The mech lay motionless, its massive frame collapsed in a heap of scorched metal and fractured armor. Flickering firelight danced across its ruined shell, casting long shadows over the ground. Its back, once adorned with the roundtable and serpent sigil of the Council, now melted and warped, the metal bubbling like tar as it burned away—a symbol undone.
Ash drifted down like black snow.
Luce stood slowly, brushing soot off her sleeve. Her eyes scanned the others—checking for movement, breath, life.
She exhaled.
"You boys okay?"
Bobo staggered out from behind the mech, his metal arm hanging by a thread, its once-sleek plating now twisted and blackened. Sparks sputtered where wiring was exposed. He winced but grinned through blood-streaked teeth.
"Peachy," he said with a ragged chuckle.
Ryosuke limped over next, dragging one foot behind him. He gave a sharp twist of his hip—
CLANK
—and his cybernetic leg snapped back into its socket with a click. His face was pale, blood trickling down his temple.
"I have seen better days," he muttered.
Mikey lay flat on his back, arms sprawled wide. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he fought to catch his breath. The lights above blurred through the haze of smoke.
My ribs…
Every time I breathe…
Shit…
He gritted his teeth and curled slightly, clutching his side as a fresh cough wracked his lungs. A spray of blood hit the chrome floor beside him.
Bobo turned, squinting through the settling dust. "Kid?"
"I'm good," Mikey croaked, forcing a grin. "Just… think a few things are broken…"
He gave a wheezy chuckle.
"But we did it…"
Luce stepped over scorched rubble and crouched beside him. Her voice softened.
"You did." She gave him a smirk. "You surprised me. Held your own."
She patted him on the back—whap.
"AH—ribs!"
"Right. Sorry."
Bobo limped closer, the weight of his body pulling his bad arm lower with every step.
"Can someone give me a damn hand before this thing falls off?"
Luce stood and walked right past him.
"You'll live, big guy."
"Hey!" Bobo called after her, laughing through the pain. "You're the only one not injured!"
Ryosuke stepped in, slipping beneath Bobo's arm and pulling it gently over his shoulder. He winced as the weight settled.
"I got you, Bobby."
"Yeah…" Bobo gave a grateful nod. "Thanks, Ryo."
The four pushed on.
Boots scraped over scorched concrete, echoing through the eerie stillness of Ward 2, a place now hollowed out by death and fire. Ash still hung in the air, mingling with the stench of oil, metal, and scorched flesh.
Mikey limped ahead, his ribs still aching with every breath, but his pace was steady. Beside him, Luce walked in silence, her eyes scanning ahead, ever watchful. Behind them, Bobo leaned on Ryosuke, his burnt mechanical arm swinging like dead weight.
"Aye, Luce!" Bobo called out, his voice rasping. "You better make me a new arm when we get back to HQ!"
Luce didn't look back—just let out a quiet chuckle.
"Only if you've got the parts, old man."
"I'll find 'em," Bobo grinned. "Even if I have to rip 'em off a Council bot myself."
Mikey smiled faintly at their banter. It felt... human. Amid all the ruin, it felt like a flicker of life.
He leaned closer to Luce. "Ward 6 is coming up..."
"Yeah," she said. "Should be just ahead. Amelia should be there."
"Let's hope."
They walked side by side, the area dark except for the flickering overhead lights that buzzed occasionally—struggling to stay alive, like everything else in this place.
"What kind of person is she?" Mikey asked.
Luce's voice softened, almost distant. "Troubled. But kind. You'll get along."
"Cool..." he nodded, though his voice was barely a whisper.
They passed the blackened corpses of soldiers and prisoners alike—bodies half-melted into the floor, weapons strewn beside them. The battle with the mech had turned the place into a tomb.
Mikey glanced over at Luce again, then looked away.
She caught the glance.
"Something on your mind?" she asked, her tone gentle.
Mikey hesitated, running a hand through his dust-covered hair.
"Nah... just..."
He sighed.
"Why'd you trust me so much back there?"
"What do you mean?"
"You didn't stop me from fighting. You stayed back, let me go in. You trusted me to do something... I dunno... important."
