Chapter 13: Jackie!

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A few minutes later, the van pulled up outside the crew's usual bar hangout. The familiar neon glow and thumping bass greeted them as they climbed out, ready to blow off steam after the mission.

Pilar, as usual, wasted no time entertaining the group with his absurd antics, performing clumsy stunts and cracking jokes that drew laughter even from Maine and Dorio.

Rebecca and Lucy grabbed a couple of beers and sat beside Ethan, engaging him in light conversation. But Ethan couldn't help but notice the subtle tension between the two women.

Rebecca's fiery, playful nature clashed with Lucy's calm, reserved demeanor, and the way they occasionally side-eyed each other hinted at something deeper. Their unspoken rivalry was beginning to feel like the kind of romantic tension found in the love triangle dramas Ethan had only seen in anime.

"This feels like a battlefield I wasn't prepared for," Ethan thought, already feeling drained as he tried to navigate their contrasting energies.

Just as the situation grew awkward, Ethan's phone buzzed, pulling him from the brewing storm. The caller ID read Jackie.

He answered, only for Jackie's voice to burst through the line, frantic and loud.

"Ethan! Big trouble, man! Where the hell are you? Get over here—fast!" Jackie shouted, his voice nearly drowned out by the unmistakable sound of gunfire.

"Shit! It's a total mess here. I'm in the alley behind Coyote Cojo. Get here fast—I'll hold out as long as I can!" Jackie's voice was barely audible over the chaotic gunfire before the call abruptly ended.

The cacophony on the other end left Ethan uneasy. Something about the situation felt wrong—too volatile. Jackie, after all, was one of the few people Ethan had come to trust since arriving in Night City. He wasn't about to let him down.

Ethan stood from his seat, setting his beer bottle on the chair beside him. "Lucy, Rebecca, I've got to go. A friend needs my help. We'll catch up later."

Lucy's expression shifted slightly, disappointment flickering in her usually stoic eyes. She offered a faint smile and waved. "Alright. Be careful out there. Let me know if you need anything."

Rebecca leaned back in her chair, her boots resting on the table as she grinned. "Don't forget, next time we get a big job, you and I are gonna wreck some chromeheads together!"

Ethan nodded, a small smile on his lips. With a quick wave, he vanished from their sight in a blur.

In less than a few minutes, Ethan arrived in the chaotic alley behind Coyote Cojo. The scene before him was a warzone. Gunfire echoed through the narrow streets as the Valentinos and the Animals clashed in a brutal turf war. The ground was littered with bodies—Valentino and Animal gangers alike, along with several NCPD officers caught in the crossfire.

Ethan moved with precision, dispatching several Animals who had attempted to ambush him. His alloy blades sliced through the air, leaving a trail of destruction as he pressed deeper into the chaos.

Half a minute later, he reached a small basketball court tucked away in the heart of the neighborhood. Jackie stood at the center, surrounded by a group of Valentino core members, all pinned down by Animal gunfire.

Without hesitation, Ethan leapt into the fray, his movements a blur of speed and lethal precision. 

The Animals barely had time to react before they were cut down. The sound of gunfire gave way to silence as the last of their attackers fell.

Jackie's relief was palpable as Ethan approached. "Damn, Ethan! You're a lifesaver, mano!" Jackie exclaimed, his voice brimming with gratitude.

Ethan didn't respond immediately, his sharp gaze sweeping over the Valentinos. He recognized some of the gang's core members—men and women Jackie had mentioned in passing.

Though he didn't make a move against them, Ethan kept his distance. He wasn't about to forget the Valentinos' history with him. When he had first arrived in Night City, they'd robbed him more than once, leaving him bloodied and beaten.

Had it not been for Jackie's intervention—and a severe beating the two of them had delivered in return—those encounters might have ended far worse. Even now, Ethan held no fondness for the gang. While a handful of its members might have been loyal to Jackie, the Valentinos as a whole were still criminals.

Once the situation was under control, Ethan and Jackie made their way back to Jackie's garage. The tension that had clung to Jackie during the firefight melted away, replaced by his usual boisterous demeanor.

"Man, Ethan, what's the deal with you? You've got so much chrome it's like you're a walking cyberware catalog!" Jackie said, his tone half-joking as he gestured toward Ethan's augmented body.

Ethan smirked faintly, leaning back against the garage wall. "Found it lying around. Figured I'd put it to use," he said casually, the fabricated explanation rolling off his tongue with practiced ease.

Jackie stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. "You're full of shit, but I'll give you credit—whatever you're packing, it's badass."

Faced with someone as familiar with him as Jackie, Ethan knew he couldn't rely on the same "self-developed cyberware" excuse he'd used with Maine's crew. Jackie wouldn't buy it for a second.

True to form, Jackie raised an eyebrow, his skeptical grin suggesting he was ready to press Ethan further. But before he could, Ethan preemptively cut him off, his expression turning serious.

"You told me you left the Valentinos. So why are you still running jobs for them? What's going on here? And why the hell are the Valentinos going at it with the Animals?"

The sudden shift in Ethan's tone made Jackie scratch the back of his head sheepishly. He let out an awkward laugh before responding, "Ah, you know how it is—gangs fighting over turf. This time, it's just the Animals making a play."

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