This time when I entered the Value Tree, I was greeted by a list of departments.
Some were more general, like Standard Groceries (U.S.A. 1950 - 2019). Some were very specific, like Goblin Horticulture (Terra 73,629,602,678,476). (AN: That's a Potterverse World, I think.)
Goblins on Earth, imagine that. I wonder what that place is like?
It took a few minute to get used to the lists controls, but I found I could search for what I wanted pretty quickly.
When searching for Guns, I still got a huge list of departments. I narrowed it down to Terra (100,000 - 62,000,000)
Though some of those other options were quite fascinating. There were listings for things like The Old Republic Era and The Imperium of Man and countless others.
I had a feeling though that I needed to stick with things found in Night City, so I tried to enter the Omaha as a reference.
I was left with Terra (1,746,843 - 3,264,915)
Good enough, I selected that option and the whole store shifted, or maybe I was teleported.
Suddenly, I was standing in front of racks and racks of rifles and carbines. The smell of REM oil filled the air. Everything was so gleaming and new, and the prices weren't out of line with my experiences with NC vendors.
I minimized the department list and started looking around. There were brands I'd never seen while I was running around NC before, like ARES their weapons look somewhat similar to the ones I had seen before.
I decided to stick with what I was most familiar with and hunted around for pistols.
There they were, thousands of cases full of every type of pistol I'd ever seen and then some.
I found the Omahas. They had a huge selection, even ones I suspected were futuristic to the models I had previously handled. I found one I liked the look of...
[ Militech Omaha Type XX
Ammo type: Caseless .50
Capacity: 10 rounds extended magazine or 25 round drum magazine
Damage: 10
Included Modifications: Recoil Compensation, Baffled Barrel, Reflex Sight, Anti-Tamper Software Suite ]
[ Price: 100,000 Eddies
1000 Task Points
500 Company Points ]
It's black dull matte finish and diamond textured grip called to me. It whispered to me that it could ventilate all my problems. Sure fucking Militech made it, but I didn't care. All the more irony if I flatlined their huscle with it.
Yes, I bought it and the Eddies somehow came out of my BTC. I guess it had integrated Agent abilities now. Convenient.
Or maybe it just worked that way here? I'd have to check with a vending machine or something, so I didn't embarrass myself if it didn't work that way in NC.
I hope it did work though I'd like to forego cyberware this time, at least until I can get access to the Khalai tech again.
Then my new baby was in my hands, and it felt so nice I spent a full minute playing with it.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Then some new screens popped up offering ammo and accessories. I got a tactical harness and belt combo with a adjustable holster setup. Ten spare extended mags.
And then as I when to put them on I finally realized I was still fuckin naked.
I was playing with my gun while I was nude. I couldn't help but laugh at the image that conjured up.
Thankfully the screen now offered related department.
Clothes and Armor, Survival Gear and Footwear.
Soon enough I was clothed in a simple black skintight undersuit. It was an armored netrunner suit. Which I picked up not for netrunning, but because it could regulate my temperature under all my armor.
A plain green button up and black slacks over that. An armored vest similar to the one I had before and an armored navy blue trench coat with some temp control lining.
A pair of heavy and yes armored combat boot were in the process of adjusting to fit my feet. They had a squishy comfort gel foam inside. My feet were very oversized even for my new form. which given how things felt in my hands was any indication was large.
Yup, everything bought here was one size fits most, each with some magical ability to shape themselves to the wearer. At least the first time they were put on.
I snagged two hard cased belt packs full of various bits of survival gear. Most of which felt a bit pointless right now but you never know. Better to have it and not need it...
I also picked up a sleek hard cased minifridge backpack to pack fill with some decent food, because fuck eating that NC scop again. It covered my whole back and fit nicely under my trench coat.
I asked my BTC how much time I had left, 1hour 15 minutes.
Time flies when you are shopping for guns.
So plenty of time to pick up some grub.
Then I had an idea.
I pulled up the department list and entered Classes.
I got Education Departments of all kinds, however there was a marked standout. The Token Store.
I selected that.
Now, I found myself in a small 30' by 30' shop done up in a cozy café style. Floor to ceiling glass cases full of Tokens.
There was a section labeled Heroes, and one labeled Themes.
I checked a few out.
Unlike before where Token were random, these were specific.
[ Malfurion Stormrage Version 524,387,152
Price: 100,000,000 Eddies
1,000,000 Task Points
500,000 Company Points ]
O-kay. Hundreds of other Heroes were available at similar prices.
No Raynor, no Wick, no Jaina. Thank goodness, that would have been too weird for me.
With the Themes it was the same,
[ The Galactic Empire version 6,253,384,620,967,453,946
Price: 10 trillion Eddies
100 billion Task Points
50 billion Company Points ]
Holy fucking hell. Just how many versions of things are out there? And those prices...
Welp, not getting any of these anytime soon I guess.
Then I found a small case by itself. It only had three Tokens.
[ Class Gunslinger version 10
Price: 1,000,000 Eddies
10,000 Task Points
5,000 Company Points ]
[ Class Jedi Knight version 10,537
Price: 10,000,000 Eddies
100,000 Task Points
50,000 Company Points ]
[ Class Rockerboy version 196
Price: 500,000 Eddies
5,000 Task Points
2,500 Company Points ]
I wondered what they based the prices on? How useful? How powerful?
I eyed the Jedi Knight with a certain childish longing, but I probably didn't want to deal with any of the headaches the mindset of a Jedi would place on me. Still...
No. Better to let it go.
Now the Rockerboy was interesting because I had heard the term when I met REV/DEV. I always did want to be in a band, on the other hand I don't know that I want to deal with that level of public scrutiny.
Gunslinger while generic sounding was probably my best bet for a quick combat boost. Though I had no idea if this was like a Wild West version of a Gunslinger or something else.
Hmm. I had the money and if I didn't like it I could merge it with something else later, probably.
Alright, Gunslinger it is.
As I picked up the Token it vanished and I felt it settle into me. No pain, thankfully. In fact, I felt a lot better.
I checked my Status. (AN: See Below)
Looking good. So more of a Weird West kind of deal?
Smooth like a Snake looked neat. Repeated actions became more fluid. Double Shot was less about shooting twice, and more about conjuring a another bullet per shot. It used mana, interesting. Reload was exactly that, you could add ammo with mana.
I checked the time. 25 minutes left.
After a quick run through the Grocery section, I realized I'd have to come back for the treats I hadn't seen in years. Ooo, were those Cheddar BBQ Cheetos? Score! Old school glass bottle sodas, awesome! A selection of candies I had never even heard of before. I felt like a kid again.
Stocked up on good jerky and water. I grabbed some bread and sandwich meats. A jar of peanut butter. Not the best but a far better than most NC food. A few sodas for fun. I filled my coat pockets with a few fruits. Especially the silver apples. I also grabbed a few snack bars for right now, since it felt like ages since I had eaten.
Then I remembered I should have grabbed some bottles to fill with Moon Well water. Oh well, too late now.
It seemed a shame to have to go. Shaking my head, I left the Value Tree and marched to the East Gate with a couple of minutes to spare.
Time to see what had changed in good ol' Night City.