net

It wasn't unusual to have gunfire going through the city but for it to be close enough that I actually woke up? I was glad I wasn't injured, so when I startled awake in the middle of the night, I was able to move instantly. Grabbing my Unity from my belt hanging on the desk chair in my room. I snagged an extra magazine as I hurried to the window to peak out from the armored shutters.

There was a war going on outside my apartment.

I could recognize Tyger Claw Kusanagi's and a Maelstrom truck as the two forces went at each other.

At first I wasn't sure what to do. Did I even want to get involved in this? I didn't see Jun, but he could be down there fighting.

Then one of the Strom Borgs fired a damn rocket out of his arm, and it slammed into my apartment building. The building shook and I had a moment looking around wondering if my apartment was about to collapse.

Thankfully it didn't. But I could hear screams from below! There were people in this building!

I rushed out. Rushing down stairs and while the security gate normally would have stopped me from going to a floor below. It wasn't like I hadn't already breached the security of the entire building. It opened for me, and I rushed to the apartment that had just been hit.

I hammered on the door for a moment but I couldn't hear anything over the gunfire.

So I 'looked' at the door a bit harder and it popped open, surely it must be from all the explosions! I would never break into everyone's security systems! That would be wrong.

So I had broken into her security before, and since Wall Breaking was a great perk, I already had a backdoor.

The door opened into a warzone. The window normally covered in security blinds was destroyed, metal shards and bits of brick laying across the apartment.

More importantly, was the injured older woman laying across the floor covered in rubble. She had probably been doing the same thing I had. Peeping out the window to see what was going on.

I ran forward doing my best to stay low so I wouldn't be spotted through the hole and landed next to her. She was breathing.

Barely.

I didn't have my med supplies on me either. Glaring at myself for not grabbing any more of my gear, I ducked as a spray of bullets came through the hole. It wasn't even at me, just the general mayhem outside. I couldn't stay here, and neither could she.

Moving someone injured like this was a bad idea, but hell if her spine was broken she could buy a new one. I heaved up her arms and dragged her through the apartment back out into the hallway. Then through the security gate.

The stairwell was the most armored part of the building, she should be safe here. I checked her pulse again and she was breathing, but I wasn't a doctor. I rushed back upstairs grabbing a Bounce Back out of my supplies. I would have to buy more med supplies soon. I had only gotten so much from the scavs.

Back into the stairwell I could hear people from the building freaking out. I ignored it as I rushed back down the stairs. As I reached her, I popped the lid off the Bounce back and jabbed it into her chest pressing down on the button.

She gasped, and shook a bit, but her breath evened out and sounded fuller.

Bounce Back was awesome like that.

Whatever science magic was inside, would hopefully keep her alive. But I still had some things to take care of. I rushed back into the lady's apartment, and took a moment to look out the massive hole.

Tyger Claws on bikes and a Maelstrom kill truck. The damn thing was more like an armored carrier than a truck.

I wasn't sure who had hit who, but considering I could see the mangled wreck of a Kusanagi under the wheels of the truck I could guess.

Fine.

At a glance Parkour told me everything I needed to know.

Three stories up?

No problem. I jumped. Instant coolness washing over me, as I fell.

There were plenty of things to leap down from as I moved, each floor had AC units or just jutting ledges.

It was easy. Three hops and I was in the air falling through the sky.

I landed feet first into the back of one of the borgs. It was the surprise that knocked him off his feet more than anything. No one expects the second floor double drop kick. I had picked this borg specifically out of all of them.

My Unity wouldn't do shit against them. The Tygers pistols were bouncing rounds already. So I slipped my Unity into the back of my pants making sure it was safe.

Didn't want to blow my own ass off.

I had picked one of the borgs that had a weapon I could use.

As I slammed into him I reached out grabbing the end of his gun. As he fell he automatically let go. Everyone does. They reach out to halt their fall, it's instinct, even for a Borg.

Unfortunately that meant I was able to spin his Carnage shotgun into my arms as I literally stood on his back.

He was cursing, climbing up to his knees when he must have felt the shotgun press against the back of his head.

I pulled the trigger and it was only thanks to recoil control that I didn't get knocked right off him. But I didn't. Instead his head disappeared, and I was now standing in the middle of a gunfight.

*1000 XP Gained.*

But now the Strom were on the back foot. The Tyger Claws now, no longer completely on defense.

I moved leaping off the borg as I pumped the shotgun, the noise monstrously loud to my ears as I ducked and rolled under the Maelstroms truck. Disappearing just in time as suddenly one of the Borgs opened up with a machine gun where I had been standing tearing up the asphalt.

Mostly concealed, I brought the shotgun up and fired. Shooting another Borg in the leg.

Although it didn't do what I wanted and blow his leg off, he still fell to the ground screaming, as I pumped the shotgun again.

