for air. "Motoko, Fujimura-Sama will be here soon. And we'll get to the bottom of this."

"Perfect. I'm out then." I decided as I stepped off the hood fo the Quadra. "I've wasted enough time on this shit. Let me know what three dumbasses were supposed to tell me later or something." I offered with a wave and then Jun looked like he was going to say something but ended up nodding.

"Sure."

I hesitated and sighed turned around and to Jun's surprise hugged him tight. "Thanks Jun." I told him and ran away before he could get mushy.

Jun was always Mushy.

—--

I got home and took a shower, and as the water ran over my head, I came up with an idea.

A sinister, evil idea.

It was an idea for a quick hack.

I considered it for a while, it wasn't functionally any better than Optic Reboot, but sometimes you just needed to utterly fuck with someone.

I found myself in my room, Tachikoma beside me going through a small series of digital testing grounds for it I had set up, while I used both my hands and my agent to program at rapid speed.

The fact was, I was starting to build a rep. I had to accept that it was what it was, but I wanted something that made people think twice before ever, even considering messing with me.

So I needed to start becoming something more than just an assassin.

I needed the reputation of a monster.

Optical Hack Daemon: Onryo.

I pulled the data for my stealth daemon, as the base, as the Daemons carrier function was really really good. Then instead of simply focusing on making me invisible, I had it carry a holoimage.

The program came together without any issue, and by the time the sun rose it was done.

I installed the completed hack and then just stared at the wall for a second.

"Pfftt Hahahahaha!" I broke in evil laughter at the horror I was about to unleash. Now I just needed to find some targets.

 

[Seras]

I considered going out and using it right away, but I needed to test it first, and I had perfectly good guinea pigs.

I mean friends!

Ichi and Malcolm were summoned!

The little food place I had called them too was nice enough, but I wasn't inside. Instead I was on a roof across the way watching the two boys arrive, look around not seeing me, and slide into a booth.

I quickly hacked into both of them and slipped in the Daemon , making sure to set it to the lowest setting.

I didn't want to give them a heart attack after all! This was just some minor fuckery-Teasing. Just minor teasing! Between chooms!

Watching the two it didn't take long before Ichi jerked in his seat and looked around as if searching for something.

Malcolm asked him a question and Ichi just shook his head and they went back to their discussion. Then Malcolm jumped nearly out of the booth as he patted at his legs and then ducked under the booth but came up looking confused.

The two boys settled back in, and then it just kept happening. Odd twitches, or slight movement.

Closing my eyes I opened it again, connecting to the Daemons so they'd send the data to me as well.

I thought about the Laughing Man a lot when it comes to hacking. The ability to just remove yourself from someone's vision, or change how you look in real time is incredibly powerful in a world where everyone has cyberware vision.

I wasn't at that point yet. Altering someone's vision in real time was insanely resource intensive, at least as far as I understood it. Of course that understanding could change as I leveled up more and more.

But that didn't mean I couldn't touch on that sort of Hack.

Onryo was very simple. Slowly over time the user's vision would have flashes of something, in the corner of their eye, or in the shadows of a table below them.

A ghostly shadowed version of me with white hair and glowing red eyes, and claws and fangs.

I had gone all out.

If the Tyger Claws wanted to call me Onryo, then I was going to scare the shit out of my enemies.

So I watched as a faint version appeared over Malcolm's shoulder, a hand reaching out, not in Malcolms vision, but in Ichi's. He twitched and called out, Malcolm reacted, his hand slapping his own shoulder right through the image making it vanish. Not that Malcolm saw it… Hmm.

Both boys looked at each other and then spoke.

Then I got a call.

Oops. I think they figured it out.

I leapt off the building without answering and crossed the street before entering the diner.

"Motoko! Was this you?" Malcolm demanded and I raised my hands in surrender.

"Sorry! Sorry! I'll pay for lunch so forgive me okay?" I pleaded giving the boys a cute look.

"You were already going to pay for lunch!" Ichi joined in as I joined them and slumped.

"Dinner?"

"And snacks!" Malcolm added and I nodded in surrender. I had been fucking with them after all.

"So what was that?"

"My new quick hack! Version 1, anyways. While watching you all react, I realize it has some weaknesses. Shared network alterations are a must if this is going to work on a group of people, and I need something to induce a physical feeling." I muttered, already my vision was covered by the code as I started fiddling with it.

"Jeeze. That scared the shit out of me. Why make a quick hack that just makes you look like a ghost?"

"Mostly to terrify my enemies. It's an Onryo." I explained and both boys nodded. They had heard that nickname for me before. "Basically I don't even have to attack a group. I can just hack them, and if they don't have a netrunner capable of realizing what's going on. They'll be too busy chasing ghosts to stop me from doing whatever I want."

The boys both nodded along as I spoke, but then I revealed the truth. "Of course an Optic Reboot would be more efficient. Just blind them and get to whatever I need to do, but sometimes you just want to scare the shit out of a group of assholes."

"Hear hear!" Ichi cheered and the boys clinked their glasses together.

Great, I was forgiven.

—--

"Ah, there you are." Jun greeted me as I got home. I threw my jacket over the back of the couch as I leapt over to flop into the cushions beside him.

"Sup, Jun?"

"Those fuckers that were trying to mess with you? Don't worry about it. Fujimura-Sama made sure that it won't happen again."

"Yeah? The fuck did they want anyways?"

"Nothing. Just… Stupid shit."

"Blackmail?" I asked, because it had felt like I was about to be blackmailed.

"Not, exactly. I think he wanted to try and weaken Fujimura-Sama by stealing you away. I think he was trying to recruit you."

"What? Why? I'm pretty sure he hates me."

"Motoko, Moritaka isn't the sort of man that would allow his feelings to get in the way of his goals." Jun said and I frowned a bit at that.

He didn't seem that way when I met him.

Jun noticed my disbelieving look and just rolled his eyes at me.

"Don't worry about it. I took care of it and Moritaka is getting talked to by Nakagawa-Sama. He overstepped a bit this time. Especially since they started a fight with you." Jun said idly, and then threw me a wink.

Ah. I see. "Yep. They started the fight. Definitely." I assured him having picked up the context.

He smiled and that was that.

I relaxed the irritation of it all sliding off my shoulders. I knew that I wasn't done with Tyger Claw nonsense again, but at least I could kick it down the road a bit more.

That was the goal. Just keep pushing the things I can't deal with safely now until later, until I could deal with them.

The fact lit a fire under me again and I hurried to my room.

Time to get some work done.

I scooped up the Tachikoma that was practicing something with its blocks and shut it down for a bit. I needed to do an upgrade. Luckily I had the parts from when I made the directional mics.

I popped off the out shell with a few screws and looked at the internals.

Flashed my eyes at my laptop and accessed it remotely pulling up the CAD software. As I worked I rolled around my room grabbing the parts from different places. A spare mic that had rolled under my dresser.

Some wires in the top drawer right next to my underwear. The soldering iron was somewhere, and it took a minute to find it in my closet hidden under some clothes.

Grabbing everything I rolled back to my work desk as I finished up the design.

I really just had to make sure it had some room, everything else was already in place. An hour later I was done.

The Tachikoma now had access to a microphone. Able to pick up sounds, so it wouldn't be deaf. A few holes drilled into the case would let it hear, and it was done. Put back together. I set it on the table and started programming.

Just because it had the hardware didn't mean it knew how to use it.

Luckily I didn't even really need to program the whole thing. Microphone software to let a program 'hear' was old code.

I ripped it from a few different devices just in the apartment, including the TV and my radio. Fiddled with the code so it was actually functional to my needs, and not full of garbage and then updated the Tachikoma.

