Ghost in the Cyberpunk

Chapter 8: Ghosts Stand Together

Moments Later

Aaron's Room

The door closed behind him as Aaron gently walked in as Motoko gently stepped back down on her feet. She looked at him the corner of her right, and turned to look at him, blushing.

Aaron stood to undo his kimono outfit as he glanced back at Motoko, blushing as well.

he reached up as he gently undid the top of hers, as he showed her his small muscled well-toned upper body. Though she had seen him in the shower, she never fully took in how he looked. HIs flesh tone was Caucasian and normal, but there were parts that showed his arms were cybernetic due to line broke parts. Still though, he looked amazing to her.

"You are amazing, Motoko."

She blushed, as she said, "You're just saying that because my body was manufactured."

"No really." he said gently cupping her chin, "If you weren't shelled, I bet your organic body would be just as beautiful."

Motoko blushed, as she said, "Thank you." And then leaned up to kiss him, as she reached up for him, slipping her sleeves off, as her bare breasts smooshed to his chest. Her kimono falling down, as she showed her bare body, but panties, still on

Aaron went and pressed his lips to the base of her neck and along the adjoined shoulder.

She reached down in his kimono, as her hands traced down to his lower back, feeling his strong back and his butt, as she almost buckled at the knees.

Aaron jumped a bit as she felt his hardness against her body as he did. he then commed, "Two can play that game Moto-chan."

He then went and groped her rear with both hands.

Motoko almost screamed, but whimpered a bit, as she clutched his back, burying her face into his chest, as she squeaked out, "Dangit."

"Motoko?" Aaron asked, nervously.

She looked at him rather excited, and brought her arms around his neck, as she smiled, "You're surprisingly good at this. I'm guessing you and..."

Aaron blushed as he said, "We never got that far though. Sadly."

"Oh, that's a shame." She said blushing as well.

But he looked to her as he said, "Still.. I think it'd be way better if you were my first."

The two lowered down as they knelt on the futon, their bare naked bodies pressed to each other as they continued to kiss and make out, still groping one another.

Motoko would try and be on top between them as she kisses and gropes him. and Aaron tries the same.

Though she started to feel something poking between her thighs, as she blushed a bit.

Though she didn't get to see it in time, as Aaron gently pushed her down on her back, as he worked his kisses down to her belly and gently blew into her belly button. He then went downward, his suspicions of her having a vagina were confirmed. And then he proceeded to play with her pussy with his lips.

Motoko moaned holding onto his head as she felt him eat her out.

Her legs rested on his shoudlers, as he continued to eat her deep within, his tongue exploring her vaginal walls. Although artificial, it seemed that this was not of Oulette's design. He came up a bit of air as he asked, "I'm guessing this part of you wasn't OUlette's design? A custom job?"

Motoko blushed and heaved, mostly for the break, as he seemed to go all out on her, and nodded, "Y-Yeah. Most cyborgs in the military just need replacement parts, but I..." she blushed smiling, "I also take on parts for custom. To make me more human. That includes reproductive parts." Aaron smiled, "Guess you wanted to find taht special someone to do it with then?" Motoko blushed as she softly smiled, "Yes. And I did find him."

Aaron was confused before saying, "Oh..." She blushed.

He then smirked, "Then I should get back to getting you ready." He then went back and proceeded to 'eat' her again.
Only he was acting more aggressive, making her moan, as she fell back down, as she whimpered, holding herself as she felt him explore her insides. This was a whole new level of intense for her. Her legs gently rubbed up as her feet rested on his back, as she felt him go. Her back arched a abit as she gasped with every stroke and exploration he did with her vagina.

Motoko gasped as she felt her mind go crazy and numb, as she moaned softly, "Y-You... liar... you've had... experience... " "Not really, I've just been hacking your mind to figure out where your good spots are," Aaron spoke in her mind. Though she managed to do speak back, she did still sound like she was in extascy as she said, "Even so... this is cheating.."

Motoko then had a good payback against him when it's his turn to be 'ready."

However, she arched her back, as her legs straightened out as she grabbed the sheets, as she came. She felt weakened a bit, as her body was wet with sweat, as Aaron pulled up as he smiled, "You just came, didn't you?"

"Sh-Shut up!" Motoko shot at him while she gets ready to kick him.

However, she just pounced him down on his back, as she looked like a hungry wildcat, as she heaved and took a deep breath. Though blushed at the position they were in, as she seemed confused on where to start. But Aaron smiled a bit, as he reached up and groped at her right breast.

She then stopped him, "Hold on, I got an idea."

Aaron asked, "Really? What is it?"

She then reached into her kimono, she pulled out port plugs, "When we do this physically, we should do this with out Ghosts as well."

Aaron sat up as he looked to her and asked, "Isn't that... kind of risky?"

"Not from waht one of my friends said." She said before making the connection, "Once we have the necessary safety measures in place to ensure netiher of us lose our ghosts, then we'll be able to do both."

"That's not what I meant," Aaron said as he held her hand, "What happens if well.. we see something that we don't like?"

This concerned her, "Wh-what do you mean?"

"Well, I mean..." Aaron said, and sighed, "Motoko, we both know that there are some things or secrets we both don't wanna show each other yet. That and I'm also aware that this kind of thing can also cause the ghosts to merge..."

"We're only having sex, we're not going to do that." Motoko assured her, "As long as we keep the right programs up, we can prevent the our Ghosts from merging."

Aaron sighed, as he knew she had him beat. He then smirked as he said, "Okay. Let's do it then."

She kisses him tightly before she gets the cords connected to a device at the near the head of the bed as she went and inserts it into her port, "Ready?"

"Ready," Aaron smiled, as he made sure to hold onto her.

She wiats for him to insert the cord into his neckport.

He slowly inserted in, not sure of what to expect, or if anything would go wrong. But... he would do it... all the same... for her.

She would lay down facing as she said, "See you there."

Then closed her eyes.

