Ghost in the City

Chapter 213

Chapter 213

I ended up following the group to their ripper, in some upstairs clinic. Sam was put into a chair and instantly filled with drugs which had the man relaxing and falling into a listless sleep.

“Thanks again.” Bishop said to me, as we all watched the Ripper go over Sam scanning and looking him over.

“It was fun. Don’t get to sneak into a corp office like that very often.” I said simply before looking at the older man. His eyes hidden behind a set of glasses might give him some protection, but I could see the relief in them even so.

“Still. It was an emergency job. I tried a few others but everyone told me no. So thanks. We all appreciate it.”

“Eh, it was a job and I said yes.” I offered and grinned as I looked at all the XP alerts. It’s not like I wasn’t double dipping here. I was getting paid twice.

“An emergency job... The offer is still on the table. We’d be happy to work with you.”

“I appreciate it, really, but like I said last time I’ve got my own crew.” I shrugged as I pushed off the wall I’d been leaning against. “This was fun, feel free to call me if you need some help but I’m not really a joiner. Later Bishop.”

“Motoko.” He waved goodbye back and I headed out. That was fun, the XP especially so, but I didn’t like the idea of working with Edgerunners.

They were all crazy.

I jumped onto my Kusanagi and started driving, not sure where to go. I wasn’t sore anymore, after a sneaky Maxdoc on the drive over, but I felt a bit mentally tired.

Training all morning followed, by doing some music work, only to get called into a rush job. It’d been a busy day.

I headed home.

Even if Traffic was rough once again.

Night City traffic never ends.

—--

“Motoko. Welcome home.” Jun offered from the couch, which I instantly walked over and slumped over it.

“Hey Jun.” I yawned and laid down to watch whatever trash Jun was binge watching today.

“Long day?”

“Yeah. I fought the entire Dojo today. I asked Sensei for some hard practice, and he basically had me fight everyone.”

“You challenged the Dojo?”

“Hmm?” I asked, opening my eyes, I’d closed them because I was tired.

“The Dojo, with Sensei. You challenged the Dojo?”

“I guess? He called it that. I’d just asked if he would find someone to spar with me. I needed a push to go past my limits.”

“How far did you get?”

“How far?”

“Through the challenge?”

“I don’t know?” Was this an actual thing? It sounded like a thing, and I hated things. “I just fought everyone twice.”

“Twice?”

“Well I fought Sensei, and he beat me cause I was tired, but I wasn’t like, tired tired, you know? So I asked for more, and Sensei said the challenge was happening again.” ṛÂΝOꞖÊs@@@@

“Motoko... Challenging the Dojo is how the students at the Dojo determine their place in the hierarchy. You fought Sensei?”

“Yeeeeah?”

Suddenly a big stupid gorilla hand was on the front of my face and Jun was mashing me into the couch. “You’re so unaware! That’s a huge deal.”

“It’s just a Dojo!”

“The Deravaja Dojo is not just a dojo.” Jun countered and then sighed, looking at me with pity in his eyes.

Which was unacceptable! Only I got to pity a sibling! Mostly for his shit taste and lack of awareness! How could a guy with so many girls after him, barely notice!

“Idiot!” I grumbled fighting off his hand, and then shooting up a kick over my head which he dodged.

“Hey no kicking!”

“Then don’t start shit!”

To my surprise Jun stalled out for a second, and despite looking like he was about to start throwing hands, he instead nodded.

“Alright sorry. Shouldn't have grabbed your face.”

I stared at him, eyes wide, taking in every detail.

This was a trick. Jun didn’t have the brain power to stop from being an idiot. What was wrong here.

“You look like a startled cat.” He said flatly, and I shot up, sitting up so I could climb up onto the back of the couch and narrow my eyes at him.

“You’re acting weird.”

“I just don’t want to fight. I’m... Proud of you and stuff.”

My eyes narrowed even more. Something was sketchy here! This wasn’t like Jun at all. I climbed over the back of the couch and glared at him with just my eyes in case I needed to dash for the exit or something.

“What are you freaking out for?” He said grumpily and I just continued to glare at him over the back of the couch.

“Who are you and what have you done with Jun?” I demanded and Jun just stared at me for a moment before his face shifted into a glare. Then he threw a pillow at me.

I of course dodged it! I’m too fast!

“Stop being a moron!”

“You can’t trick me! Jun doesn’t have the brain power to stop himself!”

“I’ll show you brain power!” He roared and jumped over the back of the couch. I of course laughed in delight as he tried to grab me, as I bounced around and soon pillows were fired from both of us as we attempted to get the other.

Jun was puffing and he finally had his arm wrapped around me holding me up sideways. “Finally... Caught you!”

“I’m just tired and decided I was done playing.” I informed him instead. “You're missing your show.”

“What? Aw fuck! I wanted to see this episode Motoko!”

“Don’t blame me. Just re-watch it.”

“It’s not a recording! This is a new release!”

“The band thing.”

“Band thing?” Jun interrupted and I was actually thankful, because this was super awkward!

