Chapter 79

Hiromi and I left Richard at the apartments, the two of us piled into my car and I was driving a few blocks over to a Tyger Claw front operation.

 

From what Richard had said it was actually a drug distribution center, but it pretended to be a tattoo parlor.

 

Considering how big tattoos were with TC members. I was sure it was also a fairly active tattoo parlor.

 

I pulled up into the parking lot and couldn’t help but shake my head.

 

There were times I could forget that the world I was in was a Cyberpunk world. When the sun was out and shining, and the streets weren’t covered in homeless squatters, and trash. I could think I was just in a big city from a century ago.

 

But then moments like this hit me.

 

The parking lot was full of bikes. Mostly Kusanagi, but not every TC gonk drove one, they were expensive after all. The neon of the entire strip mall was bright covering the slightly rain soaked pavement in a neon array of color, there were people sitting around outside. Some were TC, some were joy toys, or just girlfriends of the claws.

 

A wild array of colors, and skin. Cigarette smoke blew around them creating trails of gray across their bodies.

 

I found a spot and parked, but I had done it all on autopilot, because I was completely distracted at the sight.

 

I actually stopped and took a picture of the scene. That was how picturesque it was.

 

“Motoko?”

“I’m okay Hiromi, just distracted, let’s go find Carter.” I said, stepping forward and leading the way up to the open door of the tattoo parlor.

 

I could tell that we were getting plenty of attention, eyes from all along the street were on us. Some disinterested, some watchful and guarded.

 

In the end it wasn’t uncommon for teenagers to come to a tattoo parlor, but the fact we weren’t wearing TC colors, or gear set us apart.

 

I ignored the couple of gangsters that were hanging around on each side of the door as I stepped in and made sure Hiromi was behind me.

 

The insides were covered in smoke and dark lights, the faint noise of the machines that were used to install the neon tattoos the TC loved buzzing in the background.

 

“Yo Girlys, what can I help you two for?” A large man with a smiling face called out. The fact he was covered in glowing tigers made of fire, and Dragons swirling around on his skin, the neon tattoos actually moving on his flesh was a little distracting.

 

Thankfully Hiromi was the one doing the talking.

 

I was just the muscle.

 

“I need to find one of the boys that works here. Carter? Should be someone new.” Hiromi offered with her best smile.

 

Of course asking about a single member of a gang? Coming from two girls?

 

“Listen if you need to speak to your boyfriend, or Ex boyfriend, this ain’t the place for it.” The older man offered, trying to keep a big scene from happening at his shop.

 

I could feel my own nose scrunch up and Hiromi looked about as disgusted.

 

“Yeah not what this is about.” Hiromi offered with a look of disgust. “He klepped something he shouldn’t have. I’ve been asked to get it back. Considering he went and joined up with the TC, I wanted to keep it above board. So can I speak with Carter, or whoever his boss is?” Hiromi asked, trying to sound professional and confident.

 

But I could tell she was nervous, there were plenty of TC guys all surrounding us.

 

“Huh.” The older man said after a moment. He reached up and rubbed his chin processing what Hiromi had said. “Can’t say I’ve ever seen something like this before.” He offered before shrugging. “But Carter is one of us now. If he klepped something, it’s now ours.” He said with a shrug, and I could see some of the boys hanging around starting to loom over.

 

Hiromi of course noticed as well, and I could see her will wavering a bit.

 

Hiromi still wasn’t great with actual violence, even with me at her side.

 

“I just want to talk to the gonk, get the car back, and we can get out of here. I’m even willing to throw in some eddies or something else for the time. Not like we care about the weapons he also klepped.” Hiromi offered, trying to throw out a lifeline.

 

“No.” The man said bluntly with no wiggle room. “Now get lost. This ain’t the kind of place you two are welcome in.” He said giving us a chance to leave, and honestly I moved to grab Hiromi to bail, but Hiromi had other ideas.

 

“Don’t be a gonk ass! Just let us talk to Carter so we can get the car back. Then we can delta. No need to be such a schizo!” She cursed at him, her anger obviously overriding her common sense. Hiromi was quite used to yelling at gangsters after all.

 

“I don’t much like a couple of kids walking into my shop trying to cause trouble for my boys.” The man jerked his head and the door slammed shut behind us.

 

Hiromi went suddenly quiet, I realized what was off. These guys weren’t seeing Hiromi as she used to be. Covered in TC gear. They just saw some Corpo kid trying to cause trouble. She looked at me, obviously growing concerned.

