The sound of gunfire erupted behind her as the first wave of drones appeared in the doorway, their glowing red eyes fixed on Zeke and Reaver. Zeke's rifle thundered as he fired round after round into the advancing horde of cyber-drones. The hallway lit up in flashes of gunfire, the concussive sounds of bullets tearing through steel and flesh echoing through the confined space. Zeke's massive frame stood firm at the entrance, his automatic rifle spitting lead into the tide of oncoming machines. For every drone that dropped, two more seemed to take its place, their once-human bodies powered by Arasaka's twisted neural tech.
"Come on, you bastards!" Zeke shouted, his voice booming over the chaos. He gritted his teeth as he fired off another burst, the rounds slamming into one drone's chest, sending it crashing to the floor in a heap of sparking metal and flesh.
Behind him, Reaver moved like a shadow, his mono-blade flashing through the dim light as he danced between the drones with lethal precision. Every slice severed wires and exposed circuits, every thrust finding weak points in the machines' exoskeletons. His movements were fluid, controlled, each strike more precise than the last. But even he couldn't stop the flood. More drones were pushing through the doorway, their cold, lifeless eyes glowing red as they advanced with mechanical precision.
Starr's heart pounded in her chest as she worked furiously at the control panel, the hum of the overloaded generators growing louder with each passing second. The data streams on her HUD blinked red, warning her of critical power levels, but she didn't have time to care. She could hear the clanking of metal footsteps growing closer, the sharp sounds of combat behind her making her pulse race.
"Come on, Starr!" Reaver called out over the din, his voice strained as he parried another drone's attack. "We're running out of time!"
"I'm almost there!" Starr shouted back, her fingers flying over the interface. Sweat dripped down her brow, her hands moving with frantic speed as she activated the final sequence. The control panel beeped, flashing a confirmation message across the screen. She had done it. The system was ready to overload.
"Got it!" she yelled, turning away from the console just as a deafening crash echoed behind her.
One of the drones had broken through Zeke's defense, slamming into him with enough force to send him sprawling across the floor. His rifle clattered out of his hands, and he barely had time to raise his arms before the drone was on him, its metallic limbs crushing down with inhuman strength.
"Zeke!" Starr screamed, grabbing her Malorian Overture and firing at the drone. The heavy-caliber rounds tore through the machine's chassis, but it barely flinched, its mechanical hands tightening around Zeke's throat.
With a growl, Reaver leaped into action, his mono-blade flashing as he slashed through the drone's neck, severing its head in one swift motion. Sparks flew as the headless machine convulsed, then collapsed beside Zeke, its limbs twitching as the last of its systems powered down.
Zeke coughed, gasping for breath as he pushed the drone's heavy body off of him. "Fucking thing… felt like a truck," he grunted, wiping the blood from his mouth as he struggled to his feet.
"We need to go!" Starr shouted, running toward the elevator shaft at the far end of the room. She could already hear the generators behind her beginning to whine as the power grid reached critical mass. The air in the room crackled with energy, the lights flickering as the facility prepared to go dark.
"Byte, we're heading to the elevator!" Starr called into the comms, her voice breathless with urgency. "Shut the doors behind us and prepare for extraction!"
"Copy that!" Byte replied, her voice tense. "But you've got more drones inbound. You need to get out of there, now!"
Starr could hear the pounding of more metallic footsteps echoing down the hallway, the sound growing louder as the drones closed in on them. She sprinted toward the elevator shaft, Reaver and Zeke close behind her, their footsteps echoing in the narrow space.
As they reached the shaft, Starr activated the control panel, and the doors slid open with a hiss. The elevator was a simple service platform, barely large enough for the three of them, but it was their only way out. She shoved Zeke inside first, followed by Reaver, who stood ready at the edge of the platform with his blade drawn.
Starr stepped onto the platform just as the drones came crashing into the room, their glowing eyes fixed on the trio. The first of the machines lunged forward, its metallic limbs outstretched, but Starr hit the control button, sending the platform jerking downward into the dark shaft just in time.
The last thing she saw before the doors slid shut was the drone's face—a twisted, grotesque mask of metal and flesh, its red eyes glowing like embers in the darkness.
Into the Depths
The elevator rattled as it descended, the air growing colder and more oppressive the further down they went. The sound of the generator overload was now a distant hum, the facility above them slowly shutting down as the power grid collapsed. But Starr knew they weren't safe yet. The drones would find another way down, and when they did, there wouldn't be any time for second chances.
"How far down does this go?" Zeke grumbled, rubbing his neck where the drone had nearly crushed him. "Feels like we're going into the goddamn core of the planet."
"We're heading to the lowest level," Starr replied, her eyes fixed on the readout on her HUD. "There's an old service tunnel down there that Byte said we can use to get out."
"Let's just hope there's nothing else waiting for us down there," Reaver muttered, his voice tense. He hadn't let go of his blade since they stepped onto the platform, and his posture was rigid, every muscle coiled in preparation for whatever was waiting for them at the bottom.
