"Sorry."
Sasha didn't say much. She simply apologized to Mann and then disconnected the call.
There was no time to waste. Peter was out there buying time for her, and if she didn't make the most of it, his sacrifice would be in vain.
She turned back to the screen, watching the upload progress bar move at an agonizingly slow pace.
"F**k! Why is this taking so long?" she muttered in frustration.
The file was enormous, and she had to bypass Biotech's network security to upload it, making the process even slower. The speed wasn't bad, but in a situation like this, it felt unbearable.
Then, suddenly, the gunfire outside stopped.
Peter walked into the room as if nothing had happened.
"Biotech's robots are nothing special," he said with a smirk.
And he wasn't wrong. He had hacked into the systems of two patrol bots, turning them against the others. His G-58 hadn't even fired a single shot.
Ding!
The upload was complete.
Sasha quickly disconnected her hacking cable and ran to Peter, checking him for injuries.
"Peter! More robots are coming! You need to evacuate!"
What he had just taken down were only a few patrols. The real force was now storming the building. At least two hundred combat units were converging on their location.
Sasha's heart sank. This was her fault. If she hadn't needed time to upload the files, Peter wouldn't be in this situation.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, guilt weighing heavily on her.
She had seen Peter fight before, seen him take down Adam Hammer on TV. But this? This was an entire army of battle robots. Even for someone like Peter, it seemed impossible.
They had no choice but to jump.
Peter, however, didn't seem concerned in the slightest.
"What's the problem? It's a trivial matter."
He spoke with such confidence that Sasha almost believed him.
To Peter, it really was nothing. If he wanted, he could wipe out the entire fleet of robots in an instant.
But to Sasha, he was just being reckless.
Her heart pounded as she made a split-second decision.
"Peter…"
"What are you—"
Before he could finish, Sasha leaned in and pressed her lips against his.
Peter was stunned for a moment.
Well… that was direct.
But then again, this was Night City. People did what they wanted. That was the cyberpunk way.
Sasha pulled back, her cheeks burning.
"I'm sorry. I like you, Peter, but… I don't think we're making it out of this alive."
The sounds of the approaching robots grew louder. Sasha knew it was only a matter of time before they were overrun.
Peter, however, just smiled.
"Next life?" he repeated. "I think you mean tonight."
He raised his gun and fired several rounds into the massive glass windows of the office. Then, without hesitation, he grabbed Sasha and jumped.
The wind rushed past them as they plummeted toward the neon-lit streets of Night City.
Sasha squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact.
But the impact never came.
After several seconds, she realized something was wrong.
They weren't falling.
They were… floating?
She opened her eyes, and what she saw left her speechless.
Below them, the entire city stretched out like an endless sea of lights. Cars and pedestrians moved about like ants. Above them, the night sky shimmered with stars.
They were flying.
"As I said, it's a trivial matter," Peter said with a grin, still holding her in his arms.
Sasha was dumbfounded.
"What… what the hell is going on?"
She looked down again, trying to make sense of what was happening.
"Peter… you can fly?"
Peter chuckled.
"I can't fly. Maybe gravity just decided to take the night off."
Sasha glared at him, still trying to process everything.
She had spent years in Night City, seen the most advanced cybernetics, the craziest weapons, and the most ridiculous tech enhancements.
But this? This was something else entirely.
"Hey," Peter said suddenly. "I remember hearing something about making it up to me."
Sasha's face turned red.
"You! Who's afraid of who?!"
Without another word, she grabbed his collar and kissed him again.
For several minutes, they drifted through the night sky, locked in a passionate embrace.
When they finally separated, Peter smirked.
"Where's your place? I'll take you home."
Sasha, still breathless, gave him her address.
Not that it mattered. She knew exactly what was going to happen tonight.
---
The Next Morning
The news was buzzing with reports.
"Last night, Biotech was hacked. At least several armed individuals and a hacker infiltrated their data office and stole confidential files."
"In addition, an anonymous user known as 'Night Cat' has leaked information online about the severe side effects of Biotech's most popular drug. This scandal is shaping up to be one of the largest medical disasters in recent years."
"Biotech now faces massive fines from the Night City government, as well as lawsuits from countless affected patients. This station will continue to provide updates as the situation develops."
Peter listened to the news while lazily stroking Sasha's face.
She stirred slightly, then opened her eyes and smiled before burying her face against his chest.
Their bodies were tangled beneath the messy sheets.
Anyone who saw them would know exactly what had happened last night.
"Peter… the price Biotech is going to pay is too small," Sasha muttered.
Her gaze shifted to the television, where Biotech's CEO was being bombarded by reporters.
"How many families have they destroyed? How many people's hopes have they shattered? Their medicine isn't medicine at all—it's poison! A slow-acting toxin that kills people over time!"
Her voice trembled with anger.
Peter wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "They'll pay for everything. In time."
Sasha nodded.
For years, she had focused solely on honing her hacking skills. She had few friends, only really knowing Mann and the rest of their crew.
Now, she had achieved her goal. And, unexpectedly, she had found someone she cared about.
She glanced at Peter, then leaned in closer.
Peter smirked.
"Didn't get enough last night?"
Sasha playfully punched his chest, but her blush betrayed her.
She had no regrets.
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