The reluctant uplift of night city

[Uneven-nova]

A month in this god-forsaken city, a single month was all it took for me to come to a conclusion.

"This city can suck a fart outta my ass" Such profound words of wisdom had come to me after I had spent a full 31 days barely scraping by and having been forced to do some shady shit just to survive.

And you know what the funny thing about that is, it's that I have a fucking superpower and it still did diddly squat with getting myself a place to live.

Sure, it was the only reason I hadn't bled out from the major artery bleeding after waking up in a car crash with a piece of glass stabbed right into my thigh, and realistically the only reason I'm not dead or starving but still.

I should probably clarify but I didn't have the normal power one would expect to help survive such a car crash. Instead of regeneration or healing or even just a stronger body, I had been given the ability to make technology (you know, the one thing every other human can do).

I'm bitching and complaining, but really, the ability to just know how to make any form of tech I want is beyond busted power in a setting like the one I found myself in.

See, among the many different worlds I could have found myself in, the world of cyberpunk was probably the single easiest one offered.

While still incredibly dangerous in its own right it had that right ratio of 'completely fucked up things I may be able to help fix' and 'holy fuck I might die right now' that the audience might enjoy, said audience being the gagglefuck of Eldritch beings that had offered me the chance to 'live again' without actually asking for my opinion in the matter.

So there I was, a fully organic car crash victim with the ability to know how to build anything I wanted (and the subsequent steps needed to achieve building it), kinda like those tinkers from the parahumans we novels, only without the magic bullshit that let them build a raygun from scrap.

And now here I am still all of those things but now I have a building (cough* barely standing garage *cough) I had purchased with the month's worth of money I had earned by building scrap code daemons on an agent long rendered outdated and selling them for barely a 15th of their worth.

Still, even with an outdated agent and having to manually type every line, my daemons were both backwards and forwards compatible because of their sheer simplicity.

Now back to the present, I stood just inside the garage and, after a quick look around, decided the first thing I needed to do was clean this place up. It was a pigsty, and rubbish was strewn all over the place along with the old rusted car frame, which sat dead centre of the room.

Rolling up my sleeves I got to work cleaning, after a quick run to the nearest shop to grab some proper PPE, of course, because I had absolutely no intention of getting tetanus from a rusty screw.

I spent the following 3 hours just getting rid of trash and broken objects, and the next hour was me just tidying up what was left or stuff I couldn't realistically move myself.

Sighing as I sat on one of the only recoverable seats, I took a moment to take stock. I had an out-of-date agent already linked to a programmer persona and a garage full of either scrap or barely not scrap.

I shook my head before hauling myself back up to my feet and getting back to work. I spent a while just organising what was barely usable from the completely useless, even with my ability and what I was left with was just barely enough to get myself started.

In one of the side rooms, I had found an ancient desktop that had suffered a power supply failure and had no hope of ever working again after being left to sit and collect dust, so I ripped it apart and reused what I could.

I did what I could but even with my ability I wasn't ever going to get much, a small collection of usable parts I spent an hour jury rigging them into an external possessor for my agent, which would allow me to improve my work as a programmer, along with that I recovered an actual physical keyboard which I also connected to my agent. But other than that I wasn't lucky enough to get any more from the old junker.

With no other choice, I refocused on programming more daemons. Now that I had a somewhat (very dubious) usable setup I was able to expand and start specialising in what type I wanted to make.

Beforehand, I had made junk data daemons whose only capability was to flood any system with random nonsense until either removed or the system crashes. While effective and especially more so in my case, as I had built them to be so simplistic and compact that they were hardly noticeable when actively looking for them, they had drawbacks.

First off, they were indiscriminate in their attack, so if you were connected to a system when they went off, you would also be flooded with junk data, even if you were the one who set it off. Secondly, it renders all information unusable, so any form of data you might have needed to secure becomes random junk.

