Hiromi eventually cald down and we just hung out for a while as she recovered. Eventually she felt better and wiped her eyes and like a switch we were back to happy Hiromi.
Or at least Hiromi that pretended to be happy.
We were interrupted while Hiromi was telling about how her online classes were when suddenly her bedroom door opened.
Hiromi.
Mom! Its called knocking! I know you know how to do it! Hiromi snapped as she sat up but didnt let go of my hand.
We are having dinner, your father is eating with us Motoko. You are welco to join us. She offered to her eyes hyperfocusing on for a mont before she stepped in, approaching Hiromi and reaching down to wipe a bit at Hiromis face with her thumb. You should wash up first. Never show them weakness Hiromi, a put together face is an armor all on its own. She said before standing up and leaving without another word.
Your mom is a little intense. I whispered.
Yeah. Hiromi grumbled as sat up. But she is right, I should clean up a bit. She finally pulled away from as she rose. Stomping over to a connected bathroom. The light turning on let see the insides of her bathroom, and I could only roll my eyes.
It was very Hiromi.
Tyger Claw stickers littered her mirror, and there was a ton of hair stuff that let her wear her typical mohawk. Plus piles and piles of makeup. That looked mostly unused but stacked up like towers.
She didnt do much, just washed her face a bit to get rid of the tear tracks and she was back out, looking
Well like she had been crying a bit, but more firm. Hungry? You can delta if you dont want to deal with the rents.
Ill co. I havent t your dad yet.
Oh yeah, you dont rember eting him. Thats gonna be interesting. Hiromi said, sounding like it would be anything but. I followed her out of her room. Adjusting my holsters a bit to settle more comfortably as I headed into the massive dining room. A steaming dinner was already set out, with four spots. As I walked in, a pair of n wearing suits were packing up a cart that they had brought the food in on, and were heading out.
I guess this complex was ritzy enough to have room service.
Cmon Motoko, sit here. Hiromi guided to a spot and pushed in as she took the next closest spot, scooting her chair and food over so she was closer.
Ah there is Hiromis friend. A slick voice called out from behind as I turned, a man wearing a suit stepped out of an office, every piece of him perfectly in place as he walked in and patted Hiromi on the shoulder smiling in a way that seed
Fake.
Even Hiromi sent her dad a glare for it which he seed to ignore. It was Motoko?
Motoko Kusanagi. I introduced myself and he nodded.
Thats right. Thats right, Its been years since I last saw you. Well you certainly changed your style. My dear lovely wife tells you have been working as a rcenary? Thats a useful job. He offered with a smile that was absolutely fake.
But he was also Hiromis dad. So I just nodded as he and his wife settled into their seats
Yeah. Ive been doing so work with Wakako. Mostly minor stuff, so bodyguard work and asset acquisition. I told him. Earning a blink from Hiromi at my words, and then Hiromis dad started laughing.
Asset Acquisition! An excellent way to put it! You should see what you can do for Arasaka, with that quick wit! His smile didnt reach his eyes but Hiromis mother asked Hiromi a question about her schoolwork after that and I was able to look down at the al.
Looked like sothing I would have eaten in my past life. Even if the piece of at that looked like a chunk cut off from a roast, was definitely not Pork or Beef. It looked like it, but the taste was wrong.
What about you Motoko? Any school in your life? Education is important for young girls, You will need it to get anywhere in life. Hiromis mother asked suddenly as Hiromi did her best to not answer anything about her own education.
Nothing official. I dont go to school exactly, but Im not sitting around all day. Netrunning, Tinkering, Gunsmithing. I dabble a little with everything. I told her after swallowing a bite of Mashed Potatoes. Definitely not real potato. It tasted like the boxed stuff. Not terrible, and it was at least a familiar taste and texture.
Oh? Thats a diverse skillset for a girl your age. I find people that try to do everything, end up failing to do anything. Hiromis father cut in, with a smile.
I swear I think the guy just smiled through whatever he was saying or doing just out of habit.
I think I focus on everything in a way. Ive been interested in Robotics with my tinkering. I want to create a drone system for my Job. I admit. It was sothing I had in mind for a while, but it was complicated. Drones in cyberpunk were amazing, but there was an issue with cost, to effectiveness. That and intelligence.
Drones? Militech spends billions a year trying to co out with the next great Drone system. The problem always cos down to size. Make it smart enough to be useful, and the AI takes up too much room, and too much power, so their little drones always balloon in size. Or end up just another drone system needing a big truck to make it work. He said with a shake of his head.
True. I do want sothing closer in size to their Flathead, but that is hardly on the open market.
I took another bite of mashed potatoes, sothing I hadnt had since waking up in Night City, but it was the sudden silence that had look up and notice the narrowed eyes of both adults.
Hiromi beside had noticed sothing was up, but obviously had as much of a clue as I did.
How are you aware of a Militech experintal Drone system? Hiromis father asked casually.
