Chapter 150

Chapter 150

After a few songs Alice called for a break, and then casually flopped onto the couch next to Jun.

Flirting.

I rolled my eyes, but she had been surprisingly nice this time, so I decided to give her a bit of space.

I wasnt exactly thrilled that Fujimuras niece was into Jun, but I would just rely on my brother's denseness to romance.

Instead I headed into my room.

The Tachikoma part was completed, so I prepped the next piece, messing with the printer making sure it was good to go, and started it up.

Considering I was giving Alice some space with Jun I decided to be semi productive and look at my stat sheet.

Level 17

Body 8(16) Due to Cyberization, Maximum value has increased by 8.

-Athletics 7

-Street Brawler 8

-Annihilation 5

Reflex 8

-Blades 7

-Handguns 7

-Assault 8

-Driving 7

Intelligence 11 (14) Due to Cyberization, Maximum value has increased by 4.

-Breach Protocol 9

-Quick Hacks 8

-Programming 11

Cool 9

-Ninjutsu 9

-Cold Blood 8

-Rockerboy 8

Technical Ability 6 (10) Due to Cyberization, Maximum value has increased by 4.

-Crafting 5

-Engineering 5

1 Stat point.

6 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 2The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.

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

Slam Fire Annihilation 5

Enduring Builds Crafting 5

That was where I currently was. I looked through my stat block to try and figure out what I wanted to grind next.

Weapons popped to mind. I was a bit behind on gun skills still. But I wasnt sure I wanted to go to the range again.

Actually I did have Annihilation. I could grab a shotgun, or a machine gun Actually no, no machine guns. Shotguns were good though.

Also Engineering and Crafting still stood out Okay. Grenade time.

I gathered some parts I had. I would stop at a shop and head to the Straight Lane Apartments, to make some grenades since Jun still refused to let me make them in the apartment.

I had made a lot of casings, enough that I wouldnt need more for a long time. But really it was just a grinding method. I probably wouldnt even keep all the grenades live.

My hands grabbed the basic tools I need and I went to work. Explosive fitted into the casing, electronic trigger connected to the mechanical one, and then a final twist of a screwdriver sealing it all together.

I gave it a little scan with my Kiroshi, confirming it was live, and then put it to the side.

Then moved on to the next one.

And the next. All the while XP came in small bursts.

*100 Technical Ability XP Gained*

*100 Crafting XP Gained.*

--

*100 Crafting XP Gained.*

*Crafting skill level up!*

Crafting six? Nice!

I had stilled as the alert came in, slowly putting down the grenade I had been working on. I had dozens of the things now. Each one lined up to the side ready to be used.

I stretched raising my arms high above my head and groaned as I felt my muscles in my back stretch.

That had been a good grinding session!

Now what was I going to do with all of these grenades?

The idea struck me and I laughed, instantly pulling up my agent to make a call.

*Ringing.* I hummed a bit as the call went through, already gathering up the grenades into a box for transport.

*Ringing.*

*Hello? Motoko?*

*Ichi! Glad you picked up. You doing anything right now?*

*Nothing I cant put down, whats up?*

*I have a ton of grenades and I figured having some stored in your truck would be a good idea. Just in case you need something with a bit more boom, than the HMG.*

*Grenades? Motoko I dont really I dont think Im comfortable with that.*

*What? Why? Theyre just grenades Ichi.*

*Ive never handled grenades before Motoko. I dont exactly want to blow my hand off or something.*

I looked at my box of grenades, ones I had just been planning on storing and using sparingly

Then I started grabbing all of them and throwing them into the box.

*Ichi meet me at the Straight Lane Apartments. Im calling Hiromi and Malcolm as well! We are running a grenade course.*

*Fuck Uh can I opt out?*

*Nope! This is an important skill! Plus it gives me an excuse to actually have so many grenades! So Jun cant yell at me anymore.*

*Where did you even get all these grenades from? Did you do a gig without telling us?*

*What? No. I just made them.*

*You Made them? Motoko-*

*Yep! Its easy. Like super easy. Dont worry they are safe! Hell they are safer than the ones you can buy bulk from gun stores and stuff. Dont worry! I made the whole thing myself!*

*Oh god.* He whispered quietly, but this was happening Ichi. Your boss at Section 9 demanded it!

*Okay! Hurry up. Im calling everyone in.*

--

I dont like this idea. Hiromi muttered but I ignored her whining as well. Only Malcolm had been all for the idea of practicing with grenades.

But I had gotten them all here now so it was too late!

Welcome to the Section 9 grenade testing range! I called out waving behind me at the bare desert.

This is just the Badlands.

Section 9 grenade testing range! I repeated, ignoring Ichis remarks.

Yeah! Malcolm called out, the only one of my chooms that was actually here to have fun.

I kicked the box I was standing over knocking off the lid, and all of my chooms even Malcolm jerked back.

Scaredy cats! Just because it was a crate of grenades!

Alright! So everyone come up and grab a grenade, just dont twist the top and we wont have any issues. If you do accidently twist it just throw it far away, but lets not do that! First off. Get a feel for the heft of the grenades! They arent that heavy!

Malcolm instantly walked up to grab a grenade, while Hiromi and Malcolm both stayed far back.

Cmon! Both of you! They arent going to hurt you unless you dont know what youre doing and thats why we are here!

As a fixer, I dont think grenade usage falls under my job description. Hiromi tried to argue.

I just drive. I dont do combat much. So I dont think I need to know this. Ichi added a moment later.

Dont be silly! Hiromi! Combat skills are very important even to a fixer. What are you going to do against some corporate hatchetman squad coming to kill you if you dont know how to toss high explosives at the bad guys until they are just chunky burrito mix? I said while pointing at Hiromi, then I switched to Ichi making him flinch.

And you! Throwing grenades out of your car's window at gonks chasing you is a very useful skill! You both are learning this. I demanded stomping my foot causing the crate to shift and Ichi and Hiromi both flinched back.

Wow this is pretty nova Motoko. You made this? Malcolm asked, looking over the grenade he had picked up.

Yep! The cap on the top is a timer. The more you twist it the shorter the fuse, while the large pin is the safety. As long as you are holding that no explosion. The timer cant go under one and a half second. So you should be able to throw it far enough to be safe as well. At the max it has a ten second timer!

Why so long?

Traps! Pop two or three set the timer and run. Ten seconds is a long time, more than enough for most gonks to think wherever you were is safe to run to now.

Malcolm nodded, taking in my wisdom.

Hiromi and Ichi were still too far away.

Get over here and grab a grenade or Im throwing them at you! I called out, and that finally got my chooms moving. Hiromi first, with Ichi following behind as both of them walked up to the crate and gently pulled a grenade out.

Okay so like I said, get a feel for it. First thing we are doing is some test throws! Without popping the timer we are going to see how far you can throw it!

Preem. Malcolm said walking over to where I was on a little hill, and then chucked it over to the other side. Malcolm had a good arm!

Nice distance! Youll be able to really freak people out with surprise grenades! I said while throwing him a thumbs up.

Malcolm smiled happily at my words.

Hiromi and Ichis turn!

They both tossed the grenade and I winced as Hiromis didnt quite go right, instead throwing almost too far up, as it landed on the hill and then rolled back towards her.

A-ah!?

Its okay. I called out walking over and grabbed the rolling grenade, I checked just to be safe, but the primer wasnt started. Well work on your throw first. I mentioned without saying that Hiromi would have blown herself up with that throw.