Ghost in the City Cyberpunk Gamer SI

[Blasterbot]

I like how the old lady took a second to consider if she should try and hook up her grandson here.

 

[xachariahxx]

I'm looking forward to seeing if Motoko's feat gets around the building where she lives. There were probably a decent amount of people who were watching, since it's hard to sleep through explosions. She's also very memorable, since she's had a couple of antics before, lugging around her machine gun and her car.

Actually, there's a couple places that might hear about what happened. Tiger Claws, Wakoko, Ichi's crew, Hiromi...

You know how sometimes a word becomes part of the popular lexicon and even things that aren't technically that item get called that item? It's like that. I'm putting a bit of lore in that Kevlar is basically what people generally call all armor in Night City. I figure it makes it easier than saying "High endurance Carbon nanotube fiber" Or some nonsense.

Fun note, this is already the case IRL.

Kevlar is the name for one company's brand of bullet resistant Aramid fibers. It's the Kleenex(TM) to the 'facial tissue' of body armor. If you go to buy 'kevlar' body armor IRL, they'll just sell you a level 3A Aramid fiber vest, unless you specifically say you want Kevlar(TM) brand (which nobody does, because it's not necessarily the best).

 

[Seras]

I'm looking forward to seeing if Motoko's feat gets around the building where she lives. There were probably a decent amount of people who were watching, since it's hard to sleep through explosions. She's also very memorable, since she's had a couple of antics before, lugging around her machine gun and her car.

Actually, there's a couple places that might hear about what happened. Tiger Claws, Wakoko, Ichi's crew, Hiromi...



Fun note, this is already the case IRL.

Kevlar is the name for one company's brand of bullet resistant Aramid fibers. It's the Kleenex(TM) to the 'facial tissue' of body armor. If you go to buy 'kevlar' body armor IRL, they'll just sell you a level 3A Aramid fiber vest, unless you specifically say you want Kevlar(TM) brand (which nobody does, because it's not necessarily the best).

Yeah, we tend to do that a lot. Which is why I decided to use Kevlar even though it probably doesn't exist in 2077 anymore as tech has advanced so much.

 

[Amused Bystander]

But I had a seatbelt on.

As always our Motoko is a 'safe' driver!

 

[PeaceMaker 03]

Motoko, you need to pass yourself, saving a neighbor, ninja tricks, breaking the momentum of a Strom borg attack, initiated with a DFA, and stealing the enemies wheels all before breakfast, and not sending the T-claws a bill.

Motoko needs to take business for Mercs 101: How to be a successful murder hobo.

 

[The Whispering Monk]

Really, she just needs to understand that her services are VALUABLE, and that she should charge appropriately for them.

 

[Seras]

It took a few hours, but I walked out of the shop wearing a new Leotard, and a bag with a few spares. It had also cost me way less than the first one. So that was nice. Rather than head directly home I decided to look around, maybe stop at a cafe or something to eat something different.


I didn’t want to turn into Jun and his Vendor Burrito aficionado status. The thought stopped me cold for a moment before I let it go.


I would always worry about Jun, but all I could do is keep moving forward.


I ended up stopping at a nice little cafe and eating a quiet lunch. The many Mox in the area were… Different. Thankfully despite being asian, no one bothered me since I wasn’t exactly looking like a normal Tyger Claw.


So, I got to people watch all the Mox that were everywhere in the area.


Pastel and neon. Weird combo, but I could respect it. The Mox were… Interesting. On one hand they were still sort of at the point in a gang's life where the original idea to actually make things better was still active. But at the same time it was starting to die off. Greed changed everything.


Instead of helping people like the Mox had been founded on, they were now shifting to helping the Mox and no one else.


Funny how that goes. Soon it would shift more and the Mox would be like 6th St. Using force to keep their income stream safe and active.


I finished up my lunch and left the little cafe, walking down the street just sort of taking in the sights of the area. Even here though it was tense. Mox were heavily armed. People were scurrying around for the most part. Shops all had extra security either in guards, or equipment.


Everyone was afraid of the gangs right now. Tyger Claws were being aggressive as Strom poked them with a stick, and it was having a knock on effect. Tyger Claws being angry and hyper aggressive meant Mox were running into trouble, which was cutting off Mox areas from other gangs.


Most of the other gangs wouldn’t admit it, but it was making getting BD’s that the Mox sold difficult, and so that was causing tension everywhere.


Crazy to think that basically lack of porn was causing an issue throughout the city, but there you go. Night City folks.


I was walking down through a small park area when I heard it.



A cry of pain, the sound of flesh being struck, and angry voices. I felt myself tense, a stream of instincts all coming out to play as I lowered myself down to better control my center of gravity and crept along.


My boots became absolutely silent on the concrete path.


Thankfully it wasn’t anything serious. I turned around a bush on the path and frowned as I saw a bunch of teenagers. Three boys all standing around a fourth who was on the ground.


And bruised and beaten up.


“Trying to fuck us over again, huh Nox?” One of the boys said as he kicked the figure on the ground. “I think I’ll just take what BD’s you have instead. Teach you a lesson, yeah?”


The boy on the ground groaned and curled up around a backpack.


I sighed, a teenage brawl? A sale of BD’s gone wrong? Well I didn’t see any guns, or knives. So I was pretty uninterested…


But it would be the right thing to do wouldn’t it? To help out the guy on the ground… I considered it. I didn’t really think of myself as a hero. I was kinda too selfish for that. But I had been doing a lot of murder, even if they all deserved it.


Saving someone in trouble would be a good act.


My shoulders slumped.


“Alright I think that’s enough of that!” I called out as I came around the corner. The three boys still standing all startled for half a second before looking between each other and me incredulously.


“Who the hell is this?”


“Never seen her before, you Ian?”


“Nope. Hey fuck off.” One of them called out throwing me a middle finger.


I looked the three boys over. “No. Don’t know what’s going on, but I’m interfering. Head off, I think you’ve beaten the kid enough for today.”


“Maybe I haven’t choom. Why don’t you fuck off, before we take you over to those bushes and play XBD?”


My nose crinkled. Disgusting. Just for that. I wasn’t gonna let them walk away.


I sighed as I adjusted my gloves a bit ensuring they were tight, stretching my neck a bit to make sure I was limbered up.


And then while the three gonks were all trying to square up and act like tough guys. I simply moved.


Unfortunately this was Night City. Teenagers knew how to fight here more often than not. They startled at my sudden aggression but didn’t run, instead they attacked.


I wasn’t able to throw the first punch.


Stupid long boy arms. But I had a few levels in Street Brawling. Blocking a punch was nothing fancy. I took the hit on my forearms and ducked in, a right jab into his gut caused him to burst into a wheeze as he folded over.


Wow, did this kid not know how to take a punch?


I barely got my arm up in time to block a punch from my right. My eyes caught where he was looking, the accuracy of my Kiroshi making it childsplay to lift a leg and catch his kick on my shin.


The third guy was quicker than I thought. He didn’t go for a punch, instead he grabbed my left arm in a harsh grip, since I was already on one foot he managed to move me pretty easily, almost throwing me to the ground, but I kept my feet by grabbing his wrist that was holding me.


Then to my surprise I squeezed, and with a twist of my hand was able to rip his hand off my arm. Since I had him now, I pulled tugging him into a knee that I slammed into his stomach.


Turning to fight kick boy I didn’t quite manage to dodge a punch.


I winced as his blow slammed not into me, but into the Burya holstered under my jacket.


Ow!


I wheezed a bit as he just punched a hunk of metal into my chest, but he was getting the worse off. As he was staggering back cradling his hand.


“Time out.” I managed to wheeze as I waved him off reaching up under my jacket and wincing.


He punched the Burya into my tit!


Ow!


“I think you just broke my hand!” He whined as he bent over his clutching his wrist “Let… Let’s call it done?” He asked after a minute of painful breathing as he struggled not to make too much noise.


I had bent over the little stone wall that surrounded the park. Clutching my chest as it throbbed in pain. “Deal. Take your Chooms and get lost.” I waved him off as I breathed, and after a few moments the three boys turned tail and ran.


Ow! Sure Cold Blood could make me not feel it, but c’mon going all cold for a couple of kids seemed so pointless! But still… Ow!


“Hey you alive?” I asked once the three were gone as I walked over to the beaten boy.


Huh. Beaten Mox boy. That was definitely their colors.


“I’ll… Live.” He muttered as he looked me over from a single eye, the other one already swollen shut. At some point he had stopped curling up and moved into a sitting position with his back resting against the stone wall.


