2025-12-10 07:28:35
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30 Battle Lines are Drawn
.Morning light filtered into Lorekeeper Veydrān’s office through the tall reinforced windows, pale and cold, casting long shapes across the metal floor. Veydrān stood by his desk as a sealed data capsule slid open with a soft hiss.The information Prime-Dexūs had promised was here.He didn't sit immediately. Instead, he stared at the glowing interface hovering above the desk. Three primary divisions. Three pillars upon which the coming war would rest. His jaw tightened as he activated the first file._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ | The Surveillance team |_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ The words hovered in a bright white text.This team would be the first to step beyond the EDGE in force. Their task was infiltration of the real world. They'll be responsible for mapping terrain, studying alien movement, structures, and patterns without being detected.Recommended number: ten to twenty soldiers.
29 Counter protocol
Aēllion heard Lougard’s words even though Lougard’s voice was low, almost lost beneath the hum of the locked chamber. “What do you mean?” Aēllion asked, stepping closer. “What doesn’t look good?” Lougard dragged a hand down his face, fingers trembling slightly. “I thought I was talking to myself,” he muttered. Then he looked up, his eyes sharp despite the exhaustion. “I can’t override this lockdown without the exact protocol.” Aēllion frowned. “I don’t understand.” Lougard sighed, turning back to the control panel for a moment, then facing them again. “You know the protocol that put this room on lockdown mode. Well every lockdown protocol has a counter protocol. A release command.” Aēllion’s mind clicked into place. “So we need the other protocol if we’re going to get out of here.” “Exactly,” Lougard said. Sira swallowed hard. “And there’
28 Lockdown
The gun pressed harder against the back of Sira’s head.“Before I fry your brain like I did to your comrades,” the man said coldly, “tell me who you’re all working for. And what were you after in this facility?”Sira’s body shook despite her effort to stay still. Fear crawled through her chest, tense and suffocating, but she forced her voice to remain steady.“Fry my brain all you want,” she said. “I’d never tell you anything.”The man sighed, almost bored. “What a stubborn decision you’ve made.”His finger tightened on the trigger.A sudden burst of laserfire exploded through the room.The security drone Marian had hacked earlier swooped in from behind, firing rapidly at the man. He reacted instantly, twisting aside as shots scorched the air where he had been standing. He rolled, fired back, and barely missed the drone’s core.“Now’s your chance, Miss Sira,” Marian said quickly through the comms. “Push the yellow button at the edge.”Sira didn't hesitate.She spun toward the control
27 No time for Hesitations
The hover car cut through the air in a steady glide, its engine humming low and controlled. Neon lights from the city blurred past the windows, stretching into long streaks of color. Inside the car, the atmosphere was tight and heavy, as if the air itself knew something terrible was coming. Sira sat rigid in the passenger seat, her hands clasped together in her lap. Her fingers trembled despite her effort to keep them still. Threi sat in the driver's seat, without speaking, her eyes locked on the road ahead, her jaw set hard. The glow from the dashboard lit her face in sharp lines, making her look even more intense than usual. After several seconds of silence, Sira finally spoke. “What’s your plan?” she asked quietly. “How are we getting Aēllion and Lougard out of there?” Threi didn't look at her. “I know where they’re being kept inside the facility.” Sira’s heart thudded harder. “Where?” “It's called the box.” Sira turned fully toward her. “The box? What does that mean?”
26 A Box Of Memories
.. The last thing Lougard saw before darkness took him was Aēllion collapsing nearby, his body hitting the ground in a limp heap as security drones hovered overhead. Then everything went black Lougard woke with a sharp gasp. Pain flared through his wrists and shoulders as he struggled instinctively, only to realize he was tied to a chair. Thick restraints wrapped tightly around his arms and legs, biting into his skin. His heart slammed against his ribs, fast and uneven. The room was dark and cold. A single bright bulb hung from the ceiling, flooding the space with harsh white light. It buzzed faintly, like an insect that refused to die. And someone was watching him. A man stood just outside the circle of light, his face calm, almost curious. His eyes were sharp and focused, as if Lougard were nothing more than an experiment laid out in front of him. Lougard swallowed hard. His legs began to shake again, the same way they had in the vents, except now there was nowhere
25 Backup Plan
Sira's POV I wasn't too deep asleep when I heard whispering. Careful, low, deliberate whispering. At first, I didn't open my eyes. I laid still on the mattress, listening. Two voices moved through the apartment. One was Threi’s. I would recognize that sharp, cold tone anywhere. The other was Aelly’s, quieter, rough obviously with sleep. They were trying not to wake anyone. That much was clear. My half-awake mind went somewhere stupid before it went somewhere logical. For a brief moment, I wondered if something was going on between them. Threi and Aelly have been spending a lot of time together and I barely understand what they've been up to. No, that can't be right. Can it? The way Threi’s voice softened just a little when she spoke to him. The thought of it made my chest tighten in a way I did not like. Then minutes later, I heard the door open. Then close. Then silence. I opened my eyes fully and stared at the ceiling. Something felt wrong. I sat up slow
