YOU DID THIS

Of all the things I was expecting to see after waking up from surgery, the underside of a dumpster is not one of them. The nakedness was slightly easier to accept, I went under practically naked.

The first thought that Vic betrayed me and tried to kill me is immediately discarded, mostly for the simple reason that if he wanted me dead he would not have left me in a position to heal. The next thought that Vic was somehow interrupted is just as absurd. I would have just woken up on the operating table half open or something.

I suspect the absurdity of the situation is making me disassociate a little. No matter, it's time for answers

I decide that my stay in the dumpster has come to an end and I push open the lid to the dumpster the smallest amount. Thankfully I am still pretty close to Vics, in fact I'm almost certain that this is his dumpster considering the number of clear plastic bags full of blood covered tools and viscera.

Gross.

After peaking around and confirming I am alone I push the lid up the rest of the way and hop out.

Wait.

I hop again.

Hold up.

"Did someone steal my parkour tendons?"

HOLD UP!

"AND MY ARMS?!"

I check for a seam near the shoulder and either these are absurdly expensive or these arms are organic.

Did falling asleep with my chrome off make my arms grow back!? Absurd! Frustrating! Ridiculous! I liked my arms!

I am not sure what's going on right now but I sure as hell don't like it. I think it's time for some answers.

I stomp my way out of the alley and quickly see the fastest path to Vics. As I head over I send a text to Hiromi telling her I am…

I flick my eyes again.

Deep breath in.

…

Deep breath out.

I break into a sprint.

"I'm curious Motoko, so I have some questions. Normally the recovery period would give someone the sense something is wrong, but you bypassed that, so I want you to do some stretches and things. I want to make sure everything is how it should be. Both physically…" And then he poked my forehead. "And mentally."

"Sure Vik. Whatever you think is best." I agreed without any fight.

"Alright, go ahead and do some stret-

"VIC!"

I lunge for my Lexington, someone is running for the door and they aren't being subtle about it.

VIC YOU HAD BETTER HAVE A GOOD EXPLANATION FOR THIS OR SO HELP ME GO-"

I quickdraw my iron just in time for the door to open revealing…

Some naked girl.

Who looks suspiciously familiar.

Our eyes flick over each other in sync before we both look at Vic without breaking line of sight with the other.

"What?" "What?"

Vic seems just as confused, glancing between us for a second longer before paling rapidly and walking to the countertop sink, reaching under it, and pulling out a bottle of clear liquid.

"No seriously, what? I wake up in a dumpster and make my way here only to find out you made a clone of me!" She says with a straight face, the absolute gall of this impostor.

"Clone!? You're the clone here!."

"Why would anyone make a clone and just throw it away? It's obvious you are the clone, he even stole my cyberware and put it on you!"

"If he threw you in a dumpster why would he reattach the arms. Face it weirdo, if anyone's the clone here it's you.

"Nuh uh!"

"Yea huh!"

"Nuh uh!"

"Yea huh!"

""Vic! Tell this Clone she's the clone"" We say in stereo as we look back at Vic and his now significantly more empty bottle of what is now clearly vodka.

He looks at us again like his entire world is crumbling around him and points the bottle at the naked Motoko.

"I threw out your bones in a dumpster, you just slept so your healing activated. So you are the clone."

He takes another swig of the bottle.

"And that's it. I'm done for the day, if you can do this I don't think I could kill you if I tried. Please leave my practice."

""But-""

"Out!"

"She's naked!"

A paper gown flies across the room and hits naked Motoko in the face.

"OUT!"

Vic used the distraction of the paper gown to walk across the room and begin shoving us out of the room and closing the door behind us.

Now outside the clinic I stand around for a moment waiting for the girl next to me to put on the gown.

It gives me a moment to think. Now normally I think I would be pretty upset at being cloned without permission but as it was a complete accident there is some leeway. Plus I know myself better than anyone and I'm not thinking about the existential questions right now.

No, the only thoughts going through my head are the numbers. When my clone entered the room she was ready for a fight and I could tell she knew what she was doing. Meaning she still has all the skills of the system.

Maybe even the system itself.

And if stats and skills are shared across bodies.

Well…

I look across at my clone who is grinning with the exact same intensity as me.

There is the opportunity to make the numbers go brrrrr VERY fast.

Its only when we get to the car do we both wince.

The clone turns to me.

"Maybe I can stay with Hiromi while you break the news to Jun."

"What! No, you're the clone! You tell him."