Chapter 11

Aaaand Quick hack. I said looking towards the row of vending machines. I was hanging out around the Cherry Blossom Market, basically practicing on everything electronic.

Jun was being a jerk so I left the house to give him some private time. Plus I really wanted to grind out my Netrunning.

Pinging the Vending machine let me know that it was actually connected to a small network, that according to the data I got in return, let the owners know when the vending machine was low on stock.

Made sense.

I sent a ping to the next machine.

*100 Quick Hack XP Gained.*

*100 Intelligence XP Gained*

*Intelligence Leveled up!*

I blinked. I didnt feel any different? I checked myself over, but nothing seemed to change. When my Body leveled up it was pretty noticeable, at least at first, so why was intelligence not seeming to make any changes?

I pouted a little as I tried to think but again nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Ive been scammed. I grumbled, as I went back to my Quick Hacks.

At least now I could do more Breach training.

But first. I wanted to level Quick Hacks. I wanted that knowledge download. Bored, I looked around and noticed a guy walking along. He had cheap chrome. I could tell. So I started a Quick Hack on him. If he noticed I would just delta.

Heh Delta. Cyberpunk lingo was so fun.

I started with a scan using my optics. It Well it took a while. I ended up having to follow him around the market a bit before the scan completed and I got his port info. I activated the program, starting the Quick Hack. It was slow, The guys security was better than a vending machine after all.

Still Slowly as he walked across the sidewalk I could see the ticker doing up and then it pinged him. Letting me know he wasnt connecting to any networks.

*100 Quick Hacks XP Gained.*

*Quick Hacks skill level up!*

But as I expected. Since I hadnt targeted a person until now, it gave me an immediate XP boost. Since it was something I hadn't done before. While repeating the same thing over and over would keep giving me XP it did eventually slow drastically but doing something new would usually make it easier to gain XP again.

But my mind was a blur. Quick Hacks. Seemed simple, and in some ways it was compared to Breach Protocol. But it was still so complicated!

I smiled as I now simply knew what Quickhacks were. The programs that could be activated on the fly to do so many different things. I hummed a bit as I thought about the best way to level it, and honestly without a lot of people to hack. I was kinda doing it.

But now I had a better understanding of the equipment. I could actually swap out programs now. I knew how to do that, and I had a feeling with a few levels I could spread hacks as well. The knowledge was there tempting me.

Well. I had level 2 Intelligence. Might as well get back to grinding. I grinned as I started pinging people that walked by. Avoiding anyone with serious chrome.

-

I ended up bored of just sitting on a bench and Quick Hacking everyone, so I started wandering. You would be amazed at how many Camera systems you can see from a sidewalk.

A quick Breach Protocol, which usually ended up meaning I had to find a place to sit as it took a minute. Then I could Quick Hack it surprisingly fast since I already had access to its system. Most of them I would learn were connected to a security system, or a few other cameras.

It wasnt interesting knowledge in and of itself.

But it was also solid XP.

A couple of hours of walking around pinging and Breaching everything I could find had results.

*Breach Protocol skill level up!*

*1 Perk Point Gained.*

*Quick Hacks skill level up!*

*1 Perk Point Gained.*

Level 2 Breach and Quickhacks. Nice.

The speed of my improvement from the baby deck I had before was insane. I was so happy I spent the eddies on this upgrade.

Unfortunately while I was getting Intelligence XP alerts. It wasnt enough to push me to the next level. So I was now maxed out until I leveled Intelligence.

But I did have perks!

I started on Breach and for once I was actually pleased by the selection. Lots of options caught my eye.

Wall Breaking. Creates a backdoor in the system after a Breach. Making future access instant.

Powerful Breach. Break through systems much faster but causes an alert if security is strong enough.

Daemon Summoner. Upload a Daemon onto a network instantly after a Breach.

All of these sounded Preem.

In the end I went with Wall Breaking. I liked the idea of being able to set up stuff for later. Instead of being forced to Breach the system on the fly.

I was distracted for a bit as I suddenly learned a lot about creating backdoors into systems. Like a lot alot.

I shook it off and focused on Quick Hacks. What goodies could I find in that list?

Honestly? Some pretty good stuff. Quick Hacks were the Magic in Cyberpunk. The ability to cause someone's brain to melt with a look if you were good enough.

The options were pretty useful.

Quicker Hack. Halves time for a Quick Hack.

Cyber Security. Massively increases time to Quick Hack or Breach your System.

Quick Ram. Ram restores twice as fast.

There was a lot more, And Quick Hacks perks had a lot of pre-req options. Meaning that what I picked now would make a big difference in the future.

But the one that grabbed my attention was probably the least offensive one. Cyber Security. This wasnt a game. If someone hacked me here? My Brain would be melting out my ears, or I would be on the ground twitching very shortly.

So protecting myself sounded like a smart play. Even if I would prefer to be a more stealth build in the future.

Cant shoot at me if you never know Im there.

I picked it anyways. Smiling as some knowledge slipped into my head on how to buff my security, through a bit of program editing, it was I knew enough about Quickhacking at this point to be sure. The editing wouldnt work like it should, and yet it did. Was there actually a Magical component to some perks?

Buzzing high intensity music was playing and Hiromi and I were allowed to entry into the club after the bouncer gave us a long thorough look with his glowing eyes.

Scanning us down. Apparently we were good because he let us through.

Into a nightmare.

So many weebs. Can you call it a period drama when no one was dressed right for the era, but everyone still acted like they were in some ancient Japanese place? The tables are tiny things that you sat around resting against cushions. Some of the flooring was faux tatami which made me giggle.

