Ghost in the Cyberpunk
Chapter 4: Ballad of Fallen Cyber Angels
In one of the large buildings, headquarters to one of the more civil Cyberpunk syndicates, a man used his metallic finger to cause his thumb to bleed before pressing it on the document.
He then said, "here as we agreed."
The gentleman, dressed in white and had red slicked back hair examined the document, and nodded, "Well, it all seems to be accounted and done with. Legally, that is." He then put the document in a folder for safe-keeping as he said, "Still though... a former lieutenant of the White death wanting to broke with one of its enemies is rather quite a shock to say the least. Mr. Rai."
"Please think nothing of it, After his death and his need to make everyone against each other. I felt like we can finally make our own path to peace especially with the Malestrom gang making bigger and bolder moves on the rest of the city." Mr. Rai said cleaning his finger while it healed up, "I await for when your superior response to my request for a peace treaty between our organizations." Raising his hand to offer a shake.
The gentleman was about to reach out... until a familiar voice spoke. "That would be rather difficult to say the least about your superiors."
The two-gentleman looked to see in the shadows, the sounds of clicking heels being heard. Walking out of the shadows was a young lady of twenty-one, an hourglass figure with DD breasts, tight waist and sexy legs coming in. She had red hair in a pixie cut of sorts, with the tips of her hair black, and a bang almost covering the left side of her face, and her eye showing to be cybernetic red with chip patterns on the right side of it. She wore a dazzling and sexy red dress with both sides cut up to her hips, showing off a lot of leg, even though they were covered in black stockings, strap-on red high heels with the black as blade attachments. Her arms cybernetic from shoulder to hands, all red colored with black fingernails, and a black and red coat shouldered on her.
Standing next to her was a petite teen girl with tan skin, slender frame with a B cup chest, blue eyes, and spikey pink hair and a devious grin on her cute face. She was wearing a pink tank-top that barely covered her breasts below, tight black short-shorts, gray leggings and black boots, a black midriff vest with a pink hoodie on it, and black fingerless gloves. Her shoulders to forearms were pink and black cybernetics while her lower jaw had a pink cybernetic frame to it, and her back showed a gray implant on her spine going all the way down to her heart-shaped butt.
The dazzling redhead smiled, "After all... what would my father say if he saw this? Probably take both your arms I'd say. He was rather famous for that, side from executing his assassins with their own weapons."
"Your father," the redheaded man asked.
"Yeah, my late father," the lady smiled. "The White Death."
"Milinka..." Mr. Rai breathes shocked at this reveal.
The man in the white suit looked at him, "What the hell is this?! I thought you said all of his line were dead!"
Mr. Rai looked back and said, "I know I saw all of his family killed that day years ago."
"Well my existence was kind of put in secret, mostly because my father thought it was pathetic to have a girl as an heir," Milinka explained, but then smirked, "But then again, everybody underestimates a woman these days."
Bang!
The white-suited man was sniped from afar, as he fell down, his upper head blown off. His bodyguards, confused on this, were both sniped as well, as they fell to the ground in heaps. Even Rai's men were sniped, as the pink girl suddenly appeared behind Rai, getting him in a chokehold suddenly, as Milinka strolled up to Rai, face-to-face, as she smiled at him.
Mr. Rai looks at her, "Milinka... that day on the train... we all saw your father dying... and your brother... when I got the report that someone saw you alive there, I thought I could help you lead this organization down the path of peace... like how your mother wanted. We can't keep living this way of bloodstained war that your father wanted anymore, the Syndicates MUST find a peaceful means before we tear the entire city apart."
"Peace was never an option," Milinka said as she gently brought her right hand to his cheek, tracing it down, as her smile never faded, "And don't fret. While you have weakened my father's legacy... I've been making treaties and alliances in the shadows."
SCHNIKT!
Milinka then walked away as Rai's body twitched, his state unseen of what Milinka did to him, as she looked away. Her right eye glowing red, as his gasping voice spoke to her.
"Your mother... would be... ashamed..." Rai wheezed before he went silent.
"My mother was a fool," Milinka said, as she gazed at her right hand's fingertips. Stained with blood as she said, "Saying she would always come to save a son who didn't show remorse for his actions... even after they got her killed."
Elsewhere
Z's Last Chance Garage (Outcasts Hideout)
The place was kind of rundown, but it was perfect for a gang of cyberpunks to hide. Especially for Aaron trying to stay away from the Major.
Lee groaned, "Aaron... why aren't going to see Sec 9? I mean they got some pretty sweet tech."
"You can go if you want," Aaron said as he was cleaning out his guns. "I'm not gonna go near that place so long as the Major's there. She's a hardass."
"I bet." Lee smirked at the implications on Aaron.
"And worse of all, I think she's stalking me," Aaron said, as he put his Lexington back together, as he worked on the Satara next as he said, "Any minute now she's gonna..."
"Gonna what?"
The color drained from Lee's face, as Aaron groaned at this, as he slouched, "... gonna pop up when I don't want her to."
"Sorry if I cut into your special clubhouse time, but there's a situation." The Major said.
Aaron just huffed, as he continued to clean his weapons, "You have a team of veteran fights in your group. Wouldn't they be enough? Besides, I'm already getting ready for a job. A bounty job on a gang boss: Maou Yen Rai."
