Aiko was jolted awake by a notification on her interface. Blinking sleep from her eyes, she read the message from Lysander.

"I'm waiting outside the hotel."

She rose from the bed, stretching her limbs before making her way to the bathroom. She splashed cool water onto her face, taking a moment to look at herself in the mirror. Her dark hair was a bit tousled from sleep, but her sharp features were alert and focused. After drying her face, she quickly wore her boots.

Aiko reached for her belt, fastening it around her waist. She made sure her holster was secure and her pistol was loaded before sliding it into place. The weight of the weapon was comforting against her hip. With a final check in the mirror, she headed towards the door, grabbing her small bag on the way out.

She stepped out of her room, taking a deep breath and marveling at the opulence of the floor. She couldn't help but be struck by the grandeur of the towering statues of ancient gods that seemed to watch over the space. The air was thick with the sweet fragrance of jasmine, and the androids that roamed the floor were dressed in immaculate uniforms, carrying trays of the most luxurious food.

Aiko's eyes wandered over the details of the androids: their skin-like texture, the intricate wiring that could be seen through their translucent limbs, and their perfectly coiffed hair. She marveled at their seemingly effortless movements, a testament to the advancements in technology.

As she walked towards the elevator, she couldn't help but feel like she was in a dream. The smooth, reflective surfaces of the walls made her feel as if she was in a futuristic spaceship, and the soft glow of the light gave the impression of being in a different world altogether.

Aiko connected her interface with the elevator, and the strange sensation began to spread through her body again. It was like the elevator was tapping into her mind and emotions, providing a unique and tailored experience. The feeling was both strange and exhilarating, and she found herself lost in the moment. The doors of the elevator soon opened, and Aiko stepped out onto the lobby floor, feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. She couldn't help but wonder how the elevator managed to provide such a unique experience, and she made a mental note to ask the hotel staff about it later.

As she walked towards the hotel's exit, an android made its way towards her. "Excuse me," the android spoke in a neutral tone.

"Your vehicle, the Apemosyne 6, colored in black and unmodified, has been parked in the hotel's parking lot for your convenience."

She acknowledged the android's message with a nod before proceeding towards the hotel exit.

Aiko's eyes widened in amazement as she stepped out of the hotel and saw the impressive sight before her. Towering over her was a massive vehicle, unlike any she had ever seen. It had six massive wheels that seemed to dwarf anything in its path, and its golden color shimmered in the bright sunlight. The vehicle looked like it had been ripped straight out of a military base, with its imposing design and heavy-duty features. Aiko couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as she gazed up at the towering machine before her.

Suddenly the thick glass window of the vehicle started lowering in front of her. From behind it, Lysander sat with a welcoming smile, gesturing for her to join him inside. As she approached, the door slid open, revealing the luxurious interior of the vehicle.

As Aiko stepped into the vehicle, she was greeted with a sight of luxury and modern technology. The interior was draped in a deep shade of red, with various lights casting an otherworldly glow. A closer look revealed that there was no conventional steering wheel or pedals. Instead, the car appeared to be controlled by some kind of advanced interface, almost as if the driver could operate it using their thoughts alone.

The seats were plush and comfortable, with soft leather covering every surface. Aiko felt as though she was sinking into the upholstery as she sat down. The air was scented with a subtle aroma, and the gentle hum of the car's engines filled the space. She couldn't help but marvel at the level of technology and luxury that was on display in this vehicle. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before, and it made her feel both excited and slightly uneasy at the same time.

As the engine of the vehicle started, Aiko noticed something unusual. Instead of the roaring sound of a traditional combustion engine, the vehicle emitted a gentle and smooth whistle-like noise. It was unlike anything she had heard before, especially compared to the cacophony of sounds in the bustling streets of the underbelly.

Lysander's voice carried a distinct tinge of ennui as he addressed his companion,

"Our journey to the wastelands will be a lengthy one."

With a chuckle, Aiko retorted,

"Yeah “

Shifting the topic to the mission at hand, Aiko posed an inquiry, fixing her gaze on Lysander,

"So, what intel do we have on our target?"

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Lysander, clearly unenthusiastic about the subject, responded with a nonchalant shrug,

"Not much, really. The guy's a hacker, and rumor has it he's not augmented with any cybernetic enhancements."

Aiko's mind raced with skepticism at the mention of the target's lack of enhancements. "No enhancements?" she thought incredulously. "How could a member of the Widow Makers be merely a mundane human?"

Aiko's voice was laced with doubt as she posed a query,

"So, if this target is so straightforward, why do we require two hunters?"

Lysander's face turned serious as he responded,

"To be frank, you were not initially intended for this mission. It was designated for Sullivan and me."

Aiko's mind reeled with confusion as she thought, "What is he talking about?"

Lysander continued,

"But Zero intervened and convinced the higher-ups to include you on this assignment. I'm unsure of his motives."

"But why would Zero include me on a mission that doesn't require my skills? And why this particular mission?"

Lysander, observing the bewilderment etched on Aiko's features, responded with a shrug,

"It's just another hefty payout for you, regardless. Don't stress it."

