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Rook almost wanted to crack Maine’s skull open and see what was inside.
What did he think had happened?
Besides Sasha, the only people here were the two strangers who had just saved her.
The answer should have been obvious.
“Captain, lower the gun,” Sasha said, pushing Maine’s revolver down.
“They saved me.”
She turned back to him with a serious look.
“You saved my life.
I’d like to repay you properly.
If you don’t mind, can we find somewhere to talk?”
Her eyes were sincere enough, but they carried another question underneath.
She wanted a chance to inspect whatever hardware had let him fly.
A Sandevistan?
A Kerenzikov?
Something else entirely?
Rook saw through it.
He took Lucy’s hand and started to leave.
“I mind.
It’s late, and I need sleep.
If you really want to repay me, we can talk tomorrow.”
“Hey, kid.
Would it kill you to talk for two minutes?”
The big man naturally sided with Sasha.
Compared to a stranger whose name he did not know, his teammate mattered more.
He looked him over.
The man had plenty going for him.
Loyal.
Brave.
But he was also arrogant.
If Rook wanted to use him and the crew behind him, there were only two reliable options: hire him with money or beat him until he listened.
He stopped and turned.
“Sleep is how I preserve brain cells,” he said.
“You pointed a gun at my head, and now you’re provoking me.
So I think I need to teach you a lesson.”
Maine laughed like he had heard the best joke in Night City.
“Sasha, you hear this?
Kid says he’s going to teach me a lesson.”
Sasha frowned.
“Captain.
Enough.
He saved my life.
You’re putting me in an awkward position.”
That shut him up.
Maine glanced at Sasha, then at Lucy, who looked more than ready to see him get hit, and finally at the calm expression waiting across from him.
With a sigh, he holstered the revolver.
“Sorry, choom.
I just wanted to make sure Sasha wasn’t being threatened.”
“No need to apologize.
I’ve already decided to hit you.”
Rook rolled his neck and took out the blue Close-Quarters Combat chip.
He slid it slowly into an empty slot at the back of his neck.
In an instant, combat techniques flooded his mind: boxing, sanda, taekwondo, judo, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, and more.
He grinned, raised a hand, and beckoned him forward.
The meaning was clear: come on.
The crew chief looked toward Sasha again.
“Choom, this really isn’t necessary,” Maine said.
“I hit hard.
If I hurt you, Sasha’s going to chew me out.”
He only smiled.
“If you beat me, I’ll talk.
If you lose, we trade contact info, and tomorrow you bring your crew to me.”
“Fine.”
At that point, backing down would have made him unworthy of leading anyone.
His metal arm swung out in a heavy punch.
Rook tilted his head aside.
With his enhanced reflexes, the strike was easy to read.
As the fist passed him, he raised both hands and caught the arm.
Before he could apply force, the arm shifted, segments opening just enough to break his grip.
He withdrew, drove an elbow into Maine’s abdomen, and immediately reached in again.
This time, he caught the larger man’s upper arm, gathered power through both shoulders, and threw him cleanly over his back.
The big man hit the ground hard.
Rook dropped one knee onto his chest and hammered a tight chain of Wing Chun strikes toward his face.
In less than a minute, the outcome was clear.
The merc who had made a name for himself in Night City could not keep up with him in hand-to-hand combat.
Lucy and Sasha stared.
“That’s…
insane.”
They said it almost together.
Only after Rook stood and returned to Lucy’s side did Maine push himself up from the ground.
“Man…” He sucked in a breath and wiped at his face.
“I’m convinced.
I’ve been in the game a long time, and you’re the first person to beat me so bad I couldn’t even answer.”
Most of Maine’s body was protected by metal and armored skin, and Rook had not used his full strength.
He was hurt, but still conscious.
Even so, that short exchange had shaken him harder than any beating in years.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter.