Episode 11

The room we entered was shrouded in a dense, charged atmosphere. The space was lit by cold, intermittent lights that cast long, distorted shadows on the concrete walls. The environment, stripped of any comfort, was clearly functional and unwelcoming, as if it were intended only for emergency meetings and strategic discussions.

In the center of the room, there was a large metal table, with chairs scattered around it. On top of the table, a variety of electronic and holographic devices were laid out, ready for use. The members of the group began to position themselves around the table, each finding their place with an air of familiarity and purpose. Meanwhile, I remained standing with Jade.

Bryan approached a terminal at the end of the table, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he activated a holographic projection. "Okay, let's get to it," he said, his voice now much more serious and focused than before. "We are about to execute the most important mission yet."

The hologram took shape in the center of the table, showing a detailed representation of Biotech, the place where I worked and where our next actions would be concentrated. The lines and contours of the building were clearly outlined, highlighting the various entrances, exits, and possible infiltration points.

"I know that this mission is not just another one among many," he began, his voice thick with restrained emotions. "Each of you bears scars—some visible, some not. Scars that Biotech inflicted upon us. They turned us into guinea pigs, into slaves for their experiments, and took from us something that no one should lose: Our freedom."

"Each of you, in some way, suffered at their hands. Marcus, Lena, Tom, Maya… All of you were used, manipulated, molded by a corporation that does not care about the lives it destroys. They took everything from us, turned us into pawns—into experiments, without ever thinking about what that meant for our souls, for our lives!" His voice rose in volume, filled with indignation.

"They took away our freedom, they broke our spirits, as if we were nothing! And I… I stood by while it all happened! I should have seen it, I should have done something to protect you, but I—" He paused for a moment, feeling the weight of his own words before bursting out in a scream: "I LET THIS HAPPEN FOR SO LONG!" The echo of his scream reverberated in the room, leaving a heavy silence in the air.

Bryan stood still, breathing heavily, his expression a mix of anger and guilt. He looked around, noticing everyone's attentive gazes. Then he took a step back, running his hands through his hair in a quick gesture, trying to compose himself. He adjusted his tie and took a deep breath, calming himself slowly before continuing.In a more controlled voice, he said: "I'm sorry. It's just … this is something I can't ignore anymore. But together, we will do what is right."

Bryan's eyes filled with genuine sadness as he continued. "I should have done something sooner. I should have seen the signs, protected you from the beginning. But I didn't. And for that, I apologize. I'm sorry for every moment of pain, for every tear shed, for every shred of humanity Biotech tried to rip from you." He looked at each of them, searching for some sort of comfort or absolution.

"But today, we take a step towards justice. This mission isn't just about destroying a corporation, it's about making sure no one else suffers like we did. It's about freeing those who are still trapped, who are still being used as pawns in their cruel games."

A heavy silence hung in the air, but then, one by one, the members of the group began to show their support. Marcus nodded firmly, his eyes shining with determination.

Lena reached out to him, placed a cybernetic hand on Bryan's shoulder, squeezing it tightly. "We're with you," she said, the seriousness in her voice echoing the pain everyone was feeling.

Tom nodded silently, Maya hesitated a little but nodded, it seemed she was more tense than most people there."You're not alone in this, Bryan," Marcus said, his deep voice breaking the silence. "We all know what we've been through, and we're ready to fight so no one else has to go through it."

"This is our moment," Lena added, her tone firm. "Let's show them we're not those kids they can hunt anymore."

Bryan took a deep breath, absorbing the strength emanating from his companions. "Thank you," he said, his tone mixing gratitude and renewed determination. "Together, we're going to make a difference. And we're going to make sure Biotech never does this to anyone again."

With that, the mood in the room changed. The fear and tension were still there, but they had been replaced by fierce determination and a sense of purpose.

Bryan paused, looking each of us in the eye, as if to imprint his words on our minds. "If something goes wrong, put your lives first. The mission is important, but my children are even more important to me. If things start to fall apart, abandon the mission and go back." He paused to let his words sink in, then added, 

"Remember, a falling knife has no handle. Don't try to hold on to something that is already out of control. If the mission fails, accept it and save yourself. It's not worth sacrificing yourself for something that is already lost."

