The steel-gray halls of the facility were shrouded in an oppressive silence, broken only by the rhythmic footsteps of patrolling guards. Deep within its labyrinthine structure lay Solitary Confinement, a place reserved for the facility's most dangerous and defiant captives. The walls were lined with suppressors, and the guards stationed there were the elite, making it nearly impenetrable.
But 00359 wasn't deterred.
From his hideout in Sector E—a restricted area he had turned into a sanctuary over the past few days—he had spent countless hours studying guard rotations and hacking into the facility's systems. The fact that Sector E was rarely patrolled made it the perfect place to gather intel and plan. He'd also scavenged old tech, using his ability to reassemble broken devices into tools that would aid in the breakout.
Tonight, he would make his move.
The door to Solitary Confinement loomed ahead, a slab of reinforced steel surrounded by glowing barriers. 00359 crouched in the shadows, focusing on the energy humming through the wires. His power surged, and the barriers flickered briefly before deactivating.
With a flick of his wrist, the locks on the door disengaged. The heavy door slid open with a hiss, revealing 00351 slumped against the wall, a suppression collar clamped around his neck. The device pulsed faintly, the source of the dim glow sapping his strength and cutting off his teleportation ability.
00359 stepped inside, his sharp gaze scanning the room. "You look like hell."
00351 raised his head, his eyes narrowing as recognition dawned. "00359? How did you—"
"No time," 00359 interrupted, kneeling beside him. "We're getting you out of here. But first, let's deal with this thing." He gestured to the collar.
00351's expression darkened. "It's blocking my powers. Even if we get out of here, I can't teleport with it on."
00359 smirked, already tracing the device with his fingers. "You're lucky I'm good with tech."
Closing his eyes, he reached out with his ability. The suppression collar resisted, its internal mechanisms sparking as they fought back. But 00359's focus was unrelenting, and with a final jolt, the device cracked open and clattered to the floor.
00351 gasped as the weight lifted from his body. His powers rushed back, a warm surge of energy spreading through him. He looked up at 00359, his gratitude unspoken but evident.
"Feel better?" 00359 asked, stepping back.
00351 nodded, rolling his shoulders. "A lot. Let's get out of here."
The escape wasn't quiet.
Alarms blared as guards flooded the halls, their shouts echoing through the facility. 00351 grabbed 00359's arm, focusing on the hideout in Sector E.
"Hold tight," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos.
The air around them shimmered, and in an instant, they vanished, reappearing in the safety of Sector E. The dimly lit room was cluttered with salvaged equipment, makeshift beds, and scattered notes.
00359 stumbled slightly, shaking his head. "Teleportation's weird. I'll never get used to that."
00351 leaned against the wall, catching his breath. "We made it. That's what matters."
As the tension eased, 00359 began to explain. "You've probably guessed by now, but those numbers on our arms—they're more than just identifiers. They're ranks."
00351 looked at the mark on his arm, his brow furrowing. "Ranks?"
"Yeah," 00359 said, settling onto a crate. "00001 is supposed to be the top, the strongest. You move up by beating someone with a higher rank. When you lose, you drop down, and they get your old number. It's how they control us—make us fight, compete."
00351 stared at his number, 00351, the weight of it sinking in. "So why am I so low?"
"You're not," 00359 said, his tone serious. "They suppress people like us because they're afraid of what we can do. Especially you. Your ability to teleport? That's not just useful—it's dangerous to them. That's why they slapped that suppression device on you and threw you into Solitary. If they could, they'd bury you even deeper."
00351's eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. "They're not going to stop us. We're getting out of here. All of us."
00359 nodded. "I agree. But we can't rush this. Security's going to be tighter now. We'll need a solid plan to get 00009 without getting caught."
The next few hours were spent strategizing. 00351's teleportation ability gave them an edge, but 00359's powers—Tech Telekinesis and regular telekinesis—were just as critical. He could manipulate the environment, disable systems, and create diversions when needed. Together, they had a fighting chance.