"That's who we need to talk about." The Major raidoed, "I'll be outside when you're ready to talk and not pout over what happened."
Aaron then said, "Sorry, can't hear you. Signal's dropping out."
The others looked at each other as they all heard what the Major said before she asks, "Do you really want me to replay what happened last night, to your gang to see?"
"Go and show off all you want. I don't really care," Aaron said as he geared up and walked to the stairway.
The Major let out an annoyed sigh.
"Seth." She suddenly said.
"Yeah, he's already gone. And his comms are off," Seth said, as they heard the sounds of a bike engine drive off.
"See what you can about this image. It's our prime suspect." She said sending a slightly blurry image of a white and red blurry figure.
Seth looked at it, as he said, "Might take me a while. But I can make out somehting. Dey got opera tickets. And... it seems that it's a showing later tonight. You might be able to infiltrate it and find the suspect."
"Thank you for your support. I'll make sure to let the chief know about your contribution." She said sincerely.
"Well, you not gonna try and talk to Aaron," Seth asked.
"If he doesn't want to talk to me, that's his business." She said ending the call while taking a scan of one of the codes for the electronic Opera tickets.
Though as the Major hung up, Batou, who was listening to this as he sat behind her, asked, "Trouble with your new boy toy already? It hasn't even been, what? Weeks now? The last one lasted a month? But before that, it was lesser."
The Major glared before Batou found himself being punched close to his pelvic regions, by his own fist.
Batou groaned, "What? You've dumped guys before. Why's this one bugging you so badly?"
He then got himself punched in the face by yet another arm with enough force to send him landing behind the couch he was sitting on, As the Major snapped, "Why don't you go out and do your job on figuring out who'd want to start a blood feud between the White Deaths and their rivals."
With the Major walking away, Batou groaned, "Damn, this guy's really getting under her skin."
Hours Later Opera House
THe Major got out of the Auto-car stepping out in an elegant and high quality dress with a perfect amount of makeup and jewelery. She then entered the lobby and asks one of the ushers, "Excuse me, could you help me find my seat?"
The usher asked, "Um, yes. but are you expected?"
"Here's my Ticket's scanning code." She said sending him the code.
The User then blinked, "Th-Then, you are to be seated with Mr. Rai?"
"Yes." She said flashing a charming smile, "I hope you don't mind helping me."
"Of course, he is expecting someone," the usher said, as he gently escorted the Major.
The Major went and followed the Usher android to the box in the upper level.
Elsewhere
Afterlife
Aaron walked in as he looked around for his contact. Or rather the one that had spoken to Rogue about the job. Though at a table, he spotted them. An elderly Japanese bodyguard taking a ceremonial sake drink: one used to honor the dead. He may have been old, but he was very well kept and built, as Aaron walked over, his weapons holstered and safeties. He stopped at it as he spoke, "It's been a while... Goro Takemura."
The man stopped drinking and sighed at the boy, "You sure take your time when I asked for your services."
"I've been harassed by the CTU Section 9's star agent," Aaron said as he sat across the man.
"You speak of The Major." Goro stated, "She is a woman of exceptional talent."
"She's a pain in my ass," Aaron sighed. "She won't take no for an answer. And don't tell me otherwise."
"No, actually, I would agree," Goro said as he sighed, "She's somewhat stubborn and insufferable towards others. Especially with her Ghost Infiltration." But then he looked to Aaron and asked, "I take it you know of why I called you?"
"Arasaka knows everything," Aaron implied as he asked, "Isn't that why your company was stalking and hunting me down way before I went on a personal war on you guys?"
"I thought it was because of your Netrunner lover that we attempted to kidnap that night," Goro guessed, as he said the name of that person, "Lucyna Kushinada."
Aaron slammed his balled fist on the table as he grumbled, "Don't say that name. That's not why we're here, Goro."
Goro sighed as he poured another cup, "Seems I opened a wound in the one that acts as the Shadow of Death. The one who seeks to kill Aarasaka for wanting to make you a test subject."
"Maou's death," Aaron said. This made Goro stop before he could drink, "What happened?" Goro sighed, as he looked to the boy, about to answer the question.
Meanwhile
Opera House
3rd Balcony Box
The Major make brief, but detailed observations of the path she took while she had her attack barrier up just in case anyone tried to hack her brain. She reached the doors and said to the Usher robot, "Thank you very much." Then said to the guard, "I'm here to join Mr. Rai for tonight's performance."
The two turned to look at her, and appeared to be Black and gray standard humanoid drones made by the Arasaka company.
'Arasa-tech combat drones?' The Major thought recognizing them during her training.
"Who the hell is this bitch," the pink-haired punk said, catching the Major's attention on her left.
The Major turned to the Pink-haired punk and explained, "I was invited here by Mr. Rai to attend tonight's performance."
"Funny," the pink-haired girl smiled, as she hopped off, her hands behind her back, as she smiled, "Because the boss was expecting a brown-haired hunk of a punk to arrive at this performance." the girl smiled mischievously as well as sadistically, revealing sharp shark-like cyber teeth in her mouth, "SO... where's Tantomoshi?"
The Major was slightly surprised by this before she said, "I'm afraid he couldn't come so he let me have the ticket scan code."
