It was a cold November night when Adam Archer was feeling the chill in his bones as he trudged through the deserted streets. He was a young man in his late teens, tall, with a mop of unruly hair that seemed to defy all attempts at taming it. He had been walking for hours, trying to find a place to get something to eat, but everywhere he went seemed to be closed. His stomach growled as he was getting desperate. Finally, he saw a glimmer of hope in the form of a 24-hour convenience store. He quickened his pace and pushed open the door, hoping that he could 

finally get something to eat.

Adam walked into the convenience store, and the warm glow of lights and the sound of activity greeted him. The store was active, however, the two clerks behind the counter were deeply engrossed in a late-night newscast, their eyes fixed on the small television mounted above their heads.

“It’s been an interesting day,” announced a reporter from the newscast. “The sight earlier today. Meteors crashing to earth. Our own Sarah was on the scene this morning. Here’s her report.” She played a video of her interview with one witness who had seen it all happen. The man was talking about how big and bright it all looked from where he was standing on his roof, and how beautiful it looked when it broke up into little pieces and disappeared. She said she’d try to get more information for them later in their broadcast tonight, but for now, she just wanted to show off some more amazing footage of this meteor shower. 

The clip ended with a shot of her walking down a street lined with houses that were all lit up in light purple—and then they went back to their regular programming as if nothing unusual had happened. Adam stood at the counter, hungrily eyeing the rows of chips and candy bars. He had no cash on him, and he was getting desperate. His stomach was growling while his energy was flagging, knowing he needed to eat something soon. He glanced around the store, trying to come up with a plan. For a moment, he considered shoplifting one of the smaller items and making a run for it. Then his phone rang, and his dad’s name flashed on the screen.

He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided against answering. He knew his dad would just give him another lecture about responsibility and the importance of being independent. Adam sighed and shoved his phone back into his pocket, resolving to find another way to get some food. As he turned his attention back to the store, he caught the attention of the clerk. “Can I help you?” she asked, a hint of irritation in her voice. Adam took a deep breath and explained his predicament, hoping that the clerks could help him out. 

“Excuse me, can you give me change for these?” he asked the cashier, holding out the bag of chips. The cashier shook her head regretfully. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any change,” she said. Adam sighed and pulled out his credit card, hoping that would work. But when he tried to run it through the machine, it rejected it. He tried again, nevertheless, nothing happened. The cashier gave him a sympathetic look and thought Adam was homeless. Adam felt his face flush with embarrassment as he silently left the store, making no purchases. Despite the lateness of the hour, Adam refused to go home. His father was there, and he wasn’t in the mood to deal with another lecture. 

As he walked down the street, a man he recognized from the store stopped him. “Hey, I saw you at the store,” he said. “Didn’t you get anything?” Adam shook his head and kept walking, but the man followed him. “I teach a karate class at the juice bar a couple of blocks 

from here, and we’re looking for a floater to help clean between classes. 

Are you interested?” 

Adam shook his head. “I’m not interested,” he said firmly and picked up the pace.

“I’m Leo, by the way. And hey, maybe you could use the extra money?” Leo said, gesturing towards Adam. “I mean, it’s not much, but it’s something.” He stuck out his hand and Adam shook it, introducing himself. Leo then continued on his way down the sidewalk, leaving Adam to ponder the opportunity he had just presented. Leo’s words lingered in Adam’s mind as he considered the opportunity. The money would be welcome, and if he could earn some on the side, who knew what might happen? Maybe he could even save enough to move out of his father’s house and get his own apartment. He was lost in thought when a commotion down the alley jolted him out of his reverie. A young woman emerged from the shadows. Her evening gown was spattered with what looked disturbingly like syrup. She was gripping a large butcher knife in her hand and fear was etched on her face. They exchanged a glance, and she spoke rapidly, words tumbling out in a jumbled rush. Adam’s mind raced as he tried to process what 

was happening. 

