The adrenaline from their escape lingered, making the undercity seem quieter than it was. Viola led them to a secure hideout, a cramped room hidden behind a facade of rusted storage crates. Rhea was breathing heavily, her hand pressed against a shallow wound on her arm, while Artemis clenched the notebook like a lifeline.

Inside the hideout, the three collapsed onto the makeshift furniture, the tension hanging heavy in the air. Viola, ever composed, immediately began checking the notebook, her fingers dancing over the device’s surface.

“What did we get?” Artemis asked, her voice still sharp with residual adrenaline.

Viola’s single organic eye darted up to meet hers. “A lot of encrypted files. It’s going to take time to sort through it, but if what we need is in here, it’ll be worth the risk.”

Rhea groaned softly, peeling back the sleeve of her jacket to reveal a jagged cut. “That was too close,” she muttered, wincing as she probed the wound. “Those automatons... they weren’t like anything I’ve seen before.”

“They weren’t standard security,” Viola confirmed, her focus back on the notebook. “They’re hunters. Specifically designed to deal with threats like us.”

Artemis frowned. “You mean like me.”

“And me,” Viola added, without looking up. “Anyone the Consortium deems a threat, anyone who steps out of line, becomes a target.”

The weight of her words settled over the room.

Artemis finally stood and walked over to Rhea, pulling a small first-aid kit from a nearby shelf. “Let me help,” she said softly, kneeling beside her.

Rhea hesitated, then nodded, allowing Artemis to clean and bandage the wound. Despite the pain, her usual spark returned as she smirked. “You’re surprisingly good at this. Hidden talent?”

“Not exactly,” Artemis replied, focused on her task. “When you’re on the run, you learn how to take care of yourself.”

When she finished, Rhea flexed her arm experimentally. “Thanks. You’re not so scary after all.”

Artemis managed a faint smile.

Viola cleared her throat, drawing their attention. “As touching as this moment is, we need to talk about what comes next.”

She turned the notebook toward them, the screen displaying a partially decrypted file. The words Project Symphony and Subject Status: Active stood out among the garbled text.

“Symphony isn’t just a research project,” Viola said, her tone grim. “It’s active. Whatever they’ve been working on, it’s already in motion.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Artemis leaned closer, her mechanical fingers gripping the edge of the table. “What does that mean? Are there more like me?”

“Possibly,” Viola replied. “Or it could mean something worse. This file mentions a ‘primary facility.’ If we want answers, that’s where we need to go.”

Rhea’s eyes widened. “You’re not seriously suggesting we break into another one of their facilities, are you?”

“We don’t have a choice,” Viola said firmly. “The longer we wait, the more control they’ll consolidate. If Symphony is what I think it is, it could give them total dominance over people like us—cybernetically enhanced individuals.”

Artemis’s jaw tightened. She had seen what the Consortium was capable of, and she couldn’t let them continue unchecked.

“Where is this facility?” she asked.

Viola hesitated, then tapped the screen. “The data’s incomplete, but I recognize the region. It’s an old industrial sector on the outskirts of Eidolon. Getting in will be harder than the hub. It’s a fortress, and they’ll be expecting us.”

“We’ll need more than just the three of us,” Artemis said, her mind already racing. “You said we need allies. Do you know anyone we can trust?”

Viola exhaled slowly. “There are a few groups in the undercity who’ve resisted the Consortium before. Mercenaries, hackers, outcasts. They’re not exactly loyal, but with the right incentives, they might help.”

Rhea raised an eyebrow. “And what incentives would those be?”

Viola smirked. “Freedom. Money. Revenge. Take your pick.”

----------------------------------------

The next few days were a whirlwind of preparation. Viola took the lead in reaching out to potential allies, her reputation in the undercity proving invaluable. Artemis and Rhea worked to improve their gear, salvaging parts from abandoned workshops and customizing their weapons for the mission ahead.

During one of their supply runs, Artemis found herself alone with Rhea in a dimly lit market, the air filled with the hum of bartering voices.

“Do you ever think about what life was like before all this?” Rhea asked, her voice quiet as they examined a collection of old tools.

Artemis paused, her mechanical hand hovering over a wrench. “Sometimes. But I don’t remember much. It feels... distant. Like it happened to someone else.”

Rhea nodded, her expression pensive. “I had a family once. They’re gone now, but sometimes I wonder if they’d even recognize me.”

Artemis glanced at her, surprised by the vulnerability in her voice. “I think they would. You’re still you.”

Rhea smiled faintly. “Thanks. I’m not sure I believe that, but it’s nice to hear.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a courier, a wiry man with nervous energy. He handed Artemis a small device and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Artemis activated the device, a hologram of Viola’s face flickering into view.

“Come back to the hideout,” Viola said. “We’ve got a lead.”

----------------------------------------

When they returned, the hideout was abuzz with activity. A group of strangers had gathered, their appearances as varied as their backgrounds. Among them were a heavily augmented mercenary, a hacker with a custom rig strapped to her back, and a stoic sharpshooter with a cybernetic eye.

Viola introduced them briefly, her tone brisk. “This is who we’ve got. They’ve agreed to help—for a price. Everyone, meet Artemis. She’s the reason we’re doing this.”

Artemis felt their eyes on her, some curious, others skeptical. She straightened her posture, her mechanical limbs catching the light.

“I know what the Consortium is capable of,” she said, her voice steady. “If we don’t stop them, they’ll take everything from us. I won’t let that happen. If you’re here, I’m guessing you feel the same way.”

There was a murmur of agreement, faint but genuine.

Viola stepped forward. “We have a plan, but it won’t be easy. If any of you want out, now’s the time to leave.”

No one moved.

“Good,” Viola said. “Let’s get to work.”