Unsettling shadows were cast inside the car by the city's flickering lights as Lucas and Jed maneuvered the wet streets. The only sounds that broke their silence were the showers hitting the roof and the occasional hiss of tires on damp pavement. Though both men knew better than to focus on it, the repercussions of their actions weighed heavy in the air.

"Do you ever think about the people we leave behind?" As the stillness was broken, Jed questioned. His tone possessed an uncommon tenderness to it, a brief glimpse of the guy behind the robust veneer. Lucas didn't reply right away. His focus stayed on the road ahead, but his mind strayed to the faces of their victims, the lives they had taken. He had learned long ago to push those thoughts to the back of his mind, out of the way where they could interfere with his work. At last, he remarked in a steady, indifferent voice, "It's part of the job."

With a sigh, Jed felt the cigarette smoke engulfing him like a ghostly cloak." "Yes, I know. You know, sometimes it just...gets to me."

Lucas caught a glimpse of his friend's vulnerability in his eyes. Lucas was reminded of their shared humanity, the thin thread tying them closer despite the darkness they had to walk through every day, by Jed's rare display of emotion. Lucas noted, "We do what we have to," in an authoritative although slightly empathetic way. "We adhere to Rae's exact instructions. It's the sole means of living."

Each absorbed in their thoughts, they drove on in quiet. The city's suburbs quickly led to a more industrial environment, with warehouses and sectors lining the streets. The rain became heavier, making it hard to see beyond than a few feet in front of you. As they approached their next destination, a dilapidated factory that loomed like a monolith in the storm, Lucas felt the familiar surge of adrenaline. This was their life—a never-ending cycle of violence and retribution, guided by the unyielding hand of Rae and the merciless doctrine of GoreCorp. They parked the car a few blocks away, approaching on foot to maintain the element of surprise. The rain soaked them to the bone, but neither man seemed to notice. Their focus was entirely on the task at hand. The factory was in a state of disrepair, its windows shattered and walls covered in graffiti. It was the perfect place for an ambush, a labyrinth of shadows and hiding spots. The factory was filled with dimly illuminated hallways and corroding machinery. The only sounds in the environment were the distant roar of thunder and the occasional drop of water. The air was thick with the scent of oil and rot. They split up, each traveling an individual route to cover more territory.

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As Lucas made his way down the dimly lit hallways, his heart felt racing in his chest and he kept an eye out for any activity. Every shadow appeared to move and writhe, making him tightly anticipate the approaching confrontation.

Then, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of it—a flash of movement. An individual emerged from the shadows and attacked him as he spun around, weapon raised. There was a flurry of blows and desperate grappling during the cruel and quick bout. Lucas's skill set took over, leading to accurate and deadly movements. In a matter of seconds, the attacker was unmoving on the ground with life entirely disappearing from his eyes.

Lucas took a long breath and stood up, dabbing the sweat and rain off his forehead. He felt an inkling of something when he gazed down at the corpse—sorrow, possibly, but he brushed it away fast. Such feelings had little place in their field of employment.

Along with Jed, who additionally killed his target, he regrouped. The rain started to subside as they left the factory, and the storm moved on just as fast as it had arrived. Rae would soon be evaluating the work they had done that night, so Lucas took a quick look at the USB in his pocket. Error and doubt were not an option. They served as GoreCorp's merciless enforcers and tools of her will.

And so, motivated by duty and the relentless march of their destiny, they advanced, leaving a trail of blood and darkness in their wake.