Zane didn't stay in the abandoned building for long. As much as he wanted to close his eyes and forget about the Cipher Core, the weight of what he'd seen in his dream gnawed at him. That city, that voice—they were connected to this device, and to whatever chaos he had just set into motion. He slipped out into the alleys before dawn, navigating the maze-like streets with a scavenger's instinct, always listening for the faint hum of Eidolon's drones.
By midday, he reached The Hollow, a sprawling marketplace buried beneath layers of the upper city's supports. Here, the Dregs bartered scraps, information, and the occasional stolen tech. It was the closest thing to a neutral zone Cipher City had, but Zane knew better than to assume it was safe.
He pulled his hood lower as he wove through the crowd, the Cipher Core tucked securely in the inner pocket of his jacket. Elias's death weighed heavily on him, but he pushed the thought aside. The priority now was survival—and answers.
"Zane Kael, in the flesh."
The voice stopped him in his tracks. He turned to see a tall, wiry man leaning casually against a rusted column. His dark eyes glinted with amusement, and a faint scar cut across his jawline. He wore the signature red band of the Vanguard around his wrist, marking him as part of the underground rebellion.
"Not now, Kade," Zane muttered, moving to step around him.
Kade pushed off the column, blocking his path. "Not now? That's all you've got for me after disappearing for weeks? The Vanguard's been looking for you."
"Yeah? Well, I've been busy not dying," Zane shot back, his tone sharper than he intended.
Kade raised an eyebrow. "And yet here you are, alive and kicking. What's got you so jumpy?"
Zane hesitated. Kade was resourceful, a skilled operator who knew more about the city's secrets than most, but he also had a knack for getting involved in things best left alone. Still, Zane needed help, and Kade was his best shot at staying one step ahead of the Obscura.
"I found something," Zane said, lowering his voice. "Something big."
Kade's curiosity was instantly piqued. "Define 'big.'"
"Not here," Zane said, glancing around. "Somewhere quieter."
They slipped into one of The Hollow's many hidden alcoves, a cramped space lit by a single flickering bulb. Zane pulled the Cipher Core from his jacket, its faint glow casting eerie shadows on the walls. Kade's eyes widened.
"What the hell is that?" he asked, leaning closer.
"It's called the Cipher Core," Zane said. "I don't know exactly what it does, but it's connected to Eidolon somehow. The Obscura want it badly enough to kill for it."
Kade let out a low whistle. "You really know how to find trouble, don't you?"
"Trouble found me," Zane retorted. "Elias is dead because of this thing. I barely got away."
Kade's expression hardened at the mention of Elias. "Damn. I liked the old man."
They stood in silence for a moment before Kade straightened up. "Alright. If this thing's as dangerous as you say, we need to get it to someone who can figure out what we're dealing with."
"And who would that be?" Zane asked skeptically.
Kade smirked. "The Vanguard, of course."
The Vanguard's headquarters was hidden deep within the undercity, accessible only through a series of narrow tunnels that even seasoned scavengers avoided. Kade led Zane through the labyrinth with practiced ease, eventually stopping at a reinforced steel door. He tapped a sequence into the keypad, and the door slid open with a hiss.
Inside, the air was charged with quiet intensity. The Vanguard's base was a stark contrast to the chaotic sprawl of the Dregs. Banks of monitors lined the walls, displaying feeds from hacked surveillance drones. Maps of Cipher City were pinned to every available surface, marked with strategic plans and supply routes. Men and women moved with purpose, their faces a mix of determination and exhaustion.
Kade led Zane to a central chamber, where a woman in her early thirties was poring over a set of schematics. Her sharp eyes flicked up as they entered, and she crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed.
"Kade," she said, her voice carrying a no-nonsense tone. "Who's this?"
"Relax, Rhea," Kade replied with a grin. "This is Zane. He's got something you'll want to see."
Zane stepped forward, pulling the Cipher Core from his jacket. Rhea's expression shifted to one of cautious interest.
"What is it?" she asked.
"The Cipher Core," Zane said. "It's connected to Eidolon somehow. I don't know what it does yet, but the Obscura are after it."
Rhea's gaze sharpened. "And you thought it was a good idea to bring it here?"
"It's safer with you than with me," Zane said defensively. "Look, I didn't ask for this. Elias—" He stopped, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Elias thought it was important enough to die for."
Rhea studied him for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Let's see what we're dealing with."
Rhea placed the Cipher Core on a table surrounded by diagnostic equipment. As she connected it to a terminal, the device pulsed faintly, and the same holographic symbols Zane had seen earlier appeared above it.
"Interesting," Rhea murmured, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "This coding structure is ancient. Pre-Eidolon, maybe even pre-Cipher City."
"What does that mean?" Zane asked.
"It means this thing is older than any tech we've seen in decades," Rhea replied. "And if Eidolon wants it, it's either a threat or a key to something bigger."
The room fell silent as the implications sank in. Zane shifted uncomfortably. "So what now?"
"Now," Rhea said, "we figure out how to use it before Eidolon finds us."
Before anyone could respond, the base's alarms blared to life. Red lights flashed, and a voice crackled over the intercom.
"Multiple drones inbound. Obscura units confirmed. They've found us."
Rhea cursed under her breath. "Get to defensive positions! Kade, take Zane to the secondary exit. Keep that thing out of their hands."
