Location: The eastern outskirts of the abandoned capital, Veronese
Time: 3 days after the destruction of Coronus
The sky was gray, as if it had forgotten how to rain, and the air was thick with dust and heavy memories. Veronese, once the center of civilization, was now a ruin, standing on the ruins of its former glory, and beneath it... the heartbeat of the Zacrota organization.
**
Franco (looking out the ship window):
"Underneath this ground... all the answers."
Rocco (placing a knife in his shoe):
"And beneath it... all the traps."
Marco (sipping cold coffee):
"And beneath it, I want to sleep. Why not attack them at night? That's a more romantic approach."
Irina:
"Because they don't sleep, Marco. No one sleeps in the heart of Zacrota."
**
Inside the ship, the map was displayed for the team. Red lines mark the old tunnels, and a green indicator pulsates in the center.
Colombo (pointing to the dot):
"Here. This room. It's called the 'Third Eye.' The nervous system that controls all the robots."
Franco:
"Can it be destroyed?"
Colombo:
"Yes... but not before you go inside."
Savio (crossing his arms):
"And that's the part I don't like."
**
An hour later - Inside the main tunnel leading to the 'Third Eye'
The tunnels were claustrophobic, dark, and cold, as if they belonged to another planet. The sounds of seeping water and clinking iron foreshadowed something to come.
Marco (whispering):
"This place is like the stomach of a monster. I expect it to digest us at any moment."
Rocco (sarcastically):
"Just tone it down... and you'll scare the monster itself."
**
Suddenly, there's a metallic clang in the walls. Everyone stops.
Daniel (grabbing his weapon):
"Get ready... the movement is coming."
A voice from the darkness (in a low, robotic voice):
"Breaching is not permitted. Purge will be carried out."
**
Out of the shadows, strange units emerge. Not ordinary robots... but hybrids, half-human, half-machine, their eyes azure like the light of death.
Franco (incredulous):
"This... this is insane."
Irina (retreating):
"They're Zacrota's failed projects. Experiments to merge human and machine minds."
Savio (raising his weapon):
"Failed or not... if they get any closer, they'll be recycled my way."
**
The battle begins in the tunnels. Gunfire, sparks, voices screaming in a language that doesn't sound like humans.
Rocco (fighting alongside Franco):
"Did I tell you I hate zombies?"
Franco (taking a headshot):
"They're not zombies. They're worse."
Marco (from behind, yelling):
"Aaaah! Someone's got me! Wait, that's not a fighter... it's a drainpipe! Sorry! Keep fighting!"
**
After a few bitter minutes, the last "hybrid" falls. Everyone breathes heavily.
Colombo (approaching a panel in the wall):
"We're here. The door is in front of us... but it's locked with a triple code from the inside."
Irina:
"Can you break it?"
Colombo:
"Of course. Just let me talk to her."
Marco (raising an eyebrow):
"Are you going to pull the door open?"
Colombo:
"For me... everything is negotiable."
**
Three minutes after hacking the system, the door slowly opens. Behind it... a circular room, filled with monitors and wires hanging from the ceiling.
In the center of the room is a huge glass tube, inside of which is a body submerged in a blue liquid.
Franco (walking slowly toward it):
"What is this?"
Columbo (checking the data):
"This is… the founder of Zacrota. He died years ago, but they kept his brain alive. He now controls everything."
Marco (laughing fearfully):
"This is worse than any science fiction movie."
Daniel (putting his hand on Franco's shoulder):
"If we destroy this… we lose the chance to learn the true secrets. But it might be the price."
**
Franco steps toward the tube. He places his hand on it. A faint voice comes from the speaker.
Voice (automated):
"Franco Batto… you were always just a pawn. Now, you're before the king."
Franco:
"Wrong. I'm the one who brought down the king."
*Looks at Columbo, nods.
Colombo (pressing the detonation button):
"Goodbye… last shadow."
**
The tube explodes in a blue flash… all the screens go dark.
Final voice:
"Zaccrota… you'll be back."
Marco (wipes ash from his jacket):
"Oh no, we started with the cryptic sayings again."
Franco (in a low voice):
"But she won't return... while we're alive."
**
The team emerges from the tunnel... and the first light of the sun pierces the Veronese sky, for the first time in twenty years.
Irina (smiling):
"Is the war over?"
Franco (looking at the horizon):
"Maybe... it's just starting."