From the weight of the gun I knew I only had one more round. Gun nut once again helping me out.

I continued rolling moving out from under the truck, but now on the opposite side.

They had lost sight of me.

That would cost them. Especially since the door to their truck was still open. I slipped in, unseen by both groups as they continued to fire on eachother. The inside of the truck stunk of drugs, and blood.

Charming.

I slipped over to the drivers side, easily taking over the truck.

The morons had hit the Claws jumped out and started gunning them down.

But now I had their wheels.

I floored it. Turning the wheel as I did so I smashed into the surprised face of a Maelstrom borg, the truck rocking as I hit him and kept going.

We stared at each other. My purplish eyes meeting his red glowing optics as he hung onto the front of the truck as I continued to floor it.

I could see him gathering his wits, pulling out a pistol.

He must have been confused though, as he watched me reach behind me and even as I accelerated I threw the seatbelt over my chest.

A moment after we slammed into a brick wall.

Everything was chaos for a moment as I was jerked around and smashed against the drivers seat.

But I had a seatbelt on.

The car quieted a few moments later and I glanced up, ignoring the feeling of blood rolling down the side of my head after I had bashed my head against the door. I looked into the glowing red eyes of the borg.

"Still alive huh?" I asked my voice sounding a little distant. Probably a concussion.

"B-biiitch." He gasped out in a staticy pained voice.

I reached over and grabbed the Shotgun.

"W-wa-it."

I did not wait.

I pointed and fired.

*1000 XP Gained.*

"No." I answered only after I was sure he wasn't a threat. Seriously, only idiots stopped to talk and monologue during a gun fight. Shoot first, then say the witty one liner.

Wasn't like you were saying the one liner for them anyways.

I pulled the seatbelt off with a groan my body was not happy with me. As I pushed the drivers door.

No give. I ended up having to crawl out through the broken windshield hissing a bit at the cuts on my hands and feet.

"Should have put on my boots." I grumbled as I stepped out of the truck. I turned to look at the firefight, but it was wrapping up. Maelstrom had more people at first, and they got the drop on the Claws, but we were in Claw territory.

Where at first there had only been five Claws fighting against about that number in Borgs, now there was three times the amount of claws pulling up on their bikes and firing into the three borgs that now had no way to escape.

The gun fire stopped not long after. When a borged out Tyger Claw pulled out a set of Mantis blades and went in.

Bloody work.

I started walking up and I winced.

There hadn't been just five Claws at first. Looks like seven. A pair of bodies were being looked over. But with just a flash scan I could tell they weren't breathing.

That's a shame.

I walked into the group of claws that were all talking and shouting amongst themselves ignoring them entirely as I walked to the Borg I had killed.

He should have some more ammo for this thing, and I was growing kind of fond of the Carnage. I totally get why Rebecca liked it now. Sure it was ugly, and a little smashed together, but it shot good.

I liked it.

As I knelt down and started searching through his dirty coat, I was unfortunately noticed.

"The fuck is this?" A loud voice called out and then a blur of japanese that I only recognized as a lot of cursing. But the Bosozoku brat was also pointing a katana at me.

Was I gonna have to flatline this kid?

Oh! This borg had a shotgun shell bandolier!? Okay I have to admit, that's pretty fuckin preem. I quickly unlatch it and with a bit of effort I yanked it off him and whipped it up and over my shoulder.

Mine now.

Always wanted one of these.

"Who the hell are you!?"

"Nobody important." I offered as I rose up the guys Katana was drawing a little too close for my comfort.

"Chill out Higa. This girl is crazy, came in and flatlined that Strom literally dropped on him from above." A girl said as she hurried over. "Put your Katana away, the Maelstrom are already dead."

As he looked away I idly swiped a shell from the bandolier and slipped it into the shotgun.

Just in case. Then since he was just that distracted despite standing close to me, I went ahead and loaded a few more.

This guy was kinda… Blind.

"I don't know this bitch! She is standing in the middle of our battle! Looting!"

"Enough." A voice said from beside me, and I blinked, I hadn't noticed. Not a sound had come from the guy until that moment. Sneaky!

I looked over and the Tyger Claw borg was standing beside me. "Don't." Although he wasn't looking at the kid.

He was looking at me. So I was looking at him. If he thought he was going to win a staring contest, jokes on him.

I didn't need to blink anymore. Our eyes met, and I could tell he was figuring out the fastest way to kill me. I could just tell. Maybe a Ninjutsu thing.

His eyes were neon I noticed. Changing colors along with his tats that shifted and looked like the animals were readying to attack.

"Yeah yeah. It was just in case." I finally waved him off. As I stopped readying to pop the katana kid.

Instead I turned back to checking the borgs pockets.

Unfortunately other than a credit shard which I happily klepped, he only had drugs.

A lot of drugs.

I sighed and left them. Not my style.