Luce's expression turned thoughtful, her boots crunching glass beneath her step.
"Dunno," she said at last. "Instinct, maybe. I'm good at reading people. You just felt like someone who'd step up if he had to."
She looked at him sideways.
"Or maybe I just hoped you would."
Mikey chuckled, sheepish.
"Sweet."
They reached the final hallway—a corridor ending in a massive blast gate, towering over them like the jaws of a beast. Above it, faded letters read:
WARD 6 — ACCESS RESTRICTED
Luce stepped forward and placed her hand on the manual control lever, cool metal slick with old grease and ash. Her fingers hovered for a second.
"We ready, boys?" she asked, eyes never leaving the door.
Bobo gently shrugged his arm off Ryosuke's shoulder and stepped forward, straightening himself with a wince.
"Lia's in there somewhere." He cracked his neck, jaw tight. "Of course I'm fuckin' ready."
Ryosuke gave a solemn nod, drawing his sword with a clean shhhk, the steel still streaked with mech fluid.
Luce looked at Mikey.
He stood up straighter and nodded. "Yeah. I'm good to go."
He reached into his coat and pulled out the spare mag Luce had given him earlier, sliding it into his pistol with a sharp click. He pulled back the slide.
CH-CHK.
The pistol hummed in his hand—primed, ready.
"Let's find this Amelia," he said.
Luce pulled the lever.
The gears behind the gate groaned to life.
The gate screeched open, gears grinding like dying machines. Smoke drifted from the hinges. The four stepped into Ward 6, weapons low, eyes scanning.
And stopped cold.
A vast, open expanse stretched out before them, lit by harsh industrial floodlights hanging from steel rafters. The air was heavy — the smell of sweat, blood, and ozone clinging to every breath.
High electric fences lined the sides, glowing faintly blue with charged current. At the top, advanced barbed wire spiraled, humming with pulses of automated surveillance. A single wide concrete walkway cut down the center like a vein, flanked by rows of cages.
But it was what lay behind those fences that turned their stomachs.
Hundreds of people.
Prisoners — all of them recent. Men and women huddled together, some lying motionless on the cold floor, others wandering in dazed silence, bruised and bloodied. Some muttered to themselves. Others stared, vacant-eyed. One young man rocked back and forth, arms clutched around his knees. They wore patched uniforms—Council-issued prisoner garb. Fresh intake.
"Goddamn..." Bobo muttered, his voice low and ragged.
"Holding camps," Ryosuke said, jaw clenched. "They bring Defectors here. Break their spirits before questioning."
They moved through the walkway, boots echoing on the concrete. Some prisoners turned to look, eyes wary. Most didn't even react.
Then—
"Luciana?"
The voice was barely above a whisper. Worn and trembling.
Luce's head snapped toward the sound.
A middle-aged woman, dark-skinned, her braided hair tangled with dirt and blood, leaned against the inner fence. Her face was swollen, her lip split, but her eyes still held a quiet spark.
Luce ran to her. "Silvia?"
"Yeah," the woman rasped. "They got me."
"Oh my god—"
Bobo limped to her side, eyes wide. "Via? Is that really you?"
"Bo?" Silvia gave a weak smile, blood staining her teeth. "What the hell are you two doing here?"
"Came to break a couple friends out," Luce said, gesturing to Ryosuke, who gave a solemn nod.
Silvia's eyes widened. "The Phantom?"
They both nodded.
Bobo added, "We saw your husband earlier."
Silvia's eyebrows shot up.
"Willie? He's alive?"
"Yeah," Bobo said. "Said he was joining the riots in Ward 1."
Silvia groaned, then chuckled.
"That dumbass. Always jumping into fires."
"We'll get you outta here, Via," Bobo said, his voice firm despite the pain in it.
"First," Luce interjected, "we need to know if you've seen Amelia."
Silvia nodded weakly.
"Last I saw, she was being dragged to the questioning chamber. Yesterday. They keep the questioning separate. isolated."
"Thank you," Luce said softly. "We'll come back for you. For all of them."
She gave a final glance at the sea of prisoners, then started forward again.
