[⚠️ Suspicious Content] The dim glow of the Rift Core illuminated Shepherd's workshop as he pored over the data streaming in from the cores of past and future Skynet. Lockdown stood silently nearby, his restored systems humming with quiet efficiency. The revelation about the Plunderers — cosmic scavengers of worlds — weighed heavily on Shepherd's mind. He knew the coming battles would demand all his ingenuity and strength.
His first step was to strengthen the defenses of his home world — the Fast & Furious universe — before the Plunderers could even set their sights on it. He focused on Lockdown, modifying the cybernetic enforcer with new armor, enhanced weapon systems, and deeper integration with the Rift Core. Lockdown was no longer just a vehicle or protector; he was an extension of Shepherd's will, a sentinel against threats both earthly and otherworldly.
Meanwhile, Shepherd began gathering intelligence on the Plunderers themselves. Using the Rift Key, he opened pathways to distant worlds they had ravaged, witnessing the aftermath of their cosmic theft. Entire civilizations wiped out, their cores ripped from existence, leaving nothing but lifeless husks drifting in the void.
He encountered a mysterious faction — survivors from one such world — who had managed to resist the Plunderers' assault. They warned Shepherd of a looming invasion, one that could target his universe next. Their technology was alien, yet somehow familiar, hinting at ancient connections across the multiverse.
Back on Earth, Shepherd's growing alliance with Dominic Toretto's crew remained a vital source of strength. Together, they worked on developing vehicles and strategies that could withstand not only the human threats of their world but also the increasingly dangerous incursions from other dimensions.
Shepherd also began experimenting with the Rift Core's energy, seeking ways to amplify its power and use it offensively against the Plunderers. The core's energy could bend space and time, but it was unstable and demanded a constant flow of absorbed energy to maintain its function. Every success came at a cost, straining Shepherd's own physical limits.
As the days passed, reports of strange anomalies and disappearances began surfacing across multiple worlds connected by the Rift. Shepherd knew these were early signs of the Plunderers' advance. His resolve hardened. This war was bigger than any race, any heist, or any battle he had fought before.
He would be ready.