After scrubbing the last stubborn streak of angelic blood from the floor, Alexander activated his personal AI companion, RedHeck. The holographic entity materialized in mid-air, its crimson lines tracing the form of a sleek humanoid figure with shifting geometric patterns across its surface.
"RedHeck," Alexander began, adjusting his Univisor, "trace the origin of that CyberAngel. I want to know where it came from."
The AI's voice was smooth and efficient, with just a hint of synthetic humor. "Analyzing now, boss. Give me a second."
RedHeck's figure flickered, processing data. After a moment, it spoke. "Found it. Source points to a secret lab hidden in the basement of a residential house. Sending you the coordinates now."
A map flashed onto Alexander's visor, pinpointing a location. He nodded, making a mental note of the address. "Thanks, RedHeck." With a quick gesture, he minimized the AI back into his visor.
Alexander set out on foot, keeping a casual pace toward the target. The streets hummed with neon lights, the occasional hover car buzzing by overhead.
Midway to his destination, he spotted a CyberPolice checkpoint. The officers were clustered around the remnants of the cyborgman he had obliterated earlier, their synthetic visors scanning for evidence. One officer gestured animatedly, likely speculating on what could have caused such carnage.
Alexander suppressed a laugh, shaking his head. "Idiots." Not wanting to waste time answering their "very serious questions," he activated his camouflage system. His form shimmered briefly before blending seamlessly into the surroundings.
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Invisible to the CyberPolice, Alexander strolled through their perimeter, dodging a pair of officers inspecting a burnt metallic hand.
"This kind of destruction... who could even—"
"Focus! Sweep the area for more clues," barked another officer.
Alexander stifled a chuckle and moved past them, careful not to disturb the scene.
Once he was clear of the checkpoint, he deactivated the camouflage and continued toward his target. The neighborhood grew quieter and more desolate as he approached. It was a rundown, eerily silent area, its cracked sidewalks and boarded-up windows telling a story of neglect.
"Lower-class," Alexander muttered, observing the grim atmosphere. "Probably riddled with drugs and crime. Perfect place for a secret lab."
He arrived at the house—a nondescript, slightly dilapidated structure that exuded an air of intentional normalcy. Too normal, Alexander thought. Suspiciously normal.
With a faint shimmer, he activated his intangibility module and phased through the door, entering the house without so much as a sound.
Inside, darkness enveloped the space. The air smelled faintly of machine oil and something metallic. RedHeck's voice chimed softly through his visor. "Scans show one person upstairs. Appears to be asleep. Energy readings in the basement match advanced tech signatures."
Alexander crept through the house, his eyes adjusting to the dimness. Scattered across the living room were various pieces of tech—half-assembled gadgets, circuit boards, and tools. He examined them briefly, noting the skill of their craftsmanship.
"Not bad," he muttered, setting down a finely tuned servo motor.
Satisfied with his initial exploration, Alexander moved to the kitchen and crouched in the shadows, waiting for the sleeping occupant to wake. Patience wasn't his strongest virtue, but for now, he was willing to bide his time.
"Let's see who's behind all this," he whispered to himself, a smirk tugging at his lips.