Night City was always alive, but tonight it felt like it was watching.** The neon lights of the city blurred past the speeding sedan, while the sounds of gunfire and screeching tires filled the air. The Animals gang was closing in, their cars roaring like beasts ready to strike.
Renjiro "Ren" Tanaka's grip on the steering wheel was white-knuckled, his heart pounding as he weaved through traffic. Sweat trickled down his temple, but his mind was a chaotic mess of fear and focus. His girlfriend, Tigre Salvaje Martinez, was in labor, the contractions hitting her like a storm, while bullets whizzed past the car.
"Shit! Tigre, hold on!" Renjiro's voice cracked with panic, something rare for the usually calm ripperdoc.
Tigre gritted her teeth, her body tensing as another contraction ripped through her. Her long red hair, streaked with black highlights, was plastered to her face, drenched with sweat. "If you don't get me to the hospital soon, Ren, I'm gonna deliver this kid right here!" Her voice was sharp, but behind the pain was a fierce determination, one that Ren both feared and loved.
From the backseat, Gloria Martinez, Tigre's sister, reached forward and grabbed Tigre's hand, squeezing it tightly. "Tigre, breathe! Just focus on breathing, okay? NCPD is on the way. We'll get through this!"
Tigre let out a low growl, her fingers digging into Gloria's hand as another wave of pain hit. "The baby's coming now, Glo. I can't wait!" Her voice cracked with both frustration and fear, something she rarely let show.
Ren cursed under his breath as he swerved to avoid another volley of gunfire. "Someone needs to take care of these fuckers before they turn us into a burning heap!"
Gloria's eyes darted back and forth between her sister and the three black SUVs tailing them. "Ren, I'm trying here, but someone's gotta handle them!"
Tigre's dark brown eyes gleamed with that feral, predatory look Ren knew all too well. "Screw this!" She reached under the seat, yanking out the shotgun, her breath hitching as her body tensed with another contraction. "I'm not letting these bastards stop me from delivering my kid!"
Ignoring the pain, Tigre rolled down the window, leaning out with the shotgun. Her face was a twisted mix of agony and exhilaration as the wind tore through her hair. With a manic grin, she pumped the shotgun and aimed at the closest car. "You want a fight? You got one!"
The first shot blew out the tire of the nearest SUV, sending it spiraling out of control. It flipped in a shower of sparks and metal, but Tigre wasn't done. With another pump of the shotgun, she took aim at the next car, blowing out the driver's window and sending the vehicle careening into a divider.
Gloria watched her sister, both amazed and terrified. "Tigre, are you okay?"
Tigre gritted her teeth, pulling herself back into the car. She was pale, covered in sweat, but she still managed a smirk. "No, Glo, I'm not okay. This baby's coming now!"
Ren glanced in the rearview mirror, his eyes wide with panic. "Hold on, Tigre! Just a few more minutes!"
"No time!" Tigre screamed, her hands clutching her belly as another contraction tore through her. "Gloria, help me! I need you, sis!"
Gloria's heart clenched as she saw the fear in her sister's eyes. Without hesitation, she climbed into the front seat, positioning herself between Tigre's legs. "Okay, I'm here. I've got you, sis. Just breathe. You're not alone."
Tears welled up in Tigre's eyes, a rare moment of vulnerability as she gripped Gloria's hand. "Glo… I'm scared…"
Gloria leaned in, pressing her forehead against Tigre's, her own eyes wet with tears. "I know, but you're the strongest person I know, Tigre. We're doing this together. You've got this."
Tigre nodded, her breath shaky as she braced herself. "Alright… let's do this…"
Ren's focus was split between the road and his family, his heart pounding as he heard Tigre's strained breathing. "Gloria, how's it looking?"
Gloria's voice was steady, despite the chaos. "It's coming, Ren. Just keep driving!"
Tigre screamed as the baby moved, her entire body shaking from the effort. Gloria guided her, whispering words of encouragement. "Push, Tigre. You're almost there."
Ren could barely keep his emotions in check. His hands shook on the wheel as he glanced at Tigre. The love of his life, the mother of his child, was fighting through the most intense battle of her life, and he felt helpless. "We're almost there, love. Just hold on!"
Another scream ripped from Tigre's throat, her grip on Gloria tightening. "I… I can't… I can't do this!"
"Yes, you can!" Gloria shouted, her voice filled with fierce love. "Push, Tigre! You're so close!"
With one final, gut-wrenching push, Tigre collapsed back in the seat, her vision blurring as the baby's first cries filled the car.
Gloria's eyes filled with tears as she cradled the newborn in her arms. "Tigre… you did it! It's a boy!"
Tigre's body trembled as she reached out, her hands shaking as she took her son into her arms. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at him, her voice barely a whisper. "I… I did it…"
Ren pulled the car to a stop in front of the hospital, his entire body shaking with relief. He turned to Tigre, his eyes filled with tears as he saw her holding their son. "You did it, love… we did it."
