The vehicles belonged to PharmaMedicor company, which explained the presence of their personnel at the disaster site. They weren't there to observe any unusual activities or individuals; their purpose was to remove the wreckage of the aircraft.
As Rio absorbed the scene, a sense of unease crept over him. The reporter on the news had mentioned these vehicles as part of the authorities' response.
A gnawing suspicion grew within him. If PharmaMedicor's presence was sanctioned by the government to conceal the truth, what other secrets were being hidden? Rio knew that the sudden appearance of the aircrafts was just the tip of the iceberg, hinting at a conspiracy far more sinister than he had ever imagined.
"Something wrong?" the professor inquired, his tone laced with curiosity.
Rio forced a quick smile, masking the turmoil within. "Not something you would like to know," he replied cryptically, not wanting to burden the professor with the complexities of his thoughts.
Observing Rio's demeanor, Professor Landon simply shrugged, understanding that Rio had his reasons for keeping certain matters to himself. He returned his focus to the intricate glowing box on the table, contemplating its mysteries.
Despite the weariness beginning to settle in his bones, Rio knew he couldn't afford to rest. This might be his only opportunity to uncover the connection between PharmaMedicor and the vanished flights from 2030. With a polite excuse, he informed Professor Landon of his imminent departure, promising to return once he had unraveled the secrets held within the enigmatic box.
Once Rio settled into his Hyperloop Pod, he swiftly keyed in his destination, the transit system plotting the route ahead. Glancing at the news feed, he noted the broken aircraft pieces being transported for investigation. If, as Rio suspected, these vehicles were affiliated with PharmaMedicor, tracking their movements could uncover the company's motives.
As Rio rode his Hyperloop Pod back to the disaster site, the scene was even more devastating than before. The streets were now littered with debris and wreckage, buildings reduced to rubble, and vehicles overturned or smashed. The absence of the falling broken aircrafts brought a eerie calm to the area, but the destruction they left behind was starkly evident.
Emergency crews and Synthetik responders were still on site, working tirelessly to clear the wreckage and aid the injured. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and burning debris, and the sound of sirens wailed in the distance.
Rio navigated through the chaotic scene, his heart heavy with the magnitude of the tragedy.
As Rio navigated the debris-strewn streets, the cries of the injured pierced the air, mingling with the acrid smell of smoke and burning metal. He stumbled upon a group of survivors huddled together, their faces streaked with dirt and tears, their clothes torn and bloodied.
Despite their desperate pleas for help, Rio's attention was drawn to the shadows moving among the wreckage.
Among the twisted metal and shattered glass, figures in dark suits moved with purpose, their faces obscured by masks or goggles. Some carried tools, while others seemed to be taking notes or photographs.
Rio's gaze swept over the scene, taking in the devastation wrought by the falling aircraft. Buildings lay in ruins, their walls reduced to rubble, and vehicles were crushed under the weight of debris. The once-quiet streets were now a hive of activity, with emergency responders and volunteers scrambling to rescue survivors and clear the wreckage.
Rio's hands turned sweaty as he realized the moving figures were loading debris onto huge, sleek vehicles that he had seen on the news and suspected belonged to the PharmaMedicor company. The vehicles, this time with clearer view, their logo subtly emblazoned on the side, were unlike any he had seen before, their design sleek and futuristic, blending seamlessly into the chaos around them.
As he watched, the workers meticulously sorted through the rubble, selecting pieces of wreckage with care. Their movements were methodical, almost rehearsed, and Rio couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to their actions than simple cleanup.
Determined to uncover the truth, Rio edged closer, careful to stay hidden from view. He observed as the workers loaded the debris onto the vehicles, their movements precise and efficient. It was clear that they were following a specific plan, but what that plan entailed, Rio could only guess.
As the last of the debris was loaded onto the vehicles, Rio knew he had to act fast. He needed to follow them to their destination, to discover what secrets lay hidden within the wreckage. With a silent prayer, he slipped away from his hiding spot and began to trail the convoy, his heart pounding in his chest.
Rio followed the convoy at a safe distance, weaving through the streets of Slateville as he kept the sleek vehicles in his sights. The vehicles moved with purpose, their drivers seemingly aware of Rio's pursuit, or perhaps it was just Rio's imagination. Despite his caution, Rio couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.
After what felt like an eternity, the convoy came to a stop outside a nondescript building on the outskirts of the city. Rio watched from a distance as the workers unloaded the debris and carried it inside.
With his heart pounding in his chest, Rio knew he had to get closer. He waited until the workers were occupied before slipping through a side entrance and into the building.
Inside the building, Rio found himself in a large, dimly lit warehouse. The air was thick with the smell of machinery and chemicals, and the sound of workers' voices echoed off the walls.
Rio moved cautiously, sticking to the shadows as he explored the maze of corridors and rooms. Finally, he came to a large, dimly lit chamber where the workers were busy sorting through the debris.
From his vantage point, Rio could see that they were not just sorting through wreckage – they were dismantling the pieces with precision, as if searching for something specific. His curiosity piqued, Rio crept closer, careful to remain unseen.
As he watched, one of the workers uncovered a small, metallic object from within the wreckage. It was similar to the object Rio had found earlier, but this one seemed to be intact. Before Rio could get a closer look, however, a voice echoed through the chamber, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Another one?"