"Fuckin' you just gonna let her?"

"It was her kill." The borg offered with a shrug. "She can take what she kills." He said simply.

"Tsk, Fine whatever." He grumbled as his Katana lowered.

"You happen to know Jun… Ah Junichirou Kusanagi?" I asked as I looked the borg over.

The man was silent as he took in my question before slowly nodding. "I know of him."

"He's my brother. You haven't seen him in the last week or so have you? He's been out of contact."

"No." He said simply and I noticed the way he said it… Yeah this guy was suffering from Cyberpsychosis. I just felt it. The man was struggling to care about anyone around him the social apathy, and worse.

The sociopathy. He was still considering how to kill me. I could see it, the way his hands were flexing the joints of his Mantis Blades popping just a tiny bit.

Yep. I'm out of here.

"Cya around Tyger Claws. Try not to get killed on my street next time." I called out to the group as I turned and headed back to the apartment. Ignoring the bloody footprints I was leaving behind. Stupid glass. Oh well I got a new gun, and getting new guns did make me happy. I might even try to mod it a bit. I bet I could do something similar to Rebecca's Guts. Absolutely max out the recoil and firepower.

Could be fun, all I would really need is to double check the barrel and receiver to make sure it can handle a stronger load.

I couldn't help but start whistling a bit as I made it to the apartment. Taking the elevator up to my floor I was about to enter the apartment before I stopped.I turned peeking down the stairs and I sighed. The woman I had left there was gone. I headed down looking around.

I really hoped someone hadn't grabbed her while she was unconscious. But as I came down the floor the apartment door was open and I could see her standing there just looking at her apartment.

"You okay?" I asked and she jumped wincing as she clutched her head but she turned to look at me.

Yeah she didn't look okay.

"You're bleeding."

"Just a flesh wound. You should see the other guy." I couldn't help but add. "Really you gonna be okay? I pulled you out of there and gave you a Bounce Back but that isn't a miracle. You need a hospital?"

The older woman sort of blinked as she looked at me as if my words were just incomprehensible.

"Who are you?" She finally asked and I simply stared at her for a minute.

"Motoko, I'm your neighbor." I finally decided on as I pointed upwards. "Alright, well I tried. I'm going to sleep. Have a good night." I told her as I stepped back and then up the stairs. She was looking at me like I was gonna attack her or something.

Weird.

So I entered my apartment sighed as I realized I would need to check my foot and probably take one of my last Max Doc's before I tried to sleep otherwise I would bleed all over my bed. So I headed into the bathroom cleaning my feet and my head wound, and finding I did have a piece of glass still stuck in my foot.

Ow.

A maxdoc stopped my bleeding, and I then sighed again as I had to get a bucket and clean up the floor, bloody footprints marched across the ground.

With a sigh I finished cleaning up and settled on the couch. Was I forgetting something? I felt like I was. So I settled onto the couch and decided I would enjoy a good eight hours of shut eye. The NCPD lights just now starting to play across my apartments wall.

Guess they finally showed up to cart away the corpses.

—---

I woke up mid afternoon the next day and as I was rubbing the sleep out of my eyes and stretching I finally realized what I had forgotten.

"Jun!" I cursed as I hurriedly pulled up my phone system and sent him a text.

*There was a Strom attack on the street outside the apartment, I'm fine, no injuries, apartment below us had some damage. Just wanted you to know I was okay so you wouldn't freak… Haven't heard from you in a while.*

I sat down on the couch and just kinda waited for a bit, hoping that Jun would at least respond back.

Then I realized I was being stupid. Jun was still a teenage boy and was definitely out all night hunting Maelstrom.

He was 100% still asleep. It wasn't even noon yet.

So I shook that away and looked at my alerts.

*Body Leveled up!*

*Annihilation skill level up!*

Body 6, and Annihilation 4. Finally I had gotten Body to level up again. I guess all the shotgun shooting had finally gained the last bits of XP I needed.

*Driving skill level up!*

*1 Perk Point Gained.*

I pointedly ignored that one since literally all I did was crash a truck… On purpose! I crashed a truck on purpose! That was the plan! Okay I would look at perks later.

But I took a moment to look over my body. The increase to body had some effects. I looked… Muscular. I had actual biceps when I flexed. Motoko strong! I giggled as I did a few stretches enjoying the feeling of my stronger muscles.

I decided to get some exercise in while I got breakfast. Slipping out of the apartment I jogged around the block picking up some food at my favorite little street vendors.

Yet even as I did I could tell that things were changing. The gang war was getting bad. People were more skittish than usual, which is saying something in Night City. People. I could see the damage from the attack still on the street outside the apartment, I pointedly didn't look at the brick wall I had smashed through with the truck.

That was Maelstrom's fault, not mine. Definitely not mine. At all.

But things were getting tense.

