With their business settled, Rocky and Rebecca got up to leave. On their way through the upper floor, they passed Jacky, still drinking. Seeing them walk out together, he slipped Rocky a discreet thumbs-up.
Outside, Night City's streets were almost deserted. The bar behind them was the only source of liveliness in the quiet night.
"Did you drive here, Rebecca?"
"No."
She shook her head. She didn't own a vehicle. Falco usually drove her to jobs, so she'd never needed one much. Tonight was an exception.
"Let me take you home, then. Where do you live?"
"Longshore North. Thanks."
She saw no reason to refuse. Getting home at night without a ride was a pain.
"I'm in Little China. Close enough to being on the way."
Rocky summoned his motorcycle through the vehicle link. When it arrived, he climbed on and patted the seat behind him.
Rebecca paused. She hadn't expected a bike. She didn't dwell on it, though, and hopped on.
"Hang on."
The engine started, and as they picked up speed, she placed her hands on either side of his waist. Beneath his clothes, she could feel muscle she hadn't expected on an ordinary ripperdoc.
Wind rushed past. She leaned forward, bringing her mouth close to his right ear so he could hear her.
"Pretty solid for a doc. Wouldn't have guessed."
"I work out every day. Besides, you need to be able to protect yourself in this line of underground business."
"Fair enough."
They made their way through Night City. Rebecca stayed close after speaking, while Rocky concentrated on the road, oblivious to the large eyes studying him.
It was the first time she'd had such a close look at his profile. Watching his focused expression, she decided that, aside from being a little strange, he seemed pretty decent, especially in how he treated her.
Being so small had caused her plenty of trouble. Arrogant fixers and smart-mouthed mercs constantly underestimated her or made jokes at her expense. Even bar security often stopped her at the door.
Rocky hadn't dismissed her for it. He trusted her. That recognition left a warmth in her chest.
Maybe he's not so bad after all.
Between the bike's performance and Rocky's skill, they soon crossed much of the city and returned to the Northside Industrial District.
On the main road toward Longshore North, something caught his attention. His right eye picked out an irregularity ahead. He adjusted his cyberoptic's view.
Several vehicles blocked the road. Seven or eight gang members stood among them, their extensive, conspicuous chrome making their affiliation obvious.
Maelstrom.
The gang held territory in Northside and worshipped cyberware with a fanatic's devotion. There was almost nothing they wouldn't install in themselves. They were practically cyberpsychos in waiting. Who knew what passed for a group activity among these lunatics tonight?
"Rebecca." He slowed.
"What?"
"Maelstrom's got a roadblock ahead."
"Huh?"
She braced her hands on his shoulders, lifted herself a little, and peered past him. Sure enough, a pack of Maelstrom crazies waited up the road.
"Those guys are trouble. What's the plan?"
There were too many of them to take lightly. Maine might be able to meet them head-on, but she couldn't. Not yet.
"The plan? Straight through. Hold tight!"
Rocky gave the gang a bright smile and twisted the throttle all the way open.
The sudden acceleration caught Rebecca off guard. She tipped backward and nearly lost her grip before throwing her arms around his waist.
"Hey! Are you out of your fucking mind? Why not go around?"
Charging them was the last thing she'd expected. It looked like suicide.
"No need. Trust me, Rebecca."
He watched the gang ahead. He had no fondness for Maelstrom. They were nothing but lunatics, every bit as vile as the Scavengers.
If they insisted on blocking his path, he would remove them.
"Trust you? Fine, you psycho."
She remembered what he'd said about returning trust with trust. She could give him a chance. She was already on the bike, anyway. Jumping off wasn't an option. Might as well go a little crazy with him.
As the roadblock rushed closer, she drew her pistol and readied herself. With both arms around him and her body pressed against his back, she kept herself steady.
Rocky's smile widened at the contact. At the same time, he opened the system interface in his mind and installed a mod.
Up ahead, Maelstrom had noticed them. The roar of the motorcycle grew louder.
"Ha! Fresh meat! Time to start cutting!"
"I want his eyes. Gonna install them and watch him get chopped up with his own fucking eyes!"
They watched him approach with eager, feverish expressions, already treating him as something to butcher.
Then the motorcycle did something they hadn't expected. It didn't stop, turn around, or try to find another route.
It charged straight at them.
"What the hell's he doing?"
None of them reacted in time. It hadn't occurred to them that anyone would dare come straight through.
At full speed, Rocky aimed for a gap between the vehicles.
One gang member saw a steel hand rushing toward his face. Before he could react, it filled his vision and closed around his head. The speed of the impact drove powerful fingers into bone.
Rocky swept him up as easily as a doll, taking him along for a brief, unprotected ride at 180 kilometers an hour.
Then he whipped his left arm forward and hurled the man into a roadside pillar.
At that speed, the skull burst on impact. Blood and brain matter splashed across the dented pillar like a scarlet flower.