The underground training hall throbbed with the sounds of fists striking pads, the clash of metal sparring weapons, and the grunts of exhausted recruits. Neon lights embedded in the concrete ceiling flickered occasionally, giving the chamber a raw, electric atmosphere.
Kyra leaned lazily against a steel beam, her arms crossed, eyes flickering with amusement as she watched fresh recruits spar. Even after her shocking display in the fight club, she looked as though none of it had taken the slightest toll on her. Her twin, Kane, stood beside her, clipboard in hand, already assessing potential soldiers for ShadowNet's ranks.
Eve paced before the group, her mechanical spider limbs twitching behind her back, restless with energy.
"We don't have time to waste," she said sharply, her gaze sweeping over the recruits. "Project Oblivion's next wave will tear through this city if we don't get that EMP."
Kai stepped forward, his cybernetic implants faintly glowing as he interfaced with the holographic display that projected above the center of the room. A schematic of a massive industrial compound unfolded in the air — blue lines marking its perimeter, red markers showing heavy guard placements.
"This," Kai explained, pointing to the hologram, "is the Zenith Power Hub, one of the few places holding an EMP strong enough to shut down Oblivion's cybernetic dogs. It's locked down tighter than a vault, but it's our best shot."
The recruits shifted uneasily at the thought. The Power Hub was infamous — a government-controlled fortress where failure wasn't an option.
Lady Altacora, her cybernetic wings partially folded, leaned in with a smirk. "Getting in is one thing. Getting out alive… is another."
Kyra grinned, her wild eyes glinting. "Sounds like fun."
Kane, ever the calmer twin, tapped his clipboard. "We'll need a strike team, not the full squad. Too many people, and we'll trigger alarms before we even breach the gate."
Crow crossed his arms, his voice low and steady. "Then who do you propose we take?"
Eve's spider arms flexed, their tips glinting. "The core team. Kai, Spencer, Lady, the twins… and me. We need muscle, speed, and brains. That's our balance."
Spencer, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up. His hacker's visor glowed faintly as he stared at the hologram. "I've already been digging into Zenith's firewalls. They've got multiple AI layers guarding their systems, but…" A confident smile spread across his face. "I can crack them. I just need the right distraction."
Kai nodded, his voice firm. "Then it's settled. Tonight, we train. Tomorrow night, we move."
The room buzzed with a mixture of nerves and excitement. Kyra stretched, cracking her knuckles, already itching for another fight. Kane began running through drills with the recruits, barking commands like a seasoned officer. Spencer retreated to his workstation, screens lighting up with streams of code. Eve sharpened her spider limbs against a steel plate, sparks flying.
And Lady Altacora… simply watched, her gaze lingering on the team. Something in her eyes suggested she knew this mission would test them more than any before.
The stage was set. The EMP heist loomed.
And ShadowNet was ready to strike.