Ghost in the City: Cyberpunk Gamer SI

When they finally took a break, Alice came out of the sound stage and nearly bounced her way over to Jun.

She was sweating a bit, but looked amped up, energized and excited.

Oh my. Jun brother of mine, you might finally understand that Alice is interested in you tonight if you aren’t careful.

“How does it sound Simon?”

“Sounds smooth Carmen my boy. I’ll send this copy down Ni-Cola and see what they think ya?” The producer offered up pulling out a shard and throwing a heavy arm over the Rockerboy who looked excited.

“Great! Let me know what they say, we can definitely make some changes, and-”

“Hey hey no worries kid. You let me handle that.” He waved off and then the two left along with most of Alice’s band.

“Hey Jun! What do you think huh? I mean it was kinda cheesy stuff, but our music might be all over the city next week.” Alice offered with a chirp in her voice.

“It was nova. I liked it.” Jun agreed, and Alice beamed, even if she didn’t realize that Jun’s bad taste in music meant he wasn’t saying she did good, but that he did actually like the commercial music.

I cringed down to my toes at the idea. But Jun’s taste in music was well known to me.

“Thanks, hey, listen, everyone is going to be going back and forth over and over. There’s a bar upstairs we can use. So why don’t we go relax for a little.” She gestured for us to follow and we headed out, back down the white hall.

Alice had Jun’s arm in her grip as she tugged him along.

For once Jun just seemed happy to go along with it, obviously picking up how happy she was at that moment.

We went up an elevator and came out in a large bar. The cozy atmosphere was actually pretty nice. Much more classy than some of the places I had been dragged into.

High end too. With the entire wall having open windows, and a stage up in a corner, although it was empty for now.

But the bar wasn’t. Lots of Rockerboys hung around, some drinking, some chatting, some drugging. I ignored them all, instead splitting off from Jun and hitting the bar, sliding into a stool.

“Something for you?”

“Just a soda is fine.” I answered and I got a funny look from the bartender, a very pretty woman that was a bit obsessed with silver chrome, but I got my drink and that was good enough for me.

I noticed Alice looking at me from a booth with Jun and the rest of her crew and threw her a wink.

There. That’s all I will do to help you with Jun. Don’t say I never did anything for you.

She nodded in turn and then focused on Jun smiling.

“Not a regular are you?” The Bartender asked, and I noticed I was the only one still at the bar itself.

“Nope. Following my gonk of a brother and the Rockerboy girl that’s into him, not that he noticed. Bit dense. Place is kinda cool though. Wouldn’t mind using a sound stage like that sometime.”

“Hey. Well the prices are crazy, but you get some perks. There’s an instrument room downstairs you can use.”

“Instrument room?” I asked suddenly, because that sounded more fun than just sitting at a bar.

“Yeah, they got everything. Rental comes with the membership.”

“Hmm.” I mumbled. I wasn’t about to pay a membership, but if this place ran that sort of stuff off a computer…

I got up. “Thanks.” I threw her a few dozen eddies and wandered back downstairs. I should be able to track down the instrument room without too much issue.

—--

I walked into the instrument room. The computer beeped confirming my access. I smirked at the noise.

Finding the control room, and breaching in from inside was easy peasy. The place did have some pretty solid ICE, if I was attacking from outside the building I might have been troubled by it.

I felt the back of my neck. No overheating issues, or problems from my Neural Link.

I rolled my neck as best as I could and while it still wasn’t comfortable, the actual performance had been fine.

The instrument room lights turned on, and I whistled.

That was a lot of gear. Guitars, drum sets. Common Rockerboy things were there, but that wasn’t all.

Piano’s, a full brass section, and some other string instruments, were all stored in the room.

I understood why they had such high security for this room. It would be an expensive heist. Luckily I didn’t steal things. Only looted. So it was all safe from me.

Instead I was just perusing. Mostly just wasting time as Jun was flirted at. I popped open a case that had a trumpet, and just snorted. It wasn’t a normal trumpet, but an electro trumpet.

Something that seemed utterly silly to me, but I did have the instincts on how it worked as I thought about it.

I put it away. I didn’t need a trumpet that would do all the work for me. Instead I opened another case, older, much older.