After breakfast I decided it was time to get something done I had been putting off as I threw myself into crafting.

I drove out to the little netrunners shop carrying my netsuit in hand.

—--

"That's a lot of holes." Was the first thing the old asian lady at the little shop I had bought my Netrunner suit from muttered at me as I flopped the suit on the table.

"Yeah people like to shoot at me." I said as she looked over my suit.

"People like to hit you too." She told me and I shrugged.

"Hazards of the job."

"The armor didn't do much I see." She muttered as looked over the suit.

"Noticed that. Figured I was just getting hit with something too big to stop. Might be why I'm still alive though."

"No." She answered instantly, and I could hear a hint of anger in her voice. "No. Look, the interior panels… They are fake." She growled, the little old woman was practically leaking smoke as she hissed, her pipe glowing red as she sucked in the smoke.

"Fake?"

"The armor liner is supposed to have a layer of kevlar. This? This isn't Kevlar." she peeled the armor apart, and showed me the liner which as she spoke she pulled apart and showed… Cardboard? Well probably not, but something close to it. Her fingers pulled bits apart with just that tiny effort.

"This wouldn't stop a needle from poking you, much less a bullet." She looked away from the leotard, meeting my eyes. "I sold you defective goods." She growled a bit as she threw the leotard onto the table. "When I get my hands on that supplier…" She growled a bit, and considering she hung out in a shop that catered to netrunners, not exactly people well known for not getting revenge I had a feeling her supplier was about to have a really bad week.

"I didn't even notice." I added as I leaned down to look over the leotard. Poking at the holes. My Kiroshi scans didn't notice anything out of place, which was weird. It was only when I pulled the cardboard-like inner liner out and scanned it did I get a scan of what the material was made out of.

"You didn't notice bullets were slipping through your armor?"

"I had other things on my mind whenever I got shot." I joked as I looked over the gunk. How did my eyes never notice this? I've scanned my leotard before… But I guess I hadn't really been looking for anything.

This was a good lesson, my Kiroshi were amazing, but they weren't magic. I still needed to pay attention.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then her eyes went blue, and I blinked as a pretty hefty chunk of eddies was handed into my account. "The eddies. For the trouble, and as an apology." The old woman offered and I just sorta shrugged.

She didn't give me the feel of someone that was lying. She seemed to be earnest about not knowing.

"The armor, did you use it on anyone else's gear?"

The woman blinked before cursing. "A moment please." Her eyes went yellow, but she came back after a minute. Must have been sending a text.

"I can send your measurements to another I know that does modifications." She offered out of the blue, throwing me for a loop.

"Huh?"

"So you can get your suit replaced?"

"Why would I go somewhere else? I already have a shop right here." I told her with a calm face. She was probably embarrassed about this whole thing. I know I would be.

"You would still trust my work?"

"Other than the armor, it was comfortable and exactly what I wanted. So let's fix that, and we are good to go. I need a couple more of them in fact, and I was gonna ask how to repair them if you could show me? I'm a bit of a techie as well, but maybe I won't have to if the new ones actually have armor?"

"I'll show you anyway. We can use this one since it's… Well trash. Come." She ordered hopping off a little chair and dragging me into a backroom with a workbench and a bunch of equipment.

Oh the woman was less a normal seamstress and more a techie herself. Makes sense there were a lot of components in a normal net suit.

Cool!

"Can you teach me a bit about this? Putting together a netrunner suit I mean?"

She looked me over before shrugging. "I can show you the basics. Everything else I will only teach my children… You are too young for my son." She informed me flatly as she waved her pipe at a chair. "Sit."

I chuckled a bit as I settled in. The woman was a master, and I know I only understood bits of what she was sharing, but it was still fascinating to learn.

*100 Technical Attribute XP Gained*

It took a few hours, but I walked out of the shop wearing a new Leotard, and a bag with a few spares. It had also cost me way less than the first one. So that was nice. Rather than head directly home I decided to look around, maybe stop at a cafe or something to eat something different.

I didn't want to turn into Jun and his Vendor Burrito aficionado status. The thought stopped me cold for a moment before I let it go.

I would always worry about Jun, but all I could do is keep moving forward.

I ended up stopping at a nice little cafe and eating a quiet lunch. The many Mox in the area were… Different. Thankfully despite being asian, no one bothered me since I wasn't exactly looking like a normal Tyger Claw.

So, I got to people watch all the Mox that were everywhere in the area.

Pastel and neon. Weird combo, but I could respect it. The Mox were… Interesting. On one hand they were still sort of at the point in a gang's life where the original idea to actually make things better was still active. But at the same time it was starting to die off. Greed changed everything.

Instead of helping people like the Mox had been founded on, they were now shifting to helping the Mox and no one else.

Funny how that goes. Soon it would shift more and the Mox would be like 6th St. Using force to keep their income stream safe and active.

