The cold night air bit at Zane's face as he and Kade trudged through the winding streets of the Dregs. The city had grown unnervingly quiet after the confrontation with the Echo. No drones hummed in the distance, no glowing advertisements flickered above. It was as if the city was holding its breath, waiting for Eidolon's next move. Zane's thoughts churned with every step, the Cipher Core feeling heavier than ever in his pocket.
"That was… bad," Zane finally muttered, breaking the silence.
"Yeah," Kade replied bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat it. "We got our asses handed to us."
"You could've said, 'We made progress,' or 'We'll get 'em next time,'" Zane said, his voice tinged with frustration. "Something motivational."
Kade snorted. "You want motivational speeches, join a sports team. This is rebellion, kid. Setbacks are part of the deal."
Zane didn't respond, his mind replaying the moment when the Echo had overwhelmed him. He'd felt its power seep into his thoughts, pulling at his every weakness, mocking his every move. For all the Cipher Core's supposed power, he hadn't been able to stop it. He clenched his fists, frustration bubbling to the surface.
"I wasn't ready," Zane admitted, his voice low. "The Core… it's like holding a loaded weapon without knowing where the safety is."
Kade glanced at him, his usual smirk absent. "It's not your fault. The Echo isn't some dumb machine you can outsmart with luck. It's adaptive, relentless. You need more than guts to take it down."
Zane stopped walking and turned to face Kade. "Then what am I supposed to do? I don't know how to use this thing. Every time I try, it feels like the Core's fighting me as much as it's fighting Eidolon."
Kade sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You need help. Someone who knows how to make sense of the Core's… quirks."
Zane raised an eyebrow. "You mean someone who knows how to deal with alien death machines? Because I'm guessing those people don't grow on trees."
"No," Kade said, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "But I know someone. Someone who's a little too smart for their own good, and exactly the kind of person who can teach you how to harness that thing."
"Who?" Zane asked, skeptical.
"Rhea Voss," Kade said, his tone softening as if even saying her name demanded a certain reverence. "She's Vanguard, like me. Only smarter. She's the one who helped us figure out how to hack into Eidolon's networks in the first place. If anyone can help you unlock the Core's potential, it's her."
"Great," Zane said, though his sarcasm was obvious. "Let's go see your genius friend who'll probably think I'm an idiot."
"She will," Kade replied, smirking now. "But she'll also help. If she doesn't kill us for showing up unannounced."
Their journey took them deeper into the Dregs, far from the relative safety of the Lumina's edges. The streets grew darker and narrower, the shadows thicker. Zane stayed close to Kade, whose familiarity with the terrain was the only thing keeping them from getting lost.
"Where does Rhea even live?" Zane asked as they turned another corner.
"She doesn't 'live' anywhere," Kade replied. "She stays mobile, off the grid. Last I heard, she was holed up in an old rail yard just outside the city. No drones, no surveillance, just rust and decay."
"Sounds cozy," Zane muttered.
Kade laughed. "Rhea's not in it for comfort. She's in it for survival. And survival means staying a step ahead of Eidolon."
As they approached the outskirts of the Dregs, the city's decay became more pronounced. Broken-down vehicles littered the streets, and towering structures leaned precariously, their foundations long since eroded. The faint hum of machinery was replaced by the distant howl of the wind, a sound that made Zane's skin crawl.
Finally, they reached the rail yard. It was a sprawling, desolate space filled with rusted train cars and crumbling infrastructure. The air smelled of oil and metal, and the ground was littered with debris. Kade led Zane through the maze of abandoned trains, his movements deliberate.
"Stay close," Kade said, his voice low. "Rhea doesn't take kindly to unexpected visitors."
"Great," Zane said, rolling his eyes. "This keeps getting better."
They stopped in front of an old train car, its exterior covered in faded graffiti. Kade rapped on the metal door, the sound echoing through the empty yard.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, a voice rang out from inside, sharp and commanding. "Who's there?"
"It's Kade," he called back. "And I brought a guest."
The door creaked open, and a figure emerged. Rhea Voss was exactly as Kade had described—sharp, focused, and exuding an aura of authority. Her dark eyes flicked between Kade and Zane, sizing them up with a quick, calculating glance.
"A guest?" Rhea said, her tone laced with skepticism. "You're not exactly known for being a social butterfly, Kade."
Kade smirked. "Thought I'd change things up."
Her gaze settled on Zane, and the faintest hint of amusement flickered across her face. "This the kid everyone's talking about? The one with the Core?"
"Guilty," Zane said, raising a hand awkwardly.
Rhea crossed her arms. "You've got a lot to learn, scavenger. And not much time to do it."
Zane opened his mouth to respond, but Rhea cut him off with a raised hand. "Save it. If you're serious about stopping the Echo, you're going to need more than luck and a glowing toy. Follow me."
She turned and disappeared back into the train car, leaving Kade and Zane to exchange a quick glance.
"Told you she'd help," Kade said, grinning.
Zane sighed. "Yeah, sure. If she doesn't kill me first."
As they stepped into the train car, Zane felt the weight of what lay ahead. He had faced defeat before, but this felt different. This wasn't about surviving anymore—it was about becoming something stronger. Something capable of fighting back. And if Rhea Voss was the key to that, he was ready to learn. For better or worse.