102

I left Jun to brood over his playboy ways. I headed out of the apartment entirely to give him some space. He was totally freaking out on the inside at flirting with Rita, and I would normally stick around to calm him down, but he honestly needed some private time to come to terms with the fact he might actually still be alive and interested in girls.

I headed out onto the street with no real plans.

Did I want to go hang out with my chooms? Go netrunning? Shoot something?

That last one was pretty tempting, but I didn't exactly have a lot of targets at the moment. I guess I could go find some scavs?

I shook my head, just because I was bored was no reason to get into a gunfight…

Even if it was really tempting.

So instead I should… I pulled up my agent on my eyes. I had a lot of money.

I should probably spend some of it? I mean that was what people did when they had disposable income right? Spend it on stupid stuff?

What did I want?

More Chrome? Probably not a good idea. At least until I get a few more points into Adaptation.

I already had a preem ride… I could go find a Kusanagi. I always wanted a motorcycle… I looked at my account.

I certainly had the eddies. Between the big scav raid, and all the smaller ones, Hiromi had been raking in the eddies with all the chrome sales.

I checked the time, Hiromi would be out of school soon, maybe enough time for everything to work out.

So I pulled up a number and made a call.

*Motoko, what do you want?* Wakako asked as soon as she picked up the phone.

*Do you have any info on a Kusanagi for sale?*

*I don't deal in people. If your brother ended up on the market, I have no interest in it.* It took me a moment to catch what had just been said. Wakako spoke completely straight. No hint of the joke she had just made in her tone.

*Hahaha, I'm laughing so hard Wakako, Wow you should go work at a comedy club. So you got any info?*

*I do happen to have a few sellers for Kusanagi. You teenagers and your motorcycles.*

*They are cool Wakako! Don't tell me none of your husbands ever gave you a ride on their bikes.* I teased right back and I knew I had got her as I got a scoffing noise through the line, but not an actual refusal. *But do you have any that aren't the Mizuchi mod? I'm looking for something more standard.*

*That does lower the amount of sellers. I'll send you the information.*

*Thanks Wakako!* I chirped in a rush, before she could hang up, and it was a moment after the line went dead.

Gotcha!

A few moments later I got a text.

Pictures of a pretty red Kusanagi, and a price that made me wince.

I sent the confirmation, and eddies, and a few moments later I got a location to pick it up, as well as a digital key.

I rushed across the street to get into my Quadra.

I had promised Hiromi a ride if I ever got a Bike afterall!

—--

The Kusanagi was everything I had ever wanted. It was also a smoother ride than Jun's stupid over tuned Mizuchi. It was exactly what I wanted, if not for a few issues.

"Pretty sure whoever owned this thing last, fucked with the brakes." I grumbled as I once again felt the brakes slipping as I came to a stop.

Good thing I drove so safely otherwise I would have crashed right into the back of the car stopped at the light.

Also one of the front head lights was out. Have to fix that before nighttime. I had already looked up a few shops where I could buy them.

Unfortunately discovering the brakes were bad meant I couldn't race across the city to pick up Hiromi for the ride I promised her.

Had to do some work on my new baby first.

I pulled into the parking lot of a part store. It was sketchy to the eyes of my old life, but in this one, it was actually a pretty safe spot.

I pulled into an open spot in a corner far enough away I could do some work without anyone getting in the way and slid off my new ride.

I resisted the urge to squeal like a kid as I did a cool saunter into the store past a few of the gonks that hung around shops like this checking out the rides that came in.

This sort of place was popular with racing types. It's why I had picked this particular shop while searching the city-net. Kusanagi weren't cheap bikes, and they used high end parts for a lot of things.

One of the teens that were hanging around the entrance gave my ride a whistle as I passed him by. "Nice wheels kid."

"She's preem right?" I asked as I walked past, stepping into the shop and taking it all in.

Inside the smell of oil, grease, and steel filled my nose a nostalgic smell. I remember being dragged into shops like this all the time in my past life. I shook off the smell and began searching.

The head light was easy enough to find, and I went ahead and grabbed a replacement for all the lights as well.

Brakes though weren't just out in the store front.

"What can I help you with Hermanita?" The Tino behind the counter asked as he looked me over wondering what I was doing here.

Not every day you see a fourteen year old in a shop like this.

