Chapter 57
I walked out of Viks clinic into a new world.
I could barely believe the difference a new Cyberdeck brought. The speed, the clarity.
The fact it was able to connect to my systems better. It wasnt fifty year old tech trying to connect to modern Kiroshi, anymore.
The Seacho Mk. 2 wasnt top of the line, but it was a specialist deck. Made for rapid instant break ins and uploads. It was more than three times the power of the Millitech just outright. And that was only the numbers, and the numbers didnt tell the whole story.
It was new architecture. The difference of more than fifty years of improvements on the programming code
Well fifty years was saying a lot considering the Data Krash pushed everything back so much the Paraline was even still being sold. But the Seacho was new. Responsive, and designed for someone like me.
In my old life, it would be the difference in RAM from going from a DDR2, to a DDR5 memory stick.
You could have both offer the same level of RAM, but the DDR5 was a different beast even with the same numbers.
I glanced at a vending machine, as I walked past, reaching down and scooping up the soda it dropped.
I didnt even need to slow down. Didnt need to hold my eyes on the machine as I breached through its ICE.
No.
I simply looked, and instantly the pointed knives of my attack slipped through all the defenses.
I stepped out onto the street. People traveling up and down the streets moved past me, but it didnt matter. I was utterly focused on the netscape.
As I slipped through barriers, defenses, and peeked into their secrets.
This?
This was cool.
--
I was feeling pretty good once I got home, but I had a lot of work to do.
First? I needed to level my programming skill up some more, because I wanted to do something crazy.
I wanted my own Quickhack.
That was my goal. I wanted to be the netrunner that creates their own tools, because I wasnt some script kiddy playing around.
I was Motoko Fucking Kusanagi. I might not be The Major, but I would do her proud by not being a net moron.
So I took off my jacket, plopped my gloves on the table, stretched my fingers and got to typing.
Ping was still my target. I had managed to clean up a lot of the code, although now that I had a new deck I needed to adjust it again, the downside of slimming the program so much, but now it was a slim program that basically just did the one thing. It highlighted everything connected to the network, but I wanted it to do more than that.
It could do more than that.
First thing started adding to the program trying to make it harder to detect. Stealth was still my biggest advantage, and if I could ping a network without anyone noticing, even if there was an active netrunner that would be an advantage I couldnt ignore.
I knew just enough about programming now that as I started writing code to try and hide the Ping network access that I knew it wasnt going to totally work, but that wasnt the point. I didnt need perfect. I just needed code that I could improve, correct, rip apart and start again if I needed.
It was all about grinding, and even within just a few minutes of work, I got another alert.
*100 Programming XP Gained.*
Well that just meant I was on the right track.
--This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.
Hey Jun! I called out as I continued to type along. This bit of code was just not working, and it was driving me nuts!
Even my debug knowledge, while helpful, wasn't enough to fix it immediately. Although a sense of knowing had narrowed the bug down to just a small section of the code. Something here was wrong.
I knew it was wrong. I knew it wouldnt work and would crash if I tried to use it, but I didnt know why. I was down to reading through each line of code going through the section I just knew something was wrong at, luckily once I finished reading a bit of the code I could ignore it after.
The bug wasnt in anything I had already checked. So I just had to keep reading down the lines till I find it.
Motoko You okay?
This bug is going to die Jun. I kill things for a living so I will eventually kill this bug too. I told him as my fingers continued to thrash along the keyboard slowly line after line the code dropped down further and further. I was nearing the end now.
Ah.
Thats why! The port information was wrong. I had mistyped while going through it! A few moments later I finished the line and I knew it would work. The surety from Debug telling me this bit of code would work.
It wasnt pretty. It was messy and there was a memory leak in there I was gonna need to work out.
But it worked.
*Programming skill level up!*
Programming 3.
Whew.
Get it? he asked as I glanced up. Jun had obviously made himself at home while I was focused, a burrito in his hands as he sat on the couch, beside me.
I honestly hadnt even felt him sit down.
Yeah mostly. Its still garbage code, but it works, and its mine. I told him with a smile as he nodded slowly, eyes on me as he ate his burrito.
What?
You are so weird now. Im proud of you, for actually sticking through it enough to learn netrunning stuff, but its still so weird to see you so focused. He offered as he bit into his burrito and started chewing, eyes never leaving me.
