Chapter 161

Chapter 161

Nova! Absolutely qualitatively nova! Ive been sooooo bored. Sasha whined at me, with a laugh throwing her arm over my shoulders only to wince. It was her chrome arm she had used, and there were obviously some issues with it.

Still getting used to it?

Its nothing. Im fine. She said a little too fast as she slipped her arm away from my shoulder and instead pulled a shower curtain away from what I was definitely not expecting to see.

An Ice Bath?

Yeah! Im gonna jump on the net obviously. Want to join me? Sasha asked, her eyebrows moving in a waggling wave.

I mean, I could go to my netrunner den I guess. I dont use a Ice bath. I have a chair. I said as I walked over and crouched down by the bathtub. It was already full of half melted ice cubes, I could tell it would be absolutely freezing.

I really didnt like the idea of using this method.

You have a netrunning chair? Sasha asked surprised and I nodded.

Yeah I had a gig from Wakako to kill this guy. He was a runner, good too. Had a bunch of equipment, since I flatlined him, I took it for myself. Big server, Chair, everything I needed.

You have a server!? How big! I shrugged and sent her the details on the server set up and I looked up to see her choking on nothing.

N-Not fair! Sasha doesnt have a server! How does her Kohai have one! She whined childishly which had me laugh at her.

You really dont have a server? Why not?

Eh. Im not a data runner. The only data I grab is for a gig, or to immediately trade out. She answered calmly, the childish act disappearing. Then as suddenly as her calm answer appeared it disappeared. Waaa! Maine! My Kohai is bullying me! She whined loudly towards the stairs and then ran up the wooden steps.

What?

Then I blinked realizing I could hear her faux crying up the stairs that she had taken two at a time. I hurried after her, mostly because I was so confused.

Is this what it was like dealing with me, when I was being a little shit? No. Everyone liked when I was a shit.

Except Jun of course, but he doesnt count.

I made it up the stairs and blinked as Sasha was sitting on the couch besides Maine looking up at him with big crocodile tears in her eyes.

-Need a server! I cant be bullied by my cute little Kohai! Just a little one is okay! She begged and Maine took a sip from his beer.

Maybe when you're older. Maine offered cooly. The look of outrage on Sashas face at the absolute burn from Maine had Rebecca start cackling and Dorios chest started heaving as well.

Maine! She eventually squawked out in outrage, slapping the larger man's chromed out arm, but that did less than nothing.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

Dont get upset when someone teases you back. He retorted and she huffed crossing her arms, but her chrome one didnt move as easily, and she sort of flubbed the whole thing. Looking down at her arm. A change went over her face.

I dont think Sasha was handling her loss that well.

Next time I have to flatline a netrunner, Ill keep an eye out for another server for you? I offered and my words startled everyone in the room but Rebecca who just looked thoughtful and then nodded.

I gotta admit, Kitten, klepping everything after wiping a place, even the stuff bolted down, certainly made for a nice payday. Rebecca agreed and I nodded, throwing her a thumbs up.

Its not klepping Becca! Once you kill them its looting!

She looked at me, I looked at her, and we both broke into cackles of laughter.

M I missing something here? Maine asked, and Becca nodded.

Yeah. While you guys have been out of touch. Kitten here called me up and asked if I wanted to join in on a gig. Let me tell you Maine. The payday took a few days, but when it came in? Way more than I ever made working under you. Maybe Ill find myself a new crew. Rebecca said but her tone showed she was teasing.

Even so Maine and Dorio both looked shocked while Sasha was just curious.

You took a gig? Dorio managed to ask first and Rebecca nodded.

Wiping Scavs. Honestly the way Kitten here ran the gig it was Pretty smooth. I still want a chance to play with that Minotaur. She said, turning to me.

All I could do was huff. So do I. Ichi basically stole it! Im the one that had to fight it while some Raffen gonk was using it while trying not to damage it cause I mean its awesome.

Wait wait. A Militech Minotaur? Maine asked, his sun glasses instantly sliding down his nose to lock eyes on first Rebecca and then me.

Yeah. The gig that got me into the Afterlife? They shot down an Arasaka AV and captured a bunch of stuff, including an Arasaka brand Minotaur. Its mine now When my choom isnt stealing it out from under me.

It was nova to have on that gig though. When you jumped on the back of it for mobile cover? Fuck it was preem. Made me jealous that I didn't think of it. Rebecca offered and I smiled because it had been fuckin cool.

You just Used a Minotaur against Scavs? Maine asked, sounding a bit shell shocked.

It was a big base. They were a major group. Selling XBDs of the people they murdered out on the market. Lots of eddies involved. I answered. It was pretty effective in drawing attention, letting us wipe them out while they pissed themselves at the mech.

And Becca you went on this gig?

Yep! Actually was one of the four solos. Right up front.. Well second line. The Kittens brother is the Oni. You know the Tyger Claw one with the rep.

Kamikaze or something right? Dorio asked, looking worried. Between Rebecca and me. It was okay?

Jun isnt a cyberpsycho. I butt in quickly. He had some problems, he uh Lost someone important to him and went a bit wild, but hes actually stabilizing really well.

Becca kinda snorted. He seemed fine outside of the fight, but when shit got wild so did he. I get why they call him the Oni now.

Yeah Jun is still a moron. I agreed, and Becca just scoffed.

Hes an older brother, are they ever not morons?

Nope. I said and we both looked at eachother with shared tooth filled grins.

Right. Maine muttered seemingly a little lost.

Well it was nice to be treated as part of the team at least. Rebecca suddenly added, rather directly, and Main stiffened.

