Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Man, thought you'd be off the clock by five,

they keep you on call. Shitluck.

Cap said I could leave my gun and badge

if I went home to listen to my old lady

go on and on about her online shopping or whatever the hell she did all day.

That’s what you get for choosing the life of a public servant.

It just had to fucking rain.

Hmm? What the hell you doin'? Back it up.

Looking to get shot?

- -Got us a cyber psycho!

Raise MaxTac now!

We need to fry the system fast.

Freak's supporting military-grade ICE!

Meaning that our tech isn't? Get to it!

- -

So, what do you think?

Still warm, that. Couple hours old.

Lifted from the edgerunner who scrolled it.

Straight off the street.

So, what!

Doc, hey, you gotta tell me who keeps feeding you these nuggets.

Kurosaki. Who else?

Ain't no other editor who churns out BDs that sweet and preem.

Won't pull nothin' like that off the shelf, neither.

No shit. Brain's still buzzing. Gonna be sick.

Slow, deep breaths, choom.

Just left the head of a skezzed-out chrome junkie.

Cyberpsychosis ain't no joke.

Anyway, either hurt or don't, got more chips for you to slot.

Really? What?

Something special.

- Huh? Cut the shit, man! -

- -Huh?

Cycle suspended due to insufficient funds.

-Geez, not again. - Cycle suspended due to in--

It was a tragic scene in Westbrook today

when a corporate convoy

-was ambushed by 6th Street… - God, Mom.

Morning, Miho.

If you keep sleeping on the couch,

gonna get early onset arthritis.

I know. Just dead after my night shift, is all.

You and the washing machine both. Forget to re-up it?

Yeah.

I'll take care of it later, 'kay?

Oh, money, right. You mentioned a reef update for class.

That happen yet? When did you say you need it?

No, no. It's fine. Got Doc to handle it.

-What do you mean "handle it"? -I'm good. All set.

Don't go cutting corners, D.

Already cashed my paycheck. You'll get it updated right. Hear me?

Mom, seriously! Just feed the washer, alright?

I forgot this time. I told you.

Promise me you'll buy the update.

Okay, okay.

And you're really going to school dressed like that?

-Uniform’s soaked. -

- A military-grade implant… -

- …was found missing from the body -Hmm?

of Lt. Col. James Norris, shot dead by MaxTac…

Mom, you're on TV! Nova!

-Not Nova, David. A bloodbath. -

-Go on. Off to school. - Bye.

Love you, Miho.

Maine? It's Gloria.

Hmm…

- -

Trauma Team. Clear a path immediately.

Emergency evac underway. Emergency evac.

All AVs, vacate the airway.

Trauma Team. Clear a path immediately. Trauma Team. Clear a path.

Don't walk.

Don't walk.

- Walk. Walk. Walk. -

Walk. Walk.

Huh?

Good morning to you, class.

Today's attendance. Zero absences.

Martinez, David.

You are not in compliance with the Academy's dress code.

Yeah. Real sorry about that.

Afraid my uniform's still at the cleaner's.

- - Do you have a spare uniform?

Yeah. Spare's there too.

Understood. Please submit a Uniform Exception form after class.

- -Now, let us begin today's lesson.

-You will observe… - Gutter rat. Rat off the street.

Me? Nah. Wouldn't show my face.

Cray-crazy, I know, but some of us here to learn to learn.

With that fossiltech?

Updates, man. Bet it's not compatible.

I made it compatible.

Huh? How?

How I had to.

Life's gotta be gotta be shit

when a two-bit wreath costs your life savings.

At this time,

I ask all students to log into the Green Room for meditation.

Countin’ on ya, Doc.

- Seriously? - What?

- Martinez again! -

- - Not again!

I’m so sorry for the inconvenience my son has caused.

I wouldn't call this a matter of money, Mrs. Martinez.

Although I must say it was quite an expense for us to restore the system.

Of course, and I will pay for the repairs.

Hmm?

As I understand it, Mr. Martinez modified his headset

with backalley software to avoid paying for the licensed update.

This is not behavior befitting a pupil from a financially stable home.

It's not a problem, really. We can afford it.

Be that as it may,

I see an opportunity here to improve David's situation.

Meaning what, exactly?

David is not a good fit with his classmates.

He could benefit from a change in environment.

No! Wait, please. I mean, he has to stay here.

He deserves this education as much as every other child in this school.

What happened? Didn't I tell you to get the upgrade?

Yeah. Doc's damn fault. Gave me a faulty port drive.

You tried to get around the system, didn't you?

Now, it'll cost us ten times more.

Sorry.

If it's something you gotta apologize for,

maybe don't do it in the first place, hey?

You said you didn't have the eddies when I asked, so…

I was waiting for payday!

You know we don't got that kind of cash just lying around.

Can't you sit still a minute?

You know, I've been thinkin’ lately.

About what?

Maybe I drop out. Find some work or whatever.

Do you hear yourself?

C'mon, seriously. You know we can't afford those repairs.

Plus, you got no idea just how bad I stand out compared to all of them.

Anyone sides a true blue corpo gets shit on.

Even if I do graduate, they'll never accept me.

No kid from Santo will ever be a suit.

I don't wanna be one anyway.

So, you tell me.

What have I been busting my ass for then, huh?

Everything I do, I do for you, D.

Don't you see that?

You're breaking my heart, Miho.

Wait. What?

My sweet baby boy. So smart, so talented.

You're everything to me.

I want to give you a fighting chance in this city and a good education.

It's why I put in all of those hours. Why I'm never home.

Uh, I'm sorry.

Shouldn't have brought it up. Don't cry, Mom.

Think I don't know how they treat you?

Think I don't get treated the same way?

But that's why you gotta prove them wrong.

You have to work hard and rise through the ranks.

My son at Arasaka Tower top floor! I can just see it.

You've got this, D. You're my son.

Yeah, well, easier said than done.

-Huh? -

- - Fuck 'em up!

- -

-Don't let 'em get away! -Suit's limo's titanium plated!

The hunt's on, my beastbros!

- -

No one fucks with the Animals!

- Suckers… -Mom! Brake! Brake hard!

- -Watch out!

- -

Mom? Mom!

- -

Is that the Trauma Team? Oh, thank Christ.