Digital Higanbana (Lycoris Recoil x Cyberpunk Quest)

As part of their universal opticware package, all Lycoris agents could focus and highlight designated targets or points of interest for their colleagues to immediately understand. You did so now, eyes glowing briefly, and Mitsu gave a single nod of understanding, her eyes too glowing when receiving the data. Without need for further comment, her posture shifted ever so slightly into a low runner's stance, ready to dart across the ground in a mix of speed and stealth.

You gauged the distance and adjusted to match your partner's stance. You'd have to close the range a bit to properly utilize your pistol, especially when it came to punching through that windshield glass. It did already have holes in it, but the way your target was hunched over in the driver's seat could provide some minor cover. Getting closer would help with countering that.

There was a moment of nervousness, which was then brutally squashed with years of training and experience. Now. You squeezed the mental trigger, then broke from cover at a low run, eyes focused on the target.

(Yuuki Stealth: 34 +12 (Cool) = 46)
(Mitsu Stealth: 91 +10 (Mitsu) +10 (Lycoris Surge) = 111)

Your shoes slammed hard against a piece of broken glass and that immediately had heads turning your way. You didn't even bother to ruminate on being so quickly discovered, and your arms swung up to bring your pistol to bear. It was barking rounds within moments as you drew closer, your aim jostling slightly from the advance.

(Towa 14 (Piercing 0): 73 +10 (Reflex) +12 (Rank 6 Pistol) +10 (Short Range) -10 (Low Cover) +10 (Surprise) = 105)
(EGO Driver (Armor 0): 91 +0 (EGO) -0 (Armor) -14 (Hit) = 77)

Yuuki Towa 14 Ammo: 15/16

Your shots landed through and slammed into the driver's seat, but your accurate hits unfortunately didn't hit anything vital, it would seem when they just ducked back down. You grunted and slammed into the front of the car, the bumper bending slightly from the impact of your slam. Your target hadn't even seen winded in any capacity- perhaps they had installed some cyberware reinforcements beneath the skin. Or they were just that determined to grit their teeth and push on through.

(Arasaka Katana (Piercing 2): 55 +15 (Mitsu) +10 (Lycoris Ronin) = 80)
(EGO Heavy (Armor 0): 21 +0 (EGO) -20 (Armor) -20 (Hit) = -19)

Meanwhile your partner blurred and vanished the moment you fired your pistol, her own cyberware activating to accelerate her bodily processes. Before the one in the back of the van could even stick their head out to see what the commotion was about, Mitsu was there, teeth bared just like the blade she slammed through the mercenary's chest with her entire body behind the thrust. There was a gargled scream and they tumbled backwards into the van along with Mitsu using the momentum to roll into the vehicle. It would serve as half-decent cover against the now-alerted EGO Security personnel.

(EGO Driver: 96)
(EGO Leader: 99)

Then there was a loud clank and your head swiveled to see the turrets in the front garden of the VIP abode suddenly turn and open fire on the shocked bodyguards, forcing them away from their established vantage point. As if that wasn't bad enough, whatever the EGO leader had been screaming at his reserves had apparently worked when a third van pulled out to reveal out a fresh squad to reinforce the remnants. You watched in horror when they shouted to resume the assault.

This wasn't good, not at all.

(Shinohara Security: 63 -10 (Time) = 53)

Then the van, still filled with operatives trying to climb out, detonated in a great fireball when an AV with familiar markings swerved overhead, the rotary gun on its side smoking. "This is Shinohara Securities!" You heard Azumi roar over loudspeaker and your heart soared. "Lay down your arms and surrender, or die!"

(Yuuki Initiative: 84 +10 (Reflexes) = 94)
(Mitsu Initiative: 73 +15 (Mitsu) +10 (Lycoris Surge) = 98)
(EGO: 41 -10 (Reeling) = 31)

Mitsu didn't even let them consider it when she finally noticed the ping you had sent. Her arms twisted and fired shots point-blank into the winged operative in the driver's seat. She didn't even look, she surely couldn't miss being at barely an arm's length away. Cover didn't matter anymore.

