Xavier walked forwardas the doors along the perimeter slid open in sequence and guards poured in, armored from head to toe, weapons already raised and synced. Fighter bots followed, their frames built for enclosed combat, sensor clusters rotating as they locked onto Xavier's position.
None of them rushed him. They spread out, filling space and cutting angles, treating the room like a kill box they had rehearsed a hundred times.
Xavier didn't move yet. He let them finish positioning, let the machines settle into hover and ground modes, let the guards convince themselves this was finally contained.
Then the inner doors opened.