As they prepared, 00351 looked at 00359, his resolve unshaken. "Thanks for getting me out. I won't forget it."
00359 smirked. "Don't get sappy on me. We're not done yet."
00351 allowed himself a small smile. For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt hope. They had a chance—a real chance—to escape this nightmare and take back their freedom. But first, they would get 00009.
And then?
They would tear this place apart.
3 Days have passed since I got 00351. Since then the facility has been buzzing with heightened security, a response to the recent breakout of 00351. Guards patrolled in greater numbers, their radios crackling with constant updates. Surveillance drones hovered through the corridors, and barriers were reinforced with additional layers of protection. 00009's confinement had become the epicenter of this chaos.
But none of it would matter.
00359 adjusted the earpiece he had rigged to intercept the guards' communications. His Tech Telekinesis flowed through the circuits, manipulating the frequencies and creating false alarms across the facility. The guards' radios crackled with static before blaring, "Intruders near Block C! All units converge immediately!"
Within moments, dozens of guards abandoned their posts, rushing toward the nonexistent threat.
Hidden in the shadows near 00009's confinement chamber, 00351 smirked. "Nice trick. That clears a path. For now."
00359 gave a nod, his face set with determination. "It won't hold them off for long. We need to move fast."
The remaining guards stationed at 00009's cell were elite, their movements precise and disciplined. Getting through them required a more direct approach—one they had planned for.
The fight erupted like a storm.
00351 launched forward, teleporting between guards to strike with precision. His movements were fluid, each attack disrupting their formation. The guards scrambled to keep up, but the sudden onslaught left them exposed.
Meanwhile, 00359 wielded his telekinesis with devastating effect. A flick of his fingers sent rifles flying out of the guards' hands, slamming them against the walls. He focused on the automated turrets, disassembling them mid-fire.
As the chaos unfolded, 00359 glanced at 00009, still trapped within his cell, his eyes blazing with restrained fury. "We're almost there!"
The final line of defense was the hardest.
Guards in reinforced armor charged forward, their weapons trained on the pair. Energy projectiles sizzled through the air, forcing 00351 and 00359 to take cover.
"Time for Plan B!" 00359 shouted, wrenching a panel from the wall with his telekinesis and using it as a shield.
00351 teleported behind the advancing guards, delivering quick strikes to their exposed joints. But it wasn't enough. The reinforcements were closing in.
00359 shouted to 00009, "You ready for this?"
00009 smirked, his voice calm despite the chaos. "Always."
00359 disabled the cell's locking mechanism, and the door slid open. 00009 stepped out, his presence commanding. The guards hesitated for a moment—a fatal mistake.
00009 raised his hand, and the air around him dropped to a frigid chill. Frost crawled across the walls and floor, ice forming in intricate patterns as his ability awakened.
"Frozen Hell," he muttered, his voice as cold as the ability itself.
The guards froze mid-motion, their blood crystallizing in their veins. The ice spread with precision, encasing their vital organs. One by one, they collapsed, their bodies seizing as the ice fractured internally.
"Are they dead?" 00351 asked, stepping cautiously over the fallen guards.
"No," 00009 replied, his tone indifferent. "They'll wake up in two months. Maybe."
The three of them regrouped as the alarms blared louder, signaling reinforcements heading their way.
"We're out of time!" 00359 called.
00351 grabbed both of them, focusing on their hideout in Sector E. The air shimmered as the teleportation engulfed them, and they vanished just as more guards stormed into the chamber.
Back at the hideout, the tension eased as the three of them caught their breath. Sector E had become a sanctuary for them, its restricted access and minimal patrols making it the perfect base.
"We did it," 00351 said, leaning against the wall.
"But we can't stop now," 00359 added. "Security will tighten even more after this. We need to decide if it's just us or if we bring in others."
00009 crossed his arms, his icy demeanor unwavering. "More people mean more risk. But if we're going to take down this place, we might not have a choice."
The trio exchanged glances, the weight of their next move settling over them. They had won this battle, but the war for their freedom was far from over.