Chereads / The Questioner System (Ask Me Anything) / Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: The Crimson Threads

Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: The Crimson Threads

Chapter 45: The Crimson Threads

The hours passed slowly as the group lay hidden in the hollow, the forest around them buzzing with faint life. Victor sat at the edge, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement. Marcus was sprawled on a patch of moss, flipping his knife absentmindedly. Lex worked quietly, tinkering with her tablet, while Adam leaned against a tree, lost in thought.

The earlier sighting of the Nexus strike team had set everyone on edge. Even Marcus, usually full of sarcastic remarks, was quieter than usual. The weight of their mission—and what lay ahead—seemed to press down on them all.

As the sun began its slow descent, casting long shadows through the trees, Victor broke the silence. "We move in two hours. I want everyone ready."

Lex looked up from her tablet. "And where exactly are we moving to? If Nexus is hunting us, we're not exactly spoiled for choices."

Victor unfolded a map and pointed to a marked location on the eastern edge of Sector Delta. "Here. The Crimson Fang set up a relay station after our last mission. If they've picked up anything about Nexus's movements, we need to know."

Marcus snorted. "Great. Back to the mercenaries. Always a joy."

Adam frowned, the earlier encounter with Tessa and her crew still fresh in his mind. He didn't trust them, but they were running out of allies.

"System," Adam whispered, "what's the safest route to the Crimson Fang's relay station?"

<CALCULATING... RECOMMENDED ROUTE: SOUTHWEST THROUGH RAVINE, THEN EAST ALONG RIVERBANK. ESTIMATED TRAVEL TIME: 5 HOURS. PROBABILITY OF ENCOUNTERING HOSTILES: 21%.>

Adam relayed the information to Victor, who nodded. "We'll take the ravine. It's slower, but it'll keep us hidden."

As night fell, the group moved out. The forest transformed under the moonlight, its shadows stretching like long fingers across the ground. The air was cooler now, and the distant hoot of an owl broke the silence.

The ravine was narrow and steep, the rocky path forcing them to tread carefully. Adam's boots slipped on loose gravel more than once, but he managed to keep pace. Marcus, as usual, couldn't resist breaking the quiet.

"Remind me again why we didn't just retire to some nice beach somewhere?" he muttered.

Lex rolled her eyes. "Because you'd find a way to annoy the locals and get us kicked out."

"True," Marcus said with a grin.

Victor silenced them with a sharp gesture. "Focus. We're not out of danger yet."

The riverbank was a welcome change from the treacherous ravine. The soft rush of water was almost soothing, but the group's pace didn't falter. Adam stayed close to Victor, his eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement.

"System," Adam whispered, "are there any Nexus forces nearby?"

<SCANNING... HOSTILES DETECTED: SMALL UNIT APPROACHING FROM NORTHWEST. PROBABILITY OF INTERCEPTION: 18%. RECOMMENDATION: INCREASE PACE TO AVOID ENGAGEMENT.>

"There's a unit to the northwest," Adam said quietly. "If we pick up the pace, we can avoid them."

Victor nodded, signaling for the group to move faster.

By the time they reached the relay station, the first light of dawn was breaking over the horizon. The station was hidden within the ruins of an old factory, its crumbling walls covered in vines and graffiti. Tessa's crew had fortified the area with makeshift barricades and watchtowers built from salvaged materials.

A guard at the entrance raised his weapon as they approached, but recognition flashed in his eyes. "You again," he said, lowering the gun. "Tessa's expecting you."

The group was led inside, where Tessa waited in a room lit by flickering lanterns. Maps, radios, and weapon racks lined the walls, and a large table in the center was cluttered with notes and schematics.

"Back so soon?" Tessa said with a smirk. "I take it the lab went well."

Victor stepped forward. "The lab's gone, but Nexus is already on the move. We need intel on their next steps."

Tessa leaned back against the table, crossing her arms. "And what makes you think I've got that kind of information?"

Lex interjected. "Because you've been tracking them longer than we have. You've got eyes and ears everywhere."

Tessa studied Lex for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough. We've picked up chatter about increased Nexus activity in Zone Epsilon. Something big's going down, but we haven't cracked the details yet."

"Zone Epsilon?" Marcus said, frowning. "What's there?"

"Mostly barren wasteland," Tessa replied. "But Nexus doesn't send strike teams to empty fields for no reason. Whatever they're up to, it's worth looking into."

Adam felt the system interface pulse faintly, drawing his attention. "System, what is Nexus doing in Zone Epsilon?"

<ANALYZING... OBJECTIVE IN ZONE EPSILON: UNKNOWN. ACTIVITY INDICATES CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH-SECURITY INSTALLATION. RECOMMENDATION: INVESTIGATE. RISK LEVEL: HIGH.>

"They're building something," Adam said. "Something they don't want anyone to find."

Tessa raised an eyebrow. "Well, aren't you full of surprises. If you're planning to check it out, you'll need more than luck. I can spare a few of my people, but it's going to cost you."

Victor's jaw tightened. "We'll pay it. What do you need?"

Tessa's smirk returned. "The same thing you do: leverage against Nexus. You get me something valuable from Zone Epsilon, and we'll call it even."

Victor extended a hand. "Deal."

As the group prepared to leave, Adam couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something far more dangerous than they anticipated. Nexus was tightening its grip, and every move they made seemed to draw them deeper into its web.

He whispered to himself as they stepped back into the forest. "What are you hiding, Verdan?"