RUSH HOUR

Director Luthor stood at the helm of the control center, overlooking the massive operation unfolding before him. The war in Arkadia-7 had reached its crescendo, but this was no mere battle. This was inevitable.

Holographic displays hovered around him, showcasing real-time feeds of the battlefield. Drones patrolled the sky, their artificial eyes scanning for any anomalies. On the ground, mechanized enforcers moved in synchronized waves, sealing off every escape route, every point of resistance.

The Clan and their rebellion were irrelevant. The real prize was Myst.

"Sector Nine is secure. No sign of the target yet, but it's only a matter of time," an operative reported.

Luthor clasped his hands behind his back, his expression unreadable. "Deploy the Phase-Two units. We'll herd them exactly where we need them. The Blue Rose won't slip away again."

The Government has spent years perfecting their control over biological integration. The first subjects had been failures—bodies unable to withstand the neural overclocking required to merge with the system.

But Blue Rose? Now, they had perfected the process.

"Your plan is finally completing its pieces, father." Luthor stares at an old photo displayed thru his Xen-Link before he turned it off.

A new report flashed on the central display.

Unidentified movements detected near Outpost Theta. Clan presence confirmed.

Luthor allowed himself the faintest smile. "Perfect. Initiate full lockdown. No one leaves Arkadia-7."

The operatives around him moved with swift efficiency, executing his orders without hesitation. The war was not chaos to him—it was a dream. The Clan thought they were fighting for freedom, but in truth, they were merely playing their parts in a story already written.

And by the end of it, Myst would be exactly where she belonged.

Beneath the ruins of Arkadia-7, the Clan regrouped in the shadows, their breaths heavy with exhaustion and urgency. Cipher worked rapidly, hacking into the city's network from a makeshift terminal, sweat beading on his brow.

"They've locked down the entire fucking district," Cipher muttered, his fingers flying over the interface. "They knew we were coming."

"No shit," Blaze grumbled, adjusting the strap of his rifle. "Question is, how do we get out before they close the walls for good?"

Echo paced, frustration evident in his every step. "It's not just about getting out. We still have to reach Myst. If the Government gets to her first—"

Flux stood apart from the others, silent, eyes locked on the dim glow of the monitors. He could feel her. Somewhere beyond the barriers, beyond the steel and wires trapping them in. Myst. Liora.

The pulse of her presence was faint but undeniable, like static crawling under his skin.

And something else stirred beneath his skin too. A quiet hum, a vibration threading through his veins. His AI pulsed in time with his heartbeat, but lately, it felt like it was syncing with something else.

Something deeper. Something darker.

The last time he had fought Myst, he had felt the power coursing through him—too sharp, too consuming. He hadn't told the others, but the sensation hadn't left him. If anything, it was growing stronger.

A sudden flicker crossed his vision. For a fraction of a second, the dimly lit room around him shifted—glitched. The faint outlines of data streams pulsed in the air, visible only to him. Then, just as quickly, they were gone.

He inhaled sharply. Not now.

Razor exhaled sharply, arms crossed. "We need to move before they cut off the last routes. Cipher, find us a way through. Blaze, Echo—get the gear ready. We don't have time to waste."

Cipher nodded, refocusing. "There might be an access tunnel near the old transit lines. It's risky, but if we stay under the grid, we might slip past their surveillance."

Flux finally spoke, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his chest. "Then let's go. Before it's too late."

Nyx shot him a look, noticing the edge in his tone. "You good?"

Flux hesitated. His fingers twitched as another wave of static crawled under his skin. The moment stretched, an unspoken weight in the air. Then he forced a smirk. "Yeah. Just ready to end this."

Echo clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Damn right. Let's raise some hell."

The Clan moved, shadows against the dying city. The Government thought they had written the final chapter.

But the Clan wasn't done fighting yet.