Episode 2: Phase 1
"Shadows of Pursuit"
The city had never felt so alive—and so dangerous.
Rylen ducked into a crowded marketplace, his heart pounding as the hum of Paragon drones echoed somewhere behind him. The neon lights overhead flickered, casting distorted reflections on the puddles below. Vendors shouted over one another, hawking everything from bio-hacked fruit to questionable "enhancements." It was the perfect place to disappear—if only he didn't stick out like a sore thumb.
He pulled up the hood of his worn jacket, trying to blend in. His mind replayed the events of the last hour: the crash site, the strange voice, the energy coursing through him, and that cryptic stranger.
"Not ready yet," he muttered, weaving through the crowd. "Not ready for what? A nervous breakdown? Because I'm nailing that already."
He paused at a stall displaying an array of gadgets and parts, pretending to browse. His fingers brushed over a small, outdated holo-emitter. It flickered to life, projecting a tiny, dancing robot.
"Cute, isn't it?" the vendor said, his mechanical arm clicking as he leaned closer. "Only 20 credits."
"Yeah, adorable," Rylen replied, glancing over his shoulder. "But I left my wallet in my other life."
The vendor chuckled. "Suit yourself. But you look like someone running from something—or someone. You'll need more than luck to stay out of trouble."
Before Rylen could respond, a loud whirr cut through the market's din. He turned to see a Paragon drone hovering above the crowd, its red scanner sweeping across the stalls.
Rylen's stomach sank. "Of course," he whispered.
"Hey, you don't want to be here when that thing locks onto someone," the vendor warned. "Especially if it's you."
The drone stopped, its scanner fixing on Rylen's position. A synthesized voice boomed over the marketplace. "Unregistered anomaly detected. Surrender immediately."
"Anomaly?" Rylen said, backing away. "That's just rude."
The crowd parted as the drone descended, its weapons panel sliding open. People scrambled to get out of its way, leaving Rylen exposed.
"Okay," he muttered. "No pressure. Just me versus a murder-bot in front of an audience. Totally fine."
The drone fired a warning shot, the plasma bolt striking the ground inches from his feet. Without thinking, Rylen raised his hands—and the energy barrier from before erupted in front of him, absorbing the blast.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Whispers followed. "Did you see that?" "He's not enhanced… is he?"
The drone recalibrated, its weapons charging for another attack. Rylen didn't wait. He turned and bolted, weaving through the stalls as chaos erupted behind him. Vendors cursed as their wares were knocked over, and the drone's plasma bolts sizzled past him, missing by inches.
He dove into a narrow alley, his chest heaving. The sound of the drone grew louder, its thrusters echoing in the confined space. Desperate, Rylen scanned his surroundings. His eyes fell on a pile of discarded tech parts—broken, useless junk to most. But to Rylen, it was a potential lifeline.
He grabbed a cylindrical piece of scrap, yanking a few wires loose. "Okay, Rylen," he muttered, working quickly. "Let's see if binge-watching DIY Explosives for Dummies pays off."
The drone appeared at the alley's entrance, its scanner glowing menacingly. Rylen twisted the final wire into place, a faint hum signaling his makeshift device was armed.
He hurled it at the drone. For a split second, nothing happened.
"Great. My life ends because I can't follow a tutorial," he said.
Then, with a sharp pop, the device released a burst of electromagnetic energy. The drone's lights flickered, its thrusters sputtered, and it dropped to the ground in a heap.
Rylen stared at the smoking wreckage. "Huh. Guess I'm smarter than I look."
But his relief was short-lived. The faint sound of footsteps reached his ears—several pairs, closing in fast.
"Looks like Paragon sent backup," he muttered, glancing at the far end of the alley. His escape route was clear for now, but he knew he wouldn't stay ahead of them for long.
As he prepared to run, a familiar shimmer appeared in the air before him. The cloaked stranger from earlier materialized, their silver eyes locking onto his.
"Impressive," they said, gesturing to the ruined drone. "But you can't keep running forever, Rylen."
"Yeah, thanks for the pep talk, Obi-Wan," Rylen snapped. "Got any actual advice, or are cryptic warnings your thing?"
The stranger ignored the sarcasm. "Follow me if you want answers. Stay here if you want to die."
