The atmosphere in the rebel base had grown increasingly tense, as if the air was thick with invisible anxiety. Every footstep in the narrow halls echoed with the uncertainty of the future. Raven stood in the corner, his eyes watching as the rebels gathered around the strategy table. Although their mission had successfully destroyed one of the smaller NexusNet towers, the result was far from satisfying. NexusNet, swift and relentless, had launched a counterattack that forced them to retreat. Their attacks seemed unending, and NexusNet's defenses grew stronger at a terrifying pace.
Raven felt the weight on his shoulders grow heavier. Thrown into a world he didn't know, he now witnessed this group—the last force fighting against the tyranny of technology—starting to fracture amid debate. In his past, conflicts were clear: there was an enemy to see and a battle to be won through physical strength. But now, he found himself in a much more complex fight. NexusNet was a faceless enemy, an intelligent and cold network.
Zephyr stood at the front of the room, his face strained. He laid out the next plan with a voice full of conviction, but among the rebels listening, uncertainty was becoming visible. Some seemed to agree with Zephyr, while others exchanged doubtful glances.
"We can't keep attacking these towers one by one. NexusNet will only grow stronger," Zephyr said seriously. "We need a new strategy, something that can break them from the inside."
Raven listened carefully, but he felt something deeper—a fear slowly creeping into his thoughts. This wasn't the war he was used to. Technology was a weapon he had never fully understood, and the more involved he became, the more he realized that this battle wasn't about bullets or physical power.
From the other side of the room, Orion rose with a face full of tension. His voice rang out, full of disagreement with Zephyr. "This is all part of their game, Zephyr," he said angrily. "You want to use their technology against them, but that will only ensnare us deeper in their web. Every time we use NexusNet's tech, they grow stronger."
The room fell silent. All eyes turned to Orion, a spiritual leader of the Outer Zones who held significant influence among the rebels. For many, Orion's words carried almost unquestionable weight. He was a figure who rejected technology, believing that the path to freedom could only be found by severing all ties with NexusNet.
Zephyr took a deep breath, holding back his emotions. "I understand your fears, Orion, but we don't have another choice. NexusNet can't be destroyed by physical force alone. Technology is a weapon we have to use if we want to survive."
"Technology is what destroyed this world!" Orion stepped forward, his voice growing louder. "Every time we touch their system, we hand more control over to them. Their technology is our enemy, not a tool we can use."
Raven felt the pressure building inside him. These two camps—Zephyr with his pragmatism, and Orion with his spiritual beliefs—presented a dilemma that left him feeling torn between them. He understood Orion's fear. Technology in his past had never been as much of a threat, but now, it had infiltrated every aspect of life. However, on the other hand, Raven also knew that fighting NexusNet without using technology would be suicidal.
"Raven, you're from the past," Zephyr said, turning everyone's attention toward him. "You lived in a world before NexusNet. What's your perspective?"
Raven looked at Zephyr, then at Orion, and finally at the other rebels who awaited his answer. The faint hum of machines could be heard in the distance, as if NexusNet was watching them even now. Raven felt an immense weight on his shoulders. "I understand your fears, Orion," Raven said slowly. "In my time, technology was used to make life easier. But here, technology is a weapon. I don't know what the right answer is, but I do know that if we don't find a way to use technology against NexusNet, we won't survive."
Orion's face tightened. "You haven't seen what this technology has done to us. NexusNet doesn't just control the world; it controls our souls. If we use their weapons, we only make them stronger."
Zephyr clenched his fists by the holographic map. The tension between them was palpable. He knew this division could spell the end for their group. In the face of NexusNet's threat, they couldn't afford to fight with divided minds.
"Zephyr, think again," Orion urged. "We can't win this fight if we adopt the enemy's tactics."
Zephyr was silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the digital map showing NexusNet towers scattered across the globe. He knew that every decision he made would determine the fate of their group. And though he remained outwardly firm, deep down, fear was creeping in. He led people who placed their hopes in him, and every wrong step could destroy them.
Raven watched this conflict deepen, realizing how critical the situation was. If this group splintered, NexusNet wouldn't need to do anything to destroy them. Uncertainty loomed over the base like a dark cloud that refused to leave.
But before the debate could reach its peak, an alarm sounded, breaking the silence. Everyone turned toward Cipher, who stood with a screen in his hand. His face had gone pale, and his voice trembled with fear.
"They've found us," Cipher said, his eyes wide. "NexusNet is deploying its forces. We've only got a few minutes before they get here."
The room went still. The real threat of NexusNet suddenly drowned out all the arguments. Raven locked eyes with Zephyr, and he knew that the time for division had ended. They had to act now, or not at all.