Chapter 171

Chapter 171

You handled that without killing anyone Wakako spoke the not quite question, as I was sitting across from her, not at our usual spot.

Wakako had sent me a drop off that ended up being an old apartment complex. A few men, obviously TC, or at least with their looks helped carry Susan out of my car and into an apartment that had two other people.

One was a ripper, and the other was Wakako.

I thought about it honestly. I could have killed them all, almost did. But they werent Scavs, even if they tortured your contact. I uh Figured it was cleaner this way.

You did well. She said after a while, taking a puff on her cigarette. Padre is already annoyed with the discovery of my agent. The lack of bodies to clean up will make our next communication more civil than it would have been. She explained casually.

Those guys were Padres?

They were Valentino. She responded as if that answered the question and I guess it did.

Every Tyger Claw was probably under Wakakos thumb in a similar way at least to her mind.

Should I call him and apologize for roughing up the guys?

No. She answered back simply and I nodded. Motoko. Wakako said suddenly as I was looking over at the ripper taking care of Susan, making sure she wouldnt die.

Yeah?

I dont enjoy offering surprise gigs like this, without warning and demanding it from you. Its unprofessional. You took it without complaint and did what I needed. She took another puff of her cigarette. Youve grown from the fool who walked into my office earlier this year.

Oh, thanks. I said, a little happy despite myself. Wakako was like my strict asian Grandma Well my Yakuza Grandma.

You havent done any work at the Afterlife yet. She said suddenly, and I perked up and looked over. Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only

No. Rogue gave me the invite, but I havent really needed to do much work. Recently. Ive been doing other things.

I suppose you wouldnt, with Ms. Mitsunashis jobs keeping you busy. She said and I smiled as Hiromi was acknowledged.

The last one was pretty fun.

I heard about it. 6th St. Were quite unhappy with your interference. Although none of them wanted to interrupt, considering the armament you brought along.

The Minotaur is so cool. I replied back smiling because it fucking was!

Wakako? The patient is waking up. The ripper called and Wakako turned her attention away.

Motoko. Payment will come through soon, Just give me a few hours.

Hey, dont worry about it. You got something else to do first. I assured her and got up, stretching a bit, and accidentally hearing a tearing noise. Dangit, this stripper gear is shit! I cursed earning an actual scoff from the older lady.

That isnt stripper apparel, dear. You are far too dressed for that. She snarked at me, and I couldn't help but laugh at the older woman's words, but I also really didnt want to ask how she knew that in case I would be subjected to mental trauma so I headed out with a wave.

Wakako seemed pretty gentle with Susan

She wasnt a relative or something Right?

--

Please dont ask any questions. I sighed. I had decided to change once I was back in the apartment. Changing in the car hadnt been very comfortable the first time, but even with my normal jacket over my shoulders, and carrying my gear in my arms. I still looked like I just left my job as a stripper.

And Jun was not just home, but had been walking back to the couch with a burrito in his hand when I opened the door, no chance for me to sneak in.

I have so many questions. He said going directly against what I had asked as he turned away from the couch towards me. Lets start with-

Nope! No, questions. I need to get changed and throw this away. Its not mine, and doesnt fit.

Well yeah, of course it doesnt fit, you had to stuff the shit out of that top. Jun snarked back and I felt my jaw drop as I brought my holsters and leotard up to my chest to hide it.

No I didnt!

Motoko. Jun said in a monotone, and then added nothing else. As if saying my name would make me realize how silly I was!

But jokes on Jun! Im capable of bringing up his weakness! The nuclear option in this situation!

We are not talking about my tits right now. I demanded, and Jun flinched, deciding that the better part of valor was to run away.

Which I also did hurrying to my room to take off the stripper wear and get dressed in comfortable leotard.

Definitely covering more skin I looked down. Actually when I didnt wear the jeans with it, I think I actually showed more skin

Nope. That thought was going to be shoved into a dark corner and never thought of again.

Stepping out fully dressed I noticed Jun was still waiting for me, with a look on his face demanding answers.

