Chapter 241

It was the small things that got to me sometimes.

 

I was in the shower, slowly washing up when I reached for my shampoo, but…

 

Instead of the crap Jun and I had been using, the cheap two in one combo which could be picked up from every market store for the people in Night City who even bothered anyway.

 

There were four fancy slim bottles.

 

The names were pretentious cursive and I was fairly certain each would be a couple hundred eddies each.

 

It was a fucking lot for just my hair.

 

I took the first one, and just…

 

It smelled pretty good, not overpowering thankfully otherwise I wouldn’t use it. Can’t sneak around when even normies could sniff you out, much less any gonk with a scent tracker nose.

 

Either way I started washing. Each one in order, going through soaking in and then rinsed off just like the makeup lady had walked me through when she gave me the bag of gunk I was expected to use.

 

When it happened I had been a bit of a bitch about it. But that was stupid. It made my hair super shiny, and nice looking, and that was preem. This was a perk.

 

I never expected to take wisdom from Malcolm of all people, but he was right. Everyone had stupid jobs they had to do, and the goal was to find the perks in them.

 

The big one of course was the eddies. Even if Section 9 was doing really well, more eddies were always nice.

 

On top of that were the other perks. Real food, contacts with the rich and famous to get some new gigs from, equipment.

 

I looked at my palms. Covered in suds. My Condors were old. Maybe even older than me, to be honest. They did everything I needed. Armored, EMP resistant. For all that I’d never run into that issue.

 

They were the durable type of arms that nothing would stop. I actually liked that about them. Mantis Blades might look cool, but they were also goofy as all hell, and good luck fitting much armor on your cyberlimbs when it was full of extendo blade action.

 

I pushed my hand into the water and then as the suds disappeared did the same to my head.

 

This was a new day, and I was going to look at it from a different perspective.

 

Today was all about the perks.

 

Stepping out of the shower I reached the mirror and sighed. One negative about having completely chrome hands. Even with my rubberized grip along my palm and fingers, it wasn’t like I could easily wipe steam from a mirror.

 

I grabbed a towel and wiped it down, and then looked at myself.

 

Purple hair wiped backwards, reddish purple eyes, inhuman in how perfect they were. The black Arasaka Chrome wrapping around my neck.

 

None of it felt wrong.

 

I threw my image an arrogant smirk.

 

“Baddest Bitch in NC.” I reminded myself, then went serious, shifting my face into an emotionless facade. “Truly the net is vast and infinite.”

 

“Huehuhehehe.” I broke character a moment later. Man I might be Motoko, but I certainly wasn’t that Motoko.

 

I still had too many fleshy bits for one. Shaking myself a bit. Best hurry up if Jun heard me weebing out at the mirror he would never let me live it down.

 

Grabbing a fresh Leotard, armored, and ready I finished drying off as I slipped into it. It was still a bit snug, really needed to go see the old lady for another alteration, but once I zipped it up I was once more locked and ready.

 

“Find the perks.” I reminded myself.

 

Today was one of the days the perks were coming into play.

 

Today… I was getting a new set of arms.

 

——

 

“Hiromi.” I greeted, relieved for once. She was actually here. I knew Alex had fucked with her a few times so far, but he was standing fairly close by looking like the assistant he was meant to be for once.

 

Maybe he’d finally gotten a clue?

 

Nah. He was up to something.

 

“Motoko. Right on time.” She said confidently, and shot Alex a look. Ah, were they playing a game of who could control me better, because honestly, it was Hiromi. She bossed me around all the time and I just did whatever she said for the most part…

 

Wait that sounded wron-Nevermind, that was going in the box.

 

“Right on time indeed. Despite the restrictions, MSM, and Militech have worked out an acceptable compromise.” He explained and I instantly frowned, looking at Hiromi.

 

“It’s fine. And Vik already agreed.” She said, and I did relax at that.

 

“Okay, so what’s going on?” We were outside Misty’s Esoterica, and there were quite a few vehicles around, Vans, and things. It was like the whole area was a bit sectioned off…

 

“While Militech didn’t like the idea of having this installed by a Ripper.” Alex began, and Hiromi nodded accepting his explanation so I relaxed and did the same. “They agreed after an idea was launched. Militech, reliable, even in the worst circumstances.” He waved his hand like he was seeing it on a billboard.

 

Riiiight. I looked at Hiromi.

 

“They are going to video the whole thing and turn it into a PR win. If even a back alley ripper can install Militech cyberarms reliably, that must mean they are good… Or whatever drivel they are trying to drip feed to the people. Just don’t worry about it, they’re going to record the operation, and it’ll be spliced into a commercial.”