"I need some brakes for my Kusanagi Yaiba. They're dying bad."

"Alright. Let me see what we got." He stepped away from the counter and into the back that was covered in parts and boxes of parts.

After a short wait he came back with a set of square boxes that were definitely not factory standard, and he pulled out two brake pads for my bike.

Thankfully I had enough Tech Attribute that I was able to tell that while used, the brakes were still in good condition.

I did a few checks on both though just to be sure, chrome fingers sliding into spots to check that they weren't just trash made to look normal. I could see the seller nod along as I seemed to actually know what I was doing.

"They'll do." I passed the eddies over for them and the head lights and carried it all out of the shop.

Once again I was glad my Body was so high, because the Kusanagi had big fucking brakes. They were heavy.

I walked out and set them on the concrete in front of my Kusanagi as I waited for my tool box to arrive.

I could drive it home and work on it there. But I didn't really want to drive my bike with the brakes all fucked up.

Seriously, it was dangerous!

Unfortunately It wasn't like I kept my toolbox in my Quadra. It was beside the couch where I had left it while working on the Music box, so that meant I had to call Jun.

To my surprise Jun showed up not on his own Kusanagi, but in my Quadra!

The black with purple Quadra was also getting some attention from the teens all hanging around. I guess it wasn't every day they saw a Nomad custom Quadra Type-66. I could see the kids all perk up as Jun pulled in and into the space next to my Kusanagi. Of course all the attention they had vanished in an instant when Jun stepped out.

I could practically hear the whispers of "Oni" echoed between all the kids.

Okay seriously what was Jun doing that was spreading his rep around so much? I was fairly confident I had killed more people than him! I shook off the outrage as I waved to Jun.

"Hey Jun. You brought my Quadra?"

"It's not exactly comfortable riding a bike with a toolbox in my arms. I didn't figure you would mind." He said and I just nodded. I had given Jun a key for my Quadra, but he had stuck to his bike even when it would be more convenient.

"Sorry for pulling you out of your brooding." I told him and that earned me a glare as he offered me the tool box pushing me back with it a bit.

"I wasn't brooding."

"Sure. Sure." I agreed without doing anything of the sort as I took my tools and went to work.

"Pass me the-" Jun said as he crouched down and looked like he was going to help.

So I immediately threatened him with a wrench. "Don't even think about it! This is my baby."

"Do you even know how to… replace the brakes?" Jun asked, noticing the parts I had bought. He ignored me for a moment as he walked over to the boxes of brakes to check them.

"They're fine Jun. Used, but in good condition." I told him, and he scowled a little.

"I was just double checking. Common scam is to fill the inside of the brakes with gunk to make them look new."

"Already checked for that." I told him and Jun had nothing to say to that as he nodded and to my surprise he took a seat and just let me get on with it.

So I did. I had done something pretty similar with Hiromi's Kusanagi after she crashed it. Despite her Kusanagi being the stupid Mizuchi custom job. I had to figure out the paneling but once that was done. It only took me a few minutes to get the front wheel off, and check the brakes.

Yep. I whistled at just how bad they were.

"You drove on those?"

"Only a little. It didn't take me long to figure out something was wrong after all." I told Jun but he was still scowling as I passed the brake over to him as he motioned for it and he scowled as he looked it over.

"I'm surprised you didn't crash."

"I'm a safe driver!" I chirped happily as I pulled the fresh brakes out and got to work installing it. My hands deftly handled the whole task. Even the finicky parts that you were guaranteed to scrape the shit out of your hands trying to do were no problem, as my hands were chrome!

"Front brake done." I told him, as I shifted the bike to get access to the rear wheel and worked on that.

"I'll have to have you check out my Kusanagi."

"Blegh! I don't work on Mizuchi! Those things are-"

"Yeah yeah, I know. You think they're stupid." Jun said while rolling his eyes.

"They are! I'll do my own custom job! And when I'm done they'll call it the Motoko Kusanagi, and everyone will want one!" I told him firmly, waving my wrench at him for a moment to prove my seriousness.

Jun just laughed at me though, which was super rude.

At least he wasn't brooding so much anymore.

—--

"And done." I confirmed finishing putting the last panel on. I had replaced the brakes and the lights. While checking the lights there had been some wires that looked rough. So since I had the panel off already I had gone ahead and replaced those as well.