“Good.” I muttered, turning to walk away. I was so done here. Time to go check my bruised tit in my car.


Even with the alerts for Street Brawling I hadn’t exactly been looking around for a fist fight.


Also my tit hurt.


“W-wait!” The teen gasped out as He sort of fumbled to stand. I turned and sort of stared at him helpless to even get up and sighed. “I owe you one, let me thank you!” He begged as he rose up it was obvious he was weak but he managed to get to his feet, as he did he gasped as his bag was held wrong.


Everything inside fell to the ground in a torrent.


Condoms?!?


No wait. Those were BD’s. They were in condom wrapping because someone had a sense of humor.


“F-fuck.” He muttered, bending down into the dirt and stuffing them back into his bag.


I watched for a minute before I finally decided to speak up. “You should just leave them, I think you need to get to a Ripper or something first.”


“No! I can-can’t. Any of the BD’s I lose, I’ll have to pay for!” He gasped out as he was struggling to find them all.


I sighed and with a single glance of my scanner I had them all. Three of them were hidden under a bush, but after a moment and a confirmation from my scanner we had them all.


“Damn…Are those Kiroshis? That’s preem ware.” He muttered, having noticed me looking around and scanning the ground.


“Thanks.” I stood up having grabbed the last of the BD’s and wiped my pants. I had just turned when I had a hand grab at my wrist.


“H-hey! Wait! Hold on, Umm I owe you one! I’m gonna go to Lizzie’s to get checked out, you should come, I’m sure I can get you a reward for saving me.”


“I don’t really need a reward, thanks though.” I offered but the boy wasn’t letting me walk away.


“C-Cmon even if you won’t accept a reward, you really saved me, come by the bar, I can introduce you to Mateo, cheap drinks?”


“I don’t drink.” I refused, waving my hands but again he wasn’t taking no for an answer.


“Then at least come with, let everyone know who helped out a Mox. We don’t forget people who did us a favor.” He begged.


I was going to refuse again, but just as I was about to say it, he sort of limped and almost tripped.


“Fuck.” He cursed wincing at his ankle which I noticed with a glance was swelling up.


“Looks sprained… C’mon. I’ll give you a ride at least. My car isn’t far.” I muttered. This is what I get for being the hero. A bruised tit, and having to do more work.


He looked up, his face flashing into a smile… Which wasn’t the best to look at with all the swelling. “Yes! Hey I’m Nox the Mox.” He… Introduced himself.


“Nox the Mox?” I asked as I felt my face flattening into a deadpan.


“Yep! I’m a seller, a good one, a catchy name means people remember you when they want something. Trust me, it sounds a bit weird, but my name alone has got me a ton of business!” He practically chirped as he limped along until I helped stabilize him.


“Motoko. I don’t run with a gang, so I guess I’m Motoko the Merc.”


“Oh? A merc? I guess that explains the moves and the chrome.” He said adding a little karate chops to his words.


“Yeah, something like that.” I muttered as we turned a corner and came up to my car. I could feel the moment he noticed it as he sorta pulled away a bit.


“U-um, nice car. I might want to just walk…” I chuckled a little at his response because I really needed to get my ride painted.


“Don’t worry I’m not a Wraith, despite what my ride says. I had a job that took me out to the Badlands. It turned into a bit of a mess but I flatlined the previous owner, and now I have his ride… I really need to get it painted.”


“Right.. Okay sure.” He muttered, sounding a little suspicious, but I shrugged and helped him into the car as I went around.


With a flick of my mind I switched to map mode and made up a path to Lizzie’s Bar.


“So, a Merc huh? What’s that like?”


“Pay goes from good to complete shit usually depending on how much someone shoots you.” I told him truthfully as I pulled out to the street and started driving to the bar. “What’s a BD salesman like?”


“It’s good eddies when I have a buyer, but it’s just enny’s most of the time. Nothing like Merc work.”


“Trust me merc stuff can be fun, but it also has moments where you do a lot of work or get in dangerous situations and get paid close to nothing.” I said, remembering a certain job with a group of teenage gangers.


That had been a bit of a mess.


Thankfully the bar wasn’t far, and I didn't have to share more than a few more bits about jobs I had done before I pulled slowly into the parking lot of Lizzie’s Bar.


Of course pulling up in a very obviously painted ride drew attention. I could see the bouncer Rita, if I remembered her name right, go from relaxing at the door to carrying her baseball bat with a vengeance.


Still I ignored that instead stepping out and walking over to help Nox get out of the car as he was having a bit of trouble with his foot. Once he was upright I didn’t need to move anymore as Rita was there, baseball bat still held tightly in one hand as she looked over the two of us.


“Nox. What’s going on?”


“Rita hey. Umm you know I ran into Ian’s group. They uh. Weren’t happy with my price, and thought klepping would be cheaper.” He spoke before pointing at me. “Motoko here saved my ass, fought them off and sent them packing, even helped me pack up my stock.”


“The stock, that you were specifically told to stop taking out? That stock?” Rita snapped, but sighed as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Let’s get you inside and cleaned up. Suzie can decide what to do about you and your sticky fingers.” The Bouncer said as she reached over and helped Nox by grabbing his other arm.


She stopped from moving though as she looks me over. “We don’t let Wraiths into the Bar.”


“Not a Wraith. Just a merc. The previous owner of the car totaled my old one.” I offered lying.


I didn’t have a previous car, but it made me sound more mature rather than saying I stole it because I didn’t have a ride and was sick of taking the bus and train.


“Right.”


“Anyway it doesn’t matter. I was just making sure Nox got somewhere for help. I’ll just head out.” I added moving to walk away when a hand once again grabbed at me.


“No! Rita! Motoko saved me! The least we can do is invite her in!” Nox asked and I felt my shoulders slump a bit. I turned around.


“That really isn’t necessary. I-.”


“It is! You did a Mox a massive favor, we don’t just send people away who do that! Suzie should hear! Let her decide.” He begged, and I honestly didn’t want to deal with this anymore, but Rita’s shoulders slumped a bit as she started walking.


“Fine she can come in. Just don’t cause any trouble.” Rita demanded and I really considered just leaving, but Nox was throwing me a thumbs up and waving me to follow and I sighed as I followed in after them.


I didn’t even like bars! Much less a BD bar that was one step away from a Doll house!


I followed in after all. Mostly because I was kinda curious if I would see Judy. So I walked into Lizzie’s Bar. We went instantly to the left and into a small side room off the entrance, where Nox was lowered onto a couch and Rita went around a bunch of lockers and grabbed a med kit.


I looked around and was staring at an array of computers along the wall. Security, or was it the lights and music controls? I wasn’t sure, and I wasn’t about to go snooping. So I ignored it, and I watched as Rita with surprisingly careful hands considering her arms were all chrome and covered in spikes she slathered some goop on Nox’s face and gave him a few bandages.


“Thanks Rita.”


“You are always trouble kid, try not to piss people off so much.” She instantly retorted as she rose. “I’ll get Mateo to bring in something to drink and maybe something for the pain, and I’ll call Suzie. She is gonna deal with this from here. I need to get back outside.” She stood and as she walked past me she still and gave me a look. “Don’t cause any trouble.” She spoke bluntly, absolutely a threat but I just shrugged.


“I’m not on a job, not much of a troublemaker otherwise.” I assured her and she sorta nodded without doing so.


“I think she likes you.” Nox offered as he lay back on the couch sort of sighing.


“I think you need to get your head checked.” I said as I sat in the desk chair. “You gonna be good?”


“Yeah Mateo will bring me something good for the pain and I’ll be square. But soon Suzie will be here and she can slip you a nice reward.”


“I don’t really need anything, a reward sounds a little silly.”


“Nonsense! You saved a Mox, the least we should do. Besides, I haven't gotten your number yet! What do I do if I need to hire a merc if I don’t get your number?” He asked, flashing me a crooked smile that had nothing to do with his bruised and bloody lip.


“Talk to a Fixer.” I retorted simply which caused his smile to twitch and deflate at my instant refusal.


The noise of the club picked up suddenly as the door opened.


“Nox.”


“Hey Suz!” He called out sounding cheerful even if he was only looking at her with one eye.


She gave a sigh as she looked him over for a moment before seeming to decide he would live.


She turned to me. Suzie Q. The leader of the Mox. Also a woman that didn’t seem to be happy to deal with this shit right now.


“You are?”


