Chapter 78

Chapter 78

After getting confirmation from Wakako that she had the target, we both got wired the eddies as I was driving back home.

So what did you think? I asked, Jackie had been quiet for a while, mostly just smiling to himself at the reward for the gig.

Youre certainly the best overwatch Ive ever been with. You helped every step of the way. Jackie muttered quietly, obviously the big man was thinking.

Yep, and I couldnt have done it without you. Trying to haul that guy out by myself would have been a disaster. Like I said before, I need someone to work with. Im best as either outright infiltrator, or an overwatch position. So want to keep working together?

Heh. Alright Hermanita. Youve proven your point. You know how to handle yourself, even if I still think you are too young. What is that cannon you are packing by the way? When you fired that thing I thought my head was going to ring.

Ah! My Burya! I mentioned as I pulled her out of the holster and passed her over.

Thats A big gun. Jackie said, looking surprised at my girl.

Hah! I dont go anywhere without her Anymore. Never know when youll come face to face with a borg that needs something with oomph.

Never needed anything bigger than my Nue personally. Jackie said, slinging his pistol out and even twirling it on his finger.

Gonk.

But I was smiling even so.

Nue are good guns. Honestly if I came across one while on a gig I would snatch it. But my Lexington is nice, it balances my Burya. I got the big loud hand cannon for big stuff, and the automatic pistol for small fry.

Heh smart. Im surprised you can even shoot this thing. I mean, Ive heard horror stories about gonks trying it without the right chrome. I know you got your arms, but is that enough?

Honestly? No. But when I first got it, I nearly broke every bone in my arm firing it Dont tell my brother I told you that, he still doesnt know. Anyway, I figured out a trick on how to handle the recoil so I can actually use it. I sort of rolled my right wrist showing Jackie. Its all in how you lock your joints and the give in your body.

Huh. He mentioned looking at the Burya with a glimmer in his eye that I couldnt help but laugh at.

If you want to give it a try, I dont mind, but before you go buying more iron, how about some new chrome? Those optics you got could use an upgrade, what even are they? My scan says Omicron Zeta Something or other. I mentioned earning a chuckle from Jackie.

Yeah my OZ Soul 3.0 They arent the best optics on the market, but they got the best soulful look, youd be amazed at how many times these eyes got me out of trouble. Just a minute of my soulful stare works wonders, every time. With a bit of old boy politeness of course. He said, chuckling.

Gonk. I could help but laugh. Im pretty sure a pair of Kiroshi would serve you a lot more.

Eh maybe. Ill ask Vik about it sometime. He said with a shrug and I let it go, we werent really partners yet. No point in trying to push things.

Alright this is our stop. I mentioned as I pulled into the parking garage of my apartment. Sure you dont want to celebrate our gig with a meal?

Next time Hermanita. Jackie assures me as he reaches over and shakes my shoulder. Ive got plans already for tonight. Got a date. He offers laughing and I smile.

Oh? Girlfriend?

Of course! Camilla has been on my ass all week about going out on a big date, and I finally got the eddies. Have a good night Motoko. He offered as he stepped out, but I was too shocked.

Right. Jackie wasnt dating Misty.

They werent even friends yet.

Oh.

I really didnt want to get involved in getting a gonk like Jackie dating his true girl.

Eh. Itll sort itself out Right?

--

Welcome back. Jun called out as I entered the apartment.

Hey Jun. You still around?

No work until tonight. You good? Your gig go well with that gorilla?

Pfft! I burst into laughter. What is it with you an gorillas recently? You called me that too.

It just fits is all. He said as I joined him on the couch, he had been watching some TV show his feet up on the table. Letting me see the way his feet were covered in that grayish plastic that meant it was chrome, but hadnt been covered in Real Skinn.

Alright but out of the two of us only you look like a gorilla. I teased him, grabbing his attention away from the TV to give me a grumpy look.

I might look like one, but you have the personality of one. Jun said bluntly and then turned back to the TV.

That

Absolute asshole!

I punched him in the side which he ignored!

Stupid borg!

