The desert was colder now.
The team sat around a makeshift fire just outside a collapsed cave, their armored vehicle half-buried in sand from the earlier explosion. No one spoke for a long time.
Franco sat apart from the group, staring at the glowing embers. The image of his father's face, the words "You're the key", played on repeat in his head.
Savio (quietly, to Marco):
"He hasn't said a word in hours."
Marco (watching Franco):
"He's processing. Let him."
Rocco (shivering):
"Can we process indoors next time? My butt is frozen. And why does sand feel colder than ice?"
Lucchini (deadpan):
"It's psychological. Like your humor."
Rocco:
"Still hurts, man."
Luca stood and approached Franco, handing him a canteen.
Luca:
"You okay?"
Franco took it without looking up.
Franco (hoarse):
"No."
Luca:
"Good. That means you still feel."
There was a long pause.
Franco (softly):
"My father... he was one of you. He was fighting Zakrota too."
Marco (joining them):
"Not one of us. He was better than us. Smarter. Braver. He didn't run from the truth."
Franco (turning):
"Why didn't anyone tell me? Why didn't my mother say anything?"
Marco:
"Maybe she thought you'd be safe in the dark. But Zakrota... they don't leave anyone in the dark for long."
Suddenly, a soft beeping came from Savio's wrist device.
Savio (checking):
"Motion detected. Five kilometers east. Something's moving fast."
Lucchini:
"Could be scouts. Or worse… one of Karos's toys."
Marco (standing):
"We'll check it out. Rocco, Luca, stay and guard the base. The rest with me."
---
Five Kilometers East – Ruined Outpost
The team approached cautiously, weapons ready.
A figure staggered into view from the wreckage—covered in dust, blood on his forehead, and dragging a metal briefcase.
Savio (surprised):
"...Is that Caruso?"
The man collapsed in front of them.
Marco (kneeling):
"Caruso! What happened?!"
Caruso (gasping):
"They know... they know about Franco."
Everyone stiffened.
Franco:
"What do you mean?"
Caruso:
"Zakrota… they've marked you. You're not just a threat — you're... their target. You were born inside one of their facilities. You were never supposed to exist."
Franco (staggering back):
"What are you talking about?"
Caruso:
"I worked in their gene lab. You're a prototype, Franco. The last project your father tried to destroy before he went missing."
Franco's world tilted. The ground beneath him felt like air.
Franco:
"So I'm… not even human?"
Marco (firmly):
"You are human. You feel. You bleed. That's what matters."
Lucchini (awkwardly):
"Also, you're not trying to kill us. That helps."
Rocco (through comms):
"Guys, we've got drones circling. I count seven. Big ones."
Marco (tense):
"Let's move. Now."
---
Back at Camp – Nightfall
They barely made it back before the drones arrived. Franco helped carry Caruso inside, placing him on a makeshift medical bed.
Savio:
"I've disabled one drone. The others retreated. Testing our defenses, probably."
Marco (to Franco):
"You okay?"
Franco (quiet):
"No. But I'm here. That'll have to be enough for now."
Marco (nodding):
"It is."
Luca threw a blanket over Franco's shoulders, then sat beside him.
Luca (smirking):
"Prototype or not, you're still the same weird kid who broke my toaster trying to 'enhance' it."
Franco (cracking a small smile):
"It needed more power."
Rocco (from across the room):
"You blew up half the kitchen!"
Laughter. For the first time in days.
Lucchini (pretending to tear up):
"Look at us. Trauma bonding. So beautiful."
Marco (serious again):
"We rest tonight. Tomorrow, we move to the Black Ridge. Zakrota's labs are there. And if they made Franco… they may have made others."
Franco's eyes darkened, determination hardening his face.
Franco:
"Then we'll tear them all down."
Marco:
"Together."
The fire burned stronger that night. Not because of warmth — but because of something new.
Hope.