“Motoko. Just someone that saw Nox getting in trouble and decided to help out.”I offered with a shrug which didn’t seem to satisfy the woman. She kept her eyes locked on me, as if trying to will me to fess up, or alter my story.


But I literally had no idea what she wanted.


“Your help is appreciated then. You helped the Mox. We will remember.” She offered simply, and I shrugged.


“No worries. I just saw someone getting beat up and decided to step in.” I turned towards the door. “Alright. I’m heading out. Nox, heal well, try not to pick fights with people that are stronger than you… Or more numerous.”


“Aww c’mon Motoko, at least give me your number! I might have some jobs for you!”


I sighed as I moved to open the door as I bent my head over my shoulder letting my eyes go gold.


“There. See ya around.” I called after sending him a handshake exchange. His information and mine shared between us.


“Preem!” He called out as I headed out, swiftly running from the bar, and the many people giving me looks.


It wasn’t my fault I had a Wraiths car. I mean… It was that I hadn’t gotten it painted yet.


Okay fine. I guess it was my fault.


I hurried to my car noticing a Mox girl hiding by the drivers door as she dug through her bag, a clink of spray cans reaching my ears. I sighed and hurried getting there just in time to slip the can out of her hand as she reached to start graffitiing my car.


“The old paint job is terrible, I know, but I already have plans to get a new one. Let’s leave it at that.” I tell the younger girl. She was probably 12, 13? Smaller than me as she hastily accepted my offer of her spray can back before she took off. I just let her run off. No point in causing a scene. Even if Rita, had looked like she was about to hurry over and protect the little girl.


This city needed to relax a little.


I slipped into the car ignoring everything else as I slowly backed out of the spot so I wouldn’t hit anyone and sedately drove to the street access, a flip of my turn signal, and a double check to make sure I had space let me slip onto the road and slowly accelerate off the property.


—--


The next morning I was back to grinding tech. I had spent the afternoon after dealing with the Nox situation heading out to the dump to find some goodies.


Thankfully it had done some good. New pieces of tech to work on had made the alerts start popping up again.


I was so close to another level!


I also still hadn’t heard from Jun.


But I was doing my best to ignore that.


Hiromi was in class, and I really had nothing to do but just keep grinding away.


I munched on mystery meat stick as I continued to tinker on getting the laptop working. My current plan was to take a few of the laptops I had managed to get working again, and try to learn how to make my own Quickhacks.


I hadn’t gained any knowledge on them from Crafting, so there must be a new skill hidden there in the system for me to learn, and I needed more numbers! Numbers for the numbers God!


I took a break and stretched a long yawn pulling from my throat as I decided to get some lunch. With Hiromi in school I wouldn't be able to eat with her, but I figured I could head out and find something tasty and after maybe I should get my car painted.


“Probably should do that sooner rather than later.” I grumbled, as I headed out. Paint first. Then food.


—--


So I did eventually find a shop, and in the future of Cyberpunk it only took about two hours for a full paint job.


But I was running into some trouble.


“It’s not a Wraith car. It’s mine.”


“Why’s it got Wraiths on it then?”


“Cause it used to belong to a Wraith. Then I flatlined him. Now it’s mine.” I explained. Again.


The man sitting behind a little desk in the ‘office’ of the mechanics shop was chewing on a cigarette as he leaned back. A mechanical leg propped up on a cushion every bit the grungy mechanic.


“And what happens when they find out we painted their ride? Not looking for trouble like that.”


“Kinda hard to find something out when you were left in the desert to die.” I answered suggestively. “His whole crew ended that way. Nothing to worry about. I just want people to stop trying to mess with my car when I leave it.”


“Two grand.”


“You have your prices listed right there.”


“Still two grand. I’m taking on risk.”


“Ugh. Even if I spend an hour explaining to you that there is no risk you aren’t gonna listen are you?”


“Nope. Two grand.”


“Fine. As long as it doesn’t look like shit.”


“Alright.” His eyes went gold as he let his people know, and I could see my car get moved into the painting bay. The whole thing was practically automatic, and the length was really just for the paint to dry.


“Any good food places around here?”


“Nope.”


“Lovely.”


—--


He was right. The food around here was terrible. I ended up with a grumbling belly as I waited for the paint job to be finished.


I was sitting in a old musty chair in the office watching the TV along with the shop owner who was completely ignoring me when it happened.


“This is Network News 54 interrupting our regularly scheduled program of ‘Will it chip?’ with an emergency announcement from the NCPD.” The anchor appeared, interrupting the absolute mind melting stupidity of the previous show.


“The NCPD are now declaring the District of Pacifica as a No-go zone. The danger has escalated from High, to Extreme. All travel from the district will be fired upon, and treated as a threat to the security of Night City. Gun fire continues currently in the district and anyone who lives nearby should make sure to close their security blinds in case of stray fire.”


“Damn.” The shop owner grumbled as he heard the news.


“I don’t get it. Don’t the NCPD normally call Pacifica a no go zone anyways?”


“Yeah but switching it to extreme? Means there is a massive problem probably with the Combat zone.”


I felt myself frown. The Combat zone… I knew bits about it, but it wasn’t something that was accessible in the game.


“Kids.” He grumbled at me. “It means they likely lost containment. The NCPD put Cyberpsychoes inside when they can’t, or don’t want to deal with them any other way.”


“I thought that was a rumor.”


“Pfft. Rumor, or truth? Who knows. All I know is that anytime something crazy happens with the Combat Zone Pacifica gets locked down. But it’s worse than that kid. To put together a full blockade of Pacifica NCPD are going to be busy on that side of the city, what do you think that means for the rest of us? With a Gang war already going on? Get ready kid. Shit in Night City is about to get wild for a while.” The older man offered sighing as he reached behind him and grabbed his Tactician. The shotgun had been resting against the wall until then.


Then as if it was an everyday occurrence he pulled out a box of shotgun shells and started loading the sidesaddle. Making sure he would have all the ammunition he might need in case of trouble.


“It’s gonna get that bad?” I couldn’t help but ask the way he was acting...


“Tonight’s gonna be hell kid. The Gangs will know that tonight they get a free pass. NCPD will bunker down and let the rest of the city go to hell until Pacifica is taken care of. That little gang war between the Claws and Strom? Tonight we will see a real gang war. They will go all out.” He sighed. “Gonna tell the guys to finish up and head home. Suggest you do the same girl.”

 

[Amused Bystander]

Crazy to think that basically lack of porn was causing an issue throughout the city, but there you go. Night City folks.

It is kind of funny when you think about it.

That little gang war between the Claws and Strom? Tonight we will see a real gang war. They will go all out.” He sighed. “Gonna tell the guys to finish up and head home. Suggest you do the same girl.”

Well, major stinky shit is about to hit the fan. I have a feeling Motoko is going to end up deep in this new problem.

 

[The Whispering Monk]

The question is, "Will she be able to save her car's new paint job?"

 

[posh-goofiness]

Very curious if Jun is even still alive. Would have thought that a maelstrom attack directly on his apartment building would at least merit a text?

 

[The Whispering Monk]

Very curious if Jun is even still alive. Would have thought that a maelstrom attack directly on his apartment building would at least merit a text?

Jun has gone so heavy on the cyber so quickly, that I'm pretty sure he's suffering high levels of ciber-psychosis.

 

[Seras]

Chapter 24

—---


Driving my newly painted black Quadra Type-66 was nice. The fact the city was almost shockingly quiet meant I couldn’t enjoy it.


I had already made a few texts. Hiromi was bunkering down with her parents. Apparently school was canceled until the state of emergency was over.


Ichi said he would be working for Shobo, running supplies. He had even asked if I wanted to join him.


I hadn’t answered back yet.


Because Jun…


Normally with something like this I would have settled into the apartment and just ignored it. As bad as it was going to be, I wasn’t a member of the Tyger Claws. I wasn’t a member of the Maelstrom. Their gang war had very little to do with me directly.


But Jun would be out there. Somewhere. Alone. Probably throwing himself into murdering Maelstrom.


The temptation to join with Ichi, to maybe run into Jun on Ichi’s resupply runs…


It was tempting.


So as I drove home I made a call. The same call I made every day, in hopes I would get an answer.


Like always the call wasn’t answered.


Fine. I would just have to join Ichi and run around the city in the middle of a gang war to find my idiot brother! That would show him!


I was practically gnashing my teeth as I pulled into the parking garage. Taking up my space… Jun’s space. No, what should be our space, but wasn’t.


Stupid Jun!


