The jet touched down with a faint hiss, its cloaking systems seamlessly blending it into the jagged canyon terrain. The only sounds were the low hum of the craft's engines powering down and the distant rush of wind funneling through the canyon walls. She crouched at the edge of the loading ramp, her enhanced eyes scanning the landscape. The facility lay ahead, carved into the canyon itself, its dark steel exterior merging with the shadows of the stone. It looked less like a building and more like a fortress meant to be forgotten.
"Think they have a welcome mat?" Volt quipped, his gloves sparking faintly as he checked his equipment.
Tank snorted, adjusting the massive weapon slung across his back. "If they do, l'm blowing it up. Here's the plan: I'm hitting the front door hard and loud. Volt, you take out their comms to keep reinforcements off our backs. You"-Tank pointed at her-"are heading straight to Sub-Level 3 to hopefully get Dagger or atleast nullify the scums down there before Volt comes. We can't let them know about you till you have atleast reached Dagger. I am going to make a show out of it. Everyone clear?"
"Crystal," she replied, trying to sound calm. Her heart was pounding in her ears, but her voice betrayed none of it.
Volt smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Try not to trip over anything in there, rookie."
She shot him a dry look, flexing her fingers as her nano-blade shimmered into life. The weapon's sleek, metallic edge caught the dim moonlight as it formed around her hand. "Try not to short-circuit yourself.Wouldn't want to carry you out of here."
Tank raised a hand, cutting off their banter. "Focus. Five-minute window before reinforcements arrive. Make them count. Move!"
Inside the Facility
The canyon echoed with a thunderous explosion as Tank launched his assault at the main entrance. The entire structure seemed to shudder under the force, and the faint sound of alarms began to blare within.
"Guess that's my cue," Volt said through the comm, peeling off toward the communication hub. "Don't miss me too much."
She rolled her eyes but said nothing, already sprinting toward the side entrance Kykuit had marked on their schematics. The door was unsecured—a small blessing-but she couldn't shake the sense that everything here was too quiet, too controlled.
"Sub-Level 3," Kykuit's voice crackled through her earpiece. "Cameras are on a 2.4-second rotation.
Stick to the blind spots. I'll guide you through."
"Got it," she whispered, exhaling slowly as she stepped into the dimly lit corridor.
T-2.4 Seconds
Her enhanced speed powered her forward, her steps silent on the steel floor.
• T-2.4: She dashed toward the first blind spot, hugging the wall.
• T-2.0: The camera began its sweep just as she reached the corner, sliding into place with milliseconds to spare.
• T-1.8: Another blind spot loomed ahead, ten meters down.
• T-1.5: She moved again, darting forward. The soft thud of her boots was masked by the facility's ambient noise, a mixture of humming machinery and the distant echoes of Tank's chaos above.
"Good pace," Kykuit murmured in her ear.
"Next checkpoint in ten meters. One guard ahead."
She saw him as she turned the corner—a patrol walking methodically, his back to her.
She advanced quickly.
The guard started to turn, perhaps hearing the faintest disturbance behind him.
She closed the gap, bringing the hilt of her blade down on the base of his neck. He crumpled silently to the floor.
"Clear," she whispered, already moving forward.
The staircase to Sub-Level 3 loomed ahead, dimly lit and seemingly abandoned. She descended quickly, the air growing colder and heavier the deeper she went. The faint hum of machinery filled the space, creating an oppressive atmosphere that pressed against her chest. This felt like a repeat of that bloody castle all those days ago.
Atleast I am not alone here, she thought. Not knowing whether to be comforted by this or be disturbed.
"Cell block's at the end of the corridor," Kykuit directed. "Door is reinforced. You'll need your blade to cut through the lock."
"Of course I will," she muttered under her breath.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, her enhanced vision picked up faint heat signatures beyond the walls. Two guards stationed outside the cell block door, both armed.
"Kykuit," she whispered, "guards outside the door."
"Neutralize them quickly," he replied. "You're now clear on cameras. Thirty seconds before the next sweep."
She didn't hesitate.
Darting forward, she swept behind the first guard, her blade slicing silently through his weapon strap. Before he could react, she struck his temple with the hilt, sending him crumpling to the floor.
The second guard turned, raising his rifle.
She ducked low, sweeping his legs out from under him and pinning him with a knee to his chest. She suffocated him enough for him to lose consciousness.
The corridor fell silent again.
The reinforced door loomed ahead, a glowing keypad flashing red. She slid her blade into the lock mechanism, watching as sparks danced around the edges. The door groaned and hissed before sliding open. These nanobots were something else. She thought.
Inside, the cell was stark and cold. Dagger sat slumped against the wall, his uniform torn and his face bruised.
"Took you long enough," he muttered, a weak smile tugging at his lips.
"Nice to see you too," she replied, kneeling beside him.
He winced as he tried to stand, favoring his right leg. He must have a few bones broken and a stabbed eye. But nothing that couldn't be fixed by Doctor. She was in much worse condition after her first mission.
"Guess I'm not running out of here."
"Don't worry," she said, adjusting his arm over her shoulder. "I've got speed for two."
Kykuit's voice cut through the comm. "Hostiles converging on your location. Move now!"
"Already on it," she muttered, dragging Dagger toward the staircase.
The mission wasn't over yet.