Maine listened to Rebecca, thought it over, and decided something was off with her ask. He knew who Rocky was. He had even bought stimulants from him a few times, but they were not close, just a few transactions. Her tone held real urgency, and Maine did not understand why she would cross Arasaka over a ripperdoc.
"Rebecca, are you sure you are not joking? He is just a ripperdoc. Arasaka taking him has nothing to do with us. You want to pull someone out of Arasaka's hands. You know what Arasaka is."
That was how he saw it. If Arasaka had not grabbed one of his crew, it would not have been his problem.
"He is not just a ripperdoc. He is someone I like," Rebecca said, calm and firm. "I am not joking. I will get him out. I know how powerful Arasaka is, so I need your help. This does not involve your crew, but I can pay like a normal job. Help me, Maine."
Maine understood why she was pushing, but he still refused. "This is not about money. Arasaka took him. Going against them is a dead end. I have to be responsible for my team. I cannot send them to die. I get how you feel, but this is Arasaka, the emperor of Night City. It will not work. Please give it up. You are one of us, and I do not want you dying at the hands of Arasaka. Look at the bright side. Maybe they will not hurt him. Maybe they will release him in a few days. You know what I mean."
He tried to pull her back to reason. If Arasaka really intended to do something to Rocky, it was not something they could change tonight. Barom's mess outside the Afterlife was still fresh. For a ripperdoc, the risk was not worth it, whether it was a reward or no reward. This was not as simple as stealing a little intel or dropping a few soldiers. If Arasaka had taken Rocky to Arasaka Tower, would they have stormed Arasaka Tower to save him?
"Okay. I understand. That is all," Rebecca said and hung up after a short silence. She did not blame Maine. Arasaka ruled without question, and few dared to oppose them. Rocky was a ripper to Maine and had met only a handful of times. Refusing to take the risk was normal. She had no right to demand that others jump into the pit with her. If Maine agreed, great. If he refused, she would accept it.
She tried Falco and Kiwi. They refused as well. She had expected that. If Maine said no, the rest of the crew would likely think the same.
She stopped making calls and stared at the problem. No help. No plan. Alone. Be rational. How am I supposed to be rational? Every second Rocky stayed in danger felt like another turn on a spit.
If no one would help her, she would help herself. "I will get you out. Even if no one goes with me, you still have me. A friend."
The word friend sparked an idea. She did not have to ask Maine's crew. Rocky had friends. If she had told them Arasaka had taken him, they would have helped.
Hope relit. Rocky had told her about two friends. One was a merc named Jackie. The other was a ripperdoc in Watson named Viktor. She did not know Jackie's contact or where to find him, but she knew Viktor's clinic. Rocky had given her the address.
She set out at once.
…
Misty's Esoterica, Little China. Rebecca followed Rocky's directions and found the place.
"Welcome. How can I help you?" Misty asked gently as Rebecca stepped into the shop.
"I need to see Dr. Viktor," Rebecca said, straight to the point.
"Please wait a moment. I will contact him," Misty said, not looking down on Rebecca for her size. She called Vik right away.
Vik replied quickly. He was free and could see Rebecca now.
"Okay, Dr. Viktor can see you. Go in through the back. The clinic is in the basement. Take the stairs down from the rear door," Misty said, kindly mapping the route so a first timer would not get lost.
"Thank you."
Rebecca nodded and hurried through the alley to the basement stairs.
Vik turned his chair inside the clinic as she entered, ready to greet a new face, but Rebecca spoke first. "You are Viktor, right. I am L's friend. Arasaka took L. I need your help."
Vik straightened. "Arasaka took L. Do not panic, kid. Tell me exactly what happened."
He felt the jolt, but his temperament stayed steady. Rebecca laid out everything she had seen and done.
"This will be hard to handle. L is in trouble," Vik said after a moment. He had a good guess at the cause. If Arasaka had spotted the serum sales, they would have put Rocky on a list.
Vik thought momentarily and decided to notify Jackie first and discuss a plan. Jackie had been close to Rocky recently and should be updated on his situation.
"I will contact L's friend Jackie and see how to handle this. Do not worry. We will find a way," Vik said, calming his tone to steady Rebecca. He had already read the worry and urgency on her face. Their connection to L was not simple.
"Thank you," Rebecca said, finally letting out a breath. Coming to Viktor had been the right call. At least now someone was willing to stand with her.