Chapter 81: Thought That Was a Speed Bump
"By the way, Maine... where's Jackie? Why isn't he here?" Rhys asked.
For a scene like this, with Jackie's personality, there was no way he wouldn't show up.
"Fuck, I almost forgot about him."
Maine slapped his forehead. "When I sent out the message, Jackie was in Heywood. The rest of us live close in Santo Domingo, so we rolled out together. Jackie's coming on his own. Probably... still on the way?"
"Oh, right," Maine added quickly. "Jackie wanted me to pass on a message. He said, 'You're an asshole.'"
Rhys laughed awkwardly. "I know, I messed up. I was being dramatic, okay? Let it go."
Maine chuckled, staring ahead. "Well, the welcoming committee is here. What's the plan, Rhys?"
"What else?" Rhys rested his hand on the back of Maine's seat, squinting at the scene ahead.
Japantown loomed in front of them. Just as Maine said, a group of Tyger Claws was already swarming the intersection.
Their flashy, exaggerated outfits, exposed tattoos, and visible chrome screamed trouble. These weren't just street punks.
The Tyger Claws had serious combat power. Sure, they looked like your typical street trash, reeking of cheap cologne and bad attitude. Their military discipline was garbage compared to the Valentinos, and a joke compared to 6th Street.
But the problem was their gear. The average Tyger Claw was rocking higher-grade chrome than any other gang in Night City, even the Maelstrom psychos.
It wasn't just about quantity. You could bolt on ten pieces of junk and look like a Transformer, but trash was still trash. Could that compare to a high-end Arasaka implant gifted to a Claw lieutenant?
Obviously not.
So, this was going to be a nasty fight.
"Ram them. Straight through," Rhys ordered.
"You're the boss. Whatever you say." Maine grinned. He liked the way Rhys thought.
He slapped Dorio on the shoulder. She wanted to make a sarcastic comment, but she held back. This wasn't a gig. There was no stealth phase, no plan B.
They were here for revenge. Here to smash the place up.
Why hide when you're here to wreck house?
Dorio took a deep breath, slammed the accelerator to the floor, and simultaneously stomped on the brake, revving the engine until it screamed.
Tires shrieked, burning rubber filling the air with acrid smoke. The Tyger Claws near the intersection noticed the commotion. Wearing their signature oni masks, weapons drawn, they started to approach.
Just as they were about to question the vehicle, Maine leaned out of the passenger window, raising his right arm.
A brand-new Omaha tech pistol was aimed directly at the closest Claw, who had just raised a hand to stop them. Maine mouthed a single word: Bang.
BLAM!
The shot took the ganger's head clean off.
Dorio released the brake. The car launched forward like a missile, tearing into the street.
"Temee! (Bastard!)"
The ganger who got hit had just enough time to shout a curse before he was pulped against the hood. Even at 130 km/h, the bastard didn't die immediately. He clung to the hood, flailing and screaming.
"What is he, a cockroach?" Dorio muttered, watching the flailing man with a twitch of her eye.
"Quit joking! Find cover! Everyone out! We're surrounded!" Maine roared, popping the trunk and grabbing the grenade launcher they'd prepped.
The moment Dorio screeched to a halt, the sunroof of Pilar's car behind them flew open. With her brother's help, Rebecca popped out, dual-wielding pistols and spraying bullets.
In her hands were a smart pistol she'd just bought through Wakako's channels and her trusty Omaha.
The deafening roar of gunfire sent civilians screaming for cover.
Both cars stopped, but a motorcycle shot past them. Kiwi, riding like a demon, drifted sideways, using Maine's car as cover. Behind her, Lucy unleashed her monowire.
The glowing orange filament sliced through the Claw clinging to Maine's hood like a hot knife through butter. Kiwi didn't stop, accelerating away in a different direction.
"Fuck, did they go the wrong way?" Maine muttered, hefting the grenade launcher. Dorio slapped the back of his head.
"Think, gonk! They're netrunners! You want them in the middle of a firefight? That's a waste of talent!"
Maine grinned, baring his teeth. He aimed the launcher at a building down the street—a pachinko parlor.
Hitting that was definitely the right call.
Collateral damage? The Mox had already counter-attacked. Anyone still chilling in a Tyger Claw joint during a war wasn't an innocent bystander. They were either mercs or gangers. Zeroing them was no loss.
CLUNK—
He fired.
The explosion tore half the pachinko parlor apart. Screams of pain and rage erupted as the Tyger Claws launched their counter-attack.
A wall of lead swept towards them. Amidst the chaotic shouts of the gangers, Maine saw several grenades arcing through the air.
VROOOOM!
Sandevistan engaged. Time slowed to a crawl. Maine's new implant, bought from Gloria, was far superior to the one he'd given Jackie. Fifty percent time dilation. His senses sharpened. He could see individual grains of dust in the air, the shockwaves trailing the bullets.
He raised his pistol, aiming to shoot the grenades out of the air. They weren't a huge threat to the crew now—Dorio included, everyone had upgraded their armor—but the car...
Before he could fire, a black blur flashed past him.
