android assassins

Kai was already having a shitty day before his boss tried to kill him by throwing him off the second floor. That morning he'd begun his day with a recurring argument with his girlfriend Mia. Their argument still echoed in his head, about past lives they'd agreed to forget about, and the growing shadow of paranoia that seemed to follow him everywhere.

"You can't keep looking over your shoulder forever, Kai," Mia had said, her dark eyes flashing with frustration. "We left that life, we're supposed to be normal people now."

But what did normal even mean anymore?

The world had changed after world war three, nations collapsed, and climate disasters raked the globe. In the aftermath, mega corporations financed countries to begin rebuilding, seizing political power. LUMON, OBSIDIAN and ARCO; the trinity. These were the largest mega corporations in control of everything; media, jobs, transport, they even had their private militaries. But what made them all powerful were the nigh sentient Artificial intelligences they possessed. The MIND, the most important AI in the world, scoured feeds and policed the internet, flagging and sanitizing anything that challenged the status quo. It analyzed and recognized threat levels hence crimes could be thwarted in minutes, criminals were identified through psychological profiles from childhood and monitored for the rest of their lives, designated as flight risks. Everyone had to earn social credits now, to prove their worth in being provided for in the new mega cities.

The populations of the world had clustered in mega cities that possessed active shields, protecting them from the toxic atmosphere in the aftermath of the nuclear war. The poor lived in the outskirts where the shield was thin, and suffered from mutations, starvation and death. Those more well off earned enough social credits to live comfortably in the cities, watched carefully by the MIND. They were forced to tread carefully, and they feared the depletion of their credits for they'd be sent to the outskirts or worse; the dead zones.

The dead zones were large swathes of barren land, destroyed by nuclear war and climate devastation. Whole civilizations rendered obsolete. History, art and culture lost forever. The only people alive out there were wildlings; heavily mutated humans who scavenged and were rumored to be cannibals. They constantly threatened to attack and decimate the mega cities, but their inferior weapons and the highly powered energy shields controlled by the AI too powerful and advanced to breach, deterred them.

Mia was right though, they were normal people now. It had been 2 years since they had escaped the X-23 militia. They had changed cities, changed names, constructed whole new identities. She taught kids how to dance now, and he was a data scrub, a far cry from their missions where she did recon and he executed the heists. However he couldn't help look over his shoulder, afraid that his prior life of violence would catch up to him. And a few days ago it did.

Kai's desk terminal at the LUMON Corporation offices blinked relentlessly, signaling the mountain of files that needed review. Another day in the life of a data scrub, the irony wasn't lost on him. Once a child soldier for X-23, trained to destroy the system, now he was its caretaker, reviewing content flagged for deletion by the AI systems that ruled the digital landscape. The X-23 militia served as a cult in some parts, but they were designated as a terrorist organization by the MIND. Deservedly so. For they carried out numerous missions, attacking LUMON outposts, stealing tech, assassinating bureaucrats and sabotaging their server buildings. They picked kids from orphanages as young as eleven, and trained them in espionage, combat and weaponry. Indoctrinated in the teachings of the prophet; their enigmatic leader who preached about the upcoming apocalypse, and a dark era where AI ruled the world, these child soldiers were willing expendable warriors. Death was the only way out for them. Kai had beat the system though, escaping with Mia, two years back.

He massaged the bridge of his nose, the fluorescent lights above him buzzing with a persistence matching his growing headache. The argument with Mia, caused by email Rook's email two days ago, had left him uneasy. He hadn't even opened the latest message that had arrived this morning.

"Shit," he muttered, finally clicking on Rook's first email.

The video loaded, blurry and hastily recorded, showing his old friend's face, now framed by brown wild dreadlocks. Rook's eyes were wide, darting to something off-camera every few seconds.

"Kai, man, I know we haven't talked in years, but I never stopped digging," Rook's voice was strained, urgent. "It's all connected, man. There's something sinister going on, it's a lot more than we thought when we were kids. We weren't delusional, the MIND has been silencing anyone who ever owned or interacted with the Jovan book . I found a pattern of disappearances stretching back decades."

Kai felt a chill crawl up his spine as Rook continued.

