Episode 98
The sky was still ink-black when the first alarm buzzed across the estate.
Lina sat crouched in the snow, fingers freezing around the drone controller. Above her, two black surveillance drones hovered silently, sending live feeds back to the command room. She whispered into her earpiece, "Movement confirmed at the eastern slope. Two heat signatures, heavily armed."
"Copy that," Ayan replied. "Engage phase one."
Raian, already dressed in combat black, stood at the edge of the greenhouse ruins. Aria was with him, her hands trembling as she strapped a medical kit to her side.
"You're not going out there alone," she said, voice steady despite her fear.
Raian turned. "This isn't your fight."
She stepped closer. "Yes, it is. You're not leaving me behind again."
His gaze softened. He raised a gloved hand and cupped her cheek. "If anything happens to you—"
"It won't," she cut in. "Because we're going to finish this. Together."
They locked eyes. No more words needed.
Behind them, the greenhouse flickered with artificial heat signals—just realistic enough to fool a tactical scan.
---
At the Ridge — 0420 Hours
Ashen approached the ridge like a ghost, silent, unreadable. His team moved behind him—six of Malik's finest, equipped with plasma blades and neural disruptors.
Serris, masked and crouched, waved at him. "They've split up. I read four bodies near the ruins. It's a trap."
Ashen didn't respond. He crouched, placing his hand against the frozen ground.
There. A faint vibration. Explosives.
"They're herding us," he muttered. "Southwest escape route will be clear in thirty seconds."
Serris blinked. "You're not following protocol—"
Ashen disappeared in a blur.
---
Underground Bunker
Ishaan flipped the switch.
A deep whump sounded as the EMP mines detonated along the fallback trail.
Ayan grinned. "Exit blocked."
Lina, now beside him, narrowed her eyes. "What about the frontline?"
Static buzzed in the comms.
"Ayan?" Aria's voice came through.
"We're listening."
"He's here."
A beat of silence.
Raian grabbed the radio. "Ashen?"
Aria replied, "He didn't attack. He's… watching."
Raian's throat tightened. He looked up toward the distant ridge.
"Don't engage," he said. "Not yet."
---
On the Ridge — Moments Later
Ashen stood on the edge, eyes locked on Raian from a hundred meters away. The trees swayed between them like slow dancers, snow falling gently as if mocking the tension in the air.
Raian stepped forward.
No guns. No armor. Just him.
"I remember now," Raian said, voice echoing in the cold.
Ashen didn't blink.
"You cried when they took Mother away. I heard you through the walls."
Ashen remained still, but something flickered in his eyes.
"You're not a weapon, Ashen. You're my brother."
Ashen's hand clenched.
Behind him, Serris raised his rifle.
Raian noticed.
"Don't," he said sharply.
Too late.
A shot rang out—
—but it wasn't from Serris.
Ashen had turned and fired a stun round directly into Serris' chest.
The man collapsed, spasming.
Ashen turned back to Raian. His voice, soft and fractured, whispered one word.
"Why?"
Raian stepped closer. "Because they lied to us. They made us into monsters."
Ashen shook his head. "No… not us. Just me."
He dropped to his knees, hands shaking.
Aria rushed forward.
But Raian stopped her. "Let him choose. Don't take it from him."
Ashen raised his head slowly. "Is she… alive?"
Raian understood.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out their mother's journal.
"She never stopped looking for you."
Ashen's breath hitched.
Then, another sound sliced through the silence—a sharp whir.
A drone.
It wasn't theirs.
Raian's eyes widened. "MOVE!"
But the missile had already locked on.
---
Explosion
The blast threw them all backward. Flames ripped through the ridge, lighting up the forest. Trees shattered. Snow melted into ash.
Raian groaned, blood dripping from his temple.
Aria scrambled up, crawling toward him. "Raian! Raian—"
He waved her back. "Find Ashen—now!"
Smoke blinded them. The fire hissed as snow melted in steam.
Then through the chaos, Ashen emerged—limping, burned—but alive.
He held something.
Raian's heart stopped.
In Ashen's hand was a steel memory core.
Their mother's backup drive.
---
Inside the Estate – Emergency Shelter
The group regrouped in the basement, power flickering.
Ishaan slammed a fist against the table. "They found us. That drone was stealth-class. Only Malik has access."
Ayan snarled, "Then we hit back. Now."
Lina placed a hand on his arm. "We're not ready. Not without decoding the drive."
Ashen sat at the edge, silent.
Aria knelt in front of him. "Do you trust us?"
He looked up, eyes no longer silver, just human.
"Yes," he said.
Raian met his gaze. "Then welcome back… brother."