Bobo lingered. His eyes didn't leave Silvia.
"He didn't even know you were here," he said. "If he had... Willie would've torn down this whole damn place."
"I know," Silvia whispered. "I know. Just... find our girl. Then you can drag my old ass out of here, alright?"
Bobo gave a tight nod and turned, limping after the others.
Mikey paused. He gave Silvia a small, respectful nod. Their eyes met briefly. Something flickered across her face—a strange recognition.
She tilted her head slightly, watching him.
As he jogged to catch up with the others, she muttered under her breath.
"That boy... he looks just like Darla. Odd."
Behind her, the hum of the fences continued, cold and unfeeling.
They moved in silence, the buzz of overhead fluorescents their only soundtrack. The corridor narrowed until they reached a staircase, winding downward into darkness. It smelled like metal and ozone.
Luce led the way, boots clanging on the grated steps. At the bottom, she halted and raised a hand—a signal.
She peeked around the corner.
A long, chrome-plated hallway stretched out—sterile, cold, and humming with low voltage. Two soldiers in Council armor patrolled casually, weapons slung low, unaware of what was coming.
"Shit," Luce whispered, retreating. She glanced at the boys behind her.
"Too hurt to go stealth?"
"Yeah, I'm fuckin' exhausted," Bobo muttered, sweat glistening on his brow. His metal arm hung loose, sparking occasionally.
Ryosuke gave a small nod. "Lead the way, Luciana."
"I'm with you," Mikey added, eyes focused despite his bruises.
Luce cracked her neck, then smirked. "Guess we're going loud."
She rounded the corner, pistols low. Her footsteps echoed—deliberate.
The soldiers tensed. One raised a hand. "Hey! This is a restricted sector—why aren't you wearing your—"
BANG. BANG.
Two clean shots—both through the neck.
The guards dropped instantly, twitching. Luce advanced, unfazed, and without slowing down she emptied the rest of her clips into them.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!
Shell casings hit the chrome floor like rain.
The others emerged from cover, following her down the hall. Mikey kept his head low.
"She's scary sometimes," he murmured.
"Sure is. It's sexy," Bobo said with a ragged chuckle, eyes tracking Luce's ass.
Mikey grimaced.
You old freak.
They turned another corner.
Luce halted and raised her hand again. She crouched low and looked around the edge.
Another corridor. Longer. At the far end stood a massive vault-like door—thick, circular, lined in blood-red plating. It pulsed faintly, almost breathing.
Above it, bold stenciling read:
"WARD 6: INTERROGATION & EXTRACTION"
Ten soldiers stood guard—fully armed, fully alert.
"Ten more. End of the hall," Luce whispered. "We ready?"
The boys nodded without hesitation.
"Then let's raise some hell."
Luce kicked off the corner, guns up. Her pistols roared as she stormed forward—gunfire flashing like lightning.
BANG BANG BANG—
Bobo roared and charged forward like a tank, raising his ruined metal arm as a shield. Rounds ricocheted off his armor as he crashed into the nearest guard and flung him through the air.
Ryosuke moved low, fast. Steel whispered as he unsheathed his blade. In one smooth motion, he sliced through two guards—they fell without a sound.
Mikey followed.
Okay. Breathe. Focus.
He raised his pistol just in time to stop a soldier flanking Luce—one shot to the leg dropped the man mid-run.
Suddenly, another soldier—the one Bobo had launched—came crashing down, landing directly on Mikey. His pistol skidded across the floor with a metallic scrape.
"Shit—!"
The wind knocked from him, Mikey tried to scramble up, but the soldier was faster. He threw a punch—
WHAM.
Mikey blocked with his forearms, barely absorbing the impact. The next punch came quicker.
WHAM-WHAM.
He kicked the man off him and stumbled to his feet. No time for pain.
My gun's out of reach...
The soldier squared up. Mikey mirrored him—chest heaving, ribs aching.
The man lunged with a hook. Mikey ducked and drove forward, tackling him into the wall with a hard slam.
But the soldier fought dirty—raised both fists and slammed them down on Mikey's spine.
"Ah!"