The silence in the room was absolute. We all understood the weight of his words, and the seriousness on Bryan's face made it clear that he was prepared to deal with the consequences, as long as we made it back alive.

With these instructions, Bryan gestured for us to return our attention to the details of the mission, but his message remained engraved in our minds: Our safety came first.

"Our objective is simple, but risky," Bryan continued, his expression now grim. "We need to gain access to Biotech's central server to extract crucial information that could give us an edge in this war."

Phoenix, who had remained silent until then, stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the hologram. "Security will be tight," he said, his voice cold and emotionless. "They'll be waiting for us. We need to be quick and precise."

I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me as Phoenix's words reverberated around the room. I knew he was right, and that any mistake could cost me dearly. But at the same time, there was a determination in me, fueled by the idea that this mission could make a difference.

"How can I help?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tension I felt.Lena, who had been watching the hologram intently, looked up at me. "You know the place better than anyone, Violet," she said, her voice firm and direct. 

"We need you to guide us to the server center. That will give us the best chance of success."

"I see... I can do that," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I actually felt.Tom, who had been silent next to Lena, adjusted his cybernetic goggles before speaking. "I'll handle the technical stuff," he said, his voice showing a hint of nervousness. "If you can get me to the right terminal, I can hack the system and extract the data."

Maya, who had sat in a corner of the room, watched everything with her unseeing but attentive gaze. "And I'll handle the distraction," she said, an enigmatic smile playing on her lips. "I'll make sure they have a great time while you guys do what you need to do."

Bryan nodded. "Then it's decided. Violet, you lead the infiltration. Tom, you follow. Lena and Marcus, you'll cover the rear. Maya, Phoenix will handle the outer perimeter and the extraction."

"Let's finish this," Marcus said, breaking the silence with his deep voice. "We're ready."

As Bryan spoke, I couldn't take my eyes off the scars that marred the bodies of everyone in the room. Marcus, with the scar that ran across his eyebrow; Lena, with the deep gash on her neck; Maya, with her blind eyes and the mask she wore as a shield.

Each of them was a living reminder of the atrocities Biotech had committed. I knew they were a ruthless corporation, but seeing the physical marks of their cruelty—seeing how they enslaved and tortured people like this—was a shock I wasn't prepared to face.

I wondered, with a sinking heart, if I had somehow contributed to this. Had I, by working there, even without realizing it, been complicit in this pain? Had my work helped fuel this machine of suffering? Guilt began to weigh heavy, threatening to sink my spirit.

Before I could completely lose myself in these dark thoughts, Bryan approached. He seemed to have noticed my discomfort, and his expression was a mix of understanding and determination. 

"Violet," he said softly, breaking the cycle of self-punishment that was beginning to form in my mind, "You're here now. And that's what matters, little one."

As the room began to clear, with the group members heading to their respective posts, Bryan approached me. "You'll do fine," he said with an encouraging smile. "I trust you."

Before I could say something, Phoenix, who was standing in the back, intervened, his voice firm and direct. "Bryan, we need to go. We're ready."

Bryan nodded, his smile still on his face. "Okay, okay. Let's go." He then turned to Jade and added, "Jade, show Violet where Tom's lab is. You know how he can be... a little troublesome."

Jade gave a slight smile and nodded. "Sure, Bryan. I'll take care of it."

Bryan then walked away, and as he turned to leave the room, I could see, out of the corner of my eye, that the gentle smile he had given me moments ago was beginning to fade.

In its place, something darker and more disturbing briefly appeared in his expression, a glimpse of something I couldn't quite identify, but which made me feel an unexpected chill.

Jade, noticing my silence, touched my arm lightly, bringing me back to reality. "Come on, Violet. I'll show you the way."

I looked at Jade, feeling a sudden hesitation pin me in place. Something about Bryan's missing smile still lingered in my mind, but before I could delve any deeper into that thought, I took a deep breath and took a step forward."Let's go," I replied, trying to hide the uneasiness that was building in my chest.

She started walking, and I followed her, ready to face whatever was waiting for us in Tom's lab.