I stomped into the apartment suiting up in my new Edgerunner outfit. Every bit the Motoko Kusanagi that I wanted to be. I loaded up, grabbing what weapons I thought I would need. I loaded up the Tactician I had grabbed from the kids so long ago, really annoyed that I had passed on the Satara that I had let Ichi have. I could have used a Tech Shotgun right now.


Stupid Maelstrom. Stupid metal faces.


I was just about to give Ichi a call to let him know I was on my way when someone called me.


*Ringing*


I blinked, almost dropping my Tactician.


*Jun!*


*Motoko.*


Jun had actually called me!


*Jun! Where have you been! What have you been doing!? Are you okay? I have a car now! If you need me to pick you up just tell me! Do you need rescuing?! Tell me what Strom I have to go flatline and I’ll be there in a few minutes!* I rambled a bit at him.


*Motoko. Enough. I want you to stay home tonight. Lock the door. Don’t leave until I tell you.*


*Wha, Jun! I know it’s going to be crazy tonight, but I’m worried about you! I haven’t heard from you in… Forever!*


*I’ve been busy Motoko. Now promise me you will stay home.*


*No! Not unless you promise me you will actually come home! Jun! Yo-*


*Motoko! I don’t have time to baby you! Get in the apartment and don’t leave! Do as I say!* He yelled, although the audio wasn’t actually verbal so it couldn’t really get that loud.


But I got it loud and clear. Jun just snapped at me.


*Jun?*


*Do it Motoko. I have to go.*


*Wait! Jun!* I called out but the call was over.


“What the fuck.” I cursed as I looked around my brain seemingly unable to process for a moment. The desire to slam a phone on the hook filled me, but was unfortunately impossible. Stupid future where was a century old lan line when you need one?


I finally heard from Jun only for him to basically tell me to stay out of it? Well obviously I didn’t want to get involved in this shit, but Jun was being stupid!


I picked up my shotgun glaring at the Tactician for a moment before breathing out a breath letting the frustration go with it.


Jun was still alive. Obviously he wanted me to be safe… I just wanted him to be safe too.


I put the shotgun on the dining room table. Having to push aside all the junk I had been tinkering with.

Fine. I would stay home tonight. For now. But I would be keeping an ear to the ground just in case.


*Ringing*


*Hey Ichi, I can’t go tonight. Jun wants me to stay home, but do me a favor. Send me some updates throughout the night. If you need help, or something crazy starts happening let me know?*


*... Yeah. Alright. I’ll call you if we need an extra gun. Stay safe Motoko. Everyone is saying it’s gonna get crazy for a while.*


*You too Ichi. You’ll need it more than me tonight.*


—---


Angry tinkering followed. I took apart my Carnage and with the knowledge I had from Gun Nut, and a lot of extra scrap now lying around the house…


Okay so maybe it was a good thing Jun wasn’t home.


I basically started fixing the parts on the gun that often had problems. The cocking handle got stuck because they put a plastic doohickey inside a shotgun designed to be as unsmooth as possible.


So I took it out and basically made my own. Using a bit of scrap metal and a hand held cutting torch that was in the tool box I cut out a new part. So I had to fabricate a copy of the doohickey that kept the shotguns pump handle from just falling out of alignment and letting you actually pump the shotgun.


After a few minutes of struggling to get it right, I managed to replace the plastic piece.


With that while pumping the shotgun still felt like I was fighting an angry squirrel, but it would keep working for a lot longer without just breaking down. As the plastic had a tendency to just shatter with the forces the Carnage put itself under.


Technical Attribute XP had been flowing in, as I basically just went to a weak point in the carnage and just… Fixed it. My anger crafting actually worked out as when I finished installing the part I got the alert.


*Technical Attribute Leveled up!*


I blinked as I took in the new information. I looked at the toolbox. The toolbox that had tools that I hadn’t used because I had no idea what they were.


Still didn't know what all of them were, but I knew a little more now. Enough to know that I had a better solution than what I had just done.


Angry repair shop lady’s toolbox had been my source of fixing stuff so far, but I realized she really hadn’t screwed me over as much as I had thought.


Well I didn’t know the price of the tools yet, but I knew how useful some of them were. One was literally a miniature 3d printer of sorts.


Except it could print metal.


Put something that wasn’t absolute top of the line metals into the hopper, it would break down the metal and then print out whatever design you needed…


That had potential!


I picked up the device that was about as big as a loaf of bread and settled it flat onto the table.


Pulling out my connector port and hooked it in, and within a few moments thanks to my Kiroshi I was able to basically upload a schematic of the doohickey I needed. I didn’t have to think about dimensions, or tolerances. As the Kiroshi’s scan of the plastic version handled almost all of that, with a bit of my own knowledge adjusting it, until I had the schematic of the doohickey I needed.


I put in a bit of steel into the hopper, and watched as the device quickly began producing the part I needed.


Future tech!


I smiled as I already got another crafting alert.


Doing something new earned a faster level up I remembered. I grinned before an explosion outside dimmed my happiness.


That wasn’t the first explosion of the night.


Nor would it be the last. I stood and peaked out the guard blinds. I couldn't see the source of the explosion, too far away, but the noise didn’t end. Gunshots. Explosions. I had turned off the news when the reports started coming in.


I was tempted. An urge was there to just head out into the night. There was a lot of XP I could gain out there. Stopping crimes. Killing borgs.


But I didn’t.


I was sneaky, but it was one thing to sneak through a den of sleepy scavs, and another to sneak up on a group ready and looking for a fight. So I stayed inside, and had to deal with the fact that I decided not to head out.


If I was a hero I would go out. To save even a few people.


If I was a villain, I would go out. To kill and get more loot and power.


But I wasn’t either of those things. I had walked past plenty of homeless people in the city before. I hadn’t stopped to save them.


I had killed people, but I like to believe I had done it for more than just the XP. More than just my own personal benefit. I had killed on a job, or because I wanted to stop the scavs.


So I wasn’t a hero or a villain. I was Motoko, and Motoko would listen to Jun. At least for tonight.


But tomorrow? Well. That was a whole other day, and Jun had better be prepared.


—--


The news chattered away as I continued to tinker. Crafting had been leveling fast as I messed with my equipment. My Unity was given a going over and I even replaced some of the older parts. It had been a weapon Jun had got for me more for personal protection than for running through Scav dens.


So I did some work on it, messed with the trigger, replaced the spring, even took a few minutes to design an extended magazine and make one.


I was no longer limited to twelve rounds! I now had… Fifteen! Whoo!


I giggled at my own pleasure at such a minor improvement overall, but it did give me a nice alert.


*100 Crafting XP Gained.*


So that was nice. But while I was cozy in my apartment the city was burning. Often literally.


The news had a few reports about the Pacifica thing, and while it was obviously heavily propagandized there was a hint that all the positive reports were bullshit. Considering the cordon was still active.


So I waited. I did get messages from Ichi through the night. He was nice enough to give me little updates. Thankfully all he was really doing was transporting ammunition and staying away from the bad war zones. So he and Malcolm were tired but fine.


Hiromi had taken to sending me paragraph length texts about how bored she was.


So she was fine.


Nothing yet from Jun.


So I just continued to tinker. I had plenty of parts right now. Lot’s of scrap to mess with, so I just went to work. I did some adjustment on my weapons sights, making sure they were more accurate. Repaired damaged parts, and cleaned all my weapons.


Since I had so many now, and they were all previously owned by scavs, or Raffen some were quite messy.


And so I spent the day. Working with my hands and blocking out the world. Enjoying the feeling of bringing life back to my equipment.


*Crafting skill level up!*


The alert came mid afternoon, and I sighed, Crafting 3 meant I was once more at my Tech Attributes cap.


Once again I was stuck trying to level Tech rather than the skill.


At least the surge of new information meant I had plenty of new things to tinker with. One of the laptops that I had found had an issue I now knew the solution for, and I was going to do that first.


Just as I was soldering a new power line for the laptop, having realized the issue was the power source wasn’t connecting right anymore the door opened.


I instantly reached for a gun, my Carnage was closest as I went to grab it only to get tangled in the laptop and end up overbalanced, I turned it into a tumble where I landed on my back with the carnage pointed at the door.


“Motoko.”


“Jun-Nii.” I replied to his greeting as I lowered the shotgun. “Welcome home.” I said unable to get my tongue to say anything else.


Jun. Jun hadn’t taken my advice to stop chipping in new chrome.


He nodded almost… Coldly. As he entered the apartment. Looking around at my mess of guns and parts, and other equipment.