"I should ride it first to make sure it's sa-" Jun tried but I quickly hopped onto the seat and glared at my stupid brother.

"Not a chance."

He just laughed because the jerks teasing had gotten a reaction.

I was going to drop kick him in his sleep. See how he likes being messed with.

I slipped back off, and finished putting my toolbox away in the Quadra which Jun had settled into the drivers seat.

"Take it slow at first." Jun warned, but I was in no mood for slow and steady.

I started her up. The engine roaring to life as I did a quick burnout to adjust my bike to face the street.

"Motoko No!"

"Motoko Yes!" I called back as I let go of the brakes and roared out of the parking lot. I could hear Jun cursing and starting up my Quadra right after as I cackled and roared down the streets of Night City.

I would go slow. So Jun could keep up.

—---

Instead of meeting up with Hiromi that night, I decided I would surprise her later instead. Since it had taken so long to fix the bike up enough to be safe. So after I drove back to the apartment so Jun would be off my tail I headed back out into the city free of overbearing Nii-chans.

It was a shame my Driving skill was already maxed out with Reflex. As testing out my new bike would have been a good chance to earn some XP.

But I didn't mind. It was less a stat thing, and more just getting to learn the wiggles of my new bike.

Like whoever had owned her before had done some custom work on her. The engine was throatier than a normal Kusanagi, something I only noticed when I was able to really open her up now that her brakes were fixed.

I would have to take her apart and see what had been done.

But I didn't mind the sound. It was better than the horrible Mizuchi that always sounded overtuned and tinny.

Which was a noise I soon noticed as I was stopped at a red light, a Mizuchi pulled up beside me. Sliding in between an old beat up Galena to stop beside me at the front of the light.

The kid on the back was definitely TC. He even had one of the Arasaka style Kabuto helmets on his head, not for protection, but just to look even more Japanese.

He revved his shitwagon and I winced at how horrible it sounded. I could practically hear the engine ripping itself apart as it tried to keep up with the overturning.

So I revved my bike. The throaty roar of my new girl rumbled out.

I could see it on his face. He was thinking the same thing I was just a moment before, just in reverse.

He thought his stupid Mizuchi was the better bike.

The light hit green, and for once I wasn't following the laws. My Kusanagi roared as I gunned it the noise fighting against the ugly noise coming from the Mizuchi as we both raced off the line.

Night City wasn't a safe place to street race without someone setting it up. The streets were filled with cars and pedestrians.

But this was also Night City, and other than me, no one cared about the laws.

We raced down the street, weaving in between the cars, he got an early lead, the overtuned first gears of his Mizuchi giving him just enough extra power to pull the lead.

Well that and experience slipping in between traffic, this was my first time on a full size Kusanagi, and my girl was a little bit wider than a Mizuchi.

But the road up ahead angled into a sharp turn. We both broke through the traffic with him in the lead, but as we hit the turn he had to slow down to make it.

I didn't.

Whooping in delight, I drifted right past him almost completely on the side of my bike, just barely keeping it from sparking off the asphalt as I blew past him and then had to slow down as we came up to another red light.

A few moments later he pulled up beside me and gave me a nod.

"Not bad!"

I just laughed at his attempt to keep some tatters of his remaining ego.

"You should come race!" He called out and I surprised myself by actually considering it.

I mean. I liked following the laws when driving… But I had grown up in the Fast and the Furious era. I wasn't going to go around screaming about family or something. But street races were inherently cool.

"Send me the deets!" I called back. The light was changing and it was time to drive. I got a text from him with an address just as I pulled away driving off into the city weaving in and out of traffic.

Just a little. It was important to be safe about it after all.

—--

I was pulling into the parking lot of the apartment when I realized we only had the two spots. I grumbled as I had to park my baby close to Jun's stupid bike.

I slipped off and then looked back grimacing a bit at the look between the two Kusanagi.

The standard beautiful version, that did have some modifications but it was all under the hood so to speak and then the Mizuchi that was barely identifiable as a Kusanagi at all…

I felt like there was some meta commentary there about Jun and I, but I decided to ignore that entirely and instead just turned to head inside.

I had been driving around for a few hours and I had a lot of fun, but it was time to head home and put my feet up.

I stopped by the old man selling meat sticks to grab one happily scarfing it down as I raced up the stairs enjoying the bounciness of my ankles as I hit the fourth floor.

