"Alright, Jack. Shouldn't you show us the goods we're delivering this time?" V said, turning to the man who was still chuckling at his own jokes.
Jack grinned and patted the large metal box beside him. "Here it is, my friends. This is what we're delivering."
"What's in it?" V asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Honestly? I don't know, and I prefer not to. Our job is to deliver it, not ask questions. Trust me, it's better that way." Jack shrugged nonchalantly.
"You're willing to transport something without knowing what it is? Especially something stolen from a corporation?" V pointed at the company logo stamped on the side of the box, her expression growing darker.
"Whoa, whoa, 'stolen' is such a harsh word," Jack replied, laughing nervously. "Let's just say some fool left it lying around, and another fool picked it up. Happens all the time in this world."
"You don't think they'll come looking for this?" V asked incredulously.
Jack waved dismissively. "By the time they figure out it's missing, we'll be sipping drinks in Night City. Don't worry about it."
V sighed, shaking her head, but she didn't argue. "Fine, load it into the car. Let's get this over with."
"Now we're talking! I thought you were going to chicken out," Jack teased as he hefted the box toward the car.
"Zenima, this thing's heavy," Jack grumbled as he placed the box into the trunk, dusting off his hands afterward.
Peter leaned against the car, watching the exchange unfold. After a moment, he spoke up, explaining the incident they had with the sheriff earlier.
Jack nodded along, his expression shifting between amusement and disbelief. "That sheriff sounds like a joke. Never heard of a 'silver shotgun' in my life. But, hey, at least the guy had good taste." Jack shot V a cheeky grin, clearly enjoying her growing irritation.
"Just shut up and get in," V said, rolling her eyes as she got into the driver's seat.
Jack moved to take the passenger seat, but V stopped him with a glare. Reluctantly, he climbed into the back while Peter took the seat next to her.
As the car began to roll down the desert road, Peter leaned his arm out of the window, letting the sunlight warm his skin. A strange, comforting energy flowed through him, like nothing he'd ever experienced before.
It had been hours since Peter realized something was different. Since the moment he stepped into the sunlight, he could feel a steady increase in strength coursing through his body. His senses sharpened, and he could swear his skin was becoming harder—more resilient.
Could it be? Could he really have the powers of Superman's Man of Steel?
The thought was both thrilling and terrifying. Peter had spent his previous life obsessing over superheroes in games and shows, but to actually live it? To wield such unimaginable power in the harsh, unforgiving world of Cyberpunk?
If this was true, then corporations like Arasaka and Militech wouldn't just be threats—they'd be ants.
"Yo, what's your story, man?" Jack's voice pulled Peter out of his thoughts.
Peter glanced at him. "What do you mean?"
"You and V. You're not exactly the typical pair I'd expect to see out here."
"We're siblings," V said curtly, her focus on the road ahead.
Jack raised an eyebrow, his skepticism clear. "Siblings, huh? Doesn't look like it. You sure there's nothing else going on between you two?"
"Don't push your luck," V snapped, her cheeks reddening slightly.
Peter chuckled to himself, choosing not to add anything. Instead, he focused on the comforting sensation of sunlight warming his arm as the car sped toward their destination.
"Alright, alright, I'll shut up," Jack said, leaning back with a grin. "You two are a weird pair, though."
As the checkpoint came into view on the horizon, tension filled the car. V adjusted the radio, trying to drown out her own nerves with music, but her rigid posture betrayed her unease.
"Jack," Peter said, breaking the silence, "the middleman gave you a cargo list for this job, right?"
"Of course," Jack said, rummaging through his pockets before handing over a slip of paper.
Peter scanned the document, his expression darkening.
"What's wrong?" Jack asked, his voice tinged with worry.
"See this here?" Peter pointed at a section of the paper. "LOA. It means this cargo will trigger an automatic scan the moment we cross the border."
Jack's face went pale. "You're kidding. Isn't that basically screaming, 'Hey, we're smuggling'?"
"Exactly. The good news is, we can bribe the guards to look the other way. The bad news is...you did bring enough money for that, right?" Peter raised an eyebrow.
Jack laughed nervously, pulling a credchip out of his pocket. "Of course I did! What do you take me for?"
V rolled her eyes. "Great. Let's just get this over with."
The car rolled into the checkpoint, the guards already signaling them to stop. The blockade ahead was intimidating, but Peter kept his expression calm.
"Drive into the inspection area," one of the guards barked.
V complied without hesitation, pulling the car to a stop in the designated zone.
"Everyone in the vehicle, step out for further questioning," another guard ordered.
Jack shifted nervously in his seat, muttering, "This doesn't feel right..."
"Stay calm," V snapped. "If you panic, they'll know something's up."
Peter placed a reassuring hand on Jack's shoulder. "Relax. Let me handle it."
Jack let out a shaky breath. "Alright, Peter. I'm trusting you on this."
As the guards approached, Peter stepped out of the car first, his expression calm and confident. He knew the rules of this world—confidence and quick thinking were often the only things that stood between life and death.
"Papers," the guard demanded, holding out his hand.
Peter handed over the documents without hesitation, meeting the guard's gaze with a steady look.
The guard scanned the papers, then glanced at the car. "What's in the cargo?"
"Just some supplies for a client in Night City," Peter replied smoothly. "Nothing illegal, I assure you."
The guard's eyes narrowed. "And the LOA trigger? Care to explain that?"
Peter smiled faintly, slipping a credchip into the guard's hand. "Just a misunderstanding. I'm sure we can sort this out, right?"
The guard hesitated, then pocketed the chip with a grunt. "Fine. Move along."
As Peter got back into the car, Jack let out a loud cheer. "Hermano, you're a lifesaver!"
V smirked, glancing at Peter. "Not bad."
Peter shrugged, but inside, he couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. If he could handle this, maybe he really was ready for what this world had in store for him.
The sun dipped below the horizon as they sped away from the checkpoint, the faint glow of Night City beckoning in the distance. But as Peter looked out at the darkening sky, he couldn't shake the feeling that his journey was only just beginning.
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