Chapter 127

“Oh I am so glad to be back. I can’t wait to be home.” I moaned as we finally hit the road leading into the city. I could practically sense my bed waiting for me. And maybe some choom time. I wanted to hang out with Hiromi, and my crew. Bother Jun, maybe get into a wrestling match with him or something.

Just anything besides travel through dirty desert.

 

“Not home just yet. We need to hand off everything… If you are up to sticking around.” The way she said it! I knew it!

 

“You do want me around!”

 

“Can I change my mind?” She asked and I just laughed at her, and shook my head.

 

No. Once you become my choom, it’s forever. No take backsies.

 

“So Rogue huh? That’ll be interesting.”

“First time in the Afterlife?” She asked and I almost jerked a bit in surprise at the question.

 

“Well, yeah actually. That’s where we’re going?”

“That’s where Rogue is, so that’s where we’re going.” She said and I just nodded slowly, I guess I was finally getting my Afterlife debut.

 

I was quiet for the rest of the drive, the sand and dirt slowly shifted into urban streets.

 

It’s good to be home.

 

The drive to the Afterlife didn’t take too long. The sun was starting to droop as we pulled into the small parking lot. Panam’s truck stuck out pretty badly from the vehicles parked around, but she found a spot and then the roar of the engine quieted down.

 

“Alright let’s go.” She stepped out taking a moment to stretch from the long drive. I joined her, but mostly I was wiping at my hair watching as dust fell out of it. If only keeping Rogue waiting wasn’t that bad an idea I’d go get a shower. That and holding onto the shard Rogue wanted was just asking for trouble.

 

We walked down the familiar stairs, and I did look behind me at the wall to see if I could see the Tarot that appeared for V.

 

Nothing.

 

The bouncer was the same big guy I remembered and he scanned Panam almost casually, then glancing at me, and doing the same.

 

I could see the moment he scanned me and found me not on whatever list that Afterlife kept. Panam noticed it too. “Relax Em, she’s with me.”

 

He lifted an eyebrow but shrugged and stepped aside. “Welcome to the Afterlife kid.” The man offered almost sarcastically as he side eyed Panam.

 

“Thanks.” I offered back as I followed in after Panam. I don’t really care if he thinks me being here is weird or something. I’m not one of the Night City Crazies that wanted to die in a blaze of glory anyways.

 

I was just here for the gig. Then I would go home, take a shower and a nap. This week had kinda sucked.

 

I shook it off and looked around. I had been here before of course, in a game at least. It hadn’t changed much. The neon lights, the music playing, the different teams of edgerunners in side rooms, at the bar, or just hanging around. Some of them planning, some of them partying, and some of them dying.

 

I looked away from the side room that had a choom laid out on a couch as his team huddled around him.

 

I don’t think that one made it.

 

“Claire! My usual!” Panam called out as she stopped at the bar and the bartender threw Panam a smile before throwing together a drink.

 

I wasn’t paying attention to that though.

 

Because someone much more interesting was at the bar.

 

It was the pink jacket that caught my eye first, and then I stilled because I recognized that look.

 

Of course it wasn’t the exact same, translations from game visuals, or anime visuals to real life made things look different but… I had seen that woman’s last moments. It was impossible not to recognize her.

 

It was kinda hard to forget Sasha.

 

“Feel the rythm, of the streets.” I mumbled to myself. The first lines of the song that blasted through my brain.

 

I guess I knew my next song. Also, I guess I knew my next mission. Sasha was still alive… For now. I couldn’t help but stare as Sasha threw up three fingers at Claire who nodded, already preparing her drinks.

 

Of course that was when I got caught staring. Blue and pink eyes locked onto me. Unique custom colors. It was pretty.

 

I honestly was surprised as well,, they weren’t Kiroshi, but some other brand, still high quality. But she had caught me looking. Eyebrow quirking up, as she gave me a look.

 

Okay Motoko. This is it. Just… Meet the catgirl. Chat her up! Yeah. Use your skills in cool and brain to just chat with a woman. Easy! Sure…

 

“Hi.” I said blurting it out without being able to stop. “I’m Motoko. I like your optics!”

 

“Hello Motoko, who likes my optics. I’m Sasha.” She said in a teasing tone that made me still for a moment. Wait… That was! She thought I was trying to flirt! Abort! Abort! No wait. Can’t abort! I need to save her life!