Kade grabbed Zane's arm, pulling him toward a side corridor. "Come on. Looks like the fun's just getting started."
As they ran, Zane couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The Cipher Core was more than just a device—it was a fuse, and the explosion it would cause was looming closer with every passing second.
Zane stumbled as Kade pulled him through the narrow corridor, the sound of the base's alarm ringing in his ears. The floor vibrated beneath their feet as the first wave of explosions shook the walls. Obscura units weren't known for subtlety, and Zane could already hear the hum of drones closing in.
"Faster!" Kade barked, shoving Zane forward. "We've got seconds before they breach."
"What's the plan?" Zane asked, his breath coming in ragged gasps as they rounded a corner.
"Get you and that thing out of here. The Vanguard can handle the rest," Kade replied, his tone sharp but steady. He stopped abruptly at a steel door and punched a code into the keypad. The door hissed open, revealing a maintenance tunnel that stretched into the shadows.
"This way," Kade said, motioning for Zane to enter.
The moment they stepped inside, a blast from the main chamber rattled the tunnel. Zane turned just in time to see a fireball consume part of the corridor behind them. His stomach lurched as the pressure wave knocked him into the wall.
"Move!" Kade shouted, yanking Zane back to his feet. "They're not here to play games!"
Zane stumbled forward, clutching the Cipher Core to his chest as they plunged deeper into the tunnel. The dim emergency lights flickered, casting ominous shadows along the walls.
"What happens to Rhea and the others?" Zane asked, his voice shaking.
"They'll hold," Kade said without looking back. "They knew the risks. The priority is keeping you alive."
"And this thing," Zane muttered, glancing at the Cipher Core.
"Especially that thing," Kade said. "If Eidolon gets its hands on it, we're all done for."
They reached a junction where the tunnel split in two. Kade hesitated, scanning the faint markings on the walls.
"Left," he decided, steering Zane toward a grated staircase that led upward. "This will take us to the surface."
"What about the drones?" Zane asked.
"Let me worry about that," Kade said, pulling a sleek, modified pistol from his holster. "You just keep running."
They ascended the staircase, the echo of their footsteps drowned out by the rumble of distant explosions. The air grew colder as they climbed, and Zane could see faint beams of daylight filtering through cracks in the structure above them.
They emerged into an industrial yard littered with rusted machinery and towering stacks of metal crates. The city's skyline loomed in the distance, its neon lights flickering even in the daylight. Kade scanned the area, his weapon at the ready.
"Clear for now," he muttered. "Let's keep moving."
But they had barely made it halfway across the yard when the sharp whir of drone blades filled the air. Zane's heart sank as three Obscura drones appeared over the horizon, their red sensors glowing like malevolent eyes.
"Down!" Kade barked, shoving Zane behind a stack of crates as the drones opened fire. Bolts of energy sizzled through the air, scorching the ground where they had been standing moments before.
Kade returned fire, his pistol spitting rapid bursts of plasma that struck one of the drones, sending it spiraling to the ground in a shower of sparks.
"Keep moving!" Kade shouted, covering Zane as he darted between the crates. The remaining drones adjusted their position, their weapons locking onto Zane's movements.
Zane ducked behind another stack of crates, his pulse racing. The Cipher Core vibrated in his hands, its glow intensifying. The voice returned, calm and deliberate.
"Engage Neural Resonance. Activate defense protocol."
"What does that even mean?" Zane hissed under his breath.
Another volley of energy bolts hit the crate, sending splinters flying in every direction. Desperation overtook him, and he tightened his grip on the Cipher Core. "Fine. Whatever you are, do something!"
The device pulsed, and Zane felt a strange sensation wash over him—a mix of heat and electricity that coursed through his veins. The world around him seemed to slow, the sound of the drones' blades fading into the background. His vision sharpened, and faint blue lines appeared in the air, tracing paths toward the drones.
Without thinking, Zane extended his free hand toward the nearest drone. A surge of energy shot from his palm, striking the drone and sending it crashing to the ground. He stared at his hand in disbelief.
"What the hell was that?" he muttered.
Kade, still firing at the remaining drone, glanced back at Zane. "Whatever it is, do it again!"
The last drone pivoted, locking onto Zane with a high-pitched whine. He felt the Cipher Core pulse again, and this time, he didn't hesitate. He focused on the drone, and another arc of energy leapt from his hand, disintegrating it in midair.
The sudden silence was deafening. Zane collapsed to his knees, the Cipher Core dimming in his grasp.
"What just happened?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"That," Kade said, walking over and helping Zane to his feet, "is why the Obscura want you dead."
Zane looked at the wreckage of the drones, his mind reeling. Whatever the Cipher Core had done to him, it was more than just a defense mechanism. It was power—raw, overwhelming power. And it terrified him.
Before he could process what had happened, Kade clapped a hand on his shoulder. "We need to move. Those drones were just the start. If Eidolon knows you can do that, it'll send everything it's got to take you down."
"Why me?" Zane asked, his voice cracking. "I'm just a scavenger. I didn't ask for any of this."
Kade gave him a hard look. "Doesn't matter what you asked for. What matters is what you do now."
Zane nodded reluctantly, clutching the Cipher Core as they slipped into the shadows of the city. The battle had only just begun.