You arrive at Diaz's mansion on Starfish Island, hearing his voice long before you see him. He's yelling at something from one of the rooms. As you step inside, you find him raging at his VCR set.
"Damn piece of crap!" Diaz shouts, pulling out a gun and shooting the VCR several times.
You enter the room, catching Diaz's attention. He looks up, still fuming. "Tommy, what are you doing here?"
"I need to borrow your boat," you say, trying to ignore the smoke rising from the ruined VCR.
Diaz notices your seriousness and nods. "Alright, but there's a catch. A certain freelancer sails into Vice City once a month. He sells his cargo to the first buyer that arrives, and I want you and Lance to be those first buyers."
He explains that you need to take the boat you recently acquired for him and get to the freelancer's yacht before anyone else. "Once you get the cargo, bring it back here."
You agree, knowing there's no other choice. Diaz tells you where the boat is, and you head out, walking towards the mansion's jetty.
As you approach the boat, you find Lance waiting for you. "Tommy, good to see you. Thought you might need some help on this one."
You nod, appreciating the backup. "Alright, let's get this done."
You and Lance set off, speeding through the canals to reach the freelancer's yacht first. The water is choppy, and you have to avoid hitting walls or other boats. The tension is palpable, both of you aware that a single mistake could spell disaster.
As you navigate through the narrow waterways, you see other boats speeding towards the yacht. "Step on it, Lance!" you shout over the roar of the engine.
"I'm trying, damn it!" Lance yells back, eyes focused on the path ahead.
You make it to the freelancer's yacht just in time. Lance takes the wheel while you prepare for the onslaught. The first wave of attackers comes in Jetmax boats, their gunmen opening fire. You return fire, the deafening sound of gunshots filling the air.
"Take that, you bastards!" you yell, taking out one of the gunmen.
Lance swerves the boat to avoid a collision. "Watch where you're shooting!"
"Just keep us moving!" you shout back, blowing up a red barrel and taking out another boat.
As you fend off the attackers, a Sparrow helicopter appears, hovering above and raining bullets down on you. The sound of the rotor blades is almost drowned out by the gunfire.
"Shit, they've got a chopper!" Lance curses, swerving to avoid the hail of bullets.
You aim your weapon at the helicopter. "Keep this thing steady!"
"I'm doing my best here!" he shouts back, the boat rocking with each maneuver.
You fire at the helicopter, bullets ripping through its fuselage. The gunner in the chopper returns fire, narrowly missing you. "Eat lead, asshole!" you scream, finally hitting the rotor. The helicopter spins out of control and explodes, sending debris raining down into the water.
"Nice shot!" Lance yells, navigating through the chaos.
"Eyes on the water, Lance!" you retort, taking out more gunmen on the jetties.
With the immediate threats neutralized, you finally approach Diaz's mansion. The last two boats appear ahead, their gunmen ready to fire. "Lance, get ready!" you warn, aiming your weapon.
"I'm on it!" Lance shouts, accelerating towards the mansion.
You take out the gunmen on the approaching boats, but they keep coming. The roar of engines and gunfire fills the air as bullets whiz past your head. You manage to blow up the first boat, sending a plume of fire and smoke skyward. The second boat gets closer, its gunmen relentless.
"Lance, we need to lose them now!" you shout, the urgency clear in your voice.
Lance pushes the boat to its limits, zigzagging through the water to evade the incoming fire. You focus on the second boat, firing shot after shot until you hit the fuel tank. The boat explodes in a massive fireball, lighting up the night sky.
As you speed away, the inferno rages behind you, casting an eerie glow over the water. The heat from the explosion warms your back as you leave the chaos behind. The mansion's jetty finally comes into view, and you breathe a sigh of relief.
The boat slows to a stop at the jetty, and you and Lance step out, adrenaline still pumping through your veins. The flames from the destroyed boats reflect in the water, a testament to the intense battle you just survived.
Lance looks at you, a mix of relief and exhaustion on his face. "We did it, Tommy."
"Yeah, we did," you agree, stepping onto solid ground.
With the cargo delivered and Diaz's favor fulfilled, you can finally borrow the boat for your own mission. The coordinates in N.O.C.'s note await, and you're ready to uncover the next piece of the puzzle.
You steer the boat away from Diaz's mansion, heading towards Ocean Beach. The shore is bustling with life, the neon lights from the nearby clubs casting a vibrant glow over the sand. The water shimmers under the moonlight, creating a stark contrast with the dark depths below.
Navigating through the waves, you head towards the coordinates provided in N.O.C.'s note. The ocean stretches out before you, vast and seemingly endless. As you get further from the shore, the lights of Vice City fade into the distance, replaced by the eerie calm of the open sea.
Eventually, you spot a small shack in the middle of the ocean. It's a ramshackle structure, barely holding together against the relentless waves. Surrounding it, the water is teeming with sharks, their fins cutting through the surface ominously.
As you approach, the sharks begin to circle your boat, sensing an opportunity. You feel a jolt of fear but push it aside, knowing there's no turning back now. Suddenly, one of the sharks lunges at the boat, its massive jaws snapping dangerously close.
"Shit!" you curse, grabbing your weapon. You fire at the shark, the bullets piercing the water and hitting their mark. The shark thrashes, blood mingling with the seawater, but more of them close in, drawn by the commotion and blood.
You keep firing, adrenaline surging through your veins. Each shot is a battle for survival, the sharks relentless in their pursuit. One of them manages to ram the boat, nearly tipping it over. You struggle to maintain your balance, cursing as you fire again.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the last shark sinks below the waves, leaving a bloody trail behind. You take a moment to catch your breath, the realization of how close you came to being shark food sinking in.
With the immediate threat dealt with, you steer the boat closer to the shack. The structure looks even more precarious up close, but it's the only place that matches the coordinates.
You dock the boat as best as you can, securing it to the shack. As you prepare to step onto the rickety platform, you can't help but wonder what you'll find inside.
Ready for whatever comes next, you climb onto the shack.