So after a while spent deciding what type of daemon to make I finally settled on a simple surveillance daemon, built to constantly run any face, tattoo, scars or other information across all forms of registry I could access with a special bit of code that would allow anybody with access to other registries to easily add more to its list if they wanted.

After a moment of deliberation on whether it was a good idea to publish such a piece of code, I decided there was no way this hadn't already been created before by another.

 

[theundeadgamer]

tinnitus

Click to shrink...

It's supposed to be tetanus.

Anyways, I will watch this further with interest, considering that the protagonist will be effectively become a Factorio MC.

 

[Uneven-nova]

The following three days were spent just making and selling all manner of daemons (mainly ones I knew couldn't properly be used against me or I would otherwise be able to implement countermeasures against) and I managed to make a whopping 500 eddies which if converted back to USD (circa 2025 Earth Prime) is about $125 so not really that much.

But during my spare time, either waiting to fall asleep or during my downtime from my programs compiling or payments pending, I had managed to finish a basic outline of what I had to do as fast as possible.

See, I started with the end goal first, which, after some thought, I decided was to make myself a New-U station like from Borderlands, which would revive me should I die. But to make one, I'd need to synthesise Eridium, which needs either a material synthesiser or an atomic fabricator.

But to even begin making something so complex as those machines, I'd first need to make the tools to make the tools, and to do that I'd need money and materials.

In simpler terms, I had a long road ahead of me,e and thank all the fucking stars in the sky a lot of the tools to make the tools just so happen to coincide with what would be needed to make, repair or install cyberware.

So I needed to acquire funds (most likely from either more programming or other tech related support work) to buy the most basic Ripperdoc equipment and start working on both building up and also keeping a cover by actually doing the work of a Ripperdoc. Thankfully my abilities considered a human just a fleshy machine and would help me pull off some complete bullshit if I did become a doctor.

With my path decided I got to work, using the piss poor amounts of rep given from my work making efficient and effective daemons to start applying for other gigs of the software variety, and while not overly known I did have enough to land some basic work.

The money made on the first three days went into gathering much needed resources to finish my jury rigged PC built around the old agent, which when completed was still complete garbage but at least now wasn't at risk of taking it with me if it decided to die randomly.

And with a better PC came better work and results, and so I branched out more finding different work such as a request to optimise or otherwise replace the software in an older pair of kiyoshi optics. The eye had been discontinued and was starting to suffer from constant error messages to cover the owner's vision and rendered them near blind.

When I had received a copy (nobody is dumb enough to give the original code to a random coder) I had immediately noticed the sheer bloatware purpose built into the code, the user was constantly bombarded with any and all ads the corporation could program into the eyes.

In fact the code to incorporate ads into the user's vision was longer than the code to connect to the optic nerve and subsequently the neuroport in the user's brain.

It was so activating to see just how cartoonishly evil/ purposely incompetent the corporations were, I can't imagine how soulless you have to be to incorporate planned obsolescence into some bodies eyes.

It was so fucking annoying that I decided right then and there that no piece of software or hardware would ever leave my care if I wasn't absolutely sure that it wouldn't shit itself anytime in the next ten years. And even beyond that I made sure to build the code given to me from the bottom up to be as optimised as possible, I isolated the code that facilitates the most important functions as I was unaware if they had anti tampering measures and rebuilt the rest completely.

When I was done I was left with a piece of code that would still allow for the normal functions of optics but had none of the bloatware and subsequently no ads or lag (at least on the software side of things).

I finally noticed that I may have gone overboard when I used the still isolated parts of the original code to set up a proxy system that would run said code but not actually connect to the hardware itself leaving no possibility to bypass it via hacking.

I looked over my work and shrugged, deciding that I didn't really care if I gave some random person with ancient optics the ability to bypass any attempt at hacking (at least their optics).

I sent the compiled code back to the contact given when I had accepted the job and checked the time, I had spent a full 4 hours on just that, which given my ability meaning I didn't spend any time having to problem solve or actually encounter any problems while working.

