Chapter 2: The Laser Corridor and Control Room

Jack's heart raced as they approached what he knew to be the most dangerous part of their journey so far—the laser corridor leading to the Red Queen's motherboard room. He tried to maintain a calm facade, but his mind was in overdrive, recalling every detail of this scene from the movie. This was where most of the mercenaries would meet their gruesome end.

As they entered the control room, Jack hung back, observing. He watched as Kaplan worked on the computers, his fingers flying across the keyboards.

"What's taking so long?" Rain asked impatiently.

Kaplan didn't look up. "The Red Queen's defences are in place. She's making it difficult."

Jack tensed as the door to the corridor slid open, revealing a passage about ten metres long, its walls made of glass. One stepped forward cautiously.

"You stay here," One ordered, gesturing to Jack's group.

As One reached the centre of the corridor, the glass walls suddenly lit up. Jack's stomach churned. He knew exactly what those lights really were.

"The lights are automated," Kaplan's voice crackled over the intercom. "Nothing to worry about."

Jack couldn't help but notice Zheng's unease. When Zheng started talking about the ease with which they were accessing the central AI room, Jack stepped aside slightly, knowing this comment would draw attention from the team leader. His goal was to avoid standing out.

Shifting in the background, Jack strategically moved behind Scarface, the senior player who had been keeping a low profile. He hoped that by placing himself among the senior players, he could avoid being noticed by the mercenary leader.

But luck wasn't on Jack's side. The mercenary leader's eyes narrowed at Zheng's comment, just as Jack had predicted. But instead of just looking at Zheng, the leader's gaze swept the room and landed on Jack. Jack's heart sank. This deviation wasn't supposed to happen.

"You," the leader pointed at Zheng, then at the truck driver, and finally at Jack. "You three, come with us."

Jack cursed internally. His presence should have made him a background character, yet he was now being singled out. He recalled how small shifts in behaviour could impact the plot's flow, and his mind raced as he considered all the other upcoming scenes that might change.

The truck driver, who was also aware of the movie's events, realised the corridor was a death trap. He became visibly agitated and suddenly turned to run, shouting, "I'm not going in there! I'm not going to die like this!"

Without hesitation, the mercenaries raised their weapons and gunned him down. Jack flinched as the driver's body crumpled, a cold reminder of how ruthless this world was. Even though Jack knew this would happen, witnessing it firsthand made it more visceral.

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As the driver's body fell, Jack struggled to keep his composure. He thought about how different it was to see death up close rather than remembering it from a novel. Despite his foreknowledge, he realised he wasn't immune to fear or shock.

Jack took a deep breath and forced himself to focus. He knew the only way to survive now was to stay calm, follow the events as closely as possible, and try to adapt to these small but significant changes. There was no turning back.

The mercenary leader glared at Jack and Zheng. "Move," he ordered, his voice cold. With no other options, Jack stepped forward, his mind racing as he recalled every detail of the upcoming laser trap sequence.

As Jack and Zheng walked down the corridor alongside the mercenaries, Jack's thoughts were a chaotic mix of fear and strategy. He told himself that he'd have to think fast and remember every detail — this could be his only chance to live.

The first laser appeared without warning, a thin line of deadly light. Jack narrowly dodged it, his quick reactions allowing him to avoid getting sliced. He inadvertently helped another mercenary survive by dodging at the right moment. Jack wasn't seeking recognition, but the system took note.

The second set of lasers was trickier. Jack mimicked Zheng's movements, but not without taking a minor hit. The laser grazed his back, leaving a cut that stung but didn't threaten his life. Despite the injury, Jack kept his calm and followed the mercenary leader to safety. The mercenary behind him benefited again from Jack's cautious actions.

As the final laser was disabled, Jack breathed a sigh of relief. His cautious approach had worked. Then, much to his surprise, the system alerted him that he had earned 2000 points and a D-level certificate. It wasn't much compared to what he knew Zheng must have received, but it was still a tangible reward for his survival.

Jack glanced at Zheng, who seemed almost triumphant despite the harrowing experience. Jack could only imagine the points and rewards Zheng had accumulated. While Jack's own reward was modest, he felt a sense of accomplishment. He had survived, and that was what mattered most.

As they exited the corridor, Jack caught Lan's eye. She looked at him with a mixture of relief and curiosity. Jack gave her a weak smile, his mind already racing ahead to the next challenge. He had survived this ordeal, but he knew the horrors of the Hive were far from over. And with each step, the delicate balance between using his knowledge and maintaining the plot became increasingly precarious.

After the harrowing experience in the laser corridor, the group found themselves in a new area. Jack observed the group's interactions, his mind racing with the knowledge of how events should unfold. He noticed Zheng's startled reaction when Lan tapped his shoulder, and decided to intervene subtly to ease tensions.

"Hey," Jack said, stepping forward with a tentative smile. "Maybe we should introduce ourselves? Might help us work together better."

Lan's eyes lit up. "Great idea! I'm Zhan Lan. Sounds like a boy's name, right?" She chuckled nervously. "I'm an author. Before... this, I was always complaining about lack of inspiration. Now..." She gestured around. "Be careful what you wish for, I guess."

Jack nodded sympathetically. "Jack Chen. Computer science student and fanfiction writter. I was just on vacation in China, trying to connect with my roots. Didn't expect... this."

Zheng seemed to relax a bit. "Zheng Zha. Former manager. I thought my life was too boring, I wanted some excitement." He shook his head ruefully. "This is definitely not what I had in mind."

As the introductions continued, Jack noticed Jie watching them with a mix of pity and mockery. He's probably thinking we're all dead already, Jack thought. He caught Zheng's eye, seeing the unease there, and gave a slight nod of solidarity.

One of the mercenaries, his voice gruff, interrupted. "Alright, enough chit-chat. You lot, with me."

They followed him through a series of doors, eventually reaching what Jack recognized as the control room. His heart raced as he took in the banks of monitors and control panels. The Red Queen AI has already gone rogue, he thought. This room is useless now.

Jack's mind whirled with the possibilities. He knew what was supposed to happen, but he also knew the dangers of changing the plot. As the others explored the room, touching screens and muttering in confusion, Jack hung back, observing.

Lan approached a terminal, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. "Maybe we can access some information here?"

Jack tensed, knowing that any interaction could potentially trigger unforeseen consequences. He cleared his throat. "Careful," he said, trying to sound casual. "We don't know what kind of security systems might be in place."

Zheng gave Jack a curious look. "You sound like you know something about this stuff."

Jack shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Just paranoid, I guess. This whole situation has me on edge."

As the group continued to explore the control room, Jack noticed Jie watching him intently. He realised he'd have to be more careful. Changing things overtly could be dangerous, but so could appearing too knowledgeable. He'd have to find a balance between using his knowledge to survive and not disrupting the flow of events too much.

The tension in the room was palpable as they all grappled with their new reality. Jack knew that soon, they'd face their first real test against the horrors of the Hive. He just hoped he could keep

himself — and maybe some of the others — alive long enough to see it through.