It was worn, and probably needed a good polish, but it was a trumpet all right.

I moved on, checking out different instruments. Trombone, Saxophone, the list went on.

Not that I was all that interested. I didn’t have a lot of songs that I had any interest in that used a brass section.

I started humming, an ear worm in my mind as I checked on the Piano, tinkering on the keys and shaking my head. Just an electric Piano pretending to be an antique.

The ear worm was digging at me. Something my brain was trying to remember, but not getting there. Right on the tip of my tongue.

The door opened, and a man I didn’t recognize entered carrying a guitar. He didn’t notice me, and I took two steps to the side sliding in amongst the racks, and now he never would.

“Get everyone together, and the stuff! Don’t leave anything behind this time asshole!” He yelled out as he popped the guitar into the case and then headed out.

The brainwave connected.

“Get everybody and the stuff together… Okay, Three, two, one, Let’s jam.” I repeated softly the only lyrics from a song I remembered vividly. One that every ounce of my being wanted to recreate.

I loved that song.

Instantly I went to work. I would need a space, and luckily I was in the perfect place to get this done. I walked out of the room, and headed back into the empty control room that quickly opened at my approach. There I simply accessed the system, and checked which of the sound stages would be open.

A small adjustment and the one empty room was now reserved.

Okay, let’s blow this scene. I practically giggled as I hurried back to the instrument room and started gathering what I would need. Trumpet, Trombone, Sax, Drums. That took a few trips back and forth. Chello, I had to grab an electric one, but it would do.

Back and forth I hauled everything inside the soundproofed room, and then since I would be doing this solo, I walked over to the equipment in the production room and slipped my personal link in.

Ah good. I wasn’t the only Rockerboy that wanted to handle the editing in real time, or by themselves.

I unplugged and headed inside, plugging into the internal connection and then started setting everything up. I hummed the song as I prepped, going through every line, every note.

I started on the chello. No bow, just plucking the strings, I activated the recording, and played the notes perfectly to what I knew they needed to be. I had heard this song before after all.

I knew it. As intimately as I did the palm of my hand, chrome or not.

Drums were next, then trumpet, to really get going. All the while I was using my personal link to manage the song recording in real time. Recording, pausing, cutting all as I played through the song. Copying it all to a single track when I was sure it was right. Some tracks needed multiple copies, trumpets, and the like. It wouldn’t sound right without multiple players, so I played just that slightly differently on another track, merging them together into a big band jazz sound.

Over and over I played the song. Getting every track with real instruments, and just blasting out the noise of Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts, remade.

I was doing another play through on the Sax when I caught it out of the corner of my eye.

I stopped.

Someone was in the control room.

I looked on, and they looked at me.

That… Holy shit.

I recognized her.

She looked none too pleased either, and seeing me stop she walked over and opened the door.

“Lot of chrome tits to walk into my Studio klep my personal recording booth, and grab about half my equipment.” The woman offered arms crossed.

“You’re Denny. From Samurai.” I said, because that was honestly all I could say.

She quirked up an eyebrow at me, under her massive afro and then just rolled her eyes.

“Yes. How the hell some teenager recognizes me from Samurai, and not any of my other bands. Sure whatever. Now focus gonk, cause I’m deciding whether to kick your ass out with a boot between the ass cheeks, or call security and let them escort you out the hard way.”

“Let’s not get your security killed for something this stupid. Sorry, I was just bored, and I did a bit of hacking, noticed this booth wasn’t reserved, so I figured no one would mind. Honest, didn’t mean to cause any trouble. Figured I would put everything back after and no one would even know.”

Denny’s eyes scanned me down. Literally, they glowed as she obviously checked me out, and I could see her notice my weapons, armored clothing.

“You’re either a psycho little shit, or you aren’t a little shit at all.”

“Motoko Kusanagi, Mercenary… Ah, well I guess technically I’m an Afterlife merc.” That didn’t get a visual reaction, but Denny was thinking, and thinking hard.

“Was listening to you play. Weird shit. Then I saw you putting the track together. Finish it. I want to hear. If it’s shit, I’m not taking calling security on your gonk ass off the table.” She demanded and then to my surprise she walked out of the room, and then I watched as she put on the headset and started messing with some settings. I was still plugged in so I saw what she was doing. A few adjustments, that… Yeah that probably would sound better, on the track.

