The base's core room was a tangle of wires, broken screens, and humming machinery. Zara's parents worked alongside her and Kian, repairing damaged circuits and reconnecting vital systems.
Zara's hands shook as she flipped switches, rerouted power, and inserted the energy crystal. The blue glow grew stronger, pushing back the creeping darkness.
"The tower's almost complete," her father warned. "We have minutes."
Suddenly, the floor trembled as robotic reinforcements arrived, trying to seize the core.
Kian set the EMP device for a massive blast. "Cover your ears!"
A deafening pulse erupted, disabling every robot nearby in a shower of sparks.
Zara took a deep breath. "Now or never."
She pulled the final lever, sending a shockwave through the power grid. The black tower began to collapse, its dark energy fading into nothingness.