I hissed in pain as I felt the feedback signal from my Servo-Arms, the prototype internal nano-forge I had spent the better part of the week working on short-circuiting because of a tiny missalignment I failed to notice in a lapse of concentration.
Motherfu-
No. No point in getting frustrated.
Even knowing that setbacks were inevitable, the sting of failure was still as harsh as always.
But despite my current predicament, my progress was still steady.
My future arms, legs, most of the torso and its internals, and a head casing were already prepared, alongside the monitoring devices I'd need to keep myself aware of my state.
My education may have abruptly been cut off but Greg- no, my Father, had already gotten his hands on most of what I'd needed to complete it.
Even if I was unlikely to ever get official certification.
The biggest hurdles now was designing the biopod that would hold my brain and adrenal glands safely, finishing up the biogenerator which would allow me to substitute a large part of my energy requirements through consuming food, an advanced cyberdeck with sufficient heatsinks and ICE routines to make me untouchable on the net, and last but not least...
A nano-forge.
One of the few advantages of being meat was that the body would, even if imperfectly, repair itself after a time using only nutrients.
Those wise enough to embrace cybernetics had no such luck.
Every cybernetic implant required constant near-monthly maintenance and even the smallest dents could, in time, cause the implant to for the lack of a better word go out of whack, inevitably increasing the neural load it demanded and leading down the slippery slope of cyberpsychosis.
Such limitations were unacceptable.
And so, I required a way for my body to perform maintenance on itself, and the simplest and most efficient solution for that was a personal nano-forge that could use the metals and other materials found in everyday food to produce nanites which would in turn enact minor repairs and corrections
But designing such an implant was easier said than done, and the fifteenth attempt currently buzzing in front of me felt like the world itself was taunting me.
The hiss of the doors opening drew me from my spiraling thoughts as my mother entered the room of our new home.
Her face was now more weathered than ever, displaying multiple signs of implantations around her eyes, and a visibly metallic jawline in place of her previous fleshy one.
Her previously casual clothing was now substituted with a large leather jacket that no doubt concealed armored plates, a bulletproof vest, and other military-adjacent equipment.
A well maintained Liberty was holstered on her belt, and a double barreled Igla shotgun hung off her shoulder.
But most jarring of all the changes were the two visibly chrome cyberarms, one starting at her left shoulder while the other began from her right elbow, and both of them sporting the telltale signs of constant combat use.
"Hey, Mikey" She smiled, her artificial voice failing to translate her emotions "Another failure?"
My eyes narrowed in frustration [Yeah... I haven't even gotten to the testing stage yet.]
She tossed a large trash bag next to my workstation, its contents landing with a solid thunk and revealing she had once more... acquired specimens for me to work with.
The Scav gangs around Megabuilding H11 were not having a good time.
"Maybe you should take a break then" She sat near me, and didn't even look as she picked up the can of RealWater rolling from the hacked vending machine behind her "Shouldn't you focus on designing your Bio-pod first anyway?"
I knew she was still leery of my full body conversion plan, but her unquestioning support despite it never failed to bring my mood up.
Besides, it was this or a rigorous bio-treatment. And we were neither European nor wealthy enough to afford those.
[I already have a viable design, I am just waiting to gather the necessary materials.]
She took a deep drink of her water and sighed in relief, briefly closing her eyes to enjoy the refreshing sensation before facing me again "Is what I am getting you not enough?"
There was no accusation in the question, only resolution.
[It is enough. Its just that I have to go through dozens of samples to find even one viable enough to use.]
[The circuitry necessary to connect directly to the brain needs to be completely structurally sound and untainted by anything that might have gone through it. I am not taking risks with my brain.]
[Besides that, supplementing the necessary cerebrospinal fluid should be a piece of cake.]
"My little genius" She muttered to herself before shaking her head "Don't worry, just send me the specifications and mommy will buy all you need."
If I could growl I would have then [No. You are already running yourself ragged.]
I would have probably been less annoyed if she got pissed at me, but all she did was direct me with a look of genuine pride "It is nice of you to worry, but I can take care of myse-"
[Neural Link] I interrupted [Now.]
She grumbled, mostly to annoy me, but did as I asked.
One of my Servo-Arms took hold of my Personal Link cable and inserted it into the port on the back of her neck. Immediately, my Optic was hit with lines and lines of information alerts but I wasn't looking at that.