Aaron's eyes closed, not certain of what to expect when this would happen.

When he opened his eyes and saw that he's in the ocean and he saw Motoko smilin at him nude, "What do you think?"

She would move as if she was flying or floating to him in the water.

"Eh, wha... where are..?" Aaron thought, but then panicked, as he thought it was real water. He had trouble breathing at this, as he gasped, unable to try and get any air or find a surface or air pocket at all to get air in.

"Aaron, relax this is all virtual." Motoko said takingh is hand in hers as he felt an overwhelming amount of sensations when they touched.

Aaron suddenly jolted from the touch... and almost drowned at this, as he groaned, "Ugh, why can't my head get around this?"

"It's because this is your frist time having a ghost virtual environment." Motoko said as she carefully helps him along, "Remember, we're both in here for us to share this experience with our ghosts as well as our bodies."

"I... I can't do this," Aaron said, knowing full well this was something he wasn't ready for. "Get me out."

Motoko looked sadly before nodding, and he felt himself returning to his body.

When he opened his eyes he found himself pressing himself agaisnt Motoko as thye look to be close to interconnecting.

He quicky ripped the cord out of his neck, as he gained distance, as he tried to breathe. It felt like his heart was going beyond its functional pace. Even if it was artificial.

Motoko sat up taking it the cord out as she looked over at him concerned, "Aaron?"

"I'm..." he began to breathe more calmly, and looked over to his clothes. He got up and grabbed it, as he changed, "Sorry. Guess I'm not compatible that way."

Motoko got up and attempts to comfort him, 'I'm sorry aaron." And hugged him from behind, "I didn't think..."

She then gently turned him around and said, "I only wanted to share something very special with you, not just physically but ghost-wise too..."

"It's okay... Major," Aaron said, "Maybe.. I'm just not ready. He finished putting his clothes on, as he kept his back to her, as he sighed, "I'll get your clothes. We need to get some rest for tomorrow."

Motoko was shocked hearing that he's calling her by her title instead of name... and that made her feel cold, "Oh..."

Aaron opened the door, but kept to make sure her privacy was kept, as he closed it, leaving her in the room. He then went to her room, as he carefully gathered her clothes, her boots, and her firearm, as he walked back to the room. But before he entered, he stopped. Mostly because of what he heard from the room.

All he heard was crying, sniffling, but still counts as crying as her voice, muffled, was still heard, "Idiot... Why... I'm such an idiot... Damn it... Why is this happening? I thought... Idiot..." A

deep silence was heard before he heard her softly wailed, "Maybe it would've been better if they had erased my ghost..."

For the rest of the time he heard her crying out in pain and what could be felt like heart break.

Aaron looked hurt at the fact that he couldn't do this right. That he couldn't be what she needed. He placed the clothes at the door, and sighed. He rubbed his eyes dry and walked down the hallway, going unnoticed. Though as he did, he passed everyone else, as he went out the window. At the moment, hiding wasn't going to be enough now. He had to buy time for what was going to go down. And to do that... he had to bait a trap.

Minutes Later Outside of the Lower Sector

"Chief Aramaki," Aaron asked, calling the chief at the Goverment Sector, as he rode on his bike, heading to a certain location.

He heard some static before saying, "Apologies Snow, I had to encrypt our commlink, What is the situation is everyone safe?"

"Just needed to know if Selig and Seth managed to compile all the information taken from our minds," Aaron asked.

The plan from earlier, that Motoko wasn't aware of, was that they had managed to surround the area to where the Major was along with Cuttner and Oulette. If they couldn't get him to confess, then they had to catch him in the act. Figuring this guy had a big deal with making it all about him, he would blab about Project 2571, and he did. The memory of audio from all their ears, and the video hacking in his office was all that was needed. Namely, their memory was recored as submissible evidence. And it would be all that was needed to take down Cuttner.

"We have a secure and private terminal for you both to review." Aramaki answered as he asks, "I take it that your rescue of the Major succeeded?"

Not wanting to get into it deeply, "She's fine, Chief. Don't fret." "The information is close to finalizing together. With Selig's help and the files he managed to keep of 2571, we should be able to hold a case to take Cuttner down," the chief replied. "I intend to take him down for what he's done to the 98." Aaron smiled softly as he said, "The Major's lucky..." "Lucky? How," The Chief asked. "To have people like you look out after her," Aaron said. He thought on it and sighed, "Chief, I need to go on Grid."

"But won't that alert Cuttner's personnel of your presence?" Aramaki asked, confused, and shocked by this course of action.

"Exactly," Aaron said, as he stopped getting a good view of where he was going, "But... it will also bring someone else out. Someone I need to talk to."

"You mean Kuze?"

"He and I have some unfinished business to talk to," Aaron answered. But then the Chief asked, "But where?" Aaron then looked at the view of what was once a beautiful park, turned into a scorched wasteland. "You'll know when I'm on the Grid."

Elsewhere Asaka-Tech

Cuttner had managed to listen to the whole conversation, through the use of military tech cutting through the Section 9 system. He then went offline as he sighed, "The Virus has spread."

Though with him were two black and red dressed business suits being of ARasaka. One of them, an African American with a red visor for his eyes, said, "Virus? Is that what you call it? I'd call it a colossal clusterfuck thanks to you, Cuttner." A female executive with red hair, stated to him, "We allowed you to branch this company out to further research into full-body cyber weaponry. Project 2571 was flawless... until you decided to fuck up."

"2571 is still flawless, and I..." Cuttner attempted to explain or rationalize on all this.

But the female said, "But you chose to blame the ghost instead."

She sighed full well, as she said, "We can cyberize and alter anything. The only thing we can't change is who we are. The only reason the Major worked was because she was a born fighter, headstrong, and had the will to make it happen. But then you decided to fuck it up."

"As of this moment, Arasaka will be taking control of the company's San Tokyo Branch again, unless you fix this," the male executive state. "Otherwise, we're cutting our losses and seizing all earlier and latest projects to be taken back."