I punched him again, and again, tenderizing his side until finally he got annoyed and grabbed at me, which led both of us wrestling on the couch.

You are proving my point! He growled at me, but I ignored his words!

In the end Jun won the wrestling match and I retreated to my room to lick my wounds from once again being defeated by my stupid brother.

It wasnt fair! L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

Flopping on my bed I looked around the room, at all the stuff that I had collected.

The stuff that sort of sat on top of the old Motokos stuff.

Old Tyger Claw junk hidden under guns or equipment I had nabbed.

I even reached under the bed and patted the Uragan case. Just making sure it was still there.

What was my next goal?

Probably jump back into programming again. I thought. I still wanted to upgrade my Reboot Optics, and Weapon Glitch hacks. If I could get both working, being able to interfere with multiple people at once, I would go from only being able to disable eight or nine gonks back to back before my poor Seacho couldn't handle it, to dozens.

Of course my programming laptop was out in the living room, so I got back up off my bed and headed out.

As soon as I appeared Jun noticed and raised both hands in knife hands as if he expected me to attack him!

Gonk. I told him before ignoring his presence and grabbing my laptop.

Ah so you calmed down good. Wild gorilla- Oof. He grunted as I didnt punch him, just chucked a pillow into his face.

Stop instigating. I have work to do. I told him as if I was the adult and he was the child.

He huffed and ignored me though going back to his show.

While I dug into the program that I had found incredibly useful.

Reboot Optics.

My previous work on it made me cringe as I looked at it. I could do better, so much better.

So just like Ping I decided to just start from scratch.

Reboot Optics at its most simple was a virus. Infesting optical systems and causing them to reboot, or overload, depending on the chrome.

It worked, but it could be better.

Alright. I agreed and let go of both barrels, although I kept my hands close to my chest.

If I needed to quickdraw my Burya I could fire before they bring the barrels up.

I was sure.

Fuck. Spooky quiet bitch. The short girl hissed as she backed up but seemed to look to Mary who just shook her head and despite seething, she didnt attack.

Why were you messing with my choom?

We werent messing with her. Just making sure she understood we arent her toys.

I never said you were. Hiromi argued, obviously irritated as she growled a bit. I told you, Im just gonna be helping you guys get gigs, like a fixer. Richard is still your boss, you know the guy that agreed to work with me, and is expecting me for a conversation, that Richard?

Whatever. Just remember what we said. Mary offered and turned to walk into the apartment, I glared at them as they walked to the elevator. Considering I had control of the system I had to stop myself from stopping the elevator somewhere and just getting them stuck in there for a few hours.

Thanks Motoko. You saved me again. Hiromi offered as she leaned in against my shoulder for a moment, seemingly taking energy from the contact.

Yeah Dont come here alone again. I dont like those two, they tried to threaten me too.

I think they are Richards girls Or at least the tall one. Hiromi offered and I nodded taking in the information.

They dont like that we are girls?

Yep. Hiromi shrugged. Theyll get easier to deal with as long as we dont flirt with their guy. She said and I snorted at the very idea.

Richard was way too much of a gonk for me to be interested And Hiromi was way too good for him.

We ended up waiting for the elevator to come back down as of course the girls had gone up to the fifth floor where we were going.

The fifth floor, the level that the gang had completely commandeered for their own.

I hadnt been there yet, only seen it through windows on the outside, or from the cameras that were around, and I hadnt yet found out why they chose that floor.

But honestly it didnt matter.

It wasnt any of my business.

We rode up mostly in silence. Hiromi was psyching herself up and so I was just quiet support. There to make sure she was safe.

The door opened into a pretty standard apartment hallway. Trash was growing up the walls in places, but that was the norm for most apartments.

Waiting for us were the two girls, both looking irritated, and as we stepped off the shorter one spoke. Follow us, Richard is waiting. She grumbled, obviously annoyed at being the one to guide us.

Hiromi and I followed down the hallway. Most of the apartment doors were open, not that it mattered, holes were in the walls letting anyone see inside.

Or out.

Kids were all over the place, but so were adults. One of the apartments had an old lady in a chair watching the TV ignoring the group of kids in the apartment playing some sort of game.

