The resistance had converted an old break room on Level Four into their temporary command center. Tables that had once held coffee cups and lunch trays now displayed facility schematics, security protocols, and hastily drawn battle plans. The air was thick with tension and determination as nearly thirty people crowded into the space, all focused on the near impossible task ahead of them."Let's start with what we know," Michael said. "Korvich, you've had more time to study the facility than anyone. What are we dealing with?"Korvich stepped forward, pointing to a large schematic that Diego had managed to download from the facility's computer systems. "The central control laboratory is located on Level Two, approximately half a kilometer from our current position. It's where Octavian has been coordinating most of his operations, and more importantly, it's where the main Nexus control systems are housed."She traced a path on the map with her finger. "To reach it, we'll need to go up tw

The resistance had been fighting for nearly three hours, and the toll was becoming evident. Michael counted several members of their original group who had fallen during the advance through the facility's upper levels. Dr. Kim had been shot while providing cover for the technical team. Two of the maintenance workers had been caught in an explosion when they tried to disable a security barrier. A young engineer named Sarah had died holding off a squad of guards so others could escape through a ventilation shaft.Each loss weighed heavily on Michael's mind, but he forced himself to keep moving forward. Around him, the surviving members of the resistance showed the same grim determination, pushing through exhaustion and grief to continue their advance."Michael, we're approaching the final checkpoint," North's voice crackled over the radio. "Heavy resistance ahead, but we think we can punch through.""How many people do you have left?" Michael asked, dreading the answer."Fourteen," Nor

Michael felt his heart stop as he stared up at the enormous barrels of the automated defense systems. These were not the kind of weapons designed to wound or capture. They were built to totally obliterate anything they targeted."This is it," Salvatore whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the charging weapons. "This is how it ends."Alexis grabbed Michael's arm, her fingers digging into his sleeve desperately. Lizzy was pressed against North's uninjured side, both of them frozen in terror as they watched their approaching death.Korvich stood rigid. Her face showed no fear, only the cold resignation of someone who had calculated the odds and found them wanting.The turrets reached full charge. The whining sound peaked, becoming almost unbearable. Michael could see the energy building in the weapon barrels, crackling with blue-white electricity."Say goodbye," Octavian said, his voice carrying cruel satisfaction. "You should have joined me when you had the chance."The

The electromagnetic pulse discharged from the android's weapon with a crackling roar that filled the laboratory with blinding light. Michael felt the energy wash over him like a wave of static electricity, making his hair stand on end and causing a metallic taste to flood his mouth.Around the room, electronic displays flickered and died. Emergency lighting kicked in as the main systems went offline, casting everything in an eerie red glow that made the android's eyes look even more menacing."Ava!" Michael shouted, hoping she could still hear them through the facility's communication systems.Silence. The speakers that had carried her voice were now dead, leaving them cut off from their most powerful ally."Electromagnetic pulse successful," the android announced, its voice carrying a note of mechanical satisfaction. "Hostile AI connection severed. Proceeding with termination protocol."The soldiers behind it were checking their weapons, which had apparently been shielded from the pu

For a brief moment, Octavian's body went completely still in the interface chair. The frantic convulsions that had marked the beginning of his consciousness transfer ceased, and an eerie calm settled over the laboratory. The monitoring equipment around the chair displayed stable readings, suggesting that the neural interface had successfully established a connection.Then Octavian's cybernetic implants began to glow with an intense orange light that had never been there before. The illumination pulsed in slow rhythms.Michael and his friends stood frozen, watching on with a expressions of confusion and horror. Suddenly, Octavian’s head lifted, and he began to laugh. It was not the wild, broken laughter they had heard before. This sound carried a heavy resonance, as if it came from every wall and every machine in the laboratory, as though the building itself had been given a voice.“This is it,” Octavian said, his tone layered with electronic harmonics that made it sound like multiple