I slipped inside. "Jun I'm home!"

"About time." He grumbled coming out of the bathroom and wiping down his hair obviously he had just gotten out of a shower.

"I was having fun!" I argued justifying my ride around the city.

Jun just ignored me and went back into the bathroom to finish drying his hair and so I flopped on the couch.

I didn't really feel like music stuff at the moment. Plus I did have other projects I needed to work on. It took a few minutes but I went and found the Kang Tao armor I had stolen and left in the Quadra before coming back up to the apartment.

First I took some tools to remove the Kang Tao symbols and stuff. Mostly just paint, but some cutting was required as well.

Then I finished painting it. Removing the Kang Tao orange, and replacing it with a nice purple.

Yeah. That looked better. I ended up sitting the armor in a corner to dry and at that point I was actually feeling kinda… Lazy-tired?

so I made the mistake of turning the TV on to see what I could find.

"Future TV was a mistake." I whispered after watching in horrified awe what passed for a popular action movie that only came out a few years ago.

It was horrible.

No wonder everyone in Night City was so violent. They had no good violence to watch on TV! I nodded to myself. I was gonna need to up the production quality of my XBD's. The people deserved high quality violence!

"What are you doing?" I blinked, looking at Jun as he looked at me. I lowered my fist that had been aiming at the sky and wiped some imaginary dust from my leotard as I sat back down on the couch.

"Nothing."

Jun gave me a look telling me he didn't believe me for a second. Then he just walked past me to sit on the couch. "Your movie done?"

"It was so awful I've deleted it from my brain." I assured him and Jun laughed.

"It was a good flick. The special effects needed work though."

"What special effects? Whenever he punched someone it was obviously just a dummy full of blood. I literally don't think they did any digital alterations on the entire movie."

"Yeah why would they? The dummies were too fake. They should have gotten some robots inside them to let them move or something."

"That actually sounds cool, but I know even if they did that it would still look like shit. I hate TV." I grumbled and Jun just snorted and then turned back on the TV. Switching to a show he liked.

I faux gagged at him, but didn't fight him for the remote. It wasn't like there was anything else I wanted to watch.

Then I felt it. That prickling in my shoulders as my hindbrain noticed something. I moved instantly. No hesitation as something in my senses was telling me I was in danger. I barreled into Jun full bore knocking us both off the side of the couch Jun was instantly yelling in anger at me, thinking I was fucking around, but then the noise hit him.

A gun shot slamming through our window and into the couch.

"Sniper!" I yelled out, as I looked towards the window. Instantly the shutters closed. The safety shutters were meant to keep out stray gunfire and the like, but against a Sniper?

Fuck I even recognized the sound of that gunshot. That was a Nekomata.

"Stay down!" Jun yelled at me as I made to rise towards my room. I needed a gun, to counter snipe, but my Nekomata was in the Quadra!

Then we both heard it.

Boots on flooring.

"Fuck."

"Fuck." Jun and I both uttered and he let me go, I rushed for my room. I still had a Tactician Shotgun in there… Unfortunately my HMG wouldn't be a good choice despite how much I itched to pick her up. Jun just grabbed his Katana from the stand on our family shrine.

A moment later I heard it even as I was preparing my Tactician. Another echoing retort, and metal failing to stop the railgun firing into our apartment.

It took a second for me to process, but I realized the sniper had to be on the road leading up to the city level above us. Probably just sitting there parked on the side of the road shooting into our apartment.

That meant we had no place we could hide in any of the main rooms.

I hurried out relieved to see Jun hadn't been hit. The sniper must just be firing randomly.

I crouched down beside Jun who was hunkered down resting his back against the shrine facing the door.

"We should charge them. If we stay in here, the sniper will eventually get lucky."

He nodded, not saying anything further, and I noticed his eyes were golden. Ah, he was making a call. Good.

"Ready?" He asked and all I did was reach up and grab my Katana too, and slipped it through my belt. Then nodding.

Tactician was already loaded. No need to wrack it just to show off.

He surged forward, the door opening instantly and surprising the group of gonks all formed up as one of them had obviously been trying to break in through the lock.

A tech guy not a netrunner huh?

