*750 XP Gained.*
I nodded as I turned away from the corpse. I slipped into the Quadra Type-66. The Reaver Variant. It was a design that altered practically everything to make it a vehicle that can survive in the desert.
But then again. It was still basically a muscle car. It looked well the base model was aweso, but this one looked a little worn.
I shrugged still a car. Still cool.
I quickly took control and reversed it back towards the gas station that had the underground basent. What kind of gas station had a basent? I had been looking for twenty minutes for Scorpion, only to find out there was a basent when the gonk I just flatlined had co up probably looking for a snack or sothing. I was lucky I had been able to jump behind a cabinet as my danger sense alerted to him coming up.
Then of course he had subdermal armor which made my Unity nothing but a pea shooter against him.
Ugh. I was really getting tired of dealing with people in armor.
My wrist hurt. It wasn't broken, not this ti at least. I could actually fire the Burya without breaking my arm thanks to Recoil Reduction giving so serious tips on saving my bones. But it still hurt!
I shook my irritation away. Pulling up to the building I jumped out and rushed downstairs. My limp was starting up again now that I wasnt in combat and the adrenaline and Coolness flowed away.
I was going ho, taking a shower, and taking a nap. Right after I rescued Scorpion. I walked down the steps into the little basent section I hadnt known existed.
I winced as I saw him. Scorpion looked bad. Hanging from the ceiling by his wrists, and it looked like they had worked him over bad. His face was a ss.
Fuck Scorpion. They really took you apart. I told him as I approached looking for the controls to drop him down.
Whazt? He jerked awake a bit looking up through only one eye that wasnt swollen shut and I saw as he realized who was there, could see the shock in his eyes.
Motko?
Nice to see you survived as well Choom. Cmon lets get you out of here. I dont suppose you know where the Aldecaldos are camped? You are gonna need so dical attention. I told him as I finally found the release for the chains and grunted as I did my best to slowly lower him but it wasnt easy. He weighed a lot more than I did.
Finally he was on the ground and he was looking at like he had seen a ghost. Cmon now Scorpion no ti for naps. Here huff this. I pushed a Maxdoc I had found in the camp into his mouth and after that at least he seed more alert even if it was obvious I was now on a ti limit. He was bleeding bad. Lets get you moving. I told him as I did my best to heft an arm over my shoulder.
Only to wince as he brushed against the gun shot wound.
Yep, that was still there.
You g shot.
Just a flesh wound. I assured him as I hauled him up and started dragging his weakly working legs.
It was a struggle up the stairs but I got him in the passenger seat and settled in myself.
Now Scorpion, where do I take you?
A few monts later his eyes shifted yellow, and I got a text.
Coordinates I could use in my GPS.
Cool.
And with a nice purr that I could get used to my new car rumbled to life and I hit the gas.
Seriously, Scorpion needed a doctor. He looked like shit.
-
He passed out on during the drive even as he moaned in his sleep at the rough terrain.
Nothing I could do about that. The roads out here were more suggestions than anything.
Still having a GPS ant I could zone out and focus on everything that had happened.
I had killed a lot of wraiths in that camp.
Eight n had died without any alarm being sent. Eight n that I had murdered as quickly and completely as I could. My knife had seen a lot of work, but so had anything I could get my hands on.
I was kinda proud, in a horrible way, of the screwdriver kill. That had been a tricky set of movents that I only barely managed to get through without anyone screaming.
I looked through the stack of alerts and sighed.
*Street Brawler skill level up!*
*1 Perk Point Gained.*
I guess the improvised weapon counted as brawling, and now I was at Street Brawling 5.
*Reflex Leveled up!*
This must have happened early, because now that Reflex was at 5, my Reflex skills got room to advance.
*Blades skill level up!*
*1 Perk Point Gained.*
Blades had maxed out at 5 as well. I guess it made sense considering how many throats I had slit.
But killing had repercussions.
I had gained 4750XP for killing everyone in the compound.
*Level up achieved!*
*One Stat Point Gained.*
*One Skill Point Gained.*
And now I was level 5. I shivered a bit as I thought about what that ant, but also how aweso it felt. Gar brain loved leveling.
Motoko loved leveling too.
I sighed.
I liked Murder.
It was fun. Challenging. Thrilling. I pushed away the stat nu to focus on the road.
Fine. I liked Murder. I liked killing.
But I liked killing bad people. That was the part that I could accept. I wasnt killing innocent people, and I wouldnt. I killed the worst sorts. The ones that prey on others.
Just because I enjoyed it Doesnt make a bad person.
It didnt.
--
Pulling up to the Aldecaldos camp in a Raffen Shiv Wraith marked car might have been a bit Well I could have done it better. I had just been in a rush.
But now I had an army of angry nomads all pointing rifles at my car as it ca to a stop inside their camp.