I nodded and then restarted the Sax track. Adding it into the piece.

—--

“Okay, three, two, one, let’s jam.” I spoke into the mic, making my voice as husky as I could, I checked the vocals and nodded. Sounded good. Different from the original but good.

I was finished. I took a moment to play the completed song, letting the sound of Tank flow through my agent into my ears.

It sounded good, not perfect. It lost something with only one instrument for the brass section, even repeated over and over, but it was tank. Unmistakably so.

*100 Rockerboy XP Gained.*

*Rockerboy skill level up!*

Slowly I let out a breath as I checked my system. I did it! Another level! Level 9. There wasn’t much left of Rockerboy for me to learn. I let the information flow into me. More and more on how to play to bring the best sound out. How to maximize my charisma on the stage. I shook it off.

I looked up. Denny had been listening to it as well. She had done some work on the song as I worked, adjusting a few things to make the different repeats of the brace sound slightly different, understanding what I had intended.

I slipped my personal link from the connection port in the room and then walked out. Denny was still listening, a head set slid into her afro. Then finally the song ended and she took it off her head.

“You got some real soul kid.” She offered and I just shrugged. Hard to explain that jazz wasn’t my usual preference, but everyone loved Tank.

“Sorry again, about the whole taking your space thing.”

“Clean it up.” She demanded suddenly. “Put everything away, clean it up, and maybe I’ll forgive you.”

“Sure.” I answered back without really minding. I had pulled the instruments, of course I should put them back.

“Afterlife merc huh? You play with Violent Hemorrhage?”

“Oh, no. Alice, the lead singer, is our neighbor. She likes my brother. Jun wants to get me out of merc work, so he tries to drag me into Rockerboy stuff. It’s my hobby. Playing music.” I shrugged.

“Right.” She offered, obviously not that interested in my life. “Well damn. I was expecting this to be another shitty teenager thing but this isn’t bad. It sounds old. Sort of jazz I’d have heard a century ago.”

“Yeah well… I just had it stuck in my head.”

“Had to get it out?” She asked back and I nodded.

“More like I had a chance to get it out, I only have a guitar and some equipment, hard to do brass with that.”

“Yeah electronic brass never sounds right. Especially for Jazz.” She agreed, but her foot was tapping and she was looking distracted. “Alright. Clean up, and don’t let me catch you in here again. You want to use the equipment? Then sign up.”

“Right. Sure.” I answered but it looked like she wasn’t completely ready for the conversation to end. Her finger tapped on the equipment as she watched me.

“What’s that song called?”

“Tank.” I answered back instantly without really thinking.

Then I hurried to clean everything up. Hurrying back in and packing up a few instruments, and walking out, past Denny who was fiddling with the equipment, ignoring me as I entered the white hallway, which wasn’t empty.

“Hey Jun.” I said as I walked behind him to the instrument room.

“Motoko! There you are! Where’ve you been?”

“Mostly getting in trouble!” I called back and entered the equipment room and settled the cases into place before hurrying back.

“Motoko, what did you do?”

“Broke into a room that belonged to the owner. She wasn’t happy, but she let me finish the song I was making.” I said as I hurried past, but he followed, and so Alice did as well.

I entered, and Denny was now inside the booth, tapping away at the drums.

Weird. I looked at the track and realized she was playing to Tank!

I jerked and hurried inside, not really caring about the sound proofing.

Inside Denny was in the groove. Slamming the drum beats, while my rendition of Tank played through the speakers above.

“What is that?” Alice asked, having come up behind Jun to see what was going on, but I just ignored her.

Denny was jamming out…

Fuck it.

I walked over to the Sax that was still out, and threw it on, and plugged into the system. Pausing the sax track so that when it came up.

I just played it myself.

Denny wasn’t playing the exact track instead jamming out, and I did the same. Entwining the sounds with her drums. We jammed out, ignoring anything else for a few minutes until the song ended.

“Not bad kid.” Denny agreed and then looked over Jun and Alice with a frown.