Rio's gaze followed the source of the voice, which belonged to Haydon, the imposing man he had seen at the disaster site. Standing beside him was Hyllos, his neatly trimmed beard now more pronounced in the dim light, wearing a serious look as he examined the metallic object.
Rio remained hidden, his heart pounding in his chest. He strained to hear their conversation, hoping to glean some information about their intentions.
"I need to find them all," Haydon was saying, his voice low but intense. "Nobody else can know about this, not the government, not the person who saved Miss Huette from your careless watch." Haydon then cast a stern glance at Hyllos.
Rio's heart raced as he listened, hidden in the shadows. Haydon's words confirmed Rio's suspicions—PharmaMedicor was involved in a massive cover-up. He strained to hear more, but the conversation became muffled as Haydon and Hyllos moved deeper into the building.
Hyllos stood with a solemn expression, his eyes flickering between the object and Haydon. There was an air of tension around them, as if they were handling something of immense importance.
Haydon received the object with a careful, almost reverent touch. His fingers traced the edges of the metallic surface, as if trying to decipher its secrets through touch alone. His gaze was fixed, unwavering, as if he could see beyond the surface into the depths of its mystery.
After a moment, Haydon passed the object to Hyllos, who took it with a similar sense of reverence. His hands trembled slightly as he held it, his eyes wide with curiosity and perhaps a hint of fear. It was clear that this object held significant meaning to them, something beyond the ordinary.
As they disappeared from view, Rio crept closer to where they had been standing.
Rio couldn't afford to lose sight of them. Whatever they were doing or hiding here was significant. He continued to follow them, staying hidden in the shadows. Their hushed voices and intense conversations made it easy for Rio to tail them without being noticed.
Rio maintained a safe distance, his steps light and deliberate as he shadowed Haydon and Hyllos. The dimly lit corridor echoed with their footsteps, the only sound breaking the eerie silence. Rio's eyes remained fixed on their every move, his senses heightened to catch any sudden change in their demeanor.
As they reached a closed door, Haydon produced a key card and swiped it through the reader. The door clicked open, revealing a dimly lit room filled with monitors displaying various schematics and data streams. Rio's heart raced as he realized he had stumbled upon a hidden control center of some sort.
Haydon and Hyllos entered the room, their expressions unreadable. Rio crept closer, careful to stay out of sight. He watched as Haydon placed the metallic object on a scanning device, the screen flickering to life with a series of intricate patterns and symbols.
Hyllos leaned in, studying the screen intently. He muttered something inaudible, and Haydon nodded in response. Their actions were deliberate, calculated, suggesting they were part of a larger plan.
Rio's eyes widened as the screen on the right came into view. The holographic image loomed large before him, showcasing the intricate process of reconstructing the shattered aircraft. The pieces floated in mid-air, aligning perfectly with each other to form complete planes, like a complex puzzle being solved in real-time.
The scene was mesmerizing yet chilling. Each aircraft materialized from the chaos of debris, gradually taking shape as if defying the laws of physics. The hologram detailed every part, from the wings to the engines, coming together with eerie precision.
Rio's mind raced with questions. Why would PharmaMedicor go to such lengths to reconstruct these planes? What were they looking for among the wreckage? The answers seemed to elude him, buried deep within the enigma of the missing flights and the mysterious metallic object.
Haydon and his team were fixated on the array of screens, their faces illuminated by the shifting lights as they monitored the unfolding events with intense focus.
The tense exchange between Haydon and Hyllos left Rio feeling like an outsider trying to decipher a coded message.
"The government will need to concoct a story to explain today's events," Haydon's voice reverberated with authority, cutting through the room's heavy atmosphere, "to silence any potential whistle-blowers."
"I doubt they'll succeed," Hyllos responded with a hint of defiance, "it won't take a genius to realize something is amiss."
Haydon's expression darkened, his features hardening into a cold sneer. "It's increasingly rare to find individuals of sufficient intellect these days, especially when you can't even trust them to keep an eye on an unarmed human."
Hyllos visibly paled, his composure faltering under Haydon's intense gaze. "I apologize for the lapse in security," he stammered, his voice tinged with anxiety, "we're doing everything we can to locate her."
"And yet, you still haven't found her? A human, defenseless," Haydon's tone was laced with contempt.
"We believe the individual who aided her escape must possess advanced technology and knowledge, likely a SynthHuman," Hyllos explained, his voice shaky but resolute.
Haydon took a menacing step towards Hyllos, who involuntarily recoiled. "If I don't have Miss Huette and the culprit responsible for breaching our security in custody by tomorrow morning, I'll have you and the entire security team ousted from the company," his voice was low, but the threat was unmistakable. With a final glare, Haydon turned his attention back to the screens, dismissing Hyllos and the conversation as though they were inconsequential.
Rio was momentarily relieved by the conversation. At least, they hadn't found Huette. He was almost certain they wouldn't be able to track him down; their best chance would have been at PharmaMedicor, but they had missed it.
Mr. Haydon, a man whom Hyllos seemed to fear greatly, wielded enough power to influence and manipulate governments. Rio couldn't resist the urge to input his name into his AD.
Within seconds, the hologram of Mr. Haydon's information appeared before his eyes. He quickly shut them to avoid being illuminated by the projection in his hiding spot.