"if only we didn't lose Adam Smasher after that David kid fucked it up..." The man said about their top enforcer, making Cuttner's throat dry with fear of the name.

Cuttner stood up as he shouted, "THEN GIVE ME SOMETHING TO WORK WITH!"

The two were silent, as the female said, smirking, "We might have something... or rather... someone.."

Meanwhile

Back at the 2nd Outcast Hideout

Motoko was still in her room, in a corner in a fetal position, sitting up. Even though clothed minus her boots, she was still in a depressed state.

She was still in this mental cycle as to how she screwed up her relationship with Aaron after finally being reunited with him...

"Yo yo yo Moto," Maritza spoke up, knockin' on the door, as she asked, "You decent?"

She remained silent, not answering Maritza.

Maritza opened the door anyway, dressed normally, as she smirked, "Hey, Major hottie, how are..." but then looked to see her in the corner. "Motoko?" she asked concerned for her as she closed the door and walked over.

"Leave me alone, Maritza..."

She knelt down, and asked, "Not until I know what broke down the hard as steel Major. What happened? You and Aaron go through another verbal brawl?"

"No... I just..." She sighs before looking away, "Forget it..."

Maritza then sat down next to her, as she deduced, "Trouble in bed, wasn't it?"

Motoko glared at her so suddenly that Maritza fell on her butt, but the Motoko sighed, "We haven't gone that far yet..."

Maritza scooted back to her and took her hands, as she said, rather calmly and maturely as she said, "Okay, Motoko Kusanagi... tell me everything." But then after a while, Maritza seemed look rather dejected and annoyed at this. Though mostly at Motoko... of whom looked a bit confused on this. Though Maritza sighed, as she said, "Yeah. You both beefed it."

Motoko blinked, "What?"

"Well, he's inexperienced with Ghosting, as he hasn't done it in a while, and you beefed it for not taking into consideration he wasn't ready for that," Maritza said, as she leaned on the wall, sighing, "This is precisely why this kind of thing is stupid."

"What? You and Lee never done it with your ghosts before?" Motoko asked, brow raised at that claim.

"Never," Maritza said, as she smirked, "We like to do it the old fashion way. That's our kink."

But then looked serious as she looked ahead, "Besides.. It's.. not like we didn't try to do it before. When we did, it started out okay... but without the proper procedures and the fact that we were still in the infancy of our relationship... Lee almost..." She then looked saddened as she explained, "I was lucky that Aaron was our neighbor. He managed to get Lee's heart running again."

"You mean he almost had cardiac arrest?" Motoko asked, shocked by this.

"Yeah. I think it was a huge sensory overload or that he couldn't try to handle it," Maritza said, as she too was now in a fetal position. "He was trying his best for what felt like minutes just for my sake, but he started showing signs of distress."

"I would've thought he'd love the literal union of your souls." Motoko said, tyring to make things easier.

"It wasn't that he didn't like it. He told me after we managed to stabilize him and that he could talk again," Maritza defended. "It was just too much. I rushed it."

Motoko sighed, "I really am an idiot..."

Motoko sighed, as she slumped in depression yet agin, "I should have known that this would be too easy." Though Maritza lightly bonked her head, as she said, in a calm scolding tone, as she said, "Relationships, real relationships, aren't supposed to be easy, Motoko. I'd know, me and Lee have had a weird but good one."

But she looked to Motoko and said, "You two... really are trying to be together, right?"

Motoko nods, "More than anything after remembering our promise as kids.

Maritza looked to her and asked, "You love him?"

"More than anything in the world. When I thought he died 4 days ago I felt like I couldn't live on without him." She confessed.

Maritza smirked, as she said, "Don't give up on each other. Give him the time to try and do it right." She then smirked, "And if you'd like, we could make it a double date, with me and Lee hanging out with you guys."

Motoko actually found the strength to laugh at that, "only when we really wanna to make our men sweat."

Maritza laughed too as she said, "Well, considering those two are dating two tough-as-nails hotties, they'll be sweating each a tub full."

Motoko exhaled and stated, "Thanks for this, Maritza, I needed it."

"No prob, Motoko," Maritza smiled... but then went blank in the face, as she asked, "Wait. Did we just become friends?"

Motoko thought on it, as she blinked, "I... guess so." "Major," the chief called out.

Motoko's eyes widen, "Chief?"

"I just wanted to assure you and the others that the evidence against Asaka-Tech is almost put together, and we'll soon be sending it to the Prime Minister. Cuttner can't weasel his way out of this," the Chief replied. But then said, "Though there is another reason why I've contacted you"

Moments later, Motoko came bursting out of her room, with Maritza calling back, "Major, wait up!"

Though as she ran, Motoko's face wasn't of worry, but being severely pissed off.

"That little..." She then et lout an aggravated roar that made Aramaki feel like he was attacked by some sort of virus.

It was felt all over in the house; Batou Lee felt it while tuning the Tachikoma, the sniper and solider group almost losing control of their rifles. Even the Solos and Netrunners felt it, as Fumika blinked, "What was that?" Batou was the first to pick up and asked, "Major, was that a ...?"

"Shut up Batou and prepare to move out..." She ordered and said, "I'm taking Lee's Lachikoma."

Lee groaned, as he rubbed his head, groaning, "Man, I can't get used to this Ghosting stuff."

"Ghost," the Hybrid spoke as it looked to Batou, Lee, and the Tachikoma, "We being haunted or something?"

"Just shut up and get the ready for what the Major needs you for." Batou said to the hybrid.

the Hybrid then stated, "Well, then she better properly call me by my title... which is..." But was interrupted as the Major got there.

And seeing her expression made the hybrid submit and said, "Tarachikoma Delivery service, at your beckon cal." And even used one of it's legs to be a step for the Major to climb up.

