The van roared through New Haven's underbelly, weaving through derelict tunnels toward the vault where Zenith Corp's board lurked. Alex Mercer gripped Valor's three orbs, their faint pulse a dwindling shield against the city's crumbling grid. The board's chilling ultimatum—surrender or New Haven drowns—echoed, the cold-eyed man's face burned into his mind. His parents, Daniel and Elena, sat beside him, their guilt over Valor's origins a heavy shadow. Maya, shoulder braced, clutched her staff, while Fae, bio-tech scars glinting, sharpened her blade. Marcus drove, his scarred face set, and Jace, leg bandaged, monitored a flickering holo. Dr. Voss, bound in the back, trembled under their glares.
Marcus's voice cut through the hum. "Vault's old—pre-war, locked tight. Expect traps, heavy guards."
Alex synced the orbs, the holo pinpointing a steel fortress beneath the city's core. "Voss said one board member's there—maybe more."
Maya's eyes flicked to Voss. "He's lying, he's dead."
Fae smirked, blade gleaming. "Let him squirm—truth's close."
Laura's voice crackled via comms, strained. "Valor's at eight percent—prototype's draining it. Hit fast, or we lose the shield."
Elena's hand found Alex's, her voice soft. "You don't have to forgive us, but trust us now."
Daniel nodded, eyes fierce. "End what we started, son."
Alex's chest tightened. "I will."
The van stopped at a rusted hatch. Fae sliced it open, revealing a dark shaft. They descended, Valor's pulse guiding through damp stone. Traps sprung—darts grazed Marcus's arm, but he pushed on. The vault loomed, a massive door etched with Zenith's crest. Alex pressed an orb to the lock—circuits sparked, and it groaned open.
Inside, a cavernous chamber pulsed with tech—consoles hummed, a dark holo of New Haven's grid flickered, Zenith's prototype active. The cold-eyed man from the holo stood at the center, flanked by exosuits and drones. "Mercer," he purred, voice silk. "Welcome. I'm Elias—board's voice."
"Where's the rest?" Alex demanded, staff raised.
Elias smiled. "Elsewhere. You get me—enough."
"Shut it down," Alex said, syncing Valor. A pulse rippled, jamming drones, but Elias laughed, unfazed.
"You're late," he said, gesturing. Kael emerged from shadows, her pistol trained, the prototype's core glowing in her grip. "New Haven's ours."
The team charged. Fae's blade clashed with Kael's, sparks flying, while Maya stunned an exosuit, her pain masked by fury. Marcus fired, dropping a guard, but Elias vanished behind a console, his laughter chilling. Alex dove for the core, stunning a drone mid-flight, but Kael kicked him back, her blade grazing his chest.
"Pathetic," she hissed, firing—Fae tackled her, saving Alex, but a drone's bolt hit Fae's side. She staggered, blood seeping, yet grinned. "Keep going, kid."
Jace planted charges, his leg slowing him. "Core's wired—blow it!" he yelled, as exosuits closed in.
Alex reached the console, slamming the orbs in. Valor's signal surged, clashing with the prototype—New Haven's grid flickered, fighting back. But Elias reappeared, a sleek rifle raised. "You lose," he said, firing.
Daniel dove, taking the shot—blood bloomed across his chest. "No!" Alex screamed, lunging to him. Elena cradled Daniel, her sobs raw, as Marcus stunned Elias, forcing him back.
"Finish it!" Daniel gasped, eyes fading. "For us."
Alex's vision blurred, rage and grief colliding. He rerouted Valor's last reserves, a shockwave erupting—the prototype sparked, its grid collapsing. New Haven's shield flared, restored, but the orbs dimmed, spent.
Kael broke free, grabbing the core. "This isn't over!" she snarled, sprinting for a tunnel. Elias followed, exosuits covering their retreat. Jace's charges blew, the vault quaking—stone rained, trapping guards.
"Out!" Marcus roared, dragging Voss. Maya helped Fae, her wound grim but stable. Alex and Elena carried Daniel, his pulse weak, to the van. The bunker sealed behind, a tomb for Zenith's plans.
Back at the safehouse, Laura worked frantically, stabilizing Daniel—alive, but critical. Elena clung to him, whispering apologies. Alex stood apart, the orbs dark, their power drained. New Haven was safe, but at what cost?
Marcus gripped his shoulder. "You did it, kid. City's holding."
"Barely," Alex muttered, Voss's words haunting: The board's scattered. Elias and Kael were gone, the core with them. "They'll rebuild."
Fae, bandaged, smirked. "So will we. Got a fight left?"
Maya nodded, her sling gone, eyes fierce. "Always."
Laura's holo flickered—new chatter, encrypted, from Zenith's remnants. "They're moving—fast. Coastal signal's back."
Alex's heart sank. "Another base?"
"Or a ship," Jace said, grim. "They're running."
Elena approached, tears drying. "Your father's fighting—you have to, too."
Alex synced the orbs, a faint spark igniting. A holo flared—not Kael, but a new voice, female, commanding: "Mercer, Elias failed. I'm Seris—board's true head. Deliver Valor, or your family pays."
The feed cut. Alex's blood ran cold. Seris—above Elias, pulling strings. The board wasn't scattered—they were closing in, and Daniel's life hung in the balance.