(Towa 14 (Piercing 0): 61 +15 (Mitsu) +10 (Lycoris Graduate) +20 (Close Range) = 106)
(EGO Driver (Armor 0): 24 +0 (EGO) -0 (Armor) -14 (Hit) = 10)

Mitsu Towa 14 Ammo: 15/16

This time they jerked and died messily in the driver's seat, not being able to resist holes in the skull. You gave it a quick look to confirm the kill, then leveled your pistol at the exposed leader almost mechanically. Like your partner, the thought of giving them a chance to surrender just didn't cross your mind.

Lycoris killed, and were killed. They didn't take prisoners in their shadow war.

(Towa 14 (Piercing 0): 62 +10 (Reflex) +12 (Rank 6 Pistol) +10 (Short Range) = 94)
(EGO Leader (Armor 0): 100 +0 (EGO) -0 (Armor) -14 (Hit) = 84)

Mitsu Towa 14 Ammo: 14/16

You let out a frustrated shout when you realized your bullets pinged uselessly off the immaculate skin. "He's a borg?!"

Almost to confirm, the rotary minigun revved up and began to spit out rounds in a large arc. It cut down swathes of EGO operatives, but the leader was completely unfazed and let the rounds wash over them, only burning off clothing and nothing else. Then one of his arms extend out into a small cannon-

Your eyes bulged and you screamed at your partner. "OUT!"

(EGO Retaliation: 78)
(Yuuki Escape: 27 +10 (Reflexes) -20 (Retaliation) = 17)
(Mitsu Escape: 19 +15 (Mitsu) +10 (Lycoris Surge) -20 (Retaliation) = 14)

Neither you or her were fast enough to scramble away quick enough when the round slammed into the already damaged van. You didn't even have enough time to swing your schoolbags around to activate the emergency defensive airbags. The vehicle exploded and both Lycoris were brutally caught in the blast, bodies thrown about. Even the AV in the sky felt the shockwave, wobbling a bit enough to lose focus on the borg that quickly started running to flee the scene.

(Yuuki Landing: 8 +5 (Body) -10 (Explosion) = 3)
(Mitsu Landing: 86 +10 (Mitsu) -10 (Explosion) = 86)

The first cycle of the tumble had seen you cracking your head hard against the road and your vision immediately distorted and swam, your opticware malfunctioning. You hit the ground a few more times before your body slammed against the hedges, which finally arrested your cycle. You couldn't see anything for a few moments and moaned, everything feeling like it was on fire.

Then you spotted a familiar arm next to you and your hand quickly shot out to feel it. No pulse. Your eyes widened and your breath quickened in panic. "Mitsu? Mitsu?!" You screamed, wondering if you had just gotten your partner killed.

There was a cough and your head swiveled the other way to see your partner looking definitely worst for wear, but mostly whole pushing herself off the ground. She looked up to you and you felt relief at her soot-covered face marred with concern. She's okay...but wait.

Whose arm am I holding then?

You glanced back and realized why the limb had looked familiar.

It was yours.

That was when the pain finally kicked in and your head slammed back, teeth grinding against one another in agony. Mitsu was there in an instant, ripping out first-aid gear from her bag to try and stem the bleeding from the stump that was your left arm. At least it wasn't long before the Shinohara Security AV finally descended and the team disembarked, with Azumi personally dragging their medic over to help stabilize you.

You couldn't make our their words through the intense pain, but the fact a stretcher was being broken out at least meant they likely wanted to spirit you somewhere safe. That being…

[ ] [Emergency] Shinohara Securities HQ

[ ] [Emergency] Kagoshima Fragrance

[ ] [Emergency] Local Public Hospital

- I'm genuinely at a loss of words. Your rolls were just consistently terrible, then they hit you with a crit 100.
- THEN AGAIN LOSING YOUR LEFT ARM SEEMS REALLY COMMON IN CYBERPUNK (Random body part roll)
- Don't worry about what location will cover the medical bills because you absolutely have it covered by Shinohara if nothing else. They'll probably even give some partial replacement coverage. The location though will affect what 'market' your replacement could be coming from.