*You certainly havent changed But listen I dont have a lot of eddies right now. Do you have anything I can help with?*
I hmmed as I considered the problem. First off. I really didnt. It wasnt like I had a bunch of scav
*Hey Ichi. You got around a lot in the city during the war right?*
*Yeah I traveled all over.*
*Then do you know where like all the rippers in the City are?*
*All? No, probably not. I know most of them though. Jotaro Well he had deliveries to different rippers*
*Yeah he is a monster lets move past that. He is dead. Knife to the throat. Terrible way to go. Listen, I need to find a specific Ripper. I dont know exactly what his name is or anything, but I caught a rumor that a Ripper is working with the scavs In other words people going to him for work sometimes disappear, and their chrome ends up in scav hands.*
*Fuck.*
*Yeah, buuuut, if we find him, and confirm it, I can smash the scavs kill the ripper and end up with a whole lot of premium chrome and equipment. Ill need someone who can clear out a base for me. Collect the loot. You wouldnt happen to know a guy?*
*I know a guy.* Ichi said, sounding excited. I could practically hear the cash register noise going on in his mind.
*Cool. So how about you come by. Well go hit all the Rippers you know. If I see the place Ill know which one.*
*Really? Just by seeing it?*
*Cmon Ichi. How many scavs do you think Ive killed? I can practically smell them.* I told him with a laugh which he shared.
We agreed to meet up and drive around. If Regina, or Wakako werent going to get back to me soon enough. Ill just make my own Gigs! With chooms! And rippers!
--
Although Ichi did come around in his truck. I pulled him into my Quadra instead. This was just reconnaissance after all.
It was funny, it actually didnt take me long to find the right place.
The only thing I remember about the quest after wracking my brain about it was that I ended up gaining the quest in the game while I was around Kabuki Market. The big roundabout that had the Dewdrop Inn.
So I knew it had to be around there.
With Ichis help, mostly his street knowledge, and helping navigate the side streets. We only stopped at two other Rippers before we came to a ripper shop setup in an alley that was twigging me hard.
When we walked in. I was already sure about it.
Welcome! How can I help today? Need some new Chrome? He asked Ichi as he entered in front of me looking very excited, until he noticed me following in.
The multiple weapons I was carrying including my thermal Katana had the guy instantly looking nervous.
Ichi followed through on what I told him, our little plot to make sure it wasnt weird we were walking in.
Of course the fact he was blushing a bit made it all the funnier.
Im Im looking for a Mr. Studd. he said in the most dead inside voice I had ever heard from the boy.
I pointedly wasnt looking straight at Ichi
But I was still recording it. This might be a more private BD, but I was planning on bribing Judy and getting this one done so I could share it with the crew.
Malcolm was going to DIE when he saw this. And Hiromi would never leave Ichi alone.
I uhhh. Yeah I have a few models. Come on in son, and this is Your girlfriend?
Pimp. I offered instead making Ichi turn on me, his face gaping in utter horror at my words. Make sure my little guy gets something packing okay? I said Cold Blood cranked up to maximum the only reason my face wasnt breaking down into absolute mirth at the look on Ichis face.
Wha! Motoko!
Uhhh? The Ripper sounded confused, looking a little surprised at the way this entire conversation was going.
Fine, fine. You win the 50 eddies. Sorry Doc, just a prank on my choom here. Nice place, next time I get some chrome Ill know where to come. I told him as I walked back out of the office leaving a stupefied Ripper and an angry Ichi following after.
Blackmail Get!
--
Its not funny. Ichi growled at me.
It totally is, and it means that doc wont think twice about us until its too late.
I really doubt us going in, browsing and walking out is going to cause him to wonder either.
It would, since you have no poker face and it looked like you were trying to case the place, now it just looks like you were embarrassed.
I AM embarrassed!
Well dont worry. That Doc is the one. Hell be dead soon and no one but me will ever know. I lied blatantly.
Motoko Why did you just lie to me.
I have no idea what you are talking about Ichi.
You pointedly looked away from me, and werent able to stop grinning when you just said that. Thats your lying face.
Hmm nope. Doesnt sound like me. Cmon lets go call everyone. More hands will make clearing that place way easier.
Motoko!
Oh look a call! I told him as I quickly called Malcolm to invite him to the gig.
This was going to be fun!