Probably should have stopped outside.
But then again Scorpion looked really bad.
I turned off the engine letting the Nomads hear it die out as I popped open the door and slowly revealed my glove clad hands. Showing I didnt have a weapon in them.
Not that it mattered. Quickdraw could handle that easily enough.
Scorpion is in the passenger seat! He needs so dical attention. I called out once I was out of the car and the nomads could see .
It took a mont but soone ca up behind putting a gun against my back as they peeked into the car.
Fuck! Get that door open! Scorpion needs help. A gravely voice called out behind and I just waited as a few Nomads rushed up and opened the door and quickly started hauling their family mber out of the car.
You gave us all a scare girl. The voice behind said although not unkindely.
Yeah sorry. Was in a bit of a rush. Scorpion passed out on the way over and it worried . I could feel the gun removed from my back then and most of the nomads lowered their weapons as well, although a few kept their guns aid.
I turned around to see a cowboy.
Look he had an Overture and a cowboy hat. He was a cowboy.
Motoko Kusanagi. rc. I introduced myself as I slowly lowered my arms.
Cassidy Nomad. Thanks for bringing Scorpion in, what happened? He asked in a drawl that I couldnt help but pay attention too, he had a nice voice.
I sighed. Long story. Im a rc that Scorpion, well Ill let him tell that part. We got noticed by so Raffen, and chased down. They caused us to crash, and well. I couldnt kill all of them before they put a bullet in . I gestured to my shoulder which had the bandage bleed through a bit with all the work I had been doing.
Need a Ripper, least we could do for bringing back our boy. He asked but was already sort of trying to guide over.
Guess looking like a kid did have so advantages.
No. No thank you. Ill head back to the city. I have my own doc I trust. I countered instantly. I didn't want to get into that rabbit hole. It would just be easier to heal after a nap. Anyway they left for dead and took Scorpion. I bet you would have heard from them soti soon asking for a ransom.
Yep, likely. He said simply although I could see he wanted to argue with still, but I continued my story.
Anyway I tracked them down, took them out, and pulled Scorpion out. He gave the coords for your camp. Here we are. I answered of course instantly glossing over everything that I had done. Which Cassidy obviously noted.
Well thank you for pulling Scorpion out of a bad situation. We wont forget it. He said with a tip of his hat and I shrugged.
I was hired and contracted to be his security. It was my failure that left him captured in the first place. I waved off any appreciation for what I had done.
Fuckers deserved it. I noticed, but didnt pay any attention to the mans raised eyebrow.
Oh here. I looked to him and felt my eyes go gold as I sent him a text. Thats the camp I cleared. Might be useful to grab so stuff yourself. I know there were more vehicles parked in their garage, and I didnt get a chance to loot much once I noticed that Scorpion was in bad shape. I offered after the ssage went through.
Mighty kind of ya. Cassidy agreed, looking over again. You sure you dont want to see our doc? We dont have the best gear, but he is competent. Its a long drive back to the city
Nah. Other than the fleshwound Im fine. I told him, gesturing at the bloody hole in my shoulder. I could see that there were plenty of nomads listening in as we talked, and since I had passed on everything I felt like sharing I gave him a final nod.
Well thats my job done. Im outta here. I told Cassidy as I moved to slide back into my ride. Cassidy moved to stop but didnt quite finish the action.
Youre an odd one, since you aint accepting any help, drive safely. The Aldacaldos will rember what you did for them today. He offered as he bent down to talk to as I belted myself into the drivers seat.
Thanks Cassidy, but I just did a job. Nothing more. I answered as my new car ca alive in a rumble, Cassidy pulled back and gave room as I pulled out of the Nomad camp.
Too bad I hadnt seen Panam, she was cool.
And I hadnt managed to loot the Raffen camp. I sighed, saving Scorpion was more important. And I was at least an hour away from the camp now. Might as well just drive ho. Recover. Besides, I revved the engine a bit as I put my foot down.
I got a nice bit of loot.
--
I drove fast on my way ho. The long roads let absolutely gun my new car.
Which is how I learned I got more Driver experience driving fast. Which was cool.
Half way back to the city I got a Driving level up. Putting at Driver 3. Which was pretty helpful, because future cars were not the sa thing as cars I am used to. At all. At least it was fast. I sailed over the dunes and into the city without any trouble as I pulled into the daily grind in the city.
I got so looks as I drove through the streets. The side of the car was painted with Wraiths after all. But as long as I wasnt pulled over I didnt care.
I had sand in places I didnt want to have sand. Shower first.
I pulled into the parking garage near our ho and paid out a bit for a permit to actually park there.
I took a mont once the car was off to just sigh and breath.
I was ho. Not dead. Job done.