 

So instead of saying anything I just kinda fumbled around for a moment before taking the seat next to her. “So edgerunner huh? That’s preem! What’s your specialty?” I asked after a moment of awkward fidgeting. I mean I already knew she was a netrunner. I was just hoping I could pull her into a netrunner conversation and then force her to become my friend.

 

“Is this your first time in here? Get brought in as part of a gig or something?” She asked me instead of answering, I blinked before pouting a little.

 

“I was working protection on a gig. Panam works with Rogue so here I am.” I said, making sure to enunciate that I wasn’t the protection target. “It was quiet mostly except for the Raffen, but they aren’t that bad.” I demurred.

 

“Oh? Maybe you can tell me about it some time.” She replied with smile as Claire was suddenly there with three drinks that she picked up and it was obvious Sasha was about to disappear.

 

Quick think fast!

 

“Netrunner right?” I said, I had been hoping to fall into a conversation but it would be a bit too strong to follow her back to her group.

 

She did stop as she held the drinks. “I am.”

 

“So am I. Programmer too, but it’s one of my specialties. Uh. If you ever need some programming work done.” I said and then sent her my number.

 

She looked more amused than interested, which was not what I was going for, so I had to do something.

 

“I do programming work for Yoko. She can vouch that I’m good. Feel free to reach out. I do consultations for free.” I offered and there it was.

 

The look of interest on her face. Sure I had to name drop Yoko, as proof… Should have used the Sexy Motoko Voice! Dumbass! Of course she thinks I was being cute sounding like a teenager.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

 

Dummy! Idiot!

 

“Maybe I’ll give you a call sometime for that… Consult.” Then she walked away.

 

But the whole time I was a little distracted because I had never heard someone say consult and make it sound…

 

“Motoko!” Panam called out, pulling me away from my staring at the woman.

 

“Yeah I’m coming.” I tore my eyes away from Sasha and followed Panam towards an indented couch space.

 

One that had a certain fixer.

 

Panam was stopped at the entrance, a big guy… I can’t remember his name. He had a weird haircut and he was Rogues Bodyguard.

 

He was holding out a hand to Panam, stopping her from entering as I walked up, his optics, a set that I didn’t recognize but were completely inhuman, were watching both of us for any trouble.

 

I just kept my hands away from my guns, and kept it casual. He wasn’t going to start anything without trouble coming his way first.

 

“C’mon Squama, I don’t have time for this.”

“Da boss is busy.”

 

“We were just waiting at the bar, I know she knows we are here! Tell her to stop playing this corpo shit.” Panam snapped at him, but calmed herself a moment after with a deep breath, and a sip of her whiskey.

“Wait.” He replied simply and Panam tsked at him but did just that, but never stopped glaring at the booth that we could see a bit of Rogue sticking out. Looks like she was going to wait. I just ignored her impatience and waited calmly.

 

Either Rogue really was busy and so we had to wait, or she was doing some powerplay on Panam, and… We would have to wait.

 

No point in getting irritated about it.

 

Finally a few minutes later, Rogue called out. “Let them in.”

 

Squama I guess? Stepped aside and let the two of us enter the little booth area Rogue kept for herself, although the big guy moved behind her watching over us for any threat.

 

“Panam.” Rogue greeted casually the older woman uncaring about Panam’s glare.

 

“Rogue.”

 

“Alright kid stop glaring, I was on an important call. Shard.” She demanded and Panam glared, but pulled the shard out of her neck and handed it over. Rogue pushed it into a data reader and nodded and then her eyes went blue.

 

A moment later Panam perked up and nodded. “The other part?”

“Like I said, you do this gig, I’ll put you to work and take care of the rest.” Rogue answered instantly. Then she looked at me. “Interesting choice, bringing a kid along. Motoko Kusanagi.”

 

“Rogue.” I greeted back. Her resting bitch face might have had more effect on me, if I didn’t already know all about her. And wasn’t that worried.

 

“I don’t usually recommend kids on gigs I send out Panam.”

Panam gave Rogue a look, and so did I. I did appreciate that the look Panam was sending the older woman screamed stop fucking around.

 

Mine was just an eyebrow lift. Waiting for her to get on with it.

 

If she knew my name, no way she didn’t know at least a little about what I had been getting up to.

 

Rogue just scoffed and threw a hand at the two of us. “Yeah yeah, don’t get so upset. I’ve heard your name before.” She offered, but then she simply turned to Panam with a more serious look. “Good work. You were a little late, but I heard about the problems with the route. I’ll be in touch in a few days with more work. Get settled in.” Rogue offered and then she basically just waved her hand at us.

 

Telling us to get lost.