Ghost in the City

Chapter 160

I guess its okay. I mumbled, Ichi had led me outside, into his little backyard. It had actually been a surprise that Ichi lived out in Arroyo, because I had always thought he had rented near the rest of us, but apparently this was his Grandmother's home.

It even had a little garage outback, with dirt cutting through the grass leading through a side gate.

He quickly opened it up, and showed his van.

His van that still had my Minotaur in it.

Umm So do you need it for something?

Not the Minotaur itself. Im going to grab the control program, and see what its made of. I explained as I hefted myself up into the van, noticing the control crown and plopping it on my head.

Oh, great. So is that new chrome? He asked suddenly and I threw him a smile as I showed off my neck.

Sure is! New Neural Link, and Sandy.

Whoa. Sandevistan? Whatd you get?

Just a Dynalar. I was going to wait on chipping one until I had the perfect one, but Jun reminded me I should be looking at the short term as much as the long term.

Thats preem Motoko. Whats it like?

I dont know! I laughed at the reveal. Im not allowed to turn it on yet, docs orders. Install is still fresh.

Oh, tell me about it once you use it.

Why? Thinking about one yourself?

Speedware is useful for drivers. He answered in turn before humming. Do you need me? I got work.

Just give me one minute, and Ill get out of here. I looked at Ichi who looked relieved. The SCSM job? I asked for clarification as I worked.

Yeah, I kinda like it, I guess. Its simple enough, lets me drive around and I dont get shot at. At least not yet.

That sounds nice. Make sure you bring your gun though. You never know when youll need to shoot back.

Obviously. He agreed and seemed to relax. Ichi had been kinda high strung this morning. I wonder if he just didnt process well in the mornings? Needed a cup of coffee or something first?

While I was talking to him, I was plugged into the control crown for the Minotaur, pulling the data, downloading all of it, into a set of shards I had plugged into my new chip slots.

I was downloading into multiple shards at once a barrage of data flowing into me much faster than my old system could have done. The new neural link was definitely an upgrade even at a base level from what I used to own. It was very very cool.

Okay all done. Before I leave, what security do you have for the garage?

Uh A lock? He answered and I nodded, reaching into my back pouches and pulling out a TachiCama.

Here, lets set it up somewhere it can see your garage, just remember to charge the battery once a week. Set a reminder or something okay? I offered as I started examining the back porch on his home to find a place to hook it in.

Uh. Sure. I can do that Thanks Motoko.

No problem. I muttered as I found a good hidden place in the rafters where it could see the garage while being mostly hidden. Once its cute little feet were clamped on I turned to Ichi who was still sort of nervously moving from foot to foot.

Okay fine.

I reached out and flicked his forehead suddenly.

Ow! Motoko!

Thats for totally stealing my cool Minotaur, that I totally wanted to use myself. Also- I interrupted myself, walked over and slapped him on the back. Good job finding something you can do to be extra useful. There. That should solve the problem with his nervousness. Seriously it was like he expected me to attack him for stealing my Minotaur or something.

Alright Im out! Have fun at work! I called out, waving an arm over my head as I headed out.

Uhh.

--

I was back home looking over the program for juicy bits when I got a message from Hiromi. Checking it I nodded.

Payday. Enough of the equipment from the gig had been sold off, Hiromi sent out the first quarter Wait no, there were six of us. The first sixth of the payday.

It was pretty juicy and I nodded pleased before refocusing on my program. I was still using my chrome as little as possible so I was just looking over the programming as I displayed it on my laptop.

But suddenly I had a call come in.

*Ringing.*

Rebecca? Preem! I quickly accepted before the second ring.

*Hey choom.*

*What the fuck?*

*Uh I dont know?* I asked in turn and had a moment of quiet before Rebecca responded again.

*I just got the pay from your choom for the gig. What the fuck?* She repeated almost breathlessly.

*Oh! Now I get it! Relax,thats not the full payment! Hiromi hasnt sold off everything yet, but she sold enough of the loot to give us part of it.*

*Yeah I know! I read her message, but what the fuck! Thats more eddies than Ive ever earned before from a gig! By a lot! So what the fuck!?*

*Thats just a sixth of what we earned from selling the loot. Why? I don-*

*A sixth This is a sixth!?*

*Uh yeah? We split the eddies evenly between everyone I told you that remember?*

*I thought you meant it was a split of the percentage!*

The line went quiet for a while and I was almost wondering if she had hung up when a quiet voice that I was pretty sure I wasnt supposed to catch spoke.

