Chapter 106

Stats decided for now, it was time to make some calls, and get some contacts. Information was crucial if I was going to send a message to the Scavs.

 

First I sent a text to Regina.

 

*Motoko: Been a while. Looking for any information on Scav locations. I’ll do any gigs that require clearing out Scavs for free as well.*

 

I didn’t get a response back instantly so I moved on. Considering what I was going to do, I sent a text to Wakako.

 

*Motoko: Going to be reaching out to more Fixers for more Scav deets. Don’t get mad!*

 

Good. Wakako can’t get mad now! Definitely! I definitely wasn’t going to get a weird shit assignment from her the next time I reached out…

Definitely.

 

Okay time to call a choom.

 

*Hello?*

 

*Hey Jackie. It’s Motoko. You got a second?*

 

*Oh sure Hermanita, what’s up?*

 

*Scavs attacked me and my brother at home. We’re fine, but I’m not taking it sitting down. I’m hoping you might put me in touch with Padre? I’m doing gigs that involve Scav hunting for free right now, and paying for any additional Scav dens he might know about as well.*

 

*Whoa whoa, hold up now Hermanita. You got attacked at home? Shit! You should have called me. You need a safe place to crash?*

 

*Jun has TC connections, so we have a few of their thugs hanging around keeping an eye on the place. But I’m looking to just remove the problem if I can.*

 

*Ah little choom, that’s not gonna happen. There are thousands of Scavs in Night City. If not more.*

*Well I cleared up half a hundred last night, so I think I’m making a good push for it already.* I said bluntly. Jackie was cool, but I was kinda sick of everyone treating me like a teenager.

 

Okay Hiromi. I get it. Maybe having a rep does come with some side benefits too.

 

*Jesus Hermanita.. Really?*

 

*Yeah Jackie. My brother Jun was running around with his group of killers and wiping out dens too. So Night City lost a lot of scum last night. But I’m not done. They attacked me in my home Jackie. So can you help me out?*

 

*Alright. Yeah I’ll reach out to Padre. He’ll want a face to face.*

 

*That’s fine Jackie. I’m doing prep for tonight anyways.*

 

*You need another shooter? I’ll watch your back if you-*

*No. Jackie. This is for me. Thanks though. If I ever run into some trouble or something, I’ll call you. But this is me working through the many angry emotions that being attacked at home has given me.*

 

*Heh, well can’t say I don’t understand that. You’re good Motoko, Solid. Even V thinks so. But don’t go thinking that makes you invincible. Be careful. Walk away if you have to.*

 

*I will Jackie. I don’t intend to get flatlined by these scum. Listen, I need to go. Let me know what you hear from Padre?*

 

*I’ll call him right away Hermanita.*

 

*Thanks Jack.* We hung up not long after and I sighed relieved.

 

Then I got a text.

 

*Wakako: I expected you would reach out for more. Just remember who your fixer is when this is all said and done. And don’t be a fool. Be careful who you take gigs from.*

 

I couldn’t help but snort. Statement of prescience. A threat. And a warning to be careful. Wakako had such a funny attitude to everything.

 

*Motoko I won’t forget, and I’ll be careful. Thanks Wakako.*

 

—–

 

I headed out not long after.

 

Stopped for a moment as I walked through the lobby as the flirt smiled and stood up when I walked by.

 

“Motoko! Hey. Going out? Need anything? We’re here to make sure nothing happens after all!”

“I’m good, thanks.” I said blowing past him. Since I was planning on buying some ammo, I called for my Quadra and not my Kusanagi.

 

“You sure! We all know how to shoot. I’m not bad! It’s always good to have someone watching your back yeah?” Flirt offered and I did my best to ignore him as I stopped to grab some lunch from my favorite Meat stick guy.

 

The old man gave me a stilted smile, mostly because of the thug looking over my shoulder.

 

Why was he taller than me? This was bullshit. I should cut off his fucking legs for being taller than me. Idiots are always taller than me! Wasn’t he asian!? He should be short!

 

Fuck I was asian too. Dammit.

 

“Thanks. Keep the change.” I told the old man as I grabbed my food and since I was getting used to all this future tech my Quadra was already pulling out of the garage and parking on the street nearby.

 

“Really Motoko, Fujimura-sama gave us this gig to watch you and your brothers back! You should rely on us- wait!” He called out, but I was already sliding into the car.

 

Not dealing with that right now.

 

I stopped at the gun store I had originally bought the holsters for my guns at. Picked up as much ammo for my Burya as I could.

 

It wasn’t exactly a common cartridge, and even with only the four round magazines I had been running low. With a new box I was topped up for a good while.

 

“Not everyday I see a kid using a monster like that. You be careful kid, that thing can break chrome just as easily as bone if you aren’t careful.” The owner offered as he pushed the ammo box across through the slow in the bullet proof glass at me.

 

“Been using the Burya for a while now. I know how to handle them.” I reply without any heat. This guy didn’t know me. I wasn’t going to get angry at someone just worrying about a kid running around with a wrist breaker.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

 

I paid for my ammo and headed home to drop off the extra.

 

—–

 

I blew past the kids in the lobby, rushing up the stairs with my arms full of my ammo. I was going to really prepare for tonight.

 

Jun was right, getting shot sucked, and a lucky shot could hurt. So I was going to armor up.

 

The armored Section 9 suit was a good starting point. I know Night City gonks found wearing ‘too much’ armor on the streets was something to be made fun of for. What was it… Doughboy? Yeah Doughboy or Doughgirl if you were caught wearing too much protection.

 

But I didn’t care. I was here to murder a lot of people, and while going out in my normal outfit was comfy. There were times I should prepare for actual fucking war.

 

I slipped into my room, Jun still sleeping. I put on the armored pants and adjusted my boots. Slapped the longer sleeved coat over my leotard. But that was only half done. Going around the couch I grabbed my piece of equipment.

 

The Kang Tao armor had been painted to match my colors, and in less bright orange. I hadn’t done much to adjust it to my size fully yet, but it was still good enough.

 

I threw on the main chest rig. Securing it with deft hands as it tightened down more than enough to work.

 

A few minutes of adjusting my holsters to give me ease of access, and finally my Netgogs over my face to complete the outfit.

 

I checked myself out in a mirror.

 

Honestly the style might be different, but I certainly looked like the Major in some of her Black Ops outfits. It soothed me in a way. Even if I wasn’t just in my leotard and cosplay outfit. I still looked like Motoko. I still looked like me.

 

I stopped to check in on Jun. He was still asleep. Good. I would have some time to get shit done before he woke up then.

 

I headed out. Taking the stairs and walking past the thugs watching the door. Ignoring the way they startled when they saw me.

 

Just because I was armored up, and holding my Copperhead, clipped to my new vest.

 

The flirt didn’t follow me this time as I walked right past him. My Quadra was already waiting for me on the street outside the apartment.

 

I slipped in. Jackie had already pulled through. I had gotten an invite. Time to go see Padre.

 

I had received a message from Jackie telling me where to go. It was just surprising that Padre had agreed so quickly, and where I was going. I guess Jackie was pretty well known about the Heywood boys.

 

The location according to my map was a basketball court down in Heywood.

 

It didn’t take me long to drive through the city, and even less time to find the right spot. It was the graffiti that clued me in.

 

A giant picture of Padre on the wall was kind of a clue. There was a ton of it. Pictures on the walls of the building all covered in Christian iconography, or just Padre in some way. His name, his face.

 

Weird, but hey I live in a place covered in graffiti tigers so…