Eric's lungs burned as he sprinted across the rooftop, the glow of the arc reactor in his chest faintly illuminating the darkness around him. The tactical team below wasn't giving up. They moved with a frightening precision, tracking his every move, their comms crackling with updates.
"Target moving east! Don't let him get to the river!"
"Advisory," the AI's voice chimed in his head. "You are expending significant energy. Recommend reducing exertion to conserve reactor output."
"Noted," Eric muttered under his breath, leaping to another building. The AI wasn't wrong; the tingling warmth from the reactor had begun to shift to a dull ache. Still, slowing down wasn't an option. He didn't know who these people were, but he had no intention of letting them capture him.
Behind him, a drone buzzed to life. The whirring of its rotors cut through the air as it rose above the rooftop, its spotlight locking onto Eric. A red targeting laser painted a dot on his chest.
"Oh, come on!" Eric yelled, veering sharply to the right. The drone fired, and a searing blast of energy struck the rooftop where he'd been moments before. The explosion sent shards of concrete flying, and Eric stumbled, nearly losing his footing.
"Enhanced reflexes engaged," the AI informed him. His body responded faster than his mind, his muscles reacting instinctively to the threat. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding another blast, and sprang back to his feet.
"You couldn't warn me about that sooner?" Eric snapped as he sprinted toward the edge of the building.
"Threat detection is limited without full synchronization. Current synchronization: 42%."
"Perfect timing," Eric grumbled, glancing back at the drone. He needed to take it down, but he had no weapons and no plan. Just as he reached the rooftop's edge, a stray memory surfaced—a training exercise from his military days. Improvisation was key.
Eric skidded to a halt, searching the rooftop for anything useful. His eyes landed on a discarded metal pipe near an old HVAC unit. He grabbed it and turned to face the drone, his heart pounding.
The drone hovered closer, its targeting system recalibrating. Eric gripped the pipe tightly and waited. As the drone fired another energy blast, he sidestepped and swung the pipe with all his strength. The makeshift weapon collided with the drone's rotor, sending it spiraling out of control. It smashed into the rooftop with a shower of sparks.
"Yes!" Eric cheered, but his victory was short-lived. The tactical team was already scaling the fire escape, their boots clanging against the metal rungs. He had seconds at best before they were on him.
"AI, any ideas?"
"Nearest extraction point: industrial zone three blocks northeast. Suggest rapid relocation."
"Great. Lead the way."
The AI projected a faint overlay in his vision, marking a path through the city. Eric followed it, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, his movements growing more fluid with each leap. The tactical team's shouts faded into the distance, but he knew they wouldn't give up that easily.
By the time he reached the industrial zone, his body felt like it was running on fumes. He dropped down into an abandoned warehouse, the metal doors groaning as he pushed them shut. The space was vast and empty, save for a few rusted crates and broken machinery. He collapsed against a wall, struggling to catch his breath.
"AI," he said between gasps. "What's going on? Who are these people?"
"Analysis incomplete. Hostile entities are utilizing advanced technology consistent with military black ops. Their objectives likely involve acquiring Prototype Omega."
"No kidding," Eric muttered. He pulled his jacket aside, staring at the faintly glowing reactor. "What even is this thing?"
"The Prototype Omega reactor is an experimental power source designed for integration with organic systems. It enhances physical and cognitive abilities while maintaining sustainable energy output."
Eric frowned. "So, it's a battery?"
"An oversimplification. Its capabilities extend to advanced computation, energy manipulation, and molecular regeneration."
"Yeah, still sounds like a fancy battery to me," Eric said. He rubbed his temples, trying to make sense of everything. Whoever these people were, they clearly knew about the reactor and its potential. That meant more would come after him, and he wasn't equipped to deal with them.
A sudden noise snapped him out of his thoughts. Footsteps echoed through the warehouse. Eric tensed, his eyes darting to the shadows. He grabbed a rusted wrench from a nearby crate, his grip tightening.
"Eric Steele," a voice called out, calm and authoritative. "We don't want to hurt you. Hand over the reactor, and this ends peacefully."
"Yeah, I'm sure it does," Eric muttered under his breath. He crouched low, trying to stay out of sight. The footsteps grew closer, accompanied by the faint hum of more drones.
"Recommend evasive maneuvers," the AI advised.
"You think?" Eric whispered, edging toward the far side of the warehouse. He could make out the silhouettes of at least three operatives moving in formation, their weapons raised.
Suddenly, the AI's voice cut through his thoughts. "Synchronization at 50%. Activating energy shield."
"Wait, what?" Eric barely had time to react before a translucent blue barrier materialized around him. The operatives opened fire, their bullets ricocheting off the shield with sharp cracks. Eric stared in disbelief.
"Okay," he said, gripping the wrench tightly. "Let's see what else this thing can do."