She hopped on it and in the cockpit, and sped off, even as it screamed, "DAAAAAAAH! HOW AM I MOVING BEYOND MY CONTROL!?" But was speeding off fast than it could figure out what was going on.

Though Batou radioed, looking a bit worried about the Major's attitude, "Major? What's going on?! Where're you going?"

The Major remained silent, as they drove off to where she needed to go.

Meanwhile

The Lawless Sector

Aaron walked around the ruins of what was the playground built around a tree. Not far was the same Japanese gate that he met Motoko in. Though the whole place had seen better days to say the least. As he walked through, remembering what was found in the disc, he walked in what was a treehouse fort that was built into the place. It was on floor level, so it was hardly in the tree, but a part of it. Though as he looked, flashes of red were forming from his memory as he looked around. In times, he saw himself conversing with kids his age or younger, acting as a kind of big brother or leader to them. There were also memories in which he and the original Motoko would play on the computer, building their hacker skills. There were even times he remembered he and she would sit at the top of the roof, gazing up at the stars. But then... came the memory he dreaded to remember. He remembered Asaka-Tech snatching the kids up, messing up the place, and taking them. He tried to fight for Motoko the best he could and the others, but he was still a kid, and powerless. Even as he cried out to Motoko, who cried back as well. And then.. the memory ended. Aaron stopped as he was now outside, led by the memories, as he stood there, silently crying in remembering this. But then something caught his eye. He walked over to the tree, and saw a family tree carved into it, with teh kids' names etched to it. There, in a branch of foliage of the family tree, he saw his name and Motoko carved next to each other, with a ladybug in the middle. Though far from the tree, alone from everyone else, was a single name: Hideo.

"I-I-I've been wa-wa-waiting fo-o-r yo-you." A voice said broken.

He would turn to see the cloaked figure of Kuze there, as shown when they met in cyberspace

Aaron turned around, and saw what appeared to be a featureless human drone bot, wearing a black overcoat, red scarf, and a worn out fadora. Its lone red eyes on its featureless face stumbled towards the tree, as his voice seemed to be more clearful and whole, "It... it is real." He walked to the tree and gently traced his hand on the family tree, Despite the animosity shown, Aaron though still... he couldn't come to hate a victim of Cuttner. He walked over to him and asked, "You're... Hideo... aren't you?"

"Hideo..." Kuze spoke, as the name tried to be familiar to him, "Hideo..." he sighed, as he said, "That's a name I... I almost forgot."

Kuze looked at the family tree and saw him far away from the others, "Even now... I was ostracized from everyone. My mother.. the world, Even the friends I thought would be there for me. But I got left behind when they died. Death prevented me from leaving to be with them."

But then 'Hideo' looked to Aaron as he said, "Or maybe... that was just a jumbled memory."

Aaron blinked as Kuze wet and grabbed Him, "Because you're the copy and I am the original Aaron Snow."

Aaron blinked, "Wha... what are you talking about? I remember, i mean I'm starting to remember. You and I both existed."

"Yes, because they switched our memories and gave you the life that I had, Copy." Kuze said slamming him against the wall, "You think just because you have my body and my true memories you can take Motoko away from me? Just because the world hated you?"

Aaron didn't understand what that meant as he tried, "Wait, I..." "And don't even get me started when you and Motoko attempted to share each other's Ghosts," Kuze said, and then chuckled, "hehehe, but then again, you're too phobic to do that with her." But then taunted, "or... are you?"

"Only Hideo would be so unable to share moments of each others Ghosts with her.. but since I'm the Real Aaron Snow, I won't have that problem."

he then forced Aaron to the ground, stomach first as he got a cord ready.

Aaron struggled as he said, "That day, back in the lab... it wasn't just showing me those memories... You did something, didn't you? When the Ma... Motoko wanted to share her ghost with mine, something happened."

"I-I did the only thing I could to keep Motoko safe from you Hideo." He shouted, "Once I am back in my body, the precautions I put in you will delete themselves."

Kuze chuckled, "I might have given you a firewall version of Erectile Dysfunction in the Ghost part, so to say. But then again... " he slowly began to reach his cord socket port, as he asked, "Can you really say that Fate brought you and Motoko together to be happy? Or is it just convenient despair for you?"

Aaron shouted, "What's that supposed to mean!?" "Tell me... when you and Motoko tried to touch each other's ghost this night, didn't it feel like you were about to die," Kuze asked. Aaron's face contorted to a shocked realization, as Kuze stated, "It means you're both incompatible. Maybe as a factor of being cyberized, but the reality cannot be ignored or denied: the thread you both have must be severed. If you really care about Motoko at all, you have to leave her." Aaron then looked defeated on that, as he tried to reason on this, "But... we found each other... after all this time..." "Can you honestly thing she's in love with the you are now? Or is she in love with the you from so long ago?" Kuze seriously asked. "Either way, it's evident her mind has remained unchanged, while you have changed in this many long. Original, copy, or otherwise. You're still a flawed evolutionary dead end for her to be with. It's like a cromagnum mating with a neanderthal: there's no future in that. For either one of you."

"Not until I can get my real body back." He then produced a a braincase similar to the IA agent had with their co-op together at the geisha hotel. And connected the cords to it, "With this I plan to switch back and then return to-to Motoko. For our future."

"As soon as I get my real body back, I'll present you in the brain case that the American Empire did the minister as it should be and destroy this body they downloaded my ghost in... and then when I get my real memories back Motoko and I will continue our promise." Kuze continued on. (edited)

Aaron breathed heavily and shouted, "No... stop! I know I'm Aaron Snow!"

"Stop lying Hideo." Kuze said connecting the braincase to himself. He then grabbed Aaron by the neck and said, "You always looked up to us before Cuttner's men took us away, Hideo... had a huge crush on Motoko. And that's why you had taken my body from the experiments and I took yours, with your mind filling you with MY memories and MY life with Motoko."

"I know who I am," Aaron said, looking like he would mentally pop.

