"Oh my god!"
Lucy's voice rang out, filled with shock and disbelief.
Her eyes were wide as she stared at Jack, her expression caught between awe and sheer confusion.
"What the hell just happened!?"
Jack, noticing Lucy's reaction, furrowed his brows.
"Huh? Lucy, why are you looking at me like that?"
As soon as he spoke—
His own voice echoed with a deep metallic timbre.
His eyes widened.
"Wait… why the hell does my voice sound like this?!"
It wasn't just deeper—it carried a synthetic, almost robotic resonance.
Lucy pointed toward the nearby restroom.
"Go look in the mirror. Now."
Jack, still confused, took a few quick steps toward the restroom.
The moment he looked into the mirror—
"What the actual—?!"
A loud shout of shock erupted from inside.
Seconds later, Jack burst back into the room, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"David! What the hell is this? This is... this is insane!"****"
His face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
He ran his hands through his hair—no, not his usual buzzcut.
Instead, his hair had transformed into thick, stylized dreadlocks.
His entire body was encased in sleek, black armor, adorned with faint blue energy veins that pulsed like a heartbeat.
The 'V'-shaped eye mask covering his face flashed red every time he moved.
Jack turned to David with sheer admiration.
"Dude! I've wanted to grow dreadlocks for ages. And now? Look at me! This is the sickest style I've ever had!"
David smirked, shaking his head at Jack's enthusiasm.
"Alright, calm down, man. I know it looks cool, but let's focus."
Jack was practically bouncing with energy.
"Cool? Bro, this is beyond cool! This is some next-level tech! Where did you even get this chip?"
David chuckled.
"A friend brought it back for me. If used right, it's leagues beyond what Arasaka has."
Jack's eyes widened.
"No way! More advanced than Adam Smasher's gear?"
David's lips curled into a confident smirk.
"If you use it properly? Not even close."
Jack let out an impressed whistle.
"Damn, David, you keep dropping surprises on me. First, you save my ass in Little China, and now this? You're a goddamn legend, man."
David simply shrugged.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. This is just the beginning."
His gaze turned serious.
"Jack, you've only had it on for a few minutes. Do you feel any discomfort?"
Jack paused, flexing his fingers and rolling his shoulders.
He tilted his head from side to side, listening for any signs of strain or lag.
After a moment, he shook his head.
"Nope. Feels natural, actually. Like it's a part of me."
David nodded, satisfied.
"Good. Then let's test it properly."
He turned and handed a small data chip to Lucy.
"This one's for you."
Lucy's eyes flickered between the chip and Jack's transformed form.
She smirked.
"Alright, let's see what this thing can really do."
David motioned towards the door.
"Let's head to the rooftop. Time for a real test."
---
On the Rooftop – Testing the Power of Source Plan: Thunder
The trio stepped out of the elevator onto the rooftop, the neon glow of Night City stretching out before them.
David gestured toward the far end of the rooftop.
"Jack, activate your armor again. I want you to sprint to the edge as fast as you can."
Jack nodded.
With just a single thought—
The [Source Plan: Thunder] armor seamlessly materialized over his body.
Nano-plates slid into place, wrapping around his limbs.
A powerful blue glow pulsed from the seams, signaling the activation of the exosuit.
The moment the armor was fully equipped, the air around Jack shifted.
Lucy let out a low whistle.
"Damn… it even looks intimidating."
David smirked.
"Jack, full speed. Let's see what this thing can do."
Jack grinned beneath his mask.
"Alright, hang on to your asses."
Then—
He took off.
The moment his foot hit the ground—
A shockwave burst outward.
Jack's entire body blurred, moving faster than the human eye could track.
In two seconds, he had already crossed half the rooftop.
In four seconds, he was at the very edge.
He skidded to a stop, his boots leaving scorch marks on the concrete.
Lucy's jaw practically hit the floor.
"Holy shit."
David's eyes gleamed.
"That's nearly ten times a normal human's sprinting speed."
Jack turned back, laughing.
"Man, I feel like a goddamn superhuman!"
David nodded.
"Speed is one thing. Now, let's test combat efficiency."
He pointed to a set of metal crates stacked on the far side of the rooftop.
"Jack, aim your arms at those crates. The suit should have built-in ballistic weapons."
Jack flexed his fingers—
And suddenly, two sleek pistols materialized in his hands, seemingly formed from the armor itself.
The barrels hummed with raw electric energy.
Jack grinned.
"Oh, I like this."
Without hesitation, he raised both pistols—
And fired.
A split second later—
Twin bolts of lightning shot out.
The moment they hit the crates—
BOOM!
An explosion ripped through the rooftop, sending debris flying.
Lucy took a step back, shielding her eyes from the blast.
Even David had to brace himself.
Jack, meanwhile, just stood there, grinning.
"Oh. Hell. Yes."
He turned to David, laughing.
"Dude, where the hell has this tech been all my life?!"
David smirked.
"Told you. It's beyond anything Night City has ever seen."
Jack holstered the pistols, his armor humming as it deactivated.
He turned to Lucy with a cocky grin.
"Alright, your turn."
Lucy rolled her eyes.
"Fine. But if I end up with a weird new hairstyle like yours, I'm punching David in the face."
David just chuckled.
"Fair enough. Now let's see how [Source Plan: Shadow] suits you."
As Lucy took the data chip and activated her own armor, one thing was certain—
Night City was about to witness something it had never seen before.
And David and his crew?
They were just getting started.
---
To be continued…