The Shockwave flew swiftly, reaching the edge of the broken bridge in no time.
Nathan quickly scanned the surrounding area. According to the intel Roger had provided, this bridge had once been a major land route connecting Night City to other states. However, during the Night City Independence War, the bridge had been blown up to prevent land invasions, and it had remained in ruins ever since.
Due to the facility's heavy anti-aircraft defenses, Shockwave couldn't fly in directly. Instead, it circled widely before dropping everyone off on a road leading into the wastelands. Meanwhile, Shockwave attempted to hack into the facility's internal network via wireless connection.
As they waited, the team lay on a hillside, observing the facility below. From the outside, it appeared to be a standard industrial processing plant, but the real structure extended underground.
Originally, Nathan had a more discreet infiltration plan—hijacking a Militech transport vehicle and using Shockwave to disguise their identities. However, with modern security advancements, even if he and Shockwave could get past the system, the others wouldn't make it through the biometric scans.
Thus, brute force was the only option.
Soon, Shockwave successfully infiltrated the facility's surface-level network, gaining control over the security cameras. However, cracking the deeper, more secure network remotely was impossible without a direct connection. Still, the current level of access was enough.
At Nathan's signal, Shockwave disabled a few cameras in key areas, allowing the team to scale the perimeter wall unnoticed.
Meanwhile, Lena activated her cybernetic eye, providing real-time updates on enemy positions inside the facility.
"Split up. I'll find the target. You two locate the weapons control platform," Nathan ordered, addressing Goro and Jack. "Stay sharp."
With a nod, they moved out.
Guided by Shockwave and Lena, Jack and Goro navigated the facility with ease. As for Nathan…
He stealthily approached a lone staff member and absorbed his identity.
Disguised, he strolled through the facility as if he belonged. There was no need for sneaky infiltration—when you could assume anyone's identity, access was effortless.
Restricted clearance? Absorb someone with the necessary clearance.
Need a passcode? Absorb someone who knows it.
One by one, he silently eliminated and absorbed half a dozen people, walking undetected straight to the door of Kenneth Stevenson's room.
Watching all this unfold through her cybernetic eyes, Lena felt a chill run down her spine.
"Is he… really human?"
The way Nathan's body twisted, sprouted tendrils, and absorbed others in mere seconds—it was inhuman. Worse, he gained their memories, their voices…
A terrifying thought gripped Lena's mind.
Was Nathan even human to begin with? Or had something else taken his place?
If that thing were to ever infiltrate Kang Tao's headquarters…
It was the middle of summer, yet Lena felt as cold as winter.
She finally understood just how terrifying Nathan truly was.
"What are you so worried about?" Nathan's voice suddenly echoed in her head.
Lena flinched. The private communication channel he had set up allowed direct mind-to-mind conversation.
"I…I-It's nothing," she stammered.
A new fear took hold of her.
Had she just uncovered something she wasn't supposed to? Would Nathan eliminate her next?
"Are you wondering if I'll do to you what I did to them?" Nathan's voice carried an amused tone.
Lena remained silent.
"Relax," he said. "If I wanted to, I wouldn't have waited this long. Besides, I'd have cut off all your external communications first."
He paused, then added with a smirk, "And honestly? I don't enjoy being a woman."
With that, he cut the link.
Lena exhaled sharply, her heart still racing. Rationally, she knew Nathan bore her no ill will. But that didn't make him any less terrifying.
Was he even human anymore? Or had he become something else entirely?
There would be time to think about that later.
The mission continued.
Standing outside Kenneth's room, Nathan waited for Jack and Goro to reach their positions. If he moved too soon, the plan would fall apart, creating unnecessary risks.
Fortunately, with the tactical support from Shockwave and Lena, the duo didn't take long.
"Nathan, we're in position," Goro's voice came through.
"Good. Disable the anti-aircraft systems, then rendezvous at the extraction point," Nathan instructed.
With that, he turned back to the door and stepped inside.
Kenneth, already on edge, jumped to his feet.
"Who… Who are you?! Where are my guards?"
Nathan smirked and let his disguise unravel. Black and red tendrils rippled across his body as he reverted to his original form.
Kenneth's face went pale. "N-Nathan?! No, no, no, please! Don't kill me!"
"Don't kill you?" Nathan grabbed Kenneth by the throat, lifting him off the ground effortlessly. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't."
Kenneth's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.
"Nothing? Then let's go."
Nathan struck Kenneth's neck with a precise blow, knocking him unconscious.
Just then, a message flashed on Shockwave's interface.
"Master, you might want to see this."
Attached was a chat log from the previous day.
—
Kenneth Stevenson: Mr. Donald, this man, Nathan Cross, is the key to humanity's future.
Donald Lundy: I saw the footage you sent. Fascinating. We need to discuss this further.
Kenneth Stevenson: What about your board of directors?
Donald Lundy: I haven't told them yet. We'll talk once we meet. That includes Kang Tao.
Kenneth Stevenson: Understood, Mr. Lundy. See you in three days.
—
A simple conversation, but rage boiled within Nathan.
This bastard had already informed Militech about him.
And judging by their interest, Militech wouldn't be as gentle as Kang Tao had been.
Well then… if they wanted war, he'd bring it to their doorstep.
Nathan cracked his knuckles, a cruel smile playing on his lips.
"Fine. If they want to come for me first…"
"Then I'll make my move before they even get the chance."
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Advance chapter in PATREON
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