"—requires the participation of a minimum of four hunters. There are strict regulations in place for a reason!"

Trevor had been lecturing her for the better part of ten minutes. Since her body still wasn't cooperating, Rafferty didn't have much say in the matter. She supposed that Trevor couldn't really help it. Jacks were just born that way.

"—and even if we stipulated that your ridiculous plan was going to work, without me there, you could have been raped by scavengers, even after you won. Was that your plan Rafferty, to be RAPED by SCAVENGERS?"

Trevor leaned over her. He was starting to breathe heavily from, you know, all the lunatic screaming. Rafferty felt a sudden urge to punch him in his oddly perfect teeth.

Her foot twitched.

About time.

She struggled to her feet, wincing through the pain in her ribs.

"Ok, you're done," she said.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Hardly. Do you even think—" Trevor continued.

Rafferty grabbed ahold of his collar.

"You're done."

She felt bad talking to him this way. Rafferty's Jack had saved her life on multiple occasions, and had a deep purple scar on his side that was at least mostly her fault.

She let go, patted his shoulder, and smiled at him.

"Besides, I need your help with something," she said.

"What?" Trevor asked, suspicious.

"This," said Rafferty.

She gripped her sword and ignited the Blue. Rafferty jumped in the air and brought the blade down on the neck of her conquest. After the third stroke, the head came free.

"Help me hook it up," she said to Trevor.

"No," said Trevor. "No. No. No. No. No."

"Yes," said Rafferty.

"You don't need a token that big," he said.

"Yes, I do. Like they'll believe I got a knock this size if I bring home a bit of finger joint or a rivet," she said.

Trevor saw she had her mind set on it, and changed tactics.

"There's no way the bike will pull that," he said, and crossed his arms, convinced he had won the argument.

"It will if you let me drive," she said, and folded her arms back at him.

Trevor looked crestfallen. She felt a little guilty. The motorcycle was his baby, and with fuel in such short supply he hardly ever got to drive it. These trips to the Breaks were just about his only chance, and now Rafferty was taking half the trip away from him.

He slumped his shoulders, and grabbed the tow cable from the back of the bike. As the Jack figured out how to hook the giant head to his appropriated pride and joy, Rafferty slid onto the seat. When Trevor was finished, he got on behind her.

Rafferty flipped up a metal plate near the shift, and pressed a special button that Gus had installed for emergencies.

The bike roared to life, and little blue starbursts erupted from the tail pipe. She revved the engine, and the wheels sprouted blue halos. She felt the new power of the machine thrum underneath, and tightened her grip.

"You better hold on," she said over her shoulder.

"No," he said.

"Remember last time?" she asked.

After a pause, she felt Trevor's arms around her waist.

But she could tell he wasn't happy about it.