Instead I activated my Cyberdeck, riding the other cable coming from my head to the nearby net access point, and once more finding myself within Cyberspace.
My Optics were great for analyzing cyberware but nowhere near as good as getting a more 'direct' look as it were, and after quickly reorienting myself, I got to work.
A bunch of tiny errors and just slightly off-kilter connections immediately revealed themselves to me, and like a man on a personal crusade I began meticulously correcting them one by one.
The sad truth of the matter was that mom would have already gone cyberpsycho months ago if I didn't insist on doing this every time she came back from work, and doubly insist she go to Dr. Vektor whenever I found something that needed a more experienced touch.
That man did not belong in Night City, and I meant that as the greatest compliment I could give.
Even with that, mom was still barely holding on.
The stress of dad's death, the pressure of keeping me alive, and the dangers of her job were simply too much for a person with high grade optics, two cyberarms, a health injection monitor, cyberlungs, bone lace, subdermal armor, and a second heart to reasonably use.
Even if Arasaka pretty much washed their hands of us the moment they killed dad, the constant worry of a bunch of their cyber-ninjas just suddenly appearing on our doorstep for two entire years was almost as haunting as being actively chased would be.
And yet we persevered.
My 3d printed nanites, and their subsequent improvements removed my need for medicine entirely, and moving from floor 46 to floor 16 of the megabuilding further reduced our costs.
Even if we had to install four internal turrets I put together to scare off burglars and other unsavory individuals.
Took me zeroing four such Darwin Award winners for people to finally take the hint.
The fact I felt nothing after removing them from this earth did not worry me whatsoever.
They wanted to take what was mine, and they paid the price.
It was as simple as that.
A mental beep returned my focus fully onto the cyberspace around me, a message appearing in front of me in the form of an elaborate Japanese scroll.
My avatar's right eye twitched as it unfolded on its own.
[TheGreatYokoSama: Maggy-chan! Your cute little customer just entered my parlor~ They are waiting for your magic touch.]
Both of my eyes twitched now.
I knew for a fact the annoying fox was an old-ass woman.
What did I do to deserve this constant pestering?!
Bored ass old netrunners I swear...
Still, it was good she informed me. Showing off a bit of my programming talents had been steadily paying off, even if I refused to get dragged into the constant 'contests' the idiots wanted to have between each other.
Want my expertise? Better pay up then gonk!
No, I don't want to make a bet on it.
Yes, I am a grumpy asshole, deal with it!
Ugh.
Done with my grumbling, and with ensuring my mother's sanity, I began shutting down my avatar and slowly extracted myself from the net.
Abruptly disconnecting was a painful lesson in caution, and thankfully one I needed to feel but once.
I blinked my physical eyes as they refocused and was met with the curious gaze of my mother.
Not waiting for the question I immediately said [You are fine for the most part, there is a small dent just under your right elbow. Vik should sort you out in five minutes tops.]
"Good" She smiled "You know, we don't need to do this every time I come back."
[Yes we do] I narrowed my eyes [I will accept nothing less.]
She huffed playfully "So long as it makes you happy."
[It does] Thankfully my synthesized voice did not translate my grumpy mutter.
[Go get some sleep now.] I waved my Servo-Arm to shoo her away [I have work to do.] Quickly remembering I added [And your nanites!]
"Fine, fine" She rose her arms in faux surrender "As the doctor orders."
I lightly glared at her as she left but immediately slumped into my prison the moment she left. No matter how much work I did, I couldn't help but worry.
Alleviating cyberpsychosis did not account for the usual effects of stress on the human mind, and all it would take for her to never come back was one lapse in judgement under pressure.
I needed to accelerate my plans.
But first, I had an agreement to fulfill.
Once again, I let my mind be pulled through my Cyberdeck and found myself floating in the LocalNet in all my crimson-robed glory.
One quick scan and click later, and I was no longer standing in the usual sea of ones and zeroes but within a well rendered traditional but colorful Japanese inn, one currently housing around twenty or so increasingly whacky avatars of the other guests.
The EdgeNet Caffe's true form.
"Maggy chaaan!" The far too sultry voice of a red fox-tailed and eared 'young woman' blurred in front of me "You finally left your cave!"
The other netrunners mostly ignored her, save for a few whose avatars visibly rolled their eyes in fond amusement.
"Yoko." I greeted in bland synthvoice.
"Yoko-chan!"