"Your mom, my parents, they weren't accidents. Someone is killing people with connections to this." Rook's voice dropped to a whisper. "I need to show you what I found. You're the only other person who knows about Jovan. Meet me tomorrow, Old River District, warehouse 17, midnight."

But Kai had never shown up. The rational part of his brain had dismissed it as Rook's old paranoia flaring up. He'd shown the video to Mia who convinced him not to. She was right wasn't she ? After all, the Jovan Sovereign was just a story.

Now, staring at the notification of Rook's second email, Kai felt guilt and curiosity war inside him. Before he could decide whether to open it, a message flashed across his terminal: "PARKER, REPORT TO SUPERVISOR OFFICE IMMEDIATELY."

The walk down the corridor seemed longer than usual. Coworkers barely looked up from their terminals as he passed, their faces illuminated by the cold glow of screens. Kai knocked twice on the frosted glass door bearing the name "MARSHALL BENSON - SECTION SUPERVISOR."

"Come in," came the gruff response.

Benson sat behind his desk, a bulky man in a tailored blue suit that seemed too tight across his shoulders. His face was expressionless, partially hidden behind designer shades despite the office's dim lighting.

"Sir? You wanted to see me?"

Benson didn't respond immediately. He remained perfectly still. Too still, Kai realized with a growing sense of unease. Years of combat training and survival instincts screamed at him that something wasn't right.

"You've been accessing unauthorized communications channels during work hours, Parker," Benson finally said, his voice oddly flat. "Care to explain who you've been contacting?"

Kai's mind raced. How did they know about Rook's email? He'd accessed it through his personal device, not the company terminal.

"I don't know what you mean, sir. I've only been reviewing the designated files—"

"Don't lie." Benson cut him off, standing suddenly. "You received communications from an individual designated as security threat level alpha. You will disclose all information about this contact immediately."

Every muscle in Kai's body tensed. There was something wrong with Benson's movements Then it clicked. The unblinking stare behind those shades, the unnatural stillness, the way his mouth barely moved when he spoke. Too mechanical.

When Benson lunged, Kai was already moving.

The attack came with impossible speed, Benson clearing the desk in a single fluid motion that no human could match. Kai barely dodged, feeling the air displaced by Benson's fist as it whistled past his ear.

"What the fuck?!" Kai shouted, instinctively shifting into a defensive stance. His years of training with X-23 weren't forgotten, merely dormant.

Benson said nothing, pivoting with inhuman precision to launch another attack. This time, his fist connected with Kai's chest, sending him flying across the office. Pain exploded through Kai's torso as he slammed against the wall, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs.

"Okay, definitely not human," Kai gasped, scrambling to his feet.

He'd heard rumors of human-model androids developed by the mega-corps these were perfect infiltrators designed to look human. But he'd always dismissed them as conspiracy theories. Apparently, those theories weren't so crazy after all.

As Benson approached, Kai launched into action. A spinning kick connected with the android's jaw, followed by a flurry of strikes to what would be vital points on a human. Each blow landed with a dull thud against Benson's body, causing no visible reaction. It was like hitting a wall.

"Subject: Kai Parker. Directive: Capture and contain for questioning regarding the Jovan Sovereign record data breach," Benson intoned, his voice now devoid of any human inflection.

The words sent a chill through Kai. Jovan Sovereign Record. This attack was connected to Rook's warning.

Benson's hand shot out, closing around Kai's throat with crushing force. Kai struggled, clawing at the fingers that felt like steel cables as he was lifted off the ground. Black spots danced at the edges of his vision as oxygen deprivation set in.

Desperate, Kai reached for anything on the desk, his fingers closing around a chrome pen. With the last of his strength, he drove it into Benson's eye.

The pen sank in with a sickening crunch, followed by a shower of blue sparks. Benson didn't scream, didn't flinch. He just tilted his head slightly, the damaged eye now a sparking crater in his otherwise perfect face.

"Subject continues to resist. Increasing force authorization," Benson stated calmly, unaffected by what should have been excruciating pain.

Before Kai could react, he was airborne again, this time through the second-story window. Glass shattered around him as the world spun, adrenaline and training taking over as he positioned his body for the inevitable impact.