"It's true ma'am." The usher droid spoke up, "She had allowed me to scan the code from her after confirming it I did my primary duty of bringing her here for Mr. Rai."
Suddenly, the Usher's head was cleaved off in split seconds, as white blood spilled on the floor behind him... while the pink-haired girl held the glitching head in her right hand, "Shut up, drone! I didn't ask a stupid synthetic!"
The head went powered down before the punk got a message to let the girl in.
The pink-haired girl blinked, and then sighed, "Alright. I get it." She then tossed the head from the direction of the balcony and looked to the Major, "The boss wants to see you. Says they're curious about the one who's 'filling in' this time."
'This time?' The Major mentally asked before saying, "Thank you very much." Before the combat drone opened the door for her.
The Major stepped in, as she saw Rai sitting by himself, his back turned to her as she saw the empty seat. As she slowly walked towards it, she attempted to radio anyone listening in.
She was getting static.
Something was blocking her. Which meant that this whole thing was a trap.
She felt a gun from behind and the Punk said, "Wouldn't want to interrupt all the 'nice people' here now do ya?" "Why don't you just go and sit there, and we won't fire a shot." The punk pressed at The Major's back.
The Major did what she asked, going to try and overpower the target when she had the chance. Though as the show was going on, and the lights dimmed a bit, the Major though took a whiff of something. Rotting or decay flesh. As she sat down, she saw Mr. Rai his skin pale and his eyes blank with stains of blood on him while she could see he'd been dead for some time.
"I don't think he's going to pull through," a voice spoke up, as a red cyber hand slithered down Major's collar bone.
Though when she attempted to attack, the Major was frozen. She tried to move, but something was preventing her. "Oh, you're trying to use your Ghost Infiltration trick. Well, it's not unheard of. But it is easy to get passed when you have the cyberware... and the skill and will to bypass it and use it against you."
"M-my attack barrier..." The Major groaned not understanding how this punk got passed it.
"Is something pretty easy to hack into. With the tech Arasaka has, it's easy to plow through something that Asaka-Tech wastes time on," she said as she slipped her hands around the Major and smiled, "You really are pretty. Though you should know, Mr. Snow is far out of your league."
"What are you talking about?" She asks, looking at the girl, "Who... are you...?"
The girl looked to the Major as she smiled, "I'm sure he told you all about me and my father, Major. Though I go by a new name, Kasnaya Kocolove. It's Russian for... the Red Queen. A playoff of my father's title. the White Death."
"You... you're Milinka?" The Major asked, "But you're supposed to be..."
Milinka gently placed a finger on the Major's lips as she softly shushed her, "SShhhshshshsh, all questions will be answered." She smiled as she gently traced her fingers on the Major's right cheek. "But first..." the nails then slowly began to extend a bit, turning to claws as she said, "We need to get a message out to Aaron. After all... I did set this whole thing up for him."
Elsewhere
Back at Afterlife
Aaron was still sitting with Goro, to whom advised him, "I know you're not the type to listen to those who wanted you as a test subject, or just saw you as a thug, but you might not want to face this alone." But then he groaned as he sighed, knowing the facts, "What am I saying? YOu're going to face this instead of walking away. You've changed the past years."
"Well time and shit does that to people." Aaron said looking at his drink.
Goro nodded, "The same was with Maou." He looked to him as he explained, "That night when you destroyed that R&D factory of Arasaka... it was a changing point for Maou, even if he was Milinka's legal guardian when her father gave her to him. He realized that enemies are only that when you make one. I can't say that Milinka became your enemy, but she believed you might have been. But Maou... he suggested to Arasaka we should leave you alone. But then again, men who are the heads of a corporation believe themselves Gods and can do whatever they want without consequences. I'm fairly certain it was the reason why Maou retired and tried to form peaceful alliances with the more sophisticated gangs of the city. Those that were left unchecked when the White death was um... slain by his own sword, so to speak."
"And yet someone came and killed him."
Goro nodded, as he groaned, "I must be too drunk to tell you all this. Being this sentimental." Goro then began to pour another drink.
"Goro..." Aaron said as he reached otu to stop him, "I think you've had one or too many."
He took it back, "It's my drink, especially since you're not listening to what I said." Goro then sighed, as he said, "Besides, this one is for Maou."
But then Aaron took it from him. "If it's for Maou, then I should finish it for you... " and then gulped it down, as he sighed, "Seeing as I caused all this. Intentionally or unintentionally. Seems all the bad luck I carry screws everybody up."
"The Tentomoshi is neither good or bad luck it is a conduit for the forces within to restore balance." Goro recited.
Aaron put the glass down, as he walked out, "Seems like I'm doing a shitty job at it." And walked off to do the job he was given.
Back at Z's Garage
Aaron had gotten back and found nobody there. Even so, he began to set up as he took his jacket off, and set up a Black OPs kevlar vest fitted for cyborgs, as well as switching out his arm's flesh armor with black armor. He then began to sort through weapons he would need and began to load up. He sat on the couch, inspecting the Militech railgun rifle to use... when he spotted Batou standing there.
"Where the hell are you going?"
Aaron didn't answer as he put the rfile down, and loaded up a Lexington as he holstered it onto a thigh holster he strapped on.
"Shouldn't you be with the Major and Section 9," Aaron asked, not looking at him or tearing away from setting up.
