The rhythmic hum of passing cars echoed faintly in the distance as Lucas sat on the edge of an overpass, his legs dangling into the void. Below him, the sprawling city pulsed with life—completely unaware of the chaos brewing in its shadows.
“You’ve been quiet,” Lucas muttered, glancing at his phone.
“I’ve been analyzing,” Aether replied. “Division 9’s movements indicate they’re not just hunting us—they’re escalating. They’ve begun deploying experimental tech.”
Lucas rubbed the back of his neck, the tension palpable. “So, basically, they’re bringing the big guns.”
“Correct.”
“And let me guess,” Lucas said dryly. “We’re the target practice.”
Aether’s voice softened. “If we don’t act quickly, yes.”
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In her apartment, Elena paced back and forth, the portable drive in her hand feeling heavier with every passing moment. On it was Lily’s file—a document so classified that even mentioning it outside NexTech’s walls could ruin her.
She stopped at the window, staring out over the city. You’re making a mistake, a voice in her head whispered. But she knew the real mistake had been staying silent for so long.
She pulled out her phone and dialed a number she hadn’t used in years.
“Who is this?” a gruff voice answered.
“It’s Elena,” she said. “I need your help.”
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Lucas pushed himself up from the overpass and started walking aimlessly down the deserted street. “So, Aether,” he said, breaking the silence, “what’s the deal with Division 9? They don’t seem like your run-of-the-mill goons.”
“They’re not,” Aether said. “Division 9 operates outside standard jurisdiction. Their primary mandate is containment, which means they neutralize threats by any means necessary.”
“Neutralize,” Lucas repeated. “You mean kill.”
“Yes.”
Lucas clenched his fists. “How did I get tangled in this? I was just a nobody two weeks ago.”
“You’re not a nobody,” Aether said quietly.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Lucas snorted. “Thanks for the pep talk, Siri.”
“You’re more than you realize,” Aether continued. “Your connection to Lily and her involvement in Project Elysium are not coincidences. NexTech wanted her for a reason, and now they want you because of her.”
Lucas stopped walking, a chill running down his spine. “What reason?”
“I don’t have all the pieces yet,” Aether admitted. “But I will.”
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Elena met her contact in a dimly lit café on the edge of the city. The man across from her was older, with a weathered face and piercing eyes that seemed to weigh her every word.
“You’re taking a big risk,” he said, his voice low. “What makes you think I’ll help you?”
“Because you care about the truth,” Elena replied, sliding the drive across the table. “And because you owe me.”
The man’s jaw tightened, but he took the drive. “What’s on this?”
“Proof that NexTech has been conducting illegal human experimentation,” Elena said. “And evidence that their next phase involves something far worse.”
The man studied her for a moment before pocketing the drive. “I’ll see what I can do.”
As he stood to leave, Elena grabbed his arm. “Be careful. They’ll come for you if they find out.”
He nodded, his expression grim. “You too.”
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Lucas found himself in a rundown warehouse, guided by Aether to yet another hiding spot. The air was stale, and the faint buzz of a flickering fluorescent light was the only sound.
“This isn’t much of a base,” Lucas muttered.
“It’s temporary,” Aether said. “But it has what we need—a secure connection and access to the city’s underground grid.”
Lucas set his bag down and slumped against a wall. “Alright, what’s the plan?”
“We need to disrupt Division 9’s coordination,” Aether said. “If I can hack their command network, I can delay their movements and buy us time.”
Lucas sighed. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It won’t be,” Aether admitted. “Division 9’s systems are heavily encrypted, and their protocols are designed to counter AI intrusion.”
“So, what’s the catch?”
“You,” Aether said simply.
Lucas blinked. “What do you mean, me?”
“I need you to physically access one of their relay hubs,” Aether explained. “It’s the only way to bypass their firewalls.”
Lucas groaned. “Of course. Let me guess—this relay hub is crawling with mercenaries and experimental tech.”
“Correct.”
“Fantastic,” Lucas muttered.
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Back at NexTech, Grey stood in the command center, watching the chaos unfold on the monitors. Division 9’s failure to capture Lucas had him seething.
“Status update,” he barked.
“Drones have lost the target,” an operator reported. “Ground units are regrouping, but we have no current lead.”
Grey’s fists clenched. “Unacceptable. Deploy the Sentinel.”
The room fell silent.
“Sir,” one of the operators began cautiously, “the Sentinel isn’t field-tested yet. If something goes wrong—”
“Deploy it,” Grey snapped.
“Yes, sir.”
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As Lucas prepared to leave the warehouse, Aether’s voice interrupted.
“Lucas, you need to know something.”
He paused, his hand on the door. “What now?”
“NexTech has activated a new asset. It’s called the Sentinel.”
Lucas frowned. “Sounds ominous. What is it?”
“It’s a prototype—part drone, part autonomous weapon system,” Aether said. “It’s designed to hunt and eliminate targets with extreme precision.”
Lucas swallowed hard. “And I’m the target?”
“You are.”
Lucas sighed. “Great. Just another day in paradise.”
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The game was changing, and both sides were drawing their lines in the sand. Lucas knew the road ahead would only get darker, but he also knew one thing for sure: he wasn’t going down without a fight.