The metallic tang of smoke filled Alex's lungs as he groaned, the sharp ache in his head pulling him back to reality.
His hand clenched the cold steel of his seat frame, his other arm cradling the suitcase like a lifeline.
The train car was tilted, its gutted interior dimly lit by flickering emergency lights.
Sparks flew from a broken panel, and the sizzle of the tablet in his bag caught his ear. Smoke spiraled out of it, curling into the stagnant air.
He fumbled for the Nexus hub strapped to his wrist, its faint glow a small comfort.
[Initiating System Diagnostic...]
The text blinked once, then froze.
He tapped again, but nothing responded.
No connection. No network.
It was as if the world outside had vanished.
A loud clang echoed from the front of the compartment, followed by the thud of boots on metal.
A group of strangers entered, their faces hidden under makeshift masks.
The leader, a burly man with a spiked bat slung over his shoulder, scanned the room with cold eyes.
"We're looking for AetherCorp employees," he announced, his voice rough and commanding. "I mean, anyone related to those high and mighty bloodsuckers will do. Nexus employees, Greenland's, fricking bloodsuckers! Hand 'em over, and no one else gets hurt."
Alex's heart pounded.
AetherCorp? What did they want with the company?
He glanced around. Most of the passengers were slumped in their seats, unconscious or too dazed to respond. A few blinked blearily at the intruders, confusion etched on their faces.
"No one knows anything?" the leader growled, motioning to his crew. "Fine. We'll do this the hard way. Check them all."
The group moved methodically, flipping wallets, tearing off ID badges, and shaking down anyone who could still stand. Each name they read out was followed by a sharp, "Not them."
Alex's grip on his suitcase tightened. He was at the back of the car, obscured by debris and shadows.
He took his Nexus hub device and AetherCorp ID, shoved it on the edge of the seat, taking extra measure to tap it a few times making sure it holds tight.
The leader's men were moving closer, one row at a time. He could hear their curses, their threats, the dull thuds of passengers being shoved back into their seats.
He glanced at the tablet, its screen cracked and whether it works or not still can't be determined. He tried to recall what Sparc wanted to say but couldn't recall anything.
His Nexus hub buzzed faintly, still unresponsive. A hologram showed him his own profile since he couldn't connect to the live hub.
___
Nexus Profile
Name: Alex Kael
Age: 23
Occupation: Research Intern at AetherCorp
Nexus ID: #A1X-K314-784
Status: Offline
Personal Data
Bio: A promising young innovator and inventor. Top graduate of Arcadia Institute of Technology. Mostly interested with robotics, bionics and bioengineering. Has no friends and spent most of his time alone in University. Driven by a desire to help people, he believes he could change the world for the better.
Skills: Robotics repair, programming, improvised engineering, and tactical problem-solving.
Hobbies: Drone racing, tech-modifying, and 3D printing mechanical parts.
---
Installed Bionics
1. Neural Augmentation Interface (NAI-7)
Purpose: Enhances cognitive processing and multitasking.
Features:
- Faster problem-solving capabilities.
- Memory storage and recall enhancement.
2. Ocular Enhancement Unit (Optix-V2)
Purpose: Augmented vision for both personal and professional use.
Features:
- Night vision mode.
- Augmented Reality (AR) overlays for digital data.
- Object tracking and environmental scanning.
3. Bio-Insulated Arm Framework (BioFrame-A10)
Purpose: A lightweight bionic arm made from light and durable materials.
Features:
- Increased strength (up to 150% of average human capacity).
- Vibration-dampening for precision work.
- Built-in multitool (screwdriver, lighter, cutting blade, bolt turner, micro-welder).
4. Pulse-Stabilizer Implant (PsiCore-X5)
Purpose: Regulates heart rate and blood flow under stress.
Features:
- Prevents physical strain during heightened activity.
- Emergency adrenaline booster for critical moments (limited usage).
5. Subcutaneous Interface Port (SIP-8)
Purpose: Direct physical connection to external devices and can allow wireless connection up to a 10meter radius.
Features:
-Can access and control most Nexus-compatible systems.
-Allows rapid data transfers and software integration.
Performance Metrics:
Neural Activity: 82% Efficiency
Physical Output: 94% Capacity
Bio-Stability: 100%
---
The Nexus hub profile can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your life. It automatically summarizes your life history starting when you first get connected to it. It doesn't give you a chance to edit or tamper with any of the information on it.
Life achievements, education, employment history. It tracks everything in your life starting from which route you took to go to work, what food and items you purchased along the way.
Nexus is a social platform that is highly integrated to everyone's life.
Controversies about privacy leak and monopoly were common court cases thrown at them.
Though you have the option to select what information you share on your profile, having your data saved on the company's cloud servers can be a security risk.
Alex closed the hologram and whispered to himself, "Stay calm. I need to think of my next steps."
