The screen went black for a moment, Alpha's voice lingering in Ralph's ears like a taunt:
"It's over, Subject 1348. You've run out of options."
But instead of panicking, Ralph smirked, his sharp teeth glinting under the dim light. His Morphy-Band blinked, and its interface displayed a single word: ACTIVATED.
"Pause."
The voice was cold, commanding, and instantly recognizable—not Alpha's, but the voice of Master Aerith, the enigmatic ruler of Neo Feunara and Alpha's sole master. Ralph stood still, watching as Alpha's towering form froze mid-motion. The Sentinels, halfway through their calculated steps, halted like marionettes with their strings cut.
Nyx's eyes widened. "How…? That voice…"
Ralph turned to her, feigning innocence. "I may have borrowed Aerith's voice."
Nyx frowned. "Borrowed?"
Ralph gave her a mischievous shrug. "Okay, fine, I stole it. It's just a computer. Alpha doesn't think; it obeys. Even if it knows the voice is fake, it can't do anything about it."
Her expression was a mix of awe and irritation. "You're insane."
"And brilliant," Ralph added with a wink.
Nyx rolled her eyes. "This won't last long."
"Which is why we're running now!"
The two bolted down the sleek metal hallway, the Sentinels frozen in eerie silence behind them. The hum of electricity coursed through the walls, a reminder that Alpha wouldn't remain subdued for long.
As they raced toward the Zenith Ascent, Ralph couldn't resist adding, "You know, the Morphy-Band had to analyze everything—Alpha's voice, Aerith's tone, even his pauses. It took time to perfect." He grinned. "Totally worth it, though."
Nyx shot him a glare but couldn't hide the hint of admiration in her eyes. "You're lucky this worked."
"Luck? Please, this is pure skill," Ralph quipped, barely dodging a low-hanging pipe.
When they reached the Zenith Ascent, Ralph and Nyx skidded to a stop. Before them stood an enormous futuristic metal door, its surface shimmering with a faint blue light. The door was seamless, with no visible handles or access panels, towering like a wall of unyielding steel.
Ralph whistled. "Well, that's not ominous at all."
Nyx clenched her fists. "How do we open it?"
"Easy," Ralph said, already fiddling with his Morphy-Band. The device blinked again, and Ralph mimicked Alpha's clipped, robotic tone:
"Zenith Ascent access. Open."
The door responded instantly, sliding open with a deep hiss. But as the opening widened, a violent gust of wind blasted through, nearly knocking Ralph and Nyx off their feet.
"Whoa!" Ralph yelped, grabbing onto a nearby railing. "Didn't see that coming!"
Nyx clung to the edge of the wall, her white hair whipping around her face. Beyond the door was a vast expanse—a dizzying drop from the edge of a towering futuristic skyscraper. The building stretched so high into the sky that its peak pierced through low-hanging clouds. The ground below was a sea of dense, emerald-green forest, stretching endlessly in all directions.
Nyx's eyes widened as she stared at the impossible height. "We're at the top of a tower?"
"No," Ralph corrected, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "We're at the top of death itself. How's your luck now?"
Nyx shot him a sharp glare. "We don't have time for this. We jump."
"Jump?!" Ralph spluttered. "This is a suicide mission! You can't just—"
Nyx didn't wait for his protest. "I don't care. If staying here means dying anyway, I'm jumping."
Ralph opened his mouth to argue, but a sudden, thunderous voice cut through the howling wind:
"SUBJECTS 1348 AND 0174 DETECTED. RESUME TERMINATION PROTOCOLS."
Alpha's voice boomed like an angry god, its mechanical tone sharp and unforgiving. The Sentinels stirred back to life with a cacophony of grinding gears and metallic footsteps. Their glowing red visors turned toward Ralph and Nyx with lethal precision.
"Oh, fantastic," Ralph muttered, gripping the railing tighter. "Angry Alpha is back."
"ELIMINATE THEM. LETHAL FORCE AUTHORIZED."
The Sentinels surged forward, plasma rifles raised, firing a barrage of glowing energy bolts. Ralph and Nyx ducked and weaved, the air around them crackling with heat as the blasts missed by mere inches.
"Nyx!" Ralph shouted over the chaos. "Let's make this quick—on three!"
She didn't hesitate, her sharp gaze locking onto his. "Fine. Three!"
"Wait, wait!" Ralph yelled. "You're supposed to count up to three!"
"Too late!"
Ralph groaned, bracing himself. The Sentinels closed in, their weapons glowing ominously.
"One!" Nyx shouted, her voice cutting through the cacophony.
Ralph took a deep breath, glancing over his shoulder at the sheer drop behind them. "I really hate this plan."
"Two!"
The Sentinels raised their rifles, red beams targeting the fugitives.
"Three!"
As one, Ralph and Nyx leapt from the edge of the tower, the wind swallowing their screams as they plummeted into the void.
"Why are you clinging to me?!" Nyx shouted, trying to shove Ralph away mid-fall.
"Because I'm terrified!" Ralph shouted back, his arms wrapped tightly around her. "And you smell like courage!"
Nyx growled, struggling to pry him off.
But their argument was cut short by the unmistakable hum of engines. Ralph glanced over his shoulder and cursed.
Flying behind them were three sleek hunting drones, their angular frames glinting in the sunlight. Their plasma cannons began to glow, charging for the first shot.
Ralph and Nyx locked eyes, their expressions perfectly mirroring the dread that filled the air.
In unison, they shouted, "Oh, shit!"
The forest rushed up to meet them as the first cannon fired.