 

My slight frown must have clued Hiromi in, but Alex didn’t get the memo.

 

“Just keep smiling and stay confident, we have a real doctor in case there is any issue. But we put together a few comments that should help.” He tried to send me a file and once again I really felt like melting his brain or something.

 

But I cleared it of the general trackers, it was clean, and then looked it over.

 

“I’m not saying that.”

 

“But-“

 

“And you don’t have to, but try and think of something in your own words that’ll sound good.” Hiromi offered, already knowing I was irritated. These catch phrases were cringe!

 

“At least try a few of them, they workshopped very well, and they’ll make Militech happy.” Alex explained butting in, and I just rolled my eyes.

 

Whatever dude.

 

Finally the rumble of an engine had all of us look up.

 

A Chevilion Emperor rounded the corner. The type that meant only one thing. Corpo.

 

It pulled in taking up most of the road uncaring how it blocked others in.

 

Then the door opened and for a moment I was having a flashback.

 

A very familiar face…

 

This couldn’t be fucking real, right? I was staring for a moment, but then as the three people settled out of the car, two guards, and a Corpo woman…

 

Our eyes met, even with the sunglasses.

 

I don’t know if it was the way I was looking, or something else, but we both went still processing.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

 

Hands ready for a quick draw and a shootout if needed.

 

While everyone else around us made their greetings our eyes stayed locked. The threat had been registered, and it looks like they were trying to figure out what to do.

 

“Motoko?”

 

“Thomas, Motherfucking Anderson.” I cursed loud enough everyone stopped and looked, including the corpo woman that looked like she was having her own irritation with Hiromi.

 

“Didn’t I kill you?”

 

“Bitch, your weak ass stab and kicking me out of a twelfth floor window is weak if you want me dead. Try harder next time, asshole!” I cursed him.

 

Thomas Anderson in his stupid Sunglasses and trench coat, totally looking like a Matrix knockoff…

 

It was totally not fair how cool he looked.

 

I wanted a Trench Coat! The Major had some cool ones, I was gonna get one now.

 

“Is there a problem?” The Corpo woman asked, looking between us, but my eyes never left him, and his eyes never left me.

 

Then slowly he shook his head.

 

“No. Old business.”

 

“Nah fuck it. I’m not worried about this loser. He couldn’t even kill a defenseless teenager.” I mocked him and I noticed him twitch.

 

Still sensitive about that huh?

 

The two of us agreed to stop preparing to kill each other. It was body language more than anything, our hands shifting not away from our weapons, but saying, you aren’t worth drawing on.

 

The Militech corpo looked between us for a moment, her eyes sharp, but instead just looked at me. Sizing me up.

 

I did the same to her, finally taking my eyes off Thomas. She was… She kinda reminded me of the one Militech Corpo V met. What’s her face? The woman that was a total Dom…

 

Shit now I was thinking about Dommy Mommy and staring at a woman that could absolutely put one of us over her knee and-

 

“Pleasure to meet you. I’m Hiromi Mitsunashi, Manager of Stand Alone Complex. I’m sure we’ll be able to handle today’s event to both of our satisfaction.” Hiromi offered, and I looked at her, she looked pleased as punch to be chatting up an older Corpo…

 

Be careful Hiromi, don’t fall for her Dommy Mommy wiles, that-

 

“Is this a joke?” The woman responded, looking at Hiromi with a serious scowl. “An Arasaka Student? What is MSM playing at here?”

 

“Apologies, Ms. Katalina. MSM takes no side in any sort of… Business between Arasaka, and Militech, but Mitsunashi here is a member of the Management team for our Ms. Kusanagi’s team.”

 

“I’m not working with an Arasaka brat on this. I don’t appreciate whatever game is going on here. Come on, we’re leaving.” She turned to do just that, leaving Hiromi a bit stupified as she seemed shocked. She hadn’t expected that, but I noticed someone else reacted instantly.

 

Someone else had expected that.

 

“Please wait Ms. Katalina, this deal is already confirmed, Militech has already paid a substantial sum, and MSM will of course do whatever is needed to make sure today’s event goes smoothly.”

 

“Anything will you? Well first off, get rid of the kid, then we’re going to nee-“

 

“Stuff it up your ass, right alongside the dick you already have up there.” I called out instantly and loudly as I stepped forward cutting Alex’s faux obsequience, he just wanted Hiromi gone. The corpo woman, Ms. Katalina, apparently turned on me with a look like she was going to have me killed.

 

“Do you have any-“

 

“No. Nor do I care. Don’t bother finishing the sentence. You’re a middle manager at best. Now put your big girl branded Militech panties on, stop causing fucking trouble. We’re here to do an ad, the deal is already through. And-“