He turned his head. In the slowed world of the Sandevistan, he saw Rhys glance at him sideways. Rhys was sprinting, his azure gunblade raised, already intercepting the grenades.
"You... frea—"
BOOM! BOOM!
The grenades detonated ten meters away. Through the blast wave, a black shadow trailing azure light tore into the Tyger Claw ranks, eliciting a chorus of screams and terrified shouts.
"—k!" Maine finished his sentence.
Fifty percent time dilation, and he could only just track Rhys's movements?
That meant Jackie's Sandevistan probably couldn't even see him clearly.
Damn monster. No wonder Arasaka wants you.
Why bother experimenting on animals or gene serums? Just grab Rhys and study him!
Thinking this, Maine opened fire.
The low-level Tyger Claws... couldn't stop them. Not even for a second.
At the same time, deep in Japantown, inside Clouds—the exclusive dollhouse club—Faraday, who had been enjoying the company of two dolls, suddenly sat bolt upright.
"What? He's in Japantown?"
"Fuck!" Faraday cursed immediately.
He'd expected his plan to force Rhys out, but he never imagined the kid would charge straight into Tyger Claw territory!
Is he insane?
But Faraday reacted quickly. He dialed a number, his voice dripping with respect.
"Mr. Tanaka. Rhys has surfaced. He's in Japantown right now."
"Yes, I'm bringing people immediately. On your end..."
"Excellent. I await your arrival. I'll bring him to you."
Faraday smiled, bowing to the empty air. "Of course. With the Tyger Claws assisting, Maine's crew doesn't stand a chance. I don't doubt their strength, but I trust the Claws' numbers more."
"Yes, rest assured. I'll contact your agents and the Claw leadership immediately."
Hanging up, Faraday shoved the dolls away and looked at his bodyguard. "Time to work," he said, his voice cold and hard.
"Yes, Mr. Faraday," the oddly dressed bodyguard nodded.
Faraday made another call.
"Yes, I need both of you. The kid is at the main entrance to Japantown. Yes, he's already here."
Faraday knew what Maine's crew had done in the Badlands, but... how many people were in a Wraith family? How much firepower did they really have?
The Tyger Claws? Thousands of members. Plus two elite Arasaka combat agents. Maine's crew could be strong, but stronger than corpo agents?
Don't make me laugh.
Just to be safe, Faraday left the booth and took the elevator to a top-floor office.
He knocked, and the door opened. Inside were several Asian men in black suits, tattoos visible on their necks.
"What is it? Did Tanaka call?" one asked.
"Hai!" Faraday nodded. "There's been a complication. Rhys's actions are... unexpected. I thought he'd go back to the Mox to defend them, but he came straight here."
"You mean the men we sent to surround the Mox are useless now?"
"Apologies. But the priority is to recall them, capture him, and bring him to Tanaka. Tanaka will be very pleased."
"Tch. Unreliable."
"Fine. Recall the men. We can deal with the Mox anytime. Priority is the kid."
"Baka! That bastard dares to come to our turf?"
"Where's Komura? Send him to deal with this guy."
"Idiot! Tanaka said he wants him alive."
Faraday looked at the confident Tyger Claw bosses and smiled.
This gig... is going to be so fucking easy.
"Grab her!"
"Bitch bit me! I'm telling you, the Mox are finished! You whores should have been dragged out to Jig-Jig Street to sell it on the corner ages ago! You really thought you had the right to open a shop in Watson and compete with us?"
"Stop talking! The higher-ups said we can do whatever we want with the Mox. No need to worry about public opinion this time; the corps will handle it."
In a maze-like alley in Watson, five Tyger Claws were shouting as they chased a woman down a deserted path.
Overhead, pipes and wires tangled like vines. Lena stumbled, clutching her bleeding arm, fleeing towards the dead end.
The shouts grew louder behind her. Terror washed over her, but she kept running.
She couldn't go back... going back now would only bring trouble to her two sisters.
Lena lived in the Watson industrial district, a Mox doll sharing a small apartment with two other girls. She knew things were tense between the Mox and the Claws, knew going out was dangerous. But... one of her sisters was sick. She had to get meds.
If she didn't, Helse's condition would get worse.
She'd been careful, staying within Mox territory, but... a massive group of Tyger Claws had surrounded the area today. Susan had recalled everyone to Lizzie's, but Lena had been spotted on her way back. Cheap fur, heavy makeup, a killer body, and provocative clothes—combined with the signature Mox synth-skin... she stood out.
Every Mox member was a beauty by Night City standards. Whether it was biosculpting or chrome, the Mox were known for having the best-looking girls.
"Found her! Over here!"
A shout rang out. Lena turned in horror to see a ganger with glowing tattoos sprinting towards her. His legs were clearly chromed; he moved with unnatural speed in the cramped alley.
"No!"
A scream tore from her throat as he grabbed her hair, slamming a knee into her back and driving her face into the ground. The rough pavement scraped her skin raw.
The rest of the Claws surrounded her. "How do we want to play this? The one last night got broken by Uejima and his crew. Disgusting. Didn't even get a turn. This one... heh, let's have some fun."
