Chapter 195

The next morning I groaned as I sat up. We had all crashed on my couch watching TV and hanging out, and I had definitely not gotten my full eight hours, but the sun was out coming through the window waking me up.

 

Stupid California sun.

 

I looked around. Hiromi was curled up beside me. Rebecca looked like she had kicked Ichi in the face at some point in the night as she looked like she was ready to fight ninjas in her sleep.

 

Ichi was on the floor looking a little pitiful, and Malcolm had started on the floor and was happily drooling away.

 

Using Ninja reflexes to switch my leg that Hiromi had stolen with a pillow I got up and stretched. I should get some breakfast for my chooms.

 

I headed around the room quietly, making sure not to make a single noise as I got ready and then while everyone was still sleeping I slipped out.

 

There was an okay food stall just down the street. I hit the ground level, and walked out. The morning was busy. People heading to jobs. Heads down beaten by the daily grind.

 

I walked over to the food stall and slipped into the line. Yawning a bit as I felt sleepy, not something I usually had to deal with, but that was fine, a bit of more natural sleep every once in a while wasn’t a bad thing.

 

I passed over the eddies and started piling skewers of meat into my hands when I heard it.

 

Gunfire.

 

I looked up as did everyone. One or two shots was normal, but full auto fire was unusual, especially this early in the morning.

 

I could see tension rising, but no one started screaming or running off, they just hunched in on themselves and got on with their day.

 

As the gunfire continued I felt a frown growing on my face.

 

Then I heard explosions, grenades if I was right.

 

Something bigger than normal was going on.

 

I took a bite of my meat skewer and chewed slowly.

 

Oh well!

 

I turned and headed back upstairs.

 

—–

 

“Not bad.” Rebecca offered as she chowed down on her breakfast after I woke everyone up. “Not as good as the old lady that cooks around my place, but not bad.”

“Nah, the old guy around my apartment has the best skewers.” Malcolm denied, and I had to jump in with a scoff.

 

“No, the old guy around my old apartment had the best ones.” I argued and soon all of us were pointing out where the best meat skewer places were in Night City.

 

There must be drugs in the skewers because everyone argued that the place nearest to them had the best ones.

 

We were getting rowdy arguing when suddenly Jun popped out of his room. Already fully suited up in his Tyger Claw stuff.

 

“Jun?” I asked, because it was unusual to see him dressed up this early in the morning.

 

“6th Street just did a raid on one of our distributors.” He offered as he hit the kitchen and grabbed a burrito obviously for the road.

 

“Shit. Does that mean there’s going to be another gang war?” Ichi asked, and Jun stopped for a moment.

 

“Not sure, but we won’t just let this one go.” He looked at me. “This is probably retribution for… Yuto.” He explained and I frowned.

 

6th Street wouldn’t react this strongly to just some gonk getting flatlined. Not unless they wanted an excuse to do this anyways.

 

“I’m going to call Wakako.” I said, and Jun shrugged before heading out.

 

“Motoko?”

“Just give me a second Hiromi. Wakako will know what’s going on… Actually I’ll send her a text, she might be busy.” If there was a surprise attack, Wakako would definitely be busy handing out information.

 

*Motoko: I’d like any information on what is going on with 6th Street you can give me Wakako. Attacking because of Yuto sounds wrong.*

I nodded as I sent it off, and I was about to bite into my meat stick when Wakako suddenly called.

 

*Wakako?*

 

*6th Street are claiming that the multiple dead killed by a Tyger Claw hired assassin are the cause of the attack. At least that is what their lieutenants are saying.*

 

Wakako dropped that on me for a second and I could feel my jaw drop.

 

*But I only killed Yuto!?*

 

*They are claiming multiple other deaths.*

 

*I have a BD!*

 

*I’m aware. Fujimura handed it over right away, I didn’t see it myself, but it was checked over. I’m trying to confirm if the two men actually are dead, or are just being hidden as an excuse. You want work?*

 

*I’ll help.*

*Good. I’ll be in contact with your little fixer.*

 

The call ended and I rolled my eyes as Wakako still hadn’t learned how to say goodbye.

