Chapter 51

Chapter 51

I spent the rest of the day resting. No grinding, no plotting. Just hanging out at the apartment and watching TV, or even reading a few shard books. I finally finished another chapter in the Solos guide, but decided to put that to the side soon enough because it too felt a little too much like training still.

I had never been a particularly focused person in my last life. I wasnt dedicated to self improvement, I liked TV shows, and games, and movies far too much for that.

So why was it that I barely did any of my favorite things in this life? Was it a good thing? Some people would say yes.

But I wasnt sure it was healthy for me. The closest thing I had done creatively had been working with tech, but that was just another aspect of grinding to grow stronger.

Every aspect of my life was rotating around improving my ability to kill Was that right? It didnt bother me exactly. I liked it. I liked fighting, and I loved being better than others at killing. Anyone who played nearly any video game could attest how great it felt to be strong.

But was that all I wanted out of this second life? Was all the freedom I had thanks to my growing skills, only meant to create paths towards more killing more death?

No.

I realized that my life wasnt just this. As much as I enjoyed it, I shouldnt exist solely as a merc. I mean this wasnt a game, even if I was a gamer. Did I want to spend the rest of my life as nothing but a killer for hire?

No.

I had just been having so much fun I hyper focused!

Oops!

So I took the rest of the afternoon to watch future TV shows, some of which were at least interesting, and some awful. I didnt really like TV in the future. I didnt really like the books But I also hadnt really searched for things I would like. Its like watching daytime TV and thinking that was all that was on the TV.

As I explored the different channels and read, I was texting with Hiromi who confirmed she had gotten permission to skip school to come along to the Aldecaldo BBQ!

Road trip with the best choom is a go.

--

Finally! I groaned as I pulled out from Hiromis garage the next morning. I had been running late as Jun had gotten all protective when I told him what I was up to.

It had taken me a few minutes to remember I was fourteen, and heading out to the badlands to party with a bunch of nomads.

So okay, when you put it like that Jun had a point.

But when I explained it was mostly about what we had done that night, and that I certainly would shoot anyone that tried something, plus Hiromi was coming. He had finally loosened up and I had managed to escape his clutches.

Hiromi hadnt taken long to flop into the car, her bag of snacks she was bringing along dropped onto my own bag of goodies once she settled in.

Wooo! She screamed out the window as we headed out onto the city streets, Freedom!

Dont be too happy yet, choom. We have a long drive to get there.

Itll be a lot shorter if you let me drive. She grumbled at me, and I just chuckled.

She had no idea.

I drove safely, and followed all the laws within the city, but as soon as we started hitting dirt?

Well I waited for Hiromi to be slightly distracted, with nothing on the road in front of me, when I suddenly floored it.

Her jerking reaction to my sudden acceleration was great, her mouth full of some chips, or some snack food meant her shocked gasped sent her into a coughing fit as I tore down the road.

Motoko! She said in delight when she finally got herself back under control, and seeing me absolutely flooring it over the desert road.

Hiromi! I chirped back, completely at ease despite going so fast.

Youre going fast!

So I am. I said smiling which had her giggling in delight.

So there is a troublemaker in there!

Im not in the city, and there is no longer a posted speed limit. Of course Ill drive how I want. I said simply but my firm tone was ruined by my lips fighting back more smiles.

You are such a gonk. You should just drive like this from now on.

Nah. Jun made me promise not to drive fast in the city, I apparently scared him the last time I did it.

Aww I wanted to see that. She said laughing, and I just shrugged as I noticed my turn off. With a casual press of the clutch, shifting slightly, and then pressing on the break I was in a perfectly controlled drift.

Hiromi couldnt enjoy the look as she wasnt wearing her seat belt properly, despite my multiple warnings to stop taking it off. So she soon found her face pressed up against the passenger window for a few moments until I finished the drift and was heading straight down the new road.

Wha Wha? She muttered looking delightfully confused at her new situation.

I told you to put your seat belt on. Hold on. I said as I was coming up to the next street I needed to turn onto.

This time Hiromi was actually able to realize what was happening.

I ended up pouting from then on, because she didnt scare like Jun instead whooping and hollering in delight every time I drifted,

It wasnt fair! I wanted to mess with her!

---

I pulled up to the Aldecaldos camp going a much more sedate speed. Despite Hiromis badgering to speed up again. I didnt want to come in too hot with the nomads. I pulled up to the camp and parked off the road near where a few of their cars were parked including a few familiar and freshly painted cars.

The Wraiths really that big of a deal? Ive killed a bunch of them by now. How many more do they have?

Hundreds. Thousands. He answered simply to my surprise. You city folk think the Raffen are just another street gang, but they are worse than that. They hunt anyone on the roads. Doesnt matter who. The Wraiths circling Night City are more than a thousand strong. My clan only has five hundred and some extra.

I blinked at that. Those numbers were crazy. The camp here only had what, maybe a hundred? Seeing my confusion and looking around he scoffed.

We dont all stay together at once. Too many mouths to feed in one camp. Split up its easier to keep everyone fed, but makes us easier prey.

So why not gather all together and wipe out the Wraiths? I asked the question that had been bugging me for a while. The Aldecaldos were a massive group, even if they were spread out across America.

