The portal spat them out with a snap of light and a stomach-lurching twist.
Alex stumbled forward, catching himself on a cold metal railing. He blinked, adjusting to the dim glow of what looked like a high-tech underground hub. Holographic displays shimmered along the walls, casting shifting neon patterns over steel floors. The air buzzed with the low hum of digital energy.
"Welcome to the rabbit hole," Genesis muttered, floating beside him.
Lena moved ahead without a glance back, her pace brisk. Alex followed, Genesis hovering at his side.
As they walked, Alex turned his head, eyes wide, drinking in the view.
Operatives in sleek suits moved with purpose across elevated platforms. Some sparred against holographic opponents; others tapped away at translucent pads showing citywide glitch readings. It looked like a loading screen come to life—with no pause button in sight.
"Where... are we?" Alex asked, still catching his breath.
Lena finally responded, not slowing her stride. "Welcome to the Monridge Branch of the Virtual Society."
Genesis piped in Alex's mind: "Chic décor, friendly staff, constant existential danger. Four stars."
Alex smirked despite himself. It helped. Just barely.
Monitors lining the walls flashed corrupted footage: alleyways collapsing into static, red-silhouetted figures emerging from melting cityscapes. Another feed displayed mission stats, names, and alerts labeled [GLITCH BREACH: SECTOR 5].
They passed a medic bay where a white-haired girl scolded an agent mid-stitch. Further on, a guy with mismatched goggles argued with a coffee-making drone.
Everyone here looked like they belonged.
Alex felt like the glitch in the tutorial.
They stepped into a large observation chamber where a levitating 3D map of Monridge hovered, code swirling around it like gravity. Lena stopped. So did Alex.
That's when he saw him.
A man stood at the center of the room—tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a black coat lined with synth-wire. His eyes were sharp steel. He turned, studying Alex like someone used to watching rookies get eaten alive.
"So... you're the console-bonded."
Alex blinked. "Uh, yeah. I'm Alex."
Genesis subtly shifted, angling his buttons toward the man as if sizing him up.
The man didn't offer his name right away. Just took a step forward.
"Where did you find the console?"
"It dropped out of a portal. After a Hollowborn attacked me in the alley."
The man flicked a glance at Lena, who remained silent in the corner.
"Then I assume you've figured out some of what's happening."
Alex shrugged. "Sort of. There's a simulation going haywire, Hollowborn eating faces, and you guys—cool secret agents with digital swords—blowing them up."
The man's mouth twitched into a faint smile. "So you know what the console's for."
Alex glanced at Genesis, then back.
"Yeah. It gives me powers to fight those things. Genesis says it doesn't even belong to the Virtual Society."
A beat of silence followed. Genesis floated a little closer.
"You're right," the man said. "At least... when you found it."
He stepped toward the swirling Monridge map, its blue glow painting his face.
"The console's a rare artifact. A forgotten project this organization was desperate to recover—because of its power. We tracked it to that alley and sent agents to retrieve it. But you got there first."
"Well," Alex said, folding his arms, "at least it didn't land in the wrong hands."
The man turned back, expression hardened.
"You're a liability."
Alex blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You're untrained. Unauthorized. And you barely survived your first encounter."
Genesis floated between them, unimpressed. "Wow. Great pep talk. That supposed to be motivational?"
The man ignored him. "I'm Kade. I run field operations. And I don't trust walking disasters."
Alex stiffened. "And you're the authority on that, huh?"
Kade pointed at the map. "That thing linking you to Genesis—Genesis itself—is unstable. You've bonded with tech you don't understand. We've lost agents to less."
He gestured, and a nearby screen lit up with scans of the console.
"There is a solution. Since the sync isn't complete, we extract the AI—cleanly. Transfer the console's data into a synthetic host. You get to walk away. No strings."
Alex froze. "What happens to Genesis?"
Genesis glowed faintly, a flicker of purple lighting his edges.
"You'll survive," Kade said coolly. "As for the console... it'll be repurposed. Properly controlled. No mind of its own."
Alex's expression darkened. He looked to Lena, who had started to look uneasy.
Genesis spoke, his voice low, razor-sharp. "No."
The room lights flickered, shadows rippling as energy surged.
Kade hit a button.
Ceiling panels opened—projector-like devices locked on to Alex and Genesis. Light beams lanced out, pinning them down.
[BEGINNING EXTRACTION – 0%]
They collapsed.
Alex hit the floor, convulsing. Genesis screamed in static.
[EXTRACTION – 75% COMPLETE]
Alex's cry tore through the room.
"Stop!" Lena's voice cracked. She turned to Kade, panic rising. "You're killing them!"
Kade said nothing.
Lena couldn't watch anymore. She sprinted to the machine and slammed the abort key.
Genesis flared red and phased into Alex. The room trembled.
Alex's eyes flew open—glowing red. He wasn't conscious anymore.
Genesis had taken over.
"Try that again," Genesis growled, voice mechanical and furious, "and I'll crash your entire headquarters."
The projectors exploded in a shower of sparks.
Silence.
Then Genesis and Alex separated.
[ENERGY SOURCE: CRITICAL]
[INITIATING SYSTEM RECHARGE MODE...]
Genesis blinked red, floating sheepishly. "Sorry. I meant: respectfully decline."
The console powered down.
Alex clutched Genesis, breath ragged. "You will never take—Genesis—from me."
Kade looked to Lena, who knelt to help Alex. He brushed her off, and she stepped back.
Kade sighed.
"You see how dangerous this tech is?" He turned to Alex. "Fine. You keep it. But you train—under supervision."
He looked at Lena.
"You're his handler now."
"I work alone," she said quietly.
"Not anymore. You screwed up. He's yours. He dies? That's on you."
Lena clenched her jaw, then nodded. Not for Kade—for herself.
Kade walked up to Alex.
"You understand the responsibility you're taking on? Console-bonded status isn't a game. Do you accept the risk?"
Alex took a slow breath, like standing on the edge of a cliff. "Yeah. I'm in."
Kade studied him.
"Then here's your first mission—stay in HQ. Don't step outside until you prove you're ready."
Alex's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"
Kade didn't flinch. "Or surrender the console and walk away. Your choice. Cross that line without clearance—there will be consequences."
And just like that, Kade turned and left.
Alex sat on the floor, stunned.
Later, Lena led him to the barracks. Sterile. Minimalist. A fake window displayed the Monridge skyline—code flickering through its buildings like veins of electricity.
Alex sat on the bed, elbows on knees, palms on his face.
Then came a soft hum.
[GENESIS LAUNCHER]
[SYSTEM REBOOT – BATTERY FULLY CHARGED]
Genesis floated beside him.
"I heard everything. You sure about this?"
Alex stared at the fake skyline. "No. But I don't really have a choice."
He knew he couldn't leave. Not yet. Maybe not for days. Weeks. Maybe longer.
His mom would be worried. What would happen if he just... disappeared?
The thought twisted his stomach.
Genesis hovered closer. "You don't have to do this."
Alex didn't answer. His thoughts were a storm.
Down the hallway, Lena paused outside the door, watching him for a long moment.
Then she turned and walked away, her footsteps fading into silence.
FADE TO BLACK