His fingers curled tighter around the suitcase handle.
If they found him, if they connected him to AetherCorp, there would be no talking his way out of this.
The leader's voice barked again, closer this time. "We'll find you guys. Don't think you can hide. Today starts the day where glorified rats like you face judgement!"
Alex's pulse raced as the last conscious passenger in front of him was shoved aside.
He was next.
---
Alex adjusted his grip on the suitcase as one of the lackeys approached.
He was a wiry man with a scar running from his cheekbone to his jaw, dressed in a patched leather jacket and cargo pants. A rusted machete hung at his side, its edge jagged and uneven.
"ID," the lackey barked, voice sharp as he loomed over Alex. His eyes flicked over the young man, narrowing with suspicion.
Alex swallowed hard, his mind racing. "Uh, yeah, sure." He slid a trembling hand into his pocket and pulled out a card, holding it up for the man to see. The laminated ID read "Drone Racer Club."
The lackey squinted at it, his lip curling. "Drone Racer Club? What are you doing here?"
"I live in the Outercity," Alex replied quickly, forcing a nervous laugh. "Had a big race earlier. Just heading back home after spending the day at the club."
The lackey nodded in understanding. "But this is not enough. Don't you have an employee ID?"
Alex frowned. "I'm a streamer, I promote drone models and parts to my audience for a living... I don't really have an ID for that... Can't you just search my Nexus profile?"
"Ha! That crap won't work anymore so better stop relying too much on the it."
Alex frowned not sure if he should believe the new information yet felt relieved when his hasty engineered plan worked out.
The lackey's gaze darted to the suitcase clutched tightly in Alex's lap. "And where's your drone? A racer without his drone? That's suspicious."
Alex hesitated for a moment, then nodded toward the suitcase. "It's in here. Foldable. Custom-made."
"Show me," the lackey ordered, crossing his arms.
Alex set the suitcase on the floor and flicked the latches open.
Inside was Wren, his lightweight pocket drone shaped like an old era fighter jet. Its sleek, foldable design gleamed faintly in the dim light.
The drone's thin wings were tucked neatly against its compact body, and its matte black surface gave it a stealthy appearance.
A circular fan took most of the space on each wing while a single thruster is located at the back.
"See? Told you," Alex said, his tone casual but his pulse hammering in his ears.
The lackey leaned closer, inspecting Wren with a critical eye. "What's this thing even do?"
"Fast, stable, and agile," Alex said, a hint of pride creeping into his voice. "Limited battery, high-quality lens but weak sensors. Don't underestimate her though, she's a beast on the track."
"Where's the guns? Does it shoot laser instead of bullets, you know, like in the movies?"
"Uh," Alex a bit dumbfounded, shook his head and explained, "This is a racing drone. Combat drones are strictly for military use only. Unless you're a mercenary or work in the security sector, they won't give you a permit to operate a combat drone."
The lackey stared at him for another tense moment before finally stepping back. "Fine," he muttered, waving a hand. "You sound legit."
The lackey gave him a thumbs up before grouping up with his friends.
Alex closed the suitcase and sighed in relief.
Since the witch hunt was finished, everyone started to voice their concerns and displeasure.
"Everyone, shut up!"
At the front of the compartment, the leader's voice boomed over the murmurs.
He was a hulking man, a head taller than everyone on his crew, clad in a black trench coat lined with protective plating. A worn chest guard made of leather can be seen on his chest as a massive spiked bat rested on his shoulder. For additional firepower, a sawed-off shotgun was strapped to his back.
Everyone suddenly remembered that they're currently in a deadly situation right now and tried to remain as quiet as possible.
The leader's scarred face twisted into a scowl as his crew reported back empty-handed.
"No one? Not a single rat in this whole damn car?" he snarled.
One of his lackeys, a woman with a shaved head and dual daggers strapped to her thighs, shook her head. "Nothing, boss. Everyone's been checked, they're clean."
The leader growled, his frustration very clear to everyone.
"Fine! We move to the next compartment. Keep searching until we find one of them."
The group began filing toward the rear door.
As the leader passed Alex's seat, his sharp eyes caught something—a faint glint of plastic peeking from the edge of the seat cushion.
Due to his height, he happened to see the object from an elevated position. He stopped abruptly, his head snapping toward it.
"What's that?" he growled, shoving Alex out of the way before reaching down and tugging at the protruding strap.
Alex's blood ran cold as the leader turned to face him, the ID dangling from his fingers.
"Well, well," the leader said, his voice dripping with menace. "Looks like we've got ourselves a rat."
The compartment fell silent, the remaining passengers too terrified to intervene.
The lackeys tensed, specially the one that spoke with him, their hands hovering closer to their weapons.
Alex's mind raced, realizing he was in deep trouble.