The hatch slammed shut behind them, locking the scent of rust and death below. For the first time in hours, the air felt fresh — though the tension hung even heavier.
The Upper City.
Tall towers, sleek chrome roads, surveillance drones in every corner. It was beautiful in the way a cage could be: polished, pristine… and suffocating.
Franko crouched behind a low wall, peeking into the heart of the sector.
Franko (whispering):
"This place doesn't feel like home anymore."
Savio (checking his scanner):
"It's not. The energy readings here are off the charts. Someone's building something big."
Caros (leaning back against the wall):
"Great. I left my rocket launcher in my other pants."
Irena moved with purpose. Her eyes darted across the skyline, as if recalling old memories turned to ghosts.
Irena:
"The neural lab is beneath that tower."
She pointed at a massive building — obsidian black, no windows, no entrances visible. At its peak, a pulsing blue core flickered like a heartbeat.
Savio (frowning):
"That's Tower Sigma. I thought it was decommissioned years ago."
Irena:
"It was. Until Zacrota claimed it for Project Chainlink."
Caros:
"Very subtle name for mind control, bravo."
Franko narrowed his eyes.
Franko:
"Then we break in. Get the data. And get out."
Irena:
"There's only one way inside. The delivery tunnels. Automated, fast, and heavily guarded."
Caros grinned.
Caros:
"Then we better look like a package."
—
Two hours later…
Covered in metal crates and fake authorization codes, the group squeezed into a robotic shipment capsule. It buzzed to life, sliding through a magnetic rail with terrifying speed.
Savio (squished):
"If I die in a box next to Caros' armpit, tell the world I deserved better."
Caros:
"I showered last Tuesday, thank you very much."
Franko barely heard them. His mind was spinning. The idea of a neural device, the footage of Lucino's hollow eyes, the lies the world was built on… all of it crashed like waves inside him.
Franko (quietly):
"If they can control thoughts… no one's truly free."
Irena:
"That's why we have to stop them. Before they rewrite reality."
Suddenly, the capsule jolted to a stop.
Red lights flared.
Savio (panicking):
"That's not good."
A robotic voice echoed overhead:
> "UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY. SECURITY DEPLOYED."
The top of the crate exploded off.
Armed drones hovered above, their guns locking in.
Caros:
"Time to shine."
He leapt out, firing with two blasters, spinning mid-air like a dancer in a war ballet.
Savio followed, tossing an EMP grenade that sent two drones into a nosedive.
Franko rolled out, dodging lasers, and tackled a bot from behind, using its body to shield himself before hurling it into another.
Franko (gritting his teeth):
"This way! Move!"
They sprinted down a hallway of blue lights and humming walls. Sirens blared. Doors slammed shut behind them, guiding their path like a maze designed to trap.
At the end of the corridor stood a sealed vault door.
Irena (pulling out a chip):
"Cover me."
She jammed it into the console and began hacking. Sparks flew as the code scrolled violently on the screen.
Suddenly, a loud thud echoed behind them.
A tall figure stepped out of the shadows.
Chrome armor. Crimson eyes.
Napol's lieutenant.
Sleek and deadly.
Lieutenant (mechanical voice):
"Targets confirmed. Elimination authorized."
Caros (loading his gun):
"Aw hell, it talks."
The robot charged. It was fast — too fast.
It grabbed Savio and hurled him across the hallway, then blocked Caros' bullets with its arm.
Franko rushed in with a metal rod, striking its neck joint. Sparks flew.
The robot staggered but retaliated with a punch that sent Franko flying.
Franko (groaning):
"Okay. That one hurt."
Irena shouted from the console.
Irena:
"Thirty more seconds!"
The robot charged again — but this time Franko slid beneath its legs, stabbing a wire into its back. Electricity surged. It convulsed.
Caros jumped on its back, yelling like a maniac.
Caros:
"YEEHAW, I'M RIDING A METAL COW!"
The robot slammed him into a wall — but the distraction was enough.
Irena:
"Got it!"
The vault door opened.
They all dived in, slamming the door behind them.
Silence.
Inside, the room glowed in a cold blue light.
Rows of pods lined the walls.
In each one — a human.
Eyes closed. Connected by wires. Frozen in thought.
Savio (whispering):
"What… is this place?"
Irena:
"The prototype phase. They're testing mind control on real people."
Franko walked between the pods, his heart heavy.
Until he stopped.
Inside one of the pods…
Lucino.
His face. His scars. His tattoo.
Still alive.
Barely.
Franko's hands trembled.
Franko:
"I thought you were dead…"
Irena:
"He will be, if we don't disconnect him soon."
But before she could touch the panel, alarms blared again.
A deep voice filled the room.
Napol (over speakers):
"Congratulations, rebels. You've made it to the center. Unfortunately… it ends here."
Above them, vents opened. Gas began to flood the room.
Franko (pulling his mask):
"We need a way out! Now!"
Savio hacked the side panel, but it was encrypted. Time was running out.
Caros (coughing):
"I regret not finishing that burrito yesterday…"
Suddenly, Lucino's eyes snapped open.
He looked at Franko.
Weak… but alive.
And he whispered one word:
Lucino:
"Trap."