“After the last gig... It didn’t go well... No, I mean, the music was good. Motoko knows how to play, but uh... Violent Hemorrhage is on life support. The band is falling apart... So, after I heard Motoko play a solo performance, I asked her if she wanted some backup. We can play her songs and stuff... Jared and Klein are good on drums and Bass, and I can Sin-Well, I can play guitar.”

Oof. That catch was rather telling wasn’t it.

I ran a hand through my hair trying to avoid the atmosphere. I really didn’t want to deal with this.

“Well that sounds great! Motoko is super talented, but she’s been trying to do everything on her own. She’ll need an actual band to play. And Alice, you and your band are great. Sorry to hear you guys are going through some scop.” Jun offered sympathetically, and Alice soaked up the sympathy like a flower soaking up water.

Which was nice for her, but didn’t really fix things for me.

“I’m not sure I really want to do the band thing Jun. It’s... Awkward.”

“You’re shy about the weirdest things.” Jun instantly shot back and I felt my hackles rise up.

“I’m not shy! I’m an awesome badass! Look how cool I am!” I waved at myself.

Jun looked me up and down then snorted.

I was reaching for my Carnage to start beating a dumb brother's head in when Alice spoke up.

“I think I get it. It took a long time before I decided to turn my music into a career. Before that I just played and sang for myself and my family. But if I can say Motoko, you obviously love it. Playing music, getting up on stage.”

“I don’t know if I do love it.” I denied, but the girls knowing look was hitting a bit too close to home. I didn’t need her telling me what I liked!

I just thought... It was exciting sometimes.

“It’s not like you have to listen to us... Violent Hemorrhage as a band is done. We’re falling apart at the seams, but we can be your backup. It’s better that, then nothing.” She admitted with a rather painful sigh. “Listen. I’m a musician. I’ll do music work for cheap. I’m not ready to give up on my dream of being a musician.”

I stayed silent, as Alice finished her offer, and I could see Jun looking from me to Alice, and seemingly waiting to see what I would do.

My hand went through my hair.

What to do about this?

There was a large part of me that wanted to deny her right now. Part of it, I just wasn’t sure if she could keep up.

I had a lot of songs, different genres and more that I wanted to play and I wanted them to be perfect.

But...

There was an element to a band that I would always be missing.

So instead I played the opening chords to Heathens.

“Copy that.” I told her, and offered her the guitar.

If she wanted in, then she could help.

She blinked and nodded. Taking my DeLuze, and throwing it over her shoulder. Soon she started the chords, and I clicked when she flubbed it.

“Do this instead.” I guided, and soon she got it, and so I readied the music box, set up the drums that I was controlling through my connection, and the apartment was filled with music.

Did I want a band?

No. Did I need one? Also no, but should I get one if I was going to play music on stage again?

Yeah. I probably should. It was a bit of a bitter pill to admit to myself that I wanted to be on stage again. That I liked it.

I didn’t appreciate my nose being pushed into something I was trying to pretend didn’t exist.

Fine, whatever. I’d whip this band into shape, and we’d play some music soon.

But first I needed Alice to prove she could play this song.

—--

“So you decided to accept?” Hiromi asked, practically buzzing. I’d picked her up after school and I was driving her home while we chatted about the Violent Hemorrhage issue.

“Yeah. I wasn’t sure, but okay don’t give me a look or say anything I know... I liked getting up on stage. It’s embarrassing and I feel like I want to die every time I think about it, but when I was up there playing music, it just... clicked.”

“Okay I won’t say anything. Eeeeee!” She instead squealed which was just as bad, but that was Hiromi after all.

“Yeah yeah... Anyway, I agreed to bring Alice and her bandmates on.”

“I’ll get a contract set up.”

“Do we really need that?” I asked, and instantly quailed at the look Hiromi sent me.

“Of course! What happens if you write a song and perform it, and blow up, but they argue that it’s their song? A contract will make it clear that the music you perform is yours and they are just musicians attached.”

“Well if they do well, I don’t mind them getting something Hiromi.”

“Ugh. You’re so nice... Fine I’ll make sure they get something, but they still won’t be able to claim the copyrights! That stays with us!”

“Us?” I asked, smirking as I stopped at a light and looked Hiromi over.

“Of course! As your manager, I’ll be in charge of handing out the copyrights to new businesses looking for your music.” Hiromi said, eyes twinkling and a distant look in her eye.

Pretty sure she wasn’t even thinking about the here and now, but was instead drooling about all the eddies she’d make in the future through business deals.

That’s my Hiromi though. So I rolled my eyes and focused on the drive home.

“We’ll need to have a meeting. So they can all get on board.” Hiromi said out of the blue and I just hummed, Corpo’s were gonna corpo.

“I’ll message Alice about it.” I accepted. My eyes flashing as I sent off a text to do just that. I got a message back really fast. “She says she's good now. The whole band is with her.”

“Excellent! Tell them... No, we should make them meet us someplace.” She muttered and it took me a second to realize why she’d said that.

“Hiromi, this isn’t some mega corporate deal. It’s Alice and a couple of street Rockerboys.”

She looked at me for a moment or two before nodding. “Right. No point in needing an advantage, we already have all of the advantages anyways!”

Sure Hiromi, whatever helps you justify it.

“Want to stop and get food?”

“Oh yes!”