Chapter 128

Instead of huffing the drugs I was handed, I just took a Maxdoc, and then I did the smart thing and drove to Viks. I was already scheduled for a checkup for my chrome. I had been out of the city on the road for over a week after all.

 

But I stopped to see Misty first. Walking into her shop, and taking a moment to enjoy the soft sounds of her space.

 

“Motoko!”

 

“Hey Misty!” I called out in return as the blonde smiled at seeing me. Stepping away from the counter to come throw a hug around my shoulders, of course that was a mistake.

 

“Motoko it’s good to-Oh!” She chirped out pulling away.

 

“Sorry sorry I just finished exercising. I’m all sweaty.” I apologized and she just laughed but didn’t go for another hug.

 

“How are you?”

 

“I’m good! I just got back into the city. I went up to Seattle on a gig!”

 

“Oh! I always thought about traveling to Seattle, but with my shop.” She waved at her place and I nodded.

 

“Honestly? It was kinda weird. I actually like Night City more.” I admit in a horrified whisper that has Misty chuckling lightly.

 

“Well welcome home then. Here to see Vik?”

“Yeah. I should get checked out and stuff. I want to make sure I don’t have dust anywhere that I can’t get to.” She nodded at that and sent me off with a wave.

 

Quickly jumping down the stairs I found Vik wasn’t alone.

 

“Jackie!” I called out smiling at the big man that was being run through a bit of boxing work by Vik.

 

“Huh?” Which is exactly the time Vik used the opportunity to bop the bigger man right on his nose. “Hey Vik!”

 

“No distractions.” The Ripper said but he was grinning regardless as he lowered his arms and ended their workout. “Hey Kid. You alright?”

 

“Not injured! But I just got back into the city! I had a gig that took me to Seattle, and I wanted to get checked over.” I responded, but then I walked over and settled into Viks rolly chair. “But no rush. Go ahead and finish playing with Jackie, I’ll wait.”

“We aren’t playing-”

 

“This isn’t playing Hermanita.” Both men argued before realizing that my smile was broad and amused. They both huffed at me, realizing I was just messing with them, so Vik brought his padded hands back up.

 

“Alright Jack. Let’s keep going.”

 

Jackie just nodded and the two went back at it. Jackie actually had good endurance I noted. Unlike Jun for example who just relied on his chrome, Jackie actually was fully into the training.

 

Although considering it’s Jackie. I wouldn’t mind if he relied on some protective chrome a bit more.

 

Eventually both men tired out and Jackie took a seat and drank some water as Vik gestured for me to head over to the ripper chair. Vik was still wiping his forehead with a towel when he rolled over.

 

“So no issues you know of?”

“I mostly just want to check for dust and junk. I was out on the road for more than a week.” He nodded and pulled up his scanner starting in on the inspection..

 

“Seattle huh? That’s preem Hermanita. I didn’t get my first gig out of the city until I was in my twenties.” Jackie offered and I smiled at that.

 

“Thanks Jack. I know a Nomad that needed an extra shooter to watch her back. She’s not Raffen, but she sorta left the Aldecaldos for now.”

 

Jackie whistled, “You don’t hear them do that much.”

“Yeah it’s a family thing.” I added and Jackie really frowned then.

 

“Well that I can understand.”

 

“Not too many problems here kid. Although you got some dents and dings.” Vik confirmed giving me a look.

 

“I’ve done maintenance!”

 

“Yeah I can see that… It’s why there are so many dents.” He says and then bursts out into laughter.

 

I felt my jaw drop before I realized Vik was fucking with me.

 

“Laugh it up old man.” I grumbled at him, but even Jackie was chuckling in that booming belly laugh of his at my reaction.

 

“You’re doing fine, kid. You do have some dust in the joints, that’s normal especially for nomads or anyone traveling through the desert. Give me a few minutes and I’ll clear you up.” He said still laughing as he rolled away grabbing a big canister that was basically an oil washer.