I rose and headed into the apartnt stopping to grab a snack from mystery at stick guy as I headed inside. I knew I was getting looks. Sure I had washed my face in the wayhouse. But I still had blood caked to the side of my head, and I looked like I got in a fight with a dust devil.
And lost.
Everything was going to need to be washed after this.
That and repaired. My poor Netrunner Leotard was getting a little rough.
I felt that small surge of hope as I entered the apartnt looking around for Jun, only to find out once again he wasnt here.
I sighed and walked into the bathroom. The first blast of water ca off red and brown, and it took a minute before it started showing at least mostly clear.
I checked out the bullet hole that went through my shoulder and winced.
Yeah that was bad.
I was really glad I could recover with a nap. Otherwise I probably would have died. I can just imagine how much dust and grit got in the wound over the hours trip through the dust storm.
I shook it away. Nap first. Deal with my situation after.
--
I woke up hungry.
Made sense. I barely ate the day before and I had gone through so shit. I stretched as I slipped out of bed and groaned pleasantly when nothing ached. My leg was fine. My shoulder was spotless.
I grabbed so clothes wincing at how dusty my jacket was.
I decided to leave that on the floor until I could give it a deeper clean. Instead I was wearing so older clothes as I slipped out of the apartnt.
I wanted Ran.
I walked over to Cherry Blossom market. Down the stairs and slipped into a chair at the counter ordering what sounded best as I settled in for lunch.
Figuring I might as well, I sent a text to Scorpion.
*Hope you're still alive. I did see the trailer with your bike at the Wraith Compound. So if your people went, and picked the area clean you should at least have your Preem ride.*
I was just stuffing so noodles into my mouth when I got a return text.
*Scorpion: Still alive. Bike was secured. Bit of an awkward explanation about everything. Heard from Cassidy you left before you got patched up. You already get looked at?*
*Im preem. Gonna spend a bit of ti taking it easy. Eating Ran right now. After I think Ill go ho, put my feet up and enjoy The AC.*
*Scorpion: You just had to say it! Joking aside, glad youre okay. Thank you. Really. Not a lot of people, rcs or not would have co back to pull my ass out of that. Ive seen the pictures of the Wraith camp. Wakako undersold you. If you ever need backup. Call . I owe you.*
*Just doin my job.*
*Scorpion: Im alive. Not many Aldecaldos get to say that after getting captured by the Raffen. So again. Thanks. Ill ssage Wakako that the Gig is over. Also Saul, wants to thank you. I passed him your number, so you might hear from him soon. Take it easy Motoko.*
*Anyti.* I left my last ssage back short as I slurped the last of my Ran. Dropped a little tip to the chef which earned a bow as I headed back out. As much as I wanted to go do so more netrunning grinding, there was sothing I really couldnt put off anymore.
Excuse . Do you know where I could pick up so clothes patches and tools And maybe so advice for fixing bullet holes? I asked one of the ladies selling self adjusted clothes in the Market. Earning an odd look before I explained I was a rc.
After that I got so brief explanations, and after a small loss of eddies I had everything I needed to do it myself. The lady even sat down and started on how to do it on so scrap cloth she had. I definitely overpaid for the equipnt she gave , but the instruction sped things up. It was definitely worth it when after a few minutes I got an alert.
*100 Crafting XP Gained.*
I couldnt help but laugh, forcing myself to wave away the lady who had been helping learn. I was in a Cyberpunk world, but I was gonna get my first level because of sewing?
Hilarious.
I smiled as my attention refocused. Lets see what I could do once I get to Crafting 1.
I didnt quite make it. Practicing with old cloth and making stitches ant I wasnt getting alerts super fast. But the lady kept helping out until she decided it was late and ti to close up.
I was only one more alert away!
I sighed, thanked her and took my new tools back ho.
I had plenty of old clothes to ss with after all.
--
Wakako Okada
Wakako had been a fixer in Night city for decades. She had seen it all. She had seen the fall of Arasaka tower. Had been alive before the Data Krash.
So when she sent out a young girl with a bit of potential out on a gig it was mostly because Wakako needed soone rookie enough to handle a bodyguard job for low pay.
Edgerunners didnt take bodyguard gigs for low pay. Bodyguard was one of the hardest jobs to do. Especially when your client was running straight towards danger.
Wakako hadnt lied when she said Motoko was her suggestion to take along. She just hadnt inford the man she was his only option. A rookie like her could do well on a job like this, long travel tis low pay, high risk. It was the perfect chance to teach the girl not to jump on every gig offered, and learn when to say no.
Wakako wouldnt ever feel a connection with the girl. Wakako and Natashas Friction made that impossible.
But Wakako was old. She wouldnt hold her mother against the girl.
But this was out of her expectations. First ca a text from Scorpion long after she should have gotten an update on the gig.