"Major Kathrine's been taken hostage." Batou said.
"And Section 9 hasn't done anything? Do they know what happened or who did it," Aaron said, looking rather stoic and calm about it.
"No, but when we were finally infiltrate the opera house, this was for you." Batou handed him a disc with aaron's name on it."
"Can you plop it in the drive for me," AAron asked. "I'm about to finish loading."
Batou muttered, "Can't do it himself... what's the major see in this punk..."
Once that was done, the vid screen turned on, as the two watched what was on it.
They would see the major chained up and hung against a cross as the major glared into the camera.
As it showed this, a distorted voice spoke up as they said, "Hello, Tentomoshi. I was half-expecting you to show up, as the target was formerly a member of a string of arson, murders, and massacres you so-richly delivered to his former benefactor. Though it seems this one's superiors were impatient to let the Lower Slums deal with their own devils. Oh, how corporate lap dogs just love to sniff and suck their masters' cocks."
The Major remained silent as she didn't let this person get under her skin.
Though the figure walked towards her, hidden in some kind of screened shadow, as they leaned next to her. "Still though... she's quite a beauty." She then grabbed her left breast as she harshly groped her, like she wanted to rip it off. "And so well built. It's no wonder you won't touch her, aside from her Ghost Infiltration tactic."
The Major kept quiet, but her eyes narrowed at the implications
"I've loaded the coordinates to you via the disc. Place it in your vehicle's GPS, and you'll be there in no time. The time to get there is precisely 1 hour." they leaned in close to the major as she rubbed cheek-to-cheek with her, "I'll be waiting and having a girl's time with her until you arrive." But then they said, "Oh, one more thing. If you arrive late, or should this Section 9 even try to get here with their Tachikomas, Cloaking, or some stupid political rescue, or any of the branch companies desiring this goddess of the Shell as their personal champion/future love slave... show up by following you..." Her groping hand let go a bit as the nails extended into claws, "I'll just have to find out what of her is still flesh... even if I have to rip it all to shreds." And the video ended.
Batou then turned asking, "So what's the plan kid?"
"Do what she says and go alone," Aaron said, as he was now geared up and ready to go. "Thanks for playing the tape, I got done faster than expected." And walked over to eject the disc.
"Hold on that;s it? Your just gonna do waht this maniac wants with the Major all to just get you?!" Batou asked getting angry by the kid's attitude.
"You and I both know this path has no better choices in this matter. This person has got military-grade weapons and gear," Aaron assessed the team. "Possibly has cyberware of the same grade. It's so powerful and advanced, they have a way to block off the Major's Ghost Infiltration and Hacking. She's basically a plaything for this person."
"And that's it we have to bet the safety of the Major on a punk who doesn't seem to give a damn?!" He asked angrily, "I'm gonna get my Tachikoma and we'll join you."
"Do that and this lady will kill the Major," Aaron stated firmly as he walked down the stairs. "Besides, she doesn't give a damn about her. She knew damn well I'd go after the Major seeing as she looks like her."
"What're you talking about?"
Aaron got on the bike, but tossed a radio receiver to Batou as he caught it. Aaron then stated, "Stick it in, and listen well. When you hear the Major again, you'll get your chance." And then rode off on his bike to the location on the disc.
"Stick it in?" Batou asked confused.
1 Hour Later..
well, 5 minutes to the hour
Milinka had gotten out of a shower, as she threw the towel aside as she strode naked to a vanity mirror, with the Major still crucified to watch her. As she stood at the mirror much of her wasn't organic. Her legs were metallic blood red up to her thighs with her feet included, her entire spine was a cybernetic replacement going up to her neck forming five blood red claws on her upper back, while her arms were the same color and make. Her breasts had cyber patterns on them as well, along with a trio belt of bolts under her breasts's rib section. Her collar bone had red cybernetic implants as well. Though she pulled back her hair... and showed a skeletal upper red cybernetic replacement. She didn't seem all that repulsed by her appearance, but she took a gander at the Major looking at her.
She smirked, as she turned to her, "Oooh, you naughty girl. Like what you see? It's okay. You can talk. I gave that back to you at the very least."
"Why are you after Aaron Snow? And how does killing head officers of Syndicates accomplish your goal?" The Major asked, not at all interesting and feeding her vain-ego.
"Well, that's just rude, seeing as I know you're Bi. But if you want to know, I'd be happy to tell," Milinka sighed, knowing full well she didn't get the reaction she wanted. She waltzed over to get ready as she slipped on her trademark Chinese red dress, "Cut the head off the snake and it goes wild for a few seconds until it dies. Same can be said for crime syndicates when they lose leadership. Power hates a vacuum." She then slipped on her nylon stockings while giving the Major a show, "All those lieutenants and vulture kids will be snipping and eating each other just to get the throne. But Power always flows to the one who knows how to use it properly. My father perfected that all on his own when he was thrown out of the KGB. And after my near-death experience and much cyberization and therapeutic rehabilitation, I have been practicing my big return. And I'm just trimming out the fat from the steak that is San Tokyo."
"So the assault on the Geisha tea house was your doing as well," The Major prodded.
Milinka looked to her confused on this, calmly confused, as she arched an eyebrow. "What are you going on about? I never get involved in politics."