I just stared for a good five seconds "Yoko."
"Mou" The thing pouted at me "It is almost like you don't like me anymore."
"I never did." I deadpanned.
"Agh!" She clutched at her heart "There it is, such a perfect little kuudere!"
Eyes twitching, the words left me before I could stop them "Go die in a fire."
"Nope!" She chirped.
Jesus Christ please disconnect me from this Earth.
"Alright, alright, I see when I am not wanted" She pretend sniffed and pouted at me "Maggy-chan is too cruel."
"Woman-"
"Oh fine" Her playful demeanor shifted into a slightly more serious one "You know, you could have some fun and play along from time to time."
Wasting not a single moment, I immediately fired back "I am not going to entertain an old woman's fetishes."
She full-body twitched at that, smirk growing strained "Eheh" She scratched the back of her head "Don't be like that. I am young at heart!"
"Yeah, no."
She pouted at me before pointing at one of the inn's corners "Booth 13. Do visit more, Magos."
"In your dreams, Yoko" I rolled my eyes and walked off.
Ignoring the few snickers from the surrounding netrunners, I made my way to the booth in question, passing through a barrier/a privacy program and finding myself facing a tall furry ape creature.
"8ug8ear" I nodded and took a seat opposite them "I trust my program's performance was satisfactory?"
"Drop the corpospeak, kid" She, and I knew it to be a she because keeping things private from my grubby eyes was not a challenge she was up to, huffed "And yeah, your worm daemon did wonders. Got everything I needed and even left a backdoor for next time."
The fact I could design such quickhacks but not make any true use them still grated on me, but it was good to spread my own work around. Especially since I never designed a hack, quick or not, without having a countermeasure ready.
"So it performed even better than advertised." I said pointedly.
"Yeah, yeah" She waved me away "You will get your bonus. Wakako kept pestering me about why you refuse to do direct netrunning work but still paid out in full."
Wordlessly, she wired me fifteen thousand eddies for my work.
"And I keep telling everyone, I can't do direct work due to health reasons." And I wanted to consider cyberspace a place of freedom, not work. But I didn't say that "Besides, she got what she wanted."
8ug8ear looked about for a moment before asking "You sure we can't be heard here?"
"Updated the white-noise programs myself." I said "Even if they could listen in, they'd just get an inane conversation about Bushido 6."
"Ugh" She made a disgusted noise "I'd almost prefer being overheard to that."
"Too bad" I shrugged "Why do you ask?"
"Wakako" She said after a few moments of silence "She likes to keep 'her people' neatly under her control, and not getting her hands on you is probably starting to annoy her by now."
"Damn old woman." I folded my arms "She will just have to deal. Not like I ever plan on fucking her over anyway, that is not good for biz."
"She has a reputation for a reason" 8ug8ear pointed out "Just watch yourself."
"Yeah, yeah" I waved her off "Thanks for the warning, Bug. You looking for any more of my work?"
Immediately, I could see interest in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced with caution "You know, you are far too willing to just share your data for money. The others are going to start wondering if you are some corpo plant."
"Money is something I need right now" I pointed out, feeling zero worry about the potential 'threat' to my rep "Besides, if the programs I am selling to you all seem impressive, just imagine the stuff I am unwilling to part with."
"Right" She muttered in morbid realization "The stuff you are throwing my way is probably scraps to you" She narrowed her eyes at me "You know, I am starting to wonder. How is a hacker like you not infamous by now?"
I tilted my head, waiting for her to reach the obvious answer but she never did, just staring at me expectantly until I 'caved' "Because I am not a complete gonk who throws his life at corpo Black ICE on the daily just because a Fixer asks nicely?"
She immediately glared at me but after a few moments under my unimpressed stare she simply wilted "Damn, can't even say you are wrong."
"I rarely ever am." I stated the absolute truth.
She chuckled "Sure thing, choom. Whatever you say." Straightening back up, she began tapping the virtual table "Now then, what did you say you have on offer?"
Feeling just a tad smug, I quickly programmed in a menu-like display, filled to the brim with efficient and powerful quickhacks and their specifications.
The terrified gape of my fellow netrunner was an image I promptly seared into my brain.
-----
An old man's 'interesting' day
Old Chu finished another serving of his synth noodle special, offering it to the grinning Hispanic man with a proud smile of his own, especially after the child gave him his usual tip.
