Ethan's fingers drummed on the steering wheel. He was patient.
1:05 AM now. Looked like Mr. Hands' wife really enjoyed this club.
As for how he'd taken down the bodyguard so easily this afternoon—Ethan might have found the answer.
Stat Value Body 10 Reflexes 8 Technical Ability 4 Intelligence 10 Cool 7
The Intelligence jump to 10 was probably from meeting V. The rest must have come from the battle with Maine's crew.
He'd been too focused on getting back at Hands to notice at the time.
Ethan had been observing: these stats seemed to exist independently of cyberware. Strength was the most obvious indicator.
Viktor had done a full overhaul, plus Body and Cool boosts—the most direct result was raw power.
That explained how he'd held his own against Maine. Otherwise, he'd have been pasted against that wall.
Then there was bullet damage. Cyberware absorbed some, but his own resilience was high too.
Without these stats, he might have bled out in Dogtown's wasteland.
Smoking wasn't a good habit.
Ethan didn't smoke, but this body's previous owner apparently did. He'd taken one drag for the disguise.
Now he was on his second.
Bang bang bang!
Knocking on the window. Ethan startled, quickly crushing the cigarette in his palm—a slight sting tugged at his mouth.
"Uh, ma'am."
Ethan got out and helped the stumbling woman into the back seat, head bowed. Once Emma was settled, she leaned back and closed her eyes.
He got in and started the car. As soon as they left the rear courtyard, three cars fell in behind—one even accelerated to take point.
Spotted?
"Ignore them. New guys, they're mine... you—you just drive! Take us outside the city!"
Emma was drunk, slurring.
Hands' people. Ethan's heart was in his throat. A malware program he'd bought from a local fixer had already hijacked the vehicle.
Control was his. As long as no netrunner noticed, he could quietly take Emma and drive into Dogtown.
After watching the rear-view and all-angle cameras for a while, Ethan noticed Emma staring at him.
"What's wrong, ma'am?"
"Damn champagne... you suddenly look thinner."
Ethan's jaw tightened. Would this woman just pass out already? So chatty.
He stayed silent.
Emma didn't seem to mind. She gripped the driver's seat headrest and leaned forward, her head poking between the front seats. Ethan caught a whiff of alcohol and perfume.
Heart rate: critical.
"Huh? Braindance aftereffects are strong. Chérie, tu es belle." (Darling, you're beautiful.)
Having said that, Emma rubbed her temples and sat back.
Ethan exhaled. Original plan: take her somewhere secluded, get the auto-drive passcode, and ride the car into Dogtown.
But now there was a tail.
Tricky.
"Roll down the window. Turn right."
Ethan didn't understand Emma's thinking. Right was toward the civic center—Dogtown wasn't that way.
"To the beach."
She added.
Ethan decided to ignore the drunk's ramblings. He kept following the lead car. Any deviation now would blow everything once those cars caught up.
"You're the dumbest driver I've ever had."
Emma's eyes lit up—probably on a call.
"Have your people stay the fuck away from me! Wade Brock!"
Mr. Hands' voice came over the car's speaker system. "Please continue toward Dogtown. Don't listen to her."
"Then I'll drive myself."
Emma's hand landed on the wheel. The car swerved.
"Ma'am, you—"
"Get your people out of my sight now! Wade Brock!"
Silence on the other end. Ethan gritted his teeth and floored it past the lead car, yanking the wheel hard onto a different offramp.
Simultaneously, a malware injection seized vehicle control.
I'm in command now. As long as no netrunner detected it, he could quietly escort Emma into Dogtown.
The three cars hit their brakes in unison, watching Emma's car head toward Corporate Plaza. Horns blared impatiently behind them. Eventually, Hands' people seemed to give in—they pulled away slowly, following from a distance.
Must be Hands telling them to keep back but stay on her.
"Wait—who are you?!"
Tipsy Emma finally noticed Ethan wasn't her bodyguard.
"Hi~"
Ethan waved. The woman went berserk, clawing at the front.
He clamped both her wrists with one hand, foot never leaving the gas, racing toward Corporate Plaza.
The woman realized her hands were useless. She started kicking the seat with her heels.
"You're that guy?"
Emma sobered up halfway. The situation was painfully obvious now.
Ethan kept his eyes on the road—familiar yet strange. Familiar landmarks, unfamiliar length. The city was big.
Not bad driving skills, though.
The car tore toward Arasaka's coastal port. Time ticked by. After a good stretch and confirming no tail, Ethan slammed the brakes. They stopped on a dark, empty lane.
Ethan opened the door and loosened his tie. Uncomfortable thing. His suit collar was already wrinkled from Emma's clawing.
He pulled open her door and yanked her out. High heels fell off. Bare feet hit the cold, damp ground of Night City's beachfront.
Emma yelped as she was gripped hard, her cyberware spinning up to resist.
Ethan caught a fist to the face. His head snapped to the side. He turned back, expression icy.
His blank stare made him look even more ruthless in Emma's eyes.
She regretted not installing offensive chrome. This professional merc wasn't fazed by her punch.
Corporate elites typically had quality, compatible cyberware—but against real mercs, it was just pretty hardware.
Ethan fished a tiny pistol from her dress slit. Emma's hand felt like it might break. Her eyes took on a pleading look:
"Money. I have money."
"No, ma'am. I don't want money."
Ethan confirmed she had no other weapons, then lifted her up and smiled. "Know who I am?"
Emma shook her head.
"Your dear husband sold me out in Dogtown. Tell me—how should we settle this?"
Emma's eyes filled with despair.
Great. Things just escalated.
"It's you?! Hands mentioned... what... what are you going to do?"
Ethan shrugged. "Is it that hard to understand?"
Emma swallowed. Damn—why do I keep fantasizing about dangerous situations? Now it was real—
"Let me go!"
She thought she could still fight back. If she stalled until Hands' people arrived—
"Sure, madam." Ethan nodded.
Hearing Ethan actually agree, Emma felt relief mixed with... something strange.
But she still wanted to grab the knife from her thigh strap. Just holding it would be comforting.
She wasn't sure if he'd tie her up.
Ethan saw everything. He slammed her against the car door.
The knife was roughly retrieved, making Emma gasp.
Ethan whispered in her ear:
"I won't hurt a woman. No targeting family. I have that much principle—"
"But I need a small favor. Tiny, really."
"After all, you wouldn't want Hands' business to suffer... would you?"
PLZ THROW POWERSTONES.
300 , 500 , 1000 for each milestone 1 Bonus Chapter.