Jun was faster than I was. Mostly because I didn't have a clear shot with his stupid head in the way, but he slammed into the guys waiting ignoring SMG's and pistols and simply ran them down like a bull. Two died instantly as one was skewered with a Katana and the others head was grabbed and he was simply thrown into his chooms.

Neck broken, the gonks body went floppy.

Then I was there. I leapt my feet hitting the concrete hallway wall. Sticking me for just half a second thanks to the friction. More than long enough to fire a shot into the arrayed group. My eyes already blurring as I worked to send a Quickhack through to shut off their weapons as well.

Then it was all hell.

They started firing, Jun starting swinging, I fired and hacked everything I could. Their weapon fire quickly shut off which caused them to freak out, as they had an angry Oni in front of them.

The fight only lasted a few moments. Jun's absurd chromed out strength. Even with only being able to really stab with his Katana, he was still skewering the fools that attacked us, and breaking limbs or necks with his other hand.

"Down!" I yelled out, and Jun was in tune enough to do that. As a sniper round ripped through the concrete hallway.

I had caught the transmission one of the fuckers had sent out just in time. I turned and fired my shotgun into the 'dead' fucker and looked away only once his head stopped existing.

"Stairwell!" I yelled, leaping over Jun and down the stairs, Jun joining me as another round ripped through the hall.

We should be safe here though. A Nekomata can only shoot through so much concrete before even that railgun just can't punch through anymore.

"What the fuck?" I asked aloud my heart barely moving as Cold Blood had taken over, but even with that going full blast the outrage in my head was making my blood feel like it was boiling, going hot and cold.

"Scavs." Jun said and I blinked looking at one of the corpses.

I scanned his face and yep.

Record of working with Scavs.

Scavs had attacked us. Me. Scavs had attacked me, I realized.

"This is my fault."

"Worry about that later. Focus on the fight. Our reinforcements are on the way so we just have to hold."

I nodded already expecting that, from Juns earlier call, but still. These fuckers. They attacked my home.

I moved.

"Motoko!" I ignored Jun, as I raced down the stairs. Outside there were two vans. Both backed up to the entrance with the back doors open. I leapt into the first one sliding on the metal flooring as I slid right up to the driver's seat.

The driver there hadn't noticed me until that moment. When I had a shotgun slamming into the side of his face and pushing him into the glass of the vans side window.

"Fuck!" he cursed at the blow but then stilled as the barrel of my shotgun mashed into his cheek.

"I want answers, asshole." I hissed reaching out and slamming his head into the glass again to prove my point.

"Bitch! You think we are just going to let you keep killing us? You think we are that stupid? You and your brother are marked! We will-"

"You will die. All of you. Every Scav in this city. Even if I have to spend the next year to do it. Hunting every single one of you down. There is no hole deep enough. No place safe enough to stop me." I said tonelessly.

I didn't need to get angry with this piece of trash. What I said wasn't some threat to get him to talk.

It was simply what it was.

They had come after me in my home. Had nearly shot my brother.

I had gone too far. There was no other option now.

It was kill or be killed. Wipe out the Scavs. Or they would eventually get lucky. So there was no other option. I saw Jun doing the same thing I was through the drivers window. The poor Scav in the driver seat of the second van had been pulled fully into the back and the entire van was rocking and echoing with the fuckers screams.

Good.

Jun was probably beating him to death.

"Your chooms you sent into my home are all dead. You and your choom over there are fucked. Unless you tell me everything I want to know."

"Fuck you-Bitch!" He hissed as I slammed him into the window again, but he just glared, and said something in russian.

So I slammed his head into the glass again. "This is Night City! Speak English Motherfucker! Now tell me what the fuck the plan was? You think you are going to get away with attacking me at home!?"

"You won't get shit out of me! Kill me and all the-"

"You're right. I will kill you." I pulled the trigger. Ignoring the mess I crawled back out, going slow and careful as the sniper was still around until I slipped into the back of the other Van.

Jun was still beating the driver to death.

Well no he was already dead, but Jun was still hammering the mess into the floor.

"Jun! Focus up." I demanded. Now wasn't the time for going Cyberpsycho.

He looked up at me, but still slammed his fist down one last time.

"I'm going to see if the sniper is still here."

Jun looked constipated for a second like he wanted to agree, but eventually whatever was fighting against that thought won out. "No. Just wait for the Kamikaze. Fujimura-sama is on his way."

