The Starlight Command Center was not just a room; it was a fortress of information. Three walls were covered entirely in massive digital screens. Maps displaying global shipping routes, live satellite feeds, and rapidly moving financial tickers illuminated the dark room with a cool blue glow. Dozens of operators in black uniforms sat at tiered workstations, their fingers flying across keyboards.Clara stopped at the entrance, her jaw dropping slightly. "This is... incredible.""This is the brain of Starlight," Ares said, walking past her toward the main console. "Welcome to the real war room."Elias followed them, carrying his tablet. "Attention in the room! The General is on deck."The typing instantly stopped. Every operator stood up and saluted."At ease," Ares ordered, waving a hand. "Get back to work. I want the Valerius Group financial matrix on the main screen. Now.""Yes, General," the lead operator responded.The central screen shifted. A massive, complex web of corporate log

The six massive monitors in the Starlight Command Center simultaneously broadcasted the face of a stern female news anchor."We are interrupting our regular programming for a massive breaking news story," the anchor announced, her voice urgent. "Our newsroom, along with dozens of other media outlets and federal agencies, has just received a massive data dump from an anonymous source. The files contain undeniable proof of severe criminal activities committed by billionaire Silas Valerius."Elias leaned against the command console and smirked. "Here we go, General.""Turn up the volume," Ares ordered."The leaked documents include detailed financial ledgers proving Valerius Group has been laundering billions of dollars for known international crime syndicates," the anchor continued. "But the most shocking piece of evidence is a hidden camera video recorded just weeks ago. We want to warn our viewers, the following footage is highly disturbing."The news broadcast cut directly to the vid

"General, this is suicide," Dr. Vance said, his hands raised as if to physically stop Ares. "You cannot perform self-surgery on your cervical spine. The pain alone will cause you to go into severe shock.""I have been tortured by professionals, Doctor," Ares replied, holding the sterilized combat knife steady. "Point to the exact location.""Ares, please!" Clara cried out, stepping forward. "There has to be another way! We can freeze it, or—""Doctor," Ares warned, ignoring the panic in the room. The edge of the blade hovered near his own throat. "I have less than five minutes before they fry my brain. Point to the target. Now."Dr. Vance swallowed hard. He stepped forward and placed a trembling, gloved finger on the scarred tissue at the base of Ares’s neck. "Right here. But you have to cut exactly two inches deep. No more, no less.""Understood," Ares said."Wait," Elias interrupted. He grabbed a surgical kit from a nearby emergency station and tossed a pair of forceps and a heavy r

The heavy steel doors of the Starlight armory hissed open, letting a rush of cold air into the hallway.Ares walked in and immediately went to the weapons rack. He grabbed a matte-black titanium-weave combat suit, stripping off his blood-stained shirt.Elias followed him inside. "General, at least take a drone feed. Let me put a sniper team on the cranes a mile out.""No," Ares said, strapping a heavy tactical belt around his waist. "Marcus is an elite scout. He will spot the drones and the snipers before they even get into position. If he sees them, he triggers the Architect hit squads on our safe houses.""He might trigger them anyway!" Elias argued."He won't," Ares replied. He locked a customized heavy-caliber pistol into his thigh holster. "His ego will not let him. He wants to beat me himself."Clara stepped into the armory. She looked at the massive array of weapons on the walls, then at her husband."You just had a microchip ripped out of your spine less than an hour ago," Cla

Marcus swung a massive right hook, aiming directly for Ares’s head. Ares sidestepped instantly. The heavy hydraulic fist grazed his shoulder, tearing the titanium-weave fabric of his suit."Stand still and die!" Marcus roared, spinning around to deliver a backhand strike."You swing like a machine," Ares replied, ducking under the metal arm and delivering a rapid elbow strike to Marcus's organic ribcage. "Predictable. Linear."Marcus grunted, absorbing the blow with his armored uniform. He suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Ares by the throat with his left mechanical hand. He lifted Ares completely off the ground."I have ten tons of crush force in these fingers," Marcus sneered, slowly tightening his grip. "I can pop your head off like a bottle cap right now."Ares gasped for air, grabbing Marcus's thick carbon-fiber wrist with both hands. "Do it... then."Marcus squeezed harder. Ares's vision started to blur, but his glowing cybernetic eyes flared brightly. He kicked both of his he