I accepted the alerts that popped up over the little project.

*100 Engineering XP Gained.*

*100 Crafting XP Gained.*

*100 Technical Ability XP Gained*

I got a few alerts for each one. But no level ups.

That was fine. It was an easy project, and the system always liked when I finished something, but it wasn't exactly complicated.

Just a minor update to the Tachikoma Chassis.

I wish I had the hardware upgrades for its mind. I hadn't heard anything from Hiromi about it since I brought it up a while back.

Sure, the Tachikoma were functional as scouting drones right now, but if I wanted a scout drone, I'd have bought some off the shelf garbage. The Tachikoma were more than that.

Shaking it off, I made a note to bring it up with Hiromi sometime soon, and instead rolled over to my programming laptop.

I turned on the Tachikoma, and basically pushed it through some tests for its new mic. While I went to work on the Onryo Hack.

Like I had told the boys it wasn't really that efficient. Blinding people would work better than just fucking with their vision. But efficiency wasn't always the right path in every situation.

Now I had to figure out how to craft a hack that had another sense involved. Touch was… Difficult.

Sure, if they had Real Skinn, or other similar products, it would be easier. Real Skinn had sensors to transmit touch, but tapping into that and keeping it all in sync with the visual changes…

No wait. I didn't need to have it actually interact with Real Skinn.

The flash of inspiration had me cackling as I checked my own hardware to make sure it was functional.

Funny thing about Neural Links, and Agents. Agents had silent alerts and notifications integral to the system.

Guess what it could do? It could make a buzzing, or a shock feeling on a palm, or something like that, but it wasn't really doing anything to that part of your body, it was just sending an electrical signal to the brain.

I could co opt that. Agents were touted as being pretty difficult to get into, but it just wasn't the case. The on board AI wasn't really great. They were good at learning habits and behaviors, and assisting their user, but they weren't intelligent enough to counter a foreign install.

I went to work. Watching over the Tachikoma with one eye as it ran around exploring sounds and registering them into its system.

I winced as I noticed the file growing exponentially, and had to take a break to stop it and work with the Tachikoma, to register an easier way to process sounds.

I couldn't have it create a file library of every sound it heard. If the Tachikoma did that, it would bloat so large the Tachikoma's mind would break under the weight of its own memories.

Well. It would crash until I fixed it, but the point remained.

So instead, I needed it to process sounds not as a copy pasted registry, but as an inquisitive module.

Take in the sound, Look to register what it was and process accordingly. Except for speech, which would be in a registry library.

Those were pretty small though. People were more than capable of fitting an entire language software in their agents alone…

I should probably get more languages myself actually.

It almost made me stop working, but I shook it off. I'll make a note to pick up a few of the common ones. Japanese would probably help a lot when dealing with the Weebs.

—-

"Hey, Motoko! Your song is on!" Jun called out suddenly and I looked away from my programming to faintly hear my own voice coming from the living room. Rising up I stepped outside and indeed it was true.

This Fffire was playing. And Jun was doing his proud older brother thing as he looked from the radio to me.

It still felt weird to hear my own voice.

Jun was quiet as the song played through, just looking all proud that it was on, and only when it was over and Ash came over the air did he turn to me.
"So? What do you think?"

"I think it still sounds awful and I hate it." I told him, but that was actually lying, and he caught that. Giving me a look.

"C'mon don't be like that."

"It's weird." I answered truthfully. "I should probably do some more songs soon."

"Oh!? You have some more ideas?" He asked, sounding interested which made it a bit awkward when they weren't exactly 'ideas' in the creative sense.

"Yeah something like that. I'm sure Hiromi is going to bug me soon about putting out more songs… Or doing more gigs." I groaned at that idea.

"Heh." Jun just chuckled at me and stood up throwing an arm over my shoulder pulling me in for a hug. "I think you'll somehow live." He teased and I gently elbowed him, but didn't really pull away.

"Shut up. It's not like I want to come up with an entire new set list or anything… Even though I have some ideas." I mumbled, and that was my mistake.

Talking to Jun. That was the mistake.

"Hehe!" He said and suddenly I was lifted up, hands under my armpits as Jun spun me around in the air. "I look forward to hearing it! When are you going to be done? Need any help?"

"Nooo!" I groaned as I kicked a little, but Jun was lifting me up and it wasn't like I wanted to really dick kick him or something. So I could only really pout and look away from him as he hefted me up like I was a toy.

Stupid light body. I was going to get a full body conversion and weigh a ton or something and laugh as Jun failed to mess with me like this!

Then Jun put me down and sort of looked embarrassed. "I was uh, talking to Alice the other day. She mentioned that she wanted to ask if you wanted to play a song with her band sometime." He offered and I blinked.

"Really?"

"Really. Her band, Violet Hemorrhage is going through some shit. So she's looking for people to play with. You know?"

"Violent Hemorrhage." I corrected him, and shook myself a bit after he put me back down, adjusting my clothes. "And I don't know Jun. If they are having band trouble. I don't want to stick my nose in it."

"Maybe just a jam session then? I bet she'd be happy to help you play some of your songs."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You just want me to focus on Rockerboy stuff so I'm not getting into fights."

"I think you have an amazing talent, and want you to be happy… And I want you to focus on Rockerboy stuff, so you aren't getting into fights." He said and I scoffed but couldn't help but chuckle. I'm pretty sure I had used that one on Jun before.

"Tell her, I don't mind jamming or maybe doing some stuff together sometime… I guess."

"Preem. I'll call her and let her know, but before that. Tell me about this new set!"

"Ugh. I don't… I haven't really thought about it." I said truthfully, but now that I was… I could pull something together… Or I could fuck with Jun. "I'll write some love songs! All about love and sex and-Urk!"

"No love songs!" Jun demanded grabbing for me which I ducked and dodged, he swiped at me, getting more serious as I started humming a tune as I slipped around, and then jumped flying over his head in a flip.

"You can't stop me!" I called out, and starting singing. "I'm in love with the shape of you! We push and pull like Magnet do, although my heart is falling too, I'm in love with your body!" I sang running around and struggling not to die laughing as Jun groaned with every line chasing after me, he was far less nimble over the couch.

"Motoko!"

"C'mon Jun. You know I'm not really interested in doing a love song." I offered, laughing, and Jun sighed out seeming to relax a bit.

"Thank God."

"But I'll likely put one out eventually. I mean, love songs are super popular." I admitted and Jun just glared at me, but I laughed at his look. "Relax Jun. Maybe I'll get someone else to sing it, and I'll just give it to someone."

"No love songs." He grumbled at me, which made me cackle and I shook my head refusing to accept his demand. Not that I had much interest in them.

"Alright. I'm getting back to work. Talk to you later Jun." I waved him off laughing at our little rough housing as I headed back into my room.

—--

I pulled up to the parking area near the Straight Lane Apartments, and hummed the first few bars of a random song.

I had spoken with Hiromi about formalizing stuff, so here it was.

The first official gig day of Section 9.

Grabbing some gear I headed down the street humming all along as I reached the entrance, and noticed some familiar faces hanging around. The girls that tried to get overly protective of their gang leader. They noticed me and sort of looked away.

Preem, not dealing with that today.

I walked past and to the elevator heading down not surprised to see Hiromi already there, along with someone that did surprise me. Rebecca.

"Hey Becca." I greeted happily and she looked up from where she was sort of looking over Hiromi's shoulder at the laptop she was working on to wave. Hiromi quickly looked up and smiled.

"Motoko! Great timing. We got the work details. This should be something fun. We are retaking some data that some Maelstrom stole." Hiromi offered and I perked up.