I stood from my makeshift work station and stretched, cracking my back and shoulders multiple times as I did so. When I was done I made my way over to the ratty couch I had been using as a bed while I saved enough to buy a proper mattress and laid down to get some rest.

(??? Pov)

"Sir, we have received a response from one of the prospective runners" humming in response as he tried his damnedest to rid himself of the continued error messages displayed upon his optics, the older man sat behind a wooden desk waiting for his subordinate to continue.

"After reviving the proposed software we have used both our in-house runners and outsourced smaller pieces that they had not been certain of to outside runners" growing increasingly annoyed at the roundabout way the man was talking when the older man finally spoke up.

"Is it safe or not Keisuke" startling at being directly spoken to, the man froze and continued, "yes sir. As far as we can tell, other than being incredibly well made and utilising a proxy system it has no backdoors or even the bloatware normal for even high-end work"

A wave of the hand was all Keisuke needed, he quickly pulled the data shard holding the new code and offered it to the older man while bowing low.

Plucking the shard from his hands the old man deftly slid the small piece of hardware into his neuroport before sitting back in his chair to let the software integrate.

"You spoke highly of this work, you should know what will become of you should it not meet such praise" still bowing at the waist the man dared not move.

"What do we know of this 'Hephaestus'" rolling his eyes at the presumptuous name of the runner the old man turned his head to his still bowed 'employee'.

"While only active for a month and 4 days they have shown again and again an affinity for incredibly effective work." pausing to allow his words to properly grab the old man's attention, Keisuke continued.

"their early work was slightly inferior to more recent work but that can easily be explained as still not fully committing to becoming a Netrunner. But even their early work has been complemented by others we have asked to inspect it, most saying that the junk data daemons in particular are incredibly hard to both notice and defend against." nodding the old man sighed as the software finished compiling and was properly integrated into his optics, finally getting rid of the constant stream of error messages.

"Keep an eye on this 'Hephaestus', they may become an asset if they continue producing such quality work" with his piece said the old man waved off Keisuke and turned to the window behind him, finally able to see the splendid sights from the high-rise
penthouse he had purchased during his stay in this city.

 

[lopsigon]

path-to-victory but for "real" non-tinker technology, eh? sounds cool. Amazing for any setting with ubiquitous tech like Cyberpunk. Can you imagine being in the stone age with with power though? You'd be so frikkin angry without an industrial base to jumpstart from. At least you'd be able to make a mean spear though.

There's lotsa excellent ways to make cash with tech skills in C77. Programming, ripperdoc, mechanic, gunsmith; it's a maker's world. Looks like the corpos are already sniffing around though.
️you have alerted a board member ️

 

[Uneven-nova]

"Fuuuuck" groaning in pain. I pull myself off the floor after falling off the couch while sleeping.

"Well I'm awake now" I rolled my shoulders as I made my way over to my jury rigged PC to check if I had been paid for the optics software and sure enough the first notification on the screen was a successful transaction of 3000 eddies.

"Wait a second" pausing at the amount I took a moment to find the original request and double check the reward and sure enough I had been overpaid by 2000 eddies.

I took a moment to wonder if I should just accept the extra money but it was entirely likely that doing so would come back and bite me on the ass.

I quickly sent a message to the contact given when I accepted the work asking if they knew they had overpaid by nearly triple the original reward offered.

The response was near instantaneous, its contents bare bones and boiled down to 'you did good work, here's extra so this transaction is forgotten about'.

Privately I was over the moon at being paid extra as it accelerated my plans by a full two weeks and would allow me to purchase my first two proper pieces of hardware.

An old 3D printer and a proper PC on which to use said printer. I didn't really want to go outside with how unprepared I was should I be accused while buying things but needs must.

Pulling on the coat I had arrived in this city with and tucking the liberty I had snatched off a dead ganger and cleaned up in whatever free time I had not occupied planning.

