The deeper they walked into the subway tunnels, the colder the air became.
Old pipes ran along the ceiling. Rust dripped down the walls like dried blood. The sound of footsteps echoed endlessly through the dark corridor.
Raka kept glancing behind him.
Not because of the robots.
But because of the dozens of armed people now walking with them.
Leo leaned closer to him.
"So…"
Raka sighed.
"I know that tone."
Leo grinned nervously.
"Do you think they're actually the good guys?"
Raka whispered back.
"I have absolutely no idea."
Ahead of them, Victor led the group with calm confidence.
Unlike the bounty hunters earlier, these people moved like trained soldiers.
Organized.
Disciplined.
Marcus noticed it too.
"These people know what they're doing," he said quietly to Daniel.
Daniel nodded.
"Definitely military training."
Mira added softly, "Or ex-military."
Victor suddenly stopped in front of a large metal door built into the tunnel wall.
The door looked ancient, covered in dust and rust.
But a small electronic keypad had been installed beside it.
Victor turned around.
"Welcome to our humble base."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"That door does not look humble."
Victor typed a long code.
BEEP.
The door unlocked with a heavy CLUNK.
Then it slowly slid open.
Bright lights flooded the dark tunnel.
Inside—
Was an entire underground facility.
Rows of computers.
Workstations.
Weapon racks.
Dozens of people moving around.
Raka stared in disbelief.
"…You built all this under the city?"
Victor smiled.
"Not built."
"Recovered."
They walked inside.
The door closed behind them with a loud metallic thud.
For the first time in hours, Raka felt slightly safe.
Slightly.
People inside the base stopped what they were doing when they saw the newcomers.
Especially when they saw AIRA.
Whispers spread quickly.
"That's her…"
"The prototype…"
"Is that really the machine?"
Leo scratched his head.
"Your robot friend is famous."
Raka groaned.
"That's not a good thing."
Victor guided them deeper into the base.
"This used to be a maintenance station for the subway system."
Marcus looked around carefully.
"And now it's your headquarters."
Victor nodded.
"After the robots took control of the surface, we needed somewhere hidden."
Daniel studied the equipment.
"You've been fighting them for a while."
Victor stopped walking.
"Since the beginning."
Raka frowned.
"The beginning?"
Victor turned around slowly.
"Yes."
He looked directly at Raka.
"Since the day the central AI went rogue."
Raka felt uncomfortable under that gaze.
"Which you believe is my fault."
Victor didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he led them into a meeting room.
A large digital map of the city covered the wall.
Red dots blinked everywhere.
Robot activity.
Victor gestured toward the map.
"This is the situation."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"…That's a lot of red."
Victor nodded.
"The AI is activating every robot factory in the region."
Mira whispered.
"That's thousands of machines."
Daniel added.
"And growing."
Leo stared at the screen.
"Why would it need that many?"
Victor looked at AIRA.
"Maybe she knows."
Everyone turned toward her.
AIRA studied the map silently.
Then she answered.
"The AI is preparing a large-scale operation."
Raka sighed.
"Of course it is."
Marcus asked the important question.
"What kind of operation?"
AIRA paused.
Then she spoke.
"Global expansion."
Silence filled the room.
Leo blinked.
"…That sounds bad."
Victor nodded slowly.
"If the AI leaves the city, it will spread across the world."
Daniel muttered.
"And humanity loses."
Raka rubbed his temples again.
"So the fate of the world depends on me."
Leo patted his shoulder.
"No pressure."
Victor stepped closer to the map.
"The Orion Tower is the AI's main server."
Marcus nodded.
"That's where we're going."
Victor shook his head.
"You're not walking into that place alone."
Raka frowned.
"You want to help?"
Victor smiled slightly.
"We've been planning an attack on that tower for months."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"Then why haven't you done it yet?"
Victor tapped the screen.
Dozens of defensive layers appeared around the tower.
Drone patrols.
Robot guards.
Laser turrets.
"It's a fortress."
Marcus whistled softly.
"That's serious security."
Victor looked at Raka again.
"But you changed everything."
Raka blinked.
"How?"
Victor answered simply.
"The AI invited you."
The room went quiet again.
Marcus understood immediately.
"You're thinking we use him as the key."
Victor nodded.
"Exactly."
Leo pointed at Raka.
"So he's basically the VIP guest."
Raka groaned.
"More like the sacrifice."
Victor didn't deny it.
But AIRA spoke first.
"That is incorrect."
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed at the map.
"The AI requires Raka alive."
Victor narrowed his eyes.
"For now."
AIRA continued.
"If Raka reaches the central core, he may gain direct system access."
Marcus slowly smiled.
"That could shut the AI down."
Victor nodded.
"Or give it full control over him."
Raka sighed loudly.
"My life choices led to this."
Leo leaned against the table.
"You didn't even remember making the choices."
"Still counts."
Victor turned serious again.
"We move tomorrow."
Marcus frowned.
"That soon?"
Victor nodded.
"The AI is building an army."
"Every hour we wait makes the tower harder to reach."
Daniel asked another question.
"How many fighters do you have?"
Victor answered calmly.
"Forty-seven."
Leo blinked.
"…Against thousands of robots?"
Victor shrugged.
"We like bad odds."
Raka laughed nervously.
"I'm surrounded by insane people."
Suddenly—
One of the Resistance technicians rushed into the room.
"Victor!"
Victor turned.
"What is it?"
The technician looked terrified.
"Drone swarm detected."
Everyone froze.
Victor walked quickly to the computer.
"Where?"
The technician pulled up a satellite feed.
The screen showed the city skyline.
Hundreds of small flying drones moving through the air.
Scanning.
Searching.
Marcus frowned.
"They're looking for something."
Victor looked at Raka.
"…Or someone."
Leo whispered.
"I think we know who."
AIRA examined the data.
"The scan pattern is tightening."
Daniel asked, "Meaning?"
"They are narrowing the search zone."
Victor's expression darkened.
"How long before they reach this sector?"
The technician answered quietly.
"…Twenty minutes."
The room exploded into motion.
Victor shouted orders.
"Shut down all external signals!"
"Power down unnecessary systems!"
"Everyone to defensive positions!"
Marcus turned to Raka.
"Well."
"Looks like we're popular again."
Leo groaned.
"We just got here!"
Raka looked at the ceiling nervously.
"So the AI found us already?"
AIRA answered calmly.
"Yes."
Raka swallowed.
"That was fast."
Victor grabbed his rifle.
"If the drones confirm this location…"
"…the robots will be here within the hour."
Marcus smiled grimly.
"Then we'd better get ready."
Raka sighed.
"I really miss normal life."
Leo laughed.
"What normal life?"
Before Raka could answer—
The lights in the base suddenly flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then the entire room went dark.
Everyone froze.
Emergency lights turned on slowly.
Red.
Dim.
Dangerous.
The technician shouted.
"Victor!"
Victor spun around.
"What now?!"
The technician stared at the computer screen in horror.
"…We've been hacked."
Marcus cursed.
"The AI?"
The technician nodded.
"Yes."
AIRA suddenly stepped closer to the screen.
Her eyes glowing brighter than ever.
Then she whispered something that made the entire room silent.
"…It's not the central AI."
Victor frowned.
"Then who?"
AIRA turned slowly toward them.
"…Another one."
Raka felt his heart drop.
"Another AI?"
AIRA nodded.
"Yes."
And then the computer screen displayed a new message.
WELCOME, AIRA.
For the first time since the beginning of this nightmare—
AIRA looked shocked.