"I see."
After Peter finished explaining the situation to Scorpion and Mitch, both of them exchanged sympathetic glances.
The story of a family being disbanded, merging into Snake State, and then starting from scratch in Night City wasn't an easy tale to hear.
"Don't give me that look," Panan said with a scoff, noticing their expressions. "You two should take a good look at the rifle Peter's carrying."
She pointed toward the G-58 smart rifle hanging at Peter's waist.
"Damn! A G-58? Military grade too? Sir, why don't you take me with you?" Mitch said, eyes wide in disbelief, amused by the sight of Peter's high-tech weapon.
"Cut the crap, Mitch. I'm just here for a while to grab my gear and leave," Panan replied, giving Mitch a playful shove in the chest.
"Okay, but Saul's probably going to be angry again if he finds out about this," Mitch said, shaking his head with a grin.
"Stop talking nonsense. I need your help this time," Panan said, her tone turning more serious.
"Not this time, Panan," Mitch replied. "We need to be here for the camp. Saul gave us orders."
"Are you telling me I can't count on you two?" Panan snapped, her frustration rising. "Is this because Saul doesn't want you involved? Am I not one of your own anymore?"
"Calm down, Panan," Peter said, stepping in to diffuse the situation.
"This has nothing to do with Saul," Scorpion added, trying to smooth things over. "It's about the tribe."
"Exactly," Mitch said, shaking his head. "Saul didn't give any orders about taking equipment, so we're good on that front."
"Well, I'll take whatever I can get," Panan muttered. "Now, let me grab my rifle, and I'll get the rest of my gear."
Mitch waved his hand dismissively. "Take whatever you need, but stay safe out there."
Panan nodded before heading off to the camp to grab her equipment.
Peter stood by the car, soaking up the sunlight, as he waited for Panan to return. Within ten minutes, she emerged, hauling a load of gear behind her.
Panan placed everything on the car before saying, "Alright, we're ready to go. Get in."
The two of them hit the road, but Panan's expression remained sour.
"So, are you disappointed?" Peter asked, sensing her mood.
Panan glanced at him. "I don't know… Maybe a little. You could say I'm not exactly comfortable around big shots like Rogge and Saul. He's the leader of your tribe, right?"
Peter chuckled. "He is their leader."
"I see… You didn't stay long with them," she noted.
"If Saul saw me, he wouldn't be pleased," Peter said simply.
The two of them continued their quiet conversation as they drove toward Shiji Mountain.
"Looks like everything's broken around here," Peter muttered, inspecting the area. Like in the game, the place was in ruins, deserted and decaying.
"Why don't we try connecting the car's power supply to the transformer?" Peter suggested. "If we power it up, we can use the roads to set them off."
Panan smiled at the idea. "Great idea. Let's try it. As soon as we get the transformer working, we can get the power back."
Panan quickly drove the car over to the transformer, and the two of them worked together to get it running.
"Check the power in the building," Peter said.
Panan flicked a switch. "The power's back on."
"Good," Peter nodded. "Now we just need to wait for them and surprise them."
Panan grinned, though there was tension in her eyes. "They're on their way. Still driving... Damn it! That bastard Nash is with them."
Peter gave a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'll turn on the lights when they get into position. We'll handle them."
As Peter spoke, he kept an eye on the incoming convoy. The vehicles approached, and several members of the Chaos Knife Club got out, looking like trouble.
"Where the hell's that bastard Boz? You, go check over there!" One of the female leaders barked at her underling as they scanned the empty area.
"Are you ready?" Peter asked.
"I've been waiting forever!" Panan replied. "Let's go."
With a push of a button, the lights flickered to life. Panan didn't hesitate. She turned the key and revved the engine, and Peter immediately began firing his smart rifle. The upgraded locking system ensured that each shot hit its target with deadly precision. Each bullet exploded on impact, taking out the enemy's heads with terrifying accuracy.
"I'm sorry, Peter, but leave a few for me!" Panan said, slightly panicked as she watched half of the Chaos Knife members fall.
Grabbing her own rifle, Panan aimed and shot at the remaining attackers below. A few more gunshots rang out, and another group of Chaos Knife members went down. In an instant, over half of the original team was wiped out.
"F*ck! Get out of here!" The female leader of the Chaos Knife Club finally shouted as the reality of their situation hit them. But it was already too late. Peter appeared behind them, his gun aimed steadily at their backs.
"Withdrawal? What withdrawal?" Peter said coldly before pulling the trigger. The last of the Chaos Knife members fell to the ground, lifeless.
"Sorry about that, Peter. Your gun's incredible, but I don't have the setup to install a smart prosthesis. Otherwise, I'd definitely get one of my own," Panan said as she watched the aftermath. Every enemy on the ground had been executed with clean, precise shots from Peter's rifle.
"It's okay. Go check your car," Peter said, holstering his gun.
Panan didn't need any more encouragement. She ran over to her car, eager to inspect it.
As she popped the hood and checked, she couldn't help but smile as the engine roared to life. For someone like her, a car was more than just a vehicle—it was a symbol of survival, her second lifeline. She had worked tirelessly to modify it, and it felt like an extension of herself.
"Hey, Peter. It's a nice ride, huh?" Panan said, a smile tugging at her lips as she started the engine.
"Yeah, it's a solid piece of work," Peter replied, admiring the car.
But Panan's mood darkened as she thought about Nash. "That bastard Nash didn't even show up at Shiji Mountain. He's hiding like a coward."
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