Rylen hesitated. Every instinct screamed not to trust this person. But as the sound of Paragon agents grew louder, he realized he didn't have a choice.
"Fine," he said, stepping forward. "But if this gets me killed, I'm haunting you."
The stranger smirked. "You'll thank me later."
---
What lies ahead for Rylen? And who is this enigmatic stranger?
Episode 2: Phase 2
The stranger led Rylen through a maze of back alleys, moving with an agility that Rylen couldn't hope to match. They ducked under rusted pipes, climbed crumbling staircases, and darted through narrow corridors, all while Rylen struggled to keep up.
"Hey," he panted, nearly tripping over a pile of debris. "I know cardio's important, but maybe slow down? I'm not exactly—"
The stranger whirled around, their silver eyes gleaming. "Quiet."
Rylen froze, his complaints dying on his lips. The stranger tilted their head, listening intently. Rylen strained his ears but heard nothing beyond the distant hum of the city.
"Are they close?" he whispered.
The stranger nodded. "They're tracking you. Your energy signature isn't something they'll ignore."
"Great," Rylen muttered. "So now I'm a walking beacon for trouble."
The stranger didn't reply, instead grabbing Rylen's arm and pulling him into a hidden doorway. Inside was a cramped, dimly lit room filled with monitors, wires, and gadgets that looked both ancient and futuristic. The hum of machinery filled the air.
"Welcome to my sanctuary," the stranger said, shutting the door behind them.
"Sanctuary?" Rylen looked around, unimpressed. "Looks more like a fire hazard."
The stranger smirked. "Sit."
Rylen reluctantly dropped into a rickety chair. The stranger moved to a console, typing rapidly. A holographic map of the city appeared, red dots blinking in several locations.
"Paragon won't stop until they have you," the stranger said. "You're more valuable to them than you realize."
"Valuable?" Rylen raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure my biggest achievement is once eating a whole pizza by myself."
The stranger sighed, clearly unimpressed with his humor. "The energy you unleashed back there—it's not ordinary. It's ancient, powerful, and rare. They'll do anything to control it. Or destroy it."
Rylen leaned back, rubbing his temples. "This is insane. Yesterday, I was just a nobody trying to make rent. Now I'm… what, some kind of science experiment?"
The stranger turned to him, their expression softening. "You're not a science experiment. You're the key to something much bigger."
"Bigger?" Rylen laughed bitterly. "Like what? Saving the universe?"
The stranger's gaze didn't waver. "Perhaps."
Rylen stared at them, his laughter fading. "You're serious."
Before the stranger could respond, an alarm blared. The monitors lit up with flashing red warnings.
"They've found us," the stranger said, their voice calm but firm. "We have to move."
Rylen jumped to his feet. "Move? Where? You said this place was a sanctuary!"
"Sanctuaries are temporary," the stranger replied, grabbing a sleek device from the console. They handed it to Rylen. "Put this on."
"What is it?"
"A suppression band. It'll mask your energy signature for a short time."
Rylen hesitated but slipped the band around his wrist. It hummed softly, and he felt a strange dulling sensation, as if part of him had been muted.
The door shuddered as something heavy slammed against it.
"They're breaching," the stranger said, pulling out a sleek, cylindrical weapon that began to glow.
Rylen stepped back. "Uh, I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not exactly combat-ready."
"Then stay out of the way," the stranger said, positioning themselves by the door.
The next moment, the door exploded inward, and Paragon enforcers stormed in, their weapons raised.
The stranger moved like a shadow, their weapon emitting precise bursts of energy that incapacitated the enforcers one by one. Rylen ducked behind a console, watching in awe and terror.
"What the hell have I gotten myself into?" he whispered.
As the last enforcer fell, the stranger turned to Rylen, their cloak billowing slightly. "This is just the beginning," they said.
Rylen stood, his legs trembling. "Great. Can't wait for the sequel."
The stranger didn't laugh. Instead, they motioned for him to follow. "Come. There's someone you need to meet."
"Meet? Can't we just, I don't know, hide forever?" Rylen asked, but he followed anyway, his curiosity outweighing his fear.
As they exited into another alley, Rylen glanced back at the ruined sanctuary. A part of him wondered if he'd ever feel safe again.