Kuze was about to have the cord go into their neck port, when something destroyed the wall and a voiced called out, "Aaron!"

Aaron would look up to see Motoko coming out of the Hybrid-Koma's hatch. Aaron blinked in surprise, "Motoko?"

She went over and helped him up, "Are you okay?"

Aaron was about to accept her help but... You're not the real Aaron. He stood up by himself, seemingly brushing off her help as he stated, "Thanks for the backup." Not even looking at her at the moment, as he looked to Kuze.

Kuze looked and asked, "Motoko?"

His eyes turned to her helping Aaron, then the smashed braincase, "No... NO!"

He struggled to get up, even though the Taranchikoma was on top of him, "Why would you help him?! He's the copy!" seeing Kuze's face made Motoko pause for a second before a voice popped into her head, and she asked, "Hideo?"

Kuze shook his head rapidly, "I'm not Hideo! Hideo was someone hated and not loved by anyone, not even his own mother! I'M THE REAL AARON, AARON SNOW!"

Motoko looked on sadly, remembering him fully now, "No... your name is Hideo Kuza you were an orphan that lost his family at a young age... younger than Aaron and I. We took you in, and even though you had a crush on me, you refused to form bonds with anyone else despite being gifted."

Motoko then looked at Aaron and said, "I know who this man before me is, he is Aaron Snow, and he is the one who I'm eternally connected to." Before kissing him fully on the lips.

Kuze roared out, "DAMN YOU!"

But suddenly, the moment was ruined by the sound of something crashing down before them, destroying the playground area. The trio and hybrid looked to see a Heavy Assault Multi-Ped Tank shaped like a scorpion arrive. But nothing was more eye-catching than the figure that walked on it, and landed on the ground. Before them was a male cyborg standing 7-8 feet in height, a giant in his own stature, in black cybernetics from head to toe, almost inhuman prosthetics as most was mechanical and nothing organic showing. His frame was medium muscled while on his left upper back side was a missile launcher. His head seemed partially organic, with two black lenses for his eyes with red lights, his jaw black metal, and his bald head in scars for cybernetic surgery.

Motoko blinked, as she asked, a bit wary around this one, "Who... or what is that?"

Though for Aaron, who had been an Edgerunner most of his life, knew full well, as the figure before them, carrying a Turret HMS machine gun, gulped as he said, "Adam Smasher."

Motoko blinked at this, as she looked to him, "What?"

"That's him," Aaron said as he explained, "They say he's the only human that went full cyborg. He's like you, only more of an architype."

Though when Adam Smasher spoke... it was with Cuttner's voice, "Not quite."

"Cuttner." Motoko glared at him, "How?"

"Sadly an incident against an Edgerunner in San Fansico somehow rendered Adam Smasher comatose," 'Adam' spoke as he readied the rifle, "Though Arasaka felt it was a waste to toss him out. But thankfully, I found a use for him. And ending all of you."

And fired, making them scatter as the three took cover. All while 'Adam' screamed, "YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM ME! I WILL KILL YOU ALL!"

The four of them took cover while Kuze was still in denial about Motoko not choosing him over who he thought was the 'copy'.

The multi-ped Tank skulked around as it fired from its scorpion tail cannon, blowing up key areas as it attempted to flush them all out. 'Adam' fired all around, even firing grenades, blowing up key areas.

Though all while as Aaron tried to take cover, he was still trying to think it all through. But what Kuze said to him got to him really bad. Even though Motoko wasn't convinced, he felt... like what Kuze said about him was true. It did seem a bit odd that some things didn't make sense or that it didn't seem right. Like him Ghost Sharing with her, or that something told him not to go to her, or even that tidbits of his mind and life felt... missing. He was so lost in thought, he didn't notice the tank firing at him. His area was blown as he was sent flying before he activated the Sandavistan. Part of his clothing was torn and burnt, but he was trying to push through, as he managed to get around the tank. Time returned to normal, as he hopped at the tail, as he activated his projectile arm, and fired at it, hoping to damage the armor.

Motoko heard the explosion and cried out, fearful, "Aaron!"

He retracted his projectile arm and reverted back to his fists, as he attempted to go for the Motor Controls. He hopped from the tail, ignoring the stinging pain in his half-burnt side, and attempted to go for it, located at the drone's head.

Kuze looked and then spotted Adam Smasher, as he decided to take control of this situation, and eliminate the 'copy'.

Cuttner actually saw or felt the attempted Hack and said, "Nice try, you failed experiment." And actually grabbed the signals and crushed it, severing the connection.

Kuze sputtered as he fell over, his body losing control, as the backlash sent him falling down.
Aaron tried to pry the door open on the motor sensory box. He managed to get it open, but not before one of the claws grabbed him, and threw him across the wall. The submachine gun part fired at him, missing vital organs, but enough to have him fall onto his butt, as it stomped towards him. 'Adam' walked over to the two, as Cuttner was preparing to kill them all. "You came close... you freaks,"

Cuttner said. Though he was a bleeding mess, Aaron looked up, and weakishly raised his left hand, as he said, "Wait."

Cuttner paused for a minute, "Why should I? I'm the one with the power... enough to wipe you viruses off."

"Huh? Wait, what do you mean," Aaron asked, doing his best to hold back screaming from his pain, "What do you think I mean by wait?"

"You two and your fucking stupid free will and ghosts are the reason why Project 2751 is considered a failure and why 2752 is at risk!" Cuttner snapped, not acting like himself, "And that's why you two meats are gonna die here!"

Aaron sighed, as he looked to the man, as he asked, "Do you still... not understand what went wrong?"

'Adam' groaned, as Cuttner stated, "I don't know, and I don't care."

"Well, you should," Aaron said, as Cuttner didn't notice an invisible form, or two, coming in around the back, as Aaron stated, "You can change anything about a person. But you can't change their ghost. That's something you can't understand, no matter how many iterations there are."

He then sighed, "And I said wait... because I just wanted you to wait until your tank was taken down."