Starr glanced at him, her heart still racing. Reaver had always been the calm one, the one who kept his cool no matter how bad things got. But here, in the depths of The Mind Maze, even he was on edge. It wasn't just the drones that were getting to them. It was the place itself. The facility seemed alive, the walls humming with an unnatural energy, as if the very air around them was watching, waiting for them to make a mistake.
Finally, with a grinding halt, the elevator reached the bottom of the shaft. The doors slid open with a screech, revealing a dark, narrow tunnel that stretched out into the distance. The walls were lined with exposed cables and rusted pipes, and the air smelled damp and stale. This part of the facility hadn't been used in years, maybe decades, and it showed.
"This is it," Starr said, stepping off the platform and into the tunnel. Her boots clanged against the metal floor, the sound echoing off the walls. "Let's move."
Zeke followed, his rifle raised as he scanned the darkness ahead. Reaver was last, his eyes darting between the shadows, ever watchful. The three of them moved quickly, their footsteps the only sound in the oppressive silence of the tunnel. Every step felt like it could be their last, the tension growing thicker with each passing second.
"Byte, we're in the tunnel," Starr said quietly into the comms. "How much further?"
"Not far," Byte replied, her voice crackling through the static. "There's an access hatch at the end of the tunnel. It leads up to the surface, near an old abandoned outpost. That's your extraction point. I've got a car waiting there for you."
"Good," Starr muttered, her eyes flicking to the shadows ahead. "We'll be out in a few minutes."
But the words had barely left her mouth when she heard it—the faint sound of metallic footsteps, echoing down the tunnel behind them. The drones had found another way down.
"Shit," Reaver growled, turning around and raising his blade. "They're coming."
"We've got to move!" Zeke barked, his eyes wide with urgency. "They'll be on us in seconds!"
Starr's heart raced as the sound of the drones grew louder, the metallic clanking growing closer and closer. She broke into a sprint, her legs pumping as she ran down the tunnel, Zeke and Reaver close behind her. The pounding of the drones' footsteps filled her ears, the sound closing in on them like a drumbeat of impending doom.
Up ahead, the faint outline of the access hatch came into view. It was their only way out, their only chance at survival.
"There!" Starr shouted, pointing toward the hatch. "Go!"
Zeke reached the hatch first, slamming his fist against the control panel. The door creaked open, revealing a narrow ladder that led upward into the darkness. He climbed in first, his massive form moving quickly despite the weight of his armor.
"Go!" Reaver yelled, motioning for Starr to climb ahead of him. "I'll cover you!"
Starr didn't argue. She grabbed the ladder and hauled herself up, her arms and legs burning as she climbed, the sound of the drones growing deafening below. She could hear Reaver fighting below, the sharp sound of his blade slicing through metal as the drones closed in on him.
"Come on, Reaver!" Starr shouted, reaching the top of the ladder and pulling herself through the hatch. She turned just in time to see Reaver leap onto the ladder, his blade still gleaming with sparks as he climbed.
But the drones were right behind him. One of the machines lunged at Reaver just as he reached the halfway point on the ladder. The drone's metallic limbs scraped against the rungs, its red, glowing eyes locked onto him as it reached out to pull him down. Reaver's reflexes kicked in, his arm snapping down to slice the drone's hand off in a quick, fluid motion. Sparks flew as the severed limb fell, clattering loudly on the tunnel floor below. But more were coming, their mechanical growls reverberating up through the narrow shaft.
"Reaver!" Starr screamed, watching in horror as the drones continued their relentless pursuit. He was so close, but she could see the strain on his face—the raw, desperate effort it took to stay ahead of the machines. His movements, though still sharp and precise, were slowing, exhaustion creeping in after everything they'd been through.
"Keep climbing!" Zeke shouted from above, already at the top of the ladder, his gun trained on the hatch. "I've got you covered!"
Reaver gritted his teeth, forcing himself to keep climbing, his body tensing with every rung. The drones weren't stopping. Two more reached the base of the ladder, their metallic claws clanging against the steel as they began to climb after him, their speed terrifying. Reaver's hand reached out, grabbing the edge of the hatch just as Starr extended hers to pull him up.
With one last surge of strength, Reaver hoisted himself through the hatch, his boot kicking the closest drone in the face as he pulled the rest of his body through. The impact sent the machine crashing back down the shaft, but the others were still climbing, undeterred.
"Close the damn hatch!" Reaver yelled, his chest heaving from exertion.
Zeke slammed his hand against the control panel, and the heavy steel hatch slid shut with a deafening clang, sealing the drones inside. The pounding of their metallic fists could still be heard below, but the door held firm—for now.
For a moment, the three of them stood there, gasping for breath, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins. They had made it, barely, but Starr knew they weren't out of danger yet. The facility was in lockdown, and more drones were likely on their way.
"Is that it?" Zeke asked, his voice rough as he leaned against the wall, his rifle hanging loosely in his grip. "We clear?"
"For now," Starr muttered, wiping the sweat from her brow. Her mind was still racing, but she allowed herself a moment to breathe. Just a moment.
Reaver pushed himself up from where he'd collapsed next to the hatch, his chest rising and falling heavily. His usually calm and collected demeanor was strained, and for the first time in a long time, Starr saw a flash of vulnerability in his eyes. He didn't say anything, just gave her a short nod of acknowledgment.