But I was staring at all the new pieces.


His arms I had seen before. His legs were new, he was wearing pants, but they hung lower on his hips showing the chrome peeking up from his legs.


His eyes were different.


He definitely had subdermal armor as well. A large chunk of his stomach was now fake. A black carbon fiber look to his new ‘abs’ that meant they were definitely chipped in.


He carried a new Katana on his hip. That wasn’t our Otou-sans Katana. It was the more military style that Arasaka produced.


I thought it looked cool, but it wasn’t our family's weapon. The weapon Jun had carried with him religiously.


“Jun.”


“Motoko. You’ve made a mess. Clean it up.”


“Well sorry since I was the only one living here, I made it my own!” I snapped at him before stopping and taking a breath. “Jun what did you do to yourself? That’s way too much chrome that fast! You’re gonna lose your mind!”


“I don’t need your opinion Motoko! I didn’t ask for it either. I’m here because you were going to do something stupid. Threatening to go after the Maelstrom with everything going on! Are you stupid?” He snapped at me, that coldness turning into Jun’s normal hot headedness.


“Don’t tell me about stupid Jun. How much chrome have you chipped in the last month? How many drugs do they have you on? Any? Was that chrome even good stuff, or just garbage you took from the Strom?”


“I said I don’t need your opinion!” He snapped, “‘m doing what I have to!” He snapped at me back.


But I wasn’t going to let this go.


“Jun! You don’t have to do this! Stop it! Stay home. Get your bearings again. Get used to your chrome-”


“Enough!” He roared and punched out. I could tell it wasn’t heading for me so I didn’t move but Juns armored fist smashed into the kitchen divider wall blowing a hole right through it. “You never listen! I’m not going to baby you forever Motoko! Grow up! Learn to take care of yourself for once!”


I flinched back at that. For the first time he actually said something that actually hurt me.


Sure. I had relied on Jun to take care of me. I mean he was one paying for the apartment. Rent, food, clothes. Anything I needed he took care of.


And now he was throwing that into my face.


“I know! I know I rely on you! I’m trying to move past that, but I still want you in my life! I don’t want to see you dead!”


Jun didn’t say anything. He was sort of staring past me, at the hole in the wall and then down at his shaking hands.


“Jun. You’ve pushed too far. Too hard. Why don’t you sit down, we can… Talk this out. Just for a little while. Okay?”


It took a moment but as I slowly reached out for his hand that he was staring at he jerked away from me. “Stop trying to get in my way. I have to do this.”


“What is ‘this’? What is it that you have to do that you’ll tear yourself apart to do it?”


“I’ll kill them Motoko, all of them. I won’t stop until they are all dead. Nothing can get in my way. Not even you.” He pointed at me then. “Stay out of it. Stop bothering me!” He hissed, and it sounded more like an older brother telling his little sister to stop bothering him and his friends.


That wasn’t what was happening though. This was Jun trying to cut out all of his connections.


“No.” I tell his back as he moves to walk out of the apartment only to stop. “I won’t stop trying to reach you. To try and make you stop. This isn’t you Jun, this doesn’t have to be you!”


His fists clenched as he turned on me. “You always get in the way!”


“Good! I will always get in the way of you trying to kill yourself! You think you are doing this for your friend? Or to avenge them? You aren’t. This is suicide! Suicide by Maelstrom! I won’t sit here and let you die!”


“I won’t die. Not before I kill them.” He answered and I could tell he was actually trying to sound cool.


“Fuckin’ gonk, what kind of edgelord bullshit is that!?” I screamed at him but he didn’t stop and left the apartment. I chased after him. No way was I letting this end here.


He was fast though. Stupid cyber legged idiot. I caught him outside as he climbed onto his bike.


“Jun!”


“Goodbye Motoko.” He said before the engine of his bike started up, and even as I chased after trying to leap onto his bike so he couldn’t escape he was gone. Driving down the road. Away from me.


“IDIOT!” I screamed as I did my best to chase after him, but as I hit the road I had to leap back onto the sidewalk to dodge a van that was speeding down the street.


By the time I turned back to Jun he was gone.


“Fuck.”


—--


I was back upstairs not long after. Loading everything I would need.

Why the hell would I let Jun race off into the sunset knowing he is going to suicide by Maelstrom Borg? It wasn’t going to be easy tracking him down, but I had wheels and I could follow the gunshots. I would keep hitting every firefight between Tyger Claws and Strom until I found him.


Even if I had to murder every Strom in the city first…


Something about that twigged at my mind, something about that thought was hypocritical, but I shook it away. Save idiot Jun first.


I cocked my Carnage, the action much smoother than it had been before I went to work on it. Loaded and ready I put it to the side, already I had a bag full of weapons and gear I was going to bring with me.


And a lot of ammo.


I shouldered the large bag now full of weapons, I had found hidden away in my closet and after removing the weird Tyger Claw swag I had a good enough gun bag.


Then I took it downstairs across the street and into the parking garage.


I loaded it all up in the passenger seat of my ride, “Alright Motoko. Go get suited up and let’s rescue Jun.” I whispered to myself patting my casual clothes clear of the dust and grime they had accumulated from all my tinkering.


I took two steps to do that when I bonked my head. “Idiot.” I forgot the meds! I had already been low after my desert adventure and I had bought some more in the following days. But I needed to load up more than just the emergency inhaler that was in my strap on pockets.


I was about to go on a roaring rampage of revenge! Err. I mean Justice! A rampage of justice!


Yeah!


I was definitely going to get hurt hunting Jun and killing Strom.


I would need to load that up first, then suit up. I walked out of the garage considering if there was anything else I wanted to bring along. I already had most of my stuff stuffed into my car. So I was probably just overthinking it.


As I moved to cross the street I felt it. A warning sign. Danger sense. Someone was about to spot me?


I looked around but it wasn’t until I looked back towards the road I realized what danger I was in.


Maelstrom. A large Maelstrom truck roared down the street along with two bikers as they raced down. I backed up but realized instantly that I was in trouble.


They were looking at me. They were coming for me.


I drew my Unity, the only weapon I had on hand, and started firing. Four rounds into the trucks driver side window didn’t get me anything, but the bikers were more affected as I watched rounds bounce off their body, but one went through one of the bikers leg in a burst of blood.


He didn’t lose control but he definitely slowed down after that.


Then the other biker was on me. A pipe in his hand swung from his motorcycle, I leapt to the side rolling away from him as his tires squealed as he turned.


This was bad. I turned and ran back towards the garage. They would catch up if I went through the entrance. So I looked up.


Parkour guided me, clambering up an advertisement then leaping to the second floor of the building, starting to climb up when a roar echoed out, the concrete above it exploding sending shrapnel into my face.


And I was falling. I crashed into the concrete below, just managing to roll as I hit the ground.


Did Cat-like just save my life? I think it did. I love Cat-like. Cat-like is love.


I came back up ready to fight my hand reaching for a weapon only for nothing to be there.


Not because of a lack of weapons. My Unity was back in my holster. I could feel it.


But because of a lack of hand.


My hand was gone.


Where was my hand? There was nothing but bloody gristle and… Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. I felt Cool rush through me, icing my veins and calming my freakout. My hand! I needed that. I did all my stuff with my hand! Coolness flushed even that thought away. Calming and centering me.


But it still took me a moment.


I was so thrown for that moment, that I slowed just enough that the biker caught me. I raised my hands… My arms. Just in time blocking the pipe with my forearm, and giving me a nasty crunch that sent a shock of pain up my arms as I crashed and rolled across the cement again.


Before I could get up I was pinned. Bloody leg borg grabbed my hair and smashed me into the concrete.


Ow.


Unfortunately for him. I still had a hand! Just the one, but it was enough!


He raised me up and I slipped my knife below his armpit. I was right. He might have subdermal armor, but he didn’t have it everywhere.


He didn’t have the armor covering his armpit. Which was really stupid. That is a nasty place to get stabbed. I twisted and pulled a jet of white borg blood shooting out as I did. He immediately howled and started bashing my face into the concrete.


Ow. Ow. Ow.


I could feel myself blacking out as he continued to batter me for a moment before he suddenly grew weak and fell over.


*1000 XP Gained.*


Ah good. He died.


I coughed a bit, blood splattering the concrete as I tried to push myself up, only to find out it really hurts when you push a bloody stump into the ground. It knocked the wind out of me for a moment even through Cold Blood, as I fell back down.


