Ashen Pact Syndicate Arc (3)-Focus

The air smelled like burning ozone and charred metal as alarms continued to wail through the fortress. The explosion had done its job, but the clock was ticking. Perol was waking up, and soon, the full weight of the Pact would come crashing down on them.

Scorpio's vision blurred, but he kept his eyes focused as he dragged himself with every fibre of strength.The steel walls seemed to close in on him, but he pushed forward, Gregg's limp body heavy on his back. Every few steps, his knees buckled, and he caught himself on the jagged edges of debris, but he refused to fall. Not with the information Gregg had handed him.

Not with everything that was at stake.

The emergency lighting flickered as he reached the entrance to the Metro Line 9 station. The gates were still sealed, but the sirens above warned that more enforcers would be arriving soon. Scorpio tried to activate the manual override, but his hands were slick with blood and sweat. His vision swam again, and for a moment, he feared he would pass out from the exertion.

Then, just as the door to the security chamber started to hum open, he heard a voice.

"Move."

The voice was sharp and commanding, cutting through the fog of exhaustion. Scorpio's instincts kicked in. Without thinking, he pulled Gregg into the shadows just as a pair of Ghost Path enforcers appeared from the darkness.

They were silent, their movements swift and eerily fluid, like they were one with the shadows themselves. Their eyes glowed faintly, each step leaving an almost invisible trail of distortion in the air. Scorpio's breath caught as he recognized their uniforms—the pale, fluid forms of the Ghost Path children.

These weren't just ordinary soldiers. They were the very product of the Ashen Pact's twisted experiments. They were monsters, created from the same sickened alchemy that had turned Gregg into a weapon.

The enforcers passed them by, unaware of their presence.

Scorpio's heart pounded in his chest, but he dared not move, not until the last of the enforcers had disappeared into the gloom. Only then did he allow himself to breathe.

"Come on," he muttered, hoisting Gregg up once again. "We're not done yet."

With renewed urgency, he pushed forward through a stairway beneath the city, following the signs for the underground transport. The thrum of distant machinery and the echo of his own footsteps were the only sounds that filled the tense silence.

They reached the station. Scorpio didn't wait for the doors to fully open before he pulled Gregg inside the train. The moment the doors hissed shut, the train lurched forward, and Scorpio slumped against the seat, breathing heavily.

Gregg stirred, groaning. His eyes fluttered open, blurry at first, then locking onto Scorpio with a mix of confusion and guilt. "You're… still alive?"

"Yeah," Scorpio rasped, his throat raw. "Not for lack of trying to kill me, though."

Gregg winced, sitting up slowly. His body was a mess of cuts and bruises, but he was alive. For now. "You're too stubborn for your own good."

Scorpio didn't answer. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out the flash drive Gregg had given him. It was scratched, covered in ash, but still intact.

Gregg's eyes flicked to it. "You know what's on there?"

"Yeah. Everything." Scorpio gripped it tightly. "Names. Locations. All the lies. The experiments. Everything we need to take them down."

Gregg smiled weakly, though it was strained. "You're going to expose them? All of it?"

"I'm going to burn them to the ground," Scorpio said, his voice steely with resolve. "But not just for you, Gregg. Not just for Moravuno. For every life they've destroyed. For every child they've turned into a weapon."

Gregg closed his eyes, leaning back against the seat. The moment seemed to drag on, stretching longer than it had any right to. And in that silence, Scorpio finally allowed himself to exhale, to accept the weight of what had just happened.

"Where are we going?" Gregg asked quietly.

Scorpio stared out of the train's window as the city blurred past them. "To the heart of Perol. To the Silent Circle."

Gregg's eyes shot open. "The Circle? They can't…"

"They can. They will," Scorpio said, voice full of determination. "We've got allies who will help us make sure the Pact burns, not just the Syndicate. And we're going to bring this whole damn city down with it."

The train rumbled on, its lights flickering as it cut through the underbelly of Perol. Scorpio glanced down at the unconscious form of Gregg, knowing that, despite the cost, they were both in this together now. And they would see it through, no matter the consequences.

The journey ahead would be long. Their fight against the Ashen Pact, the Ghost Path enforcers, and the twisted legacy of the Soma Path would not be easy. But as the dark city passed by them, one thing became clear—there was no turning back now.

They were coming for the heart of it all. And they wouldn't stop until the Pact was no more.

The train rattled through the darkened tunnels beneath Perol, the constant hum of machinery a stark contrast to the storm raging above ground. Scorpio could feel the weight of the flash drive in his pocket, its presence both a burden and a beacon of hope. Every piece of intel on that drive was a thread that could unravel the Ashen Pact, but it also meant war. And war was never clean.

Gregg shifted beside him, groaning as he tried to sit up more comfortably. His body was still in bad shape, and he had yet to truly recover from the beating they'd taken in the fortress. But the fire in his eyes hadn't gone out. That was something Scorpio could count on.

"How much farther?" Gregg asked, his voice raw but steady.