I blinked. Thats right. The Flathead was an experintal item when you get one in 2077. That was why the quest was such a pain. Maelstrom stole one, from Millitech which is why you were trying to get it from them.
That was in 2077. Two years early? It was probably still in developnt. Maybe not even an actualized product.
Ca across it. It sounded useful, so Ive been thinking of making sothing similar.
What exactly do you know about the Flathead? Once again that voice of forced casualness, made realize he was digging.
Its small, probably remote operated. To bypass the AI size issue. Sothing about a camo system. I tell him using my hands to give about the size of what the Flathead should be. Honestly it was the size of a smallish dog.
Interesting. If you find out any more, or if you happen to have any concrete data, I would be happy to be inford of a competitor's work. I would be happy to pay you for hard data. He said his eyes locked on mine. He wasnt smiling.
I nodded.
Sure. If I co across any Corpo stuff on my jobs, Ill make sure you can get a look at it. For Hiromi. I answered and finished with another bite of my dinner.
Then that fake smile was back on his face. Excellent. Looks like my dear Buttercup made a very useful friend indeed, excellent work Hiromi, and here I thought you failed your Human Resources course. Her father said with a loud laugh as he swallowed a bit of his wine. Hiromis mother was quiet just with a small fake smile on her face as well, but her eyes were sharp like a hawk.
I did fail it Dad. Hiromi muttered, irritated.
Awkward.
--
Hiromi and I hung out the rest of the day, never talking about anything serious, just playing gas, or spending so ti with Hiromi painting my nails.
Even if you are full chro now, still gotta look like a bad bitch Motoko. Besides Green an-
No Tyger Claw colors! I already have enough issues with Jun and where I am staying now.
Fiiine. Purple is more your color anyways. She admitted with a grin.
But as it grew late I did leave. Hiromi, still stuck at ho, forced to promise to call and visit more, which I assured her I would. As I walked back to the Quadra feeling kinda normal I couldnt help but smile a bit.
Today had been nice. I an Hiromi having a ltdown wasnt, but it was nice to be pulled away from Maelstrom. Away from the harsh reality I had been feeling since the Maelstrom kidnapping, and back towards the realization that just because bad stuff happened to , didnt an I had to let it control my entire life, that
That I wanted to be happy.
I wanted to enjoy my life. I just had to accept that even through the bad things.
I kept that little smile on my face as I made the circuitous route back towards the Dojo. Jun wasnt in the apartnt when I got ho, and I was tired from the emotional rollercoaster with Hiromi, so I just decided to go to sleep.
Tomorrow would be a new day.
--
So do you have it? I asked. I wasnt going to hide in the apartnt, nor was I going to only head out to murder people.
I still had a life to live. That ant going shopping!
Hmm. Interesting request, sit tight for a few minutes, let go through my private collection. Yoko said as she adjusted her round glasses. I had traveled to the Dewdrop Inn in order to find a program, but not a netrunning one.
The thing was, Netrunners main job wasnt just throwing out quickhacks or breaking into security.
It was data theft.
Data was knowledge.
And knowledge was power.
So since I had finally unlocked Engineering, I needed sothing specific, sothing I hadnt run across.
Turns out the reason why, was because CAD, or design programing was almost always proprietary.
Every Corp would use its own private program, locked down, and hardcoded.
Not that a Netrunner couldnt break into that and swipe data, but how often did they steal the entire program itself? Why bother? Netrunners arent engineers, and the people that want the data, have their own program that they use
So here I was, going to the only Netrunner cafe, that I really trusted. Yoko being soone at the very least that would hold data for V even after T-Bug died.
So she was at least semi reliable.
Hopefully.
I looked around the room the Netrunning chairs in the back were both occupied, but they werent anyone I knew, and I wasn't about to go poking them. So I just sort of hung around as Yoko disappeared into the back of her shop.
Thankfully she wasnt gone for too long.
I have sothing. She appeared saying putting down a shard case. Arasaka design software. Not a common piece of data, but I did have a copy. She said as she slid it across the desk towards . Hand pinning the shard case to the table. This sort of stuff has plenty of protections. Arasaka wont be happy if they ever find out you used it.
Ill keep that in mind. Thanks Yoko, how much do I owe you?
No no, this data? Not sothing eddies can buy. You wanted to be a Netrunner? We dont deal in just eddies. Information. Data. Sothing useful. She slid down her dark sunglasses as she said it.
Her hand was still on the shard case. Waiting.
Fuck. I wasnt a normal Netrunner! It wasnt like I practiced by sneaking into corpo systems, stealing little bits and pieces of data!
I was a gar! I just grinded! But then I rembered!
My hands instantly went to my pouches.
Pulling out bits and bobs.
Mostly ammo
Okay like a lot of ammo.
One pouch for my Burya, another for my Unity Lexington.
For my Lexington.
I even had so shotgun shells in another, but then in that pouch I found my goal.
A handful of shards without a case were spilled across the counter.
