The guard led the group down a sleek, dimly lit corridor to a small door at the far end of the first floor of the tower. He pressed a button on the control panel, and with a soft mechanical chime, the door slid open, revealing a futuristic elevator. Its walls were transparent, offering a clear view of the bustling streets outside. Neon lights from the stalls and advanced technology installations painted the night in vibrant hues.
"This is impressive," Miles muttered, his eyes wide as he stepped into the elevator alongside Page and Ray.
The moment the doors sealed shut, the elevator hummed to life. Suddenly, it jolted and shot upward with breathtaking speed. The streets below blurred into streaks of light, a kaleidoscope of colors rushing past as the elevator ascended.
"Whoa!" Miles exclaimed, grabbing the railing for balance.
Page crossed her arms, unimpressed. "You'd think someone like you would be used to a bit of motion."
"Not at this speed!" Miles shot back, his voice laced with nervous energy.
With a soft chime, the elevator came to a halt. Peep.
The doors slid open, revealing another corridor that stretched ahead, flanked by polished metallic walls. The guard stepped out first, motioning for them to follow. "The boss is just up ahead," he said in a monotone voice.
Page, Miles, and Ray exchanged glances before trailing behind him. The tension was palpable, their footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway.
"Why didn't we just search the stalls for this reactor thingy?" Miles whispered to Ray as they walked. His tone was a mix of frustration and curiosity.
Ray sighed, his voice calm but firm. "Reactors aren't something you just stumble across, Miles. They're rare, especially ones of high quality. If we want the Finder to work at full potential, we need the best reactor we can get. That means going to Korrin or Alpha Dawn."
Page chimed in, her voice sharp and decisive. "Ray's right, even if I'm still mad at him. We don't have the luxury of risking it with some worn-out junk from the stalls. Once I fix the Finder, I'll make sure El doesn't get his hands on it. That bastard won't even come close."
Before Miles could respond, the guard cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Ahem. We're here."
They stopped in front of an imposing set of metallic double doors, their surface gleaming under the corridor's soft lighting. The guard turned to face them. "Wait here. I'll inform the boss that his important buyers have arrived."
With a hiss of hydraulics, the double doors slid open, revealing a glimpse of a grand chamber beyond. The guard stepped through and disappeared, leaving the trio alone in the corridor.
The doors hissed shut behind him, and a heavy silence fell over the group. Miles shifted nervously, glancing at the others. "So… what's the plan if this boss decides he's not selling?"
Page smirked, her hand drifting toward the concealed weapon at her side. "Then we'll just have to negotiate… our way."
Ray remained silent, his eyes fixed on the doors, his expression unreadable. The tension hung thick in the air as they waited, the faint hum of machinery the only sound around them.
--------
The metallic double doors hissed open, and the guard emerged with a stiff expression. "The boss wasn't expecting you," he said, his voice clipped, "but he's willing to see you. Follow me."
The trio exchanged wary glances but said nothing as they stepped into the dimly lit chamber. The doors slid shut behind them with a low hum, sealing them in.
The room was dark, the faint glow of flickering lights casting long, erratic shadows. At the far end, the silhouette of a table and chair loomed, surrounded by a cluster of armed guards. They stood like statues, their weapons gleaming in the faint light. The figure in the chair had his head bowed, shrouded in darkness, his presence radiating authority and danger.
As they approached, the flickering lights briefly illuminated the scene. The man in the chair slowly raised his head, the movement deliberate and measured. The faint glow of a cybernetic eye pierced through the shadows, its crimson hue scanning the group with a predatory intensity. His scarred, weathered face told a story of violence and survival, while blue, glowing cracks etched across his bald scalp pulsed faintly, as though raw energy coursed through his veins.
A slow, unsettling smile crept across his face, the glowing cracks on his skin accentuating the sinister expression. With a low, mechanical hum, he rose to his feet. His towering frame was a patchwork of flesh and glowing energy, the blue fissures snaking across his muscular body like veins of raw power.
The flickering lights above steadied, flooding the room with a stark, artificial glow. The full weight of his presence pressed down on the group like a physical force.
"Alpha Dawn," he said, his voice a deep, gravelly rumble that carried both amusement and menace. "If you've come here, then you already know my name." His cybernetic eye glimmered as it locked onto each of them in turn. "But here's the question I can't quite figure out…"
He leaned forward, his energy-cracked skin radiating a faint heat. "Why would anyone from Alpha Dawn—the grandest, most advanced beacon of our world—stoop to buying from me? Little old Korrin."