I finished up my lunch and left the little cafe, walking down the street just sort of taking in the sights of the area. Even here though it was tense. Mox were heavily armed. People were scurrying around for the most part. Shops all had extra security either in guards, or equipment.

Everyone was afraid of the gangs right now. Tyger Claws were being aggressive as Strom poked them with a stick, and it was having a knock on effect. Tyger Claws being angry and hyper aggressive meant Mox were running into trouble, which was cutting off Mox areas from other gangs.

Most of the other gangs wouldn't admit it, but it was making getting BD's that the Mox sold difficult, and so that was causing tension everywhere.

Crazy to think that basically lack of porn was causing an issue throughout the city, but there you go. Night City folks.

I was walking down through a small park area when I heard it.

A cry of pain, the sound of flesh being struck, and angry voices. I felt myself tense, a stream of instincts all coming out to play as I lowered myself down to better control my center of gravity and crept along.

My boots became absolutely silent on the concrete path.

Thankfully it wasn't anything serious. I turned around a bush on the path and frowned as I saw a bunch of teenagers. Three boys all standing around a fourth who was on the ground.

And bruised and beaten up.

"Trying to fuck us over again, huh Nox?" One of the boys said as he kicked the figure on the ground. "I think I'll just take what BD's you have instead. Teach you a lesson, yeah?"

The boy on the ground groaned and curled up around a backpack.

I sighed, a teenage brawl? A sale of BD's gone wrong? Well I didn't see any guns, or knives. So I was pretty uninterested…

But it would be the right thing to do wouldn't it? To help out the guy on the ground… I considered it. I didn't really think of myself as a hero. I was kinda too selfish for that. But I had been doing a lot of murder, even if they all deserved it.

Saving someone in trouble would be a good act.

My shoulders slumped.

"Alright I think that's enough of that!" I called out as I came around the corner. The three boys still standing all startled for half a second before looking between each other and me incredulously.

"Who the hell is this?"

"Never seen her before, you Ian?"

"Nope. Hey fuck off." One of them called out throwing me a middle finger.

I looked the three boys over. "No. Don't know what's going on, but I'm interfering. Head off, I think you've beaten the kid enough for today."

"Maybe I haven't choom. Why don't you fuck off, before we take you over to those bushes and play XBD?"

My nose crinkled. Disgusting. Just for that. I wasn't gonna let them walk away.

I sighed as I adjusted my gloves a bit ensuring they were tight, stretching my neck a bit to make sure I was limbered up.

And then while the three gonks were all trying to square up and act like tough guys. I simply moved.

Unfortunately this was Night City. Teenagers knew how to fight here more often than not. They startled at my sudden aggression but didn't run, instead they attacked.

I wasn't able to throw the first punch.

Stupid long boy arms. But I had a few levels in Street Brawling. Blocking a punch was nothing fancy. I took the hit on my forearms and ducked in, a right jab into his gut caused him to burst into a wheeze as he folded over.

Wow, did this kid not know how to take a punch?

I barely got my arm up in time to block a punch from my right. My eyes caught where he was looking, the accuracy of my Kiroshi making it childsplay to lift a leg and catch his kick on my shin.

The third guy was quicker than I thought. He didn't go for a punch, instead he grabbed my left arm in a harsh grip, since I was already on one foot he managed to move me pretty easily, almost throwing me to the ground, but I kept my feet by grabbing his wrist that was holding me.

Then to my surprise I squeezed, and with a twist of my hand was able to rip his hand off my arm. Since I had him now, I pulled tugging him into a knee that I slammed into his stomach.

Turning to fight kick boy I didn't quite manage to dodge a punch.

I winced as his blow slammed not into me, but into the Burya holstered under my jacket.

Ow!

I wheezed a bit as he just punched a hunk of metal into my chest, but he was getting the worse off. As he was staggering back cradling his hand.

"Time out." I managed to wheeze as I waved him off reaching up under my jacket and wincing.

He punched the Burya into my tit!

Ow!

"I think you just broke my hand!" He whined as he bent over his clutching his wrist "Let… Let's call it done?" He asked after a minute of painful breathing as he struggled not to make too much noise.

I had bent over the little stone wall that surrounded the park. Clutching my chest as it throbbed in pain. "Deal. Take your Chooms and get lost." I waved him off as I breathed, and after a few moments the three boys turned tail and ran.

Ow! Sure Cold Blood could make me not feel it, but c'mon going all cold for a couple of kids seemed so pointless! But still… Ow!

"Hey you alive?" I asked once the three were gone as I walked over to the beaten boy.

Huh. Beaten Mox boy. That was definitely their colors.

"I'll… Live." He muttered as he looked me over from a single eye, the other one already swollen shut. At some point he had stopped curling up and moved into a sitting position with his back resting against the stone wall.

"Good." I muttered, turning to walk away. I was so done here. Time to go check my bruised tit in my car.