 

I just frowned, confused as hell. Were these idiots actually going to what? Attack us for coming to have a conversation about a stolen car?

 

Fuck. The temptation to start firing was there.

 

It might even be the right choice, but I had multiple things I needed to consider.

 

Hiromi being right there next to me in the line of fire. Future dealings with the TC going pretty bad if I shoot up one of their drug distribution sites.

 

So I shook my head to her. “Just play it cool, Hiromi.” I told her, as I closed my suddenly golden eyes quickly sending a text. Once I was done the guys were already on us. “You’re joking right. What are you trying to do? Kidnap us? You have no idea who we are. We’ve been perfectly reasonable with you.” I interrupted, trying to put the focus from Hiromi onto me.

 

“A couple of arrogant kids walks into my shop and starts making demands? I should be asking you this bitch, who do you think we are?” The boss asked glowering as he stepped up trying to loom over me, his face bending down close.

 

“Some TC mid level boss. Hey. You’re gonna want to be careful here choom. We came in above board, you won’t like what happens if you do something stupid. Make sure y-” I was trying to tell the guy not to hurt Hiromi.

 

I mean Arasaka parents wouldn’t be happy to learn Hiromi had been hurt by some TC stooges.

 

But the man stepping forward and punching me in the face shut that up.

 

“Don’t tell me what to do in my own business. Choom.” He said, pausing and enunciating the last word mockingly.

 

“That was rude.” I told him, wincing as my cheek pulled. He hadn’t hit me super hard, I guess being a teenage girl did have some benefits, but he certainly wanted to shut me up.

“Put them in the back.” He ordered, but I cut him off.

 

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“Just so you know. I have connections with the TC. You don’t want to do anything stupid.” I called out before he could walk too far away.

 

So he turned and slugged me again.

 

Okay fine. Play it that way.

 

Hiromi was looking a little panicked after I had been hit, but I turned and gave her a wink.

“I messaged Jun.” I told her and she looked a little dazed for a second trying to process what I meant, before it struck her.

 

She almost was able to smile at my words, although her nervousness won out.

 

Yeah.

 

They searched me, pulling out my weapons including my Burya.

 

I would be getting that back. Of course the sight of my handcannon got some looks as they disarmed me. Upping my threat from teen to what the fuck?

 

Then we were both pushed into a back room, which was basically just a storage room and thrown into a set of chairs. A couple of thugs hung around the room glaring at us, but we weren’t left alone for more than a moment before the leader stepped in with a younger teenager behind him.

 

“Ah there is Carter.” I said in greeting. Hiromi and I had been given a picture of the kid from Richard.

 

“The fuck are you?” He demanded glaring at the two of us. “I don’t know these bitches.”

“They said they came for your car.” The boss offered and Carter went from irritable to ballistic in an instant.

“Bitch! You won’t touch my ride!” He roared, stomping up to Hiromi and I.

 

Instantly I got his attention to keep him from looking at Hiromi.

 

I really would have to start killing if they touched Hiromi.

 

“Technically it isn’t yours. It’s Morgans.” I said and got the kids’ eyes to lock onto me.

 

The fact he had them glowing red to look more intimidating, along with a TC style jacket opened on his back, with a bare chest showing off a pretty complete lack of muscles made the whole situation more amusing than anything.

 

“Bitch! It’s mine! Fuck you!”

 

“How eloquent.” I commented which to my lack of surprise caused the boy to react. Fist flung back I breathed out and tensed my stomach as his fist slammed into my stomach.

 

It wasn’t too bad. I coughed and overacted, but it had barely done much to me.

 

“That’s what you get, fucking cunt.”

 

“Carter. You don’t know these two?”

“Nah. I thought they might be that prick Richards whores, but I don’t know these two.”

“Surprising.” I mentioned as I stood back up after fake coughing. “I guess you weren’t there that night I killed Morgan and V3LOCITY.” I told him.

 

Carter looked confused for a moment before it seemed to hit him. “Purple hair. That’s right. The bitch that fucked up the Shooters. That was you huh?”

“Yep.”

 

“Heh.” He chuckled before predictably punching me again.

 

“Motoko!” Hiromi called out in horror as Carter punched me across the face.

 

That… That hurt a bit. My cheek was already stinging from before!

 

“I’m fine Hiromi.” I told her firmly as I rose back up, to glare at the kid.