Chapter 157

Chapter 157

This room was one I definitely remembered from the game. This was the Scavs rec room, the place they hung out. It also had crates of weapons and other supplies so they were ready for us here.

The lights from Ping gave us numbers, and locations so I didnt have to call it out.

Six guys.

*Going to frag again. Rebecca you too.* I called as I found a position to post up before. Running into the room. Rebecca and I both stood next to one of the metal security blinds, and once she was ready with Jun and Malcolm both holding the entrance. I hacked the blinds and forced them open.

We both tossed. I made sure to toss my grenade in a different direction from Rebecca towards a different group of people.

Our synergy wasnt great. I hadnt thought to have us call out which group to target.

Despite my skill this was a new experience for me, just like it was for most of Section 9. We would have to do some team training soon.

The side thoughts were blown away with the explosions of two grenades, and the screams of agony from dying gonks.

Jun and Malcolm both charged. Malcolm I noticed as I turned to follow was hugging directly behind Jun. Using him as cover and rapid firing into groups that Jun wasnt focused on.

Good work!

Rebecca and I came around a second later, and her smile was already stretching across her face as she let loose.

The Ajax roared and she caught two in a spray of bullets that werent fast enough to hide behind some crates in the middle of the room they were using as cover.

It wouldnt work against me either.

I leapt straight up, my head nearly touching the ceiling as I raised my copperhead and just fired into them from above. More Scavs were killed, and I think our assault finally started breaking any hope the scavs had of winning. They started running, not many of them got far.

Not with everyone shooting into their fleeing backs.

Rebecca had climbed up on top of a crate and was laughing hysterically as she went full auto down the tunnel the Scavs were trying to flee down.

I just chased after them while firing. The copperhead tight to my shoulder as I raced forward firing at the fleeing gonks.

One dropped, I took a second to lower the barrel and confirm the kill by blowing out the back of his head. Then moved on. I could hear Rebecca struggling down from the crate behind me as Jun continued to beat a poor Scav into a pulp.

Even without looking I knew he was already dead.

*Jun focus up!*

But that was all the attention I was willing to give.

I turned the corner down the hall, and some of the scavs had been smart enough to turn to try and shoot me.

I juked and my Copperhead jerked in my grip as the silent rounds started tearing out of the barrel.

I felt a round wing me, and then another got me in the chest, but I was wearing armor.

They werent.

A second later the hallway was clear. None of them had escaped.

Motoko!

*Jun. Comms you gonk!* I yelled at him over the call and he slowed to a stop and seemed to regain some of his humanity as he saw me perfectly fine and glaring at him Oh wait I was wearing the tech gogs with my helmet. He couldnt see me glaring.

*Right Right. You okay?*

*Im fine. Check! Any injuries?*

*Nope Im fine.*

*Didnt get touched.* Malcolm and Rebecca both confirmed and then I looked at my gonk brother.nôvel binz was the first platform to present this chapter.

*Do I need to pull you out?*

*Its just some scratches.* He denied.

Yeah the bullet hole in his arm was not a scratch.

But I noticed the old Kang Tao armor had actually caught a few rounds for him. Even if he had done everything he could to show off his plastic abs.

I rolled my eyes and tossed him a roll of bandages.

*Cover those.*

*Im fine.* He tried to argue and I just cut him off.

*Do it or leave.*

He grumbled and after a minute did as he was told.

*Everyone gather back up. Lets finish clearing this place. We arent done.*

*Awesome!* Rebecca cheered out as she ran down the hall. I quirked an eyebrow.

She now had a Saratoga strapped to her back.

*What?*

*Nothing.* I said, chuckling quietly as I focused up. We werent done.

---

Ichinose

To my amusement Jun had been roped in by Hiromi, and she was ordering him around as he lifted heavy stuff. While Malcolm and Ichi started going through rooms gathering up interesting pieces. Rebecca had also wanted to help, but her stature had gotten in the way and so she had finally given up and was heading up to the surface.

I was on the second floor of the broken down building looking over the power plants lot when she finally came up and then headed up to where I was hiding out.

Youre up here right? She asked as she came up and I reached up over my head, revealing my hiding place between some boxes cutting me entirely off from sight.

Umm what are you doing? She asked as she walked over and climbed up onto the boxes to look down on me.

Overwatch!

Yeah I get that, but why are you hiding?

Because if I see anyone coming in and they dont see me, that gives me a tactical advantage.

Right Right. She answered and then to my surprise she shimmied over the box and landed in my little hidey hole and rested against the box. That was Pretty crazy.

One of the biggest raids weve done for sure. Not the biggest, but one of them. Definitely the first one with our new equipment. I offered, looking her over, happy to see she hadnt taken any wounds. I had already checked over my armor poking fingers into little holes in the chest rig, and some random shrapnel I had picked up from ricochets somewhere.