Even with the alerts for Street Brawling I hadn't exactly been looking around for a fist fight.

Also my tit hurt.

"W-wait!" The teen gasped out as He sort of fumbled to stand. I turned and sort of stared at him helpless to even get up and sighed. "I owe you one, let me thank you!" He begged as he rose up it was obvious he was weak but he managed to get to his feet, as he did he gasped as his bag was held wrong.

Everything inside fell to the ground in a torrent.

Condoms?!?

No wait. Those were BD's. They were in condom wrapping because someone had a sense of humor.

"F-fuck." He muttered, bending down into the dirt and stuffing them back into his bag.

I watched for a minute before I finally decided to speak up. "You should just leave them, I think you need to get to a Ripper or something first."

"No! I can-can't. Any of the BD's I lose, I'll have to pay for!" He gasped out as he was struggling to find them all.

I sighed and with a single glance of my scanner I had them all. Three of them were hidden under a bush, but after a moment and a confirmation from my scanner we had them all.

"Damn…Are those Kiroshis? That's preem ware." He muttered, having noticed me looking around and scanning the ground.

"Thanks." I stood up having grabbed the last of the BD's and wiped my pants. I had just turned when I had a hand grab at my wrist.

"H-hey! Wait! Hold on, Umm I owe you one! I'm gonna go to Lizzie's to get checked out, you should come, I'm sure I can get you a reward for saving me."

"I don't really need a reward, thanks though." I offered but the boy wasn't letting me walk away.

"C-Cmon even if you won't accept a reward, you really saved me, come by the bar, I can introduce you to Mateo, cheap drinks?"

"I don't drink." I refused, waving my hands but again he wasn't taking no for an answer.

"Then at least come with, let everyone know who helped out a Mox. We don't forget people who did us a favor." He begged.

I was going to refuse again, but just as I was about to say it, he sort of limped and almost tripped.

"Fuck." He cursed wincing at his ankle which I noticed with a glance was swelling up.

"Looks sprained… C'mon. I'll give you a ride at least. My car isn't far." I muttered. This is what I get for being the hero. A bruised tit, and having to do more work.

He looked up, his face flashing into a smile… Which wasn't the best to look at with all the swelling. "Yes! Hey I'm Nox the Mox." He… Introduced himself.

"Nox the Mox?" I asked as I felt my face flattening into a deadpan.

"Yep! I'm a seller, a good one, a catchy name means people remember you when they want something. Trust me, it sounds a bit weird, but my name alone has got me a ton of business!" He practically chirped as he limped along until I helped stabilize him.

"Motoko. I don't run with a gang, so I guess I'm Motoko the Merc."

"Oh? A merc? I guess that explains the moves and the chrome." He said adding a little karate chops to his words.

"Yeah, something like that." I muttered as we turned a corner and came up to my car. I could feel the moment he noticed it as he sorta pulled away a bit.

"U-um, nice car. I might want to just walk…" I chuckled a little at his response because I really needed to get my ride painted.

"Don't worry I'm not a Wraith, despite what my ride says. I had a job that took me out to the Badlands. It turned into a bit of a mess but I flatlined the previous owner, and now I have his ride… I really need to get it painted."

"Right.. Okay sure." He muttered, sounding a little suspicious, but I shrugged and helped him into the car as I went around.

With a flick of my mind I switched to map mode and made up a path to Lizzie's Bar.

"So, a Merc huh? What's that like?"

"Pay goes from good to complete shit usually depending on how much someone shoots you." I told him truthfully as I pulled out to the street and started driving to the bar. "What's a BD salesman like?"

"It's good eddies when I have a buyer, but it's just enny's most of the time. Nothing like Merc work."

"Trust me merc stuff can be fun, but it also has moments where you do a lot of work or get in dangerous situations and get paid close to nothing." I said, remembering a certain job with a group of teenage gangers.

That had been a bit of a mess.

Thankfully the bar wasn't far, and I didn't have to share more than a few more bits about jobs I had done before I pulled slowly into the parking lot of Lizzie's Bar.

Of course pulling up in a very obviously painted ride drew attention. I could see the bouncer Rita, if I remembered her name right, go from relaxing at the door to carrying her baseball bat with a vengeance.

Still I ignored that instead stepping out and walking over to help Nox get out of the car as he was having a bit of trouble with his foot. Once he was upright I didn't need to move anymore as Rita was there, baseball bat still held tightly in one hand as she looked over the two of us.

"Nox. What's going on?"

"Rita hey. Umm you know I ran into Ian's group. They uh. Weren't happy with my price, and thought klepping would be cheaper." He spoke before pointing at me. "Motoko here saved my ass, fought them off and sent them packing, even helped me pack up my stock."