The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. The guards around him tensed, their hands resting on their weapons, ready for any sign of trouble.
Miles shifted uncomfortably but managed a nervous grin. "Uh… maybe we just have really good taste?"
Korrin chuckled, a low, unsettling sound that reverberated through the room. "Good taste, you say?" His cybernetic eye flared brighter. "Let's see if you've got the credits to match it."
Page stepped up to Korrin's table, her expression unwavering. "Credits? We've got plenty," she said coldly, placing her hands firmly on the edge of the table.
Korrin's cybernetic eye glimmered as he chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "One of my boys tells me you're here for a reactor, huh?" His gaze shifted to one of his guards, who nodded in confirmation. Korrin's smile widened, his teeth glinting under the fluorescent light. "Well, for people from Alpha Dawn, I figure you can afford it… if I put the price at ten million credits."
He paused, his eye narrowing as it scanned the group. Then, with a twisted grin, he pointed directly at Ray's vest. "Oh, and that nifty little toy your friend is wearing. I'll be taking that too."
"What?" Page exclaimed, her voice rising with indignation. "No way am I giving you ten million credits and my friend's invention! That's—"
"Stop." Ray interrupted, his voice calm but trembling slightly. He stepped forward, loosening the straps of his teleporter vest. "I'll give it to him."
"Ray, no!" Page protested, her voice tinged with panic.
Ray shook his head, his eyes glistening. "Listen, Page. Your mom helped me when no one else would. And since we've been together, I haven't done nearly enough to repay you. When you were creating the Finder, I didn't help the way I should have. You and your mom… you've been my family."
He hesitated, his voice cracking. "And that's why I don't want you to find your father. I'm scared… scared you'll leave me behind."
Tears streamed down Ray's face as he unfastened the vest, holding it out with trembling hands.
Page's heart twisted at his words. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Ray, you're my big brother," she said softly. "Even when I find my dad, that's never going to change."
Miles, unable to resist, snorted. "Didn't know you were such a crybaby, Ray."
Korrin slammed his palm on the table, his voice booming. "Enough of this emotional trash! I'm not here to listen to your sob stories. Payment. Vest. Now."
The guard Korrin had nodded to earlier stepped forward, carrying a reinforced box. He placed it on the table in front of Korrin before reaching out to collect the vest from Ray.
Page moved to grab the box, but Korrin slammed his hand on top of it, stopping her. His cybernetic eye glared at her. "Did you forget my ten million credits?"
Page frowned, her jaw tightening. " Just checking to see if it's the real thing first. I don't really like you?"
"Neither do I?" Korrin mocked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But you should trust little old me?"
With a sigh, Page pressed a few buttons on the device strapped to her wrist. A sharp beep-beep filled the air as Korrin glanced down at the tablet on his table. A grin spread across his scarred face as the transaction flashed in glowing text.
"I'd have taken that toy too," Korrin muttered, nodding toward the Finder hanging from Page's belt, "but I have no idea what the hell it even does."
Page narrowed her eyes, her patience wearing thin. "You got what you wanted. Now hand over the reactor so we can leave."
Before Korrin could respond, Miles nudged Ray, pointing behind Korrin. "Hey, Ray. What's that?"
"What are you talking about—" Korrin began, turning to look.
But it was too late.
A sudden thud echoed through the room, followed by the deafening roar of gunfire. A barrage of high-energy projectiles ripped through the air, tearing into Korrin and his guards with brutal precision. Blood and sparks exploded in every direction as their bodies crumpled under the relentless assault.
"Get down!" Ray shouted, activating his holographic shield. The translucent barrier flickered to life just in time, intercepting the deadly volley. Energy rippled across its surface, but cracks began forming under the relentless onslaught. Smoke hissed from the edges of the shield as Ray strained to hold it steady.
As the gunfire ceased, an oppressive silence enveloped the room. Smoke and dust swirled through the air, casting eerie shadows on the blood-slick floor. The trio, hearts pounding, turned their wide-eyed gazes toward the source of the attack.
Through the shattered remains of the tower's walls, a figure hovered ominously in the night sky. The silhouette was illuminated by the faint glow of energy thrumming around them. Behind the figure loomed two massive ships, their size cutting through the night like piercing eyes, casting an otherworldly glow over the destruction.
Horror gripped the trio as they stared, their breaths shallow and uneven. Whoever—this was, radiated a menace so profound it seemed to seep into their very bones. Fear clawed at their minds as the weight of their predicament became terrifyingly clear.