Cuttner smirked from his end of the connection, 'You fools. I am the tank."

And then sent a signal that had the spider tank open up its front and he jumped in to become a scorpion like centaur, "THIS IS PROJECT 2572!"

However, before it could stomp towards him, its back legs were shot by a gooey substance that hardened to the ground, making it unable to move. Aaron blinked, as he groaned, "Anti-Tank rounds? Dang, Lee. You loaded your hybrid up nicely."

"WHAT!?" Cuttner asked, angry.

Suddenly, the Hybrid shot out visibly as its cloak died off, and raced to the trapped tank. It grabbed the tail as it held it in place, as the cockpit opened up, as the Major ran to the Motor sensor. She then pulled out an assault rifle and fired around the corners to make it visible for her. Before Cuttner could do anything, Motoko grabbed at it, as she crouched and attempted to tear it out. Cuttner back at the corpo building was at shock, as the computer spoke "MOTOR SENSORY ENGINE DISABLED!"

Motoko pulled and pulled, as she attempted to get free. Adam attempted to get out as well, but was stuck. Motoko's cyber muscles bulged at her arms and legs, almost or beginning to rip out of her flesh as they were becoming too much, as she reached her limit. But she managed to get it budging, as Cuttner shouted, "NO! STOP IT!" But she didn't listen, as she finally pulled it out, her left arm ripping off as a result of the strain, as she fell off. The Multi-ped tank shutting down as a result, while a surge was shaking through Adam's body, cutting Cuttner's control off the comatose figure.

Asaka-tech Main Office

Cuttner breathed heavily as he pulled himself out of the connection before it fried him too... "Damn them... damn those brats..."

Unbeknownst to him, Aramaki and Ghost were making their way to the office via elevator. But Cuttner wasn't done yet, as he attempted to get control of Adam Smasher's motionless body. But unknown even to him, the shock had caused something.

Cuttner would hear Raizo comming, "Sir, Aramaki and one of the punks are here."

Cuttner paled, "What? What about Sector 6? Is the Sniper Team ready?"

"They're still on their way to the Lawless sector, we're stuck with the forces we still ha-" Immediately Raizo's comms cut out.

Cuttner blinked at this, as he tried to regain control of Adam Smasher.

Meanwhile

Aaron sat as his side bled, as Motoko went to him, her muscles sore or worn out due to the situation.

She went over to him reaching, "Aaron..."

Aaron though looked a bit tired, but his mind was still in thought, as he mumbled, "Is that... even me?"

Motoko would try and shake him out of it, "Aaron, snap out of it."

"Forget it," Kuze said, as his broken body pulled and dragged itself to her, as it stopped, looking to them both, as he said, "He's worthless. Not after what I did."

"Shut up about him, Hideo." Motoko snapped, pulling out a gun with her arm, "Hideo... please stop this."

"Tell me, was it painful for him? Having to Ghost Love you? Was he seething with pain," Hideo asked, bringing up the situation.

"That moment when I showed him those memories back in the lab... I did that." He chuckled as he said, "You could say it's a Ghost-like version of Erectile Dysfunction. You and he can try and link up all you want, but he'll still go through cardiac attacks. Eventually, if you attempt to go further... it will kill him."

"Hideo... please... stop this, I love Aaron."

"And that's why I did what I did: You can never love him now," Hideo smirked, in a crazed like manner, "Ever. Because he's an evolutionary Dead end. Not like you or I... who are the future."

"Shut. Up." Motoko ordered.

He then smirked at the slipping Aaron as he said, "Unlike you... you mutated anomaly." Aaron closed his eyes at that, as a single tear dropped from his left eye out of sight.

Hideo then looked to Motoko, as he said, "You will come to me when you realize there is no future with him." And then powered down; his ghost leaving the body behind. Though at the distance, a Section 6 Chopper was coming into view, as the pilot said, "Sniper team in sight, spotting the targets."

"What are you waiting for," Cuttner said impatiently.

"DO it!" The sniper team fired at the group, hitting Hideo's shell head as it exploded. All the while, Cuttner shouted, "KEEP FIRING!"

Meanwhile

Aramaki had made it to the top floor, with an armed Ghost with him, but he radioed two individuals, "Saito, Tio. Are you both in range?"

Lawless Sector

Close near the lawless sector, Saito was positioned near a rooftop, aiming his sniper rifle at the pilot. While on another end of the area, Tio was aiming a bazooka launcher at the chopper itself.

"Ready." Saito radioed even as Motoko shed a tear for who Kuze was before the experiments broke his mind. Saito fired his sniper rifle at the chopper.

And Tio fired the bazooka, as the Chopper blew up in the air. The wreckage crashed down, as it lit up the darkness, as it showed Batou and the others make their way to the Major and to a bleeding Aaron.

Batou goes to help her but she said, "help Aaron now!"

Batou and the others looked, as Kurt carefully got him in hand, as Lee raced over, "Taranchikoma!" It rolled over as it opened the hatch, "I got'em." And both were put inside, as it sped quickly to get to a hospital.

Motoko would stay by Aaron's side the whole way.

Asaka-tech Office floor

Aramaki got his revolver set and asked, "Ready, Ghost?"

He nodded, as the two entered the office. Once they did, Cuttner stood up, but didn't do anything, as they slowly circled the water table that he had the display on. Though Aramaki spoke up, as he said, "It's over, Cuttner. The Prime Minister has evidence of Project 2571, as well as audio/visual evidence of your discussion with the now-deceased Oulette. Turns out Mr. Snow outsmarted you in more ways than one. His records showed he had aptitude to enter Arasaka as a future head of business. Seems he outdid you."

Cuttner felt his mouth dry as his heterochromic eyes shrunk, "I figured it'd be you..."

Aramaki then sidestepped one of the hidden guards as he shot the man dead before saying, "Evidence has also been compiled by the Unit 501. No matter how you look at this, you're only going to make this difficult for yourself. I suggest you come quietly."