Hey, that sounded like fun. Also fuck Maelstrom.

I walked over and stood behind Hiromi to look over her other shoulder from Rebecca and see. "Hmmm. That's not a large group either."

"O-of course! They brought a lot of heat on their heads. So they are hiding out. We can move in and clear them out and make some good eddies."

"Preem. Who's the Fixer?" I asked and Hiromi went a bit quiet so I looked away from the computer to her. "Hiromi?"

"Regina." Hiromi finally said and I blinked in surprise.

"Huh, I didn't think she wanted to work with me."

"I uh, don't actually know. I didn't tell her that you were involved." Hiromi admitted and I shrugged.

"Okay. That's fine. I don't like dealing with that part of the gig anyways. I'll leave it to you."

"Yeah! You can leave it to me!" Hiromi said with a big dopey smile. I smiled back and heard the elevator start up.

"That's the boys." I confirmed it with a quick check of the lobby camera.

"Good, I was about to start puking." Rebecca said and I shifted to her.

"What? Are you sick?" I asked worried and Rebeeca stilled before looking away.

"Nah, just I'm good. Don't worry about it. We're about to kill some gonks, and make some eddies!" Rebecca cheered, sounding normal… She didn't look sick…

I shook it off as Ichi arrived, with Malcolm in tow, both of them looked ready. Already mostly kitted out.

"Perfect! Everyone suit up. I'll do an initial sweep of their system before we hit them."

 

[Seras]

The intel was good. An old ripperdoc shop, long abandoned by the owner, had been taken over. The group had klepped a shipment from Kang Tao. Some proprietary data or whatever, and they wanted it back, but hadn't managed to track down who stole it, so some middle manager had hired Regina who hired Hiromi.

Honestly I was pretty relaxed, slipping into their data stream was tetchy. Maelstrom always had more potential for running into a Netrunner than some other gangs.

But as I slipped inside, and did a quick numbers check from a rooftop across the street, looking through the interior camera from their unblinking eyes everything kept coming back as just like the mission prep.

About fifteen Maelstrom. No one with a massive danger level, all worked out of this shop gathering chrome from all over the city and using this place to chrome themselves up.

I had a bad feeling they weren't professional rippers, and were probably just doing it through their amateur skills which was horrifying.

I'd have to visit Vik after this and pray to the prophet of safe chrome use.

*Okay, I'm in their security, uploading Ping.* I sent out, and my eyes were filled with golden lights that I uploaded to my team. Out of the corner of a camera I caught Rebecca and Malcolm huddling in the alley behind the shop, both of them ready.

*I'm moving.* Ichi confirmed, a moment later and I looked with my actual eyes to see his Van pulling out of the spot he had parked down the street and drove closer.

*We're ready!" Rebecca called out and I nodded.

*Alright. Everyone! Operation Begin!* I demanded as I stood up and started running.

A lot happened right away.

I leapt, landing precariously on the traffic light across the street, balancing a little for a moment and then running across.

Ichi stopped his truck with a little tire squeal and the back doors opened up, both HMG's activating.

Rebecca hopped up, using a bit of garbage they had piled up to climb up onto the trash bin and heft her LMG onto the old fence pointing into the building.

I was glad I had made sure there wouldn't be any chance of Ichi's HMG hitting them, thanks to the weird shape of the building they were at an angle to each other.

Then I leapt, and as I did I uploaded Weapon Glitch.Then I landed on the roof, rolled forward and the firing began. My Lexington raised up already silenced and I started firing, destroying the glass of the skylight, and sliding to a stop. My Burya raised to match my Lexington, and I started firing from above into the Maelstrom that were still alive taking cover behind what little they could find.

*500 XP Gained.*

*500 XP Gained.*

*500 XP Gained.*

*500 XP Gained.*

I smirked as the XP came in, four shots each confirming a kill with the Burya as the Lexington did what it could as well, and then I rolled away from the window as return fire hit my position. Rolling a bit to get some distance I confirmed everything was working well.

*Grenades.* I called over the line, and Malcolm did his job. He wasn't just there to help Rebecca after all. A moment later the inside of the shop started exploding as he tossed grenade after grenade inside until every golden light went out.

*I'm going in to clear, safety those HMG's Ichi.*

*Roger that. Going to move so I'm not in the middle of the street.* He called out, and I already heard his roller door on his truck coming down as he started driving away to keep an eye out.

I jumped down through the skylight. Weapons raised as I checked the corner, but I was already fairly confident it was clear.

I looked over the bodies and whistled. That wasn't just normal Maelstrom gear. They had some actual hardware. Must be what they klepped from the Kang Tao.

Looks like Section 9 was getting some more gear. I ignored that for now, and started searching. Plenty of equipment was destroyed from our surprise attack, but I had found what I suspected was the laptop that they had checked the stolen data from, and it was in a small side room. It had been safe-ish from grenades.

I finished checking all the rooms and joined up with Rebecca and Malcolm as they came in, before I relaxed.

"Looks all clear."

"Preem! Look at that! Eee! I've always wanted a Zhuo!" Rebecca actually squealed as she set her Constitutional Arms Defender LMG onto the concrete barely treating it gently as she hefted the Smart Shotgun and started cackling.

"Keep an eye for traps!" I reminded her and Malcolm before I turned towards the small office and slipped inside.

The laptop inside was hooked up to all sorts of firewall hardware. Honestly all this equipment was expensive stuff, and I was already planning on calling for the boys to haul it all away.

Additional computing hardware to protect yourself while checking on a dangerous shard? That was valuable.

I did one quick check using the data Regina gave me, confirming the data file I was looking for was present, and popped the Kang Tao Harddrive that they had rigged up to everything. Slipped it into a pouch in my armor. *Hiromi we have retrieved the target.*

*Nova. I'll message Regina. We didn't get a-*

*Shit! Incoming!* Ichi shouted out and I moved. Bringing my Burya up as I raced out of the small room. Rebecca was already jumping into cover. The same cover the poor Maelstrom had used until I attacked from above, but Malcolm was sort of hesitating.

I took it all in and my eyes caught what was happening. I activated my Sandy and moved.

Bullets started shooting through the front window, but it wasn't normal gunfire. Smart rounds. I took it in, and turned up my armor's ECM, the light would make me a bigger target, but if bullets were homing it was better than nothing. A moment later I was hitting Malcolm, both of us went sprawling, but hopefully behind enough cover the rounds would miss.

*ACTIVATE ECM!* I roared over our line and rose up realizing I was still in Sandy time.

Fuck.

I fired ,Kang Tao orange armor not standing up to angry Burya fire and dropping soldiers with every shot.

As I fired I started hacking. Weapon Glitch would certainly help, but Kang Tao weren't off the street gonks. They had some actual defenses, and before I could finish it happened.

I didn't make it back into cover without return fire. My ECM was working. Smart Rounds went wide and spiraling off, but that wasn't a perfect solution. I felt a round impact my chest rig, right around my ribs, and then as I was knocked sideways, a spider crack blurred my vision. I landed hard, but rolled into cover.

Return fire started Rebecca firing her new toy, and Malcolm scrambled for his gun. I was a bit stunned for a moment as the Sandy cycled and I realized the reason my vision was so fucked was because a smart round had hit my helmet.

I pressed a hand against the hole and relaxed as I realized while I felt a bit concussed I wasn't bleeding.

*Incoming!* Ichi called out again and I really worried that we were about to be hit by more enemies when I heard a massive crash outside. I peaked up and then started firing.

Ichi had crashed into the Kang Taos stupid little orange minivan they had come out of, and that had been enough of a distraction. Then Malcolms grenade went off and I flinched back.