"So that wasn't you, huh... and I thought you'd get the American Empire's backing for trying to get in the way of a Russ-Nep-American alliance by getting her hands on secret documents." The Major jabbed, then exhaled, "Apparently, that sort of thing is a bit over your head."
"The rest of the world be damned," Milinka replied, as she turned to the Major smirking, as she was now fully dressed, "This world is finished. Only thing left to do is to enjoy what is ours and I intend to take all the Underworld as my Empire."
"That sounds like an awful big and impatient plan for someone whose just starting out. At least your father stayed where he was with his rule." The Major jabbed at her.
"I intend to stay well placed in San Tokyo. But I can't do it unless I own and rule everything in this city known to betray others," Milinka answered. But then walked over to the Major as she smiled, standing six inches to her, as she said, "I must say though. He must have been very startled to seeing you for the first time, Major. I think I know why he pushes away from you."
"And why would that be?" The major asked closing her eyes, to show she's not really interested.
"Because you look and act just like her. Lucyna Kushinada," Milinka smiled.
"Hey, boss," the pink haired girl said, popping up, getting both their attention. "He's here."
Milinka smiled, as she then slashed at the Major, drawing blood a bit. She then took the blood-tipped fingers and danced them on her lips, painting them red. "Well then... let's go greet him."
Down Below
Aaron walked in to the ruins of a vast and long-abandoned cathedral. The place was long disheveled; a sign that religion, a certain religion, was long dead. Nobody bothered to even replace this place at all. Aaron sighed, as he looked around, "Guess this would make for a good spot to hide out in."
"Yes it would." A familiar voice echoed throughout the main chamber.
Aaron saw the voice coming from the shadows far across from him at the ruined altar. Though walking from the shadows, he saw the figure in a bright red dress, smirking. And with her was the Major, barefoot and standing with her still tied up.
"Hey baby, did you miss me?" Milinka asked in a mocking cutsy voice. smirking at Aaron.
Aaron looked at her, stern and concentrating... but then asked, as he looked confused, "Who are you?"
Malinka fell-anime style before getting back up and said, 'You show a girl a good time by killing her deadbeat dad on a train and you forget her? I'm hurt."
Aaron arched an eyebrow... and then anime-waved it off, "I don't know a girl as hot as you. Or that daring to show off her panties in a dress like that."
"How about a kiss to help you remember? Just like how that serpent that killed my stupid brother."
"I don't remember ki..." Aaron said, but then blinked, "Oh crap, I remember! And that doofus of the White Death was injected with a syringe." He then shouted comically at his hand, "AND THAT SNAKE BIT ME!" He then looked at her... still confused, as he asked, "And I still don't know who you are."
Milinka groaned, "It's me, you idiot! Milinka!"
He arched his eyebrow, and then said flatly, "No. The Milinka I remember dressed in an electric pink and magenta schoolgirl outfit, and was way incompetent to do anything by herself. Fact, last time I saw her aside from running away losing it, was when she got hit by a tangerine truck."
"Ugh.. don't remind me of that..." The woman said covering her face with her hand, "I'm still having nightmares... Even after I had to get cyberized and go through therapy."
"Ah, so you did survive through cyberization," Aaron smirked, as he pointed to her, "Gotta say, Ruby Red is a better look than electric hot pink."
Milinka blinked as she looked at herself, "This isn't Ruby Red, it's Blood Red."
Aaron shrugged, "Okay, it's blood red. Just let the Major go. We all know I'm why she's here in the first place."
"Oh no no no no. That's not gonna end so easily." She said pulling out a gun form under her skirt.
Aaron looked down and asked, "What else you packin' in there? And out of curiosity, unlike the Major, do you still have a vagina?"
"Of course I have one!" The mob boss shouted back, before seeing her goons snickering behind this.
"Just had to be sure," Aaron said, as he pointed to the Major, "Seeing she's full-bodied shell, it's hard to tell if her mommy doctor put a permanent chastity belt on her. Translation: I think her cyber body is unequipped and that she's bare down there."
The Major would then shouted, completely embarrassed by the direction of this conversation, "WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP ABOUT THAT AND STOP HER BEFORE SHE SENDS ALL OF US INTO A TURF WAR!?"
Aaron smirked, "And that's the signal... if Batou figured out how to work the old-fashion radio signal," Aaron smiled, and looked at Major, "You can move now." The Major blinked, as she saw Milinka was on her knees in pain.
She then got up and asks, "What, did you do?"
"Just made the Major angry. When a woman gets pissed, anything happens," Aaron said, as he then pulled out a gun as he gave it to the Major. "Ready to let out a pent-up aggression on that pervy Russian?"
The Major would raise a brow and said, "I don't need a gun to do that." As she grabbed Milinka by the collar of her dress, pulled back her fist and began to punch Milinka.
However, Milinka disappeared in a flash... and both Aaron and Major were punched forced into the wall, as the two groaned at that, as Aaron blinked, seeing Milinka appeared, smirking viciously, as she seemed rather excited.
"You... you have that same..." Aaron said still dazed.
Milinka smiled, as she looked to him, "Aww, you noticed." Milinka then brought her hands up... and her forearms shot out glowing red mantis blades, "I've also got some friendly accessories other than nine-inch nails."
