You choose to focus on team coordination during the final week of preparation. With the plan's multiple moving parts, ensuring perfect synchronization between crew members becomes your priority.
"We drill this until it's second nature," you announce, standing before a miniature mockup of the highway section and industrial zone that Jesse helped construct. "Every movement, every communication, every contingency."
Dom nods approvingly. "Like race day prep. No surprises."
Your system continuously refines the simulation as you guide each team member through their responsibilities:
[Team Coordination: Simulation Active]
[Individual Role Assignment: Optimized]
[Weakness Detection: Running]
"Leon, you're our early warning system," you explain, positioning him on the model. "You'll be stationed two miles before the construction zone. When our target approaches, you radio once—no words, just a single click."
Leon nods, serious for once. "I can handle that."
"Jesse, you're our technical support." You turn to the team's computer expert. "Traffic light control, surveillance loop, and communication management. From your van, you'll monitor police bands and coordinate our timing."
Jesse's eyes light up at the technological challenge. "I've already modified the traffic controller. We can turn that intersection red for exactly 83 seconds—long enough to ensure our truck has no choice but to take the detour."
"Letty and Vince, you're our construction crew." You position their figurines at the detour point. "Authentic uniforms, authentic equipment, authentic attitude. Vince, remember—"
"—I'm just a guy doing his job, not interested in the truck," Vince finishes, having absorbed your coaching over the past days. "No eye contact beyond what's normal, no unnecessary conversation."
"Perfect." You turn finally to Dom. "And you're our supervisor who guides the truck to the loading bay for the 'temporary holding area.' Once inside—"
"—I direct the driver to the waiting room where you'll keep him occupied while the cargo transfers," Dom completes. "Clean, simple, no one gets hurt."
For three days straight, you run drills in abandoned warehouses and quiet back roads. Your system analyzes every movement, identifying inefficiencies and security risks:
[Simulation Weaknesses Identified: 3]
[1. Communication Vulnerability]
[2. Timing Gap at Intersection]
[3. Driver Engagement Duration]
You address each issue methodically. Switching to encrypted radio channels with timed bursts eliminates the communication risk. Adjusting Jesse's traffic light timing closes the intersection gap. For the driver engagement, you develop a series of conversational branches based on psychological profiles, ensuring you can keep any driver occupied for the required timeframe.
On the fourth day, you introduce unexpected complications into the simulations—a curious bystander, a police car passing through, a driver who questions the detour. The crew adapts with increasing confidence, Vince particularly impressing you with his improvisation skills.
"You're a natural actor," you tell him after he smoothly handles a scenario where you played an argumentative driver.
Vince shrugs, but you catch the hint of pride in his eyes. "Just doing my part."
By the sixth day, the plan has evolved from theoretical to practically muscle memory. Equipment is secured, uniforms are perfect down to the proper contractor logos, and the warehouse is prepared for the rapid cargo transfer.
That evening, Dom calls everyone together for a final briefing. The energy is different now—focused, confident, professional.
"Tomorrow morning, 0900 hours, we execute," Dom announces. "Michael has turned what could have been a dangerous highway job into something... smarter." He looks around the room, meeting each person's eyes. "We're not just thieves. Tomorrow we're ghost thieves. In and out without anyone knowing what really happened."
The crew disperses to get rest before the big day, but you stay behind, running one final system check:
[Mission Readiness: 97%]
[Success Probability: 89%]
[Risk Assessment: Minimal]
[Team Cohesion: Optimal]
Dom approaches as you finish your review. "Having second thoughts?"
You shake your head. "Just making sure we haven't missed anything."
"We haven't," Dom says with quiet confidence. "Because of you." He hands you a Corona, an increasingly familiar ritual between you. "When you first showed up at my garage, I thought you were just another gearhead with something to prove."
You smile slightly, remembering those first days that now feel like a lifetime ago. "And now?"
"Now I know you're family," Dom says simply. "Not just because you're good at what you do. Because you care about doing it right."
The word 'family' resonates differently now than when you first heard it from Dom's lips. Your system notes the emotional response:
[Relationship Status: Dom Toretto - Deep Trust Established]
[Personal Identity: Further Integration]
[Warning: Original Self Boundaries Blurring]
"Get some rest," Dom says, clapping your shoulder. "Tomorrow we make history."
As you head to your room, a final notification appears:
[Mission Eve Protocol]
[Final Decision Required]
[Execute as Planned: Y/N?]
You dismiss the prompt without hesitation. There's no question anymore about whether you're committed to this path, this crew, this life. Whatever brought you to this universe has given you something you never had before—purpose and belonging.
Tomorrow, Michael the ghost thief makes his masterpiece debut.
[Mission Status: Execution Phase]
[Countdown: T-Minus 10 Hours]
[Identity Status: Michael Ascendant]