Bobby shot to his feet, his chair scraping against the floor, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and eagerness. “Show me.” He said, his voice low and commanding, his broad frame looming over the operator. “Right now.”The operator, his glasses slipping down his nose, stammered, his hands fumbling with the edge of his clipboard. “R-right this way, Master Bobby.” He said, his voice tripping over itself as he gestured toward the hallway, his face flushed with nerves. He turned quickly, almost tripping over his own feet, and led the way, his steps hurried but uneven, like he was afraid of keeping Bobby waiting.Brittany fell into step beside Bobby, her blonde bun bouncing slightly as she matched his stride, her lips pressed into a thin line. “You’re sure about this, Bobby?” She asked, her voice low, a hint of caution cutting through her usual sharpness. “We don’t even know what we’re walking into.”Bobby didn’t look at her, his eyes fixed on the operator’s back as they moved th

The heavy oak doors of Ray Stevens’ office swung open with a low groan, the sound reverberating through the tense silence of the room. Elena was the first to step out, her boots clicking sharply against the marble floor, her bandaged shoulder held stiffly, a faint wince crossing her face as she moved. Her dark ponytail swayed with each purposeful stride, her eyes fixed ahead, ignoring the weight of the conversation she’d just left behind. She didn’t glance back, her posture rigid, like she was bracing for whatever came next.Brittany and Bobby followed close behind, the door thudding shut as they stepped into the hallway, their shadows stretching long under the dim sconce lights. Brittany’s heels clicked in a steady rhythm, her blonde bun glinting faintly, while Bobby’s heavier steps echoed with a restless energy, his broad shoulders hunched. As they trailed Elena, Bobby leaned in toward Brittany, his voice a low, angry mutter, his words spilling out like they’d been festering too

Scott turned toward Zulu, the sleek AI construct still clutching the shattered remnants of the drone in its articulated metal limbs. Zulu’s frame hummed faintly, its LED optics glowing a steady amber as it processed the encounter, cooling vents releasing a soft hiss of heat. Scott gave a nod of approval, his voice carrying a mix of relief and respect. "Nice save, Zulu." He said, resting a hand on the AI’s smooth, titanium-alloy shoulder. "That thing was seconds from turning us into scrap. Your reflexes,pinpoint, sub-millisecond precision. If you hadn’t crushed it when you did, we’d be dodging plasma bolts or worse right now."Zulu’s voice, a modulated synthetic baritone, responded with a clipped."Threat neutralized. Processing residual data." The AI dropped the drone’s mangled circuits with a metallic clank, its servos whirring as it adjusted its posture, scanning the cavernous hideout for further threats. Its frame, a blend of angular armor and fluid joints, gleamed under the

The cavern pulsed with the aftershock of the force field’s distress, its surface crackling with faint arcs of energy that cast erratic shadows across the jagged stone walls. The air was thick with the metallic tang of ozone and the lingering burn of scorched circuits, the remnants of the drone’s destruction still smoldering in a heap nearby Lord Leo, his regal fur cloak dusted with ash, shook his mane to dislodge the debris clinging to its golden strands, his amber eyes glinting with a mix of defiance and concern. He turned sharply toward Zulu, the AI construct standing motionless, its sleek titanium frame reflecting the cavern’s dim emergency lights, its amber optics pulsing steadily as it processed the chaos. “Zulu!” Scott bellowed, his voice a deep rumble that echoed off the cavern’s ceiling, laced with urgency and a trace of protective worry. He stepped closer, his clawed hand hovering near the AI’s shoulder, hesitant to touch its cold alloy surface. “Are you okay? Did that b

The cavern's air hung heavy with the acrid scent of discharged energy weapons and the metallic tang of blood, the ground littered with the fallen henchman's body, his lifeless form sprawled awkwardly amid scattered gravel and flickering shadows from the emergency lights overhead. The remaining four henchmen hesitated for a split second, their visored helmets turning toward the dissipated force field, rifles humming as they reassessed the threat now pouring out from within. Scott, his smirk fading into a focused determination, strode forward with purposeful steps, his boots crunching against the uneven floor, muscles tensed beneath his worn jacket. He positioned himself right beside Elena, close enough that their shoulders nearly brushed, his presence a silent alliance amid the chaos. Elena glanced at him briefly, her eyes still wide from the surprise of his intervention, but she nodded subtly, shifting her stance to cover his flank.Lord Leo and Jack moved in unison, drawing their