Tigre looked up at him, her eyes filled with a softness that was rarely seen. "Ren… he's perfect…"
Ren reached over, his hand trembling as he touched his son's tiny hand. "Yeah… he is…"
Gloria wiped her tears, her heart full as she watched her sister become a mother. She leaned in, kissing Tigre's forehead. "You're amazing, Tigre. I'm so proud of you."
Tigre smiled through her tears, her hand reaching out to grab Gloria's. "I couldn't have done it without you, Glo…"
The three of them sat there for a moment, the chaos of Night City fading into the background as they shared this intimate moment of love, relief, and family. Despite the bullets, the gang, and the danger, they had made it.
Ren looked at Tigre, his heart swelling with pride and love. "Welcome to the world, little guy… you've got one hell of a family."
The quiet hum of the hospital room was a far cry from the chaos that had led them there. Tigre Salvaje Martinez lay on the hospital bed, her newborn son cradled in her arms, while Renjiro "Ren" Tanaka stood beside her, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. His eyes, usually sharp with focus, were now softened as he gazed down at the tiny figure in Tigre's arms.
Across the room, Gloria sat on the couch, one hand resting on her swollen belly. She watched the new parents with a serene smile, though her eyes sparkled with the weight of recent events. Absentmindedly, she rubbed her stomach and whispered, "Not too much longer, little one. You'll be surrounded by family soon."
Tigre looked down at her baby, his wide eyes filled with curiosity as he took in the world around him for the first time. She grinned, then glanced over at Gloria. "What should we name him?" she asked, her voice soft but playful. "You were the one who helped bring him into the world, with bullets flying past your head and a gang of Animals hot on our trail. It's only fair."
Gloria's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you sure?"
Tigre nodded, a mischievous smile creeping across her face. "Damn sure. If it wasn't for you, we'd be a smear on the street. Besides," she looked up at Ren, who nodded his approval, "I trust you."
Gloria hesitated for a moment, her hand still on her belly as she looked down at the baby in Tigre's arms. The weight of the moment hung in the air as she thought about the future, about family, about the life this little one would grow into. Then, with a proud voice, she spoke.
"Alex Rex Martinez."
Tigre's grin grew wider. "Perfect." She looked down at her son, whispering the name softly as if to test how it sounded. "Alex..." Her voice was tender as she spoke again, "My precious, cute baby, Alex. Mommy's here for you." She felt Ren's hand squeeze her shoulder, his silent strength always reassuring. "And your dad's here too."
Gloria, watching the tender moment, smiled again. "When my boy is born, you'll name him," she said, her gaze fixed on Tigre.
Tigre raised an eyebrow, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "David Martinez," she said without hesitation.
The sisters shared a look, their matching smiles reflecting years of shared experiences, both good and bad. "When's he due?" Tigre asked, her voice full of warmth.
"Next month," Gloria answered with a smile to match her sister's, her hand still gently resting on her belly as if she could feel David's future presence.
Meanwhile, baby Alex's tiny eyes roamed the room, taking in every detail. Though just a newborn, his mind was alert—more so than any infant should be. *I was just in that dark, cramped place... Then I saw the light, and suddenly, I'm here. The first thing I hear are gunshots and explosions...* He tried to process everything, the madness of his birth, the danger that had almost claimed them before he even had the chance to breathe.
But the sound of his mother's voice—so tender, so full of love—soothed him. He stared up at Tigre, then at Gloria, noticing the similarities between the two women. They were unmistakably sisters. His eyelids grew heavy, but he fought the urge to sleep, not wanting to miss a single word of the conversation.
Tigre's expression darkened as she turned to Ren, her voice suddenly more serious. "Why were the Animals after us?"
The shift in mood was palpable. Even baby Alex, fighting against the drowsiness that tugged at his mind, could feel it. He strained to stay awake, determined to hear what Ren would say.
Ren, ever calm, met her gaze. "I've got my suspicions. They wanted to get rid of me so the Tyger Claws would be without a Ripperdoc. Weaken them, give them a headache at least." His voice was steady, but there was a hint of anger there, buried beneath the surface. "I'll talk to Wakako about it, get more details. You two need to rest."
Tigre's eyes narrowed, fury burning in her chest. "If I see any of those Animals fuckers, I'll turn them into chrome meat," she growled, her hands tightening into fists.
Gloria, catching the tension in the room, frowned slightly. "Is there anything I need to be worried about?" she asked, her voice calm but firm.
Ren shook his head. "I'll handle it. No need for you to worry. Focus on your baby."
Baby Alex's mind whirred, piecing together everything he had heard. *The Martinez family... destined to be hunted by the Animals.* The thought felt like a bitter joke, one that stung more than it should. *My mom almost died the way David's mom did in the original timeline...*
But before he could dwell on it further, sleep began to claim him, his small body finally succumbing to exhaustion. With one last glance at the room, his mother's loving face, and the determination in Ren's eyes, he made a quiet vow to himself.
*I'll change this future. For me, for David, for all of us. We'll live at the top of Night City.*
And with that, baby Alex drifted into sleep, the weight of his promise already settling on his newborn shoulders.