“This should be good,” Tommy said to Jimmy as he held Zoe’s cousin back to create space between them and the others. “You did say your cousin has never seen one of the freaks before.”

“How do you know there are some here?” Jimmy asked being careful with his phrasing.

“These corps always have some orcs or dwarves doing heavy lifting or mechanical work along with their bots,” Tommy replied.

Jimmy’s eyes widened in alarm. He started to open his mouth only for Tommy to cover it. “What? I need to warn Zoe not to stare.”

“Don’t ruin my fun,” Tommy warned Jimmy. “Your cousin is uppity and needs some humbling.”

“Zoe’s not like that,” Jimmy protested. “She’s a bit confused by her upbringing, but a good girl.”

“Oh? Would a good girl agree to slice systems and steal data?” Tommy asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, if she was raised that there was nothing wrong with doing that sort of thing,” Jimmy said defending his cousin. “Besides, weren’t you and I raised to admire the old-style gangsters even if our mothers didn’t do so themselves?”

“Eh, alright. Point made. Still, don’t even send a message.”

“Alright. Hopefully Zoe won’t be too mad that I didn’t warn her.”

“It’s her own fault for not looking into the city she moved to more than she did if the freaks are the surprise as I suspect they will be.”

“Hey! Are you two coming?” Zoe called back to them.

“Don’t get your panties in a twist. We’re coming,” Tommy replied.

*

“This is our garage,” Kris proudly said as she leads Zoe and the others into the moderately sized shop. “It’s where we build the bikes and do any repairs.”

“Sort of small,” Zane commented.

“Our bikes hold up quite well and don’t need repairs as often as certain competitors,” Kris smugly replied.

“Oh, my heart. That one cut deep,” Zane replied clutching at his chest.

“We also don’t sell as many bikes as some others,” Kris said with a frown.

“That’s because of the price,” Tommy replied.

“Quality costs more than quantity,” Jimmy said. Zoe and Kris nodded in agreement.

“Good point. Are you sure I can’t talk you into a bike too?” Kris asked.

“Nah, I got my eyes on a couple of cars,” Jimmy replied.

“Knight does make cars too. It’ll be my pleasure to send you some documentation and sales brochures.”

“He’ll take them as will I,” Tommy said.

“Done,” Kris replied sending the two men the information.

“You get a commission if someone buys a car too?” Zane asked.

“A referral bonus,” the saleswoman admitted. She turned her attention back to Zoe. “Clarence will bring your GT4 out in a moment.” Zoe wasn’t with the group and had stopped at the doorway. “Zoe? What’s wrong?”

“What are those?” Zoe asked pointing in the direction of the mechanics and other workers in the garage.

Kris frowned. “Those are people.”

“They don’t look like any race of people I’ve ever seen before. People don’t have tails like that,” Zoe replied. A few of them turned and glared at Zoe.

“Ha! I knew her reaction would be good,” Tommy crowed slapping his hands. Zane spun on him.

“You two didn’t tell Zoe about altered people?” the nurse asked.

“I wanted to warn her, but…” Jimmy said before falling silent.

“Relax Florence Nightingale. No harm has been done,” Tommy said interrupting Jimmy. Zane glared at the mobster.

“Guys, if you want to fight, take it somewhere else,” Kris said. “Zoe, have you never seen a heavily modified human before?”

Zoe shook her head. “No.”

“How is that possible in in this city of all places?” Kris asked.

“We picked her up when it was dark at the Spring Creek Depot,” Jimmy answered.

“Ah.”

“Right. We don’t allow freaks in our borough,” Tommy added.

“Easy Tommy,” Jimmy said as most of the glares that had been directed at Zoe turned to them. A few of the Beastkin even snarled or growled at the mobsters.

“I’d listen to your friend. He’s giving you sound advice,” a small man said walking up to them. “Besides, there are plenty of altered people living in the container apartments on the docks at the old Brooklyn Navy Yard.”

“Whatever,” Tommy muttered.

“It’s good to see you Clarence,” Kris greeted her coworker. “Where’s Zoe’s GT4?”

“This is lass is the Blanco girl?” Clarence asked. Kris nodded her head. “Henry has it, and you know how slow he is.”

“Ah. That makes sense.”

“Never seen a dwarf before or Beastkin either?” Clarence asked Zoe.

“No,” Zoe answered.