He hit a dumpster, the metal buckling beneath him. Pain exploded through his shoulder and ribs, but he was alive. Barely. Every breath sent daggers of agony through his chest.

The sound of glass crunching made him look up. Benson had followed him through the window, landing in a perfect crouch twenty feet away, sparks still shooting from his damaged eye socket.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Kai muttered, forcing himself to move despite the pain.

He staggered down the alley, struggling against his body's desperate plea to collapse. Behind him, Benson advanced in measured steps.

When Kai rounded the corner and saw a patrol officer, relief flooded through him.

"Help!" he shouted, his voice raw. "Officer, help me!"

The young cop turned with a startled expression, hand instinctively moving to his holster. His eyes widened as he took in Kai's bloody form.

"Sir? What's happening—"

"Behind me," Kai gasped, staggering past the officer. "It's not human!"

Confusion crossed the officer's face, changing into shock as Benson appeared, advancing stoically, blue sparks still erupting from his damaged eye.

"Freeze!" the officer commanded, drawing his weapon. When Benson continued advancing, the officer fired, once, twice, three times.

The bullets impacted Benson's chest, leaving small holes in his suit but barely slowing his stride. The officer's face contorted with disbelief as Benson closed the distance between them.

"No, run!" Kai screamed, but it was too late.

Benson's arm shot out in a blur, catching the officer across the throat. There was a sickening crack, and the young cop crumpled to the ground like a puppet with cut strings, head twisted at an impossible angle.

Horror and rage surged through Kai. In his years with X-23, he'd seen death and had dealt it himself, but this cold, efficient murder of an innocent cut through the numbness he'd built up.

The patrol car sat idling nearby. Kai dragged himself toward it, fumbling in the dead officer's pocket for the keys. His fingers closed around them just as he heard Benson's footsteps approaching.

Pain forgotten, Kai threw himself into the driver's seat, jamming the key into the ignition. The engine roared to life as Benson appeared in front of the car.

He floored the accelerator. The patrol car shot forward, slamming into Benson with a loud crunch pinning him against the alley wall. Metal crumpled, the windshield spiderwebbed, but Kai kept his foot down, grinding the android between bumper and brick.

Sparks erupted from Benson's body, and a dark gray fluid leaked onto the hood. Only when the android stopped moving did Kai release the accelerator, backing up with shaking hands.

He couldn't stay. If Rook was right, if this was connected to the Jovan Sovereign, then Mia could be in danger too.

Abandoning the damaged patrol car, Kai stumbled to the street, blood soaking through his shirt. He raised a trembling hand, flagging down an approaching taxi.

"Where to?" the driver asked, eyeing Kai's bloody appearance.

"Eastside Apartments," Kai gasped, fumbling for his phone. "And fast."

As the taxi pulled away, Kai dialed Mia's number, praying she would answer. Each ring sent a new wave of dread through him.

"Come on, Mia, pick up," he whispered, watching the streets blur past. Their argument that morning now seemed trivial, distant. All that mattered was making sure she was safe.

The call went to voicemail.

"Mia, listen carefully," Kai said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Something's happened. I'm coming home now, but if I'm not there in twenty minutes, you need to run. Pack nothing. Use the escape plan we made. I'll find you at the safe house." He paused, then added, "I love you."

As he ended the call, Kai leaned back against the seat, mind racing. How had a normal workday descended into this nightmare? What did the Jovan Sovereign have to do with murderous androids? And most importantly, what had Rook discovered that was worth killing for?

The memory of his mother's voice came to him unbidden, reading from that battered tome under the light of a portable lamp, hiding in the ruins of what had once been Istanbul: "And the Sovereign, chosen son of time, forged the forever knights and rose to reclaim the stars from the cruel machines..."

For the first time, Kai wondered if the stories his mother had read him weren't just fiction. What if there was something hidden in those lost tales. Something powerful enough to make mega-corporations hunt down anyone connected to them?

As the taxi sped through the congested streets, Kai Parker prepared himself for war once again. Whatever was coming, he couldn't, wouldn't lose Mia .