"Dear friends, do you see those big and small black dots on the highway over there? Those are the checkpoints heading towards Seattle.
But we don't have to wait in line like they do.
Ha, see those drones over there? They clearly saw us, yet the border patrol doesn't even dare to send a message.
Those Arasaka dogs take bribes at the border, but when they encounter someone tough, they become blind and deaf.
But that's better because they saw us flying towards the direction controlled by New America and even became our eyewitnesses."
Mercer's relaxed voice came through the car's speakers, and the young hackers who had been tensely watching out the window suddenly felt like they were on a trip.
"Next, we'll pass through the hills and reach a barren land, so cherish the last bit of green you can see.
For the rest of the journey, we'll likely only see broken highways, endless yellow sand, and perhaps countless 'Ha Dabo'."
"Curious about what 'Ha Dabo' is?
It's a term from the Wanderer, meaning 'sandstorm.'
I guess many of you have never experienced a sandstorm, but don't worry, once you see one, you'll end up not liking it.
Moreover, because of the war's leftovers, when these sandstorms rage, the radioactive substances attached to the ground and air also get carried along.
Sometimes, network signals become very poor, which means the sandstorm comes from a radioactive area, but don't worry about radiation, eating a bit of sand won't harm you.
Due to multiple wars and climate change, there are fewer and fewer oases in New America now.
Especially near California, there are vast stretches of desert.
If you're unlucky and don't know which road is the safest to take, you might even step on mines buried during the Unified War on the road.
But as I said, don't worry, I've done a lot on the server, not only getting maps but also searching Vancouver's city network for a lot of stuff."
Mercer spoke as unhurriedly as a radio host, and the young hackers finally stopped being nervous and began chattering.
But as they started to relax and chat, Mercer fell silent.
Only Lucy quietly looked out the window, then after a while, sent him a message through the comms software.
"[Lucy: Why are you doing this?]
[Mercer: What?]
[Lucy: The hardest, most exhausting work falls on you, and we've done almost nothing, but why... are you going out of your way to take care of our feelings now?]
[Mercer: That's how a mature big brother should be, you know?]
[Lucy:... Actually, there's something I've been hiding from you, or should I say from everyone. Mercer, I... I'm not sure if taking me along might cause some other trouble.]
[Mercer: Trouble bigger than me killing the project director, dozens of security personnel and agents, and stealing Arasaka's top-secret relic chip and the prototype cybernetic body from the lab?]
[Lucy: Probably not as big as that.]
[Mercer: In any case, if you consider me as one of your own, I'll do the same for you, simple as that. But, you know, I can be a bit petty sometimes.]
[Lucy: Um... got it, I won't mention anything related to Sailor Moon Mewtwo anymore, sorry about that.]
[Mercer: Ha! You annoying little brat, don't let me catch you doing anything embarrassing.]
[Lucy: XD~ Seriously though, thank you, Mercer, without you, I would've probably died there.]
[Lucy: I'm really scared of dying, genuinely scared, watching my comrades die one by one in their chairs was driving me insane.]
[Lucy: But I owe you a life, we all do, Mercer, and I'll repay it, for sure.]
[Mercer: Among us, there's no owing, that's only for outsiders.
Save it for when we part ways if you really want to say it. When the time comes when I need a favor, I won't be stingy. You won't have a choice but to repay it.]
[Lucy: Do we all count as your own people?]
[Mercer: Depends if you want to stick with me later on.
But even if we part ways, just don't stab me in the back.
We'll chat more about this later, now I need to focus on driving and figuring out where our soon-to-be-seen friends are.]
[Lucy: Who?]
[Mercer: You don't think we can just run thousands of kilometers with our legs and a few rations from our individual soldier survival kits, do you?
Of course, it's someone bringing us a car and supply fuel. When connecting to the server, I checked the map and found a place where we can get vehicles and supplies. Now I'm trying to determine their location.
As for who it is...
I'll tell you later, but I can say in advance that it's going to be thrilling, so it's best to recall your shooting practice state now.]
[Lucy: Alright, you get busy... I feel like I can't really help you with anything.]
[Mercer: Kids should act like kids; I'm not in a hurry to employ child labor here.]
Lucy pursed her lips—aren't you just fourteen? Or maybe you really are some rogue AI... never mind, even if a rogue AI, she owes him her life.
As she snapped back to reality, Lucy realized the car had already quieted down, with the remaining three staring straight at her.
"Finished chatting? What were you talking about?" Leon grinned mischievously.
"Nothing, just the plans ahead, to set my mind at ease." Lucy said with an expressionless face.
Kyoko looked at her suspiciously, lightly snorting: "Feels like you talked a lot with Mercer behind my back... aren't we besties?"
"Of course... I just didn't want to disturb your relaxation." Lucy didn't even know why she instinctively lied.
After a moment of silence, she softly said, "If there's a chance... I'll tell you guys later."
No one pressed further, all turning silent, gazing out the window, watching the continuously passing scenery, the drifting clouds, and the clear blue sky.
Everyone has secrets, just like it was evident to all that Mercer had many oddities after that accident, but no one dared or wanted to ask.
Trust is just like that, believing in your unknown more than probing into your entirety.
"Night City... hope this journey goes as smoothly as today." Leon suddenly muttered.
Tetsuya Daichi rolled his eyes: "Typically, when someone like you says something like that, the trip is bound to be rough."
"Exactly! Haven't you watched Sailor Moon? The yellow Sailor Moon said something similar, then got captured by villains." Kyoko reprimanded righteously.
Leon raised his hands in surrender: "My bad, forgive me."
Lucy didn't say anything, just leaned against the window, silently gazing towards the direction that once belonged to Arasaka Base.
Looking towards that direction, she could only see the horizon where the ground met the sky, the place that symbolized her nightmares seemingly vanished forever.
She slowly closed her eyes, leaving only calmness in her heart.
Goodbye... no, never again!
Damn Arasaka, go to hell!
...
"This damn Arasaka hovercar design is truly brainless."
Mercer looked at the car's fuel gauge, speechless.
Having only run for four hours, even starting with a full tank from the base, covering barely 600 kilometers, and it's almost out of fuel?
"Apart from urban driving, what else could this car be used for? Can't even deliver goods unless an armed hovercar... honestly."
The only advantage is ignoring terrain, moving straight; almost there, reaching Mercer's expected drop-off point.
Mercer hadn't turned on GPS, meaning, along the way, he mostly relied on downloaded online maps for navigation, and now could only estimate a rough position.
Luckily, he hadn't taken a wrong turn, now arriving at his destination, a shaded area behind a small hill—standing atop the hill and looking far ahead, a seemingly dilapidated small town wasn't far from the hill.
"Ready, we're getting off here," he said over the car's intercom.