"The stock, that you were specifically told to stop taking out? That stock?" Rita snapped, but sighed as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Let's get you inside and cleaned up. Suzie can decide what to do about you and your sticky fingers." The Bouncer said as she reached over and helped Nox by grabbing his other arm.

She stopped from moving though as she looks me over. "We don't let Wraiths into the Bar."

"Not a Wraith. Just a merc. The previous owner of the car totaled my old one." I offered lying.

I didn't have a previous car, but it made me sound more mature rather than saying I stole it because I didn't have a ride and was sick of taking the bus and train.

"Right."

"Anyway it doesn't matter. I was just making sure Nox got somewhere for help. I'll just head out." I added moving to walk away when a hand once again grabbed at me.

"No! Rita! Motoko saved me! The least we can do is invite her in!" Nox asked and I felt my shoulders slump a bit. I turned around.

"That really isn't necessary. I-."

"It is! You did a Mox a massive favor, we don't just send people away who do that! Suzie should hear! Let her decide." He begged, and I honestly didn't want to deal with this anymore, but Rita's shoulders slumped a bit as she started walking.

"Fine she can come in. Just don't cause any trouble." Rita demanded and I really considered just leaving, but Nox was throwing me a thumbs up and waving me to follow and I sighed as I followed in after them.

I didn't even like bars! Much less a BD bar that was one step away from a Doll house!

I followed in after all. Mostly because I was kinda curious if I would see Judy. So I walked into Lizzie's Bar. We went instantly to the left and into a small side room off the entrance, where Nox was lowered onto a couch and Rita went around a bunch of lockers and grabbed a med kit.

I looked around and was staring at an array of computers along the wall. Security, or was it the lights and music controls? I wasn't sure, and I wasn't about to go snooping. So I ignored it, and I watched as Rita with surprisingly careful hands considering her arms were all chrome and covered in spikes she slathered some goop on Nox's face and gave him a few bandages.

"Thanks Rita."

"You are always trouble kid, try not to piss people off so much." She instantly retorted as she rose. "I'll get Mateo to bring in something to drink and maybe something for the pain, and I'll call Suzie. She is gonna deal with this from here. I need to get back outside." She stood and as she walked past me she still and gave me a look. "Don't cause any trouble." She spoke bluntly, absolutely a threat but I just shrugged.

"I'm not on a job, not much of a troublemaker otherwise." I assured her and she sorta nodded without doing so.

"I think she likes you." Nox offered as he lay back on the couch sort of sighing.

"I think you need to get your head checked." I said as I sat in the desk chair. "You gonna be good?"

"Yeah Mateo will bring me something good for the pain and I'll be square. But soon Suzie will be here and she can slip you a nice reward."

"I don't really need anything, a reward sounds a little silly."

"Nonsense! You saved a Mox, the least we should do. Besides, I haven't gotten your number yet! What do I do if I need to hire a merc if I don't get your number?" He asked, flashing me a crooked smile that had nothing to do with his bruised and bloody lip.

"Talk to a Fixer." I retorted simply which caused his smile to twitch and deflate at my instant refusal.

The noise of the club picked up suddenly as the door opened.

"Nox."

"Hey Suz!" He called out sounding cheerful even if he was only looking at her with one eye.

She gave a sigh as she looked him over for a moment before seeming to decide he would live.

She turned to me. Suzie Q. The leader of the Mox. Also a woman that didn't seem to be happy to deal with this shit right now.

"You are?"

"Motoko. Just someone that saw Nox getting in trouble and decided to help out."I offered with a shrug which didn't seem to satisfy the woman. She kept her eyes locked on me, as if trying to will me to fess up, or alter my story.

But I literally had no idea what she wanted.

"Your help is appreciated then. You helped the Mox. We will remember." She offered simply, and I shrugged.

"No worries. I just saw someone getting beat up and decided to step in." I turned towards the door. "Alright. I'm heading out. Nox, heal well, try not to pick fights with people that are stronger than you… Or more numerous."

"Aww c'mon Motoko, at least give me your number! I might have some jobs for you!"

I sighed as I moved to open the door as I bent my head over my shoulder letting my eyes go gold.

"There. See ya around." I called after sending him a handshake exchange. His information and mine shared between us.

"Preem!" He called out as I headed out, swiftly running from the bar, and the many people giving me looks.

It wasn't my fault I had a Wraiths car. I mean… It was that I hadn't gotten it painted yet.

Okay fine. I guess it was my fault.

I hurried to my car noticing a Mox girl hiding by the drivers door as she dug through her bag, a clink of spray cans reaching my ears. I sighed and hurried getting there just in time to slip the can out of her hand as she reached to start graffitiing my car.

"The old paint job is terrible, I know, but I already have plans to get a new one. Let's leave it at that." I tell the younger girl. She was probably 12, 13? Smaller than me as she hastily accepted my offer of her spray can back before she took off. I just let her run off. No point in causing a scene. Even if Rita, had looked like she was about to hurry over and protect the little girl.

