Chapter 113
You guys dont have to wait around. You could go check on Malcolm I offered as we entered the basement of the Straight Lane Apartments, where all my netrunning stuff was kept.
Malcolm is asleep, and Dr. Vik doesnt want us bothering him. Besides, we can help you like last time. Go through data while you keep up the hunt. Ichi replied and I didnt have a response for that.
I felt bad that my chooms would be hanging around me while I was basically sleeping, while leaving Malcolm alone. Especially with how antsy Ichi was to help.
Its fine Motoko. The sooner we find these fucks, the sooner we kill them and let Malcolm sleep like a baby. Hiromi reminded me and I nodded as I clambered onto my netrunning chair. I pulled out the chair's connectors and fitted them into my leotard so the biomonitors would keep an eye on me, and the coolant could flow then rested back.
Okay. Ill see you later. I told them and closed my eyes.
Only to open them in my blank lobby space.
It only took me a moment to adjust and then I was off. Zipping through the city in a blur as I used the IP address of all the systems I had been scanning back at the attack site to practically teleport there.
Then I set foot onto the netscape and went to work. First I accessed the cafe that was across the street. Breaking through their ICE with only a few moments of work since their system wasnt especially well protected. I ignored the connection to the other netrunner I had noticed before, and instead accessed their camera.
Only five minutes into entering the net I got my eyes on the fuckers that shot Malcolm.
It was hard to miss.
The four street thugs all charging through the alley, one still holding a pistol in his hand as they clambered into a rust bucket Archer Hella.
Then they took off with a jerky motion as they seemed to forget to release the parking brake before slamming the gas.
Part of me was still furious at these fucks but
Malcolm? Really choom? You trusted that these fucking gonks had a fucking Supercar for sale? They didnt look like they had XXL burrito to their name.
I sent a note for Ichi to ask Malcolm for more details on why he trusted these guys in the first place. These guys were just thugs. Chaff.
I refused to believe Malcolm was that stupid
Okay he had gone without backup. So maybe he was a little brain dead, but I refused to believe he was this stupid.
But they had given me what I needed. A direction.
The Archer Hella we are looking for is heading East on Lele. Towards Pardey? Yeah. Is there a freeway connection there? I asked my team as I started going down the street, checking if there was a good corner store with a camera on the intersection.
*No freeway connection there They would have to go south and then get on from the Republic Way connection.* Hiromi replied after a moment and I nodded.
Okay Lets cut down on what paths they could take, and track them home.
---
Two hours later I pulled out of the net to take a break.
I hadnt exactly eaten today and Hiromi and Ichi were both getting hungry.
We had tracked the fuckers through Charter Hill, Into Heywood of all places. I had thought they might be connected to the Tinos. But then as they moved through the area they turned east.
Into Arroyo. Then into Rancho Coronado.
6th St?
I lost them multiple times in the area. Unfortunately the industrial parks giving way to suburbs, cut out a lot of my ability to snoop.
Oh. Thanks Ichi! I Chirped as I finally opened my eyes to reality to see Ichi had obviously gone on a food run at some point.
No problem. There wasnt much we could do to help there at the end. He said stuffing a piece of some noodle dish into his mouth.
Yeah. Rancho Coronado is a bit of a dead zone. I grumbled. Sure there were still security cameras in the area, but they were few and far between, and worse some were pointing just at the front door, or at places I couldnt use.
So what do you think? Hiromi asked and I grumbled a bit as I sat and stuffed my own little meal into my mouth so I wouldnt have to speak at first.
Rancho is 6th St. If the guys fled there, they are probably 6th St. Or maybe they are an offshoot gang or something. We either go and start hunting them down, or maybe see if we cant use some diplomacy? Reach out to 6th St. Might be able to find out who they are that way?
You think 6th St. Would give up info on one of their own to us? Ichi asked, obviously skeptical, and I shook my head.
No I dont. Which means we are probably going to have to hunt them down, in the middle of gang territory This is gonna be a pain.
We could try and lure them out? Hiromi asked and I shrugged.
I dont think that will work Hiromi. However Malcolm contacted them, they arent going to respond through those methods. Especially if they suspect Malcolm isnt dead. Think about it. They wanted his eddies. If they have even a single braincell they will realize a teenager flashing that kind of money probably has people that will kill them to get a paycheck.
Ah true Theyre gonna suspect someone is coming to kill them.
I blinked.
Yeah. They will. They will suspect someone is going to try and hunt them down Hiromi you are very smart. I told her, and she looked questioning at me.
People in Night City were pretty direct. Normally if something like this happened, and Malcolm was some Corpo kid. They would hire a merc. The merc would try to hunt them down, succeed or not, and that would basically be it. Once the merc failed to find them Then the fuckers would be safe from retaliation. Wasnt like a merc was going to get paid if they found them a week after pissing off the guy hiring them by failing.
Hiromi continued to look confused at my words. But while she hadnt said anything genius herself, it was actually very accurate. If they suspected someone was coming for them Then thats what we would show them.
We are going to trick them. They are probably hiding right now. Deep in some hole. It wont be easy to find them, and even if we do, we will have to deal with 6th St. getting involved But if we convince them that they got away with it? If they think they are all clear, they will stop hiding. Then we wont have to hunt them down through 6th St. territory. We will just invite them to a nice little deal and remove them then.