Oh. He hadn't been scrambling for a gun, but for another grenade.

"Good job." I called out a few moments later when I realized they weren't getting back up. And then I activated the Sandy again and charged.

The Kang Tao van was still occupied, just busy dealing with Ichi's less than an accident. I pulled one of my own grenades from my chest rig and jumped, landing on the hood of Ichi's Van.

*Ichi! Reverse!* I demanded and a moment later the truck peeled backwards escaping the Kang Tao's van. With a little extra that I tossed in once there was an opening. The grenade popped and the entire little orange van bumped and I got a surge of alerts that I would check later.

Instead I raised my gun pointing at the van.

*Let's go! In the truck now!" I demanded and not long after Rebecca and Malcolm both pulled themselves out of the shop, Both of them looked like they had been hit, but that would have to wait as they hurried as fast as they could and jumped into Ichi's truck. I crawled over to the passenger side and slipped in, as Ichi floored it.

—--

"An explanation would be nice!" I growled holding an ice pack to my head. I hadn't managed to slip a Max Doc between Ichi in the cab, and Hiromi fussing over me at Viks.

Malcolm was okay, just a big purple bruise growing across his shoulder where a round had slammed into him, but Rebecca got actually nicked.

I looked over at her, where she was doing everything she could to not pay attention to the way Vik was cleaning out a bullet hole in her leg.

"I don't know either!" Hiromi said back, but she was just as pissed as I was. "Regina hasn't gotten back to me since the attack."

"That bitch. She's the fucking cursed fixer. If I find out she did this, all those defenses at her stupid little hidey hole aren't going to save her." I promised, and despite the fact I just threatened a fixer, Hiromi nodded.

Then her eyes went gold and she held up a hand, her face turning into an angry glare as she spoke.

Ah, so Regina had called us finally.

I looked over, and everyone was okay. So I rested back and closed my eyes.

*500 XP Gained.*

*750 XP Gained.*

Two XP alerts for the grenade I had thrown. So the boss of the little hit squad had been inside the Kang Tao van?

Then a good bit of odd alerts, and of course I had leveled something.

*100 Engineering XP Gained.*

*Engineering skill level up!*

That had me snorting back a laugh. Killing people with explosives was engineering still made me laugh.

Engineering 7 was solid, I could feel the information leaking into my brain as I let myself decompress.

"Good news and bad news." Hiromi called out and I looked up, that had been to everyone. "The good news? Regina wasn't the one that tried to backstab us. The bad news? Kang Tao aren't gonna drop this."

"Not our problem." I denied instantly. "You tell Regina that as the fixer we are dropping off the data and our side of this is done. She handles it." I argued but Hiromi shook her head.

"Kang Tao went after her too."

"What?" I asked, actually surprised. Regina wasn't the oldest fixer, but she'd been Media before this, had plenty of connections, and… You just didn't go after Fixers like that. But I still shook my head. "Still not our problem. Not unless she's paying more."

Hiromi nodded and went silent as she still had Regina on a line.

We were all quiet as Hiromi's face went through a variety of responses before settling on a bit of anger and then she nodded. Grimacing which made the black EMP threading on her cheeks shift.

"Fuck you too then!" Hiromi yelled out, shocking everyone including Vik who looked up with a judging eyebrow raise at Hiromi who looked a little bashful. "Sorry."

"What happened?"

"We need to get the data to her so she can finish the gig from Kang Tao and turn off the heat for this, but she says we need to get it to her, and that it's not going to be easy."

"Again that sounds like a her problem." I added bluntly.

"She mentioned that she can get Kang Tao off our ass, but she needs the data first." Hiromi added and I rolled my eyes.

"Fucking hell." I grumbled and shrugged standing up. "Okay I'm going to get this to her and get out. Stay here, while… No, go to Hiromi's place once you are patched up. We don't want to bring any heat down on Vik." I added looking to the older man, who hadn't turned from his work while I spoke, but I got the feeling I had done right.

"Yeah. We can crash at my place… Probably." Hiromi added and I shrugged. While I didn't want to make her parents pissed, I didn't exactly care about that as much as I cared about my chooms.

"Alright Hiromi, send me whatever Regina sent you about the drop off. I'm out."

"Shouldn't you recover a bit more?" Hiromi asked, pointing at my head and I shook it off.

"I'm fine. Really." I added throwing up a smile. "Alright guys. I'll keep in touch."

—--

Regina was still up in her little hidey hole of a floor in a skyscraper. The problem came that Kang Tao also knew that, and they had moved into the area to watch her.

She couldn't leave to get the data to get them to back off, and they wanted the data and the carriers of it dead.

Fucking hell.

I was going to tell Hiromi no more Regina after this. She was just bad luck.

I parked a long way away, and ended up getting to the rooftops so I would have a better view of everything. Looking across the street at the building Regina was in, I kept my head down low, because even on the rooftop there were Kang Tao Snipers.

This… This was going to be difficult. They definitely had a runner here too, so I would either need to sneak in and get to her, or disable the runners while I did so… I considered the options. I could probably start flatling gonks on my way in, but…

Kang Tao was not the sort of threat I wanted to keep poking. Killing a single hit squad they sent after me wasn't a huge deal, but wiping out more of them after? That's the sort of thing that could get them to decide to make an example out of me.

So stealth it was. From the rooftop I started marking targets, not through Ping or anything as that might be noticed, but just using the old ninja skills. Slowly in my mind a layout came into place. With each of the Kang Tao grunts forming a web as I took in their routes, and paths.

Slowly I got a solid image of the whole place. Instincts had me focus on areas that I could sneak through, and places that would be impossible to move around, but slowly it all came together.

I sighed, taking a moment to just take in the annoyance and what I was being forced to do. Then I stepped off the building.

It felt like flying every time I did this. I landed silently on a sign and stayed there for a minute. Then moved again. Leaping from the sign onto the street light, something that was starting to become a fun trick I kept pulling as street lights were high enough most people weren't going to notice me traveling across them if I moved fast enough. With a leap I crossed the street and landed on an overhang of a building next to Regina's.

Then I crouched down and waited, adjusting myself so my body would blur into the shadows, and hopefully keep me concealed even from Kiroshi if they were looking around.

I counted the time.

One. Two. Three… Sixteen. Seventeen. And I rose up and leapt. This was the hardest part. I hit Regina's building, my feet just landing on a tiny ledge as I jumped again backwards crossing the alley that hid Regina's entrance, I jumped over the heads of the Kang Tao guards that were standing at the exit.

I hit the other building and this time let my momentum stall as I simply dropped straight down. Right in between a very lucky garbage bin. Then I waited. There was a guy directly in front of me as I looked towards the opening to Regina's little private elevator.

He was inside the little elevator room and just idling around. Waiting. C'mon. C'mon. I thought to myself as I waited for the time. He would move soon, I just had to hope I got the timing right. I waited and then like every person he shifted as he started to move. My Sandy activated.

I ran forward on silent feet as I slipped right into his shadow. The heavy Kang Tao helmets weren't great for peripheral vision even with good optics. I slipped straight behind him as my Sandy turned off, and turned along with him using him to block vision of myself from the exit.

Then I waited a few moments, as he looked and started moving. I rushed forward. I didn't have long. I ran over and pushed the call button on Regina's elevator and then leapt into the same place I had once hidden to ambush her guards the first time I had shown up here.

To my complete lack of surprise with a very quick scan I noticed the new camera that was hidden in the ceiling pointed at this location. I looked right into it, and with only a slight difficulty I pulled up my netgogs and threw the camera a wink.

Then I waited. Securing both arms into the concrete I managed to pin myself in place pretty comfortably, as I waited.

