The deeper they ventured into Bunker 101, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.
The walls were like silent tombstones, absorbing the whispers of time, and the faint hum of machinery was a constant reminder of the facility's long-forgotten existence.
Ada's footsteps were careful but assured, while Vega followed, her presence almost unnoticed, as if she had become one with the shadows.
The air was thick with the scent of oil and rust, mixed with something decayed, and the occasional mechanical sound echoed from the depths, as if the old systems were slowly waking up.
"The signal source is close," Ada whispered, her eyes scanning every possible path.
"Is it really down here?" Vega's voice was calm, though tinged with doubt.
She was never comfortable in confined spaces, especially underground.
Ada nodded, her fingers brushing over a control panel, the hum of electricity pulsing beneath her touch. "The system has flagged several high-risk zones," she murmured, her tone laced with a faint unease. "But no detailed information yet."
Vega was silent for a moment, then stepped up behind Ada, her presence almost tangible.
They stopped in front of a half-open iron door, faint blue light flickering through the crack. The dim light danced like a silent beckoning.
"Shall we go in?" Vega's eyes were sharp, calculating, filled with a sense of urgency.
Ada didn't respond immediately, only moved closer to the door.
She pushed it open slowly, the creak of the metal loud in the silence. The air inside was even heavier, thick with a sense of impending danger.
Beyond the door was a control room, filled with old, scattered equipment.
A massive server sat in the center, its low hum a steady rhythm, like the heartbeat of a long-dead creature.
Ada approached it, her fingers hovering over the console, the screen flickering weakly to life.
[System Booting...]
[Anomaly Detected: Source located in southern sector, updating position...]
[Parsing: Data error, unable to confirm location]
Vega's eyes fell to a pile of scattered papers near the server.
She bent down and grabbed a yellowed sheet, unfolding it quickly.
Her eyes scanned the page, her brow furrowing. "What's this?" She handed the paper to Ada.
Ada took it, frowning as she read. "It mentions... 'reboot protocol,'" she muttered. "It's tied to the facility here."
"You mean, this place never really shut down?" Vega's voice was laced with disbelief, though she was no stranger to secret military operations.
"Right," Ada confirmed. "This was once a military research base.
That protocol has been running for over a decade."
Suddenly, the system's warning tone cut through the silence.
[Non-human entity detected. Distance: 30 meters. Threat level: High.]
Ada snapped her head around, fingers instinctively gripping her blade. "Get ready," she whispered, her eyes sharp and calculating. "They're coming."
Vega responded instantly, slipping into the shadows.
Her eyes gleamed with a faint light, prepared to strike.
This time, it wasn't just the mutated creatures—they were dealing with something far more dangerous.
Ada's heart raced as she realized the true scale of the threat they were facing: a trained unit, not just mindless beasts.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway ahead.
Ada's system flashed with numbers, scanning, analyzing.
"Vega, we need to take care of them quickly."
Vega was already ready, her crossbow poised with precision. "Understood."
The figures appeared in the distance, their outlines indistinct in the shadow, their movements deliberate and controlled.
They were soldiers, but not ordinary ones.
"Ada," Vega whispered, "they're not just soldiers."
Ada's gaze hardened, her fingers tightening on her blade.
She knew this confrontation was inevitable.
The footsteps grew louder, now within meters of them.
"Fools," a voice growled from the other side, dripping with disdain.
Ada didn't respond, her focus now on the threat ahead.
Suddenly, the system flashed again, its cold voice filling the room:
[Mission update: Enemy contact. Hostile forces detected.]
Ada's eyes locked onto the approaching soldiers, her voice cold but steely, "What do you want?"
The leader of the soldiers smirked from behind his mask, his eyes full of contempt.
"We don't care about your story," he sneered. "We just need your cooperation."
Ada felt a chill crawl up her spine, sensing that something much larger than this confrontation was at play.
But she knew, whatever happened next, they had to fight.