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"Sasha, are you okay?"
Rebecca noticed Sasha's unusually pale expression and called out, "We've only got one minute of signal interference left—finish it quickly!"
"I know," Sasha replied, her voice flat and emotionless.
Still, her fingers moved deftly, copying the mission's data as planned. At the sa ti, she secretly started copying files from a folder labeled Securicine Model Pain Relief Confidential Docunt.
"The mission data has been copied," Sasha announced as the progress bar completed.
The external drive with the mission information was quickly handed to Rebecca. "Here, this is the mission data," Sasha said. "Take it to Mann downstairs."
Rebecca took the flash drive but hesitated. "What about you?" she asked, frowning.
Sasha, calm but resolute, answered, "I've got personal matters to handle. I'll join you later."
"Are you kidding ?" Rebecca huffed. "Mann told to protect you. I'm not leaving you behind!"
Sasha looked at her teammate, her heart ward by Rebecca's unwavering loyalty. "Alright," she said, nodding. "Thank you."
She turned back to the computer, and her fingers resud their work. The confidential file detailing the side effects of securicine—a biotech painkiller—was being uploaded to the internal news channel of News 54.
"This is for you, Mom," Sasha whispered.
Security Breach Detected
Just as the upload reached 70%, an alarm blared through the building.
The red ergency lights flashed across every corridor as heavy footsteps echoed outside. The security robots had been activated.
"Sasha, how much longer?" Rebecca called out, pulling out her twin Omaha pistols.
"Almost there—90%," Sasha answered without looking up.
Her phone buzzed. It was Mann.
"What's going on up there?" Mann's voice was sharp and tense. "The biotech building's alarms are going crazy! Get out of there now!"
Rebecca snapped back, "We're coming soon—don't rush !" and hung up.
The door to the office exploded inward with a deafening crash, sending dust and debris flying.
In the smoky haze, three security robots erged, ard with Arasaka Tily Rain submachine guns.
"If you spot intruders, raise your hands and surrender," the robots repeated in their monotone AI voices.
Rebecca wasn't one to follow orders.
"Oh, shut up!" she snarled, opening fire.
Her pistols' pink flashes lit up the room, and her shots were perfect. Each bullet hit the robots' prosthetic eyes, disabling their targeting systems.
But robots weren't like humans.
Even blind, they opened fire indiscriminately, their submachine guns shredding everything in sight.
Rebecca ducked behind a sofa, shouting, "Sasha, how much longer?"
"100%! Upload complete!" Sasha replied.
She closed the data interface and connected her implants to the building's system, hacking into the robots' control units.
A crackle of electricity jolted through the robots. Their firing paused briefly as Sasha's cyberattack disrupted their systems.
Seizing the opportunity, Rebecca sprang into action.
Kicking one robot to the ground, she grabbed its weapon and turned it on the others.
The Arasaka Tily Rain unleashed a flurry of bullets, dismantling the half-paralyzed robots in seconds.
"Go to hell!" Rebecca shouted, adrenaline pumping.
The security team was down, but the sound of reinforcents echoed from the hallways.
"Ti to go!" Rebecca yelled, grabbing Sasha's arm.
Escape
Mann was pacing outside the building, anxiety evident on his face. The sound of gunfire from above made his heart pound.
"Damn it, what the hell are they doing up there?"
His question was answered when Sasha and Rebecca burst through the front doors, sprinting toward him.
"Mann, start the car!" Rebecca hollered.
Before Mann could respond, a squad of security robots erged from the building, their chanical legs pounding against the pavent.
"f**k!" Mann cursed, running to the car.
With a sharp turn of the key, the engine roared to life. He slamd the gas pedal, and the car sped into the neon-lit streets of Night City.
Once the danger was behind them, Mann slowed the car, his frustration spilling over.
"What the hell happened up there? The data was already copied—why didn't you co down earlier?"
Sasha's face was full of guilt. "Boss Mann, it's my fault..." she admitted. "While I was copying the mission data, I found sothing personal—sothing I had to deal with."
She explained everything: the confidential docunts, her mother's death, and her decision to expose biotech's corrupt practices.
When she finished, the car was silent.
Sasha lowered her head, prepared for Mann's anger. "If you want to punish , I'll—"
"Punish you?" Mann interrupted. "Sasha, you did the right thing."
He sighed, his voice softening. "I'm sorry about your mom."
Rebecca nodded in agreent. "Yeah, you did good, Sasha."
Tears welled up in Sasha's eyes. For the first ti in years, she felt a weight lifting off her chest. "Thank you... both of you," she whispered.
"Haha, thank us?" Mann chuckled, shaking his head. "If you're going to thank soone, it should be David."
Sasha and Rebecca froze at the ntion of his na.
"That guy at the Afterlife Bar," Mann continued. "He warned us this would happen. If we'd sent you in alone, Sasha, you might not have made it out alive."
Rebecca's face lit up. "I told you David wasn't an ordinary guy!" she exclaid. "He's got that mysterious Eastern power or sothing!"
"Rebecca, calm down," Mann said, though his tone was more amused than serious.
Sasha's thoughts drifted to David. His calm deanor and cryptic words played in her mind.
"Could he really have... known?" she murmured.
"Well," Mann said, turning the wheel. "There's one way to find out. We'll ask him ourselves."
With that, the car headed toward the Afterlife Bar.
anwhile, Elsewhere in Night City
In the Kabuki District, David walked beside Lucy under the glow of neon lights. The signs of the Phoenix Club towered above them, bold and unmistakable.
"Is this the place?" David asked, looking up at the massive red sign.
Lucy took a final drag from her cigarette before flicking it away. "Yeah, this is Jotaro's bar. Be careful."
David smirked. "Let's see what the 'Phoenix Club' has to offer."
Together, they stepped inside.
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