Chapter 77

I walked into Wakako’s parlor to find Jackie not there and Wakako greeting me with a point towards a chair.

 

Her eyes were on her TV again.

 

Huh. Wakako really liked her shows huh?

 

I just shrugged and settled in to watch it with her, she would tell me what was up when Jackie got here.

 

And it wasn’t more than twenty minutes later that Wakako reached over and shut off the TV, just as Jackie Welles walked his bulk through the beaded door.

 

“Ah, Wakako, I hope I’m not late?” He asked, having noticed me already sitting there.

 

“No, Motoko, was simply close by when I sent out the call.” Wakako offered and Jackie gave me a nervous smile.

 

We hadn’t talked since our noodle outing, and I had honestly been surprised it had taken so long since to get a gig.

 

“Here are the details.” Wakako offered sending a message to both of us, and as we pulled open the files I was a little surprised.

 

“This seems a little incendiary.” I mentioned as I read who the target was.

 

“That is why it is going through me and mercenaries are handling it. If you think just because peace was declared, that it really matters, you are naive.” Wakako offered and I nodded.

 

The gig was to kidnap a 6th St. enforcer. A guy that had killed the family of a TC member during the little skirmishes during the war.

 

The Tyger Claw client wanted the man who killed his family dead, but couldn’t go after them directly anymore with the new peace. So Jackie and I were to kidnap Arnold Henderson for him.

 

Kidnap. Not kill.

 

“Motoko, make sure you are wearing something other than your normal gear.” Wakako offered and I understood why.

 

Can’t have this gig be done by Motoko Kusanagi, who could be ID’ed as a member of the TC.

 

Even though I wasn’t!

 

They just thought that! It wasn’t true!

 

But 6th St. might think it was true too. That’s fine. I’ll wear my Section 9 outfit instead.

 

“Jackie?” I asked him, the big man had been reading through the details in silence but he jerked a bit as I called out to him.

 

“Yeah Hermana?”

 

“Questions? Problems? Things you’ve noticed?” I asked him and he shook his head.

 

“Not a problem. Not the first time I’ve kidnapped some poor pendejo.” He said with a smile and I nodded.

 

But I didn’t just rush forward.

 

I had been burned a few times recently, due to my own planning falling short.

 

Hiromi having to bail me out once I realized I had no place to put the netrunning equipment sprung to mind.

 

So I thought.

 

How would the gig go, what would I need?

 

“Transport for the target?”

“I will have a car nearby for pickup.” Wakako offered as she took a lazy drag on her cigarette.

 

“Then I don’t think we’ll have any problems.” I offered, but Jackie didn’t seem to back me up afterwards.

 

Wakako didn’t care though, sending us both out of her office.

 

Standing out on the street in front of Wakako’s parlor, I looked to the bigger man and decided we needed to talk before this all went down.

 

“My apartment is nearby, I’ll need to grab some gear. You need anything from your place?”

“I’ve already got everything I need.” He offered, patting his jacket, where I noticed a bulge of a big pistol.

 

Big, but not Burya big.

 

“C’mon we should probably talk a bit too.” I told him as I guided him back to the apartment. “You’ve been weird since you came into Wakako’s office. What’s up Jackie?”

 

He was silent as we walked but finally he sighed. “I still don’t like it Hermanita.” he said, surprising me with the changed word.

 

My spanish unfortunately not good enough to translate.

 

“That you are teamed with me?”

“Not… You’re just a kid. I just don’t like the idea of me being responsible for keeping you safe.” He revealed and I was silent for a while this time as we walked into my complex. Jackie looked around a little interested as I led him to the elevator. Only when the doors closed did I speak.

 

“I said before, let’s team up for a few gigs and get a feel for each other. And I get this is our first time working together. So I get the confusion, and the… hesitance. Not every day you see a teenager do our sort of work.”

 

“You trying to say I should shut up and see for myself?” He asked with a side smile.