"He might be gone by then." I argue as I'm already climbing over Jun noticing he has a few bullet holes from our hallway battle.

Dammit.

I felt my teeth clench at the idea that Jun was hurt because of me.

I slipped into the driver's seat and the van was already on. So I quickly hit the gas. Ignoring Jun's grumbling as I took off.

The sniper position was just around the corner. I drove down the road uncaring if the sniper saw me. He might have a good high position from the on ramp looking into our fourth floor apartment, but he was also dealing with a barrier around the road. He wouldn't be able to aim at the ground floor as easily.

I practically drifted around the corner at the end of the street ignoring Juns cursing as he rolled around in the back. I could already see him.

A big Thorton Mackinaw parked on the ramp. Traffic just going around it, and doing their best to ignore it.

I couldn't. I felt my stomach drop my mind fritz. Because the iconography? The symbols? Everything about it screamed only one thing. Something I knew.

"Fucking Maelstrom!" I growled, surprising myself at the rage I felt as I hit the gas. "Hold on to something!" I called out to Jun.

Somehow the sniper hadn't noticed. That or he was high, because the truck wasn't even moving when I slammed into it. The gonk was probably too scope focused. Shitty amateur hour sniper.

The Villefort Columbus I was driving wasn't nearly as beefy as the Mackinaw. Which was basically a super sized pickup truck.

But slamming into it going as fast as I could get it to go, still rocked everything, smashed me around a little and ended up with the truck pinned against the side of the road.

He wouldn't escape now.

To my surprise Jun was out of the van before I was. I guess I had to spend a bit more time untangling myself from the seatbelt.

I was trying to catch up when he reached the Mackinaw and ripped the door right off the truck.

A moment later he leapt back nearly landing on me as something big fired inside the truck at where he had been.

Then I was there. Rushing in and I found myself face to face with a Maelstrom member and his Nekomata. I was too fast though. He wasn't in a good position. It was obvious he had been looking out the passenger window into the apartment when we hit him. So he was all turned around and holding the Nekomata awkwardly.

I bashed the end of the Nekomata out of the line of fire and then I was on him.

He was still Maelstrom.

He had chrome. He had a lot of chrome. My knuckles would mostly be hitting chrome if I punched him nearly anywhere.

But none of that mattered.

My fist slammed into his stupid optics and he was cursing throwing his own chrome fists at me.

I ripped into him. Uncaring about where he hit me. This fucker had sniped me in my own home!

I was going to tear out every piece of chrome in his worthless corpse with my own hands! Just so his stupid spirit-belief bullshit would leave him a normy in the afterlife!

I might have been screaming that at him as I went at him, because a moment later Jun grabbed me by the back of my Leotard and flung me right out of the car and onto the street.

The van blocking the entire road kept anyone from running me over, but it still hurt!

Jun you asshole! Asphalt hurts!

But as I looked up intending to continue with my murder. It was already over. Jun had gotten his hands on the Maelstrom gonk.

I was pretty strong, and I was okay with my fists.

But they called Jun the Oni, and I sometimes got reminded of why.

As he literally ripped the Maelstroms arm off and started beating him to death with it.

Okay fair enough. You do you Jun.

I groaned and winced as I noticed my nose was bleeding. Since Jun was occupied, I popped a MaxDoc, and instantly felt back to 100%.

Then it struck me.

I knew that Maelstrom.

I had seen him before. I recognized him.

"Stupid Fuck." I whispered. That was the gonk! One of the fuckers that had come to the scav den. He had been with… Gear Shaft? Gear Slot? Whatever her name had been. The stupid one that had thought about stealing from me.

I recognized him.

"What the fuck is going on?" Why was a Maelstrom shit working with Scavs… No wait, that was a stupid question.

Maelstrom needed chrome. Scavs had chrome…

But then… His choom had been klepped by Scavs, rescued and he went and joined them against us? What fucking crazy shit was that? Or was he the reason she was there in the first place? Maelstrom politics. Fuck me,.

Oh well. Jun had already taken care of any chance for us to get any info from the poor fucker.

He was dead.

"Jun he's dead, stop punching a corpse." I told him firmly, earning a look back from my rage filled brother, but after a moment or two where he seemed to consider it he did finally let go.