There was good reason everyone in Megabuilding H11 came to Old Chu's Noodle Shop, his food was tasty, affordable, and most importantly full of culture!
Unfortunately for him, being known in Night City's lower strata meant the opposite of safety, as three tattooed young men strolled up to him like they owned the place, pistols and submachineguns on full display.
He even recognized the kids, a bunch of local troublemakers he sent packing a month ago.
"Yo, old man!" The one armed with the SMG sneered at him "Remember us, huh?"
No one noticed one of the nearby cameras zeroing in on the young man.
Despite the threat, old Chu did not immediately back down "What do you want, brat?"
"This is our turf now!" Another of the kids hooted.
"Yeah!" The final one grinned, showing off yellowed teeth "That means you gotta pay protection!"
"Or else" The first one tapped his SMG.
Chu was feeling confident, knowing his loyal customers would support him for the great food he provided... That is until the hispanic man whom he had fed for years now simply cautiously stepped away, as did the rest of the customers.
The old man felt a pit of disgust in his stomach, and his fingers twitched in the direction of his holdout revolver.
But then an unknown contact buzzed in his shitty ZimDoc optics, revealing a simple message [Magos: 100 eddies and I get rid of them, 300 and you get overwatch for a month.]
A fucking scam? Now?!
[Magos: Time is ticking, old man.]
He didn't even notice that seconds had passed by now, and the three goons were growing agitated.
[Chu: Fine, have your damn money. But if you fuck up, I will haunt you from the grave!] He threatened, and wired the 100 eurodolars.
Before he could so much as blink, the three goons' Neural Links all let out a wild burst of electricity, instantly knocking them out, and probably doing permanent brain damage.
Old Chu looked down at the steaming fools, then at his confused 'loyal' customers, and then back at the goons.
[Chu: How much did you say monthly protection was?]
[Magos: I am happy to give you a first time discount. After all, loyal customers are so very hard to come by.]
------
Michael Sobronov
A full year had passed since that fateful day, when I decided to spy on the megabuilding floor I lived on, and fried three teenagers for money.
And it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Soon enough, the rest of the shops on the floor heard about the incident, and it took only five repeated incidents before I started getting offers in droves. Anything from discounts, to favors, to minor gifts of tools and materials, and of course, cold hard eddies.
The money started piling in to the point I even paid out a few hundred to the local bums so that they could clean up all the trash.
But only once.
The fucking landlord tried gouging up the prices for the sudden cleanliness and it was unanimously agreed that we just leave it as is.
Damn vampire cunt.
Aside from my... business ventures, my slowly growing reputation among my fellow netrunners had me practically rolling in eddies.
With the small disadvantage of a few of the chucklefucks trying to hack me every few weeks.
They did not have a good time.
Naturally, this sped up my research massively.
Months passed as more and more tests were run, numerous attempts failed, and one attempt even set itself on fire just to spite me, before finally during one particularly tiresome night, I managed to create a working nano-forge prototype.
It was bulky, it was oversized, and it guzzled energy like nothing else, but it worked.
The sheer experience I gained from designing a type of cyberware from the ground up made creating the rest of my body as easy as breathing. Or at least as easy as breathing was for whoever came up with that saying.
Even if I was forced to go through the indignity of designing all the necessary... bits needed for me not to lose my sense of identity.
Still, it was more than worth it, not having even the slightest bit of corpo code in my future body was a liberating thought.
All that was left was one final session of fixing the nano-forge, and it would be time to chip myself in, and finally free myself from the prison I was born in.
Except, that night, and the one after it, my mother failed to return from work.
---------------
Dun dun duuun!
An: For the sake of simplicity, last chapter took place around mid 2072, and this one ends around very early 2075, meaning the MC is around mid 19 at the 'start' of his adventure.
Daemon is old slang for a quickhack or an active program in netrunning.
And before someone asks me why he can't use powerful quickhacks when he is such a good hacker, in game terms his Cyberdeck can hold like two hacks and has like three bars of RAM. It is cheap shit that lets him faff about on the net but that is pretty much it.
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You too may join our glorious protection plan, for only 3 stones a day! Apply quickly, or you might end up ganked!
As always the dread Patreon exists if you want to read ahead, currently we are 13 chaps ahead but the end goal is to make it a nice fat 10 in advance (there are as well as advanced Sorcerer's Tale chapters of course.) patreon .com/Rastislav156
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