When we loaded up the elevator with all the crates, and after everyone had searched through the scav den for extra loot. All the boys now had a new weapon of some sort. Ichi even claiming the DB-2 Satara. I was tempted to claim it myself. I had enough equipment I didn't really need it. Plus Ichi looked so happy when he pulled it out from underneath a table.
We were ready to go.
I had taken a few minutes with Omaeda's help to breach the Scavs' computer security as well. The other Netrunner had looked pretty irritated with my 'assistance' in pulling the data, but after a quick discussion, he was going to sell the data off to another Netrunner he knew who would be interested, as long as any data on other scav locations went to me.
Sure I could have pulled it as well, and I likely would have just sold it to Wakako, but Omaeda was Ichi's Netrunner. If I was going to keep using Ichi's crew, I needed to keep them happy.
Although potentially the only reason Omaeda had agreed was because of the looks the crew had given me when they came across the Borg's body. It was back to that fearful side glances.
I used a Burya guys. Stop acting like it's weird. Anyone can kill a borged out Scav with a hand cannon.
We took the elevator down and finally I got to see what the crew had gathered up.
Omaeda had his van, which ended up being mostly useless as the boy had the back filled with scrap already. Which seemed to piss him off when he realized he wouldn't be able to take a crate.
Malcolm had a car, an old beat up Thorton Galena, which was basically a little hatchback.
With the back seats down, and a lot of effort Malcolm with Omaeda's help got a crate in the back.
But Ichi was reliable. He had actually done as asked. A Villefort Columbus. It was basically a 'modern' moving van, and the back was empty.
"I, uh, called in a favor with one of Shobo-sama's lieutenants. I did a job for him that saved his hide a few months back. I asked him for something I could move a lot of stuff around with, and he gave me the key shard for this. I uh... Just don't scratch the paint, or ding it up okay?" He muttered to everyone.
"Sure Ichi. We will be careful. Oh look it even has a little ramp. That's useful." I called out showing everyone my discovery, and with that we were able to load up the five crates of Chrome into the cars.
"I think that's everything!" Hiromi called out wiping her brow.
Despite the fact she hadn't really done anything but 'supervise' the loading.
"Oh! One second. There is something I can't forget!" I called out as I headed back up the elevator. A minute later with a bit of effort I came back down struggling to hold my new baby with one arm.
"Motoko..." Ichi sighed looking at me as I struggled to carry my new HMG to the van.
"She is very important Ichi." I tell him firmly as he sighs and helps me load her up.
Then we all climbed in.
And realized we had no idea where to go.
"Who buys a bunch of chrome?" I asked Hiromi and Ichi from the back seat of his truck as they clambered in.
"Ripperdocs. We could head back to the Ho-oh Club as well. I bet Shobo-sama would buy the chrome off you. Or a Fixer. But make sure to call them first, never a good idea to drop off a job in a Fixers lap without asking first." Ichi replied, his experience on the streets revealing themselves.
"Ripper docs... Actually that gives me an idea, and a chance to meet someone I wanted to have a future relationship with." I told Ichi and pulled up my map system. I ended up unable to find directions to where I wanted to go, but I did find the next best thing.
"Sending you the deets Ichi"
"Misty's Esoterica?" He asked as I sent him the text.
"Not exactly. It's the Ripperdoc behind the shop that I am interested in." I tell him with a small smile. "Trust me." I was forced to add at the confused and unsure look I was getting.
"Alright. Your gig. You're the boss." He said with a shrug and I could see his eyes flash gold as he must have called Omaeda and Malcolm to follow him.
While that happened I went ahead and called the NCPD line and gave them the information about the scav den cleared out and the bodies. Along with a victim still alive but drugged. It was really strange because the bored sounding woman on the line took all the information without showing any actual enthusiasm and then thanked me for the information.
I don't think she actually meant that. Still I turned my attention back to what lay at my feet.
I had so many plans for this baby.
—-
"This is it?" Ichi asked as we parked. Right in front of Misty's Esoterica.
"Yeah. Have everyone sit tight. I need to go around the back and talk to the Ripper. Keep an eye on the trucks. I shouldn't take too long." I asked Ichi and he nodded. HIromi, of course was already out of the truck waiting for me.
I stepped out and looked at the entrance to Misty's Esoterica with smile. Like walking into a dream.
It looked the same.
"Hello?" A quiet voice called out as a woman straight from Blade Runner walked around the corner from the back of her shop. "Oh I was right, I did hear someone. Welcome to my Esoterica. How can I help you today?" She asked looking Hiromi and I over as I smiled at her gently.
"Sorry, I actually have other business, is Doctor Vektor in?" I asked and Misty almost pouted for a second.
"He is.Yours isn't a face I know." She mentioned as she blinked slowly at me.
"No. This is my first time. I'm a new client I guess you could say. Motoko."
"Misty, as you might have guessed. Alright come on, I'll show you the way." She offered with a smile as she guided us through the back and then into an alley. I could see Hiromi starting to frown a bit, but I knew that Viktor was one of the best Ripperdocs in the city. Definitely the best in this area at least.
More importantly he wasn't the type to rip out a kids spine without anesthesia and chip them with a Sandevistan only to not give them the meds they would need.
No Vik was... Honorable. In a city almost completely devoid of it. There was a reason that I had instantly thought of him.
Misty guided us to a set of stairs leading downward lit by a small green light, and I could feel Hiromi tensing up as she drew close to me. Door opening showed just a dark space with some junk on the floor.
The fact she had her sword on her and was gripping it told me she was feeling particularly uncomfortable being led into a dark hole.