“Damn. She got Sixstroke. Fuckin more dangerous than I thought, this her?”


“Yeah definitely the Oni’s family. Sister I think. I saw them together this morning while I was tailing the Oni.”


“Well stop her from bleeding out and load her up. Don’t want the claws to show up do we?”


“You got it.” He chuckled as I felt hands hold me down, and a nasty piece of cloth was wrapped around my forearm.


“Wait. Hold her down. I don’t want any more trouble.” The voice called back and a moment later I felt like a full grown borg was pressing down on me holding me still as I moaned a bit out of my battered face.


Then something flashed.


Oh.


I guess I will need a hand from now on. Because I was out of them.

 

[Blasterbot]

"I guess I will need a hand from now on. Because I was out of them. "

I shouldn't have but I laughed at the pun.

 

[posh-goofiness]

Well. That's gunna be a problem.

 

[Seras]

"I guess I will need a hand from now on. Because I was out of them. "

I shouldn't have but I laughed at the pun.

To be fair that was kinda the point.

 

[Seras]

I don’t know how long it was before I woke up, but I knew I wasn’t rested. In fact I felt pretty awful. I was hanging in the air. It took me a minute to realize I had a chain around my chest and under my arms and I was hanging in the air as my feet waved a bit below me.


All Foods? I wondered as I looked around.


No, I noticed as I looked around. It didn't look like a food place. Or the All Foods Factory. This was more…


Warehouse.


“Oh finally awake huh? Good.” An unfamiliar voice called out and I looked around.


Suddenly I was jerked to the side and my eyes met the glowing red spider optics of a fully borged out Maelstrom.


“We already called the Oni out. Let him know we have his little sister. Hopefully he comes soon, I really want to rip him into pieces. Think I’ll even chip in his arms. They belonged to a choom I knew. Good chrome. It’ll be nice to wear it.” He spoke smiling with an awful smile. I could smell chemicals and death on his breath.


That’s right Maelstrom liked their drugs and chrome.


“The fuckhs an’ Onhi?” I asked, my face was puffed up and it felt like my lips were numb. Yeah I had gotten hit pretty hard there.


“The Oni! Oni! The fuck are you trying to pull!” He suddenly screamed at me as he shook me around. “Hey Ratchet, chill out big guy. Chill here, have a hit from this, it’s good shit.” A new voice called out as a still borged out strom walked in, but at least he wasn’t an imminent Cyberpsycho like this other guy.


I hoped.


He tossed the borg an inhaler who dropped me letting me swing a bit from the chain as he took a hit.


“Heh. Bad luck girl. Oni has been chopping our choombas up for the last month, so we are solving that today. If your brother doesn’t show up in an hour we are throwing you to the scavenging pit. You got some preem peepers. I know lots of chooms that will happily carve them out of your skull.”


“Chathming.” I muttered, earring a chuckle from the man who walked up and steadied me.


“Sorry about the hands. But eh, they were meat anyways. Who knows if you kill someone in the pit we will let you take theirs, how about it. Sounds like a nice deal right?” He chuckled at me as I glared back at him. “Don’t be like that, I mean, it’s a chance for you to survive, better than nothing eh?” He asked then chuckled darkly.


Yeah real funny, how was I supposed to kill someone without hands?


“Weapthons?” I asked finally as he was just waiting around watching me with a sinister smile on his lips.


If he thought I would cry or beg, or something he was in for a surprise.


“Heh! Feisty! No weapons, at least no guns. It’s about chrome on chrome… But tell you what girl.” He said as he walked away towards a table.


Ah. My stuff.


He grinned as he pulled out my knife. Still coated in white borg blood he waved it around before pointing it at me. “I’ll let you take this into the ring, what do you say? Yes… Or no?”


I didn’t hesitate. He was definitely trying to play me, but without that knife I was dead.


“Yes.” he smiled and then he stabbed me. I grunted as he plowed the knife into my right forearm. I couldn’t see it as my arms were stuck back behind me, but I felt it.


I hung there for a moment letting cool completely coat my mind not a sound escaped me.


“‘M gonna kill ya’ fer dat.” I rasped after a minute and the man burst into a happy smile.


“I love when they say yes.” He whispered into my ear before walking out of the room.


Leaving me hanging there.


Ow.


—--


A long period of time passed where I was forced to just hang there under the watchful eyes of the Cyberpsycho who would take a hit from his inhaler every couple of minutes. I had time to think. To consider. I had tried to call, but I wasn’t able to get anything to go through. Texts bounced back as well. Probably some kind of jammer up.

I opened my stat menu. I had a skill and stat point. Time to use it. Because I won’t get another chance if I die. I had wanted to level ninjutsu again. But they weren’t leaving me unsupervised. The psycho was staring at me. It was creepy.


So I only had one real option, something to give me the highest chance in the fight to come.


Reflex 6. Blades 6.


I let the knowledge flow through me. I don’t know if it would be enough, but I could only hope it was.


The door opened again. A long painful time later.


“Well it’s past our deadline! Time to face the Scavenging pit! Shame the Oni didn’t come. But eh, we’ll get him next time!” The bastard said as he jerked his head, and the psycho stood up and easily lifted me off the hook that I had been hanging from. I winced as he wasn’t gentle, and he definitely hit the knife, jostling it on purpose.


Ow.


So Jun’s Nickname was the Oni? That’s pretty cool. Good job Jun, you became famous.


Fuck my everything hurt. I think the fuckers broke my nose too.


They dragged me out of the back room they kept me in which had probably been the warehouse’s office, into a riot of activity.


A party was going on. Or something like it. I was carried through the crowd and more than a few Maelstrom laughed or even reached out to give me a punch as they carried me through the crowd.


Ow.


But it wasn’t all Maelstrom. Plenty of normals were hanging around, getting drunk or taking drugs. The room wasn’t packed exactly, but it was definitely a party.


Then I was dropped into a pit. Cat-like saving me once again as I landed well enough not to splatter my skull across the concrete. I was in a charnel house. Old dried blood was everywhere, and I could see body parts still littering the ground.


Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. If you are going to have a fighting pit at least have some fucking class.


“Haha! Welcome everyone! We have a surprise for tonight! The Sister of the Oni!” he called out and the crowd went wild as I slowly rose up to my knees. They had pulled off the chain from around my chest when they threw me in. So I was finally able to bring my arms forward.


To look at my stumps.


At least they had actually put something over the ends, the white bandages were stained red as I looked them over.


Oh man I was so glad I felt cold as ice right now. I know I would be wanting to puke if not for that. The fact my arms didn’t shake was probably solely thanks to Cool Veins. It would be enough.


It would have to be enough.


“Tonight the Scavenging pit is open to all! This little demoness has a set of Kiroshi! So who wants to dig in!” He laughed menacingly as the crowd erupted in eagerness.


I rested, getting blood back into my shoulders as I waited for what was going to come.


Finally though the borg that was running this, the bastard called for quiet. The crowd went silent, and I looked around realizing that all of the Maelstrom I could see were armed.


Right. This was a trap for Jun.


“A chance for good chrome. A chance to get revenge on our brothers and sisters. Who will face the little demoness? You?” He asked throwing a finger and the kid he pointed too flexed his artificial muscles.


“You!?” He shifted pointing to another kid who cheered at the offer showing a toothy smile as he turned to me and flipped me off.


I did the same back but I didn’t have hands… The realization shocked me. That instinct…


Phantom limb. I shivered I could feel my hand flipping him off back. I could FEEL it. I swallowed back bile.


No. Keep it Cool. I breathed in and out. The pain was there but distant. I would not break.


*100 Cool XP Gained*


I almost chuckled at the alert. Yeah. I got this.


“Yes! Our hunter of the chrome has been chosen!” The man roared and the kid that flipped me off leapt into the pit.


I looked him over and winced.


The kid looked like a chop shop went to town on his body, his arms were too big, heavily muscled Gorilla Arms. The sort that were probably designed for someone a lot larger. But the rest of him was chromed as well.


The kid was probably more metal than meat.


I scoffed at myself. I said kid, but he was probably late teens early twenties. Easily twice my size before he borged out on Maelstrom chrome.


“The rules of the pit for our newest competitor. There aren’t any! Kill or be killed! Begin!” The Bastard called out and instantly the crowd started cheering and taunting me.


Good thing I really didn't care. I wasn’t going to die here.


The kid though didn’t care. He was showboating for the crowd.


I guess that was fair. To him and the crowd this wasn’t a cage match. It was an execution.