Her hands were shaking, causing the blade of the knife to rattle in its loosely fitting handle. But as she described her attackers, he struggled to make sense of it all. The woman’s words were jumbled, disjointed, and was difficult to determine what had happened. Adam felt a surge of panic as he realized he did not know how to help this woman. “It attacked me,” the woman said her only intelligible words. “What did?” Adam asked, trying to make sense of the situation. “It was so fast, I didn’t see it coming,” the woman said, tears streaming down her face. She dropped the knife and slumped to the ground, defeated. “I don’t know what happened,” she said. “It just appeared out of nowhere.” He wanted to help her, but he didn’t know how. The woman needed medical attention. Heavy footsteps sounded from the shadows, causing Adam’s heart to skip a beat. He turned towards the sound, his hand going to his pocket for his phone. But before he could even dial for help, a creature emerged from the dark. Its face was a blank mask, and the rest of its body looked like someone had sculpted it from marble. Adam’s eyes widened in shock as he took in the sight. But before he could even process what was happening, two more of the creatures stepped out from the shadows, and joined the first. 

“They’re here,” the woman whispered, her voice barely audible. He could see the fear in her eyes and knew that they were in serious trouble. He did not know what these creatures were or what they wanted, they needed to get out of there as fast as possible. He helped the woman to her feet, trying to think of a way to escape.He watched as his phone began to flicker and die in his hand, the battery draining at an alarming rate. The same thing was happening to 

the woman’s phone, as well as the streetlights and any other electronic devices in the area. It was as if the creatures were siphoning off the power. 

Leo approached the group from behind Adam, his arrogance on full display as he spread his legs and assumed a fighting stance. “Am I too late for the party?” he asked, a cocky smile on his face. He turned to look at Leo, eyes wide with shock. “Are you really going to fight those things?” he asked, gesturing towards the creatures that were looming over them. “We need to go get help!” Leo chuckled and flexed his muscles. “I’ve got this,” he said. “I’ve been training for years. These things don’t stand a chance against me.” Adam shook his head, knowing that this was a bad idea. Leo taught martial arts though, but these creatures were something else. 

They were not human, and he did not know what they were capable of. He tried to plead with Leo to get help, but the man was too caught up in his ego to listen. He could hear the clanking footsteps of the creatures in front of them. What he saw made his blood run cold. These were no ordinary creatures - they were robots made to look like marble statues. 

He could see the metal gears and wires inside their bodies, working in perfect synchronization to create their smooth movements.Leo, fueled by his ego and belief in his martial arts skills, took off running toward the creatures, yelling as he leaped through the air. He kicked one of them with all his might, and it staggered back, stunned. But it regained its footing and grabbed Leo by the throat, lifting him off the ground with ease. With a powerful toss, it threw him against the side of a building, causing a cloud of dust to rise from the impact. Leo crumpled to the ground, coughing up blood as he struggled to catch his breath. The other two creatures turned their attention to the woman, who was still standing there in shock. They advanced on her, their marblelike bodies moving with smooth and graceful precision. The scene that 

greeted Adam was one of pure horror. One creature had grabbed hold of the woman, while the other stood behind her, its body contorting in strange and unsettling ways. The woman’s screams echoed through the alleyway as it placed her inside the body of the other creature. As its body snapped shut, the creature silenced her voice. Blood shot out from the creature as it closed, painting the alleyway in a grisly scene. The creature continued to drip blood from its seams as it stood there, its prey now securely contained inside. 

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As the creature fought with Leo, it made the same whining noise as the other one, its body contorting to fit comfortably around the martial artist’s frame. Just as it seemed like all hope was lost, a loud whistling sound cut through the air. Two daggers flew through the darkness, slicing the air and hitting the targets with deadly accuracy. The two creatures that were distant from Leo turned toward the source of the attack, their marble-like bodies flickering with a strange light. 

