The streets of Solace City's lower levels were a maze of rusted alleys, flickering neon signs, and endless shadows. Kael knew them well, but tonight they felt more dangerous than ever. The woman from the resistance who had only given her name as Reyne had parted ways hours ago, leaving him with a warning: The Echelon doesn't leave loose ends.
He clutched his satchel tightly, the glowing data crystal weighing heavier than it should. Every shadow seemed alive, every sound magnified in the suffocating quiet. The city itself felt hostile, its mechanical heart beating faster as if sensing the danger closing in.
Kael's plan was simple: get back to the shop, grab a few essentials, and disappear. The resistance had offered to help him vanish, but he wasn't ready to trust anyone yet not fully.
He slipped through an alley, the glow of his shop's sign visible in the distance. Relief flickered in his chest, but it was short-lived.
A faint click echoed behind him a sound too deliberate to be a coincidence.
Kael froze, his instincts screaming at him to move, but it was too late. A sharp voice cut through the air.
"Kael Veyron. Drop the bag and turn around slowly."
He glanced over his shoulder to see three figures emerging from the shadows. Their glowing blue eyes marked them as Echelon enforcers, but these weren't the standard patrol units. Their frames were sleeker, their armor reinforced, and their weapons far more advanced.
Kael swallowed hard. "Sorry, I don't have time for company."
He bolted.
The enforcers reacted instantly, their mechanical limbs propelling them forward with terrifying speed. Energy blasts sizzled past Kael's head, scorching the walls as he sprinted toward his shop. His heart pounded in his ears as he reached the door, slamming it shut behind him and locking it.
He didn't stop moving. He grabbed a pre-packed bag from beneath the counter, stuffed the crystal inside, and moved toward the back exit. His mind raced, calculating his next steps. The shop wasn't safe anymore. They'd found him, and they wouldn't stop until they had what they wanted or until he was dead.
The sound of metal fists pounding on the front door shattered his thoughts.
"Kael Veyron, open the door!"
"Not happening," Kael muttered, activating a small switch beneath the counter. The shop's security system whirred to life hardly enough to stop enforcers, but it might slow them down.
The pounding grew louder, more frantic, and Kael heard the faint hum of a cutting tool. They were breaking through.
Kael slipped out the back, ducking into the alley just as the front door gave way. He didn't wait to see if they followed. His feet hit the ground hard as he ran, weaving through the labyrinth of narrow streets and hidden paths he'd memorized over years of living here.
The city's pulse seemed to quicken, the mechanical hum growing louder in his ears. The glow of neon signs and the flicker of malfunctioning streetlights disoriented him, but he pushed forward.
He didn't get far.
A figure dropped from above, landing in front of him with a metallic clang. Kael skidded to a halt, his breath catching in his throat. The enforcer was massive, its reinforced plating glinting under the dim light.
Kael turned to run the other way, only to find two more enforcers closing in.
"End of the line, mechanic," one of them said, raising a weapon.
Kael's mind raced, his eyes darting around for an escape. His hand brushed against the satchel, feeling the hard edge of the crystal inside. He had no idea what it was truly capable of, but right now, it was the only thing he had.
"Fine," he said, raising his hands. "You win."
The enforcers approached cautiously, their weapons trained on him. Kael waited until the nearest one was within striking distance before he acted.
He yanked the crystal from the bag and slammed it against the enforcer's chest. A surge of energy erupted from the crystal, sending the enforcer flying backward into the wall. Sparks flew as its circuits overloaded, its body collapsing in a heap of twisted metal.
Kael didn't wait to see what happened next. He turned and ran, the remaining enforcers shouting orders as they gave chase.
The chase led him deeper into the lower levels, where the air grew heavier and the neon lights gave way to dim, flickering bulbs. Kael's lungs burned, his legs aching as he pushed himself harder. He turned a corner, nearly colliding with a stack of crates, and ducked into a narrow passageway barely wide enough for his frame.
The sound of the enforcers' footsteps echoed behind him, relentless and unyielding. Kael's mind raced. He couldn't outrun them forever. He needed to find cover, a place to regroup and figure out his next move.
He spotted an old maintenance hatch embedded in the wall, half-hidden behind a pile of scrap. Without hesitation, he pried it open and slipped inside, closing it behind him just as the enforcers rounded the corner.
The cramped tunnel was dark and stifling, the air thick with the scent of rust and oil. Kael moved carefully, his fingers brushing against the walls to guide him. He could hear the faint hum of machinery deeper within, a sign that the tunnel might connect to the city's underbelly.
Kael emerged into a vast, cavernous space beneath the city. The ceiling was high, crisscrossed with pipes and conduits, and the floor was littered with debris. Faint light filtered in through cracks in the walls, illuminating the remnants of abandoned machinery.
He didn't have long to admire the eerie beauty of the place. A sound behind him made him spin around, his hand instinctively reaching for the wrench tucked into his belt.
A figure stepped out of the shadows.
"Relax," the voice said. "I'm not with them."
Kael squinted, his grip on the wrench relaxing slightly. The figure was an older man, his face lined with age and wear. His left arm was entirely mechanical, the plating scratched and dented.
"Who are you?" Kael asked warily.
"Someone who's been in your position," the man replied. "You've got something the Echelon wants, don't you?"
Kael didn't answer, but the man's knowing expression told him he didn't need to.
"I've been watching you," the man continued. "The crystal you're carrying—it's more dangerous than you realize. If you keep digging, you're going to find things you're not ready for."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "What do you know about it?"
"Enough to tell you to stop," the man said. "The Echelon isn't just protecting their secrets. They're protecting the foundation of this entire city. If you expose them, everything comes crashing down."
"Good," Kael said coldly.
The man sighed. "You don't understand. If the system collapses, it won't just take the Echelon with it. It'll take everyone. Every Clockwork, every consciousness stored in the network it'll all be erased."
Kael's stomach churned. He thought of Alina, her voice echoing in his mind. If what this man was saying was true, the stakes were even higher than he'd realized.
"You're trying to scare me," Kael said, his voice steady despite the storm of doubt raging inside him.
"I'm trying to warn you," the man replied. "You still have a chance to walk away. Forget the crystal, disappear. It's the only way you'll survive."
Kael shook his head. "If I walk away, who's going to stop them? Who's going to save the people they're erasing?"
The man's expression softened, a flicker of regret in his eyes. "You remind me of someone I used to know. They didn't listen, either."
He stepped back into the shadows, his voice echoing as he disappeared. "Be careful, Kael. You're running out of time."
Kael stood alone in the cavern, his thoughts a whirlwind of fear, determination, and doubt. He tightened his grip on the satchel, his resolve hardening.
He wasn't going to stop. Not now. Not ever.