I just smiled because I was completely comfortable. We hit the bottom of the stairs and Misty called out. "Vik? You got a new client." She said as she looked through the protective door blocking the way.
"Is that so?" A voice called out and the gate opened as Misty waved us in.
Viktor just kept going through cataloging what we had brought him. The fact that he had found something everyone could use had the whole crew breaking away from their complaining huddle to come see.
Like a pile of puppies when food is put out. I smirked a little at the thought.
In the end, there wasn't much we could end up using. My hopes for the.. Optics. Yeah let's go with that. Saying eyes makes it a little too much. The optics ended up being about on par with the stuff I already had.
"Sorry." Vik offered in the end looking actually apologetic. "Scavs don't tend to go for people who can fight back. They usually scan their target, make sure they are unarmed. Someone with combat rated Cyberware, or Mantis Blades or something they won't even approach."
"Yeah that's why I figured you would get more use out of it than I would." I told him.
"Yeah. Listen. I can't take all of this." Vik said. "You're a bunch of kids. Taking on scavs... You probably risked your lives. I don't have the cash to come close to all of this chrome."
"Your skills as a Ripper are worth more than some eddies." I tell him with a shrug. "If you feel really bad. I think one of the boys wants that Smartlink. Maybe give us a discount on the chip, and we call it square."
"Heh, You're a weird one. Motoko wasn't it?" He asked looking me over for a moment as if he was memorizing my face.
"That's right."
"Alright. Considering how much stock you just dropped off in my lap, I don't mind chipping that in for free, but I can't accept all of this for nothing either." His eyes went blue and a moment later I had a deposit.
"That's too much!" I couldn't help but argue instantly, only to get laughed at by the doc.
"I'm basically scamming you kid even with that. Take it." He refused, adjusting his glasses as he grabbed the smart link... Hand. "Let me do a few scans on this make sure it doesn't have any malware or anything, and whoever wants it?"
"Me!" Malcolm called out instantly, earning looks from the rest of the crew.
"Motoko!" Hiromi whined to me but I put up both hands.
"Don't look at me. Decide amongst yourselves who gets it. Oh also. Here is the pay for the job." I tell them as my eyes turn blue.
Vik had dropped ten grand on my lap. So I passed two grand to everyone. I was now two grand richer!
"You should get it, Motoko." Ichi said even as Malcolm looked like a kicked puppy.
"No thanks." I tell them with a shrug. "I don't use smart weapons. So it isn't really necessary to me, and there is some work I was thinking about doing on my arms first anyways. So might as well wait."
Despite Hiromi looking like she wanted to argue with me. The Crew huddled back together and after a minute there was a general grudging agreement.
Malcolm was pushed towards the doc.
"Alright. Got my patient then. Hop on up. Let's get you chipped."
I smiled at the eager look on Malcolm's face as we all settled in. The actual chrome was a bit of a bust, but Vik was good people.
Plus I bet if I asked him to keep an eye out for some chrome he would be able to help out. We all waited around as Malcolm got his first piece of real chrome.
Not that it really would do much for him, I mean he had optics, everyone did. But they weren't combat optics.
Regardless, after Vik finished chipping Malcolm, and gave him some drugs to take to help adjust to the new hand we all left after I got Viks number and he mine.
—--
"I still can't believe we had all that chrome, and you just gave it away." Surprisingly Ichi had started complaining to me as soon as we hopped into his truck.
"I didn't give it away. I paid a Ripperdoc a bunch of chrome to have a solid rep with him. If I ever drag myself into his shop bleeding from a few holes he will patch me up."
"Rippers do that anyways!" Ichi argued.
"Yeah. I agree with Ichi on this one Motoko. I don't get it." HIromi argued and I sighed.
"Just trust me. Having Vik on our side is going to pay dividends. He's good people." That should reassure them.
It did not reassure them.
"Good people. Ugh Motoko." Hiromi whined putting her head in her hands. "Why did we let her decide anything? She still has amnesia brain... And probably worse since she attacked a Scav den solo."
"It was her gig." Ichi replied, sounding strained just to say it. "Not happy about how it went, but we also didn't put in any risk. I've been paid less for moving crates before."
"Yeah but this could have been a big break!" Hiromi whined looking back at me. "I'm removing your gig choosing privileges."
"You can't." I argue back, rolling my eyes at her.
"I'll tell Jun what you did."
"I would tell Jun what I did, if I ever see him." I told her it sounded a little petulant even to my ears.
That quieted the argument for a minute.
"Sorry Motoko. I know Jun has been... Difficult."
"Yeah." I agree before sighing. I was quiet on the rest of the way back. Ichi pulling up in front of the apartment which I was grateful for. My arm still hurt. I ignored the looks I was getting as I pulled my new baby out of the truck. The HMG really was a monster. I could barely get it around with only one good arm.
I waved off Hiromi's help as I hefted the HMG in my arms and hauled it into the apartment. Getting plenty of looks as I stepped into the elevator.
An HMG, 2k eddies, a pile of other weapons that I had stuffed in a bag I found, and a relationship with Viktor. All for the low price of murdering a group of people and almost dying a few times.
I walked inside. Once again Jun wasn't home. I dropped the HMG on the living room table. Kinda liking how it looked sitting there. Then I flopped on the couch.
My arm still hurt. I laid down and went to sleep.
Wait... "FUCK!" I cursed as I jumped back to my feet. "Fuck fuck fuck!" I cursed myself I was a moron! "I forgot to check if they had any cars parked in the garage! I could have stolen a new ride! Fuck!"