The city of Neovault slept uneasily under a blanket of rain and neon light. Though the Nexus had been stabilized and the fragments secured, Aiden Kross and Elara Voss knew that Helix Dominion's threat was far from over.
"Elara," Aiden said, surveying the skyline from a high-rise, "the fragments are safe for now. But Helix will regroup. They'll strike when we least expect it."
She adjusted her wrist implant, pulling up data feeds from across the city. "I've traced signals from Rael and Vayne — scattered safe houses, hidden labs, and communication relays. They're planning their next move. And Thorne… he's gone off-grid."
Aiden clenched his fists. "Then we don't wait. We go on the offensive. We hunt them down before they can regroup."
Their first target was a covert Helix lab in the industrial district. The building was heavily guarded, its walls bristling with surveillance drones and automated turrets.
Elara scanned the perimeter. "We can infiltrate from the east side. Minimal exposure, but we'll have to disable the surveillance network first."
Aiden nodded. "Then let's do it."
They moved like shadows, scaling walls and slipping through alleyways. Sparks from malfunctioning streetlights lit their path. Elara hacked into the lab's security systems, creating blind spots in the cameras and redirecting the drones' patrols.
"We're in," she whispered. "Keep quiet."
Inside, the lab hummed with energy. Equipment blinked and whirred, and Helix operatives worked obliviously, monitoring fragmented Protocol data.
Aiden and Elara split, taking different routes to cover more ground. Precision and stealth were key — any mistake could alert Helix and trigger a deadly counterattack.
Elara located a terminal connected to the fragments' residual signals. "This is it. I can track Rael and Vayne's movements in real-time through these networks."
"Good," Aiden said, eliminating guards quietly as he advanced. "We'll cut their escape routes and trap them. No more running."
Suddenly, alarms blared. The lab's emergency lights flashed red. Helix had detected a breach.
"They know we're here!" Elara shouted. "We need to move — now!"
Aiden joined her, fragments secure in their containment field. Outside, Helix reinforcements flooded the streets, but Aiden and Elara were faster, more skilled, and determined.
"Time to make them regret underestimating us," Aiden muttered, firing in perfect rhythm, taking down drones and soldiers alike.
The hunt had begun. Every safe house, every hidden lab, every Helix operative became a target. And Aiden and Elara knew that only by tracking down Rael, Vayne, and Thorne could they truly end the threat of the Shadow Protocol.