"WHOLY!" Aaron shouted seeing that, "What are you turning into yourself?! A Horror film wannabe?"
"No, just a match," Milinka smiled, as she prepared to attack. When suddenly, the wall near the door blew apart, as a Tachikoma was riding through, carrying Batou inside.
"MAJOR!" The Tachikoma exclaimed coming in.
The Major blinked, "Wha...?" The Tachikoma's backside opened, as Batou came out, though he seemed a bit irked at the moment.
"Major, you okay?" Batou asked looking at her.
"I'll be okay, Batou," Major replied, without even seeing in time, Milinka appearing in a flash behind Batou, planning to slice his head off. "BATOU," she cried out. He turned around... only to see her disappear, as did Aaron.
Though unseen by the naked eye, the two were in fast battle in the 'Sandavistan Universe' so to speak. But to the Major and Batou, even the Tachikoma, it was as if spontaneous explosions were being made all around, narrowingly missing them. Though in their space, they were normally bouncing off walls as they were fighting, as Aaron had extended out his Mantis blade on his right arm, while his right arm was sporting a black elbow blade to block.
Though as they fought, with Milinka atop him, he looked to her and asked, "You have a Sandavistan?"
"I guess you could call it a rudimentary upgrade," she smiled as she fought against him.
Aaron growled as he ran at her with his fist drawn back.
She playfully dodged him, as they both reached the upper level... and then time returned to them both. Now they were fighting sword style, with them both evenly on parr with each other. Though at the final strike, Milinka pinned Aaron to the wall, with him aiming his blade at her side. Both were out of breath, not from the physical attacks. But it was more of mental fatigue: a side-effect of using the Sandavistan like that so much.
Milinka though.. smiled as she said, with a blush, "You should really see yourself. You know what you look like?"
"What," Aaron asked.
"Amazing," Milinka smiled.
Aaron finally asked, "Look. Why are you after me? I would have thought you'd stay away considering being around me, you almost got killed in a bullet train and half-dead from a tangerine delivery truck. So why go through all this trouble just to bring me here?"
"I want you..." Milinka said as she leaned in... and blushed as she softly and uncharacteristically smiled, "... to be by my side as a potential candidate for a mate."
Aaron blinked, confused, "Huh?"
Hearing that, Batou blinked as well in confused, "What?"
Though the Tachikoma cooed, "Ooooh! A future proposal in the Criminal Underworld? So Risqué as they say!"
The pink-haired she-thug called out from afar, "You go, boss! Bare your heart out!"
The Major for some reason felt herself becoming cold.
Aaron blinked at this, even as Milinka answered, "I tried so hard to want revenge against you. But the drive in wanting you dead became something more. Despite being nobody and not even worth a corporate future, you defy all logic. A lower slum rat turned legend amongst even the Cyberpunks. A legend far greater than that of my father." She blushed more, as she seemed less a killer bad guy... and more of a girl having a massive crush. She even sound cute as she said, "Honestly... I find you rather attractive and alluring all this time."
Aaron blushed at all this as he said dead toned, "I am deeply confused. And at the same time... flattered and aroused."
"Batou...hand me a gun..." The Major radioed as she felt herself being jealous for some reason.
Batou blinked and sweatdropped in fear, "Eh, Major...?"
She gave him the scariest death glare he ever saw, and repeated, "Give me. the gun. now!"
However, the scene shifted as they heard Aaron shouted, "GAAAAAAAAH, LOOK OUT BELOW!" And they both saw him jumping off the ledge... as the top started to explode.
The two Sec-9 agents blinked looking up at the top.
Though the Tachikoma suddenly bolted with the two on them, as it caught Aaron, as he landed next to Major. When she was about to scold him, he looked pale and worse for wear, as he gasped in terror, "We need to go."
"What the hell?!" Batou shouted.
"WE NEED TO GOOOOOOO!" Aaron freaked out.
The Tachikoma sorta panicked, as it said, "Yeah! We should go!" And then sped away.
The Major held onto Batou while they drove off while Major shouted, "Who or what did that?!"
"That was me; I kinda panicked when she said she wanted a three-way relationship with me... and you," Aaron said to the Major.
"Aaaron!" The trio turned to see on the balcony, even though it was burning in the background, Milinka was there, still blushing and waving back at Aaron, "Sorry for spooking you, but don't fret! I intend to forge a life for not just me, but you and the Major as well. The Ladybug's thread of Fate binds us as lovers!" And then it blew up bigger behind her, as she twirled around like a dance.
Aaron cringed at this, "This is going to kill me one day. I just know it."
The major got up and suddenly shouted, like she was possessed, "STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM HIM!"
But they were driving too far, even for Milinka to hear her, as it was the overall meaning to get away anyway.
Later On
Aaron's Apartment
Aaron was helped in by the Major as he stumbled a bit, looking exhausted from overusing the Sandavistan like that.
The Major came out of it and asks, "You okay?"
"I'm just... " He looked to the couch, as he asked, "Would you stay with me? Tonight? I have a confession I have to make."
The Major looked before nodding, "Of course."
The two sat down together on the couch, as Aaron looked away from her for a moment, as he confessed, "There's a reason why I've been trying to push you away for... well, since we met." He looked to her and flatly said, "And the words don't start with B.O."
