Chapter 46: The Aftermath

Chapter 46: The Aftermath

Silvia's POV

The hum of the hover transport filled the cabin as Silvia leaned back against the cold metal wall. Her heart was still pounding, the echoes of their escape replaying in her mind. They had the data. They had survived. But at what cost?

Dragon sat beside her, watching her closely. His usual smirk was gone, replaced with something more contemplative. "You alright?"

Silvia let out a breath, rubbing her temples. "We barely made it out. That thing—whatever it was—if it had reached us…"

"But it didn't," Dragon interrupted gently. "We're here. And we won."

She glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "Did we? We have the data, but Titan Industries won't let this go. They'll be after us harder than ever."

Tarren leaned against the opposite wall, arms crossed. "She's right. They'll double security, lock down their remaining facilities, and come at us with everything they have."

Raleth, checking a wound on her arm, scoffed. "Let them try. They're afraid, and that means we hit them where it hurts."

Silvia's fingers tightened into a fist. This war wasn't over—not by a long shot.

The Hidden Stronghold

The transport landed deep in the wastelands, far from corporate-controlled zones. The underground resistance's stronghold was hidden beneath layers of rock and abandoned ruins—one of the few safe places left for those who opposed the corporations.

As they disembarked, Silvia felt the weight of the mission settle over her. Resistance fighters greeted them with cautious relief, eyes scanning their exhausted team for injuries. Despite their success, tension hung thick in the air. No one celebrated. They all knew the battle had only just begun.

A woman approached—an older leader of the resistance named Seraphine Vale, her gray hair pulled into a tight braid. She eyed Silvia with sharp intelligence. "Did you get it?"

Silvia handed over the storage drive. "It's all here. The proof we need."

Seraphine took the drive, holding it up like a sacred artifact. "Then the real fight begins now."

Silvia nodded, but a nagging sense of unease twisted in her gut. They had won a battle, but had they truly gained the upper hand?

A Moment to Breathe

Hours later, after debriefing and handing over the data to the analysts, Silvia finally found a moment of quiet. She sat on the edge of a steel platform overlooking the underground base. The dim glow of old emergency lights flickered above, casting long shadows. The entire base felt alive with tension, a restless energy of people preparing for war.

The cavernous stronghold stretched far beyond what she had expected. Makeshift barracks lined the stone walls, with scattered groups of rebels either sharpening weapons, working on machines, or tending to the wounded. In the far distance, she could see engineers assembling explosives and reinforcing battle gear. The resistance wasn't just preparing to fight—they were preparing for a war that could decide the fate of the world above.

Dragon joined her, dropping down beside her. "You should sleep."

She exhaled, shaking her head. "Too much to think about."

"That's new," he teased. "I thought you always had a plan."

Silvia smirked, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "This is bigger than us now. The corporations won't just roll over because we have evidence. We need to be ready."

Dragon watched her for a moment before leaning in slightly. "You know, for someone so good at handling impossible situations, you're pretty bad at taking a win when you get one."

She shot him a look. "And you're too good at pretending things don't affect you."

He shrugged. "What can I say? I've got a reputation to maintain."

Silvia let out a quiet laugh before sighing. The laughter felt foreign, like something she hadn't experienced in a long time. "I just… I don't know what happens next. And that terrifies me."

Dragon reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was brief but lingering. "Then we figure it out together."

Silvia swallowed hard, her pulse quickening. She had fought monsters, escaped death more times than she could count… but this? This moment with him felt just as terrifying.

The air between them grew still, heavy with unspoken words. Dragon's golden eyes held something unreadable, something intense. Silvia wasn't sure if it was admiration, respect, or something deeper. Something she wasn't ready to face just yet.

Dragon smirked, breaking the silence. "You think too much."

She arched a brow. "And you don't think enough."

"That's why we work so well together," he said, nudging her lightly. "You think about everything, and I make sure you don't get yourself killed in the process."

Silvia rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on her lips. For the first time in a long time, she felt something other than exhaustion—something dangerously close to hope.

She exhaled slowly, glancing down at the city of rebels and fighters below. "We really are going to change the world, aren't we?"

Dragon grinned. "Damn right we are."

A gust of air stirred the dust on the platform as a new group of rebels arrived, carrying supplies. The resistance was growing, and Silvia could feel the change in the air—this wasn't just a rebellion anymore. This was a movement.

Silvia's fingers curled against the metal railing, determination hardening her resolve. No matter what came next, they wouldn't back down. They couldn't.

Because the fight wasn't over.

It was just beginning.