The house sat on the northwestern edge of the city, where even shadows feared to linger. Its façade, cracked and leaning, was a testament to the destitution of the neighborhood. Neon glows from nearby hovels flickered through the grime-streaked windows, casting odd colors onto the sidewalk.
Mike parked the car a block away and glanced at Vasily, who was finishing a sip from his flask. "This the place?"
Vasily grinned, wiping his mouth. "You expected a penthouse, brother? Rick's inside. Tosh, too."
The two of them approached the door, Vasily knocking three times with deliberate rhythm. A lock clicked, and the door creaked open. Inside, the walls peeled like snake skin, and the air stank of old alcohol and burnt electronics.
Rick's voice echoed from the living room. "Took you long enough, sunshine."
Mike stepped in, his eyes narrowing. Tosh was there too, slouched in a chair, cleaning a pistol with an almost meditative focus. "Tosh," Mike said, surprised. "Thought I wouldn't see you again after the jewelry job."
Tosh looked up and smirked faintly. "Yeah, well, desperate times." He stood, extending a hand. Mike moved to shake it, but Vasily pushed past with a bear hug. "My брат!" Vasily boomed. "Still alive, I see."
Tosh laughed, patting Vasily on the back. "Alive, yeah. I can't say the same for my sanity being near you two."
Rick slammed an old laptop shut, drawing their attention. "Alright, ladies, enough with the reunion. We've got business."
The four gathered around a scarred table littered with crumpled schematics, glowing holo-maps, and stray bullets. A grainy 3D projection flickered to life, displaying the suite—sleek, monolithic, and impossible to breach.
Mike crossed his arms. "So, this is it?"
Rick jabbed a finger at the base of the hologram. "This is the suite—a luxury shell for the ultra-rich. But underground? That's where the real party is. A secure lab, military-guarded, National Guard contracts, the whole damn works. Whatever they're hiding, it's important enough to deserve double shifts and turrets."
Vasily leaned closer, raising a brow. "So, what's the plan, genius? Breaking into this fortress sounds like suicide."
Rick smirked, his voice dripping with confidence. "Suicide for most. Not for us. Here's what we need." He flipped a switch on his device, and the projection zoomed in.
"Two entry options. Disguise—preferably NG uniforms—or waltzing in as suite guests."
Mike frowned. "You're joking. Guests? We'll stick out like sore thumbs."
Tosh shook his head. "Uniforms are better, but harder to get. We'll need intel and the right distractions."
Rick grinned devilishly. "Which brings me to this." He pulled a sleek pair of augmented sunglasses from his bag and tossed them to Mike.
Mike caught them, inspecting the slim black frames. "What are these?"
"Your new best friends," Rick said. "Those shades can triangulate power grids, mark weak points, and highlight patrol patterns. Wear them when you hit the streets to find the nearest power station connected to the suite."
Mike slipped them on, blinking as his vision flooded with holographic overlays. Lines of neon-blue data spiraled outward, tracing invisible wires and security markers. "Jesus... You've been busy."
Rick shrugged. "Genius is hard work."
Tosh leaned forward, his voice low and serious. "Mike, the power grid controls half the city's eastern side. If we hit it with an EMP, the blackout gives us exactly seven minutes to get in, grab whatever's down there, and get out."
Mike looked between them. "And what if we're wrong? What if the blackout doesn't buy us time?"
Rick clapped his hands together. "Then we improvise. Like we always do."
Tosh continues, "National Guards are a menace. These guys are the most advanced Combat force ever deployed in this country, taking them on is a suicide for sure.
Mike raises a doubt, "Then how the fuck are we beating them?" Tosh continues, "the suit they wear is merely impenetrable. It might even take 4 incendiary slugs just to break it but, everything has a weakness. In this case, it's the metallic fluid present in the suit near the neck and around legs and arms. One perfect shot and they're 'Out of Business'"
Rick speaks, " here Catch it, hero."
Mike catches an advanced pistol. "What the hell's this? You know I don't do guns." rick explains "Well, hero, this gun shoots non-lethal and has advanced aim assist. So, Load, aim and BANG! and anyone hit gets smacked down by an angry gorilla."
Rick continues "There is a convoy's full of toys and supplies for these idiots.
"We get its route and tip off our "Scavenger" mates as they are eagerly waiting for a chance to get supplies and they won't go down without a fight."
"So, what do you think, ladies? You in?" Rick questions
Tosh continues, "I know this isn't a fool proof plan, but it's the only way to get in, if we do this right."
Vasily asks, "So, how are getting our hands on that EMP for the blackout?"
Tosh tells, "I've got a friend. Mike, I need you on this. Get to the location. I'll tell the details later"
Mike asks, "How do we tip the Scavs off?"
Rick joins, "Vas'll take care of them. Don't you, Vasily?"
Vasily nods his head and "Yeah. I guess we don't have a choice. do we?". "I think you should lend him a hand, Mike.", says Rick. Mike sighs, "Let's hope everything goes as planned." Tosh replies, "it will, Mike. It will..."