Another Kang Tao guard came in and I waited. The cycle would repeat soon. And so I held myself in position. I could stay up here for a long time, but not forever. Even with my arms, there were still muscles being strained to keep me pinned in place.

But I waited. Regina would have to open the elevator for me… Right?

I once more realized that this could all just be Regina fucking us in someway. This was Night City after all. But I waited, and finally as the guard moved back out to cycle through the routine, I saw the elevator doors open silently. Not a sound giving it away.

I dropped, and hit the floor as I rolled backwards avoiding my hands as I tumbled, and rolled into the elevator I stopped waiting to draw if someone saw me, as I waited and waited, and almost too long the doors started closing and the guards either just saw it too late, or missed it as they closed and the elevator shifted bringing me up.

I rose up and prepared myself.

Regina had defenses and this could still be a giant weird trap.

The doors opened and to my surprise the HMG's weren't pointing at me, but were still active. And in front of me was Regina, and her… Chooms? Workers? Guards?

"Yo." I greeted her because I didn't know what else to say and she was giving me a complicated look.

"Motoko Kusanagi."

"Yeah I know, bet you never expected to see me again." I offered as I reached into my pouch to grab the data and the two guards both jerked up with weapons so I stilled.

"Relax." Regina ordered and they did and so I finished bringing out the Hard Drive.

"Here's the data Kang Tao are so finicky about. I expect this will solve this issue?"

"It should. Come on." She demanded as she took the hard drive and walked inside.

I sighed. I knew that another issue was here. There was no way I could get out of here with the Kang Tao right outside the exit so I had no choice but to follow her inside.

Her guards were shooting me odd looks as I walked in, following after the fixer. She moved until she was facing out the window, her eyes golden as she was on a call palming the data drive.

I found a box to sit on because Regina had this place set up like some crazy ass hobo encampment and I just sat back against the wall before remembering my chooms and sending them a text.

*Motoko: Regina has the data drive. Just waiting now.* I sent into the group chat and sat back as everyone responded. Rebecca's grumblings about this made me want to laugh, but I kept my face blank as I was right in Regina's citadel.

Then finally Regina slumped a bit and reached for a drink on a desk and took a sip.

"Kang Tao are backing off. In exchange for the drive like they wanted. They'll pretend the rest didn't happen."

"Yeah, say that to me and my chooms that got shot."

"Dangers of the job… Shouldn't you know that by now kid?"

"I've never taken a gig from a fixer that ended up this fucked up before. You tell me." I snapped back and Regina definitely didn't look pleased at my tone.

"I don't hire kids for a reason." She countered back and I rolled my eyes. Hiromi probably didn't inform her about how old Section 9 was when she got the gig.

"These kids performed your gig perfectly, survived an ambush and brought you the data so you could save your ass from a pissed off Kang Tao middle manager. You can mock us all you want, but we are the side that did our job here." I pointed out and Regina went blank before she breathed in and out.

"You're right. This was my fuck up, not yours. You did the gig you were hired to, and did more. Can't deny that." She said suddenly to my surprise, then she pinned me with a stare from her one eye. "You did well, but I still don't like hiring kids for this kind of work… Call me in a few years if you're still alive."

"Pfft." I scoffed at her and settled back. "I'll think about letting you send me a gig that long in the future. You might have to work for it."

"Arrogant brat." She muttered but turned away and continued her work.

 

[Seras]

An hour later Kang Tao headed off having retrieved the data and everything was settled.

Just another night in Night City where the corps felt that killing anyone that had even touched their data was the better course than just trusting some mercs to have not read it.

I didn't, but I was tempted to after they screwed us like this, but Regina had gotten paid and then some for all the trouble, so I was just going to let it go. I didn't want to deal with Kang Tao right now.

Getting to Hiromi's apartment I was let in quickly as Hiromi opened the door before I even got there.

"C'mon!" She urged me, grabbing my arm and pulling me inside. It was a bit tense in the apartment. It looks like Hiromi's Mom was here, and she was giving the group a little bit of a stink eye as the group of teenagers splayed out on her fancy couch.

"Mother! Motoko is back."

"Hello again." I greeted the stern looking woman, who looked me over, and I noticed her optics locking in on my new chrome as well. But then she nodded seemingly pleased.

"This issue with Kang Tao is dealt with?" She asked and I nodded.

"Yep. They backed off, everything is settled."

"Good. Hiromi, dear, be more careful." She said in a tone that was actually a bit softer than I'd ever heard from her.

"Yes Mother." Hiromi said, without even a hint of irritation. Which surprised me, because we were careful.

Then Mama Hiromi walked out of the living room for her office, and the atmosphere calmed down.

"Whew." Hiromi sighed a bit as she left.

"Be more careful?" I prodded quietly, and Hiromi just shook it off.

"She worries. But she lets me do this." Hiromi argued back, almost snapping at me, and I nodded, raising my hands.

"Got it, sorry."

"It's fine." She whispered back, and then she turned to everyone. "Okay! Motoko got everything settled!"

"Finally!" Malcolm called out, but I realized he was teasing. "Gosh Motoko, taking so long."

"Yeah Motoko." Ichi said distractedly as he was currently eating some food that was on a fancy plate and looking shocked at what he was eating.

"Oh fuck off!" I told Malcolm laughing, as I walked over and pushed his head. "I had to sneak past an entire team of Kang Tao to get that data drive dropped off."

"Pfft. Just one team? Are you getting slow in your old age?" Malcolm teased, so I just flipped him off and Rebecca's laugh made me laugh along with her.

"Funny as fuck chooms. But we're good? Vik did good work, but I'm still feeling sore." Rebecca said, pointing at her leg that was currently resting on the glass coffee table. That might have been why Mama Hiromi was hovering.

"Yeah, Kang Tao agreed to back off on this one. Regina brow beat them with the data."

"Nova. Alright then. I'm out." Rebecca said and groaned as she started to get up. I frowned.

"Want a hand?"
"Ehhh… Yeah." She admitted as she winced a bit as she put weight on her leg.

I walked over and scooped her up gently, earning a yelp of surprise from Rebecca as I slowly made sure she was comfortable.

"Jeeze choom! I'm not that small!"

"You're pretty light Rebecca!" I responded back with a laugh showing her how easy it was to lift her. Honestly the weight was mostly on my back thanks to my arms being chrome, and my core handled the rest just fine.

"Fuck. I forgot all those muscles you got Strings."
I just laughed at Rebecca's surprised sound.

"C'mon I'll help you get home. Oh before I forget." I mentioned stopping my turn towards the door. "We didn't get to loot the place with everything that happened. But I'm amazed at how well everyone handled today. Ichi, your van okay?"

He gave me a small grimace. "Repairs aren't going to be cheap."

"It was during an OP, and it saved our ass, so Hiromi? Can we make sure that gets squared away? I can pull from my eddies if that would work."

"Don't worry about it Motoko." Hiromi said, although she was giving me a strange focused look. "We have the company account for that sort of thing."

"Okay… Just let me know if there are any issues. Thanks everyone."

"Pfft. We all did what we could." Malcolm said surprisingly blase about the whole thing. "I'm gonna head out too."

And with that other than Hiromi giving me a strange look, and Rebecca giggling for some reason. Our first official gig day ended.

—--

"So Ash has been reaching out. She's had a few people reach out to her, music people on the down low trying to get contact information." Hiromi informed me the next morning.

I blinked at her as she had just walked into my bedroom as I was being a bit lazy and still in bed without a word and just flopped down and started talking.

"What? Hiromi!"

She rolled her eyes but she was trying to keep from breaking out into a smile so she was definitely fucking with me. I just rolled my eyes back and waved my wrist for her to go on.

