The tunnel narrowed into a serpentine corridor, walls streaked with soot and wire clusters jutting from the ceiling like veins.
Ada moved first, rifle raised and breath held, while Vega followed a few feet behind, crossbow angled low but ready.
Their footsteps were quiet but not silent.
Debris crunched underfoot, echoing faintly through the stale air.
A red emergency light flickered overhead, sputtering like it might go out any second.
Ada stopped at a fork in the passage.
"Split or stick together?" Vega asked softly.
Ada glanced back at her. "Together. Too many unknowns."
Vega gave a single nod. "Left, then. Power grid readout said this wing might have the old control nexus."
They turned left.
After twenty meters, they found the chamber.
A wide, circular room, ceiling collapsed in one quadrant, with shattered consoles lining the perimeter.
It stank of ozone and burnt plastic.
Ada approached the nearest terminal.
Her system pinged to life, filtering corrupted code from the flickering display.
[System Integration: In Progress...]
[Recovered Data: 14%]
[Processing Log Archives... Level 3 Clearance Required. Override? Y/N]
She chose yes.
Vega moved to the center of the room, eyes scanning the upper rafters, then settled cross-legged on a half-buried crate. "So, you and this system... what's the story?"
Ada didn't answer at first.
She kept her gaze on the monitor. "Military prototype. I was part of the trial program. Only survivor from my unit."
"So it bonded to you."
"More like clung to me. Doesn't let go."
"You don't seem to hate it."
Ada finally turned toward her. "Don't have the luxury."
They sat in silence for a moment, the only sound the low whirring of the reactivated systems. Then Vega said, "I lost my sister to one of these bunkers. She volunteered for a synthetic interface trial. Went dark six years ago."
Ada studied her carefully. "You think she's in one of these cores?"
Vega shrugged. "I think the tech eats people. What's left is just... simulation."
Ada didn't argue.
She looked back at the screen.
Recovered logs scrolled slowly upward.
[REDACTED REPORT: B-101 Neural Loop Project Failure. Subject Terminated. Secondary Core Activated. Unknown anomaly registered.]
[Operator Notes: The system refuses to shut down. It's learning. Watching.]
Ada narrowed her eyes.
Her system chimed in:
[Cross-reference match: Core anomaly consistent with current AI behavior. Suspected echo of original trial data. Fragmented identity possible.]
"We're not the first ones it's tried to partner with," she muttered.
Vega rose from the crate. "Then let's not end up like the others."
A low growl echoed from down the corridor.
Ada's head snapped up.
[System Alert: Bio-signature detected. Class D Mutant. Proximity: 60m.]
They moved without a word.
Ada took point, Vega close behind.
As they neared the tunnel mouth, a dark shape moved through the smoke—twisted limbs, molten skin, eyes like dying coals.
Ada fired twice.
The first shot ricocheted.
The second took it in the leg. Vega's bolt flew clean through its eye.
The creature stumbled, fell, twitched, and died.
Ada knelt beside it.
"Burned," she murmured. "Like it crawled out of fire."
Vega knelt beside her, gaze sharp. "There's more coming. This one's a scout."
Ada's system agreed:
[Incoming hostiles: 4. ETA: 3 minutes. Recommend tactical retreat.]
They turned and ran.
Through twisted corridors, past collapsed walls, until they reached a reinforced storeroom sealed with magnetic locks.
Ada's override cleared the door just in time.
Inside: crates of old rations, backup batteries, emergency water units.
They sealed the door behind them.
Only then did they speak again.
Vega leaned against the wall, breathing hard. "We're going to need a fallback point. Someplace more defensible."
Ada nodded. "We dig in tomorrow. Start clearing out the southern wing. Maybe salvage some perimeter defenses."
Vega met her eyes. "If we live through the night."
Ada managed the ghost of a smile. "We will."
Her system beeped.
[Update: Side Objective 'Trust and Collaboration'—Progress: 27%]
Then, quietly:
[New Objective Unlocked: Locate Source of Core Anomaly]
Ada's gaze flicked to Vega.
"Whatever's down here... it started a long time ago. And it's not finished yet."
Behind the walls, something moved.