The next three hours thankfully went uninteresting as I purchased and paid for delivery for both the second-hand printer and computer but unfortunately the peace wasn't to last, on the way home the street three blocks from home erupted in gunfire as the Valentinos and the Tiger claw started firing on each other.

Fucking behind cover provided by a concrete divider I took stock of what I had on hand, my liberty and backup KA-BAR I had grabbed while shopping and nothing else but the clothes on my back.

A scream of pain sounded nearby and I had to hold back a flinch at the young voice begging for somebody to help its mom. I let my head rest against the divider as I cursed my bleeding heart.

"I'm gonna get myself killed" I chant to myself like a mantra as I vault over the divider and sprint with all the strength in my body to where the scream had originated from. Dropping to my knees as I neared the spot I held back the pain as I scrapped my knees as I slid to a stop next to the young girl crying over the bloody body of her mother.

Snaking my hand under the mothers chin I check for a pulse as I push my ability on how to best perform first aid while under fire. Her pulse was fading and the growing pool of blood around her legs along with the bullet holes in her legs meant arterial bleeding.

I grabbed my KA-BAR and easily sliced through the fabric of her pants just enough to take stock and sure enough she had three holes in her right thigh, the bullets had passed right through so less risk of shrapnel.

I cut a long strip of fabric from my coat and wrapped it tightly around her inner thigh making a makeshift tourniquet as I tightened it enough to slow the bleeding as much as possible.

I looked around, cataloging what I had to work with around me even as the gunfight continued to rage around me.

In the corner of my eye I managed to make out just what I needed, a corpse who looked to have taken a buckshot to the face but was otherwise unharmed.

I ran over and using my knife again I cut the clothes off his chest to take stock of what cybernetics he had installed, wedging my knife into the seam that connects one his gorilla arm and his upper arm.

Running back over to the mother I start disassembling the arm I rip out the pneumatic actuator and the artificial nerves to build a makeshift ventricular assist device to help her failing heart as it slowly gives up from the strain.

Cursing the lack of proper tools on hand I do my best to sterilise the knife and hands with some high proof alcohol I snatched from a busted up shop.

What follows was the single most difficult thing I have ever done, I had to open her chest just enough to hook up the VAD with her heart without rupturing the delicate tissue by over pressurising the chambers while applying constant pressure on her leg wound and also making sure the little girl didn't hurt herself or her mom in her grief.

That's how the EMTs found us, me with my hands holding back the little girl and applying pressure, while a little machine that looked like It belonged in the scrapyard was hooked up to the still dying ladies heart.

 

[Slayer 10321]

Genderbent David? I dig it!

 

[Stagger13]

Genderbent David? I dig it!

Click to shrink...

How did you come to that conclusion??

 

[swarm]

Dr Junker Rig if less pretentios

 

[Uneven-nova]

Now, in normal situations, you'd back off when the EMT arrives, as they are likely the only people able to help the injured properly, but this situation was different. The only reason this lady is alive is because of the VAD I had connected to her, and without proper explanation, they would most likely damage her further if not notified beforehand.

So even as they neared and asked/commanded people to step away from the injured I continued manually pumping her heart with the VAD and also applying pressure even as they approached.

"Multiple perforating gunshot wounds to the lower extremities, caused laceration to her femoral artery and I had to jury rig a VAD after she underwent hypovolemic shock a minute or so ago" I called out as they got within speaking distance, the words caused them to pause for a moment but they nonetheless continued closer to assess the situation.

I tried my best to not get in the way and also explain what the VAD was doing, how I had connected it, and what it was made of, so they could properly transport it all without damage until it could be safely disconnected and replaced with a proper blood transfusion.

I helped where I could with other injured around the gunfight after it had cooled down but wasn't able to do much beyond help those that were non-emergency and otherwise would survive without an ambulance ride.

This ranged from some bumps and bruises to damaged cyberware that could be safely replaced. Of course, I couldn't do that, but I was able to disconnect failing arms or legs before it became a cascade failure and shut down their entire system.