But the rest of the place was a nightclub. A bar, a DJ up on the stage places for actual live music as well, lights and strobes and people grinding up against each other.

I was fourteen.

How the hell did they let me in here?

Cmon! Hiromi interrupted my melt down by grabbing my arm and tugging me through the crowd landing us on the dance floor.

And then she started dancing.

I didnt. Listen I didnt have a dance chip as a certain gun goblin once said. I didnt have the first clue how to dance to this music. It was Electro Shamisen Quickstep? Hiromi mostly seemed to just be spazzing out.

Motoko.exe fails to run. Restart?

Stop being a gonk and dance! Hiromi called out over the music grabbing my hand and forcing me to move along with her.

Ugh.

Fine. If only because Hiromi looked like she was trying to have fun. I had dragged her all the way around the city, at least I could do her thing now.

So I danced. Badly. I wasnt quite Commander Shephard bad. At least I didn't think so. Hiromi was having fun anyways now that I was playing along.

Of course she got tired before I did. She really needed more exercise.. Then again this counted. So I just decided to shut up. We slipped off the dance floor and headed to the bar where I gave her a very stern frown pout and she finally gave in and ordered something non-alcoholic.

We took a seat after and settled in sitting basically on the floor, even if it was cushioned we looked over the crowd.

Isnt this great? Hiromi said as she leaned on the table looking over the crowd with a sloppy smile on her face.

Its fun. I told her, assuring her that I had a time dancing even if this definitely wasnt my scene.

I kinda wanted to go challenge some of the weebs to a sword fight though. With the music and faux Tatami I bet it would be a bitching backdrop.

Probably not a good idea though. My Blades skill was still pretty low.

You're a new face. A voice called out from behind me far too close.

Whoever it was had half a second to move in before my Unity was pressed against the bottom of his jaw. The fact that I turned and could see him moving to put his arm over my shoulder solidified my desire to pull the trigger.

But I didnt. Because Murder was bad. Even if delicious delicious XP was only a trigger pull away.

Part of me. The secret dark part that I refused to listen to whispered to just do it. That I could probably kill people fast enough that I could outlevel any trouble it would cause.

I stuffed that voice in a box.

Hey! A voice behind him called out as I noticed he had approached with a little posse of Tyger wannabes. How did I know they were wannabes? Same as I knew Hiromi was. No ECM tats. And trying too hard.

Before anything could come of it, I pulled down my gun and holstered it before purposefully standing up to slide across to the other end of the table beside Hiromi so I didnt have these strangers at my back.

The guys posse were looking angry, and he looked a little pale.

Like someone had just pushed a gun against his chin.

Hahaha! You tried to touch Motoko you fuckin gonk! Yo Tomaru hows that? You said you could get any girl you wanted right? Hows that working for you? Hiromi laughed and mocked with absolute delight as I noticed the group of teenagers werent looking too happy.

Hiromi as always you look beautiful and then open your mouth and remind us what a piece of rust you are. He says after a moment and his posse laugh at the insult even Hiromi looked a little heated but I just sat there staring.

What was even happening?

Hiromi? Whos this? I asked, looking the teenager and his little crew over. The teen was probably a little older than us. Katana on his hip. He was rich. Like Hiromi his clothes were brand new, everything fit, and clean.

The girl beside him. The one that was pissed at me for pulling my gun. No Katana. No gun on her hips. Instead I could tell her arms. Cyberware. Mantis? Yeah I could see the seams. Mantis blades. It wasnt high quality chrome though. Looked old.

Still deadly.

The other two chooms were armed. Guns and a Machete. Not enough eddies for a Katana?

This annoying kid is Suisen Tomaru. He likes to come down with his groupies and spend his parents eddies while slumming it.

Could say the same to you Hiromi Mitsunashi.

Could show you what its really like on the streets Tomaru, how about that? Hiromi threatened looking as if she was going to draw a blade and cut him down.

She didnt have her sword on her though.

How about we ease up. This is a club. I butt in, pulling Hiromi back into sitting from where she had risen up looking for a fight.

Yeah Hiromi, listen to your Pet street choom. He mocked which seemed to fire up Hiromi, but I wasnt even insulted. Lazy insult. 2/10 at best. I just rolled my eyes as I held Hiromi down.

If you are just here to hurl insults and try to start something, can you leave? We were having a nice time. I tell him frowning at this nonsense interruption.

Now why would I do that? I havent had a chance to talk to Hiromi here in weeks. She is skipping so much I barely ever see her. What was your class ranking again? Last?

Better than you where you actually try to please Mommy and Daddy and you are still lower middle of the pack. Moron. Hiromi hissed but the guy just smiled not bothered by Hiromis insults.

Ugh these children were ruining my mood. I didnt even want to be here!

Considering the angry yelling. Mostly from Hiromi, I wasnt surprised when someone intervened. A much older man, who was definitely Tyger Claws stepped up to the table looking down on everyone. I just gave him a bored look.

Is there a problem here? He asked, looking over every one of the kids with a glare. Because if there is, I will have to take care of it.

No, no problem. Just a friendly discussion between friends. Tomaru denied with a smile as he turned to Hiromi. We will finish our discussion another time, Hiromi. Do let me know when you are done playing pretend. He offered before turning. I got a glare from the girl he had been walking with before she too followed after him.

That was irritating. Thanks. I called out to the Tyger Claw who didnt look like he appreciated having to step in.

If you cause problems again. We will remove you. He says simply staring at me.

Whatever guy. No need to act all overwhelming.

Cmon Motoko. I want to dance a bit more, get Tomaru out of my head.

Sure.