It gave me time to prepare. I couldn’t do shit without my weapon. So I turned towards my right arm. Where a knife was sticking out of my bicep. As the kid showboated I took a deep breath and let it out then I bent down and gripped the knife in my teeth.


Biting down as hard as I could enough to practically feel my teeth crack I yanked.


The knife came free. I was armed… I was no longer weaponless.


“Haha! Oh man, look at you! What are you going to do? Gnaw at me to death?” The kid laughed practically crying at the sight of my only method of attack.


I charged. Ignoring everything else. If I waited I was dead. He jerked at my sudden approach, but he calmed instantly a cocky smile on his face. I juked, making it look like I was coming in to try and stab his face, but instead dropping sliding under the punch he threw at me.


My blade cut across the inside of his thigh at the same time that he kicked out, hammering me away. The crowd roared at the sight of blood as I came to a stop on the floor coughing out the knife in my mouth as I groaned. He had kicked me in the stomach. I felt like my stomach was now inside my lungs.


But I couldn’t stay defenseless. I reached down with my stupid stumps and stumbled the knife between them getting it back in my teeth just in time to roll away as he stomped down where my head had been.


“Bitch! I’m gonna squeeze your head until those eyes pop right out!” He screamed as he charged right after, chasing me down as I rolled and scrambled to get to my feet.


Ow.


Finally he caught up and I turned around. Going in again. This time he wasn’t going for a punch.


No, the kid was serious about squeezing the life out of me. He was desperately trying to grab me as I just managed to stay outside of the range of his grasping fingers.


He was getting closer. I realized in that moment all of my instincts, all of the experience I had gained in actual combat, and from leveling told me this was the only moment I had.


If I didn’t do anything now. I was dead.


So instead of running like he expected I charged in. His hands grasping just behind my head as I jerked my whole body ending with my head to stab the knife right into the side of his neck.


It went in.


I almost thought I had done it. It went in. But then a pair of hands wrapped around my skull. The pressure was so intense my jaw clicked open despite myself and I was pulled away from his neck.


“B-Bitch!” He rasped once again as I had definitely pierced through something fleshy in his throat just not deep enough.


Then he began squeezing. I stopped hearing the crowd because all I could hear was my own skull creaking.


So I did the only thing I could. I lifted my legs up to my chest and kicked with everything I had.


Right onto the hilt of my knife still hanging in his throat. It went deeper and then tore. Ripping itself free of his synth flesh.


The white blood flowed. A torrent that immediately eased up the pressure on my skull as I was dropped to the ground. Gasping as my head spun. I breathed for a moment just regaining my awareness as I slowly stopped feeling like my brain was leaking out my ears.


I looked over as the kid flopped to the ground.


Yeah. Blades 6 had actually taught me something interesting. The best way to slit a throat wasn’t a cut.


It was a stab, and then a punch. Don’t cut the throat.


Rip it out.


*1000 XP Gained.*


I rose. The crowd was cheering and booing in equal measure but I wasn’t done. I knew that. Whatever this bastard had planned I was just a toy to him. So I took a few steps over to the kid and with a bit of difficulty I managed to get the knife in between my stumps.


Then I brought it up to my teeth.


I wouldn’t die here. Not tonight. Not like this.


I would just rip and tear until it was done.


“Bravo!” He called out then. The glare on his face instantly shifting to something more showy and fake. “Give a round of applause to our newest winner of the scavenging pit! You all know the rules don’t you!?” He called and the crowd roared back in response.


“YOU KEEP WHAT YOU KILL!”


He let the crowd roar for a moment before regaining control. “That’s right! We are borgs of our word. Bring her up here. It’s time for her to get chipped!” He called out and I noticed that same Cyberpscyho that had dragged me out here jumped into the pit.


Fuck.


I tried to struggle but the guy was too fast, and too strong. The moment his hands touched me it was over and I was pinned and struggled desperately as he hauled me out of the pit.


The kids body dragged along as well. I was pushed into a ripper doc chair. And strapped down legs hips and neck and locked down my arms though…


They didn’t seem to care much about that.


“What do you think Cyberweb? Think you can do something for this poor girl made of meat?” The Bastard said to the open air.


If I didn’t have cool on at full blast I absolutely would have been freaking out as lights lit up in the dark ceiling and a cyber spider crawled down the wall over my head.


“Oh I think we can do something for this pathetic meat. Bring the chrome….” And the way the spider trailed off as it looked over the crowd…


The whole crowd screamed along with him a moment later.


“LET’S GET CHIPPIN!”


“When I get out of this. I’m going to murder all of you.” I tell him as the spider chuckles. One of its legs lifted up showing a circular saw. That instantly began revving up.


“If you survive maybe.” It chuckled at me as it began cutting.


The fact I didn’t scream seemed to make the crowd lose a lot of interest.


But every sadistic cut, and eager grin hardened my resolve.


Okay Maelstrom. Now it’s personal.


—--


It took a few hours even with their spider Ripper.


Then they threw me back into the pit.


I was not handling what they had done to me well.


The arms were oversized bulging things that looked overlarge on the kid that I had killed, but probably looked grotesque on me.


But I wasn’t thinking about the look of bulging synth muscle, and chrome.


I was struggling against the feeling they were giving me. Pain. Burning cold, and heat. Like every nerve in the arms were suffering.


The fucker hadn’t connected them right. Considering they had laughed at my responses while chipping them in. I knew that was on purpose. They had given me the arms alright.


But tried to make them as useless and crippling as possible.


The crowd burst back into a roar as their game was going to continue.


Fuck. How many times were they going to rip me apart before this little game of theirs was over?


How much of me would even be left? I had already lost both of my arms.


The spider fucker had cut off both of my arms! Gone! He had sawed off what was left.


I was going to kill him.


I shivered as the pressure of the connection between me and my ‘new’ limbs was just too much. I could barely think. Barely breathe.


Even if the pain wasn’t crippling me like they had hoped the connection was… Wrong. Like someone had connected the arms backwards and to the wrong part of my body, and then made every sensation feel backwards or wrong.


Right now they were just twitching hunks of chrome and synth meat connected to me, an anchor on each side of me.


And they were dragging me down just as an anchor would.


“Well well! She survived! The little Demoness survived her first gift from the Scavenging pit! Let’s see if she can do it again! Who is up next!?” The bastard called out and the crowd went wild, but I couldn’t focus on that I kept feeling the color pink out of my left wrist, and the sound of an A flat from my right shoulder.


The roar of the crowd barely even reached me.


So this is what it felt like when someone had bad chrome. Like up was down, and down was up.


Like everything would be better if they just died.


My nose was bleeding.


My head was spinning. One of my eyes was twitching. A jerking spasm to the right that meant I struggled to see straight.


I puked a bit, a splash of watery bile escaped me, but that was all I had in my stomach.


I would survive this. I would. I would.

This is not how I was going to die. Not in a pit. Not before I could even do anything!


Gunfire. Explosions. Screams.


I blinked or tried to. I blinked as I looked up. The crowd wasn’t roaring as they watched me. They were screaming or yelling expletives.


I wasn’t able to really focus. I could just tell that gunfire and explosions were going on. Screams and roars of rage.


All the while I lay there barely able to get my head off the concrete. I don’t really know how long it took before everything grew quiet.


The world spun. Everything shifted. I was still struggling to process. Too much was coming from the arms. I could make out what my eyes were telling me, because my left pinky was trying to tell my brain it was where it should take its vision from.


It wasn’t exactly working.


But then even as my left eye twitched I saw him.


Jun. Holding me crying out. The words were muffled and gibberish.


It was getting worse. My brain was in trouble.


Jun as always was an idiot.


Of course he needed his cute and brilliant little sister to remind him to get to work.


So I did the only thing my body could still do.


I jerked forward and headbutted him as hard as I could. Which probably wasn’t that hard.


“Guth fo em!” I tried and even to my own ears I realized my voice was coming out wrong. The words weren’t right.


C’mon cool. Every inch of that coldness I needed it, even if I passed out after, even if it was too much to stay alive after I needed to say this. I needed Jun to get to work and not freak out.


“GETH THM OFFFFF!” I screamed as loud and strong as I could. I blanked out after.


Sight, sound, feeling everything was a kaleidoscope of… Gibberish.


—--


Jun POV


Jun took a deep breath as he held Motoko. The assault above him was going well, but his heart could only focus on his sister.


Holding her limp, twitching form in his arms. He felt his breath coming out hot, as he once again held his sister after a kidnapping.