Youve been practicing your music stuff so much, but you never do anything with it! This is a chance to meet other musicians, and maybe youll like the idea of joining a band. Jun offered and I realized what was going through his mind.

Jun, you gonk, even if I join a band, which Im totally not. Id still do merc work.

Maybe. he said with a shrug.

I rolled my eyes and rose up. Alright, fine. Ill go. Only because I knew if I refused he wouldnt want to go, and I felt some distance sympathy for Alice right now.

Which is how I ended up sitting in the back seat of Alices run down Mahir Supron. Practically riding on top of her band equipment.

This is an interesting ride. I commented as we went over a bump, my head nearly slamming into the roof.

Its cheap, and I spend most of my money on music stuff. She answered back a little hotly. It runs on hopes and dreams, and carries my shit.

Its fine. Jun tempered her. It wasnt until recently that either of us had a car. We just used our bikes for the longest time.

Youll have to give me a ride sometime. She shot back flirtatiously. Uncle always threw a fit when I said I might get one.

Uh Sure? They arent the best bikes to start on, but I can-

I rolled my eyes as I zoned out Juns misunderstanding. He thought she wanted a lesson on driving a Kusanagi, instead of just wanting to ride one

Heh. A very specific Kusanagi in fact.

--

Alice drove us down into City Center, and then into a small strip mall, but instead of going into a shop she walked down an alley and towards a side door, up a small set of concrete steps.

Dont tell people about this place. Alice suddenly said. A lot of big names come here, so they dont want fans and stuff to know about it. Then she opened the door and I relaxed.

It really was a music studio. We just used a back door for some reason. White hallways dotted with doors. Small pieces of the door were glass letting me see inside to small studio rooms full of sound equipment. I could just make out the small performance rooms as well. No sound escaped them though as everything seemed to be soundproofed.

We walked pretty deep into the building, passing by door after door, that inside I could just see through the small window on each door were often occupied.

I guess music was big business in Night City.

No one I recognized was inside though, but then I could only really see the editing room and not the performance box.

Then Alice waved at a man that I did sorta recognize. Im pretty sure he was one of Alices bandmates? I vaguely remembered him from the gig I watched.

Hey, sorry Im late. She called and the man looked over at Jun and I with a quirked eyebrow.

Dont even. This is Jun, The Oni. She said proudly at Juns nickname, which even Jun looked a little embarrassed at being called out like that.

Riiiight. The guy shot back. Who's the kid?

The kid is Actually pretty good. Juns sister. And I realized that Alice probably forgot my name.

Im Motoko. Dont mind me. Im mostly here because my brother thinks I need to get into music to escape my life of crime.

The man blinked and then laughed a bit at my joke.

Funny. Too many late night joy rides in klepped cars?

Nah. I have my own car. Mostly its the shootouts. I answered truthfully and then looked at the door. So whats going on exactly? The guy looked a little off but shrugged it away after a moment.

A friend of ours got a big gig, making a song for a Ni-Cola advert. He wanted us as his band. So we get to set up here. He explained with a curious look to Alice. You brought them without explaining?

It sorta went that way. She shrugged completely unashamed at the situation. She wanted to hang out with Jun after all. The way she entwined her arm with Juns said a lot.

So did Juns very confused look towards his arm wondering what was going on.

Well alright. Cmon, Tessa is already in the booth. He offered and opened the door. Inside was a small studio, a few chairs and a ton of equipment. And beyond that the small room that was soundproofed where a man was seemingly already working.

I didnt recognize him. Or anyone else in the room.

But that was fine. It was kinda just interesting to see a real studio like this.

Ah, there you are! A heavyset man in an ill fitting suit and enough gold chains on his neck to hang himself with pointed a set of pudgy fingers at Alice. Kept us waiting.

Im on time. You just wanted me here early. Violent Hemorrhage is here to perform.

Well get to it. No, hold on. This is a good line. He ordered and turned back to the equipment. A headset half off put back on, as he hit a few buttons.

There was a man, the sort of guy that looked like a titular Rockerboy fancy clothes, and styled hair, and probably a grand or more on accessories, and even more on fancy chrome. His styled hair buzzed with electricity as he sang.

But I couldnt hear him so I just shrugged. Alice pulled Jun inside, and we were put into a corner, as Alice was prepping to enter the booth, but at least she gave us a pair of headsets so we could listen.

I put it on, and instantly frowned. Electro-hair was doing the same shit that Alice did. It was all the chrome's work. His voice was shit.

Sure, it sounded okay, but if you knew what you were listening for you could hear him missing notes or just slurring the song a bit too much.

Bad auto-tune. Thats what it reminded me of. The fatty producer didnt seem to mind, and I could tell Jun didnt seem to notice bobbing his head a bit to the song. Then they cut, and Alice and her bandmate entered, quickly grabbing some instruments already set up, and this time they played together with the singer. Checking harmony and timing from what I was hearing the producer guy, and another guy on the equipment mutter to each other.

Honestly it was kinda interesting I guess. Similar to what I do, but I dont need some weird guy to do it for me.

I sighed. That was just because of the system. So I shouldnt bad mouth people just trying to do their thing. I shook off the sense of arrogance and instead listened. What would I do to improve the song?

Im actually not sure. Rockerboy gives me a lot of information to work with, but Ive never tried to edit a song that had bad singing before.

So instead I focused on what the producer? Im not sure what his actual job was, but I watched him work.

It was interesting, and made me want to play with it too. But I kept out. No way he would want some teenager messing with his equipment while he was putting together a song.

I wouldnt want someone interfering in my work. So I stayed back, Jun and I listened for a good thirty minutes as they ran through the song multiple times before they took a break.