Mikey collapsed to a knee. The soldier grabbed his hair and drove a knee into his face.
"Gah—!"
Stars burst behind his eyes.
Then came the sweep.
Mikey hit the ground hard, the soldier looming above, ready to strike—
SHHHUNK.
A whisper of steel.
The soldier's head slid off his neck with surgical precision. It hit the ground and rolled once before stopping, staring blankly.
Behind him stood Ryosuke, blade humming, eyes calm.
"Are you alright, boy?" he asked softly, extending a hand.
Mikey took it, wiping blood from his lip.
"Yeah. Thanks."
He paused, catching his breath.
"One-on-ones aren't really my thing yet."
Ryosuke gave a small smile.
"That is clear."
Mikey stood in the aftermath—ten soldiers sprawled across the floor, each body twisted or crumpled in a different grotesque pose. Smoke curled lazily from bullet holes and severed limbs. The air still reeked of gunpowder and burnt circuitry.
"Holy shit..." he muttered under his breath.
That was fast...
The four of them moved together, boots crunching over broken glass and blood-slick tile. At the end of the hall stood the vault door—thick, reinforced steel ringed with flickering red lights.
"Amelia should be in there," Luce said, running her gloved hand across the glowing control panel.
"Finally," Bobo chuckled, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.
Luce stepped to the passkey unit. With a quick draw, she fired at the bolt—a metallic crack, and the locking plate clattered to the floor. Sparks danced.
She crouched beside the exposed wiring.
"Okay... this is intricate as hell."
Bobo peered over her shoulder.
"How long that'll take?"
"Not sure," she muttered. "It's Council-grade... encrypted tight."
Ryosuke narrowed his eyes.
"I do not believe we have time to waste, Luciana."
Bobo backed up a few paces.
"Yeah, I don't think we do either. Lia's waitin'."
He charged the door and slammed his shoulder into it—a thunderous clang.
It dented, but didn't budge.
Again.
BAM.
Still locked.
"Ryo! Help me out here!"
Ryosuke sheathed his blade with a flick and nodded.
"On it."
They both took position.
"Wait for it..." Bobo whispered.
Then—
WHAM!
The two slammed into the door, Ryosuke kicking off with his cybernetic leg. The hinges groaned. The seal cracked. Dust rained from above.
"One more!" Bobo shouted, backing up again.
Luce stepped aside, arms folded. "You two are absolutely ridiculous," she said, but couldn't suppress a grin.
Mikey stood beside her, heart pounding. Something about this moment felt heavy.
Bobo and Ryosuke charged once more.
CRASH.
The vault door finally snapped loose—wrenched off its bearings. It crashed down with an earthshaking boom, kicking up a thick cloud of debris.
Mikey coughed, squinting through the dust.
Bobo was already inside. "Lia! We're here to take you home!"
A soft voice echoed from within.
"Took you long enough, Bo."
Mikey froze.
That voice...
The others filtered in after Bobo.
Luce's voice followed: "Come on, girl. We couldn't leave you behind."
"Big sis! You came! Ryo too!"
"I was stuck in Ward 5," Ryosuke replied, his voice warm for once. "They broke me out too."
"Well then," the voice said, teasing. "Get me out these chains, why don't ya?"
Mikey remained in the doorway, staring into the dimly lit chamber. The echoes of clinking metal reached him as they unlocked the restraints.
Then Bobo's voice boomed. "We picked up someone new! You're gonna like this one. Hey kid! Get in here!"
Mikey stepped forward.
His boots crossed the threshold—into a small chamber lit by a single swinging overhead bulb. Shadows twisted around the edges.
She stood in the center, newly freed—brushing dust from her arms.
She had long midnight-black hair, draped over one shoulder. Pale skin bruised at the collarbone. Ocean-blue eyes, sharp and familiar. A silver triangle earring dangled from her left earlobe, catching the flickering light.
Mikey's heart skipped.
It can't be...
"Nadia...?" he breathed.
Her head snapped toward him.
Recognition.
Shock.
"Mikey?!" she gasped.
They stared at each other, motionless.
Amelia...
..Is Nadia?!