“C’mon Oni! No time to stand around get your sis out of here, we got Strom to kill!” A cackling voice reminded him he wasn’t safe.


That Motoko wasn’t safe. That thought burned him. This was his fault. It was always his fault!


He should have been there. Should have protected her.


Should have protected her. For a moment the Motoko in his arms was replaced by Kasumi. Her last breath breathing out against his lips as her heart stopped no matter how hard Jun tried to put pressure against her bleeding wounds.


Then a gonk smashing into the concrete beside him brought him back.


He was holding Motoko. Not Kasumi. She was still in danger.


Because of him.


He rose and leapt, the pit hardly deep enough to slow him even carrying his sister.


He did his best to hold onto the bulging arms that were now connected to her, that were probably killing her with every moment they were latched on.


He ran through the fight, as many of the Maelstrom died from swift blades around him. His team, ensuring he would get through.


It had taken weeks to prove himself enough to join the Kamikaze. They weren’t the true elites in the Tyger Claws. No they were the closest to Cyberpsychos. The craziest. The ones that killed the most.


So Jun had joined. Willingly chipping himself with anything he could find to prove he was one of them.


It had been tough to get them to come. He had argued for some time, begging them for help in rescuing his sister. In the end, their own desire to kill Strom was what brought them. They were here, along with plenty of Tyger Claw regulars. If only the preparation for this assault hadn’t taken so long!


He jumped into cover as a gonk sprayed at him, the bullets bouncing around him as the strom wasn’t the most accurate. The fighting was intense. A moment later he died as a grenade bounced past his foot. Many of the Tyger Claws had been outfitted with grenades. The initial assault had seen more than half of the Maelstrom die from explosions.


Packed people at a party didn’t do well with so many explosions.


The Kamikaze had ensured the regulars could get that close. Killing the guards outside, and shutting down the exterior security.


He rushed past the fighting, thankful that the surprise assault had been so successful. Jun was just thankful Motoko was still alive. He had been so terrified he would be late. The first emotion other than rage he had felt in a while.


He hadn’t wanted to let the Maelstrom Deadline go past. He knew what they would do to his sister. What they were definitely already doing.


Akari had been forced to restrain Jun from rushing ahead as the deadline had drawn closer.


But Akari like the rest of the Kamikaze, didn’t care for his emotions. Only killing Maelstrom. So she had held him back from disrupting their attack. Her usual cackling and jokes gone in exchange for a simple almost alien coolness as she restrained him.


He clung to Motoko harder. He was so glad that he wasn’t too late. That she was alive. This time he would get her to a good doctor. A good Ripper. There would be no second Coma… He prayed.


—--


Awareness came in a drowsy haze. Eventually I was blinking realizing something was wrong.


“Unfamiliar ceiling.”


“Motoko!” Jun’s voice called out and suddenly he was there. Ah.


“Hi Jun.” I offered as I raised my hand to wave at him, but it just sort of flopped.


I looked at it.


It looked at me.


No wait that wasn’t right. It just sort of flopped.


Hehe silly wrist, you aren’t supposed to floppy flop.


Oh it was actually pretty cool looking all armored Cyborg style. Although it looked… I narrowed my eyes at the floppy wrist.


“Militech Condor.” I read aloud as my wrist sort of floppy woppyed at me.


“Motoko?”


“She is still on a lot of painkillers Jun. She probably doesn’t even realize what is going on.” A womans voice called out and I turned my head, my hand following to look too.


“Hello.” I offered and my wrist sort of flopped a greeting. “Very rude Mr. hand. You should greet someone properly.” I scolded it as it continued to just sort of twist around. Oh wow Mr. Hands ball joint let him go all the way around.


Gross!


I giggled a bit at it before I realized Jun was talking to the lady. Laaaady.


“She’ll be okay?”


“The surgery… Well it went as well as could be expected. There shouldn’t be any permanent neurological damage, despite the Strom’s best attempts. Your sister has a strong will. I… Well what I saw when I dug those arms off her. They were trying to break her Jun. We are lucky.”


“I’ll kill them. I’ll hunt those bastards down. They did this because of me!” Jun growled and I could see his fists clenching and unclenching.


Ah. Jun was upset. Hold on. I was a little loopy.


A wave of cold washed over me. Even if it felt… Tired? I was pretty sure I was running very close to the edge of what Cool 8 could handle. I mean. How long had I had the cold freezing my veins, keeping me cool and collected even when they cut of my fucking ARMS!


“MOTHER FUCKERS!” I cursed as I jerked off the bed. Only to sort of slide sideways as I was still strapped down.

“Motoko!?”


“Those assholes! I’ll fuckin’ kill them!” I cursed as everything came rushing back to me clear and focused with the drugs suddenly not making everything loopy.


“Motoko!” Jun yelled as he grabbed me and stopped me from sort of mashing my new cyber arms against the straps trying to get them off.


“Hey Jun. gimme a second. I need to go murder some BASTARDS!” I screamed as I still ineffectually tried to get the straps off.


“Drugs are still pumping. Your sister is… surprisingly resistant.” The Ripper? I think she was a ripper anyways said as she checked a monitor beside me.


“Calm down Motoko!”


“No, you calm down!” I surprised him with my intellectual rebuttal. Finally I gave up raising my floppy mechanical wrists up to my face.


“Why are these not working!?” I demanded.


“Please lay back down.” The ripper spoke as she walked up beside, although I noticed she kept her distance.


Out of punching range.


Clever girl.


“The surgery was successful, but your body took a lot of… Stress. It will take some time for everything to smooth out. A human body isn’t meant to undergo two emergency cyberization surgeries only hours apart. Please lay back down so you don’t hurt yourself.”


“Motoko lay down. Please fo-”


“Yeah sounds good. I can always commit genocide later.” I agree with the doctor as I let my body relax and stop fighting Jun.


“Genocide?”


“It’s what you call it when you plan to exterminate an entire group.” I informed her promptly. “I would say extermination, but I will acknowledge Maelstrom are still people.”


“They are just people that are all going to die.”


“Just.. Lay back Imouto.” Jun whispered soothingly as he held me in his stupid Cyberarms. They weren’t very comfortable to be held in.


“Jun you need Real skinn, you give terrible hugs right now. Just awful.” I told him as I rested back. Huh that was kinda weird. Where did all my anger go? Oooh. Cool was tired. I couldn’t hold it.


“Uuuh. Sure Motoko. Sure.” He whispered soothingly slowly stroking my hair which yeah that was nice, but it could be better.


“Reeeaaal skinn. Need that +5 to hugs Jun.” I tell him with a yawn as I feel myself sort of losing track of everything again.


“Okay Imouto okay.” He continued whispering and I was really tired.


I blanked out again.

 

[Blasterbot]

the best advice. how to give better hugs. hopefully Jun listens to at least that much.

 

[The Whispering Monk]

Well, she's alive, and now is pretty well motivated for...farming XP.

 

[Amused Bystander]

As the kid showboated I took a deep breath and let it out then I bent down and gripped the knife in my teeth.

Channel your inner Roronoa Zoro Motoko!

I would just rip and tear until it was done.

Doomguy approves of this plan.

“YOU KEEP WHAT YOU KILL!”

Chronicles of Riddick reference!

This is not how I was going to die. Not in a pit. Not before I could even do anything!


Gunfire. Explosions. Screams.

Big brother Jun interrupt?

Jun. Holding me crying out. The words were muffled and gibberish.

Yeah its Jun. Man he is gonna be feeling so guilty.

Of course he needed his cute and brilliant little sister to remind him to get to work.

I agree with this very much.

It had taken weeks to prove himself enough to join the Kamikaze. They weren’t the true elites in the Tyger Claws. No they were the closest to Cyberpsychos. The craziest. The ones that killed the most.


So Jun had joined. Willingly chipping himself with anything he could find to prove he was one of them

Damn it Jun!

I giggled a bit at it before I realized Jun was talking to the lady. Laaaady.

Motoko is hopped up on the Happy juice.

Genocide?”


“It’s what you call it when you plan to exterminate an entire group.” I informed her promptly. “I would say extermination, but I will acknowledge Maelstrom are still people.”


“They are just people that are all going to die

I say Motoko gets called the Endbringer if she does indeed genocide every single Maelstrom member.

 

[The Whispering Monk]

I say Motoko gets called the Endbringer if she does indeed genocide every single Maelstrom member.

Depends on who gets to do the initial naming. May end up with something like Shiva or even The Destroyer (cue Remo Williams music!).