Chapter 239

“So Alex has set up a gig, or rather he set everything up, including putting money down before mentioning it to me.”

“Do I kill him now?” I asked, as I slurped up some noodles.

Hiromi hid a little smile, and didn’t say anything for a few moments. “No. Frankly, I’m using what he is doing to learn from it. The gig is solid, and he threw it at me to okay it, although it was very much a trap. If I refuse then MSM loses eddies, and companies like that?”

“They aren’t in the business of losing eddies?” I added at her pause and she nodded. She leaned down, her hair hiding her face for a second as she slurped up her own noodles. The two of us having our fairly annual lunch dates on her school lunch break.

“So we do it?”

“We do it. If you’re up to it?”

“Yeah sure I guess.” I grumbled. Hiromi nudged me.

“Hey if you don’t want to?”

“Nah, it’s fine. They just refuse to stop trying to mess with my chrome.”

“Speaking of, you talked to Vik about the upgrades right? The Eagle?”

“He basically called me an idiot if I refused.” I admitted, a bit embarrassed and Hiromi laughed at me.

“Did he now? What a surprise.”

“Teasing me is forbidden.”

“Me? Tease my best choom?” She said airlily, and I nudged her, earning a giggle before returning to my noodles. I grabbed the nearly empty bowl and tipped it back. Draining it dry.

“I’m going to accept the showroom thing… And I guess I’ll hear more about their Eagle deal.”

“I’ll let MSM know, and send the requirements.”

“Requirements?”

“Of course! MSM might have their own expectation of brand deals, but that’s not how we work!” She called out slurping up her own noodles again. Which meant I had to just stare at her in confusion, no idea what she was talking about. “We’ll put our own requirements for the deal through. Things like only Vik works on the chrome for installation.”

“Oh! Yeah that’s obvious.”

“It is to us, but a lot of those brand deals? They’re going to want their own rippers to install their chrome.”

“Not happening.”

“Hence why we are firm. It might cost you though.”

“How?”

“They might push for more brand stuff. Photo shoots, maybe something crazy like a commercial. Maybe they’ll put you on Chip In?”

“Ugh.”

“I’ll haggle for an easier time.” She said hand reaching up to grab my arm and squeezing.

“Thanks Hiromi. I can’t believe that jerk didn’t send you the invite last night.”

“It’s fine.” She said in a tone that told me it very much wasn’t fine. “We’ll just use it as an obvious example of him causing trouble for Stand Alone Complex.”

“The others might not agree.” I said quietly and Hiromi nodded.

“I know. I’m already expecting him to seduce the others.”

“Well he won’t get me.” Then I smiled. “I wonder when he’ll try something stupid. If Kitty’s warning is real.”

“Then kill him.” Hiromi said with complete finality. “That’s what he’s there for. We’ll let him work hard, and the moment he steps over the line, just like we planned. You’ll murder him, as a warning to MSM.”

“To Murder, for solving all of life’s little problems.” I offered, lifting my drink and Hiromi raised hers as we clinked it together.

——

“Motoko! I was worried you were going to be late.” Alice called out as I entered the recording studio.

“Sorry, there was a bit of traffic. I said I was on my way.”

“I know but still… Ah, nevermind. I’m just used to more unreliable frontmen I guess. You aren’t him though.” She said with a sigh, as I was tugged through the studio into the recording booth.

“What are we working on tonight?”

“Well, we were kinda thinking of that love song of yours.”

“Everlong? Yeah we can do that. Which version, acoustic, or?”

“Definitely the Rock version.” Alice said, and I just shrugged, sounded fine to me.

“Ah there she is! Thought you were going to play hooky tonight.”

“Klein, sorry, traffic.”

“Ah it’s fine with me. Just means more time at the bar!” He called out as he walked past me up to the drum set.

“Try not to drink too much.” I reminded, but Jared laughed as he entered, and grabbed his guitar.

“Not all of us have ice in our veins Klein and I need a little drink to cool off.”

I just sent him a flat look. Whatever bro.

“And everyone is here!” I rolled my eyes. No, not everyone was here. Hiromi couldn’t make it tonight. But Alex liked that.

“Alright, you lot have your song choice for the evening? We got the sound studio working, hopefully Motoko, as absolutely amazing as you are, can you let him do a bit more work tonight?”

“Only if he doesn’t fuck it up.” I said, and since everyone was already ready, I instantly started strumming. The mic went dead as Alex wasn’t about to speak over a recording, and I warmed up as the others prepared.

We got through most of the song before Jared fumbled a note, and we called for a stop.

I grabbed a bottle of water and drank down the brand name “Real Water” with a fancy bottle that was just the same slop everyone drank.

What a life.

“Motoko, got a sec?” I looked up as Alex called, and I felt my eyes narrow.

I put the guitar down, and headed into the booth, and found Alex looking proud of himself as always as the recording tech worked to mess with the song.

I could already tell I was going to have to yell at him to stop fucking with the song.

“Sup?”

“We got a response back from Militech about the endorsement deal. They-”

“Okay but why isn’t Hiromi talking to me about this. She’s the Manager.” I cut him off, delighting in once again popping the guys ego as he had a bit of sharpness around his eyes at my words.

“Of course, last discussion will be with Ms. Mitsunashi, but this is just an update. Militech is very pleased with your acceptance. They aren’t quite so pleased with you requesting your own ripper. Militech has offered to have specialists flown in, absolute top of the line Doctors.”