“You’ll get used to us,” the dwarf replied stroking his beard. “I’m Clarence Shay, the head mechanic for this Knight dealership. Pleased to meet ya.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Zoe replied forcing herself to smile, dismiss the purity church teachings, take, and shake the mechanic’s hand. She looked up as she heard some heavy steps approaching. “Good lord, he’s huge!”

“Aye. That’s Henry,” Clarence said as a nine-foot-tall human carrying a bike in his arms like it weighed nothing came into sight. “He’s an ogre.”

“People really turn themselves into fantasy creatures?” Zoe asked the group.

“Of course. Some even go full cyborg or android complete with metal bodies,” Zane answered. “I apologize. I should have made sure you knew about the heavily modified folks.”

“It’s not your fault or Jimmy’s,” Zoe said absently while watching Henry approach them. The giant set the bike down gently. “I should have researched the city more. I owe them the apology.”

“Where were you raised, a farm?” Clarence asked with a chuckle.

“Yes, and in the purity church too,” Zoe admitted. Most of the other workers looked shocked and embarrassed for her. Some smile and wave. Zoe returned the smiles and waved back.

“Oh. Sorry you had to go through that.”

“Me too,” Zoe replied. The dwarf laughed.

“One GT4 Triple Black as ordered,” Henry said. He smiled at Zoe. “Cute.”

“That’s enough of that,” Kris said. “You’d break her in half.”

“You’re cute too.”

“We’ve been over that.”

“Never hurts to see if you’ve changed your mind.”

“You’d break me in half too.”

“Would still be fun,” Henry replied grinning at the saleswoman.

“That’s enough of that. Get back to work, you big lug.”

“Yeah, yeah,” the ogre replied before turning to walk away.

“Zoe, have you ever ridden a motorcycle before?” Kris asked.

“Nope. Well, simulations and games the last few days.”

“Not a bad start. Did you find the official GT4 sim?”

“Yeah. I spent most of the time I used the sims using it.”

“That’s a better start than just using general bike sims,” Clarence said. “You’ll have at least some idea how she’ll handle.

“I hope so,” Zane added.

“What’s that mean?” Zoe asked.

“I don’t want to see you crash or eat asphalt on your first ride.”

“She’ll be fine. The gyroscopic tech makes it almost impossible to eat asphalt these days,” Kris replied. “Plus, the GT4 only weighs 250 pounds.”

“That’s a lot,” Zoe said.

“Nah. My bike weighs 350,” Zane said.

“Oh? What do you ride?” Clarence asked.

“Williamson Sportster SR1,” Zane proudly answered.

“Ha. You should have gotten one of these beauties,” the mechanic replied.

“He did say his wife wants to see Zoe’s before picking out a new bike for herself,” Kris said.

“Now that’s a smart woman.”

“She is that” Zane agreed. Zoe could almost feel his pride in that statement. “I don’t think she’ll like the all-black though.”

“The GT4 comes in different colors. The Triple Black is a special edition,” Kris replied.

“Zoe, why didn’t you get a different color?” Jimmy asked.

“I like the three shades of black,” Zoe answered shrugging her shoulders. “It almost reminds me of Black Beauty too.”

“The old movie about the horse?” Tommy asked.

“Yeah.”

“That’s just too sweet,” Tommy laughed.

“Ignore him lass. I feel the same,” Clarence said. “Now, why don’t you get up on this beauty and take her for a ride around the lot?”

“Clarence is right. Give her a spin,” Kris said handing Zoe her helmet. She had taken it back while Zoe greeted Clarence. She put on the helmet and lifted the face shield. Zoe stepped over to the bike and mounted it.

“Accept the request and the Triple Black will be authorized to take you for a test drive,” Clarence instructed. Zoe accepted the request. “Alright lass. Fire her up.”

“Listen to this and be jealous,” Kris whispered to Zane.

Zoe started the bike. Unlike the loud roar of Zane’s Sportster, the GT4’s engine sounded like a deep triple growl. Zoe smiled even if the others couldn’t see it through the helmet. She lowered the face shield and slowly started accelerating out the garage’s rollup door. The kickstand lifted as the bike drove away.

“Well, what do you think?” Clarence asked Zane.

“Claire will love that, and I admit it’s an impressive sound.”

“Ha.”

“I’ll give you my contact information,” Kris said while sending Zoe a message to take a few laps around the dealership track.