There they are! I said happily as I brushed the shotgun shells off the shards and pushed them towards Yoko.
All I got was an upturned eyebrow in turn.
I klepped these off a Maelstrom Netrunner the other night. He was solid, full gear, full setup. His security was tight. I did check them, but they didnt have what I was looking for. But it was full of his Net logs-
Ill accept it. She said, interrupting , but I could tell it was more out of pity than interest. Her lips were twitching a bit despite the way she was squeezing them together a bit.
She was laughing at !
Ill uh keep an eye out for data youll like. I offered. I didnt really like when people thought I was a novice. I an I was, but only because grinding Netrunner stuff was difficult, but soon I would be amazing!
Good. Get out of here kid. Happy Netrunning. She said as she gathered up the shards. Leaving a mont to put everything back in my pouches.
I slipped the shard into one of my emptier pocket pouches. Tugging on it to make sure it was sealed.
Didnt want to lose that.
As I stepped out onto the Kabuki Roundabout I took a mont to just look around.
It was emptier than usual, much emptier in fact, but even during a gang war Night City has to continue on. Walking around the structure to head towards where I had parked I passed so people still willing to go out and do their job, or just willing to shop.
In fact I slowed at a little food stand and had a cup of so noodle thing in a styrofoam cup to eat out of as I continued my walk.
Which was when I was suddenly stopped as a Mox girl stomped out in front of . The Kitsch clothing, well what there was of it anyways. In pastel. The tattoos despite her young age, all told she was definitely Mox.
The glare was weird though.
Youre Noxs savior right? Purple hair, a Leotard, and plenty of hardware. That fits you to a T. She said abruptly as she practically invaded my personal space.
I blinked looking around, noticing the girl had been at a table full of Mox, all of them looking curiously at what their friend was up to.
It took a mont to parse out what she had said as she forced to switch gears from relaxing to talking.
Wha? Nox? Yeah I know him I wouldnt really say savior though, it was just so bullying.
Well, it was kinda fucked to ghost him like that. I know he is a bit of a pain in the ass, but you could at least tell him before you blocked him or sothing. Hes been hyping you up to the Mox, vouching for you and shit. But then you just vanish on him? She hissed a bit, eyes narrowed.
What?
What? I blinked a bit at her words trying to make heads or tails of the sudden hostility, before it ca to .
Ah, I was being stupid.
Thats right It mustve looked like I dropped off the edge of the world. I spoke the realization before chuckling a little. Listen, it's not like that Nox is well Im not sure I would call him a friend, but he was nice enough. But with everything going on, Ive been out of touch.
Yeah whatever. Not like I really care. I just agreed to stop you if I ever saw you.
Right I muttered as I opened my phone system.
I hadnt really checked my stuff, but as I pulled up the system and actually looked at it, I noticed I had plenty of ssages.
Missed calls, texts, even Voicemail alerts.
I winced a bit. My system had updated when I first ran out of the jamr to call Hiromi, but I had been hyperfocused on my gonk friend, that I had thought would be rushing around Night City looking for . Then I had been too distracted with the desire to kill the Maelstrom fuckers.
I hadnt bothered to actually notice all the other ssages.
I had a few from Ichi, mostly just a few alerts on how his work had been going the first few nights of the war, but that trailed off not long after.
I guess my lack of response had ant he stopped ssaging .
But I had a ton from Nox.
He was a texter.
I had a barrage of texts that trailed off when he must have realized I wasnt responding.
Most interestingly though was that the texts said he had a gig for . I considered it. Would a gig from a kid that pushes BDs really be worth my ti? Then I rembered two very important things.
First, I was still mostly unknown. Wakako might have so respect for my skills, and maybe the Tyger Claws might realize I was pretty useful, but that was about it.
Second? Side quests are fun! Its not always about the reward, or the money!
So I opened up a text ssage.
*Hey, sorry for being out of touch so long. I was under a jamr and recovering. Whats this about a gig?*
I nodded once that was done. Realizing I had been standing there right in front of all the Mox. I Waved at them trying to ignore that they were all looking at , as I started heading back towards the car rembering to finish off my noodle cup as I went. I hadnt even made it back to my Quadra when I got a response.
*Ringing*
Nox was calling , I shrugged, it would be easier through a phone call anyways.
*Hey Nox.*
*Motoko! Im glad you ssaged ! How are you? Everything Preem? Ive been trying to reach out, you said you were recovering? You alright?-*
*Yeah, I noticed sorry about not responding, Ive been hanging out under a jamr.* I cut in, as Nox was also apparently a bit of a blabber mouth. *Just so Maelstrom issues. I just noticed your ssages. You ntioned a gig?*
*Yes! I had this brain wave, a preem idea. The preest! So listen, umm can you co by Lizzies? Its way easier if I show you rather than try to explain it I guess? Is that nova? Not too pushy?*
*Sure. Im free, I can stop by.* I agreed, side quest, get!
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