"Okay so. People are interested. Interest is good. It means we have leverage. I want to set up some meetings. Some DJ's for different stations want your music, and some producers, I think they want to add you to their label!"

"Sounds horrible."

"It has its drawbacks." She admitted a little too quickly. "But the eddies would be much better!"

"Hiromi."

"Motoko."

I sighed. Working with some corpo middleman music producer sounded like a horrible idea. I could tell Hiromi knew what I was thinking as she added.

"I'll be with you the whole time. I've actually been studying. Arasaka does have a Music section, and I looked over their course load. I know what to look out for!"

I side eyed Hiromi because she probably didn't realize how little that reassured me. I wasn't worried about how good she was, I was worried about how evil whoever we were talking to was.

I shrugged it off. I could always just kill people.

That familiar mantra left me feeling more at ease. "Alright. I'll leave it to you."

"Yeeees! Okay can you get ready? I want to set up a meeting!"

"Alright, sure. Tell me who you want us to meet." I asked as I got up and stretched, groaning a bit as I let my muscles stretch out, with a hop I jumped off my bed and started grabbing clothes. Fighting my ass into my jeans I turned to Hiromi who seemed a little distracted. "Hiromi?"

"Wha? Yes! Okay so. First meeting is with Richard Fox. He's actually a DJ for Morro Rock."

"Yeah that name sounds familiar." I muttered, I think I'd heard him on the radio? I did listen to Morro. It was where I had originally listened to Samurai and played along with.

"He wants to play Pretender, at least mentioned it to Ash directly. So we are going down to the radio station to talk eddies."

"Do they even do that? Just buy singles?"

"Not usually, in fact I doubt we'll get any eddies from this… Sort of the opposite."

"You want to pay him to play the song?"

"Yes. More people listening to the song means more people interested. It's advertising!"

I looked at Hiromi and she was firm about this.

"Okay." I agreed. If Hiromi thought this was the best path, then I'd play along.

—--

The station wasn't anything super fancy, a pretty normal building in City Center, near the Mayor's office.

We parked the Quadra and headed in through the armored glass doors with the Morro Rock Logo on it.

The inside didn't even have a secretary. Instead Hiromi walked up to the computer at the desk and typed in some information before getting a guest pass.

I followed her into the elevator and then up we went.

We were both quiet as we went up. I could feel Hiromi getting a bit nervous, so she was shifting into her corpo mode. Her face smoothing out and getting an almost haughty tilt to her head.

Then the door opened and we walked out into a room that actually had a secretary.

"Hiromi Mitsunashi?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Fox will see you now. First door on your left." She said, the secretary was lazing back practically with her feet on the desk, and I was shocked she wasn't blowing bubbles with bubblegum.

Hiromi strode down the hall head high and I followed in her wake just enjoying the way Hiromi had shifted from nervousness to full confidence.

Inside was a personal office. A big desk, with a man sitting behind it. Lots of records on the walls, and a few pictures of famous musicians shaking the man's hand.

"Ah excellent! Richard Fox, and you'd be?"

"Hiromi Mitsunashi, Manager. This is Motoko Kusanagi, Ghost in the Shell." Hiromi introduced us, and the mans smile was bright and wide. He was gregarious, happily shaking both our hands and offering us a drink as he settled us into the chairs across the desk.

"Well can I just say before we get to business? Pretender, absolutely banging track. That opening guitar pick? Really drew me in." He offered and I blinked and couldn't help but smile at his compliment.

"Thanks."
"Well let's get down to it yeah? I want your song on my station. The first time I heard it from Ash I thought it would do well here. I've already thrown out my first offer to Ms. Mitsunashi."

"I want the number of plays to go up. Ten isn't enough."

"Ten is pretty reasonable for an unknown artist." He replied back instantly, and suddenly I was ping ponging as I looked between the two.

"An unknown artist that came to you with their offer. You came to us. We know how things work, but in this case you want the song to be able to play it, so we want it played. Fifteen. Minimum."

"Hmm. Tell you what. I'll agree to Thirteen, but three of them will be on the big midday show, and of course on that show call-ins happen, so if someone wants to hear it again I won't count that against you."

Hiromi was silent for a moment as she seemed to have nothing to argue about.

"That's… A surprisingly good offer." She eventually said almost pointedly.

"Heh. Kid, you gotta realize I run a radio station. I'm not a record label. My greatest ability isn't locking everyone into iron clad contracts that only benefit me, but by being the nice personable music connection for the up and coming artists. In twenty years Ghost in the Shell might just remember good old Fox on her favorite station." And he stopped to throw me a wink. "And threw me an early track."

Hiromi I noticed was actually starting to smile at the man. Her body language shifting from confident corpo, to a more relaxed position.

"Well I can't promise anything, but I'll make sure you are on the short list if things go well."

"Well that's a deal I can get behind!" He said cheering and I couldn't help but smile at the over the top energy of it. "But before we finish… You mind?" He asked me and pointed at a guitar in the corner. "It's one of my things. I always like to do a little jam session with fresh artists."

I barked out a laugh. I couldn't help it. "Sure choom. What do you want to play?"

"What do you know?"

"Everything. Well if I've heard it before I can play it."

"Yeah?" He asked taking me seriously and I nodded, as I grabbed the guitar and he grabbed another. "How about this."

He started playing a song I didn't recognize but as he played through it, I just nodded after and mimicked him perfectly he broke into a laugh.

"Well I know for a fact you're being honest Motoko, mind if I call you Motoko?"

"That's fine." I shrugged it off, and he continued.

"I wrote that myself, it's nothing special but it's mine. How about this then?" He asked and started up something I did know. I immediately mimicked him, taking on the role of Johnny to his Eurodyne, as he started up Chippin In.

We jammed through the whole song. I even sang it along which surprised him and I could tell the guy might be a corporate Radio Host, but he did love the music.

When we finished he started laughing.

"Holy shit. You got the gift kid, you didn't miss a single transition!"

"I've done my own covers of the Samurai songs."
"Yeah?" He asked and then grinned. "You know I do amateur oldie hour Sunday Night at 3 am. Send your covers in, I'll throw them on. No charge." I grinned at the offer and Hiromi looked smug as well. We shook hands.

—--

The sound of gloves hitting gloves echoed out as I pushed. Left, left, low right, grapple. Activate Sandy. Step back as a blow skims my nose.

Fast as always. I had started trying to activate my Sandy in a flash while sparring, giving me a second that turned into a bit more whenever I expected a counter attack. I hopped back and Hayato glared at me, huffing in irritation.

I danced backwards a bit letting the feel of my Sandy cycling count me down before I rushed in again.

Hayato had great stamina thanks to her Synth lungs but I had discovered that she could be worn out as the rest of her didn't all share the same endurance.

"You are so annoying." She said, her cadence consistent which told me she had taken a moment to specifically share this information with me clearly.

"I aim to please." I teased and then charged in and I wanted to laugh as her irritation shifted to surprise before focus all in a single moment as we once more began slamming into each other.

For a pampered princess she certainly knew how to fight. I guess that had been intentional. You couldn't lead a Gang if you couldn't fight

I shook off that thought as I didn't want to really think too hard at the fact she was so important.

She'd always just be the weirdo with a Keren to me.

I blinked in surprise as instead of me initiating a grapple she did. Grabbing my wrist and shifting into a judo throw. I let her hip toss me, but shifted my arm so I landed on my feet and then yanked her off her feet as I had more mass than her…

Earning a momentary shocked look as she yelped as I slammed her into the mat.