When it was finally over, and I'd helped everyone I could, I slinked away in the opposite direction of my new home and started taking a convoluted and nonsensical path around and around until I was sure nobody was following me before finally returning home.

And as luck would have it my arrival just so happened to coincide with the arrival of my purchases. I quickly brought both heavy boxes inside and busied myself setting up both the 3D printer and my new PC.

Cracking my knuckles as I finished setting up my workstation and disassembling the agent substitute, I leaned back in my ratty chair and sighed. Finally, I had all the things I needed to properly get started.

With a smile on my face I booted up the computer and navigated my way over to the wired connection point between the printer and PC to have a look at the OS of the printer.

Only to be immediately and irreparably disappointed once again as I am faced with the single worst designed CAD system I had ever seen. Sure it was technically more impressive with its sheer versatility and how well it can simulate how a print will go but it is so difficult to use.

It took me longer to even begin understanding how to use it than it took to complete my first daemon even with how unfamiliar the tech had been.

So I scrapped it completely, removed all but the handshake program from the hardware and started again. Rebuilding the entire CAD system again, I was becoming quite annoyed at how often I needed to start from scratch in this world.

When I was finally done with building an actually consumer friendly designing suite and reinstalling it into the printer it was already well past midnight and I was barely awake so with heavy eyes I set a simple test build to form while I slept.

(Line break)

The following morning I was awoken by an insistent beeping from the side room, so with a groan I lifted myself off the couch and meandered my way over to where I'd set up the printer and PC in the side room.

There sat upon the baseplate of the printer was a varied collection of printed parts I'd use to get some much needed upgrades to my equipment.

While sharing the name of the prime earth machine the difference was damn near day and night, one only worked with specific heavily processed materials and could only recently be trusted to make something of somewhat high-quality.

The other was about 50 years more developed, able to use any material with a reasonable heating point and that wouldn't just completely liquify if heated to said point.

I used the parts to great effect along with parts from a rusted out mag lift and the parts fabricator broken beyond repair mixed with the printed parts allowed me to daisy chain it all together into a working material synthesizer of lowish quality.

While far surpassing anything commercially available as far as I could tell it was still far, far off from being able to replicate Eridium or any other super material of even middling complexity.

But it combined with the 3D printer would allow for the creation of complex machines much quicker than I could have created from hand or purchase to retrofit into what I wanted.

After a moment to contemplate on the next step I decided my most pressing matter was that I was currently using the city's power grid. Which means the massive draw of my machines would absolutely draw attention.

The design I decided on was an engine ripped straight from the warthog in halo. That's right boys and girls, I am making a liquid cooled hydrogen-injected internal combustion engine (ICE).

These beautiful machines are fucking ridiculous in how efficient they are. The only fuel needed is water, be it clean, dirty or even straight up piss it will accept it all and keep on trucking (hehe) with the small exception of needing a bit of juice from the sun to actually start the process.

So that's how I spent the following week, using every minute of free time I had to build the engine and Graf/Hauptman Solar/Saline Actuator that performed the electrolysis required to split the hydrogen from oxygen and other by-products to use as fuel.

Luckily, the previous owner had installed solar panels on his roof, and although damaged and near inoperable, they were still functional enough that I didn't need to replace them instead and instead could repair them.

 

[Pyro Hawk]

That's right boys and girls, I am making a liquid cooled hydrogen-injected internal combustion engine (ICE).

These beautiful machines are fucking ridiculous in how efficient they are. The only fuel needed is water, be it clean, dirty or even straight up piss it will accept it all and keep on trucking (hehe) with the small exception of needing a bit of juice from the sun to actually start the process.

Click to shrink...

Don't worry, you've only got Biotechnica right now declaring an outright execution order on you. The other (insert power group here above the gang level, but only because the gangs would be trading you one way or another to that level) are just sticking with the 'kidnap, or at least steal the tech and make sure no one else grabs him no matter the cost (to him)'.