Ghost waited for the man to do something foolish, at this moment. And he did, as he pulled out a loaded revolver... but Ghost fired his side, making him fall over in pain as he dropped the gun.

"That was a warning shot, Mr. Cuttner. I truly wish for you to come quietly." Aramaki said, his gun not trained on Cuttner.

Cuttner struggled, as he crawled to the gun, only for Ghost to shoot it away, as he growled, holding his bleeding side, as he stumbled up, and glared at them, as he said, "You think this is over? No, even if I go... Arasaka will continue the plan. And they're gonna hunt down your precious Major and her useless flawed lover, and take them apart over and over again, until they're the next Adam Smasher."

Aramaki glared as he asked, through comms, "Major, I have Cuttner in custody, do you have anything to say?"

Motoko held the unconscious and slowly bleeding out Aaron, as she said, "Tell him this is Justice. it's what he rebuilt us both for."

"Then do I have you consent?" Aramaki asked, relaying the words she said to Cuttner.

Motoko held Aaron close to her; her bosom as a pillow for his head, as she said, "My name is Major Motoko Kusanagi... and I give my consent. Blow his heart out."

Aramaki went and fired directly into Cuttner's heart. After the man died, the chief of Section 9 turned to Ghost and asked, "Did you delete the visual data of what happened this minute?"

Ghost nodded, as he waved it off, saying it was wiped away.

Or that he stated he was never here at all.

Either way Aramaki got the message and nodded,

"Good." He said turning to leave, "We can say that he tried to resist arrest and we had no choice but to shoot."

Ghost followed suit, hoping to check on the patient at hand.

3 Weeks Later

San Tokyo

St. Angelle Hospital

Aaron lay in bed as he had not awoken at all, even after the surgery.

Motoko remained where he was worried as she thought, 'Aaron... it's been three weeks... please wake up...'

They had managed to patch him up, though there wasn't much damage at all. Apparently, he had gotten a good discount on thermal kevlar bio-skin for his upper and lower torso body. Seems that he had a rather paranoid caution that his organs would be targeted. The skin managed to slow the bullets down like a weaker version of kelvar, but still managed to save him in time. But still... it was odd. He hadn't shown any signs of waking up at all. Physically, he was recovering, but something wasn't right.

Motoko tried to radio him, "Aaron... please wake up..."

"Motoko?" The Major turned around to see a nurse her age coming in. She had the same figure, but not the breasts, as Motoko, with light strawberry blonde hair cut in a bob cut, brown eyes, pretty clear asian skin, and dressed in a blue and white nurse's uniform.

"Oh, Kurui." Motoko said giving her 'friend' her nickname.

"Well, this is a first. Never figured you would linger longer around a patient's room," Kurui stated as she walked in. "Usually, when I try to invite you over, it's almost in the realm of never."

"Sorry I've been too busy." She siad before glancing to the window of Aaron's room, her face deep with concern.

Kurui looked at him, and at Motoko, as she smiled, "Aaaaah. It's him, isn't it?"

"You remember those glitches I told you about? Turns out they were my real memories and he's the one who I told you I aparently was searching for..." She said while Kurui saw the kind of cybernetics he has are different from those who have them 'over the table'.

"Oh, so he's Mr. Destiny," Kurui smiled as she blushed. Then looked to him, "I can see why. He's pretty easy on the eyes. Probably amazing in bed, eh?"

that made Motoko look down grimmer.

Kurui put her hands up, "Sorry, sorry. I was only teasing to see if I'd get an embarrassed look on your face. Didn't mean to upset you or anything."

"Things haven't been the same since we reunited... and I'm scared of losing him after we finally found each other..." Motoko confessed.

"Well, I had a chance to look at his charts. Physically, he's recovering. We were all fortunate the skin on hsi chest, abs, and thighs were a synthetic bio-kelvar skin. Pulling the bullets out weren't too deep, so that's a plus. Mentally, he's as quiet as a mouse. So, he's not in a coma." She then cupped her chin, "I still can't figure out why he won't wake up."

"Because the job... Someone messed him up making it sound like he's a copy and doesn't have a future with me..." Motoko said, before they heard the news report about the death of Cuttner who resisted arrest after an inhumane experiment was discovered by a joint investigation with several Public security sectors and military.

Kurui looked to her as she pouted, "That's nuts. It's not at all impossible to have a future with you. If anything, he's just possibly trying to figure things out. I mean, it..." But then she looked and then softly smiled, "I think I should probably go for now. Don't take too long talking. Bye." She then walked away, and turned around and said, "I'll let you two have your privacy."

Motoko blinked, as she was a bit confused on that, until... "Motoko?" Aaron's voice spoke. "You there?"

Motoko turned, "Aaron? Thank God, are you okay?"

He was still sleeping though as his comms were still going, "Yeah, I'm um... finally able to talk. Sorry for the long wait"

"You big jerk..." She said sniffling to try and keep the tears in.

"We can talk in my room. In private," Aaron insisted.

Motoko entered the room and closed the door, as she was about to walk closer, but Aaron asked, "Can you... close the blinds, please?" A bit confused on that, she did so, as she closed them, and walked over to him, as she sat down. He finally opened his eyes slowly, as he sighed, smiling softly, "Hey."

Motoko was still fighting tears, "You big dum jerk..."

She then went and cried on his chest, "Idiot... why did you scare me like that?"

"I had a lot to make up for during the three weeks while I slept," Aaron said, as he reached to the back of his neck, and pulled at his cord, as he graciously handed it to her, "I... wanna try again."

Motoko blinked sniffing, "but... what about Hideo's ghost preventives?"

"That's what I was working on during the three weeks," Aaron said as he assured her, "And while you worked on that ocean world... I also worked on my own. If... you wanna see it."

She sighs and said, "You really are a big jerk scaring us like that, you know that?"