"I think that's my-"

"Don'tsayit!" She demanded in a rush cutting me off and I just laughed as she threw me off her and regained her feet. Stiff backed and obviously frustrated.

"C'mon Hayato, don't act like that."

"I had you!" She grumbled and I laughed.

"We need to work on your grappling a bit more before you can take me with that. Nice throw though. You just forgot my arms are chrome."

"Oh trust me, that isn't something I forgot." She snapped back. "I have the bruises to prove it." She muttered rubbing at her arms.

"Hehe!" I laughed at her pouting face and that shifted it into a glare.

"You are so annoying! I refuse to believe someone like you is an assassin!" She called out quite loudly, and I laughed even harder, because half the dojo had shifted to look at her.

Realizing she was the center of attention for yelling so hotly she huffed and purposefully sent a glare over the room that had everyone turning away. Must be nice being the future boss.

"Believe it or not." I shrugged. "Now, you going to end this with me still in the lead?"

My words had the desired reaction as she turned and instantly leapt into a boxing pattern to try and bash my face in. I just laughed as we got back into it.

That's right Hayato, keep fighting and let me get more and more of those lovely Street Brawling alerts.

—--

"Alright try it now?" I asked and Ichi nodded, the Minotaur stood up and I sighed in relief.

*100 Technical Ability XP Gained*

*Technical Ability Leveled up!*

Tech 8. Now just to hope my repairs had worked.

"Feels fine." He offered and I felt myself relax.

"Looks like it's holding. Stupid proprietary bullshit." I grumbled. The Minotaur had needed some maintenance, and it had needed it badly. One of the leg joints had been getting stuck. Turns out the damn things were designed to wear out after only a few uses.

What a shock.

I had to pull apart the entire assembly, as using some gathered intel from a certain Kitsune I had been trying to repair the damn thing.

I glanced up and smiled as the door to the little rear garage opened up and Ichi's Grandmother stepped in holding an actual jug of lemonade.

"You kids thirsty?" She asked softly. And I couldn't help but cheer both hands in the air.

"Thanks Grandma." Ichi said, as he took a second to pull off the headset for the Minotaur and went to grab the jug from her.

She was old. It was one of those things you don't think about, but I could tell she was out of breath just by walking the jug across the back yard.

Ichi was a good grandson doing what he could to take care of her.

I walked over and pulled one of the chairs over. "Want a seat?" I asked and she laughed and waved me off.

"No, thank you dear. I'll head back inside." She said and started sort of hobbling back out as Ichi found a place to put the lemonade and started pouring for the two of us.

"She's nice." I told him, and he nodded absentmindedly.

"I've been able to buy her medicine. She's doing a lot better." He said and I winced a bit at that. She was a bit… Absent minded, so the fact she was doing better?

I sighed. Man that sucked. I reached out and gave Ichi a 'good job' pat on his shoulder and then grabbed some lemonade.

It wasn't real lemons but it tasted good.

"C'mon I want to finish going over this thing." I plopped back down and grabbed my tools. This was great Tech XP.

 

[Seras]

"Don't slow down now!" I called out and Malcolm grunted as he continued jogging, although I could tell he was flagging.

Eventually he gave up and walked over to lean against a SCSM to gasp for air.

"Don't stop moving. Keep walking around a little." I warned him, and after a glare he did so.

"I-I should get some Synth Lungs." He gasped out and I laughed and just shrugged. While it wasn't something I would recommend as the exercise was sort of the point, extra stamina would mean I could work him harder. "This sucks."
I just laughed at his defeated tone.

"It gets easier! Besides, it's good for you! Exercise is something everyone needs."

"No. Food, drink? That's stuff we need. Exercise is a mistake." He grumbled and I just sent him a smirk.

He was saying that, but it had been his idea to ask me for help, and there was no way he was going to give up now.

I wouldn't let him for one, but more importantly, I don't think he would let himself.

I reached past him and hit the button on the SCSM and he jerked a bit as a drink popped out.

"Take that and cool off, but don't stop walking, you don't want to cramp up." I told him and he nodded but followed my orders.

Then while he was doing that I started my own exercise.

We were in a quiet spot under an overpass, so I was going to use it to my advantage. I started running and then started tumbling. Back flip after backflip into a spin and I landed and then turned around and did the same thing back.

I was pushing for that next level of Athletics. Plus it might get me some Body xp too. I continued pushing, warmed up from the run. I pushed myself hard, using the stretch of sidewalk to just move as much and as fast as possible.

I only paused, finishing a fun spin to land in front of Malcolm. "You ready to continue?" I asked him cheerily.

"Fuck that." He said instead and I laughed at him, despite the fact my own breath was coming out a bit hard.

"Relax choom. That's my exercise, not yours. C'mon you're breathing more normally, time to jog some more."

"Fuuuck." He grumbled and we both started running, I would break into flips, or start doing some parkour on things whenever I could just to get a bit more out of it. Much to Malcolms grumbled dislike. "Show off."

"Keep working out and you'll be able to do it too! You'd be amazed at how often a flip, or just coming at someone from a weird angle will give you the advantage in a fight." I commented, breathing a little hard with how much I was going at it.

"Motoko, I've seen you fight before. Hell, I've cleaned up after your fights before."

"Cleaned up? You mean looted." I teased.

"Tomato, Tomato." He gasped out and I couldn't help but laugh, slowing down a bit to match his slowing pace.

"How're you feeling?" I asked quietly, and Malcolm stopped again and started bending over to breathe.

The Kang Tao attack had been a shock.

"I hate… I hate getting shot at." He eventually said, an answer to a question I hadn't really been asking.

"It does suck." I agreed, bullets hurt.

"No, but… I couldn't do anything. You fought back. You got us out. Ichi reacted. But I froze up and took cover."

"Taking cover is a good instinct."

"But I couldn't… I should have got up and fought back, but I was freaking out. Becca got shot and I just."

"You reacted just fine. No one was expecting that sort of shit… If you're that worried then we'll keep training. I can probably find some paintball guns or something, and do some tactical training."

"Motoko, you're such an old lady. Just get a training shard. Or a BD." He said, giving me a look and I just huffed.

"Doing something yourself is more valuable than some shard or Braindance."

"Says the girl that makes BD's?"

"Which goes to show I know what I'm talking about!" I called out proclaiming my victory.

He rolled his eyes which meant I won.

"C'mon. Get moving again." I demanded and he groaned and started trotting after me.

As we carried on, I finally got what I wanted out of it.

*100 Athletics XP Gained.*

*Athletics skill level up!*

Athletics 8. I felt my breath even out, and the way I breathed shifted to make intaking oxygen easier.

Yeah. That would be useful.

—---

"You already decided that Section 9 should have an actual work day. So what's the difference here?" Hiromi asked and I sighed as I was defeated by my own logic.

"Fine. I'll let you schedule some time weekly where I do music stuff. I mean. I have some songs I could put together, but I'm not really in the mood for like, a big gig." I reminded her and she waved it off.

"Of course not! I… I messed up before, so I'm not going to push for that sort of thing again. This is your pace, but as your manager I still want to make sure you get everything out of this you can. Which means more songs and practice. And we can use that to meet other artists!" Hiromi cheered at the end.

"What does that have to do with anything?" I asked confused and Hiromi gave me a superior look before stopping and seemingly catching herself.

"You might need actual bandmates for some songs, or just want to play with other people. You really enjoyed jamming out with Mr. Fox… And if you meet another artist that likes you, we might get you a spot as an opening act!" She admitted and I laughed at her minor reveal.

"Let's table that last bit for a while… Jun did mention that Alice wanted me to play some music with her band. But there might be some trouble with that. The Band might be going through some drama."

"Ooh! Drama means an opening!" Hiromi said and I snorted.

