Chapter 203

“Don’t slow down now!” I called out and Malcolm grunted as he continued jogging, although I could tell he was flagging.

Eventually he gave up and walked over to lean against a SCSM to gasp for air.

“Don’t stop moving. Keep walking around a little.” I warned him, and after a glare he did so.

“I-I should get some Synth Lungs.” He gasped out and I laughed and just shrugged. While it wasn’t something I would recommend as the exercise was sort of the point, extra stamina would mean I could work him harder. “This sucks.”

I just laughed at his defeated tone.

“It gets easier! Besides, it’s good for you! Exercise is something everyone needs.”

“No. Food, drink? That’s stuff we need. Exercise is a mistake.” He grumbled and I just sent him a smirk.

He was saying that, but it had been his idea to ask me for help, and there was no way he was going to give up now.

I wouldn’t let him for one, but more importantly, I don’t think he would let himself.

I reached past him and hit the button on the SCSM and he jerked a bit as a drink popped out.

“Take that and cool off, but don’t stop walking, you don’t want to cramp up.” I told him and he nodded but followed my orders.

Then while he was doing that I started my own exercise.

We were in a quiet spot under an overpass, so I was going to use it to my advantage. I started running and then started tumbling. Back flip after backflip into a spin and I landed and then turned around and did the same thing back.

I was pushing for that next level of Athletics. Plus it might get me some Body xp too. I continued pushing, warmed up from the run. I pushed myself hard, using the stretch of sidewalk to just move as much and as fast as possible.

I only paused, finishing a fun spin to land in front of Malcolm. “You ready to continue?” I asked him cheerily.

“Fuck that.” He said instead and I laughed at him, despite the fact my own breath was coming out a bit hard.

“Relax choom. That’s my exercise, not yours. C’mon you’re breathing more normally, time to jog some more.”

“Fuuuck.” He grumbled and we both started running, I would break into flips, or start doing some parkour on things whenever I could just to get a bit more out of it. Much to Malcolms grumbled dislike. “Show off.”

“Keep working out and you’ll be able to do it too! You’d be amazed at how often a flip, or just coming at someone from a weird angle will give you the advantage in a fight.” I commented, breathing a little hard with how much I was going at it.

“Motoko, I’ve seen you fight before. Hell, I’ve cleaned up after your fights before.”

“Cleaned up? You mean looted.” I teased.

“Tomato, Tomato.” He gasped out and I couldn’t help but laugh, slowing down a bit to match his slowing pace.

“How’re you feeling?” I asked quietly, and Malcolm stopped again and started bending over to breathe.

The Kang Tao attack had been a shock.

“I hate… I hate getting shot at.” He eventually said, an answer to a question I hadn’t really been asking.

“It does suck.” I agreed, bullets hurt.

“No, but… I couldn’t do anything. You fought back. You got us out. Ichi reacted. But I froze up and took cover.”

“Taking cover is a good instinct.”

“But I couldn’t… I should have got up and fought back, but I was freaking out. Becca got shot and I just.”

“You reacted just fine. No one was expecting that sort of shit… If you’re that worried then we’ll keep training. I can probably find some paintball guns or something, and do some tactical training.”

“Motoko, you’re such an old lady. Just get a training shard. Or a BD.” He said, giving me a look and I just huffed.

“Doing something yourself is more valuable than some shard or Braindance.”

“Says the girl that makes BD’s?”

“Which goes to show I know what I’m talking about!” I called out proclaiming my victory.

He rolled his eyes which meant I won.

“C’mon. Get moving again.” I demanded and he groaned and started trotting after me.

As we carried on, I finally got what I wanted out of it.

*100 Athletics XP Gained.*

*Athletics skill level up!*

Athletics 8. I felt my breath even out, and the way I breathed shifted to make intaking oxygen easier.

Yeah. That would be useful.

——

“You already decided that Section 9 should have an actual work day. So what’s the difference here?” Hiromi asked and I sighed as I was defeated by my own logic.

“Fine. I’ll let you schedule some time weekly where I do music stuff. I mean. I have some songs I could put together, but I’m not really in the mood for like, a big gig.” I reminded her and she waved it off.

“Of course not! I… I messed up before, so I’m not going to push for that sort of thing again. This is your pace, but as your manager I still want to make sure you get everything out of this you can. Which means more songs and practice. And we can use that to meet other artists!” Hiromi cheered at the end.

“What does that have to do with anything?” I asked confused and Hiromi gave me a superior look before stopping and seemingly catching herself.

“You might need actual bandmates for some songs, or just want to play with other people. You really enjoyed jamming out with Mr. Fox… And if you meet another artist that likes you, we might get you a spot as an opening act!” She admitted and I laughed at her minor reveal.

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“Let’s table that last bit for a while… Jun did mention that Alice wanted me to play some music with her band. But there might be some trouble with that. The Band might be going through some drama.”

“Ooh! Drama means an opening!” Hiromi said and I snorted.

“It means a massive pain in the ass that I don’t want to deal with.” I countered and she opened her mouth to argue before sighing.

“Yeah that’s fair. But still! Music time?”

“Fine. I have some ideas for something more electronic than my rock stuff.” I said and Hiromi was interested immediately.

“Tell me everything!”

“I’m not sure yet… It’s kinda complicated… I’ll need my music box, but I might be able to generate what I need? I kinda need some specific samples that I might have to make myself… Which is kind of a weird thought.” I mumbled, but Hiromi thankfully wasn’t a music person so she didn’t understand how weird what I just said was.

“We can reserve a sound stage if you want?” She said already looking like she was about to do it.

I hesitated but nodded. I’d need better recording equipment anyways.

“Go ahead. I’ll grab my stuff.” I said pointing to where my music equipment was sitting in the corner, including my music box.

“Yeees!” Hiromi cheered as she turned away to start making whatever calls she needed.

“Makes us, Harder~” I sang quietly to myself. Yeah that should be an interesting chore.

—–

“Like this?”

“Yeah, go ahead and pull that out, We’ll need to rebuild it.” I confirmed as I was already putting the information into my 3D printer.

“Preem.” Rebecca said as she pulled out part of the gas exchange system on an old HMG. I wasn’t going to question where she got one, not with all the different paints covering it, she must have had it for a long time, but she had mentioned she was struggling to get it repaired and I had offered to help.

“You really know your stuff.” She said as she finally got the piece disassembled and we could both see the crack through the part.