The Morphy-Band on Ralph's wrist flashed the word: ACTIVATED.
Immediately, a cold, mechanical voice emerged from the device, perfectly mimicking Alpha's commanding tone:
"All Sentinels, check the escape zone. Verify if the fugitives are there."
From their position inside the ventilation shaft, Ralph and Nyx could see the Sentinels below—towering, sleek robots with glowing red visors and spindly mechanical limbs—freeze at the command. The leader Sentinel's head rotated sharply, and its hollow voice echoed:
"Acknowledged. Team, proceed to the Zenith Ascent."
The clanging of metallic footsteps filled the air as the Sentinels began moving toward the escape zone.
Nyx's sharp blue eyes darted to Ralph, her voice low but tense. "It can mimic Alpha's voice?"
Ralph grinned smugly. "And you thought I'd die without my gadgets."
She stared at him, disbelief clear in her expression. "This is insane."
"Insanely brilliant, thank you." Ralph winked. "Now, step two: we blend in."
"Blend in?" Nyx repeated, her disbelief deepening.
Ralph pointed at her Morphy-Band. "Transform into a Sentinel. Easy-peasy."
"I don't even know how this thing works!" she hissed.
Ralph gave her a crooked grin. "Press a button and hope for the best. Works for me."
Nyx groaned but reluctantly pressed the device. A flash of light enveloped her, and when it faded, her slender form had been replaced by the cold, metallic body of a Sentinel.
"Look at that," Ralph said, clearly impressed. "You wear 'robot assassin' well."
Without waiting for her to retort, he activated his own Morphy-Band. His form shimmered before shifting into another Sentinel—identical to the others except for the subtle, mischievous tilt in his stance.
Careful not to draw attention, they dropped silently from the ventilation shaft and joined the back of the marching squad.
As the group advanced toward the Zenith Ascent, Nyx whispered through gritted teeth, "I hate that this is actually working."
Ralph chuckled quietly. "Chaos is a strategy. Learn from the master."
But as the towering gate of Zenith Ascent came into view, the inevitable happened. Alpha's cold, omnipresent voice rang out, shaking the very walls.
"Nice attempt, Subject 1348."
Ralph flinched, muttering under his breath. "Ah, crap."
Alpha continued, its tone almost mocking. "You're clever, but you forget one thing: I am the ultimate weapon. I see everything. I know everything."
The Sentinels halted in perfect unison, their heads snapping toward Ralph and Nyx.
"Terminate the impostors. Use lethal force."
Nyx's voice was a strained whisper. "Now what?"
Ralph sighed dramatically. "Plan C. Improvise."
He deactivated his Morphy-Band, his Sentinel disguise flickering away to reveal his true form—his shaggy orange fur matted with sweat, his sharp ears flicking with tension.
Nyx hesitated but followed suit, reverting to her sleek feline form, her white hair glinting under the harsh lights. She gripped her Lancer-X, her eyes narrowing.
Ralph raised his hands mockingly toward the nearest Sentinel. "Hey, Alpha, do you know you can't live without me? I can't even escape in peace!"
Alpha's response was immediate. "Your escape ends here. Sentinels, engage."
The Sentinels surged forward, their plasma rifles glowing as they opened fire. Ralph and Nyx leapt apart just as a barrage of energy bolts exploded where they had stood.
"Nyx!" Ralph shouted over the chaos. "We meet here in thirty minutes!"
She didn't hesitate. "Got it!"
They sprinted in opposite directions, forcing the Sentinels to split their forces.
A drone swooped down from above, firing rapid bursts of plasma at Ralph. He ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding the shots. "Come on, don't be shy, baby! Follow me to my room!"
Meanwhile, Nyx moved with the precision of a predator. A Sentinel lunged at her with razor-sharp claws, but she dodged effortlessly, slicing through its midsection with her Lancer-X. Sparks erupted as the machine collapsed.
Ralph, not to be outdone, shouted from across the room, "Nice work, Nyx! I taught you well!"
"Shut up and run!" she snapped, sprinting down a narrow corridor.
The Sentinels were relentless. Ralph found himself cornered in a storage area, the cold metal walls pressing in on all sides. Three Sentinels advanced, their weapons aimed.
Ralph raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, you got me. But before you shoot, can I just say one thing?"
The Sentinels paused, their heads tilting in unison.
"I'm not dying here!" Ralph shouted, hurling a smoke grenade at their feet. Thick smoke filled the room, and he used the cover to vault over a stack of crates and escape through a side door.
Alpha's voice boomed again. "You cannot escape me, Subject 1348. Surrender now, and I may consider sparing you."
Ralph smirked, muttering to himself, "You wish."
As he ran, dodging drones and plasma fire, he caught a glimpse of Nyx fighting her way through a swarm of Sentinels. She moved like lightning, her Lancer-X a blur as she dismantled her enemies one by one.
Despite the chaos, Ralph couldn't help but grin. "That's my girl."
But then, Alpha's tone turned darker, more menacing.
"Endgame initiated. All units, converge on the fugitives. Lethal force authorized."
The lights flickered, and the floor beneath Ralph began to rumble. From the shadows emerged a towering Sentinel, twice the size of the others, armed with dual plasma cannons.
Ralph skidded to a halt. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
The Sentinel aimed its cannons, and Ralph barely had time to dive out of the way before the corridor erupted in flames.
He scrambled to his feet, panting. "Nyx, if you can hear me, I could use a little help!"
Her voice crackled through his earpiece. "Busy right now!"
The scene cut to Nyx, who was surrounded by drones and Sentinels, her movements growing slower as exhaustion set in. She glanced at her Morphy-Band, her mind racing.
"Ralph," she muttered, "you better have a plan for this."
Ralph, cornered but still grinning, muttered to himself, "Biggest cliffhanger in history? Let's give them one."
The screen went black as Alpha's voice echoed one last time: "It's over, Subject 1348. You've run out of options."