They have backing kid. You think the corporations arent more than happy to have a bunch of sociopaths like the Wraiths willing to hunt people for them? You noticed all the equipment they had at the camp you rescued Scorpion from didnt you? Ever wonder where they got all the expensive sensor gear for their camp? Millitech, Arasaka, Kang Tao or any of the others. Any corp that wants a competitor to have some trouble, to have shipments suddenly stop arriving through the badlands. Saul grunted scratching at his beard for a moment.

I see. The Corps use them as deniable forces, hit their enemies its not like the Raffen are considered a threat to anyone outside the badlands.

Exactly, but thats not what we are here for. He looked to me his green eyes dark. The Clan owes you a debt. I dont like owing debts to outsiders. Twice now youve helped us. I cant pay you for the vehicles not fully. Not in eddies. He said bluntly.

Okay? So what can you do? Honestly. Im not bothered about it I dont much like the Raffen so just hurting them was good enough for me.

Well I am. We pay our debts. Always. Ive been forced to think about what we can do. What we can afford to offer in exchange for the cars Damn Scorpion for being so stupid to take them without asking. He cursed suddenly to my surprise the man looked

Stressed.

Saul?

Not your fault kid. Not Scorpions either. He was right to do it. This is my problem. The vehicles were needed, but now Im stuck trying to figure out how to pay for them. He grumbled, looking down at me with a look in his eyes that expressed his frustration.

Yeah Saul wasnt having a good day.

Okay so lets push eddies off the table. Again, I only called up Scorpion because I knew he needed a ride. And that he could get the vehicles out of Wraith hands. You guys did me a favor that night.

Hardly. Wraiths are a nomad problem. Not exactly something Street Kids have any issues with.

They shot me. So Yeah. I have an issue with them. Getting shot makes me testy. I countered instantly, a little heated. But fuck it. You dont have eddies? Fine. Im not really hurting for eddies anyways. Merc work pays well. So what do you have? You want to pay me back? What can you offer?

Membership. He said suddenly, surprising me. Youre young. Gotta know how shit it is in the City. Join our Clan. Become an Aldecaldos Nomad. Wed welcome you. It might take a while to adjust, but youve proven yourself to my people. Youd fit in here.

I cant. I refused instantly, shaking my head.. I have family in Night City, friends. As nice as it sounds to wander the desert, living life as it comes, its not for me. Im a city girl.

Well I expected as much. He said with a shrug. But still. Youre welcome here. That offers some benefits. You might not realize it, but most of us have military experience. You want to be a merc? Then youll need knowledge, stuff you cant just get on the street. We can help. Will help. We have stuff we make that can be useful to someone looking for a fight. He tilted his head over and led me to a truck, which when he opened up I understood what he was saying.

Thats a lot of guns.

He nodded, having flicked on the lights to the moving truck, showing me the inside was literally an armory. We keep well armed. Even have things you cant find easily in the cities. He said, pointing out a beautiful Techtronika SPT32 Grad.

It was an anti-material Sniper Rifle.

I want one. I want one sooo bad. Bitches love cannons!

Instantly I walked over to it, it was resting on a bench tool strewn around. Someone was tinkering. No, I noticed as my eyes scanned it down. Someone had already tinkered. This wasnt just any Grad. It was the fucking Overwatch.

I instantly hyper focused on the Suppressor attached to the end of the thing. I didnt remember the exact name of the nomad, but one of them had managed to get a Suppressor working on the AT rifle.

Okay who did this, and where are they, because they need to teach me. I told Saul as I started taking scans and checking over the Overwatch.

Mitch. He made that during the war. Saved his hide a few times from the stories he tells. Not for sale.

Dont want it. You wanted to pay me back? Then, Ill consider it a fair trade, if you have Mitch teach me about his work on this baby. It old him, my hands already feeling over the suppressor as my eyes scanned it down.

Huh. Bit of a tinker are you?

Yeah! Just a bit. I mumbled. Looking over the Overwatch. Normally a suppressor was either screwed into the barrel, or an attachment you would hook over the edge of a muzzle break and lock in.

This one? There was no separate attachment. The entire barrel was a custom job, suppressor included. Which was crazy. Suppressors didnt last forever. So Mitch would have to replace the entire barrel pretty consistently.

Unless he figured something interesting out.

Ill talk to him, see if hes willing. But that alone doesnt square us. So lets talk.

I would be happy with a few of the shinies that were hanging around the armory, but as my eyes scanned the inside of the place, something caught my eye.

That. I demanded with a pointed finger.

Hmm? What? Kid. What would you even use one of those for? We dont even use them.

Those of the words of a man who has never created a situation to shoot a rocket launcher before. Thats the deal. I said hungrily looking over the stack of boxes that had Techtronika T40 Uragan Stamped on the side. I recognized the name. They were rocket launchers.

10 shot homing rocket launchers.

Why didnt I have a 10 shot homing Rocket Launcher!?

Saul let out a sigh and shrugged.

Fine. But if anyone ever asks you didnt get them from us.

Deal.

I didnt have any real use for a Rocket Launcher, but being able to say Hey I have a Rocket Launcher. Is all the reason I could ever need!