Chapter 176

Chapter 176

I cant believe this was happening.

The Caliburn is the best! Malcolm argued with this random gonk at the diner pointing at him with a french fry like he was going to stab him,

Bull shit. Its overpriced, over hyped garbage. Also its digital acceleration is fucking broken!

The fuck it is! It drives perfectly!

Its complete dogshit, and you would know if you werent some gonk fuck street kid Rayfield fuckboy that has never been in a Caliburn.

Bitch I own one! Malcolm roared standing up and I just put my head in my hands.

I just wanted lunch. I was even paying. So why couldnt Malcolm just leave the stupid looking guy at the diners bar talking shit about the Rayfield commercial alone?

What is your last name Arasaka or something? Bullshit lying little punk!

Oh Ill fucking prove it choom, Ill have you apologize and grovel to the best car in Night City when it arrives! He called out, I could already see his eyes having flashed to call his Caliburn here.

Dammit Malcolm, I didnt want to stay here all afternoon. I had

Okay I didnt have anything else to do, its not like I had a normal job, but the point stands!

In the end I just flopped my head onto the table as I waited for the car to show up, and did my best to ignore the fact that Malcolm and this random gonk would not stop fucking arguing about it.

Gearheads are the most obtuse of all super fans I decided.

Besides everyone knows the Quadra was the best.

The arguing continued and I was sure both of these idiots would have been thrown out if we werent the only people in the diner at the moment.

Then about twenty minutes later Malcolms Rayfield pulled into the lot.

What the fuck. The guy said as he had been looking out the window behind Malcolm and saw it arrive.

Hah! Get ready to weep choom, because I do own a Caliburn! Malcolm crowed out his Victory as he sauntered out the door and walked up to the car. The door opened at his approach.

No fucking way.

Way. I answered as I rose up and threw some eddies at the owner for the food. I walked out and Malcolm was leaning up against the car with a cocky grin staring at the windows of the diner.

Malcolm, your ego is showing. I muttered as I walked past him to my Quadra. Right next to the rather modded out Quadra Sport R-7.

I had a feeling I knew the other guy's choice in vehicles.

Alright choom. Alright. You win on this one. Youre daddy certainly has a lot of eddies. The other guy calls out, and that just sets Malcolm off.

Fuck you! This is my car you gonk bitch!

Yeah, I doubt it kid. How about we prove it. A nice little race, my R-7 and your Rayfield, you know how to drive that thing dont you?

Course I do! Malcolm said knowing damn well that he didnt. I sighed as the two boys got into an argument that led to me sitting in the Rayfield next to Malcolm as he squeezed the steering wheel tightly. The R-7 was beside us, engine rumbling as we waited for the light to change.

I turned on launch control. Im gonna blow this gonk fucker away. Malcolm muttered and I hummed a bit.

I had a feeling Malcolm was about to get left in the dust.

Just dont risk your car for a race that doesnt matter.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Itll be fine Motoko! Just trust me!

I very specifically tugged on the seatbelt reminding him I was wearing it.

Fuck off. He grumbled, but then he focused up.

The lights were changing, The R-7 rumbled its engine and I instantly knew what was about to happen.

The Rayfields launch control relied on the engine being idle before it activated.

Instantly Malcolm, rumbled his engine back, The Turbo charged V10 of the Caliburn roared up, and the launch control activated trying to launch the car at the same time as the brake was held down, then the light changed. The R-7 was gone, burning rubber off the street line, as Malcolms Caliburn sputtered forward and nearly stalled out, before he managed to adjust it and take off.

No no no no! He howled as he roared after, but the R-7 was modded and it was obvious that Malcolm wouldnt catch up before they hit the next light.

That Was both very smart, and an asshole move. I mentioned as I considered how much car knowledge it took to do that kind of shit.

I dont want to hear it! Malcolm snapped as he continued trying to catch up, but by the time we got anywhere near the R-7 it was already slowing down after the next light and pulling over. Then Malcolm pulled in behind the R-7, and jumped out

What the fuck! He yelled at the guy that was also, stepping out, with a cocky grin.

What? You got smoked kid. Better learn to use Daddys car before trying to race it.

You fucking asshole!

Hey Malcolm, chill. I demanded as I hurried around the car and grabbed him. Malcolm was seething, looking like he was going to throw fists over this.

I looked away and at the rest of the group. If he wanted to scan before introductions that was fine.

The next woman was wild.

