In the clinic.
Rocky brought everyone up to speed on what happened at Arasaka Tower, then laid out his plan for Ascension Technology and why partnering with Arasaka made sense if he wanted a legal foothold in Night City.
"It was because of the serum," Vik said, nodding at the obvious. "But you are right. If you want a company to stand firm here, working with Arasaka is a realistic choice."
Jackie spread his hands. "L, what you said tracks. But next time you go that big, give us a heads-up, yeah. We thought you weren't coming back. If V hadn't called me, we were about to charge Arasaka."
Rocky could only give a helpless look. "It happened fast. I kept quiet because I didn't want you to worry. Somehow, you still knew everything. I'm curious. How did you even find out Arasaka grabbed me? Did V tell you?"
Jackie jerked his chin toward the operating chair.
Rocky turned and saw Rebecca lying there.
He had noticed her when he came in, but the questions had come hard, and he had not gotten a word in. With Jackie pointing, the picture clicked.
"Rebecca told us," Jackie said. "She watched them take you right in front of your clinic. She ran to Vik, then Lucy, and I found out."
Rocky finally solved the how. Thinking back, he remembered the dull thunks on the transport after he was loaded in. He had ignored them. Now he knew whose bullets they were.
"Then about Rebecca's condition," Rocky asked Vik. "You injected the serum."
Vik nodded. Before he could add details, someone tugged Rocky's hand.
"L. Come with me. I need to talk to you."
Lucy pulled him out to the alley.
Rocky was still wondering why this had to be outside when Lucy started.
"Rebecca injected the serum because of you. She was more worried about you than any of us. She was more determined than any of us to get you out. She was ready to run straight into Arasaka Tower for you. She asked Viktor to inject the serum and install cyberware so she could save you."
She said it all in one breath. No hedging.
Rocky froze. He had not expected so much to happen so quickly, and he had not expected Rebecca to do so much for him.
"Rebecca…"
"Rebecca also said she likes you. Everything she did came from that. L, you have feelings for her too, right?"
There was no point lying now that the words were on the table.
"I do feel that way about Rebecca," he said. "But Lucy, I feel the same way about you. I did not—"
Lucy pressed a finger to his lips and stopped him. "I know."
She smiled. Relief and something warmer lived in it.
She had guessed the answer the moment Rebecca admitted to liking Rocky with feelings that deep; it would be strange if Rocky felt nothing back. She did not get angry. Rebecca's love earned her respect, and Lucy took the initiative with Rocky. She had no standing to condemn either of them.
And she was happy because Rocky had said it plainly. He loved her too. That was enough. A fight would only make trouble for all three. Lucy did not want to make things hard for him. She had already lost him once tonight and would not risk that again.
"L, Rebecca is a good girl. Do not let her down."
The directness stunned him. Things were moving in a way that felt ridiculous on paper, but the goal in his heart had not changed.
"I will. Mm—"
His promise disappeared under another kiss. Lucy could allow the bond between Rebecca and Rocky; that did not mean she would give him up—actions, not speeches.
…
In the clinic.
Rebecca opened her eyes.
The serum made her mind crystal clear. For a heartbeat, she wondered if she was still dreaming. Rocky stood in front of her, very much alive.
"L, is that you?"
"It's me," he said, smiling. "Rebecca, you worked hard."
She looked around. Jackie and the others were all watching, faces eased by relief. Rebecca smiled back. Seeing Rocky safe washed everything else out. Simple happiness remained.
She did not ask why he was back. She did not care about the reason. He was back. That was enough.
"Great. L, you are back."
She braced both hands and sprang off the operating chair toward him.
She expected a normal hop and forgot her strength had changed. The extra force turned her into a small cannonball. She hit Rocky clean. He had not set his stance and went over with her, landing in a tangle.
"Sorry, L. I got excited and did not control it well."
She looked down at him, apologetic. She was not heavy. The hit itself had been no joke.
The serum had raised her baseline a long way. The girl who would one day rock heavy weapon fire like it was nothing had stepped onto the board. Strength had changed; her build had—no sudden bulk, no odd proportions. The power lived under the same small frame.
"It is okay, Rebecca. I get it," Rocky said, meeting her eyes. "I know what you did for me. Thank you."
Everything she had done moved him. He would not let her down.
"It is nothing," she said, still flushed, still fierce. "I like you, L. I will keep you covered from now on."
She held up her hands and made a fist, then opened her fingers again, as if testing how strength felt traveling through them. They did not look threatening. They were. In Night City, small hands sometimes hit hardest.