 

“Heh.” I snorted at Jackie’s instant rejoinder. “Yes, but no. I’m saying I get it. I’m still a kid. Listen, we have a gig, let’s do the gig, and afterwards you’ll see I’m capable.”

 

Jackie sighed but nodded. “Alright Hermanita. Let’s go grab this gonk then.”

 

I nodded as the elevator opened and I motioned for Jackie to follow me into my place. The door opened and Jun was there.

 

Jun who was looking mighty concerned about the fact a big Valentino guy just walked into the apartment.

 

“Ah Jun-Nii, this is Jackie, Jackie, this is my brother Jun.” I introduce the two of them as the tension seemingly ratcheted up.

 

Thankfully it seemed mostly on Jun’s end as he was glaring and starting to square up. Jackie was reacting, but mostly looking pretty uncomfortable.

 

Ignoring the byplay I walked up to Jun and slugged him in the stomach.

 

It was really annoying that I could barely make my brother flinch when I did that. I was going to need to upgrade to some gorilla arms or something, so I could properly gut punch him.

 

“Don’t mind Jun, Jackie. Why don’t you take a seat for a bit, we have drinks in the fridge if you’re thirsty, I just need to armor up.” I told him as I left the room. As much as I wanted to stay and keep any friction down. It would be best if I just hurry up and get ready to go.

 

I could hear the quiet voices in the living room as I rushed through putting on my armored clothes.

 

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Although I did leave the ninja mask behind.

 

Suited up I headed back into the living room.

 

Both Jun and Jackie were still standing around sort of sizing each other up.

 

“Okay! All set, let’s hit the road! We got gonks to deal with.” I called out and while Jackie looked to me, Jun was still glaring.

 

“Sure Hermanita, let’s… Go.” He muttered. Backing out the door, while Jun just glared at him. I took a moment before I walked out behind Jackie to turn to Jun and give him a “What the fuck” gesture.

 

He just continued to scowl, but eventually at my refusal to stop glaring back, he shrugged and just waved me on.

 

“Stupid Onii-chan.” I told him, earning a scoff and then I refocused on Jackie.

 

Time to get to work.

 

——

 

Jackie Welles.

 

“You didn’t tell me your brother was the Damn Oni of Kamikaze.” Jackie finally spoke as they walked into the sunlight on the street.

 

“Huh? Yeah? Does it really matter?” The kid asked, turning back to him. Her face showing her honest confusion only made Jackie wonder what was wrong with this kid all the more.

 

“He’s a step away from… you know. They all are, and I’m hanging around his kid sister. Maybe a warning would have been a good idea?”

The purple haired girl cocked her head to the side as she seemed to process what he had said before she snorted.

 

Loudly.

 

“C’mon you’re way too old for me, and Jun knows that. He just doesn’t know you. I’ll tell him about our gig together after, and he will probably be a lot nicer next time he sees you.” She offered with a smile and a wave back and forth of her chrome hand.

“Next time she says.” He muttered, shaking his head. The look that kid was giving him? Yeah Jackie wouldn’t want to run into him in some dark alley.

 

What the fuck am I doing? Jackie shook his head. This wasn’t what he expected when he got in with Wakako. It didn’t feel right running with a teenager.

 

Is this…

 

Is this all he was? Equal to a teenager in the grand scheme of things? Jackie shook off the downer thoughts, No. He was a merc, good enough to work with Wakako!

 

It’s just this girl was just as good. Maybe?

 

“So want to ride with me?” She asked as they were both standing on the sidewalk. “My Quadra can fit us both.”

 

He blinked.

“You drive a Quadra?”

 

“Yeah a Type-66, I looted from a Wraith I flatlined on a gig. It’s preem.” And there she goes again, saying something that makes Jackie have to rethink everything.

 

“Sure. Hermanita. I only brought my bike anyway.”

“Cool!” She chirps and leads him across the street, leaving Jackie with his thoughts about what he was getting into.

 

Was she skipping?

 

Mierda. What the hell was his life?

 

Inside the parking structure, she led him over to a pitch black Quadra. A desert runner.