Just as the team reached the central control room, the facility's AI activated, and the defenses roared to life. Automated turrets emerged from the walls, and a swarm of drones flew out from hidden compartments in the ceiling, their red eyes glowing menacingly.
"Get to cover!" Nyla shouted as the drones opened fire.
The team dove behind consoles and crates as bullets and energy blasts rained down around them. Zane frantically worked at a nearby terminal, trying to bypass the security systems and shut down the defenses.
"This AI is different," Zane muttered as he typed furiously. "It's more advanced than anything we've seen before—it's learning."
Nyla fired back at the drones, her pulse racing. "Can you stop it?"
"I'm trying!" Zane said, sweat beading on his forehead. "But it's adapting faster than I can keep up. It's like Solas designed it to evolve on its own."
The battle raged on, and the team fought to stay alive. One by one, the drones fell, but for every one they destroyed, another seemed to take its place.
"We're getting overwhelmed!" General Aria shouted, her weapon blazing.
Nyla gritted her teeth. "Zane, we need that system offline, now!"
"I'm working on it!" Zane shouted, his fingers flying over the keyboard.
Suddenly, the lights in the control room flickered, and the sound of the drones ceased. The turrets powered down, and the AI's voice went silent.
Zane slumped back in his chair, breathing heavily. "Got it. The AI is offline—for now."
Nyla looked around at the wreckage. They had won this battle, but it had been a close call.
"We did it," she said quietly. "But this AI… it's different. It's more dangerous than anything we've seen. Solas might be gone, but whatever he created is still evolving."
Zane nodded, his expression grim. "And if we don't stop it, it might become something even worse."