So you go and pretend to look for them? Ichi asked and I shook my head.
No, I wont be a good choice, Im weird cause Im so young besides, I was trying to take a break this week anyways. Better to get someone that looks like a merc, give 6th St. Exactly what they suspect to see. That way they wont react strongly. Just another merc searching for someone for a bounty before giving up.
So we hire someone to pretend to look for them just to give up? Ichi asked looking a little unhappy with it.
Exactly. We hire a merc for an easy few days, of fucking around in Rancho Coronado, pretending to find our boys. And then he gives up, once he stops showing up. Obviously he couldnt find them and so everyone in the area will know that he gave up and that solves the whole problem.
Wait but who? Are you going to ask Jun or Fujimura-sama to hire a merc?
He pushed the Ramen over to me and I looked at it.
Jun was such a gonk I thought, definitely not seeing him through a bit of blurriness around the edges of my vision.
You are such a gonk. I told him as I walked over and threw my arms around his neck. I wasnt crying Jun was crying! He had faulty chrome for his optic lubricants! It was raining inside! I got something stuck in my eye!
Ignoring the fact I could poke my Kiroshi and not really be bothered by something like that.
Stupid Jun!
Thank you for going along with it, and just Im sorry it wasnt what you wanted. Hopefully we can make this place our home. And youll end up loving it even more. It certainly smells better. He muttered the end and I laughed, definitely not choking a bit on a sob.
The carpet is nice too! I informed him.
The Fridge is bigger.
Oh the bathroom has better hot water!
We went on and on telling each other good things about the new apartment, falling into the little game without even needing to discuss it, pure sibling comradery in action.
It was nice.
I even forgave him for the already cold Ramen when I tried it. Turns out his Kusanagi isnt exactly great for keeping Ramen warm on the cooling nights of Night City.
I ate it anyway though.
--
What are you doing? I asked Jun in the morning. I had slept, but Jun as usual slept in, but then to my surprise he came out of his room dressed in
Well athletic clothes?
Hitting the gym.
You? I couldnt help but ask in surprise. Jun was
He was a lazy teenager given chrome muscles. He didnt exercise. At least not that Ive ever seen.
I go to the Gym! He hissed every bit the offended teenager, but then hesitated before admitting Sensei told me Ive let the normal muscles Ive got left grow a bit weak. So Ive been informed to workout until he is satisfied.
I blinked. He looked away grimacing, because we both knew what was going to happen next.
Pffft! Cant be a big scary Oni if you are fat! I mocked in delighted laughter making Juns shoulders slump at my words.
I knew it. I knew this was going to happen, but I answered anyways. Why did I answer? Jun muttered to himself but I heard him.
So where you going? Is there a good Gym around here? I asked because honestly I could use my downtime to get another Body level
That actually sounded like fun. Ive been a bit in the dumps, but exercise was good for that!
Theres a TC Gym, yeah. Want to come? He offered and I instantly frowned at him. I really didnt
On the other hand, if there was a Gym in the building I wouldnt have to pay for that corpo Gym anymore!
Wait I havent been there in months! Shit I had to cancel!
Fucking Gym membership!
Sure. I agreed, heading into my room with a quick flip over the back of the couch to get changed.
--
The Gym was actually just outside the apartment complex. There was a little path and then what used to be a basketball court? Or maybe a tennis court. I couldnt tell, but now it was full of workout equipment.
And TC grunts using it.
Jun walked in without a moment's hesitation. Because to him these were his people. I took a moment to scope it out a bit first. Looking over the group. There were currently about five people using the equipment, all of which gave Jun a greeting as he entered.
I idly wondered how it worked. Were these guys Fujimuras people as well, or just well aware that Jun was Kamikaze and so being careful?
In the end it didnt matter. I didnt get the greetings Jun did, but no one bothered me as I found some free weights and loaded some pounds on the pole, before settling into a corner to do some squats.
I started with squats mostly so I could keep an eye on the area. I would have to switch to something else eventually if someone noticed that I was going overboard. There were too many people around for me to just work through a single machine or exercise until I got my alerts.
You a new kid? A rough voice asked and I looked up into an old man's face. Greyed beard and old Chrome. It was the first thing I thought when I looked up into his eyes.
This was a man that survived in Night City. He was shirtless as he had obviously been exercising, the wraps on his hands reminding me that I had seen him on a punching bag a few moments before. Old Tattoos stretched across his chest and back.
This man would be a Yakuza if he wasnt very obviously a Tyger Claw.
Yeah, just moved in. I informed him as I continued my reps up and down.
Then youre the Kusanagi girl! Well you got good form. Keep it up. Im John, this is my gym. If you need a partner for anything ask me. Ill help, or find someone who can. Dont break anything, no fighting in the gym. Good?
Perfectly. I offered the old man. As I continued up and down. I needed to push myself if I was going to get a Body alert.
Or eventually a level up. I was still a long way off. Not enough really pushing my body to the limit since I stopped actively exercising.
The older man watched for a moment before nodding seemingly pleased at my exercise and then turned to walk off. A few moments later he was critiquing a teenage boy for fucking around with his own free weights.
It always made me wonder what I should feel when someone among the TC treated me normally. These were the same guys that worked with Jotaro.
That committed horrible crimes.
I sighed. This was Night City I suppose.
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