*These kids are fucking nuts.* Then she spoke up clearly again. *Okay seriously, is this like a first time bonus or something? How do you do anything?*

*No? We always just split the eddies evenly. I thought it was a good idea. That way everyone knows the more we make the more they make. I mean the gigs we do, everyone has some danger, so its hazard pay.*

*Hazard pay Thats hilarious choom.* She said and then actually broke into cackles. *Okay okay, seriously though. How do you pay for anything!? Ripper costs? Tech prep. Ammo?*

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*Well Ammo we just buy for ourselves? Ripper costs havent really come up, but we have a great ripper in Vik and he takes care of us Tech I just buy that myself. Its one of the things I take care of in the team.*

*Bribes for information? I mean, I want to ask about a bunch of other stuff too, but hell you guys seriously just split the fucking loot Thats fucking crazy.*

*Um I usually do the information myself, so its free other than time.*

*Netrunner Thats right. Fuck.. Wait. Sasha never does that for us! That bitch!* Rebecca cursed a bit and I actually laughed at her foul language. *Fuck youre weird. Fucking hell. Alright fine. When is the next gig? Eddies like this are pretty nova.*

*No idea. One of the downsides to the way we operate, we have to hunt our targets ourselves. I mean, sure I could probably talk to Wakako Maybe Rogue too? Im not sure what the Rogue situation is yet, she said she might offer me gigs, but we havent talked since Anyway! We find our targets and clear them out. So it can be a little bit. One of the reasons the pay is so good.*

* No Fixer pay? Well fuck But a good fuck. Even if its not all the time, a payday like that aint something I regret. Damn choom. Just damn.*

*We still need to get your armor sorted out as well.* I reminded her, and she went quiet again.

*You really are a good kid huh? Heart of gold and all that.*

*No Im not! Im a badass merc that kills people for money!*

*And worries about her allies acting like a mother hen! Its cute as shit. Youre a funny one Motoko Hey listen, change of topic a bit. You doing anything right now?*

*No! Whats up? Want to hang out choom?*

*Something like that. I got a call from my brother. Ive been kept away from their safehouse until now, but things are cooling off, and my bro wants me to bring some shit. So you want to come see Sasha? I know you were worried about her.*

*Yeah! Yeah I really do! Is that Is that okay? Will Maine even allow that?*

*Ill message him, itll be fine. I vouch for you. Not like you are going to tell Biotechnica where shes hiding out. Meet up at my place? A ride would save some time.*

I paused for a second before cracking into a smile.

*Is the main reason you are asking me to come with, because you dont want to haul whatever your brother asked you to bring on the N-Cart?*

*I dont know what you are talking about.* She said airly.

Yep, that was 100% it.

I laughed at her making sure it went over the agent. *Sure choom, send me the address?*

*Already done.*

I nodded, it was indeed. And I rose up and stretched. Time to check on Sasha.

--

Whoa choom. New chrome?

Yeah I picked up a Sandy, but I needed an upgrade to my Neural link. I confirmed as Rebecca flopped into my passenger seat a large duffel bag full of stuff plopped onto her lap.

Head towards Arroyo, Ill guide you there. They dont want any digital info on where it is. She said suddenly and I nodded as I set off. Thats preem. You doing okay?

Yeah, Vik is amazing, and Im not allowed to use the Sandy or anything yet. Its still settling in.

Heh, youre so funny. You got this bad ass killer vibe one second, and the next youre all rule abiding the next. I cant quite pin you down.

A lot of rules are there to keep everyone safe. I said pointedly looking at her complete lack of seatbelt.

Pfft. Who needs a seatbelt? Those things just-Whoa! I of course was speeding up unnoticed, and when she refused I just slammed the brakes.

Thats not funny. She told me, looking up from the passenger footwell glaring up at me.

I just smiled.

I beg to differ.

Im not putting on the seatbelt.

Im not promising you wont go flying a few more times through the ride. I retorted back instantly, and she glared, and to my pleasure regained her seat and put on her seatbelt.

I didnt tease her any further as she was sending me glares, instead I threw on the radio and just settled in to drive all the way from Watson down to Arroyo.

Get off at MLK Were going into Rancho Coronado. She added as we hit Arroyo and I nodded. I knew the place. The pink flamingos were something that was hard for me to forget. Delemains offshoot that hated them as it drove around the suburbs had made me laugh while playing the game.

Maybe Id run one over in memory of that fragment.

I pulled off at MLK Blvd and down into the suburbs. Going around a bit, following Rebeccas directions that got us lost twice, as we tried to figure out where the address was, before finally finding it.

A house that looked like any of the houses in the area. There was a whole bunch of trash built up around the edges of the fence, hiding what was inside, and as we pulled in, I noticed that despite being a run down sort of place, it did have a few much newer looking security cameras hidden in places.

This is it? Rebecca whispered, looking a little confused, but I think I understood.

This is the address right? I said as I turned off the engine and stepped out, but before I got far A familiar face poked out through the front door and then relaxed, opening the door the rest of the way, showing Dorio was holding an Overture.

There you are Becca, and I see you brought a choom. Dorio greeted, as Rebecca walked up with her arms behind her head.

Yep, I needed a ride, plus I figured Sasha wouldnt mind a distraction. She offered and Dorio just sighed before letting us in. Shutting and then locking the door behind us.