The Major sat silently. The Major frowned, as she said, "If you're going to say something seriously, be serious."
Aaron answered, "You resemble too much... like Lucy."
"Lucy?" The Major asked, confused.
"A Netrunner Cyberpunk who joined my mentor's gang," Aaron answered. "She was like you. A powerful hacker, intelligent, cold to others... but she was also... beautiful and mysterious."
The Major blinked watching him, "Me?"
"Yeah, but there are some differences between you two," Aaron said, as he looked to the Major, "Her hair and eyes were different colors, she had a huge Net port hidden in the back of her neck along with cyber scarring on her back." He then sighed, as he looked away, looking up at the night sky in the window, "She also kept too many secrets from me. Even when I said she could trust me to help her."
"She must have her reasons."
"Yeah, but it was her lack of communication that cost Maine and Dorio's lives. Two of our best teammates," Aaron said, as he sighed, "That night, we were supposed to gain info from Tanaka; a head of Arasaka on a job. But during that heist with Lucy looking into his head, she freaked out. Even when we were escaping and getting to the car, Maine and Dorio were left behind. I opted to go after them, but she tried to stop me from going back. I went anyway, but it was too late as the two had been butchered by MaxTac, as the strain had pushed Maine to Cyber-Psychosis. Even after that, she became more distant and cold. Even when we lived together in the same apartment." Aaron was quite for a moment... until he looked to the Major, "It turned out Lucy was kind of a nudist in her apartment. She didn't like wearing clothes while at home."
An awkward silence drove between the two... until Aaron blushed as he said, "I... didn't really get used to it. I kept looking away in embarrassment."
"And?" The Major asked brow raised for the continued story.
He cleared his throat, "Well, eventually, she told me about her past. She was an orphan taken off the streets and cyberized to a Netrunner. She and several others were used to hack into the Old World Net. In that place in the web, there are viruses that have been around the last World Wars. Most of the kids died, but Lucy managed to fight and claw her way through... until finally, it hit her. She and the others never had the chance to live their lives and dreams. They were living the dreams of their masters. Until finally, she hacked their security systems and allowed the Viruses they fought to seep through. It became known as the Viral-Pandemic of Liberty City aka New York. In the chaos, the kids managed to escape, but not before the guards attempted to kill them all. Lucy woke up in the junkyard and lived most of her life hiding. She saw the cities as prisons. And then she met our former crew and..." He sighed, as he answered, "She still kept secrets. Even though she knew they would cause problems for everyone."
The Major remained silent. She tried to justify what she thought was Lucy's thoughts, "Maybe she felt like she had no idea how to tell."
"It didn't make things easier for anyone as a result," Aaron said. "Every night, when we thought she had been going on a dangerous netrunning crusade. It happened that night with Tanaka as it turned out; she discovered Arasaka's plans on me to experiment on for my tolerance of cybernetics, she ended up destroying the data related to it, and killed Tanaka Sr. She continued by hunting Arasaka netrunners looking to recover the deleted data on me, often at a high risk of capture or death."
"It sounds like she really did care about you..."
"Though her inability to communicate clearly and her fear of me getting caught strained our relationship. She pleaded to tell me to runaway, not even telling me the truth about Arasaka targeting me on my cyber tolerance, or providing a firm answer on the future of our relationship, she just ran off to pursue another Arasaka netrunner trying to decipher the info she deliberately destroyed." He shook his head, "This ended up backfiring on her spectacularly, as the "netrunner" was actually a trap from Arasaka, leading to her being captured."
"I take it you were able to save her," Motoko asked, secretly hoping for a happy ending from all this.
"I did. But not without a big price to pay," Aaron said, as he looked dark, him now glaring at the moon. "The bodies that day... they might as well have built the foundation for gang and crime organizations to pick and scavenge the remains at what used to be the New York Arasaka branch. I let nobody live that day. Men and women, with lovers, families... children," Aaron confessed, as he lowered his head, "I was dangerously on the brink of Cyber-Psychosis on that mental strain."
The Major stared thinking about all those lives, and then said, "it's you... you're the one..."
"Yeah... that... was a real eye-opener that day when I carried Lucy, still unconscious from the sedatives," Aaron said. "It's true for her in trying to keep me safe, Lucy's actions inadvertently almost sentenced us both to death. Worse, it made me realize something. As I didn't have a clue as to who I was before the Sandavistan was attached to me, bits and pieces of who I was still flutter in my mind like glitches trying reform back into a file. And as I looked back at that person, I saw who I was now. A monster not of cyber-psychosis but unbridled rage and hate for anyone that looks down on people that show they work hard to be what they are, and don't reward us but snatch and take away our dignity by making us weapons or experiments, only to get discarded to die." He looked down at his reflection at the table, and answered, "I thought back then... I couldn't live with it. But I..." He sighed sadly, as he shook his head, "... I could live with it. But I didn't think anyone else could. Not Lucy especially." And at that moment, the Major saw him for the first time since they met... shed a single tear. "So I left her instead, leaving a note saying We're not Compatible with Each other."
"I'm sorry..."
Aaron chuckled sadly, as he combed through his hair as he said, "I'm not even sure why I'm telling you this. You'll probably just throw me in jail, I get my brain taken out or get executed with no chance of revival even as a full-body cyborg. I dunno, this feels like I'm confessing to someone who's gonna punch my lights out, or..."
