Following the address provided by Maine, Jack gripped the wheel tightly and sped off, weaving through the neon-lit streets of Night City. The car's engine growled as they passed towering skyscrapers, flickering billboards, and the occasional squad of NCPD officers shaking down some poor soul.
Meanwhile, in another part of Watson, Maine's crew was engaged in a discussion of their own.
Though Maine had faith in David, he couldn't deny that tonight's plan was risky.
Even with David's exceptional skills, his team was still a small one—just three members.
And now, they were heading straight into a meeting with Militech, a megacorp known for its high-tech weaponry and ruthlessness.
That alone made this whole situation incredibly dangerous.
After a brief discussion, Maine and his team made a decision: they would tail David's team, just in case things went south.
For one, they were curious about how David and his crew would handle things.
And secondly, they wanted to see just how powerful this so-called "Team David" really was.
The meeting location, provided by Maine's contact, was an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Watson's Industrial Area.
By the time Maine's crew arrived, they positioned themselves at a vantage point on a nearby hillside.
From their spot, they could clearly see David, Lucy, and Jack near the warehouse, waiting in their car.
The team observed quietly until Rebecca broke the silence with her usual bluntness.
"Hey, Maine… is it really okay for us to just sit back and watch?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Yeah, yeah," Sasha chimed in, nodding. "I mean, we're supposed to be their partners now, right? If things get messy, shouldn't we step in?"
"Tch... You two are way too sentimental."
The voice belonged to Pilar, who was leaning against a pile of debris, arms crossed. He scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"Partnerships are just business arrangements," Pilar continued, his tone dripping with cynicism. "Night City only cares about one thing—eddies. If David and his team get snatched up by Militech, that's on them. And if we step in, we'll just be making ourselves another target."
Rebecca and Sasha both shot him dirty looks.
"God, you're such a coward," Rebecca muttered, crossing her arms.
"Seriously," Sasha added. "You're acting like Militech is unbeatable or something."
"Enough," Maine finally spoke up, his deep voice cutting through the conversation. "We play this smart. If things go south, we help only if it's worth the risk. I'm not throwing our team into the fire for the sake of someone else's plan."
Rebecca frowned, looking like she wanted to argue, but Dorio stepped in.
"Relax, kid," Dorio said, placing a reassuring hand on Rebecca's shoulder. "If David went through with giving Faraday this info, it means he's got something up his sleeve. He's not the type to walk into a death trap without a plan."
"Yeah," Qwen agreed, taking a drag from his cigarette. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
Reluctantly, Rebecca and Sasha nodded, choosing to trust David for now.
Then, Maine suddenly raised a hand, signaling for silence.
"Shh. Someone's coming."
The entire team immediately went on high alert, their eyes scanning the horizon.
Sure enough, a floating AV vehicle appeared in the night sky, moving swiftly toward the meeting point.
Even from a distance, it was impossible to miss the massive Militech logo emblazoned on the side.
"Shit," Pilar cursed under his breath. "That's a Militech combat AV. If they're bringing that, things just got a whole lot more serious."
Everyone knew what that meant.
Militech AVs weren't just for transport—they were flying fortresses.
Armed with cutting-edge weaponry and packed with elite mercs, these vehicles were usually reserved for high-priority missions and military operations.
In other words, this wasn't just some casual business meeting.
The AV roared as it descended, kicking up dust and debris from the warehouse below.
Inside the AV, a calm, composed voice spoke.
"Mr. Faraday, we're approaching the designated coordinates. The target is within a fifty-meter radius below."
Seated comfortably inside the AV, Faraday took a slow sip from his glass of red wine. Dressed in an expensive red suit, he exuded confidence and arrogance in equal measure.
His expression remained unreadable as he gazed out the window, scanning the area below.
"Hmph," he muttered, setting down his glass. "The intel provided by Maine and Rogue pointed us to Watson's Industrial Area. If this turns out to be accurate, then I have no reason to doubt it."
"Understood, sir," the AV's pilot responded.
Faraday adjusted his cuffs. "Find an open spot and land. I want a thorough search of the area."
"Yes, sir."
The AV began a slow, controlled descent, its powerful thrusters roaring in the night.
Meanwhile, from their vantage point, Maine and his crew watched the scene unfold.
"Damn," Pilar muttered. "Faraday didn't come alone. He brought a whole damn combat unit."
Maine narrowed his eyes. "Yeah. That means this is bigger than we thought."
Rebecca clenched her fists. "Shit. David better have a plan."
---
At the Warehouse
David remained seated on the hood of the car, arms crossed. His expression was unreadable as he watched the Militech AV approach.
Lucy and Jack were nearby, both on high alert.
"Man… they really went all out," Jack muttered, glancing at the floating vehicle. "Could've just sent one or two guys, but nope, they had to make a damn military entrance."
Lucy remained silent, her grip tightening around the nano-blades she had strapped to her thighs.
David, on the other hand, remained completely calm.
He expected this.
Faraday was the type who loved theatrics. He always wanted to appear in control, always wanted people to think he held all the cards.
But David knew better.
A few seconds later, the AV touched down, its side door sliding open with a mechanical hiss.
A group of heavily armed mercs stepped out first, scanning the area. Their weapons were military-grade, their movements precise.
Finally, Faraday emerged.
Dressed in his red suit, he descended from the AV with the air of a man who believed he was untouchable.
A smug smile crept onto his lips as he looked at David.
"Well, well," he said, spreading his arms. "I must say, I'm impressed. You actually had the nerve to show up."
David smirked, pushing himself off the hood of the car.
"Of course I showed up," he said casually. "Unlike some people, I don't hide behind a flying fortress."
Faraday chuckled. "Caution is a necessary part of doing business in Night City, my friend."
David tilted his head slightly. "That what you call this? Business?"
Faraday's smile never wavered.
"Of course," he said smoothly. "Though, I must admit… I'm curious. Do you really think you can play this game against me?"
David's smirk widened.
"Guess we'll find out, huh?"
The air between them grew tense.
Faraday's mercs shifted slightly, their fingers hovering near their weapons.
Lucy and Jack did the same.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then, Faraday chuckled again.
"Very well," he said. "Let's talk."
TO BE CONTINUED…
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