Enzo couldn't sleep. The night was already deep, but his mind was racing with thoughts of Ayla and her group. He knew they could help his mother, but aligning with the rebellion was a risk he wasn't sure he was willing to take. The World Government had made it clear that they would not tolerate any form of rebellion, and Enzo knew that getting involved would put him and his loved ones in danger.
Despite his reservations, something inside Enzo urged him to take action. He grabbed his pack and quietly exited his room window, careful not to wake his brother Kite. As he put up his hood and proceeded with caution, he noticed the town was on high alert. A group of Elyrian guards stood at the exit gate, heavily searching everyone who passed through. Enzo tried to evade them by taking a different route, but the guards were everywhere. A wagon of smuggled goods had been shot down, and the crew was being subdued.
Enzo's curiosity was piqued – something must have happened in the inner city to warrant such a strong response. As he attempted to find a way over the wall, a roaming guard spotted him. Enzo sprinted away, his mind racing for a plan. More guards joined the chase, and Enzo knew he had to think fast. He grabbed a few trinkets from his pack and tossed them to the ground, including a homemade smoke grenade. The guards were momentarily blinded, and Enzo took advantage of the distraction to lose them.
However, his relief was short-lived. An Elyrian chopper appeared, its spotlight sweeping through the alleyways. Enzo's heart pounded in his chest as he ran and parkoured his way to Joe's Repair Shop, where he worked. He dashed inside and rushed to the workbench, grabbing tools and revealing his secret project – a homemade motor glider made from scraps he'd collected.
With trembling hands, Enzo made a few adjustments, his eyes darting toward the chopper's spotlight as it illuminated the alleyway outside. The glider wasn't quite ready, but Enzo had no choice. He had to try. With a deep breath, he prepared to launch the glider and make his escape.
Enzo knew he needed a working spark plug to get his motor glider off the ground. He snuck into Joe's garage, where he worked, hoping to find what he needed without alerting his boss. However, his plan was foiled when Joe pointed a shotgun at him, his face twisted in surprise.
"What the fuck, kid! What the hell are you doing?" Joe growled.
"Joe!" Enzo exclaimed, holding up his hands in a calming gesture. "I'm in a pickle here. I need a new spark plug. Guards are kinda all over."
Joe's expression softened slightly, but his tone remained stern. "What have you gotten yourself into, Enzo?" he scolded.
Enzo hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I don't know, Joe. But I have a feeling this is what I need to do."
Joe sighed, clearly dissatisfied with Enzo's answer. "Listen, boy, I know your talent and skills are too much for this rundown shop. I'm just asking you to be careful in whatever you're doing."
With a resigned look, Joe grabbed a box of fresh spark plugs and handed it to Enzo. "Be careful, kid."
Enzo quickly installed the spark plug and started the motor glider. The engine roared to life, producing a loud noise that alerted the roaming guards. Enzo hopped on, his heart racing with excitement.
"Well, here we go!" he exclaimed, cranking the motor glider. It burst past the ensuing guards, and Enzo felt a rush of adrenaline as he dazzled through the streets. Patrol cars screeched after him, their sirens blaring.
As he drove, Enzo spotted a pole on top of one of the houses and used a collapsed cart as a ramp to reach the roofs. His glider held up surprisingly well, but the search choppers finally caught up to him.
Enzo lined up with the roof and a pole, driving at full speed. He grabbed a hook on a rope attached to his motor glider and threw it at the pole, feeling the rope reel in as the momentum sent him flying above the wall.
Unfortunately, landing wasn't part of the plan. Enzo flew away from his bike and landed hard on soft sand, the impact sending shockwaves through his body. His glider exploded on impact, and the guards stopped their pursuit, assuming Enzo hadn't survived the crash.
As Enzo lay there, dazed and battered, he knew he had to get moving. The guards might have given up for now, but he couldn't stay hidden forever. With a groan, Enzo struggled to his feet, assessing his injuries and planning his next move. Enzo sees the sun about to rise, which mean that way is east, exactly the way he wants to go. A glance at the wall he just jump from " Well there's no going back now". Enzo knew he needs to cover ground fast as the sun is quickly rising and the dessert will begin to be unforgiving.
Meanwhile in the rebel base Dr. Timo has regained his strength and did not waste time to find General Tibor. Dr. Timo walked into the war room, where General Tibor was, the general is deeply engrossed in studying a map. The general's eyes were narrowed, his brow furrowed in concentration. "As always, a soldier who is detail-oriented," Dr. Timo said with a hint of admiration.
General Tibor looked up, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Aha! Doctor! Good to see you're back on your feet." The two had a history, having been classmates before life took them down different paths.
Dr. Timo approached the map, his eyes scanning the layout of Elyria. "So, what's the situation?" he asked,
General Tibor's expression turned off grave. He then turned on the monitors, showing data. "The election is coming up, and Etan Flask is the top candidate. If he wins, Elyria will become even more crucial for this fake world government." Dr. Timo's face fell as he processed the information. "There's something more,Tibor" he said, his voice low. "Etan is working with LUX."
The general's face twisted in disgust. "LUX? Why am I not surprised?" he said, his voice laced with anger and frustration.
Just then, Commander Rio entered the room. "Sir, we have a report of increasing Elyrian guards patrolling the nearby area. It seems they're looking for Dr. Timo." Dr. Timo took a seat, unfazed. "That's not surprising. They still need me."
General Tibor's curiosity was piqued. "Why is that?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Dr. Timo leaned forward, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "I've developed Sophie 5, the next-generation AI. But a key component is missing, and I have it with me."
The general's confusion was evident. "Why would Etan be so desperate for this AI if he already has LUX backing him up?" he asked, his brow furrowed in thought.
Dr. Timo stood up, his eyes gazing out the window as he collected his thoughts. "The AI seems simple on the surface, but configured properly, it can be used to control the world – a complete takeover."
The general's face turned red with rage, and he slammed his fist on the table. "This has to stop! To think they created a fake world government full of lies, and now this?" Dr. Timo's voice was calm and measured. "Calm down, Tibor. These are just assumptions for now."
General Tibor took a deep breath, composing himself. "You're right. Let's focus on the facts. Commander Rio, monitor the Elyrian search party, but don't engage. We need to be strategic about this."