A Spark in the Smog Part:15

Aron's breath hitched in their throat. The figures were clad in dark uniforms emblazoned with the insignia of the Colossus Corporation, a notorious conglomerate that profited from the city's oppressive smog. They were heavily armed, their faces obscured by the shadows cast by their helmets. A cruel smile twisted the lips of the cyborg leading the group.

"Operational?" he barked. "This place is a ticking time bomb ever since those rebels messed with the core. But that's none of your concern. In fact, you won't be needing any concerns anymore."

With a chilling efficiency, the guards raised their weapons, aiming them at the trio. Aron's mind raced. Their carefully constructed cover story was in tatters. Panic gnawed at the edges of their resolve, but they knew they couldn't surrender. Anya and Kaito were counting on them.

"Wait!" Aron stammered, raising their hands placatingly. "There must be some misunderstanding. We're here to help. We received a distress signal from this facility."

The cyborg threw his head back and laughed, a cold, humorless sound that echoed through the cavern.

"Distress signal? You think we broadcast those to random tinkerers? You're either naive or incredibly stupid."

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze flickering between Aron, Anya, and Kaito.

"Now, I'm offering you a choice. Spill your guts and tell me who you're really working for, or I can make your deaths quick and painless."

Aron exchanged a desperate glance with Anya and Kaito. Their options were dwindling rapidly. Anya, ever the resourceful one, stepped forward, her voice laced with a newfound confidence.

"We may not be who you expect," she said, meeting the cyborg's gaze head-on. "But we are here to help. This facility is on the verge of a meltdown, and the entire city is at risk."

The cyborg scoffed.

"Meltdown? Don't be ridiculous. The core is stable. Unlike the city above, thanks to our efforts."

"That's what you think," Kaito rumbled, his voice a low growl. "We've seen the readings. The core is overheating, and it's only a matter of time before it explodes."

The cyborg's eyes narrowed further. A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face, a crack in his otherwise stoic demeanor.

"Readings? What readings?"

Anya seized the opportunity.

"We intercepted a data transfer from the core room. It contained critical diagnostic information. If you let us see it, we might be able to help you avert a disaster."

The cyborg hesitated, his gaze darting between the trio and the pulsating metallic heart in the center of the cavern. The air crackled with tension as the silence stretched.

Finally, the cyborg spoke, his voice gruff.

"Very well. But if you're lying, you'll all regret it."

With a curt nod, he gestured to one of the guards, a hulking figure with cybernetic enhancements integrated into his arm. The guard marched towards a nearby control panel and began tapping a series of commands. A holographic display flickered to life, projecting a complex array of data streams and diagnostic readouts.

Aron's heart hammered in their chest as they approached the display. Their eyes scanned the data, their brow furrowing in concentration. Anya and Kaito huddled close, their faces grim as they absorbed the information.

The readings were undeniable. The core was indeed on the verge of a catastrophic meltdown. The pressure and temperature gauges were climbing at an alarming rate, and the system's safety protocols were failing.

Anya let out a low whistle.

"This is worse than we thought," she muttered.

Kaito grunted in agreement.

"The pressure buildup is off the charts. Another hour, maybe two, at most, and this whole place goes up in smoke."

Aron swallowed hard, the weight of the situation pressing down on them. The fate of the entire city rested on their shoulders. They had to act fast.

"There must be a way to stabilize the core," Aron said, their voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination.

They scanned the display further, their eyes searching for a solution. A faint glimmer of hope flickered in their mind as they spotted a series of emergency protocols listed on the side.

"There!" Aron exclaimed, pointing at the display. "Emergency coolant override. If we can activate that, it might buy us some time."

The cyborg, who had been observing them intently, leaned forward.

"Coolant override? That's a last resort. It's a risky procedure, and even if it works,it's only a temporary fix.