The sterile hum of the mainframe room was a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Walls lined with blinking servers pulsed with data — the beating heart of NeuroNet itself. Aeris crouched before the central console, fingers flying over the keyboard, decrypting firewalls one layer at a time.
Kael kept watch by the door, muscles coiled like a panther ready to pounce. Lira's comm buzzed faintly, relaying distant patrol movements.
Suddenly, a sharp beep echoed through the comm—an alert flashing red on Aeris's visor.
"Security override initiated," Vex's voice hissed, strained. "They've locked down the entire sector. Someone's inside."
A cold chill shot down Aeris's spine.
Kael's gaze snapped toward the entrance, hand tightening on his weapon.
Then, from the shadows, a figure stepped forward — cloaked, familiar.
"It seems you're not the only ones with secrets," the voice sneered. "Did you really think I'd let you walk in here unchallenged?"
Aeris's heart clenched — the shadow belonged to someone she never expected to see again.
Betrayal wasn't just in the code. It was alive.