Aiko mused to herself, "He's right. Why am I so concerned about it? It's just another job, and I don't need to be privy to the machinations behind the scenes."

"Alright," Lysander declared as he leaned forward to activate the car's interface. "I'll initiate the speedvision."

Aiko's voice reflected her bewilderment as she queried, "What is speedvision?"

Lysander appeared perplexed by Aiko's lack of knowledge about The Speedvision. After a brief pause, he attempted to clarify,

"Speedvision is a program integrated with our neuron interface system."

He proceeded to ask,

"Did you happen to utilize the hotel elevator?"

Aiko recollected the peculiar sensation she had experienced while using the elevator and replied,

"Yes, I did."

Lysander nodded in agreement, acknowledging Aiko's recollection.

"That's the same thing," he confirmed. "To be honest, I'm not entirely sure how it operates, but it's comparable to a time-skip button in a video game."

Aiko voiced her confusion,

"But who will drive the car?"

Lysander grinned, pointing to his own head,

"This will," he replied, clicking a small button on the car's interface.

----------------------------------------

A robotic voice echoed from the car, declaring,

"Destination reached."

Aiko opened her eyes, and to her surprise, found herself encircled by nothing but sand and dust. This must be it - the wastelands.

She glanced over at the driver's seat, where Lysander had been seated, but he had already disembarked from the vehicle. A small bottle rested in his hand.

"Come on out, Aiko. We've arrived," Lysander beckoned, taking a sip from the bottle in his hand.

Aiko emerged from the car, still feeling slightly dizzy from the Speedvision experience.

"Here," Lysander offered, handing her the small bottle. "Take a sip."

Aiko queried,

"What is this?"

"It's a booster," Lysander replied, giving the bottle a little shake. "But only take one sip. It's very potent."

Aiko accepted the bottle and brought it to her lips. A strong fragrance of strawberries filled her nostrils as she took a sip.

Suddenly, she experienced a peculiar rush coursing through her body, causing her pale cheeks to flush and the whites of her eyes to shift to a shade of black. Her implant arm began to vibrate as well.

Lysander observed her closely and spoke,

"Don't worry. It happened to me too the first time I took it."

Lysander gestured with his finger, pointing towards a small building in the distance.

"That's where our target is," he said. He turned to Aiko and asked, "Are you ready?"

Aiko nodded, feeling the side effects of the booster slowly fading away.

"Okay, let's go," Lysander said, leading the way towards the building.

As they approached the small building, Aiko and Lysander could feel the eerie emptiness of the place. The surrounding area was desolate, with no signs of life or movement. The only sound was the rustling of the wind, sweeping through the sand and stones. The building itself was small, made of cinder blocks and sheet metal, with a flat roof and no windows. There were no signs or markings on the exterior, no indication of what the building could be used for. It seemed abandoned and forgotten.

Lysander and Aiko looked at each other, both sensing that something was not right. The silence and emptiness of the place felt almost ominous. Lysander spoke first, his voice low and serious.

"Stay sharp, Aiko. This place gives me the creeps. We need to be careful."

Aiko nodded, her senses heightened by the strange surroundings. She felt a growing sense of unease in the pit of her stomach. Something was definitely off about this mission.

Lysander held up a hand, motioning for silence. He tilted his head to the side, listening intently. Aiko strained her ears, but couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary.

Finally, Lysander spoke in a hushed tone, "There's something up there. It sounds like a helicopter."

"A helicopter?" Aiko echoed, looking up at the sky.

Lysander maintained an unwavering gaze upwards as he methodically divested himself of his svelte, amethyst-hued garment. As the fabric fell away, his resplendent implants were revealed in their entirety, extending from his pectoral region to his abdominal expanse. Crafted from metallic materials, these augmentations conferred upon him an air of resolute otherworldliness, accentuated all the more by the golden-hued appendages adorning both of his upper extremities, spanning from shoulder to wrist.

"Stay back, Aiko," Lysander commanded, his eyes aglow with an otherworldly green light and his golden locks flowing in the wind.

In an instant, with lightning speed, something descended from the sky and struck Lysander. However, he was too quick for the attack and blocked it with his left arm.

The figure ricocheted backwards with tremendous speed, almost breaching the sound barrier with a deafening sonic boom.

As the dust settled, the figure became visible to Lysander and Aiko.

It was a tall woman, her willowy frame elongated and lithe. Her verdant irises shone with an inner radiance, mirroring the effervescence of the world around her. Strands of chocolate-brown hair danced and billowed in the wind, lending a nimbus-like quality to her already mesmerizing presence. Rather than standing, she bounced with a boundless energy, her every leap accompanied by the thrumming of her colossal legs, which were themselves a marvel to behold. Comprised of intricate machinery and clearly designed to facilitate prodigious jumps, they were a testament to both engineering ingenuity and the sheer force of the woman's indomitable will.

"This is becoming quite intriguing," Lysander said with a smile, stretching his arms.

Aiko stared at the woman in amazement, marveling at her incredible speed.

"Stay back, Aiko," Lysander warned, his tone full of excitement. "This fight is mine."