I wanted to say thanks. She finally admitted after a minute of quiet. You didnt treat me like some random extra you were just bringing along, or give me some random gonk work. You just gave me a gun and expected me to use it.

Well yeah? You work with Maine and Sasha right?

Sometimes. She said weakly, and that sometimes sounded more like. Never. Or not in the way she wanted.

Well Section 9 is always looking to hire good shooters. Malcolm is shaping up well to be my backup but we could use another solid gun. Not saying you have to stop working with Maine or anything! I just mean if you-

Yeah.. Listen. Motoko, you got something going here, thats kinda wild. Not the sort of shit I expected from a teenager, even one that can walk into the Afterlife, but I get why Rogue has her eye on you now. You dont You keep bringing up Maine, and Maine is great. He has army training, and is an absolute beast, but he doesnt The planning you did? Thats way beyond his normal prep. You passed out equipment that blows away anything Maine and crew use. My brother is Maine's Techie. The gonk that makes sure they have whatever random tool they need, but he certainly doesnt have a Minotaur.

Thats pretty recent, and sort of a surprise to us too.

Yeah but Maine wouldnt have kept it, if he got one. It would have just been sold off. Rebecca added and then seemed to struggle with herself. Im not good at this kind of shit. Im not saying it right Maine cares for his crew, hes protective yeah, but he doesnt force them into high end armor. Doesnt get Minotaurs for the non-shooters to be able to do something. Thats not normal. Like at all. Its crazy I like that kind of crazy.

I looked at Rebeccas red eyes and I understood. Itll take a bit for us to get a fresh set of armor. Ill talk to Hiromi, we might be able to buy a set fresh. A bit of time on top of that, the ECM emitters will take some time to source again, but thats not a huge issue. So give me some time, and the armor will be done.

Armor?

Your armor. Cant continue to work with us without armor. I added and Rebecca seemed sort of shocked at how casually I had just accepted her into the crew.

That sounds expensive.

Nah, Section 9 will handle the expenses. I assured her she wouldnt have to pay for it, and that did something, because a second later she started laughing.

Youre really fucking weird!

Thanks?

--

Despite expecting some massive Scav response. Nothing happened. Instead Rebecca and I switched off on overwatch to make sure nothing continued to happen, while Section 9 went to work.

Well besides Jun, One of the times he had come up I noticed he was still bleeding. I had ordered him to go to a ripper and get checked up, ignoring any and all of his arguments about it.

Then to my surprise as I helped haul some heavy crates up the stairs, Ichi wasnt there and his van was gone, including the Minotaur.

Wheres Ichi?

He went to get us more transport space. Hiromi said. She was going through all the crates seemingly making lists of all the crap we were taking out.

I shrugged, figuring he would just come back with his normal truck empty, but instead an hour later he came pulling into the lot with the massive Behemoth.

Huh. You didnt sell it? I asked Hiromi absolutely surprised to see that thing again.

I set up a rental plan as part of an agreement with a SCSM stocking service. Apparently having something armored like the Behemoth heavily decreases injuries. I called it back in before we left. I had a feeling we would need all the space we could fit. Hiromi said looking pleased with herself as Ichi came out of the cab with a proud look as well.

Youve been practicing. I called out to Ichi and he smiled.

I have! Hiromi has had me working with a SCSM company. They use the truck and in exchange dont have to worry about getting shot at as much.

I instantly looked at Hiromi who smiled even more slyly. I might have also rented out Ichi.

You! I called out before bursting into laughter. You sneaky corpo! I yelled out and chased at her.

Hehehe! She giggled back flashing a bright smile as she escaped my grabbing hands.

Well you certainly drive it like youve got some experience now. I called out as I gave up on the chase.

Yeah it took a while. Ichi agreed, then he looked over all the crates already stacking up. Ill lower the ramp, lets start getting stocked up.

I nodded in agreement, and soon we were working together hauling up the heavy crates into the truck.

Im still surprised you didnt sell it. Arent these things difficult to get a hold of.

Yeah. Militech only sells it to big corps, or governments. Hiromi agreed, nodding a moment later had her smile going sly. Which is why I decided that Section 9 should keep it for ourselves. Something like this isnt a vehicle we could just buy again later. Armored transports arent easy to get.

Well I cant complain. I shrugged. I mean, I hadnt even noticed that Hiromi hadnt sold it

Was that another sign I was bad with money, or a hint that I had way too much money and should spend it?

Both. Probably both.

I traded out loading the truck with Rebecca every once in a while giving me a break to rest and watch over the lot, while she helped out.

And slowly we cleared out the entire place.

At least anything we actually wanted to take. Then long into the night. Ichi piled into the cab of the Behemoth, and we all slipped away into the night. Rebecca once more joined me in the Quadra as we followed along behind the truck.