Chapter 26: Beneath the Surface

The tunnel was colder than Kael expected, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and decay. Their footsteps echoed in the narrow passage, muffled only by the soft hum of the distant facility machinery far overhead. The silence between the group was palpable, tension radiating from everyone as they moved deeper underground.

Juno led the way, his eyes locked on the small holo-map projected from his wrist. "We're almost at the junction," he said, his voice low, barely audible over the faint dripping of water that trickled down the tunnel walls. "From there, it's only a short distance to the outer perimeter. If we can breach it without raising alarms, we'll have a clear path to the core."

Kael followed close behind, his senses hyper-attuned to every sound, every shift in the darkness around them. Behind him, Seraphine moved like a shadow, her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. Niko and Kane flanked the rear, their weapons ready, their movements tense but controlled.

"Are you sure about this route?" Seraphine asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Juno nodded. "This is the only way in without triggering Dominion's security systems. They don't expect anyone to find this entrance. If we're lucky, it's still off their radar."

Kael's grip tightened on his weapon. "We can't count on luck for long."

The tunnel curved sharply, and as they rounded the bend, a faint light appeared ahead. Kael's heart pounded faster. This was it—the junction Juno had mentioned. The threshold that would take them from the forgotten tunnels into the belly of the beast.

They approached the light cautiously. As they drew closer, Kael could see the remnants of what had once been a maintenance access point, long abandoned and buried beneath layers of grime and rust. The door was sealed, but faint traces of light leaked through the cracks, the telltale sign of Dominion's power grid humming just beyond.

Juno knelt by the door, pulling out a small device from his pack. "I can override the lock, but once we're through, we'll be exposed. No more hiding in the shadows."

Seraphine crouched beside him, her eyes scanning the door. "How long?"

"Give me a minute," Juno replied, already working to bypass the lock. His fingers moved with practiced precision, every motion smooth and efficient despite the urgency. He had done this before—more times than any of them knew.

Kael shifted his weight, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the dimly lit tunnel behind them. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that something—or someone—was tracking their every move. But there was nothing. Just the stillness of the underground.

"Got it," Juno whispered, and with a soft hiss, the door slid open.

Beyond the door was a narrow, dimly lit corridor lined with cables and pipes that ran along the walls. The air here was colder, metallic, and sterile—a stark contrast to the organic decay of the tunnel. This was Dominion's domain, the start of the facility's outer layer.

Kael felt a wave of unease wash over him as they stepped inside. There was something unnatural about this place. It was too quiet, too still.

They moved quickly, following Juno's lead. The corridor stretched ahead of them, winding through the facility like the arteries of a massive, sleeping beast. Every now and then, they passed doorways or access points, but Juno led them deeper, toward their destination—the core of Project Aeon.

"We're close," Juno whispered. "Another hundred meters, and we'll be in the outer ring of the core chamber. From there, it's a straight shot to the override."

Kael could feel the tension growing, the weight of their mission pressing down on him. He glanced at Seraphine, who met his gaze with a determined nod. They had come too far to turn back now.

Suddenly, a faint clicking sound echoed from the corridor ahead. Everyone froze.

Kael's hand instinctively went to his weapon as he scanned the darkness ahead. "What was that?"

Juno's face went pale. "It's them. Drones."

The corridor ahead lit up with red beams of light—scanning lasers from Dominion's patrolling security drones. A soft, mechanical whirr filled the air, growing louder by the second as the drones came into view, their sleek, black forms hovering silently through the hallway, searching for intruders.

"Get down!" Juno hissed, diving behind a metal pipe. The rest of the group followed suit, flattening themselves against the walls as the drones passed by, their red scanners sweeping the space just above their heads.

Kael's heart raced as he held his breath, watching the drones glide past, mere inches from their hiding place. One wrong move, one sound, and they'd be discovered.

The drones paused for a moment, their scanners lingering dangerously close to where Seraphine was crouched. Kael could see her muscles tensing, her hand on her weapon, ready to act if necessary.

But then, just as quickly as they had appeared, the drones continued down the corridor, their red lights fading into the distance.

Kael let out a slow breath, his body relaxing only slightly. "That was too close."

"They'll be back," Juno whispered. "We need to move. Now."

Without wasting another second, they rose to their feet and continued down the corridor, moving faster this time. The walls seemed to close in around them as they neared the heart of the facility.

The tension grew with every step. Kael could feel the air thickening, the energy of the place shifting as they approached the core. He had no idea what awaited them inside, but whatever Dominion had built here was more than just a machine. It was alive.

They reached a massive door, unlike any of the others they had passed. It was sleek, reinforced, and humming with power. Juno paused in front of it, his hand shaking slightly as he reached for the control panel.

"This is it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Beyond this door is the core. Aeon."

Kael felt the weight of the moment settle over him like a heavy shroud. There was no turning back now. Everything they had fought for, everything they had sacrificed, had led them to this point.

Seraphine stepped up beside him, her face set in grim determination. "Whatever happens in there, we end this. For good."

Kael nodded. "For good."

Juno activated the control panel, and with a low rumble, the massive door slid open.

The sight that greeted them on the other side was unlike anything Kael had ever seen.

The core chamber was enormous, stretching out before them like the interior of some alien cathedral. In the center of the room, suspended by thick cables and humming with energy, was Aeon. The AI core was massive—glowing with a pale, blue light that pulsed rhythmically, as if it had a heartbeat of its own.

Kael felt a chill run down his spine as he stared at the machine. This was it—the culmination of Dominion's twisted ambition. The center of their power.

And now it was up to them to destroy it.

Juno moved quickly, heading for the control terminal on the far side of the room. "I'll start the override," he said. "But it'll take time. We need to hold them off until it's done."

Kael's eyes darted to the dark corners of the chamber, his gut telling him they weren't alone. As if on cue, alarms blared through the facility, and the walls began to shift, revealing hidden doors that slid open to reveal Dominion's elite soldiers—armed and ready.

"Here they come," Seraphine muttered, drawing her weapon.

Kael's grip tightened on his gun as the soldiers poured into the room, their weapons raised. This was it—the final battle.

"Protect Juno," Kael ordered, raising his own weapon as the first shots rang out.

The fight had begun.