 

“Motoko?”

“6th Street is retaliating, they are saying I killed some of their people, trying to frame me. I only killed Yuto and had a BD of it. Something is fishy. Wakako is going to give us some work.” I looked around the room. “I think we should get suited up.”

 

Ichi, Malcolm, and Hiromi nodded right away, but I saw Rebecca looking a little blank at the whole thing.

 

But then she firmed up. “No fucking way we just let them blame us for shit.” She decided and I smiled at her.

 

Everyone got moving soon after and we started gearing up.

 

—–

 

“Overdressed?” Wakako asked me and I scoffed at her.

 

“Not with this shit happening.”

“Do as you like. Here.” She threw a shard at me, but her words stopped me from slotting it. “That’s the delivery item. Meet up with Muamar Reyes, a Fixer in Santo Domingo.”

“Sure. Anything else?”

“Answer any questions he has. It’s a copy of your BD.” Wakako offered and I blinked looking at the shard.

“Letting him see what happens so he can pass the information on?” I asked, breaking down what was happening.

“Exactly. He might request some assistance, that’ll be up to you, but he doesn’t want a gang war any more than I do.”

“Understood. I’ll see what he needs.”

“Good. Motoko.” Wakako said as I made to turn away. “6th Street likely already knows you were involved yesterday. Your information has been spreading for some time. Be careful on the drive through. Perhaps take another vehicle.”

“Understood. Thanks Wakako.”


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“Hmm.” She scoffed, but to my surprise spoke again. “Hayato has enjoyed having a friend. The girl is pressured to act a certain way because of her status. Thank you.”

 

Honestly it felt more awkward to be thanked than anything else! It was like the hairs on the back of my neck were rising up, which was impossible since my Neural Link covered the entire back of my neck.

She glared at me suddenly. “Don’t look at me like a scared cat. Get out of here.”

“Yep!” I agreed and quickly ran away.

 

Time to get back to work.

 

—–

 

Rebecca was driving. We had all piled into her truck as I took Wakako’s advice seriously. Since Rebecca’s truck was the newest, it would have the least connection to Section 9.

 

I had even swapped out my helmet, and was just wearing my Net Gogs to hide my eyes as we drove through Rancho Coronado onto an overlook.

 

That was apparently where Muamar Reyes the fixer hung out.

 

I vaguely remembered this was where you could find him in the game too. So I guess it was just his favorite spot.

 

Rebecca pulled off the road and onto the sidewalk as she slowed to a stop, and I stepped out.

 

“Hoh? A whole group coming to meet El Capitan?” The man with the goofiest haircut I’ve seen in a while called out as I approached.

 

“Delivery from Wakako. Mr. Reyes.” I informed him professionally as I held out the shard.

 

The guy blinked a bit, seemingly surprised at my courtesy before he just huffed and took it. Interestingly he didn’t check it himself, but passed it off to a woman that was in his car who promptly put on a BD wreath and started watching.

 

“So. You’re the real hot shot that caused that trouble yesterday.”

“I only completed the job I was hired for.”

“Yeah well, you are shaking up a real hornets nest. Offing four 6th Street gangoons is really increasing tensions.”

“I only killed one person, Yuto, and he isn’t 6th Street. That BD will prove that.”

He looked over at the woman before looking back at me. “If you say so.” Then he crossed his arms and reset back against the side of his car and seemed content to just wait.

 

Hiromi joined me and threw me a raised eyebrow, but I just shrugged at her.

 

Not sure what Reyes was playing at.

 

Finally not long after the woman took off the BD.

 

Reyes glanced to us and then leaned into his car, where the two started talking quietly.

 

I didn’t bother to listen in, and not long after he stood up.