The city's skyline was a jagged silhouette against the smog-streaked sky, neon signs flickering like distant stars. Aeris, Kael, and Vex moved like ghosts through the shadowed alleys leading to the syndicate's research lab — a monolith of steel and glass that pulsed with a cold, blue light.
The rain had stopped, but the air was electric — every heartbeat amplified in the silence.
Kael's fingers brushed the grip of his sidearm. "Security's tighter than ever. Cameras, drones, biometric locks — this place is a fortress."
Aeris's eyes gleamed with determination. "We've got the codes. We get in, grab the data, and get out. Quick and clean."
Vex crouched by the side entrance, fingers dancing over a hacking device. "Give me thirty seconds."
The door hissed open, sliding aside like a whisper.
Inside, the lab was a sterile nightmare — cold white walls illuminated by harsh LEDs, the scent of chemicals hanging thick.
Rows of servers blinked rhythmically, humming with untold secrets. Holo-screens projected streams of encrypted data, while robotic arms performed precise, eerie tasks in sealed chambers.
Suddenly, the faintest beep alerted them — an automated turret swiveling toward their position.
"Move!" Kael growled, firing a quick burst that melted the turret's targeting system.
Aeris sprinted toward the mainframe, fingers flying over the keyboard as Vex and Kael guarded the perimeter.
Data streamed faster than she could process — files detailing illegal human experiments, mind-control algorithms, and worst of all, the blueprint for NeuroNet's next evolution.
A cold chill ran down her spine. "This… this changes everything."
Just then, an alarm blared — red lights flooding the room.
"We've been detected," Vex snarled. "Backup is incoming."
Kael's voice was steel. "Get ready to fight. We're not leaving empty-handed."
Outside, the storm they'd brought with them was about to break.