Chapter 133

Chapter 133

We hadnt actually gone to a bar this time. Instead all of us had crashed into my apartment, and we had just brought home a ton of food, having hit a few different restaurants in the area.

The entertainment system was set to some terrible movies and we all just ate and drank ourselves sick while laughing and sometimes throwing shit at the TV.

Sorry Jun, Ill clean that up after I promise.

We had all gotten comfortable, and I had started working on Short Circuit again while we all vegged out and ragged on the terrible movie. Some action flick about a guy on a train or something?

I wasnt really paying attention because it was really just that bad.

Hey, bored? Ichi asked from beside me. He had been sipping at a Broseph of all things.

Not really, this is actually pretty fun, I just want to get this program done asap. I know this netrunner, and she is going on a crazy gig. Im worried she is going to end up over her head, so I want to make sure I give her something to help keep her alive.

Huh. I guess that is a worry isnt it. He muttered, and the way he spoke. I paused the programming to look at him.

Ichi?

Its kinda stupid But now that Ive said that you arent going to let it go anyways. I thought you died there for a while, fighting that Cyberpunk. I mean When you didnt pick up.

Yeah Sorry for not responding right away I-

You dont have to apologize Motoko, you were fighting for your life He actually beat you. He said with a hint of frustration in his tone.

Ill kill him next time. Gonna get some more chrome soon from Vik and we wont be able to overpower me as easily. I assured him. Still a little salty at the whole getting kicked out the window thing.

I hadnt and wasnt going to consider how close to dying I had come. If I hadnt managed to grab that pipe, I would have been a Motoko splatter on the ground.

It just I wish I could have helped. I mean, yeah Im not like Jun or anything. Not a front liner, but I should have been able to do something.

Ichi, that guy was a pro. Like the sort of guy that kills high level people for a living. Dont be stressed at not being at the same level. Im not at the same level. I reminded him.

Yeah. He agreed with a small snort, showing that it was a bitter laugh.

Well if you want to do more Ichi, then Lets get you set up to do more. You already upgraded your van for better defense. We should all probably get better armor and gear. I said, calling out over the group. Malcolm looked up from his chinese food Lo Mein hanging from his mouth as he perked up.

Hmm. We can definitely figure out a budget and start doing some upgrades. Hiromi offered.

I looked to Ichi and he slowly just shook his head, as his face shifted into a smile. Alright. You won. Ill stop moping. Better armor and weapons will help. What else could we do?

Honestly? We really need a few other things. I was thinking Some trackers, and mobile cameras? If we are going to make this Section 9 thing work we need more tools. I offered and I could see Hiromis eyes get sharp as she considered it.

It would open up a lot of gigs we could do. Those kinds of tools are expensive though.

I was actually thinking of trying to make some myself. Ive been working on a few things already Did I show you guys my silencer I made? I know I showed Hiromi. I said, pulling free my Lexingtons silencer to show it off.

Preem! Malcolm called out climbing over the table, knocking over a few cartons of food as he reached for it. I just rolled my eyes and let him have it.

I want a silencer!

Ill make you one. But you need to actually get an iron worthy of it. Your Unity is kinda I trailed off as I realized.

My chooms really did have shitty gear.

Sure Malcolm and Ichi both had some shotguns and other weapons they would bring along from time to time, but like

That was baby shit.

We needed real iron especially for my chooms.

We are going to get some assault rifles, and body armor for all of you. I decided right then.

Expensive. Hiromi reminded me, but I just scoffed.

Hiromi. Those are free. We just need to find someone who already has them. I reminded her back and that caused her bright optics to go nice and wide as I reminded her we were loot goblins.

Heh! Yeah! We need a new gig, clear out some gonks and steal everything! Malcolm called out cheerfully waving my silencer around in the air.

Be careful with that!

I am! He said but eventually huffed and handed it back.

So new gear huh? Ichi asked, and I nodded.

We are still young. We should keep working on improving! Skills, gear! We need to keep moving forward so we can be safe doing more and more! I called out fist raised and a moment later Malcolm joined me arm up in the air while Ichi and Hiromi looked on as if wondering why they were chooms with us.

Of course I reached out and grabbed Ichis arm to force his arm up as well, and Malcolm catching on quickly did the same for Hiromi.

Section 9! I called out happy. The others had diminished levels of engagement, but thats fine!

Oh! Hiromi jerked back suddenly as she reached into her jacket and started fumbling around, pulling at an inner pocket until she pulled out what looked like a deck of playing cards at first, but as she flashed them to the rest of us I understood.

Oh! You made more business cards!

I did! I finished the design during business engagement and advertising class! She said looking happy. As she tore a chunk off the deck and handed them to each of us.

I looked it over and whistled. They werent made of paper or something, but were thin plastic, indented in them was a silver filigree, but the letters were printed.

Section 9. Investigation. Protection. Bounty Hunting.

And of course a phone number, but also an email, which was obviously one Hiromi made.

Thats so cool! I whispered, flashing the card in the light letting the silver letters flash in the light.

Nova Hiromi. Ichi said as he nudged her shoulder and I could see the corpo girl preen under the attention.

--

Vik.

Motoko, hey kid.

