Reboot My Heart

Chapter Six: The Control Center

The night was thick with tension as Kian, Elena, and the Elite Division team approached the old System Control Center. The building loomed in the distance, its once-gleaming facade now cracked and overgrown with vines. It was a relic of a bygone era, a symbol of the System’s power—and its corruption.

Kian adjusted the strap of his weapon, his golden implant glowing faintly under his sleeve. Beside him, Elena walked with quiet determination, her eyes fixed on the building ahead. She had insisted on joining the mission, despite Kian’s protests.

“I need to do this,” she had said, her voice firm. “For my father. For the Federation. For us.”

Kian had relented, though his heart ached with worry. He couldn’t lose her—not again.

Commander Ryker led the team, his voice low as he issued orders. “We’ll split into two groups. Kian, Elena, and I will take the main entrance. The rest of you, secure the perimeter. No one gets in or out.”

The team nodded, their expressions grim. This was it—the moment they had been preparing for.

As they approached the entrance, Kian’s implant buzzed faintly, a warning he couldn’t ignore. He glanced at Elena, his voice barely above a whisper. “Stay close to me.”

She nodded, her hand brushing against his. “Always.”

The Control Center’s interior was a maze of darkened corridors and flickering lights. The air was thick with the scent of decay, the silence broken only by the faint hum of dormant machinery.

Kian’s senses were on high alert, his implant pulsing with every step. He could feel the System’s presence here, a faint, almost imperceptible energy that sent a shiver down his spine.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Elena murmured, her voice barely audible.

Kian nodded, his grip tightening on his weapon. “Stay sharp. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”

As they moved deeper into the building, the faint hum grew louder, more insistent. Kian’s implant began to flicker erratically, the golden light dimming and flaring in quick succession.

“Something’s wrong,” he said, his voice tense. “The System—it’s interfering with my implant.”

Ryker frowned, his crimson implant glowing steadily. “Mine’s fine. Must be something specific to yours.”

Before Kian could respond, a loud clang echoed through the corridor, followed by the sound of footsteps.

“We’ve got company,” Ryker muttered, raising his weapon.

The rebels emerged from the shadows, their weapons drawn and their implants glowing ominously. Kian’s heart raced as he counted them—too many to take on alone.

“Elena, stay behind me,” he said, his voice firm.

But Elena shook her head, her eyes filled with determination. “I’m not hiding anymore.”

Before Kian could stop her, she stepped forward, her implant flaring to life. A surge of energy shot from her hand, slamming into the nearest rebel and sending him crashing into the wall.

Kian stared at her, stunned. “Since when can you do that?”

Elena glanced at him, a faint smile on her lips. “I’ve been practicing.”

The fight was fierce, the corridor filled with the sounds of gunfire and the clash of implants. Kian and Elena fought side by side, their movements perfectly in sync. It was as if the System’s Compatibility Score had been right all along—they were meant to be together.

But as they pushed forward, Kian’s implant began to falter, the golden light flickering dangerously. He stumbled, his vision blurring as a sharp pain shot through his skull.

“Kian!” Elena shouted, her voice filled with panic.

He tried to respond, but the pain was too much. He dropped to his knees, his implant sputtering as the System’s energy overwhelmed him.

“Kian, hold on!” Elena crouched beside him, her hands glowing faintly as she tried to stabilize his implant.

But before she could finish, a voice rang out, cold and mocking.

“How touching.”

Kian looked up to see Marcus standing at the end of the corridor, his expression filled with disdain. Behind him stood Darius, his crimson implant glowing ominously.

“Marcus,” Elena said, her voice trembling. “Please. Stop this.”

Marcus’s smile was cruel. “It’s too late for that, Elena. The System is mine now. And soon, the Federation will be too.”

Kian forced himself to his feet, his implant flickering weakly. “You’re wrong, Marcus. The System doesn’t belong to anyone. It’s a tool—not a weapon.”

Marcus laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. “Spare me the lecture, Kian. You’ve always been too idealistic for your own good.”

Before Kian could respond, Marcus raised his hand, and a surge of energy shot toward him. Kian braced himself, but the attack never landed.

Elena stepped in front of him, her implant flaring brightly as she deflected the energy. The force of the impact sent her stumbling back, but she stood her ground, her eyes filled with determination.

“You’ll have to go through me first,” she said, her voice steady.

Marcus’s expression darkened, and he raised his hand again. But before he could attack, a loud explosion rocked the building, sending debris raining down from the ceiling.

“What the—” Marcus started, his voice drowned out by the chaos.

Kian grabbed Elena’s hand, pulling her toward the nearest exit. “We need to go!”

As they ran through the crumbling building, Kian’s implant buzzed faintly, a warning he couldn’t ignore. He glanced at Elena, his heart pounding.

“We’re not going to make it,” he said, his voice filled with desperation.

Elena met his gaze, her eyes filled with resolve. “Yes, we are. Together.”

But as they reached the exit, they were met with a sight that made Kian’s blood run cold.

Standing before them was Selene, her crimson implant glowing faintly. But something was wrong—her eyes were cold, her expression blank.

“Selene?” Kian said, his voice filled with confusion.

She raised her weapon, her voice devoid of emotion. “I’m sorry, Kian. But this is where it ends.”

Before Kian could react, she pulled the trigger.