"...Is this the orbital weapon?"
"Yes."
The two gazed at the explosion's footage. At this moment, the frightening white blast wave spread out as visible ripples. When the Sky Net System hacked in, the camera used for monitoring the scene was obliterated the instant it touched the blast wave.
Without a doubt, any part located underground of this building could never withstand such a terrifying shock wave.
Later, Venus switched the footage to a monitoring satellite and took a post-explosion photo. A visibly large depression almost proved there were no possible underground facilities left there.
Venus thoughtfully cut in with urgent news from Tokyo.
On the local Tokyo TV stations, even cartoons were suspended, and this dreadful information was directly broadcasted.
"Unknown meteorites landed in Tokyo, suspected to be a horrific strike against Arasaka Company using orbital weapons..." The news host said solemnly.
V stared wide-eyed for a while before slowly turning her head: "It is somewhat shocking... But, how are we supposed to return? Is there a manned rocket here?"
"No... But, we have other ways to go back."
Mercer smiled, pointed to the sky: "In eight hours, a manned rocket from Orbital Aviation will land on the ground near the base. We just need to get on, then we can directly take the rocket back to the Moon Space Station of Orbital Aviation.
Once there, change to another rocket, and we'll be able to fly straight back to Earth."
"So... does that mean we have eight hours to rest now? Nothing else to be busy with, right?" V looked at Mercer with a meaningful look.
Mercer blinked, realizing something: "Um... Yes."
She squinted, took off her helmet, shook her considerably lengthened grey-white hair, then leaned back on the sofa, crossed her legs: "Great, let's talk... about you, me, Rebecca... well, and Lucy."
"Now?" Mercer felt a headache coming on.
"Now." V became serious: "I don't want to be unclear with you... Mercer, we need to talk, really talk."
Before, with the sense of crisis behind her, V acted like there was no tomorrow, freely expressing her emotions. Who cares about this and that? At least kiss the person she likes before dying, right?
But now, with eight hours left before returning to Earth—V had to consider how to handle her relationship with Mercer.
Mainly...
V glared at Mercer resentfully, but in the end, she could only sigh helplessly.
At this moment, the only question in her mind—she had been stubborn for so long, saying she would never like Mercer, certainly not date this jerk.
But now suddenly the situation turned into this... How is she supposed to get along with Rebecca and Lucy?
Not wanting to be ridiculed, V refused the inner conflict and instead tossed the question to the man in front of her, staring straight at him: "Mercer, tell me, what are we going to do in the future?"
Mercer understandingly read her mind, now just pinched his chin, pondering: "Hmm... how about we secretly..."
V's gaze immediately became dangerous, and Mercer then coughed, saying: "I mean, although it's quite thrilling, it's not fair to you...
Oh come on, just say it was me who initiated it, wouldn't that solve it?"
After Mercer finished, V angrily leaned into his arms, reached over, and pinched his face: "It was you! Initiating!"
"Yes, yes, hmm... Gently..." Mercer regretted that his armor was too rigid, now only holding onto a metal lump, smelling her faint fragrance coming from her face.
"I'm serious! Think for me... otherwise, won't they laugh me to death when we go back? Oh, and Mann, Jack... Damn, this girl is crazy, I don't even know why..."
Before she could finish, Mercer held her face and kissed her. V always spoke with vigor, but her lips unexpectedly felt softest, especially seeing her become a bit shy, stirring an indescribable desire to conquer.
Watching the normally bold and ruffian street girl turning soft in his embrace, Mercer found satisfaction in kissing her face again: "No take backs."
"...I didn't say I would take back... just don't know, sigh."
V sighed, looking at Mercer's face, ultimately leaning weakly into his arms: "Whatever, break up whenever you make me mad again..."
"Still being stubborn?" Now it was Mercer's turn to pinch her face, V exclaimed, gave him a glare, but knowing she was in the wrong, didn't speak those stubborn words anymore.
"I'll just tell them I took advantage of the situation, took advantage during the crisis... In short, it was during a moment of danger, and I had some small thoughts, got you to agree, won't that work?"
Mercer said amusingly: "Everyone knows you've liked me a bit all along, isn't this just naturally happening? The only thing people might talk about a bit is I attracted a few more girls...
But as long as we can have a long-lasting good life together, who can control our freedom to love?
When we go back, I'll push for a new marriage law in Night City, then nobody can say we're wrong when we get married openly."
"Who's marrying you!" V rarely blushed, buried her face in his neck, could only feel the cold metal: "Take off your prosthetics first when we go back, look at you now, covered in metal pieces, so annoying."