The Zenith facility's debrief room was a pressure cooker, its holo-table casting a cold glow over Alex Mercer's tense frame. Dr. Lin's data-pad, tucked in his gear, pulsed with promise—the kill switch to stop Zenith's Control Grid, aimed at New Haven. His memories—P.A.I.R.E., Valor's orbs, Fae's fierce warning—fueled his rebellion against the mindwipe that made him AM-17. Huei sat beside him, her holo-device hidden, her sharp eyes guarding their secret. Shvery, shoulder freshly bandaged, glared across, his accusations ready to ignite. Carlton stood, his gray eyes slicing through them like steel.
"You went rogue," Carlton said, his voice a low blade. "Lin escaped, Mercer. Explain."
Alex met his gaze, masking his truth. "She was faster than we thought," he said, voice steady. "Defectors covered her—XinTech ambushed us." He couldn't reveal Lin's words—"Save them"—or the data-pad's weight. A memory flashed: New Haven's shield, his parents' pride, "You're our edge!"
Shvery leaned forward, blood seeping through his bandage. "He chased her, ignored orders. He's hiding something, Carlton."
Huei's voice was calm, deflecting. "We all got hit—bad intel, not Mercer's fault."
Carlton's scrutiny lingered. "You're on thin ice, Mercer. Shvery, you're with him next op—no solo moves. Huei, analyze the ambush data. Find Lin."
"Understood," Alex said, his mind on the data-pad. Lin's kill switch was his weapon against the Grid—New Haven's lifeline. Huei's glance signaled their pact: crack the pad, stay hidden.
In a shadowed maintenance bay, Huei met him, her device glowing. "Shvery's reporting to Carlton," she whispered, plugging in the data-pad. "He's got eyes on you."
"Let him watch," Alex said, rage simmering. Shvery was a threat, but the Grid was worse. "What's on it?"
She scrolled, code flashing. "Kill switch—software, tied to the Grid's core relay. It's in New Haven, guarded. Lin's notes mention a Zenith exec, codename 'Viper,' overseeing deployment."
A flash hit—Fae's blade, "Kid, you're in deep!"—and Alex gripped the wall. "Viper's the key," he said. "We find them, we find the core."
Huei pulled up a map—Shenzhen's undercity, a defector hub. "Lin's last signal—here. She's still close, maybe with Viper's intel."
"We go tonight," Alex said, heart racing. New Haven's fall loomed—his city, his fight. Memories surged: Maya's staff, Marcus's scar, Zenith's trap.
"Risky," Huei warned. "Carlton's watching, Shvery's sniffing."
"Then we're ghosts," he replied, Fae's note a fire in his soul: Remember who you are.
Footsteps echoed—Shvery, rifle slung, eyes sharp. "Knew I'd find you," he growled, blocking the exit. "What's that drive, Mercer?"
Huei stepped forward, voice cool. "Maintenance logs—my job. Back off."
Shvery's glare didn't waver. "Carlton'll hear about this. You're done sneaking."
Alex's fists clenched, but Huei's look stopped him. "Let him talk," she whispered as Shvery stalked off. "We've got bigger fights."
Back in his quarters, Alex stashed the data-pad, memories flooding—his parents' screams, Valor's pulse, Zenith's cold rig erasing him. The kill switch was his chance to save New Haven, to reclaim himself. Lin was out there, and Viper was the target. He'd break Zenith's grip, no matter the cost.
Morning brought Carlton's new orders, the team in the armory. "Defector hub, undercity," he said, holo-map glowing. "Lin's there—recon only. Mercer, Shvery, Huei—locate, don't engage."
Alex nodded, hiding his intent. The hub was his lead to Lin, maybe Viper. Huei's micro-comm buzzed—encrypted, her voice low: "Pad's got Viper's alias—linked to a club, Neon Veil. We check it post-recon."
Shvery's eyes bored into Alex. "No funny business, Mercer. I'm watching."
"Watch closer," Alex shot back, staff ready. Tension crackled, Carlton's silence heavy.
The transport plunged into Shenzhen's undercity, a maze of rust and flickering lights. Alex led, instincts sharp—P.A.I.R.E.'s raids, Fae's stealth. Huei scanned, Shvery trailed, his rifle a constant threat. The hub loomed—a fortified slum, defectors armed and wary.
Huei's device picked up Lin's signal—faint, inside. "She's here," she whispered, disabling a gate sensor.
They infiltrated, slipping past patrols. Voices echoed—defectors planning a strike. Alex spotted Lin, hooded, passing a chip to a figure—tall, cloaked, Viper? A flash hit—a lab, Lin's voice, "You were our hope!"—and he faltered, pain spiking.
"Move!" Shvery hissed, shoving him. The shove drew eyes—defectors shouted, weapons drawn. Chaos erupted—bolts flew, crates exploded. Alex stunned a guard, staff crackling, memories fueling him—New Haven's battles, Maya's grit. Huei hacked a drone, turning it on the enemy, while Shvery fired, blood seeping anew.
Lin and the figure bolted. "After them!" Alex yelled, sprinting. Shvery grabbed his arm. "Recon only, damn it!"
Alex broke free, chasing. The figure vanished, but Lin tripped, dropping the chip. Alex tackled her, staff raised. "Viper—who is he?"
"Zenith's shadow," she gasped. "Neon Veil—find him!" A defector's bolt hit her shoulder—she screamed, collapsing.
"Exfil!" Carlton roared through comms. Huei stunned the shooter, grabbing the chip. Shvery dragged Alex back, cursing. "You're finished, Mercer!"
They retreated, blood and smoke trailing. The transport screamed in, Lin left behind, wounded. Shvery glared, clutching his wound. "Carlton's locking you down."
Alex clutched the chip, Huei's eyes fierce. The Neon Veil was next—Viper, the Grid, his freedom. As the facility loomed, Fae's note burned in his mind. He was no pawn—he'd end this.