Chapter 51

I spent the rest of the day resting. No grinding, no plotting. Just hanging out at the apartment and watching TV, or even reading a few shard books. I finally finished another chapter in the Solo’s guide, but decided to put that to the side soon enough because it too felt a little too much like training still.

 

I had never been a particularly focused person in my last life. I wasn’t dedicated to self improvement, I liked TV shows, and games, and movies far too much for that.

 

So why was it that I barely did any of my favorite things in this life? Was it a good thing? Some people would say yes.

 

But I wasn’t sure it was healthy for me. The closest thing I had done creatively had been working with tech, but that was just another aspect of grinding to grow stronger.

 

Every aspect of my life was rotating around improving my ability to kill… Was that right? It didn’t bother me exactly. I liked it. I liked fighting, and I loved being better than others at killing. Anyone who played nearly any video game could attest how great it felt to be strong.

 

But was that all I wanted out of this second life? Was all the freedom I had thanks to my growing skills, only meant to create paths towards more killing more death?

 

No.

 

I realized that my life wasn’t just this. As much as I enjoyed it, I shouldn’t exist solely as a merc. I mean this wasn’t a game, even if I was a gamer. Did I want to spend the rest of my life as nothing but a killer for hire?

 

No.

 

I had just been having so much fun I hyper focused!

 

Oops!

 

So I took the rest of the afternoon to watch future TV shows, some of which were at least interesting, and some awful. I didn’t really like TV in the future. I didn’t really like the books… But I also hadn’t really searched for things I would like. It’s like watching daytime TV and thinking that was all that was on the TV.

 

As I explored the different channels and read, I was texting with Hiromi who confirmed she had gotten permission to skip school to come along to the Aldecaldo BBQ!

 

Road trip with the best choom is a go.

 

—–

 

“Finally!” I groaned as I pulled out from Hiromi’s garage the next morning. I had been running late as Jun had gotten all protective when I told him what I was up to.

 

It had taken me a few minutes to remember I was fourteen, and heading out to the badlands to party with a bunch of nomads.

 

So okay, when you put it like that Jun had a point.

 

But when I explained it was mostly about what we had done that night, and that I certainly would shoot anyone that tried something, plus Hiromi was coming. He had finally loosened up and I had managed to escape his clutches.

 

Hiromi hadn’t taken long to flop into the car, her bag of snacks she was bringing along dropped onto my own bag of goodies once she settled in.

 

“Wooo!” She screamed out the window as we headed out onto the city streets, “Freedom!”

“Don’t be too happy yet, choom. We have a long drive to get there.”

“It’ll be a lot shorter if you let me drive.” She grumbled at me, and I just chuckled.

 

She had no idea.

 

I drove safely, and followed all the laws within the city, but as soon as we started hitting dirt?

 

Well I waited for Hiromi to be slightly distracted, with nothing on the road in front of me, when I suddenly floored it.

 

Her jerking reaction to my sudden acceleration was great, her mouth full of some chips, or some snack food meant her shocked gasped sent her into a coughing fit as I tore down the road.

 

“Motoko!” She said in delight when she finally got herself back under control, and seeing me absolutely flooring it over the desert road.

 

“Hiromi!” I chirped back, completely at ease despite going so fast.

 

“You’re going fast!”

 

“So I am.” I said smiling which had her giggling in delight.

 

“So there is a troublemaker in there!”

“I’m not in the city, and there is no longer a posted speed limit. Of course I’ll drive how I want.” I said simply but my firm tone was ruined by my lips fighting back more smiles.

 

“You are such a gonk. You should just drive like this from now on.”

“Nah. Jun made me promise not to drive fast in the city, I apparently scared him the last time I did it.”

“Aww I wanted to see that.” She said laughing, and I just shrugged as I noticed my turn off. With a casual press of the clutch, shifting slightly, and then pressing on the break I was in a perfectly controlled drift.

 

Hiromi couldn’t enjoy the look as she wasn’t wearing her seat belt properly, despite my multiple warnings to stop taking it off. So she soon found her face pressed up against the passenger window for a few moments until I finished the drift and was heading straight down the new road.

 

“Wha… Wha?” She muttered looking delightfully confused at her new situation.

 

“I told you to put your seat belt on. Hold on.” I said as I was coming up to the next street I needed to turn onto.

 

This time Hiromi was actually able to realize what was happening.

 

I ended up pouting from then on, because she didn’t scare like Jun instead whooping and hollering in delight every time I drifted,

 

It wasn’t fair! I wanted to mess with her!

 

——

 

I pulled up to the Aldecaldos camp going a much more sedate speed. Despite Hiromi’s badgering to speed up again. I didn’t want to come in too hot with the nomads. I pulled up to the camp and parked off the road near where a few of their cars were parked including a few familiar and freshly painted cars.

 

I stepped out, Hiromi following me a moment later. Her head was practically on a swivel as she took in the new location.

 

“Be cool Hiromi.” I reminded her as I walked up to a familiar face who was walking up to greet me.

 

“Motoko!”

 

“Scorpion!” I greeted right back smiling as the older man laughed and to my surprise instantly invaded my personal space pulling me into a hug and literally spinning me around.

 

“Nice to see you too Scorpion.” I mumbled a little dazed as he set me down.

 

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“I still owed you that from when you pulled my ass out of the Raffen nest. Who’s your friend?” he asked, pulling away a bit giving me some space.

“I’m Hiromi! Motoko’s best Choom!” She said suddenly at my side and grabbed my arm.

 

“Hey, nice to meet you. Any friend of Motoko is one of mine.” He said with a smile before turning and waving me on. “C’mon I bet you’re hungry the drive out from the city takes forever. Let’s get some food in those bellies. Saul is distracted right now, so it’s the best time to meet everyone.” Scorpion offered with a laugh as he guided us deeper into the camp.

 

A few minutes later with a plate full of barbeque ribs, that were definitely not actual meat, but was tasty. And something that looked sort of like pulled pork, but wasn’t. I was sitting around a table with a few nomads all tossing around stories of their own run-ins with the Raffen, made me realize how nice it all was.

 

I get it. I understand the reason Nomads live like this. Out on the plains and deserts of America. The freedom was only part of it. The other part was the connection you feel with everyone. These people weren’t all blood related, but they were all family. All lived together, got along, and knew each other’s jokes.

 

There was an actual connection between them. something that was missing from Night City.

 

It was nice.

 

“And then she sits in the closet and waits for the guy to ‘finish’ up if you know what I mean.” Hiromi’s voice suddenly pulled me away from hearing about other Raffen raids over the years.

 

“Hiromi! Don’t tell people about that!” I called out as I quickly put down the pretty tasty BBQ I was eating to yell at my choom.

 

“Motoko you literally recorded it. You can’t complain about people talking about it.” She offered looking to Scorpion who was sitting beside her, and who she was telling the story about.

I don’t know how but the two had swiftly started swapping stories. Mostly about me, and seemed to be getting along.

 

“You really hid in the closet?” Scorpion asked, looking half a second away from bursting into laughter.

 

“It was the only other door in the room. They didn’t catch me or anything. And he was fast… At least.” I grumbled a bit but Scorpion was already chuckling.

 

“You said this was a BD. Where can I get a copy. I gotta see this.”

“Motoko gave me my set, but it’s the Mox right?” Hiromi asked and I sort of twisted my hand.

 

“Honestly, I’m not sure it’s officially a Mox thing. Nox is the guy selling the BD’s. It was his idea and well, he is a Mox, but I’m not sure how official it all is. If you really want a copy, I can figure something out?”