"We're close. Another few klicks," Scorpio replied, his gaze fixed ahead. He could see the lights of the next stop flashing in the distance, the end of the tunnel fast approaching. "Silent Circle's contact should be waiting for us there."

Gregg nodded, his face hardening. "They better be ready. The Ashen Pact isn't going to sit back and wait for us to expose them. They're going to come for us...and hard."

Scorpio gritted his teeth. "That's why we're not stopping. Not until we make sure the Syndicate burns to the ground."

The train slowed, its brakes screeching as it pulled into a station deep within the underground network. The station was deserted, the flickering lights casting eerie shadows on the cracked walls. Scorpio felt a shiver run down his spine. This place was as much a graveyard as it was a sanctuary.

"Stay close," he muttered, standing and helping Gregg to his feet.

As they stepped off the train, they were greeted by a figure waiting in the shadows. A woman, tall and lithe, dressed in dark tactical gear that blended seamlessly into the gloom. Her face was hidden behind a mask, but there was no mistaking the cold, calculating aura she gave off.

"You Scorpio?" she asked, her voice clipped.

"Yeah," Scorpio said, sizing her up. "And you are?"

"Jasira," the woman replied, stepping forward and handing him a small datapad. "I was sent by the Circle. We have a safehouse nearby, but we don't have much time. The Pact is already hunting you."

Scorpio looked at Gregg, who nodded slightly. "Lead the way."

Jasira turned and led them down a narrow hallway, her footsteps echoing off the concrete walls. "We've been tracking the Pact's movements for months. After what happened at the Fortress, they're going to go into overdrive. But we've got one shot at this."

Gregg's eyes flickered with a mix of hope and doubt. "One shot. That's all we ever get."

They reached a steel door, and Jasira input a code into the panel. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a dimly lit room lined with tech rigs, maps, and weapons. A handful of figures sat at various consoles, their faces obscured by the glow of monitors.

"This is where the magic happens," Jasira said, stepping inside. "Get comfortable. We're going to need all the help we can get to make this plan work."

Scorpio moved to the center of the room, his mind racing. "We've got the intel, but we need a way in. The core of Perol Fortress is still sealed, and the Ashen Pact will be ready for us."

Jasira paused, then turned to a technician who had been studying the data on a screen. "Marek, what do you have?"

Marek, a wiry man with dark circles under his eyes, looked up. "We've hacked into the city's grid. The fortresses' defenses are tied into Perol's central systems. If we can access the mainframe, we can disable the security perimeter long enough for you to get inside. But it's risky. There's a backup failsafe that can trigger the entire city's lockdown."

"We'll deal with that when the time comes," Scorpio said, his voice hardening. "I'm not here to play it safe. I'm here to burn them all."

Gregg finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "What about the Ghost Path? We can't get through them without triggering a disaster."

Jasira's face darkened. "The Ghosts are a problem. But I've got an ally inside who can get you a Ghost signature. It won't be a perfect match, but it'll let you bypass the biometric seals."

Scorpio exchanged a glance with Gregg, who seemed to weigh the situation. The Ghost Path was the last thing either of them wanted to deal with. But if it was the only way through, they had no choice.

"How long until we can hit the mainframe?" Scorpio asked.

"Two hours, maybe less," Marek answered. "We need to get you into the central data hub. That's where we'll initiate the override."

Scorpio's eyes hardened. "Then let's move."

They spent the next few minutes preparing for the assault, gathering weapons, making sure the intel was secured, and double-checking their gear. Scorpio didn't waste time with unnecessary words. Every second counted now.

Once they were ready, Jasira led them through another series of narrow corridors, moving like ghosts through the shadows. The deeper they went, the heavier the air became. The weight of the coming battle pressed down on Scorpio, but he pushed it aside. There was no room for doubt, no time for fear.

They reached a final door. This one was reinforced with layers of security. A panel slid open in the wall, revealing a small keypad and biometric scanner. Scorpio glanced at Gregg, who nodded in understanding.

"You ready?" Scorpio asked.

Gregg didn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward and placed his hand on the biometric scanner. A soft beep sounded, followed by a flickering of lights. The door hissed open.

Inside was the mainframe. The heart of Perol's security.

Scorpio moved quickly, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of hidden danger. The atmosphere was tense, thick with anticipation. Jasira stepped forward, plugging in a small device that connected to the central terminal.

"Give it a minute," she said, her voice calm but tense.

They waited, the seconds stretching into what felt like hours. Finally, Marek's voice crackled over the comms.

"We're in."

A hum echoed through the room as the mainframe came to life. The screens lit up, lines of code streaming across the display.

"Initiating system override," Jasira muttered, her fingers flying across the controls. "Get ready. This is going to trigger alarms."

Gregg's face was set in grim determination. "Then let them come. We finish this, or we die trying."

The hum of the mainframe seemed to fill the room, each passing second stretching the tension thicker than the walls around them. Scorpio's heart pounded in his chest, the weight of the moment settling on his shoulders. He could feel the storm building outside, as though Perol itself was mirroring the chaos about to unfold within.