*Gig is finished. Here is the final pay. Wakako. Thank you. Motoko saved my life out there, and I know if you had sent anyone else they wouldnt have bothered coming to my rescue. Make sure your girl is taken care of. Not many people would have walked into a Raffen Shiv camp alone to save soone.*
Wakako was a woman that knew things. It was half the job of a Fixer. A good one anyways.
So this created questions needing answers.
*Explanation is requested. Motoko hasnt contacted yet.*
It took a while and this ti Wakako was tapping her fingernails along her desk. She was not used to being kept waiting, and even less used to waiting for sothing that actually sparked her interest.
Then a bigger ssage ca through. Full of images, but not just images. It looks like the Aldecaldos had looted the place to the bedrock, but also had poked into everything doing the sa thing Wakako was. Trying to figure out what had happened.
Scorpion had even added in a file that he must have made after Wakako asked about what happened a text docunt recounting his experience. To her amusent it read like an army report.
She read it all, Scorpion's account. The images, the Aldecaldo scouts looking over the absolute carnage a Raffen Shiv camp had been left in.
Wakako had to admit the sight of a man with a screwdriver in his ear in a room full of dead bodies gave her a feeling she didnt often have.
She was impressed.
Motoko had run into the sort of luck most Solos pray never to find a mission going completely out of control. Yet the girl hadnt bailed out. Hadnt given up, or even called in reinforcents, or even Wakako herself to update.
She had just gotten up after being shot and hunted down a pack of Raffen scum.
Motokos first mission had given Wakako reason to give her so minor tasks. Going through a scav hideout had opened the girl up for more dangerous moves. This job had been a test, to see if she was worth giving any trust.
A Fixer needed to trust a solo can do the job. A solo needed to trust the Fixer not to screw them over. It was a relationship, and it was important.
Wakako had been throwing the girl a bone with barely any attention, because she didn't expect anything from her. She had seen a thousand Motoko Kusanagis. A thousand young n or won that ca to her looking for work. So even with a modicum of skill or potential.
But this?
This altered Wakakos entire understanding of Motoko Kusanagi.
That was unacceptable. Wakako prided herself on knowing who she had working for her.
So she sent out a ssage.
*Gig closed. Confirmation from the client they are very happy. I have questions. Co to my office.*
--
So I was heading into Wakakos office wearing a new bandage that I had bled on a bit from the inside to pretend to still be injured.
Dammit, I hadn't expected Wakako to want a face to face.
I slipped into her office making sure to keep my arm rigid as I had it in a homade sling.
Wakako.
Motoko. Sit. The older woman demanded as she looked over with sharp eyes. Ive heard about your gig from everyone but you. Explain.
Uh Sorry I was taking a nap after getting checked out. I got shot you know? I offered trying to defend myself.
I am aware. Next ti ssage when a gig is finished regardless It was foolish. To go back after him. You do realize that dont you? Wakako asked as she put out a cigarette into an ash tray. No. I see that you dont. Taking a mission for two-thousand eddies isnt the sort of job you should be risking your life on.
I was hired to protect him. So I did. I mumbled a bit. Not sure what else to say. I had a job to do, so I did it.
I see, you will end up used up until you die then. That is your future if you keep going down that path, but you are your own person. Do as you like. Until you end up dead in so blaze of glory though, I will use you. Congratulations Motoko Kusanagi. You are no longer soone I consider a minor agent. I will have work for you. Dangerous work. But work that will leave you with more than two thousand eddies for risking your life.
Oh thanks?
The older woman chuffed at my response as she looked over. One last thing, I need to know what you can do if I am going to set you up on jobs. Youve used stealth to your advantage. The scavs, and now the Raffen. If I asked you to sneak into a highly secure building could you do it?
I dont know. Maybe. I guess it depends on how fast you need it done
She waves off. Its not a real gig. But I need to know if your talents lay in espionage more than combat. You hacked into the Raffen's security. Uploaded a Daemon. A nasty one too from my reports.
Ah its I hesitated, not sure how to explain how a rookie netrunner like has sothing so good. Daemons were weird.
No, don't explain you dont have to. From everything I have heard you made it through the whole camp without alerting anyone until the end. Could you do that with a corporate factory? An office? An apartnt building?
Ah. I realized Wakako wasnt asking for details. She wasnt asking for my stats. She was asking if I had faith in my own abilities.
Yes. I am confident in my stealth. Im good at it. I assured her showing every ounce of confidence I could convey.
Ill keep an eye out for a job for soone with those skills. If you can accomplish it I dont have anyone with that skillset under my employ currently. Prove you have what it takes and I will have more work than you can ever accomplish for you.
I will.
Good. Rest. Recover. I will be in touch soon. She offered before waving away.
I slipped out of the chair and left feeling pretty good. Stealth missions could be fun!
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