21:30 PM
Omnicorp's Storage Facility,
The night air hung heavy around the sprawling compound, a fortress of steel and concrete nestled deep within the industrial outskirts.
Towering floodlights cast harsh beams over the entry gate… a reinforced barrier blockade guarded by vigilant sentries armed with pulse rifles and cybernetic enhancements.
Beyond the gate, a single, massive warehouse loomed, its shadow swallowing the surrounding yard like a beast waiting to pounce.
Hidden behind a thicket of bushes not far from the gate, Kyle stood alongside Dax and Gunna, their figures cloaked in black tactical gear, faces obscured by masks. The tension was palpable as they waited for the merc to arrive… the key to their heist.
Gunna muttered under his breath, frustration creasing his brow. "Why the hell do the girls get to slip in easy, and we gotta go in hard?"
Kyle shared the sentiment. Earlier, Enid and Vi had expertly disguised themselves as guards, infiltrating the compound without raising suspicion.
Meanwhile, he, Dax, and Gunna were left lurking outside, waiting for the moment to strike.
Dax smirked, his eyes fixed on the gate. "The girls had to go in first to secure the secondary car and get us easy access to the warehouse," he whispered, his voice crisp and low. "And we had to stay here to confirm the merc's entry. I could have waited alone, but if I got busted, you two are the necessary distraction."
"Besides," Dax added, a faint glint entering his tone, "…our way in is more fun."
Gunna groaned dramatically into the dirt. "Of course, riding under a car. So much fun," he muttered with a sarcastic tone.
Kyle simply chuckled, the sound muffled and distorted by his skull mask. But as the silence settled again, Kyle found his thoughts drifting back to the original briefing, the moment Dax had turned his expectations completely upside down.
One Hour Earlier….
The cramped safe house was dim, lit only by the holographic projection shimmering on the central table. The atmosphere was a little tense after Kyle asked about the getaway vehicle.
"The Merc is the getaway vehicle, Dax's words hung heavy in the air.
Kyle furrowed his brows. "Elaborate," he said calmly.
Dax leaned forward. "The thing we're stealing is a car. A prototype Bugatti supercar: the X-9 Hypernova. It was created specifically by Omnicorp for their Formula One division. This thing costs millions of pounds, and we've been hired by their main manufacturing rival to nick it."
Kyle accessed the info of the car, scanning every detail. It made sense… if Omnicorp released this model, it'd dominate the racing circuits, crushing competitors and sinking global racing constructors and manufacturing stock overnight.
"But why steal the car?" he pressed, frowning. "Omnicorp has the blueprints. They can just make more, if they haven't even done that already."
Dax smiled knowingly. "That's the beauty of it," he said. "According to my sources, there are no blueprints. This car is unique… a one-of-a-kind prototype. It's the first, the ultimate pacesetter for everything that comes after. They designed it entirely through some advanced AI simulation, then hand-built this single functional prototype. The car itself is the blueprint."
Kyle finally understood, feeling a cold realization spread through him. "So the rival companies want to study the car, cannibalize its designs, and use that knowledge to make better cars. To even the playing field."
"Precisely," Dax confirmed. He brought up the technical specs. "The Hypernova is extremely fast. We're talking a verified record of moving 200 mph in first gear. Its theorized top speed is nearly 700 mph."
Kyle went rigid, staring at the number. "Seven hundred miles per hour? That's almost Mach 1. If this is just the prototype, the ones made after it… they'd be breaking the sound barrier." He shook his head slowly. "Can any driver even handle that kind of speed?"
Vi, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, leaning over the table. "On a straight-line track without curves? Maybe," she said, tapping the holographic chassis. "But in a crowded city or a standard circuit? It would take a machine or a madman to dare to achieve that kind of velocity. It's more of a bragging rights statement than practical speed."
Kyle exhaled slowly, the professional detachment returning to his eyes. "Looks like Formula racing has evolved greatly over the years,"
Gunna let out a booming laugh. "It really has! With more explosions and deadly track gimmicks than ever," he said excitedly. "It's like watching a demolition derby meets death race."
Then he turned to Kyle with curiosity. "Don't you watch F1?"
Kyle shook his head. "It never fascinated me," he said casually.
Vi raised an eyebrow, a flicker of genuine surprise in her expression. "An ex-racer who doesn't watch Formula One. Now that's interesting," she chuckled.
"Chatter down," Dax snapped, cutting the discussion short. "You can discuss the evolution of competitive driving later. For now, we need to steal a seven-hundred-mile per hour supercar. It's scheduled to arrive at the storage facility in one hour."
Kyle exhaled. "Alright then, let's go."
Back to the present…
Kyle's eyes narrowed as he steadied his breathing, the weight of the mission settling on his shoulders.
They were about to steal one of the fastest automobiles in the world. The kind of car that was less a vehicle and more a weapon.
Suddenly, headlights pierced the darkness… a massive car transport truck approached, its cargo bay transparent, showcasing a single black car with glowing purple rims and sleek body designs.
Dax's lips curled into a smirk. "Alright, boys," he whispered. "It's showtime."