Jasira's fingers moved with precision, her eyes locked on the screen. The countdown was now at 30 seconds, but the anticipation was nearly unbearable. Scorpio's hand rested on the hilt of his weapon, his mind running over every possible scenario, every escape route, and every trap the Ashen Pact might have set for them.

"Five," Jasira murmured, eyes narrowing. "Four... three... two..."

A sharp beep echoed from the terminal, followed by the flashing red warning light.

"We've triggered the alarm," Marek's voice crackled in the comms. "They're mobilizing. The Ghost Path is already active. They know you're in."

Scorpio didn't flinch. "We move now. No more waiting."

Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the exit, motioning for Gregg and Jasira to follow. The sound of booted footsteps echoed down the corridor behind them, confirming what Scorpio already knew—there was no turning back.

"We've got to get to the safehouse!" Jasira shouted, pulling ahead.

They pushed through the dark hallways, moving like shadows, but the sound of pursuit grew louder. Scorpio's mind raced as they approached the exit. They had just triggered a city-wide lockdown, and the Ghosts would be on them in seconds. Perol's labyrinthine underground passages were notorious for making escape nearly impossible during a lockdown.

"We won't make it to the safehouse in time," Gregg said, his voice strained as he struggled to keep pace. "We'll be boxed in."

"We improvise," Scorpio snapped, his eyes scanning their surroundings. "There's a ventilation shaft ahead. We'll go underground. It'll be faster."

Jasira looked at him, her face a mask of calculation. "You're sure? The ventilation tunnels are monitored."

"Nothing's foolproof," Scorpio said, his expression hardening. "But it'll buy us time."

They rounded a corner, and ahead, Scorpio spotted the ventilation shaft—a narrow opening that led down into a maze of old maintenance tunnels. Without waiting for a response, he darted toward it, shoving aside the heavy metal grate.

"Move!" he shouted, watching as Gregg and Jasira hesitated for just a moment, before both followed him into the darkness below.

The cold air hit them as they descended, the hum of machinery echoing through the pipes around them. Scorpio led the way, his senses on high alert, listening for any sign of movement from the Ghost Path agents or the Ashen Pact's forces. The further they went, the more distant the sounds of pursuit became, but Scorpio knew it wouldn't last long.

"We can't stay down here long," Gregg panted, his voice muffled by the narrow passage. "The Ghosts will lock down the entire area."

"We don't need long," Scorpio replied, his gaze flickering over the map projected from the device Jasira handed him. "There's an old data relay station two klicks ahead. If we can access it, we can reroute the security systems long enough to disable the lockdown."

Jasira was already checking her own gear. "It's risky. The station's outdated, but it's still connected to the central grid. If we can get it online, we might be able to slip through."

"Let's do it," Scorpio said, determination in his voice. "Move fast."

They moved quickly, threading their way through the dark tunnels. The air grew thicker with each step, and the sound of distant alarms continued to echo through the shafts, reverberating in the silence between their footfalls.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached the data relay station—a small, rusted facility hidden deep within the bowels of Perol. Scorpio's eyes scanned the exterior for any signs of surveillance. Nothing. Yet he knew they weren't in the clear.

Jasira stepped forward, accessing the relay's security panel. "It's an older model," she muttered. "But it's still functional. We might be able to interface with it."

Scorpio kept his back to the shadows, scanning their surroundings as he watched Jasira work. Gregg moved closer, his hand on his weapon, his eyes darting nervously.

Suddenly, a shrill alarm blared from the data station, followed by a voice crackling through the speakers. "Unauthorized access detected. Lockdown initiated."

"Dammit," Jasira cursed under her breath. "They're already onto us. We have seconds."

Scorpio moved toward the console. "Can you override it?"

"I'm trying!" Jasira snapped, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "If we don't stop the lock from triggering, we'll be sealed in here for good!"

The seconds ticked by in agonizing silence, each one feeling like an eternity. Scorpio could feel his pulse in his throat, his entire body tense as the countdown continued on the screen.

"Ten seconds," Jasira said, her voice steady despite the rising pressure. "Come on... come on..."

The door behind them creaked as something shifted in the tunnel. Scorpio whipped around, his eyes narrowing.

"They're here," he muttered, his hand on his weapon, ready for whatever came next.

Suddenly, the lights in the room flickered, and the screen blinked.

"Access granted," Jasira said, her voice breaking through the tension. "I've overridden the lockdown. We've got a window."

"Go!" Scorpio shouted, grabbing the others by the arm. They didn't hesitate. The countdown had ended, but the real battle was only beginning.

As the door slid open, Scorpio could already hear the footsteps of the Ghost Path closing in, their soft but deadly presence permeating the tunnels. He led the charge, feeling the adrenaline surge in his veins. They were about to step into the fire.

The city of Perol was about to burn, and Scorpio was determined to be the one to set the match.