They watched as a figure emerged from the shadows, running towards them with two more daggers in hand. The figure threw the daggers with precision, leaped into the air, and somehow pulled the daggers back to their hands with an unseen force. They landed gracefully between the two creatures, their body immune to the laws of physics. Adam watched as the figure, who had once appeared to be a faceless entity, now see a woman, dressed in a sleek purple suit that covered her from head to toe. Her helmet concealed her face, but Adam could see the determined look in her eyes through the tinted visor. Her suit was covered in the same red syrup-like blood that had spilled from the creatures and the woman. They held their daggers together, hilt to hilt, and with a flick of their wrists, the daggers extended into a doublesided lance. The figure wielded the weapon, ready to take on the creatures and put an end to this nightmare.She was a force to be reckoned with and pushed herself to the limit as she fought the robots. She moved to dodge their attacks with ease and struck back with her double-sided lance. Her lance was a blur of motion, her purple suit standing out in the darkness as she battled the creatures. As she fought the robots, she glanced over at Leo, who was still struggling to fend off the creature that was trying to absorb him. She saw the look of desperation in his eyes and knew that he was running out of time. She reached into her pouch and pulled out a unique and captivating object, the crystallized flower bloom, a delicate blossom that has been frozen in time, with delicate petals encased in a layer of crystal, and at its center is a bright spark of flame. Adam watched as she threw the fire bloom toward Leo, but before he could do anything, the robot grabbed him and absorbed him into its body. Leo let out a cry of pain as he was engulfed by the creature, his body disappearing inside its marble-like form. It horrified Adam as it silenced Leo forever.

He could see the woman in the purple suit show signs of exhaustion. Despite her impressive fighting skills and unrelenting determination, she was faltering against the relentless attack of the robots. They seemed to be tireless, their marble-like bodies not showing any signs of fatigue. The robots continued to pummel her with blows that made her grimace in pain, but she refused to give up. Her lance moved with fluid grace as she tried to fend off their attacks, but Adam could see that she was becoming weaker, and her energy was draining. He knew she couldn’t keep up this fight for much longer. Adam looked down and saw the fire bloom lying at his feet. He realized the figure had thrown it at Leo to help him. He ducked down and picked it up, inspecting it. The fire inside the bloom was flickering, and he could feel its warmth radiating through his gloves. He knew that this was his chance to help her. The robot lifted Adam into the air, and he realized he was being taken inside its shell. He could feel himself being envelopedby the cold, hard exterior, and he knew he had to act fast. With all his strength, he pushed the fire bloom against his body, hoping that it would have some effect. The bloom was warm to the touch, and as Adam pressed it against himself, he could feel its energy flow into him. He closed his eyes and focused all his thoughts on the bloom, using its power to fuel his own. The robot continued to squeeze and crush Adam. He could feel his body being pushed to the limit. Suddenly, a red suit formed around him, enveloping him in a cocoon of energy. The gears of the robot tried to continue their crushing grip, but they couldn’t penetrate the suit. The suit was incredibly strong and flexible, allowing Adam to move and breathe easily. As the robot continued to squeeze, its internal systems overloaded and the robot broke apart, showering Adam with debris. The suit safely protected him. The woman in the purple suit rushed over to him and helped him to his feet. “Just stay back and let me handle this,” she added. 

Adam could see the woman’s movements becoming more and more desperate. The robot was relentless, its attacks growing stronger and more persistent. The woman was faltering, and Adam could see the exhaustion written all over her face. Despite her obvious fatigue, she kept fighting, moving Adam out of harm’s way whenever the robot came too close. She struck at the robot’s armor, trying to find its weak spot, but it seemed to be impenetrable. Despite her efforts, the robot was relentless. It pressed its attack, and it forced the woman to give ground. She dodged the robot’s strike and plunged her lance into a crack in its armor. With a resounding crash, the robot crumpled to the ground. 

As the dust settled, Adam collapsed to the ground. He had survived the encounter with these strange and deadly creatures, and he would never forget the terrifying experience. Adam removed his helmet and gazed at the defeated robots, his face etched with sorrow. He couldn’t believe that he had survived the encounter with these deadly creatures. He had seen Leo and the woman get crushed by the robots and would never forget the sight of their bodies disappearing inside the marblelike creatures.