“Doesn’t matter to me. Vik is the only guy that gets to put his hands inside me. So if they want to see things, then talk to him, maybe he’ll accept having it done in some fancy hospital, otherwise no.”

“I understand some attachment, but-”

“Alex. You seem like a smart guy. So understand. Vik is the only man that messes with my Chrome. Period.”

“I’ll do my best to handle the discussions with Militech.” He offered, sounding like he was pulling teeth.

“You mean Hiromi will handle the discussions. She should be the main point of contact, as she’s my Manager and already understands my limits.”

“Of course. Ms. Mitsunashi is cc’ed on all the communications.”

“She’d better be.” I said with finality and turned away.

God this guy was such a creep.

——

I stomped out of the MSM recording studio amped up, but not in a good way.

Arguing with Alex, arguing with the studio tech that kept trying to electronic up Everlong. Arguing with the band that wanted that.

It was an infuriating experience.

“Just remember the eddies Motoko. They’re paying you so much money to deal with them… And murder is on the table.” I reminded myself breathing out, my breath steaming a little in the cold december air.

It was cold tonight. Even for California. Enough that I should probably put on some more clothes.

Instead I walked through the parking garage, my Kusanagi waiting for me, and without hesitation I started her up, and then hit the gas, peeling out of the garage, uncaring about the tire marks left behind.

There were already a ton anyways. Not like I was the first Rockerboy to peel out in happiness, or anger.

At the exit I had two choices. Left, to head back home, or right.

I jerked the bars, nearly popped a wheelie with how much gas I gave it, and turned right.

I didn’t know where I was going, but I was going there fast. I hit the gas, for once being a bad driver and just moving.

I was in the middle of downtown, and honestly I wanted to be anywhere but. I swerved in and out of traffic, and definitely broke more than just a few speed laws.

But I didn’t care.

Fuck it! If I got a ticket, then it would be up to MSM to bail me out. That was actually part of the contract. A Stupid little detail.

But eventually the frustration boiled off, and I slowed down and I stopped at a red light. Idling under the light, keeping an eye on everything around me, and just trying to figure out what I was even doing.

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Then I heard it. Shouts and cries, but not of fear or anything.

Shifting a bit I looked up. On one of the buildings across the road at the top I could see the lights, and sounds, and the unmistakable sound of someone fighting…

I turned, popping up onto the curb from the light and slowly drifted down the sidewalk until I think I found the right building.

Mostly because of the goons that were standing outside it, and waving people in.

“Yo. Fight up top?”

“Fifty eddies for a ticket.” The man grunted. Valentino, not Animal or something, so this was probably safer.

I parked and nodded, flashing the guy fifty eddies, even though I was fairly certain he was lying about the cost, and walking up.

“Yo chica, don’t recognize you.”

“Sup choom.” I greeted back. The Tino was in the elevator with a girl and they were heading up, but he had actually held the door. “First time here. Saw the commotion, decided to take a look.”

“Hoo, A cherry popper tonight ey? Alright, come on I’ll show you around. I’m Juanito.”

“Motoko.” I offered and the girl nodded at me.

“Maria.”

“So you like fights? Enjoy a little action ey?”

“I’m frustrated, annoyed, and I could use something fun to do. That’s all.” I explained, and he chuckled at that.

“Well Chica, this’ll be something fun alright!” He laughed as the elevator door opened, and a wash of noise hit me.

Screaming people calling out to kill him, and waving arms. Music was playing a radio somewhere as well, but it was drowned out by the sound of the screaming calls.

Ah, so that’s what was going on.

An old rooftop pool, empty now, but everyone was gathered around. Tino’s and others, everyone here obviously looking for a good time.

I walked into the crowd, seemingly losing Juanito instantly as I slipped among the crowd, relaxing because here I wasn’t being doted on every second, or smugly wormed up to.

People jostled and knocked me around until I got to the front.

There I watched a fight go on.

A tino, and a sixth street banger. Metal skull and little red horns all up his skull, quite the bit of chrome were circling each other.

Across the pool was a 6th Street contingent as well. On the opposite side of the Tino’s I noticed.

Around the pool plenty of people were sitting half way into the arena, and I winced as the Tino was knocked back smashing into the leg of one of the guys hanging out, a nasty crack echoing out, as the Tino got back up to fight ignoring the scream of pain from the guy whose leg he just broke.

There was a moment I couldn’t help but think back to my own previous experience in something like this.

The toxic stink of Maelstrom breath, and the feeling of being pushed into an arena to fight to the death.

It would have scared me back then, to be reminded of it. Now I just smirked. “Yeah fuck him up!” I cried out, getting into the atmosphere.

Fuck it, when in Rome.

The fight ended fairly quickly, the Tino guy had a bit of a glass jaw, an the 6th Street banger had chrome fists.

Literally.

I was laughing along with most of the crowd when the poor Tino guy was hauled out having pissed himself.

“Someone clean this shit up! I can’t fight in this!” The Chrome head called out, earning more laughs at the trail of yellow in the arena.

Apparently this was something accounted for as bunch of water was dumped over the edge, and then a shop vac was used to dry it back up.

“Place your bets folks, place your bets! Can anyone defeat the American Devil!” A loud voice called out, and most of the crowd booed.

Ah so this guy was the heel huh.