This city needed to relax a little.

I slipped into the car ignoring everything else as I slowly backed out of the spot so I wouldn't hit anyone and sedately drove to the street access, a flip of my turn signal, and a double check to make sure I had space let me slip onto the road and slowly accelerate off the property.

—--

The next morning I was back to grinding tech. I had spent the afternoon after dealing with the Nox situation heading out to the dump to find some goodies.

Thankfully it had done some good. New pieces of tech to work on had made the alerts start popping up again.

I was so close to another level!

I also still hadn't heard from Jun.

But I was doing my best to ignore that.

Hiromi was in class, and I really had nothing to do but just keep grinding away.

I munched on mystery meat stick as I continued to tinker on getting the laptop working. My current plan was to take a few of the laptops I had managed to get working again, and try to learn how to make my own Quickhacks.

I hadn't gained any knowledge on them from Crafting, so there must be a new skill hidden there in the system for me to learn, and I needed more numbers! Numbers for the numbers God!

I took a break and stretched a long yawn pulling from my throat as I decided to get some lunch. With Hiromi in school I wouldn't be able to eat with her, but I figured I could head out and find something tasty and after maybe I should get my car painted.

"Probably should do that sooner rather than later." I grumbled, as I headed out. Paint first. Then food.

—--

So I did eventually find a shop, and in the future of Cyberpunk it only took about two hours for a full paint job.

But I was running into some trouble.

"It's not a Wraith car. It's mine."

"Why's it got Wraiths on it then?"

"Cause it used to belong to a Wraith. Then I flatlined him. Now it's mine." I explained. Again.

The man sitting behind a little desk in the 'office' of the mechanics shop was chewing on a cigarette as he leaned back. A mechanical leg propped up on a cushion every bit the grungy mechanic.

"And what happens when they find out we painted their ride? Not looking for trouble like that."

"Kinda hard to find something out when you were left in the desert to die." I answered suggestively. "His whole crew ended that way. Nothing to worry about. I just want people to stop trying to mess with my car when I leave it."

"Two grand."

"You have your prices listed right there."

"Still two grand. I'm taking on risk."

"Ugh. Even if I spend an hour explaining to you that there is no risk you aren't gonna listen are you?"

"Nope. Two grand."

"Fine. As long as it doesn't look like shit."

"Alright." His eyes went gold as he let his people know, and I could see my car get moved into the painting bay. The whole thing was practically automatic, and the length was really just for the paint to dry.

"Any good food places around here?"

"Nope."

"Lovely."

—--

He was right. The food around here was terrible. I ended up with a grumbling belly as I waited for the paint job to be finished.

I was sitting in a old musty chair in the office watching the TV along with the shop owner who was completely ignoring me when it happened.

"This is Network News 54 interrupting our regularly scheduled program of 'Will it chip?' with an emergency announcement from the NCPD." The anchor appeared, interrupting the absolute mind melting stupidity of the previous show.

"The NCPD are now declaring the District of Pacifica as a No-go zone. The danger has escalated from High, to Extreme. All travel from the district will be fired upon, and treated as a threat to the security of Night City. Gun fire continues currently in the district and anyone who lives nearby should make sure to close their security blinds in case of stray fire."

"Damn." The shop owner grumbled as he heard the news.

"I don't get it. Don't the NCPD normally call Pacifica a no go zone anyways?"

"Yeah but switching it to extreme? Means there is a massive problem probably with the Combat zone."

I felt myself frown. The Combat zone… I knew bits about it, but it wasn't something that was accessible in the game.

"Kids." He grumbled at me. "It means they likely lost containment. The NCPD put Cyberpsychoes inside when they can't, or don't want to deal with them any other way."

"I thought that was a rumor."

"Pfft. Rumor, or truth? Who knows. All I know is that anytime something crazy happens with the Combat Zone Pacifica gets locked down. But it's worse than that kid. To put together a full blockade of Pacifica NCPD are going to be busy on that side of the city, what do you think that means for the rest of us? With a Gang war already going on? Get ready kid. Shit in Night City is about to get wild for a while." The older man offered sighing as he reached behind him and grabbed his Tactician. The shotgun had been resting against the wall until then.

Then as if it was an everyday occurrence he pulled out a box of shotgun shells and started loading the sidesaddle. Making sure he would have all the ammunition he might need in case of trouble.

"It's gonna get that bad?" I couldn't help but ask the way he was acting...

"Tonight's gonna be hell kid. The Gangs will know that tonight they get a free pass. NCPD will bunker down and let the rest of the city go to hell until Pacifica is taken care of. That little gang war between the Claws and Strom? Tonight we will see a real gang war. They will go all out." He sighed. "Gonna tell the guys to finish up and head home. Suggest you do the same girl."