"All at once? Doesn't matter if she dies."
"Choking! I love that. Watching these Mox bitches gasp for air, looking at me with those pitiful eyes... I can't help b—"
Listening to them, the light faded from Lena's eyes. Despair took hold.
She prepared to activate her doll chip. No... to burn it. Frying her own brain, dying as a vegetable, was better than dying aware.
She bit her lip, triggering the command.
But a hand yanked her head up. A face leered at her. "Stupid bitch. Think I don't know what you're trying to do?"
"We know all your tricks. Want to wipe your memory? Dream on!" He raised his other hand, a small knife appearing. He stabbed it into the neural port at the base of her skull, twisting.
Lena screamed as the chip was ripped out.
"Heh heh, now we can play."
"Shit, I got a better idea!"
"What?"
"Take her out to the street. Do it in public." The gaunt ganger licked his lips, eyes shining with cruelty. "The bosses were worried about bad press before, but now the corpo execs gave the order to wipe out the Mox. That means... we can do whatever we want, right?"
"And it's payback! Watching the Mox act tough pisses me off! We lost brothers to that bitch Anna."
"Killing the chicken to scare the monkeys? Show the Mox what happens when they resist? Damn, since when did you study strategy?" another ganger laughed.
"Won't that cause a stir?" one asked hesitantly, though his expression showed he was swayed.
"What stir? The corps are involved. The news won't say shit."
"Alright, let's do it. Street party. We all take a turn, right there in public! And then... then I'm gonna play with her head!"
"Fuck, Yamashita, you're a sick bastard. But seriously... save that for the end. If you chop her head off while we're still having fun, it kills the mood."
Lena listened, utterly hopeless.
These Tyger Claws... they were monsters.
The lower ranks were violent, bloodthirsty psychos who didn't care about image or consequences. They just wanted... entertainment.
Lena screamed, "No! Just kill me! Kill m—"
"Shut up! You don't get to talk!" A heavy slap silenced her.
They dragged her out of the alley, breaking her wrist and gagging her.
Out on the street, five Tyger Claws dragging a woman attracted immediate attention.
"What are you looking at?! You wanna die?" Yamashita waved his katana at the crowd, shouting abuse.
Meanwhile, the gaunt ganger started ripping Lena's clothes off, shouting in Japanese and laughing maniacally.
The crowd watched, fearful but fascinated. They recognized the woman as a Mox. Tyger Claws and Mox... again? And a live show in the street? They couldn't look away. Some even activated their optics to record the brutality.
Lena smiled a silent, broken smile. She couldn't even kill herself now.
The sisters had warned her: if the Claws catch you, don't run. Fight and die, or kill yourself immediately.
But... she'd held onto hope. Hope that she could escape, bring the medicine back...
Now, she regretted it.
Hands were all over her. Two of them were already unbuckling their pants.
When her last piece of clothing was torn away and thrown into the middle of the road, Lena closed her eyes.
And then... a screech of tires. A sickening crunch. A scream of pure agony.
"Bakayarou!"
The impact was massive. Lena felt one of the hands on her disappear. Then, all the hands were gone.
She opened her eyes. The crowd was fleeing in panic. A gold-plated, ostentatious luxury sedan had stopped four or five meters away.
Under the car, a Tyger Claw was pinned, screaming as the weight crushed him.
The car's gull-wing door hissed open. A man stepped out. He wore a black jacket, looked fierce, and sported a top-knot. A Mexican.
He looked down at the screaming ganger under his wheels with a look of annoyance. "What the fuck is this thing? I thought it was a speed bump."
He stomped hard on the ganger's face.
Lena whimpered, hope flaring in her chest.
"Baka! How dare you!" Yamashita roared, charging with his katana, eyes red with rage. The other three followed.
The gaunt ganger raised his SMG, aiming at the man.
But before he could fire, the man vanished. He reappeared right in front of the ganger, a fist slamming into his face.
CRACK!
Red and white spray. The face caved in, the back of the head bursting out, cybernetics sparking in the gore.
"Baka!" Yamashita leaped, reinforced tendons launching him high into the air, katana raised for a killing strike.
The man simply turned, raised a gold-plated pistol, and fired.
"What year is it? Still playing with swords? You think you're Rhys?"
BANG!
The bullet took Yamashita's head off. The impact of the heavy caliber round was even more terrifying than the punch.
"Tyger Claw cubs! Your Uncle Jackie is here!"
Grinning savagely, the bear-like man charged the remaining two stunned gangers. In the blink of an eye, he zeroed them both.
He walked over to Lena.
"You Mox?"
Lena nodded, sobbing.
"Hey, chica, don't be scared. I'm here to help." He gently removed the gag from her mouth.
"Puh, cough, cough!" Lena choked, then looked at him with wide, frightened eyes. "Who... who are you?"
The man paused, rubbed his head, and gave a goofy, honest grin.
"Me?"
"I'm Rhys's brother. Call me Jackie."
"We're family, chica!"
Lena stared at him.
Rhys's... brother?