 

I rolled my eyes and leaned back, as Vik walked over and started opening up my arms. Panels popping open to show the sensitive interiors after a few moments of his deft hands accessing every port.

 

I shivered a bit the first time he blew the oil into my arms, it felt super ticklish, but after that first few spurts, I got comfortable with it.

 

“So Jackie. You going to get any more chrome? You still need some subdermal don’t you?”

 

“I got some Hermanita.” He said, knocking a finger against his forehead. “Can’t get too much of the stuff though. Camilla doesn’t like it much.” He said something kind of horrifying as he patted his shoulder.

 

That specifically wasn’t armored.

 

Just like his stomach.

 

Just like the stomach that he would bleed out from.

 

“You’re kinda a gonk, and Camilla is a double gonk if she doesn’t want you to have more protection.” I said bluntly, actually holding back from really snapping at the man.

 

It wouldn’t help. Telling someone in love, or dating that they are with someone they shouldn’t never works. It just pushes them away. So instead of saying anything more I just looked away from the big oaf. Stupid gonk.

 

I’ll just make sure you never step foot anywhere near Konpeki Plaza.

 

“Hey that’s not…” Jackie went quiet and I noticed Vik had intruded. Yeah snapping at him was stupid. Certainly not going to get anything done that way.

 

The room was quiet for a while as Vik continued to work before he finally finished. All of my chrome got a going over including my ankles which thankfully hadn’t been too bad. Stuck in boots had kept the dust out.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

 

“You know, you’d get less gunk in these with a good covering.” Vik finally spoke up, breaking the silence between the three of us.

 

“But I like it!” I argued instantly, holding my arms against my chest to keep them from Vik who just laughed.

 

“Well just know a real skinn covering will protect the insides better. But it’s your choice. Nothing I’m not used to.” He said and I nodded at that.

 

Jackie I noticed was over by the TV watching the boxing match instead of being his usual friendly self.

 

Dangit.

 

I left without a word. I couldn’t apologize to him right now. Which might just be necessary. Camilla was a terrible choice. Misty would be better of course. But not wanting Jackie to armor up?

 

Fucking scop of a woman.

 

In the end I also asked Vik to tell me what was in the inhaler that I had been given and he assured me it was normal workout stuff. Perfectly safe if I wanted to use it.

 

I just shrugged.

 

—–

 

So I had a whole bunch of different stuff on my plate, but I was mostly waiting for the big one.

 

Would Sasha call me?

 

If she didn’t in a week, I would have to do something drastic. I didn’t want the woman to die. Not after seeing what causes her last stand.

 

Fucking corps.

 

Fortunately she had created a secondary distraction for me. After Viks checkup I went home and settled onto the couch with my guitar.

 

Let you down. It was a very Cyberpunk song, and I wanted a copy of it. It was definitely a favorite of mine, and having seen Sasha I wanted to listen to it.

 

There were a lot of tones and noises in the song, so it took me a long time to get every sound I would need programmed into the music box.

 

As I was working Jun came home from work throwing his TC jacket over the back of the couch as he stopped to grab some food and drink and then settled onto the couch near me.

 

“What are you working on?”

“New song.” I muttered, semi distracted as I was setting up the rhythm track for the song. It wasn’t exactly a rock song after all.

 

“Oh?” He prompted, making me shake away the music boxes track creation toolkit. I popped my personal link from the box as well just so I could move away from it.

 

“It’s… A bit different from most of what I’ve done so far. It’s not rock or anything. More of a… Night City sound.” I said, yeah I liked the way that sounded.

 

“Sounds awesome.”

 

“It’s not Us Cracks, you won’t like it.” I told him and he just laughed at my tone.

 

“I like your stuff. When are you going to start selling your music?”

“Probably never.”

 

“C’mon Motoko, you are really good. I want to see you up on a stage some day.” Jun said, smiling all proudly at me.

 

As if I want to see that! I quickly retaliated and kicked at him, but his Motoko sense must have been working because he jerked away and I missed. Instead he just broke into laughter.