A Jackpot in the Making
Lucy and Jack disengaged their [Project Source] armor, the sleek, high-tech plating retracting back into their cyberware.
The two exchanged glances—big eyes staring into small eyes.
For a moment, neither spoke.
"Holy shit..." Jack finally muttered.
Faraday's 10 million eddies?
That was just chump change.
The Militech AV floating in front of them.
Military-grade AVs (Aerodyne Vehicles) weren't just expensive—they were damn near impossible to get.
Even on the black market, finding a fully functional one was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
And even if you did find one?
You'd need 40 to 50 million eddies just to get in on the bidding.
Jack ran his fingers through his mohawk, whistling.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"We're about to get a serious upgrade."
Maine's Team Witnesses the Chaos
Meanwhile, on a nearby hill, Maine and his crew had been watching everything unfold.
It shocked the hell out of them.
Pyrrha, usually the loudest of the group, was at a loss for words.
She turned to Maine, her face pale.
**"M-Maine... boss... did we just watch the guy who gives us contracts—the Faraday—get wiped out like some street thug?!"
A Dangerous Realization
For years, Maine's team had been running jobs for Faraday.
Sure, he was a sleazy, backstabbing bastard—but he was also connected.
Through Faraday, they got work, creds, and survival.
Faraday had been snuffed out in seconds, like a cockroach under David's boot.
Dorio, still wide-eyed, shook her head.
"Not just that... did you see what David's crew is doing?
They're not just walking away. They're jacking the damn AV too!"
Breaking All the Rules
Hijacking a Militech AV was next-level insane.
It was one thing to steal some corpo tech—but to jack an entire AV meant putting a huge target on your back.
"Shit..." Qiwen exhaled, rubbing his temples.
"Boss, what's the move? This is getting real messy."
Maine stayed silent for a long moment, eyes still locked on the scene below.
1. Walk away. Pretend he saw nothing. Keep his crew safe.
2. Take the risk. Align with David and bet on a future free from Militech's leash.
He clenched his fists.
Then, he turned to his team.
"Did you see the 'Qin' team's combat skills just now?"
Everyone had seen it.
They just didn't want to admit how badly outclassed they were.
Even if Maine's team had been in Faraday's place, they would've stood no chance.
David and his crew weren't mercs.
Maine took a deep breath.
"We've been working for Militech through Faraday for years. And what has it gotten us?"
Pyrrha muttered, "Shitty pay and corpo scraps."
"Exactly," Maine growled.
He jabbed a cybernetic finger toward the AV.
"And look at those three. Look at what they just pulled off."
"We keep licking Militech's boots, we'll end up like Faraday—dead and forgotten."
He glanced at Dorio, then Qiwen.
"But if we side with David? We break free from the corps. We make our own future."
Dorio hesitated, then nodded.
Qiwen sighed, dragging a hand down his face.
"If we back out now, Militech will still come after us just for knowing this shit. So, yeah. I'm in too."
The Point of No Return
Maine turned to the others.
"Anyone who wants out—speak now."
Not a single one of them moved.
Finally, Maine grinned.
He slammed a fist into his palm.
"We're riding with David."
Maine's Team Enters the Game
Back at the warehouse, David was already inside the AV, checking the systems.
Lucy was at the controls, her fingers flying over the interface.
"Jackpot. This thing still has Militech's security codes. We can spoof a corporate ID."
Jack leaned back against the wall, grinning.
"Damn. We're about to fly first-class, huh?"
Just then, Maine and his team approached.
David turned to face them.
David's expression didn't change.
"You sure? Once you cross this line, there's no going back."
"Wasn't much of a future back there anyway."
David studied him for a moment—then nodded.
Maine's team officially joined the fight.
As the AV's engines hummed to life, David sat back in the pilot's seat.
"Alright, let's see what this baby can do."
"What's the plan, boss?"
David's eyes glowed with cybernetic light.
"We make some noise."
The Militech AV lifted off the ground.
As it soared into the neon-lit Night City skyline, one thing was certain—
Shit was about to get real.
With Maine's team now on David's side, what will they do with their new Militech AV? And how long before the corpos come looking for their stolen tech?
One thing's for sure—
Night City is about to feel the storm.
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