Prototype Unleashed

Location: South Tavara – Helix Base, Lab 9

The lab air thickened with tension as Nora stared down Dr. Minerva Yulin. Every cell in her body warned her of the danger closing in, but her stance remained firm—unwavering, calculated.

The guards behind Minerva raised their rifles.

"I suggest you come willingly," Minerva purred, tilting her head. "I'd hate to waste such a fine specimen."

Nora's lips curled into a cold smile. "Funny. I was about to say the same."

In a blur, she moved.

Before the guards could fire, Nora twisted sideways, launching a small EMP sphere onto the lab's central console. Sparks exploded. Lights flickered. The lab dimmed into darkness—just long enough.

She sprang forward.

One guard dropped with a precise palm strike to the throat. The other managed to fire a round, grazing Nora's shoulder, but she tackled him through a lab bench, knocking him unconscious.

Minerva was gone.

Of course.

"Rachel!" Nora barked, pressing her comm. "Minerva escaped through a side hatch—track her! I'm wounded but mobile. Upload complete. I'm heading for extraction."

---

Location: Kane Tower – Command Suite

Damien watched the footage in split-screen, fury darkening his eyes.

"She's bleeding," he muttered.

Elira leaned closer. "She's still moving. We need to trust her."

"She trusted us," he growled, "and she's walking into a death trap while we're behind screens."

Trevor looked up from the console. "Victor's breached Level 3. If they rendezvous in the central shaft, they can get out through the freight tunnel."

Damien clenched his jaw. "Patch me in."

---

Location: Helix Base – Corridor Junction

Nora staggered slightly, hand clutched to her shoulder. The blood had soaked through her jacket.

A burst of static hit her earpiece—then Damien's voice cut through like steel.

"Nora. Listen to me."

She paused, chest heaving.

"I know it hurts. But you don't get to stop here. Not now. You carry too much—your past, your pain, our mission. Don't die in that hole. Not alone."

Her breath hitched. Something inside her steadied.

"Keep walking," he finished. "I'm with you."

"Copy," she whispered, blinking back a tear.

---

Location: Helix Base – Central Shaft

Victor descended fast, sidearm drawn. He met Nora at the lower junction, eyes narrowing at the sight of her injury.

"Let me see—"

"No time," she cut in. "Minerva's still here. We need to shut this place down now."

He nodded. "Charges are planted. Countdown: seven minutes."

They began the ascent.

Suddenly, the floor quaked.

From the far corridor, heavy footsteps echoed—followed by a massive humanoid figure covered in black synthetic armor. Its face, partly covered by a neural visor, looked eerily human.

"Phase-Z3 prototype," Victor said darkly. "They activated it."

The creature let out a distorted growl and charged.

Victor raised his rifle.

Nora stepped forward. "No. This one's mine."