Starr returned the nod but kept her distance. She couldn't afford to get too close—emotionally or physically. There was too much history between them, too many unresolved feelings that would only get in the way. She needed to focus.
"Byte, we're out of the tunnel," Starr said into the comms, her voice steady despite the chaos of the last few minutes. "What's next?"
"Good news," Byte replied, her tone laced with relief. "You're almost at the extraction point. Just a short run through the old outpost, and you'll be in the clear."
Zeke grunted, pulling his rifle back into position. "About time we got some good news."
The three of them made their way through the narrow passage, the dim lights of the abandoned outpost flickering weakly above them. The walls were cracked and covered in grime, long forgotten by the corpo giants who had once built them. This place had been left to rot in the Badlands, much like the countless other remnants of the corporate wars that littered the desert beyond Night City.
As they moved deeper into the outpost, Starr couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The silence here was unnerving, almost suffocating. She could still hear the faint sounds of the drones pounding on the hatch behind them, but there was something else—a nagging sense of unease that gnawed at the back of her mind.
"This place feels off," Reaver muttered, his eyes scanning the shadows ahead.
Starr nodded, her fingers tightening on the grip of her Malorian Overture. "Stay sharp."
The corridor opened up into a large chamber, its ceiling high and crisscrossed with rusted support beams. Old, discarded equipment lay scattered across the floor, covered in dust and debris. In the center of the room was a long-dead turret, its barrel aimed at the entrance as if still guarding the facility. But the real focus of the room was the large, steel door at the far end—the exit.
"There," Byte said, her voice crackling over the comms. "That's your way out. The car I arranged is parked just outside. Once you're through that door, you're home free."
"Too easy," Zeke muttered, his eyes narrowing. "Feels like a setup."
"Agreed," Reaver said, his tone cautious. "This place hasn't been touched in years, but I don't trust it."
Starr hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to be careful. She had survived this long in Night City by trusting her gut, and right now, her gut was telling her something wasn't right. But they had no other choice. They had to get out, and this was the only way.
"Stay close," she said quietly, leading the way toward the door. Zeke and Reaver followed, their weapons at the ready.
They reached the door without incident, and Starr let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She placed her hand on the control panel, her HUD flashing a confirmation message as the door's lock disengaged with a loud hiss.
But just as the door began to slide open, a low, metallic growl echoed through the chamber.
Starr's blood ran cold. The sound was coming from above.
"Get down!" she shouted, diving to the side just as a massive, spider-like drone dropped from the ceiling, its red eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. The ground shook as the drone landed, its eight razor-sharp legs digging into the metal floor with a screech.
Zeke cursed, rolling out of the way as the drone's legs stabbed into the ground where he had just been. He raised his rifle and fired, the rounds slamming into the drone's metallic body, but the thing barely flinched.
Reaver was already on his feet, his mono-blade flashing as he sliced at one of the drone's legs. Sparks flew as the blade made contact, severing the leg cleanly at the joint. The drone screeched, its movements jerky as it adjusted to the loss of its limb, but it wasn't down yet.
"Byte!" Starr shouted into the comms, dodging a strike from one of the drone's remaining legs. "What the hell is this thing?"
"I don't know!" Byte's voice was panicked. "It's not in the system—must be an old security measure that didn't get deactivated. Just keep moving!"
"Easier said than done," Starr muttered, firing her Overture at the drone's central body. The heavy rounds punched through the metal plating, but the drone's core remained intact.
The spider-drone lashed out with one of its legs, knocking Zeke back with a brutal strike that sent him crashing into a wall. His rifle skittered across the floor, out of reach, as he slumped to the ground, dazed.
Starr's pulse quickened as the drone turned its attention to Reaver, its legs clanking against the floor as it moved in for the kill. Reaver ducked and weaved, his mono-blade slicing through another leg, but the drone was relentless. It wasn't like the others they had faced—this thing was smarter, faster, and far more dangerous.
"Reaver!" Starr screamed, her heart racing as she tried to find an opening. The drone was too close to him, its remaining legs striking out with terrifying speed. Reaver barely managed to dodge the blows, but he was losing ground, his movements slowing as exhaustion set in.
Desperate, Starr scanned the room, her eyes locking onto the dead turret in the center of the chamber. It was old, but if she could just get it online…
"Byte, can you hack that turret?" she yelled, pointing toward the rusted machine.
"I can try!" Byte's voice was frantic, but determined. "Give me a second!"
Starr fired at the drone again, trying to draw its attention away from Reaver. The rounds slammed into its body, but the machine barely noticed her. It was locked onto Reaver, its legs moving faster as it closed in for the final strike.
"Byte!" Starr shouted, panic rising in her chest. "Now would be a good time!"
"I'm in!" Byte cried, and the turret's long-dead systems hummed to life with a low whine. The barrel rotated, locking onto the spider-drone just as it prepared to lunge at Reaver.
The turret fired, a single, concussive shot that slammed into the drone's central core, shattering the metallic plating and sending the machine crashing to the floor in a heap of twisted metal and sparks.
For a moment, everything was still, the only sound the faint crackle of the destroyed drone's systems.