He watched as the hero stood there, her face hidden behind the sleek and futuristic design of her helmet. Despite the defeat of the robots, there was no celebration. Instead, she appeared disassociated, her emotions masked behind a blank expression on her helmet. But Adam could sense the sadness and grief that weighed on her. Despite her attempt to push aside her emotions, the weight of their loss was piercing her. “It’s time to go,” she said, her voice firm and decisive, yet tinged with sadness. She moved down the alleyway. Adam watched as the defeated robots dissolved into a puddle of metal and oil. He felt a sense of awe as 

he watched the once formidable machines crumble into nothing.They made their way through the alleys. Adam moved quietly along her side trying to avoid detection from anyone who may have seen the fight with the robots. The surrounding buildings were decrepit, with graffiti covering the walls and piles of garbage lining the streets. The air was thick with the smell of pollution and the sound of sirens in the distance. 

As they walked, Adam couldn’t help but think about Leo. The way the robot had crushed his friend’s body, and the guilt and anger he felt were overwhelming. “That wasn’t meant for you,” she said, breaking the silence. “You’re not Leo.” Adam looked up at her, surprised. “No, I’m Adam,” he said, his voice shaking. “And you are?” She hesitated for a moment before saying, “Call me Cyrus.” The two of them continued to walk in silence for a few moments, until Adam asked, “What about those robots? The Datatrons? I saw them melt into a puddle.” 

Cyrus nodded. “They’re designed to do that. They’re information brokers, selling data to the highest bidder.” She replied as her helmet motioned to both sides checking for any signs of attackers just lurking in the darkness. “We can’t stay here. We need to get to one of our pods. We have several scattered throughout the city.” He’s not sure what it is about her that is so intriguing, but he can’t help feeling drawn to her. She’s confident, strong, and unafraid to speak her mind. As they make their way through the dark, damp alleyways, Adam can’t help but steal glances at Cyrus. The light from the streetlamps casts a soft glow on her face, highlighting her sharp cheekbones and full lips. Despite her icy demeanor, he can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to her than meets the eye. The pod itself is in a run-down area of the city, hidden away in a forgotten corner. The entrance is a small, unassuming door that blends in with the surrounding brickwork. Inside, the pod is cramped and dingy, with a musty smell hanging in the air. But despite its less than-ideal conditions, Adam can’t help but feel a sense of excitement as he steps inside. 

As they make their way deeper into the pod, Adam can’t help but take in his surroundings. The walls are lined with various gadgets and tools, some of which he recognizes and others he doesn’t. In the center of the room sits a large, metallic device that he assumes is the teleporter. 

“So, what’s the deal with the Datatrons?” Adam asked, trying to make conversation with Cyrus as they sat in the cramped pod hideout. 

Cyrus shrugged, her eyes fixed on the teleporter. “They’re ancient machines, information brokers. They sell data to the highest bidder. We’ve been tracking them for a while.” Adam hesitated, unsure if he should continue. But he couldn’t help the curiosity gnawing at him. “And what about you? You’re not from around here, are you?” Cyrus shot him a sharp glance. “That’s none of your concern.” “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” Adam said, looking down at his hands. Cyrus’ expression softened. “It’s fine. We all have our secrets.” They sat in silence for a moment before Cyrus spoke again. “The pod will take you to the Spearhead. You’re not coming with me?” Cyrus moves to the teleporter, her movements smooth and practiced. “I have other things to attend to. But don’t worry, you’ll be in excellent hands.” “Oh, okay. I just thought... never mind.” Adam can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. 

She turns to Adam. “What?” 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound like I was questioning your authority or anything.”

“No worries.” 

The teleporter hums to life, and Adam takes one last look at Cyrus. She is focused on the teleporter, her back still turned to him, a distant figure.