Snow fell silently over the shattered rooftops of Thalvar—a once-proud city of innovation, now reduced to husks of cold steel and shattered glass. Franko and Marco moved through the ruins under the cover of night, their breath fogging in the freezing air.
Drones buzzed overhead, their red eyes scanning the ground for movement. The closer they got to the northern hub, the more the city seemed... haunted.
Marco (whispering):
"Doesn't feel right. This place used to be full of life."
Franko:
"It's like the whole city went to sleep."
Marco:
"Or was put to sleep."
They reached an old metro station, now a tunnel of darkness and silence. Franko held out his hand, and a small drone from the Crown army floated to his palm, projecting a light-blue hologram of the facility ahead.
Franko:
"The hub is buried deep beneath the old government tower. Heavily guarded. Napol's forces set up turrets, energy gates, and sentries."
Marco (grinning):
"Perfect. I hate boring jobs."
Franko gave a small smile.
Franko:
"We go quiet, in and out. No alarms."
Marco:
"And if we can't go quiet?"
Franko:
"Then we make it loud enough to shake the stars."
They slipped through the metro, avoiding mines and motion sensors. But as they reached the edge of the facility, something unexpected awaited them—bodies. Dozens of guards, all dead, but not by gunfire. Their eyes were wide open, faces frozen in terror.
Marco (kneeling):
"What did this?"
Franko:
"Whatever it was… it wasn't human."
Suddenly, static crackled through their comms.
Lucino (voice shaky):
"Franko… we have a problem."
Franko:
"Talk to me."
Lucino:
"Savio's awake."
Franko froze.
Franko:
"And?"
Lucino:
"He's not… himself. He's speaking in Zacrota code. We think he's broadcasting—maybe even tracking you."
Marco (alarmed):
"You mean he's a beacon?"
A loud crash echoed through the tunnel. The metal around them bent unnaturally. Then a voice—cold, mechanical, and laced with static—spoke from the shadows.
Unknown Voice:
"Franko. Marco. You should not have come."
Franko's eyes widened.
Franko:
"That voice…"
From the darkness stepped a figure clad in black armor, horns etched into the mask. But it wasn't Napol.
Marco:
"Who—?"
Franko (softly):
"No… That's LUCINO."
Marco looked stunned.
Marco:
"He's with Lucino back at the base."
Franko:
"Not anymore."
Lucino's image blinked on their comm again, now distorted.
Lucino (voice trembling):
"They copied me. Someone—or something—inside the Crown systems. They cloned my voice, my memories..."
Marco:
"Zacrota tech…"
Lucino (calm now):
"No. Something older."
The doppelganger raised its arm. Energy built around it like lightning.
Fake Lucino:
"You woke the army. Now you'll meet the ghosts that died building it."
A massive energy wave erupted toward them. Franko dove, grabbing Marco as the tunnel collapsed behind them.
---
Meanwhile: Eastern Relay
Irena and Caros weren't having an easier time.
Bullets flew as they engaged robotic sentries in tight corridors. Caros ducked under a laser turret and hurled an EMP grenade, shorting out two drones.
Irena (panting):
"Remind me why we volunteered for this mission?"
Caros:
"Because we don't like dying quietly."
Irena:
"Fair."
They burst into the control room. Irena jumped over a fallen guard and slammed her fist into the panel, activating the override Lucino had given her.
Irena:
"Uploading virus now."
But the screen flickered. Then a laughing face appeared. It was Napol.
Napol (hologram):
"Cute. But predictable."
Caros (cold):
"Where are you, freak?"
Napol:
"Everywhere."
Suddenly, the control room locked down. Red lights flared, and the floor began to open.
From beneath, a monstrous machine emerged—a fusion of steel and living flesh, powered by stolen Venosian hearts.
Irena (drawing her weapon):
"Caros… I hate Mondays."
---
Back to Thalvar
Franko and Marco were pinned beneath rubble, but alive.
Marco (coughing):
"Well… that went well."
Franko:
"That wasn't Zacrota. That was... a memory turned into a monster."
Marco:
"A ghost."
Franko stood slowly. The Crown glowed faintly on his forehead.
Franko:
"If they're using our own memories against us… we're running out of time."