The Cost of Control

Location: Celine's Fortress – Biolab Sector 7, Aftermath Zone

Smoke coiled in the air. Sparks flickered from damaged systems. The Hybrid-X, now mutated, stood at the center of destruction—its frame taller, limbs sharper, veins pulsing with red and silver liquid.

Kael lay motionless beside a collapsed column, his body crushed but still breathing.

"Kael!" Damien called, voice raw as he dodged a swipe from the Hybrid's bladed arm.

Nora dragged Lucas behind cover, her hands trembling as she loaded another round. "Its vitals are shifting. The core isn't where it was anymore."

"I've had enough of this freak show," Valerie hissed through gritted teeth, adjusting her scope. "Give me a clear line—"

"No," Damien interrupted. "We take it alive."

Everyone froze.

Valerie scoffed. "Alive? That thing could level a city."

Damien's voice was firm. "It's not just a weapon. It's a vault of data—someone embedded it with secrets. We need to know who."

Lucas nodded weakly. "There's… a signature code. Buried in its neural core. Not Tavaran tech. American."

Everyone went silent.

"Then someone's playing a deeper game," Nora whispered. "They want this chaos."

The Hybrid turned sharply—its processors registering new heat signatures. It dashed toward Nora with impossible speed.

Damien flung himself in front of her, both blades raised. The impact threw them both across the corridor.

Pain bloomed across his ribs, but he stood again. Blood smeared his face, yet his eyes locked onto the creature's.

"You were built to kill," he murmured, raising his weapon. "Let me teach you purpose."

---

Location: Fortress Medical Bay – Minutes Later

Kael coughed awake on the stretcher. Nora stood beside him, visibly shaken but relieved. "Don't talk. You took the worst of it."

Kael chuckled weakly. "Still better than prison."

Damien walked in, flanked by Lucas and Valerie. "The Hybrid's down. Sedated. We got it in containment… for now."

"But not before it tore through our top security protocols," Valerie added. "It adapted in minutes. If it breaks free again…"

"It won't," Damien replied, his tone dark. "I'm sending it to an off-site lab. Somewhere only I know."

Nora stepped forward. "You think there's more out there?"

"There always is," Damien said quietly. "And whoever created this Hybrid—they've declared war."

---

Location: Unknown Surveillance Facility – Night

A man in a tailored grey suit stood before a giant screen, watching the footage from Celine's Fortress. Beside him, a woman with silver hair smirked.

"Subject Delta failed," she said.

The man didn't look away. "No. It succeeded."

"How so?"

The man turned, eyes glowing faintly. "Damien revealed his hand. Now we test his limits."