"It means a massive pain in the ass that I don't want to deal with." I countered and she opened her mouth to argue before sighing.

"Yeah that's fair. But still! Music time?"

"Fine. I have some ideas for something more electronic than my rock stuff." I said and Hiromi was interested immediately.

"Tell me everything!"

"I'm not sure yet… It's kinda complicated… I'll need my music box, but I might be able to generate what I need? I kinda need some specific samples that I might have to make myself… Which is kind of a weird thought." I mumbled, but Hiromi thankfully wasn't a music person so she didn't understand how weird what I just said was.

"We can reserve a sound stage if you want?" She said already looking like she was about to do it.

I hesitated but nodded. I'd need better recording equipment anyways.

"Go ahead. I'll grab my stuff." I said pointing to where my music equipment was sitting in the corner, including my music box.

"Yeees!" Hiromi cheered as she turned away to start making whatever calls she needed.

"Makes us, Harder~" I sang quietly to myself. Yeah that should be an interesting chore.

—--

"Like this?"

"Yeah, go ahead and pull that out, We'll need to rebuild it." I confirmed as I was already putting the information into my 3D printer.

"Preem." Rebecca said as she pulled out part of the gas exchange system on an old HMG. I wasn't going to question where she got one, not with all the different paints covering it, she must have had it for a long time, but she had mentioned she was struggling to get it repaired and I had offered to help.

"You really know your stuff." She said as she finally got the piece disassembled and we could both see the crack through the part.

"I've had to fix up my HMG after a gig before." I explained simply.

"Heh. You want a drink?"

"Oh please." I answered back even as I was still working with the CAD system to get the 3d Printer to print out what I needed.

Rebecca got off her couch and headed to her fridge. I was over at her apartment. The one she shared with Pilar, and boy was it a bit weird to see the place.

I remember seeing it in Edgerunners. Although that had been a long time now, and then afterwards I had gone into the game and checked out the place as well, even if it had been owned by a corrupt cop by then.

But it was still kinda weird to see it for real.

Then the door suddenly opened and I blinked in surprise as Pilar himself stepped in.

"Whoa. Who the gonk?" He called out a little startled at my appearance.

"Pilar!" Rebecca called out in surprise and actually ran up to him, but stopped before she seemed about to jump into a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"Eh, finally got the all clear from Maine. We're free from any issues with Biotechnica. So I'm home to enjoy my own bed for a change." He replied lazily, but I could tell his optics visor was focused on me.

"Preem! Motoko was just working with me on fixing my old HMG." She explained to him, at his obvious interest at my appearance.

"Hey. Nice to see you again." I greeted calmly, but I was still focused on getting the part printed.

"Huh. Well whatever. Don't break that shit. I'm not fixing it." He said and Rebecca instantly started glaring.

"It's already broken you gonk! Remember! You said you'd fix it like a year ago!"

"Eh, I'd get around to it." He replied, but that was definitely a lie, even I could pick up on it.

"Whatever. Motoko and I are doing it. We need my HMG for gigs anyways."

"Fuck that. Do you remember the last time you took that thing on a gig? You nearly flatlined Maine!"

"I did not! There was a Strom sneaking up on him!"

"You lost your footing. Nearly blew Maines hair off."

"Fucking! That's not what happened!" She screamed back at him in anger, and then Pilar scoffed.

"Dammit Becca, You're too emotional for this shit! You yell and scream and freak out on gigs!" Pilar snarled back, but where Rebecca was furious he was more cool.

Ah. He was doing it on purpose, to show the difference, his cool anger and her boiling rage.

"Fuck off!" She snapped and Pilar just scoffed.

"See? You're just like-"

"Don't fucking say it!"

"Our Mom." He finished and Rebecca went quiet, but her jaw was clenched and her teeth barred.

The room went quiet and Pilar just scoffed. "Cut this shit out, you don't have the damn brain to be an Edgerunner. So just chill."

"Fuck you!" She snapped out finger up and out, but Pilar was walking away.

"Rebecca has what it takes to make a great Solo. Edgerunner or not." I called out, knowing getting involved was probably a bad idea, but fuck it.

"And you! I don't give a shit, but stop dragging my sister into shit." He said, ignoring my words and instead pointing with his long fingers.

"She's not dragging me into shit! Fuck you Bro!"

"Whatever. You heard me." He demanded but it wasn't like I was going to listen to this guy.

"That's up to Rebecca. I don't take orders from you." I said simply.

He didn't respond but I got a look that I'm pretty sure was a glare. But it was hard to tell with his visor obscuring his face.

Rebecca growled, started pacing back and forth and I considered what to say but instead of trying to comfort her, or anything. I instead pulled out the completed part.

"Done. Let's get this HMG fixed. Yeah?" I offered instead. If Rebecca wanted to be an Edgerunner she'd always have a spot with me. She was skilled, and more importantly loyal. There weren't a lot of people in Night City I'd trust with my back more than her.

She blinked at my words, seemingly trying to figure out what they meant before scoffing.

"Yeah. Gotta get it ready for next time." She said and I nodded. Exactly.

—--

I didn't want to admit it, but starting this song had left it itching in the back of my head, so I was once more at Denny's studio slowly reforging a song piece by piece.

Cutting and sampling in a way. Despite the fact I was actually sampling music for the song I was going to create outright

Ugh. This sort of work was so complicated, and I really did prefer just old Rock, but some songs were just more than a genre.

I was actually making the bones for multiple songs as I worked. Jumping on a guitar and just making the samples I would need for more than just one.

It was more efficient than just focusing on one song at a time.

Of course I was surprised as I moved into the actual studio to see a familiar face.

A face I wasn't happy to see.

"Denny." I offered back, and there was obviously some unhappiness in my voice. The woman raised an eyebrow at me from under her massive afro.

"What's got your panties in a bunch?"

"You turned Tank into a dick ad music!" I snapped back and she blinked before letting out a chuckle and then to my annoyance just shrugging.

"Is that what they used it on? Ah well. It happens."

"The fuck it does." I grumbled at her, and was annoyed that she was in front of the equipment that I needed to use, looking over the tracks I was recording.

"It does. Even Mr. Studd needs jingles. Trust me kid, you make music, you're going to hear a song you slaved away for that took all your creative energy used to sell scop burgers, or worse. It's just how it is."

"Tank's a good song, and I'll never get to play it again without people thinking I'm the Mr. Studd artist."

"Pfft. Yeah. Yeah." She agreed and there was some obvious melancholy there but just because she sympathized somewhat didn't mean I was happy.

"Can I help you? I'm kind of in the middle of something."

"Yeah I noticed your name, and thought I'd step in, check what you're working on, but this… This isn't a song."

"It is, but I'm certainly not selling this one to you." I offered and made it pointed by stopping the playback she was listening to by hitting stop.

"Oh it's like that? You think there are other people interested in buying?"

"Denny I don't care if no one ever buys one of my songs again. I'll still play them. I'll still scream to the heavens every note. I'm a merc. I'm not in this for eddies."

"Yeah? You mean that don't you." She offered with a little smirk on her face, but in the end she shrugged. "Keep that fire kid, but be prepared for everyone to try and snuff it out. This industry doesn't make firebrands like that anymore."

"Maybe it should." I argued back. Not that I was interested in burning down the music industry if I had to.

I'd rather just turn the entire thing into a bloodbath if I was honest.

Hard to kill an industry, much easier to cut out the rot.

"Maybe it should." She agreed and then waved behind her shoulder as she walked out. What an uncomfortable meeting.

She's lucky I didn't break her stupid face for buying my song to make dick music. That was something I would never forgive.