Hey, listen kid. This isnt some place we want shared around. So-

Its a safehouse, where Sasha is lying low after the Biotechnica gig. Dont worry. I wont tell anyone. I assured the larger woman who blinked at me in concern before looking to Rebecca.

Dont look at me, I didnt tell her! Rebecca denied, but I just ignored that because stepping up out of the basement was the girl in question.

Sasha had looked better.

Instantly I could tell what had happened. One of her arms, the left one from the middle of her bicep down was all chrome now. New chrome.

New enough she hadnt even gotten Real Skinn, with red irritated skin surrounding where the chrome met flesh.

Hey Sasha. I greeted gently, and I watched as the woman actually jumped a little in surprise. She obviously hadnt noticed there were visitors.

She looked at me with wide surprised eyes for a moment before noticing Rebecca, and then she blinked and she smirked.

Hey Kitten. Hows my little Kohai doing? She called out, faking a much happier attitude than she had a moment before.

Good. I said instead of what I wanted to say which was Better than you.

Becca. Maine rumbled echoing through the house from the living room. Maine was sitting on a couch making it look more like a single person reclined. Why did you bring the kid?

What was I supposed to walk here? Rebecca asked and then scoffed. Besides, Motoko is Sashas choom. She was even worried sick when I told her that Sasha was hiding out.

This isnt a place where I rolled out the fucking welcome mat. Maine rumbled and sensing some issue I decided to step in.

Hey, I know me showing up wasnt on the books. Sorry about that. Honest, this is your safe house so the more people that know about it the less safe it actually is. I totally get the frustration. But I mean Isnt it less conspicuous if I drive Becca here, instead of making her walk?

Maine looked to me, and the man who was easily four of me in size didnt look like he agreed.

Easy Mainey! We needed to bring in Rebecca to get some stuff, and Motoko only makes that easier yeah? Sasha intervened, and the big man held his glare for a few moments before sighing.

Just dont tell anyone. He demanded finger pointing at me.

I wont. Promise. I added which didnt seem to add much to Maine's confidence.

There you are! Did you bring it? Pilar demanded coming down from the upstairs practically leaping down the stairs as he charged at Rebecca.

Ugh get off me you fucking gonk. She snapped, but did reach over to the duffel bag and slide open the zipper, letting Pilar laugh insanely as he reached in and came out holding a toolkit.

My babies! He cried out and then disappeared back up the stairs, and Rebecca just rolled her eyes at his actions.

I kept my mouth shut despite my desire to yell at Pilar for being so rude. If Jun treated me like that I would have kicked his ass.

Pilar hadnt said anything to Rebecca after getting his tools.

But I shook it off and instead looked to Sasha. Howre you holding up?

What? Im fine! She denied, but I mean that was obviously a lie. But then she perked up and sent me a smile. But Ive been super duper bored! So hey! Distraction! She called out as she grabbed my arm and started tugging me along, her new arm was weaker than her old one only gently pulling as I let her lead me away.

Ah, Sasha! Hey Rebecca-

Dont worry choom. I knew Whiskers would do this. Ill catch up, wanna talk to Maine. Rebecca responded, throwing the duffel bag onto the kitchen table clearing off tons of empty food boxes.

Yeah! Cmon! Sasha demanded and I followed letting her pull me downstairs into a small barely there netrunner setup.

Youve been out on the net?

Only a little! She said and I frowned, because if I had Biotechnica after me, I wouldnt be going anywhere near the net.

Oh dont worry. She answered as if reading my mind. Ive already reached out to an old contact at Biotechnica. The company barely cares about what I did. They sent out a kill team, and if they find me, theyll kill me, but they arent looking real hard. Give it a month, and that order will be removed from their system after a small update goes through. She said with a shrug, and I was reminded that despite Sashas personality this was a woman that was an elite netrunner.

Will they really just let it go?

They will. She said her voice going from sugary sweet to dark and angry. They barely even noticed Biotechnica stock didnt even dip. She said and I frowned at that. I did remember that the Securicine reveal hadnt done much damage to the company, but nothing?

Nothing?

Barely anything. They made a public apology, and fired one of the managers in charge, for damage control but Its Biotechnica. They are untouchable as long as theyre producing food, medicine, and Chooh2. She said as she flopped into a chair in front of a laptop and taped fingers to an almost manic anxious beat.

Food, Medicine, and Fuel. Biotechnica were the creators of Chooh2, as long as the world relied on it for fuel

Yeah I guess I can figure out what happened. Everyone in the know, just ignored the securicine update, no government wanted to make waves. It was like the middle east and oil. The money just kept flowing in, and no matter what nonsense they got up to, as long as it kept going, they were untouchable.

That stinks.

Its bullshit. She agreed darkly and then she turned and her face turned into a smirk. So little Kohai! Want to keep your Senpai Sasha-chan company?

Um Sure?