A tattered T-shirt showed her bra at multiple points. The image of shark teeth on the front of the shirt looked unique. Maybe something she had made herself? Her jacket was a pretty standard Street Samurai coat, the sort of thing game V always wore, but the big case next to her was definitely her weapon.

The last was another guy. TC? He reminded me of it. Even had a Katana at his hip. His hair reminded me of Juns, only it wasnt fire, and instead some electronic effect. He gave me a once over and didnt say anything, nor did he give off any emotion. Simply observing.

Alright. This is Motoko. Shes an infiltrator. Rogue approved so shes on the team for the gig. Introduce yourself. Bishop seemed to order as he looked over the grouping.

Samuel Perry. The corpo introduced himself, and then he looked to Bishop. Are you sure? Shes young.

Shes also here. Bishop waved a hand as if it didnt matter. Rogue vouches for her. Thats that.

Very well. Im the one that handles diplomacy and my former employment with Militech left me with plenty of contacts. He introduced himself with a casual air, but his eyes were sharp, always staring at me.

Call me Mira. Im the sharpshooter. She said, all teeth, which I then noticed were shark teeth.

Bit on the nose, but okay.

Hakase. The Street Samurai introduced but then an echoing void came up after. Luckily Bishop spoke up.

He doesnt talk much, but hes damn good with that blade.

I can tell. I answered, giving the man a look over. Im Motoko. Im an infiltrator, but Im also a solo, and Netrunner. I look forward to working with you.

Jeeze, where did you find this kid? Mira called out but I wasnt really bothered. Its hard to be insulted by someone you dont know, and dont care what their opinion of you is.

Right, lets get down to it. Two days ago a Kang Tao scientist jumped ship. He is trying to sell some info for protection to the corps, obviously Kang Tao isnt letting this go, but that isnt our concern. Rogue wants the guy gathered up, the info is Rogues to sell as far as shes concerned. Bishop spoke with a confident cadence, and his crew all nodded in understanding.

No confusion, no hesitation. They had worked together for a long time then.

The problem comes in the pick up. The guy is hiding out in a high end apartment building here in City Central. Normally not an issue, but our target wasn't entirely stupid. He hired some animals for protection.

Bishop handed over a shard, first to Samuel, the corp who plugged it in looked it over for a few minutes and nodded, frowning a bit. Then to Mira who barely glanced at the shard before tossing it to Hakase.

He looked it over for a while before handing it to me.

Inside I understood. It was details about the building, the target, and some information about the animals protecting him, and why this was a problem.

Squad of twenty animals had locked down the top floor of this apartment building. From a tiny clip of camera footage that was on it, it showed the animals carrying LMGs checking the elevator every time it stopped on that floor.

The place was locked down, and somehow we had to extract the guy in charge.

So can you get to the security system? Well need a distraction while we get up in the elevator. Bishop asked and I nodded idly as I looked through things.

You plan on going in guns blazing? I asked, and the team nodded confidently. Then I can definitely get you onto the top floor, can probably blind and disable the elevator guards as well remotely.

You werent kidding about being a netrunner huh? Mira asked, and I shook my head.

No, Im pretty good. Not elite tier, but good. Only issue is if the security is protected by a netrunner as well. I dont see any information if the Animals brought one, or if the hotel has one on site.

We dont know, so we go in with a blank spot. Will that stop you from infiltrating and getting us up there?

No. I answered back. I could do that even if there was a security runner, but something caught my eye.

Hang on. Why dont we skip the elevator entirely.

Im not walking up twenty stories. Mira denied instantly and I smiled as I shook my head.

Not what I mean. North east side of the building, theres some heating units sticking out, should be an easy climb up to the top floor. Quieter than using the elevator.

Let me see. Bishop called, and I popped out the shard and handed it back over. He slotted it and started examining the data, going over it much longer than the first time.

Then slowly he nodded.

Could work. Would leave the initial arrival a lot less dicey.

Aww I like Dicey. Mira mocked, and then Samuel was handed the shard to look as Bishop popped it out.

Doable I suppose. Doesnt really change much. We still need the security opened so we can use the elevator.

The elevator, is a E6-551. Its got a backdoor by default. Ill be able to unlock the elevator even without touching security. Although Ill still need to infiltrate, unless you want NCPD arriving at the sound of gunfire.

We dont. Bishop confirmed.

Then Ill head in and shut down the silent alarms as planned, get you elevator access. Might be able to join you if you like? I offered, but Bishop shook his head.

Better to stay with the security and pull netrunner shit from there.

I considered arguing, but shrugged. Sure. Bishops group was his group, and I was intruding. Better not to push it.

With that settled the group started moving.