"Yeah, I know. I am," Aaron softly confessed, "But, still.. I'm a bigger jerk for taking this long."

Motoko then moved over and gently sat at the side of his left, as she plugged in. She then gently laid down on his chest, resting her head at the nape of his neck, as both fell in to the world he made for her.

- When Motoko opened her eyes, she was naked but floating in a world unlike anything she saw. The world was blackish but lit up by bright lights and stars. Streams and mists of different colors of light flew in through the air, like waves and water. The sounds of underwater filled her ears, as she looked around her. Amazingly enough, it felt like she was underwater, and even more so as she saw fish constructs made of light swim passed her. Even a school of fish swam around her, making a tunnel of sorts as they dissipated. Galaxies of stars formed like pods or schools of fish as they all shined brightly. And above her was a glowing white orb that was the moon that lit it all like a sky light. Though she was a bit started as she felt Aaron come up behind her with his arms gently holding her close.

"Aaron, this is..." She said looking around in amazement.

"Thanks," Aaron smiled, as he said, "I wanted it to be special. Took me a while to try and get it all right. As I never did anything like this before in my life."

Motoko turned to him and assured, "I never done this either... and we're not doing it physically so your condition doesn't get worse."

"A teaser for what awaits for home," Aaron said, as he held her close, "If... you still want to..."

She shuts him up by kissing him deeply on the lips.

He returned it as well, making sure he would never let go... even as they woke up.

the sensations between them were beyond anything they could consciously handle, but perfect for these two soulmates.

After Aaron's Discharge

Motoko's Apartment

And several Hours Later...

Aaron sat on the bed waiting as Motoko took a shower.

He sighed, as he combed his hair back, feeling a bit nervous on this. Though he was iron-willed to see this through now that he was ready to do this. He had planned to make it up to her the three weeks in his mind. And since the world acted as a reflection of himself and of her, he was sure he'd feel more at ease to do this. Guess he felt it was a bit of a jitter leap forward in this relationship.

the door opens as Motoko Kusanagi walks out in a fluffy towel wrapped around her as she blushes looking at him.

He looked to her and blushed too, as he said, "Guess I'm still a bit nervous after all."

She would shakily move her hands to the knot of her towel and let it drop to show him her naked form.

He then gently took her hands and pulled her in close as they scooted to the bed, kneeling on it as they looked to each other, blushing and smiling. Aaron gently took her hand to his neck, as she did his, and asked her, "Ready?"

She nods, taking a cord to his port, laying next to him as she said, "Ready."

He then took a port to her neck, as both linked in... and returned once again to the sea world of neon lights and stars. There, they floated together, as they made out, kissing softly as the lights around them swam, their hair floating like they were deep in water.

Motoko felt along his body as he did hers and they both got themselves ready for the biggest adventure of their lives.

He kissed her neck and trailed down to her chest, caressing her chest as he gently traced his other hand down her bare back. She held his head close as she felt amazing from all this.

She moans while feeling it all the way, before she trails a hand up his back, where the spine would be.

He then began to go down there with his hand, gently massaging her, as she felt shivers race down her body.

Motoko then went and caressed his hair as she felt her body getting close.

He then gently spread her legs, as he looked to her eyes; both blushing as this was it, as they thought, 'Today... we become... one...'

She went holding his hips as they met and immediately let out a moan of great pleasure.

Their lovemaking was almost fluid, like water, as they floated in the lit space of light and stars. Stars exploded as they cried out every time they climaxed. It continued like stars expanded to star systems, as they continued to go on with every time they came with each other. Exhaustion didn't seem to set in; it felt like they were trying to go more for every year apart they were in their supressed memories. It felt they were making love twelve lifetimes worth.

Both Aaron and Motoko cried out as they were able to go one final round, as the world around them shined and fired off like fireworks, and construct fish and sea life swam about, as It all calmed to a soft glow, as an exhausted Aaron and Motoko looked at each other, and smiled. They leaned in and kissed one last time, as they returned to the real world. - In the bed, both were wet and exhausted, holding each other close, as they had finished. Aaron looked down as he saw the tired Motoko in his arms, as she looked at him. Her flushed and sweaty face looked to him, and softly smiled.

Motoko breathed heavily feeling full inside her as she said, holding him close, "That was..."

"Intense," Aaron asked, as he gently brushed a bang back, as he said, "Sorry if I went too rough. Guess I got a bit excited and eager."

"Aaron, just be quiet and enjoy the moment." She said kissing his nose.

He then pulled her close, as he smiled, "I was... I just wanted to know what you were gonna say when you said, That was..."

"Aaron, this was a first time for both of us, we're still exploring what'll make this most enjoyable for both of us." She assures him a hand to his cheek.

"So long as it doesn't involve BDSM," Aaron joked.

Motoko's smile dropped, "You better be careful when you meet my friends."

Aaron blinked, as he sweat dropped at that situation, "You mean that nurse in the hospital is in to that stuff?"

"No not Kurui, another friend." She said, smirking.

Aaron sighed, "Ho boy..." But then looked behind him as he reached back and grabbed the blanket. He then brought it over the two as they were now covered and warmed up.

He then brought her close as she looked up at him, "Worried I might leave?" "Worried that this might be a dream," Aaron confessed. "If I fall asleep and you're not there when I wake up in my own apartment... it just might be depressing."

"How do you think I'll feel?" She asks trailing her finger along his chest.

"Same," Aaron said as he sighed.

The two laid there, as they nodded off to sleep. Despite the differences, both were cyberized, but their minds remained human. Both of the same project but took different paths. Both were rebuilt to be weapons; one a tool for a corporation turned CTU agent, the other a mercenary taking justice for the right price. But both found each other... connected by a red thread, and brought back together. But this was just the beginning, as Fate had a way of leading them down a path to change the world. And the strength of their bond would be tested.

But no matter what the Red String of Fate, spun by a Ladybug, will keep them connected, no matter what.

={End of New Beginnings Arc}=