Ugh! Okay Ill say this once, and we never talk about it again! Wakako called for an emergency gig. Had to pick up a contact that got ratted out. They were holding her in a club, like a BD bar. I had to sneak in. They had a netrunner watching the cams, so I couldnt just walk in normally. I saw one of the girls leaving and acquired her uniform. Thats it. We are never speaking of this again.

Motoko.

What?

Nodding, I dropped the point into Intelligence. Bringing that up to twelve!

But that was only the stat. It was time to level the skills, I was about to dump points into stuff before stopping.

Dumbass, remember what happened last time? I cursed myself. No more leveling stats more than one at a time with long rests in between.

One point went into Breach Protocol. Bringing me up to 11, and another in Programming keeping me at my max of 12.

The influx was intense, and I felt the way I programmed change irrevocably.

It was one thing to still use a physical system as preference. It was another to know that you didnt need them.

I had programming on my mind.

--

Motoko! Hiromi cheered as I opened the door, earning an arm full of my bestie as she hugged me.

Im free! She cried out and I nodded.

Friday afternoon. No more school.

I have good news as well. She offered as she raced over to the couch and leapt onto it flopping down and sighing in relief.

Hello to you Hiromi. Im glad you had a good day at school. Oh you had that for lunch? Thats nice. I teased as I joined Hiromi who just grumbled at me.

Business Motoko! Business! We have a meeting tomorrow, to finalize the sale of your song. She explained and I nodded remembering that was a thing, yes.

Okay? You need me?

You have to sign it over. We havent entered any official paperwork on the books to make me your manager. She explained and then rolled over to look at me with a firm look.

So I have to go?

So you have to go! She demanded pointing at me. And to make sure you do, Im spending the night and hanging out with you all day! Hiromi time! She demanded and I acquiesced easily. Hiromi had it hard with school and all the responsibilities that I heaped on her.

Hiromi time. I agreed, and the bright smile told me I had made the right call. So, shall we go out, get a bunch of food, hang out on the couch?

Oooh that does sound nice! She sighed, raising her hands. Help me up?

I grabbed her upraised arms and easily hauled her to her feet. Hiromi was so light.

Cmon Ill drive. I offered, and Hiromi whined.

But you drive slooooow.

I drive safe. instantly replied back.

--

So you need better data storage?

At least for the Tachikoma. I admitted. Hiromi was playing with my Tachikoma as it walked around in her lap, interested in my drone experiment.

Hmm. Thats tough, not as easy to get off the back of a truck as weapons. She explained and I nodded.

Its not a rush, but I cant really make them smart and autonomous at the moment. I can basically just do one or the other.

Cant you do a remote connection and control them that way?

Yeeees? I offered. Technically that was the Militech solution to their Flathead. Just remote connect it, and dont worry about needing an on board AI.

But I didnt want a Flathead, I wanted a Tachikoma.

I can do that for a stop gap, might even be a good idea to do it, so I can help teach it what I need it to do, but Im looking for an autonomous system.

Ill keep an eye out. Maybe well hit a storage yard, or just knock over a transport?

Pfft! I giggled at Hiromis words. Just knock over stuff huh? Steal it? Youre so bad!

What? Thats literally what we do!

I know! But it sounds funny coming from you and saying it like that! I giggled as I turned to my noodles and kept eating. The TV show currently playing was honestly being ignored by both of us.

Me because I didnt like it, and Hiromi, because she was showing that corpo personality. Always wanting to push more.

Hmph! Maybe I will make sure when I find the chips you need, the gig requires a transport truck heist! Just to show you!

That would be cool. Ichi could be the driver in the Behemoth, and Malcolm could use his Nomad car, the one with the rockets. I could do a cool jump from Ichis truck onto the transport and take it over.

Or just make them pull over so you dont get yourself killed! Hiromi shrieked at me, and I just laughed.

This was nice, the stress from the week disappeared off my shoulders as Hiromi and I hung out making fun of bad TV and eating ourselves sick.