Or the man that was in another hunched over a desk and working on fixing something or other.

I guess while Wakakos original brief that the gang had kicked out everyone on the floor wasnt entirely accurate.

We were led to a doorway that had been entirely busted down, the stupid bead curtains the only protection for it, and inside was

Well a throne room wasnt quite right, but a gathering place.

Richard was seated in what had once been this apartment's circular entertainment bar. But stools and tables surrounded the room, and many of them were filled.

As we approached Richard waved for us to join him in the circular couch which was empty except for him, and now us.

Well Hiromi, I stood behind her instead, just like the girls we followed had moved to stand behind Richard.

You said you wanted to talk. Hiromi offered instantly leaning back trying to pull off the badass fixer vibe.

Considering these were a bunch of teens, I think it worked.

I did. Richard confirmed, and I noticed all of a sudden that the amount of people surrounding him was a lot smaller than it had been that night on the roof. Shit hasnt been great since Morgan and V3L died. Ive had a lot of people just delta on me, and some who have stolen from us. That last part is a problem. I want to get back some of the stuff that belongs to us.

And that is where we come in? Hiromi asked bluntly, not sounding very interested.

Right, yeah. The problem isnt just that they stole from us. We can ignore some weapons going missing, Ill consider that stuff square. But someone stole something a bit bigger. A vehicle. Morgans old car. I had taken it for myself, but it went missing, and Carter klepped it. Had someone get eyes on him driving it around. Richard sounded pretty pissed at this.

Wait. Was this entire meeting because a street gang politics?

You expect a gig like that to be on our radar? Cmon. Hiromi almost mocked as went from relaxing back to glaring and sitting forward. Why would we care?

Because. Your choom, Motoko, you wanted protection. Being able to leave your stuff in the basement and trust none of us mess with it? I cant be disrespected like this and still be the leader. He says just as blunt. Unless I do something and soon, the gang will splinter even more, and then any deal you have with me, wont matter much to whoever takes over the Straight Lane Apartments after.

Sounds like blackmail. Hiromi said not smiling which was rare for the girl.

Call it whatever you want, but Im being serious. Thats what will happen if something doesnt change.

Why not go after it yourself? You have weapons, people. Hiromi pointed out sounding annoyed at the situation, probably more than I was.

Carter went and joined another gang. He said with a scowl. I dont exactly want to piss of the Claws. Richard said scowling and I was surprised to hear that.

No way this Carter guy managed to get into the TC in any respects in such a short time. Hiromi argued, being a former TC wannabe Hiromi understand exactly how difficult it was to actually join the TC.

Unless he showed up with high end weapons, an expensive car, and a group all willing to follow him. Richard said, pointing out that Hiromi was wrong.

How many weapons did he steal from you? I asked interrupting for the first time.

A crate. Some of the good stuff. Richard said, scowling and looking away, unable to meet our face.

Must be pretty embarrassing to have your gang splinter and get a bunch of stuff stolen.

Then what do you think we can do about it. Im not planning on picking a fight with the TC either. Hiromi offered, and Richard scowled.

I dont know! But thats whats going to happen, and since you went to so much effort to protect your stuff in the basement, I figured you should at least be told. Maybe you could do something about it.

Hiromi sighed looking towards me and her eyes went gold as she called me.

*What do you think?*

*I think that we either need to find a new place to set up my Netrunning gear, or we need to get this gonk his car back.*

*From the TC? They wont like that.*

*Well we have a few options I guess We could just try talking to this Carter, or the TC he is with.*

*No way some street kid gives up a preem ride Motoko.*

*Then we could always just klep it.*

*That could lead to the TC getting pissed with us, if Carter did impress enough to get in, then stealing his ride would be like stealing from the TC.*

*Sounds like we need info. We should go talk to Carter and his boss. Figure out what the situation is.* I offered and Hiromi nodded.

Richard, we will look into it, but no promises, but if we do return your car, lets talk about payment. And we dont come cheap. Hiromi said with a sinister smile.

Hiromi was going to leave this kid destitute.