The Major went and hugged him to her.
Aaron blinked, "Eh... Major?"
"I'm so sorry that happened to you..."
Aaron reached out to try and hold her... only to gently push her away, as he said, "Don't. I... please don't."
He kept her hold on him, "You're someone we were meant to protect... yet we only turned our eyes on those above the lower severs... Maybe if we found you sooner we could've helped you..."
"It still wouldn't do you good," Aaron said as he still tried to break her hold as he sternly looked at her. "You guys think the Prime minister or Section 9 have control. But corporations like Arasaka or MiliTech are the ones with the power. And they..."
She stopped him by doing something he'd never expect.
Aaron blinked, "Major?"
She then went and kissed him full on the lips, it wasn't too rough, it wasn't too soft, it just felt right between them.
It was a gentle signature she wanted to give him. Though oddly when she did, he felt at peace... like all the distrust he had gone through for the past four years after he left the remainder of Maine's crew was fading away. He then gently returned the kiss, giving her his signature; it was sweet and warm to her. All her life, the Major felt ever since she was a full body cyborg... she wasn't connected... to anyone. Her past relationships practically were a testament to it. But this.. there was no hacking, no false memories implanted by someone she trusted. He bore his soul to her, pushed himself in that battle, despite headbutting with each other... he would rush to her side to back her up.
She would pull back and said, "This proves that you have a ghost and how it wants to make things right and be with people who you know you can let down your guard and know that they will be there with you, like a family."
Aaron looked at her, and despite how broken he was... she would accept him. He gently reached up to her cheek, and softly smiled, "Well... I'm still not wearing a suit for Section 9."
"At least not for the moment," Aaron said to her.
"We can talk about that later." She said as she went and continued the kiss.
Aaron said, as he interrupted, "I'm... a bit concerned about how far this is going."
"Just a snuggle on the couch," the Major smiled as she assured him. "After today... I'm a bit beat." Aaron granted her that wish, as the two snuggled together in his bed, with only a blanket and keeping their clothes on. Though the Major did spoon up to him with his arms around her. In truth, the Major felt at peace with him. Even hearing his cyber heart beat was like a gentle lullaby to her.
At night, near a forest close to the junkyard, and in an old trashed car that still had its windows there, it was raining outside. She was tired at the time, but she was only ten, as she saw a boy take a blanket and gently wrap it around her. Even though she was tired, she asked him, "Where's yours?"
"It was the only one I found," the boy said, his face hidden by a hood as he said, smiling, "You should take it."
"No," she said in a cute and quick manner. She took the blanket and wrapped it around them both as she said, "Now we're both warm."
The boy smiled as he gave in to this little selfish but heartful move, and smiled, "Okay then... Motoko.."
"Thanks, Aaron-Kun." The girl smiles back holding him close.
The Major woke up a bit, as that glitch suddenly appeared.
Aaron woke up too but never anything like that, seeing the Major he asks, "You okay?"
The Major nodded, "Y-Yeah, I um... she looked around, and felt it under her skirt. She pulled out what appeared to be a strange white disc, as she opened a port in the back of her neck. A line shot through as a red liquid was injected into her system, as she sighed in relief, and then put the cartridge down, as she breathed in relief, "I um... I get these glitches. It's somewhat... it's a side-effect of my mind trying not to reject this body." She sighed, as she softly smiled, "I guess you could say despite the fact that I do have the lady bits... I can't go further in a relationship like that. In fear that my body will be rejected by my mind."
"That some sort of medicine?"
"Yeah, like I said, keeps my mind from rejecting this body," the Major implied, as she looked at the semi-empty cartridge. "Guess that's something we have in common: a shared interest in immuno blockers, only if I don't take mine, I don't run the risk of losing control of a limb or suffering strain. I might end up in a jar without a body."
Aaron looked at the injector and asked, "How much of that are they able to get you?"
Aaron looked a bit awkward, like giving her a love confession or saying she was pretty, as he said, "Well.. I might have Doc take a look at it. He's not just good with cyber surgery, but he can whip up some good immuno-blockers. If he takes a look at what you've been injecting, he might be able to find a way to keep your brain from rejecting your body."
"This isn't Cyber-psychosis..." The Major assured him.
"Look, he may be a Ripper Doc, but cyber bodies, parts, and immune injectors, he takes this stuff seriously," Aaron assured her as well. "He may be a back-alley surgeon, but he does take his job as a doctor seriously." And then sweat dropped, "As disturbing and annoying as he is with me at times."
Aaron then looked a bit shy as he said, "And besides... I at least wanna be sure I have your suppressants on me in case you lose yours or if the enemy takes them to make you glitch out. I had trust issues in the past even with my group, but that doesn't mean I'm immune from making sure they live."
Aaron sighed, "Sorry, I'm being a sucker and sap at this point..."
She blushed and said, after kissing him deeper, "We should go out to dinner."
Aaron blinked, "I know I said I'd never wear a suit..." but then smiled to her, "I think I can break my own rule this time." And returned it back as well with his own deep kiss.
The two remained in each other's arms as even though things would be hectic later on... unbeknownst to them... a red string entwined them both in each other's lives.
Next Chapter: Down the Rabbit Hole