Chapter 6: The Cost of Revenge

The only sounds in the underground lab were the subdued talk of a few team members and the steady hum of the machines. The group was compelled to go into hiding following their near escape from the government building. The thrill of their first strike had long since faded, to be replaced by a crushing feeling of dread.

Arjun was sitting in front of a holographic image of his father's documents, with a weak blue light casting shadows over his face. It was days since he'd slept. His formerly fiercely determined eyes were now filled with fatigue and uncertainty. He felt the mission's weight pressing down on him more than before.

With a worried expression on her face, Zara observed him from the other side of the room. She was aware that Arjun's vengeance had brought them all at once, but that same urge was starting to rip him apart now. His passion was eating him alive. Though no one dared to express it, the others could see it as well.

She said softly as she warily walked forward. "Arjun, you need to rest."

He didn't raise his gaze. "I am unable to. There is still plenty too be done. The government will not give up. We must be prepared."

Zara knelt next to him and put her kind hand on his arm. "We are going to be. However, if you exhaust yourself, you're useless to us. I'm concerned for you.

For an instant, her touch appeared to startle him out of his reverie. With a sigh, he reclined in his chair and met her gaze at last. "I am aware. I simply... Each time I shut my father is before my eyes. I notice the raid. I saw his demise. Zara, I just can't let it go. I must give him justice."

Zara's heart hurt. Although she sympathized with his suffering, she couldn't bear to see him deteriorate. "This purpose, the legacy of your father, is essential, but so are you. You must not allow this to ruin you."

Arjun's eyes grew stern. "If it means taking down the government, then maybe that's a price I'm willing to pay."

His remarks made Zara cringe, and she could sense a rift growing between them. "How about us? What happens if the cost exceeds your means? What happens if you totally lose yourself?

Mira raced into the room, her face pallid, before he could reply. "We have a problem."

Zara and Arjun both shifted to face her, anxiety palpable. Even Mira, who is usually confident and calm, was truly uneasy.

"What's wrong?" Arjun stood up and asked.

The holographic interface lit up as Mira flung a data chip onto the table. "I've been keeping an eye on official correspondence. Deciphering it took some time, but I discovered something awful."

The screen displayed the blueprints for a large, elegant mecha suit. The squad had never seen anything like it: upgraded weapons, armored body armor, and a central AI interface that was meant to adjust and learn from battle. Project Achilles was written in bold characters at the bottom of the panel.

"They have been working on their own suit," a tense-sounding Mira clarified. However, it's more than simply a replica of your dad's creation. This is constructed to oppose all that we have produced. They are fully aware of how our robots function. Arjun, they're ahead of us by one step."

The room was silent, dead quiet. Arjun's thoughts were racing, analyzing the ramifications. If the administration was working on a countermeasure behind everyone's backs, then they were far closer to putting an end to the uprising than they had thought.

"How long have they been working on this?" Zara questioned, her voice trembling a little.

Mira gave a headshake. "It's difficult to determine, but the most recent data indicates that it's nearly finished. Time is running out for us."

Arjun balled his hands up. "We'll adjust. We must. We'll overcome them somehow."

But there was no mistaking the skepticism in his voice.

Zara turned to face him, her countenance vacillating between terror. "Arjun, this goes beyond simple adaptation. As long as you're seeking retribution, they will always be one step ahead of you. We must go beyond it in our thinking. A fresh plan is required."

Arjun gave her a fierce look, causing their tension to increase. "A fresh plan is not necessary at this moment. We need to attack them quicker and harder."

In an attempt to diffuse the situation, Mira intervened. Perhaps Zara is correct. Perhaps we should reconsider our approach. We will fall right into a trap if we continue to push in this manner."

Arjun twisted away, tensing up his jaw. The pressure to succeed at all costs and the increasingly oppressive weight of leadership were impairing his judgment. Admitting that Zara and Mira were correct thought it would violate his father's legacy. Retaliation had always driven his pursuit of justice, but these days it felt like a trap from which he was unable to free himself.

In the stillness that ensued, Zara moved nearer to him. "Please, Arjun," she muttered. "Avoid letting this break you. We are in this together, but if you continue in this direction... I'm not sure if I can stay with you."

Her words pierced his heart as they floated in the air. He felt completely lost for the first time in months.

However, before he could reply, red lights began to flash and an alert went through the base. The group froze, shivers running down their backs.

Mira hurried up to the control panel and began to swipe her fingers over the keys. "It's them. the executive branch. They have discovered

us."

Zara's terrified eyes grew wider. "How?"

Mira gave a headshake. "I'm not sure. However, they are present. Maybe less than a minute remains."

Arjun felt his heart race in his chest. They didn't have time for any of their uncertainties, anxieties, or fears right now. All that was important was survival.

He gave the command, "Everyone, get ready," speaking firmly despite his internal distress. "We're not going down without a fight."

Arjun took a final look at Zara as the squad frantically got ready for the oncoming onslaught. A combination of hope and anguish filled her gaze, and for an instant he let herself feel the weight of what she had said.

He understood that something would have to change if they made it through this. However, for the time being, the only thing left to do was fight.

The price of retaliation then became painfully obvious.