Its time for me to chrome the fuck up. I said, deepening my voice to sound all sinister and then I smiled brightly. Im so excited.

Vik just looked at me for a moment before chuckling and shaking his head. Is that from some show?

Yes, but also no. I answered, because explaining what Edgerunners was isnt something I was going to do. You have it?

Yeah. I found what you wanted. You sure about this kid? You wanted to take it slow, but this is a big change.

I am. Not just because that Edgerunner, Cyberpunk, trenchcoat wearing gonk beat the shit out of me even! I explained as I settled into the chair. I tapped my shoulders. Ive had my shoulders stretched out, or dislocated a few times now, and its getting old.

Yeah, This will definitely fix that. Vik agreed and then he wheeled it up.

It would look pretty sinister if not for where I was. A plastic bag with metal bones. Human bones, rested on the table.

Titanium Bones, MoorE Tech make. I had these whipped up using your measurements. You sure kid? This kind of stuff will definitely ruin your natural growth.

Im already asian Vik, probably only got a couple inches left in me anyways Besides, I have my special healing. Im not sure what the combination of the two will be like. And I have the best ripper in Night City watching over me in case I need to be let out a bit.

My absolute buttering up of Vik only partially worked as the older man scoffed but was still smiling at me, as he rolled over.

Well Ill do what I can to keep you healthy of course, but Im not a miracle worker.

Which was a lie and the big smile I was shooting at him, was my answer to that.

Alright kid, lose the leotard, put this on, now lay back. Now I told you this is going to be a while.

I know. Im all yours doc. I assured him as I shucked out of my clothes and threw on the little almost paper like gown he handed to me. Vik even did the cute turn around not to look thing. Adorable.

Once I was clothed and settled in he turned back around.

Alright. He grumbled, as he hooked a few cords into my neuralports, and then hooked a few IVs into my body. Lets disconnect these arms of yours. Im going to prompt your cyberware for the disconnect. He said and a moment later I got a notification asking if I wanted to release the connections to my chrome arms.

I accepted, and a sense of coolness went up from my fingers to my shoulders as the nerves disengaged and then there was a quiet noise as the locking system turned off.

-Street Brawler 8

-Annihilation 5

Reflex 8

-Blades 7

-Handguns 7

-Assault 7

-Driving 7

Intelligence 10 (14) Due to Cyberization, Maximum value has increased by 4.

-Breach Protocol 9

-Quick Hacks 7

-Programming 10

Cool 9

-Ninjutsu 8

-Cold Blood 8

-Rockerboy 8

Technical Ability 4 (8) Due to Cyberization, Maximum value has increased by 4.

-Crafting 4

-Engineering 4

1 Stat point.

5 Skill point.

Perks.

Ambidextrous Blades 2

Quickdraw Handguns 2

Gun Nut Assault 2

Parkour Athletics 2

Grappling Street Brawler 2

Drive By Driving 2

Cat-like Athletics 5

Cool Nerves Cold Blood 2

Danger Sense Ninjutsu 2

Wall Breaking Breach Protocol 2

Cyber Security Quick Hack 2

Recoil Reduction. Annihilation 2

Cyber Ninja Ninjutsu 5

Fearless Chill. Cold Blood 5.

Improvised Weapons Street Brawler 5

Parry Blades 5

Robotics wizard Crafting 2

Drifting Driving 5

Rapid Reload Handguns 5

Design Wizard Engineering 2

Rifle Ace Assault 5

Ghost touch Breach 5

Perfect Musical Memory Rockerboy 2.

Debug Programming 2

Siren Song Rockerboy 5

Hacking Wizard Quick Hacks 5

Inspired Programmer Programming 5

A.I. Whisperer: Programming 10

Annihilation 5 *Unused*

Cyberware:

Seacho Electronics Mk.2 *Adaptation Seacho Mk.2 0/0*

Kiroshi Mk1 *Adaptation Kiroshi Mk1 1/2*

Militech Condor *Adaptation Militech Condor 5/7*

Arasaka Smart Link System. *Adaptation Smart Link 0/0*

Arasaka Ex-Disk *Adatapation Ex-Disk 0/0*

Militech-Armalite Ballistic Guard *Adaptation Ballistic Guard 1/2*

Serano Air-Groove Ankles *Adaptation Serano Air 1/1*

MoorE Titanium Bones (Shoulders, back, and ribs.) *Adaptation Titanium Bones 0/1*

Biotechnica Muscle and Bone Lace *Adaptation Muscle and Bone Lace 0/0*

Everything looked pretty good! It was only as I was browsing that I noticed another change.

My Condors! Last time they had been 5/8 adaptation! Now they were 5/7! They had lowered again!

I looked down at my chrome arms and smiled, bringing them up in front of me and waving my fingers.

These were my arms! These were my fingers, and the nicks and dings on my hands were mine as well. Like scars tracing back.

Yeah. I decided. I had definitely mentally recovered from the damage that had been done to me. Which only firmed up my decision to chrome the fuck up even more.

Motoko Kusanagi. Cyborg!

Hey kid, plug this in, I want to do a sensitivity test.

Sure Vik! I answered, grabbing the plug he handed to me, and refocusing on the checkup I was getting.