"You can puke if you want... just don't puke on my head," Murphy joked, though his breath was still ragged. He hung upside down from the blue energy net, checking on his brother, whose face had turned a shade of green that rivaled the moss on the walls.
"Shut up..." Philip gritted his teeth, fighting back the nausea from their freefall. "Just find us a way down. The Iron Vultures aren't stupid enough to circle up there forever."
Murphy nodded, his expression turning serious. He swung his body, kicking a rusted ventilation grate on the shaft wall until it clattered down into the abyss. He then signaled for Philip to follow him inside.
Their escape route wasn't the open sky, but the dark, damp underbelly of the city—the sewers.
For two grueling hours, the brothers waded through knee-deep sludge, accompanied only by the sound of dripping water and the skittering of cat-sized rats in the darkness. The faint glow from Philip's necklace was their only guide through the subterranean maze.
"We should be close to the 'Rat's Nest' district," Murphy whispered, pushing up against a heavy iron manhole cover above his head.
Flickering neon lights spilled down, bringing with them the chaotic hum of humanity.
As they climbed up to the surface, a familiar chaotic scene greeted them... The Rat's Nest. A massive slum built upon the foundations of the old city walls. Homes made from rusted shipping containers were stacked precariously high, forming towering spires that looked ready to collapse at any moment.
The air was thick with the smell of burnt engine oil, cheap synthetic food, and unwashed bodies.
"Fresh meat! Salt-grilled rat, hot off the fire!"
"Buying scrap copper! Best prices in the sector!"
Vendors shouted over one another to attract customers. Other scavengers walked past carrying heavy sacks with weary eyes, while small children fought over scraps of food in the trash heaps.
Philip tightened his grip on his backpack, where the 'reactor core' was hidden. He pulled his hood up to obscure his face.
"Keep your head down, Murphy," Philip warned quietly. "Don't let anyone see what we've got... People die easier than ants down here."
"I know," Murphy walked closely behind his brother, his hand resting casually but firmly on the holster at his hip. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd, alert for any threat.
They might have survived the killer droids and the sky pirates... but in these slums, human greed was the deadliest predator of all.