Jun only had eyes for me, smiling proudly, but Alice was looking at Denny in awe.

“Denny.” She uttered in shock at seeing the woman step away from her drum set.

“Random gonks that all wandered into my private space. Jeeze what kind of night is this where every street kid has the chromed out balls to just move about as they please?” The woman scoffed out looking at me. “How much?”

“Hmm?” I asked as I was breaking down the sax, pulling out the mouthpiece, and the reed.

“For the song kid. How much?”

I stilled because that was a random and very uncomfortable question.

“What?”

“Wait, that song? Is that something you wrote Motoko?” Jun interrupted, definitely not knowing who he was in the same room as. Jun didn’t like Samurai to start with.

“Yeah, I uh. Snuck in here and started it, but this is Denny’s private booth. Which makes sense in hindsight, being the only room without a reservation…” Really smart there Motoko.

“Yeah yeah, explain after. How much for the rights to the song. I like it. Not really modern, but because it isn’t I think that’s why I want it.”

I opened my mouth to give some blaze answer. How was I supposed to know how much a song could be worth? But then in my head, an image of Hiromi popped up. Black chrome gleaming as she frowned at me.

“Don’t make any decisions about money Motoko! You are terrible with money! Let me do it instead!”

Right. Mind Hiromi was probably right…

“I’ll have to ask my manager?” I questioned, not at all convincingly.

“You have a manager?” Denny asked, emphasizing her disbelief.

“I have a manager… Probably.” I answered back, only muttering the last part.

She snorted and flicked me a number. “Have your manager call my firm. Mention the song name, and they won’t just hang up on you. Now really… Clean up and get out of my booth!” Denny demanded and everyone except Jun jumped. He just looked like Christmas came early.

“Right, let’s go… Don’t want to ruin your vibe or anything.” Alice spoke, trying to sound casual, but it was obvious she was a bit star struck. “Come on Jun, we don’t want to bother Denny!” She demanded but could barely tear her eyes away from the woman to grab Jun’s arm to pull at him.

Jun didn’t budge an inch instead looking at me.

We did the sibling communication thing, I just threw him a small smile.

“I’ll finish cleaning up.” I offered and Denny nodded as if that was obvious.

Jun nodded and let Alice pull him out, and I got to work, packing up the instruments and moving them back. Denny didn’t stick around, instead leaving back out the door.

Ten minutes later everything was put away, I wandered over to find Jun. The moment I opened the recording room Alice was on me.

“What the hell was that? You know Denny?”

“We just met tonight.” I answered, and frowned as she was tugging on my jacket.

“What the fuck! Denny talked to you! Wanted to buy your song? What song!?”

“Tank.”

“What the fuck.” She exhaled and shook herself. “I want to hear that song again. Pop it in.” She demanded pointing at the recording booth.

I didn’t move.

I kinda, sorta, maybe a little liked Alice. She was doing the musician thing, and while she was bitchy she had the charisma it came off more amusing than anything.

But I didn’t just play music on command, and certainly not when ordered.

“Motoko?” Jun interrupted as the moment between Alice and I stretched and she realized I wasn’t going to do what she wanted.

“Jun?”

“Can we hear your new song? I only heard a bit there.”

I scoffed at Jun’s obvious attempt to settle things, but I also couldn’t just deny Jun like that.

I pulled a shard out of my neck and stuck it into the recording booth system, and set it to play. The speakers in the booth came alive. Instantly with the sound of horns, and then a thrumming chello.

Alice jerked at the instant noise and then settled in to listen. Looking to me at the vocals, but then just listening foot tapping at the beat.

“That’s certainly different.” She said finally as the song ended, but Jun just threw an arm over my shoulder in a side hug.

“Awesome job Motoko.”

“It’s nothing.” I mumbled, a little embarrassed that everyone had heard it. I hadn’t wanted anyone to hear it! I shook it off. “I’m going to head home Jun.”

“Hmm. I guess it is getting late. Let’s go home.” He agreed, and I could see Alice twitch at his words, but he then did something that surprised me. He turned to Alice and threw her a smile. “Thanks Alice, this was interesting.”

“Ah… Yeah sure! Anytime!” She agreed, and Jun and I headed out.

What a weird night.