"You shouldn't have charged him like that! What if he shot you!" Jun snapped at me, growling and baring his teeth, as his anger at the Maelstrom and the entire situation didn't just disappear like mine did.

With a single thought Cold Blood shut off all the rage and let me think clearly.

"Sorry Jun-Nii. I didn't want this one to get away. Plus, I had you watching my back." I told him with a smile hoping it would sputter out his anger, and while he did turn away from me, his fist slammed into the side of the Maelstrom truck showing he was still raging.

That was fine.

I was still pretty angry about it too.

But you know what? Even if this fucker was dead… That didn't mean I didn't have a lead.

"Natalie Desanto AKA GearSlot." I whispered to myself. A reminder of the words I had spoken while choosing not to kill that Maelstrom girl.

Did my own mercy then lead to this?

I shook off the horrifying thought. It didn't matter yet. I would find out. And if mercy was what led to this attack on our home. Then I would just rectify that mistake.

And the mistake of allowing Maelstrom, and Scavs to exist.

—--

Jun and I parked the van and the Maelstroms truck in front of the apartment, and waited.

It wasn't long until the roar of Kusanagi motorcycles started flowing down the road. Followed by other cars all tuned up and painted in all sorts of things. Tyger Claw symbols, Japanese letters, anything and everything.

It looks like Fujimura hadn't held back. More than twenty vehicles all parked in front of the apartment taking up much of the street. The mass gathering caused the people that would normally fill the street to all disappear, watching on from windows or store fronts.

"Kusanagi. You need a Ripper?" Fujimura asked as he stepped out of a high end Quadra Turbo-R.

I liked my Quadra Type-66 more. The 66 was a muscle car, while the Turbo R was like a japanese racer.

"No. Just scratches." Jun uttered as he rose up. I had looked over his 'scratches' as best I could in the few minutes since we had headed back to the apartment, but I wasn't a doc.

"Yes, he needs to get checked out and patched up." I uttered without hesitation. "He still has some bullets in him."

"I'm fine Motoko." Jun hissed at me, but he was acting more like an annoyed older brother, than the furious rage beast he had been just before.

Fujimura of course only gave both of us a lifted eyebrow. The man was utterly uninterested in our sibling cat fights.

"What happened?" He demanded and Jun the dutiful little soldier answered, explaining what he saw from his perspective.

I kept quiet. It wasn't my job to explain shit to Fujimura.

"Kusanagi." He uttered, and this time he was talking to me. Our eyes met, and for once I actually felt a little softness towards the man.

Because he wasn't glaring at me like he usually did. No, he actually looked rather sympathetic.

"You are unharmed?"

"They didn't touch me. I had a good meatwall. Worst I got was a bit of a fist, but you should see the other guy… Jun ripped his arm off and beat him to death with it." I explained and the man exhaled air out of his nose.

It wasn't a laugh of course. Men like Fujimura didn't do that sort of thing.

"Going after one of our people in their own home is unacceptable. Action will be taken." He said to me, but I didn't really care.

The Tyger Claws could do something, or nothing.

It didn't matter.

This was now personal. Very personal.

"Ah, but I see you intend to seek your own revenge." He said annoying me by actually being right.

"They shot up my home. I hated them before, but now it's an existential threat. They die, or Jun and I do. So I choose them."

Fujimura nodded, looking pleased.

"I agree. So you have a choice, Kusanagi. Do you head off into the sunset alone? Or do you let your family, and your friends assist you?" He asked, and it took me a moment to get what he was saying.

He wasn't talking about Hiromi and my chooms.

He meant the Tyger Claws.

Do I go off to do this alone. Or will I accept gang assistance.

This was it wasn't it? The path that people in Night City walk that leads them into a gang in truth.

I scowled, irritated, but I didn't have a good response. I was too ready to do stupid thing to kill Scavs and Maelstrom right now.

He turned back to Jun. "Go get checked out. I will be reaching out to Ichida-Sama to put the Claws into a war footing with the Scavs… And perhaps the Maelstrom once again." He added and Jun grumbled but nodded his head.

"Understood."

"Kusanagi. Make your decision. We will likely begin assaulting the Scavs tonight." Fujimura told me and all I could do was feel irritated. Like I needed them to find Scavs.

"C'mon Jun let's get you to a ripper before you bleed all over everything." I snapped at Jun doing my best to ignore Fujimura.

I needed time to think.