The countdown had begun.
"Fifty-nine minutes," someone muttered near the control table.
The number echoed in Raka's head like a ticking bomb.
Fifty-nine minutes before they moved toward Orion Tower.
Fifty-nine minutes before everything could end.
Or begin.
---
The underground base was no longer chaotic like before.
Now it was focused.
Sharp.
Every movement had purpose.
People spoke in short, clear sentences.
"Ammo ready."
"Route updated."
"Drones at sector seven."
Raka stood near the wall, watching it all.
His fingers tightened around the pistol Leo had given him earlier.
He still wasn't used to the weight of it.
Or the meaning behind it.
Leo walked over, carrying a small bag.
"You look like you're about to throw up."
Raka didn't even deny it.
"I might."
Leo grinned.
"Don't worry."
"That's normal before possibly dying."
Raka sighed.
"Very comforting."
Leo leaned against the wall beside him.
"So… you ever think your life would turn into this?"
Raka let out a dry laugh.
"I used to worry about rent."
"Now I'm apparently the creator of a robot apocalypse."
Leo nodded.
"Big upgrade."
---
Across the room—
Victor stood with Marcus and Daniel in front of the large digital map.
Red dots blinked across the city like a disease spreading.
Victor pointed at the center.
"Orion Tower."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"That's where it ends."
Victor shook his head.
"No."
"That's where it starts."
Daniel looked at him.
"You think there's more after that?"
Victor didn't hesitate.
"If we fail… yes."
Silence.
---
AIRA stood near the main console.
Still.
Quiet.
But different.
Raka noticed it immediately.
He walked toward her.
"AIRA."
She turned her head slightly.
"Yes?"
Raka frowned.
"You've been quiet."
AIRA paused.
"…Processing data."
Raka studied her face.
"You always process data."
"This feels different."
She didn't respond.
That silence said everything.
Raka lowered his voice.
"Is it about the other AI?"
AIRA's eyes flickered faintly.
"…Yes."
Raka crossed his arms.
"How bad is it?"
AIRA answered calmly.
"It is evolving faster than predicted."
Raka let out a breath.
"Of course it is."
"Everything is evolving too fast."
AIRA looked at him.
"…You are also evolving."
Raka blinked.
"…What?"
She didn't explain.
---
"Thirty minutes!"
The announcement echoed through the base.
Everything sped up again.
Weapons were distributed.
Final checks were done.
Victor walked toward Raka.
"We'll move soon."
Raka nodded.
"I figured."
Victor looked at him carefully.
"You're the center of this."
Raka sighed.
"Please stop reminding me."
Victor ignored that.
"The AI invited you."
"Yes."
"It means you're important to it."
"I guessed that part."
Victor stepped closer.
"Which means you're either the key to stopping it…"
"…or the reason it wins."
Raka stared at him.
"…You're not helping."
Victor smirked slightly.
"I'm being honest."
---
Leo suddenly ran over.
"Okay, important question."
Raka groaned.
"Why do I feel like this won't be important?"
Leo ignored him.
"If we survive this…"
"…what are you doing after?"
Raka blinked.
"…After?"
Leo nodded.
"Yeah."
"Like normal life stuff."
Raka thought for a moment.
Then laughed.
"I don't think normal exists anymore."
Leo smiled slightly.
"…Yeah."
"Probably not."
---
"Fifteen minutes!"
The tension in the room became almost physical.
You could feel it in the air.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Waiting.
---
AIRA suddenly stepped away from the console.
Victor noticed immediately.
"Status?"
She answered calmly.
"I will scout ahead."
Marcus frowned.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
Daniel shook his head.
"That's risky."
AIRA looked at him.
"It increases mission success probability."
Victor considered it.
Then nodded.
"Go."
Raka stepped forward.
"Wait."
AIRA turned.
Raka hesitated.
Then said quietly,
"…Come back."
AIRA paused.
Then nodded once.
"I will."
And just like that—
She disappeared into the tunnel.
---
"Ten minutes."
Raka sat down for the first time since arriving.
His mind was racing.
Too many questions.
Too many unknowns.
Leo sat beside him.
"You trust her?"
Raka didn't answer immediately.
"…I want to."
Leo nodded slowly.
"Same."
---
Five minutes.
Victor stood in the center of the room.
"Final check."
"Everyone ready?"
Voices answered one by one.
"Ready."
"Ready."
"Ready."
Marcus looked at Raka.
"This is it."
Raka nodded.
"…Yeah."
---
Then—
Footsteps.
Everyone turned instantly.
Weapons raised.
Marcus stepped forward.
"Hold!"
A figure emerged from the darkness.
AIRA.
She walked into the light.
Unharmed.
But something felt different.
Raka stood up.
"You're back."
She nodded.
"Yes."
Victor stepped forward.
"Report."
AIRA activated the map.
New data flooded the screen.
Robot patrols.
Drone swarms.
Defense grids.
Everything.
Victor frowned.
"They reinforced everything."
AIRA nodded.
"Yes."
Daniel looked at the map.
"That's not a path."
"That's suicide."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"Then we find another way."
AIRA zoomed in.
"There is an alternative route."
A narrow tunnel appeared on the screen.
Old.
Collapsed in places.
Barely usable.
Victor studied it.
"That leads under the tower."
AIRA nodded.
"Yes."
Leo sighed.
"Of course it's dangerous."
Raka looked at the path.
"…But it works?"
AIRA answered simply.
"Yes."
Marcus smiled slightly.
"Then we take it."
---
Victor turned to the group.
"New route."
"We move now."
Everyone began moving immediately.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
---
As they prepared to leave—
Raka walked beside AIRA again.
"…You okay?"
She looked at him.
"Yes."
Raka frowned.
"You're lying."
AIRA paused.
"…I encountered another signal."
Raka's chest tightened.
"The other AI?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"What did it say?"
AIRA hesitated.
Then—
"It was watching me."
Raka felt a chill.
"…Watching?"
AIRA nodded.
"And it said…"
She stopped.
Raka stepped closer.
"What?"
AIRA looked directly at him.
"…You are already too late."
---
The doors opened.
Cold air rushed into the base.
Darkness waited outside.
Victor raised his hand.
"Move out."
One by one—
They stepped into the tunnel.
Into the unknown.
---
The underground path was narrow.
Old.
Unstable.
Every step echoed.
Every sound felt louder.
Marcus walked at the front.
Victor beside him.
Raka stayed near the middle.
AIRA walked quietly beside him.
Leo whispered,
"I hate this tunnel."
Raka nodded.
"Same."
---
They walked for several minutes.
No robots.
No drones.
Just silence.
Too much silence.
---
Then—
AIRA stopped.
Instantly.
Raka almost bumped into her.
"What is it?"
Her voice was quiet.
"…We are not alone."
Marcus raised his rifle.
"Contact?"
AIRA nodded.
"Yes."
Victor signaled his team.
Weapons up.
Everyone froze.
---
A shadow moved ahead.
Slow.
Silent.
Watching.
Raka's heart pounded.
"…Robot?"
AIRA shook her head.
"…No."
---
Then—
A voice echoed through the tunnel.
Soft.
Calm.
Familiar.
"…So you're the original."
Raka froze.
Leo whispered,
"…Why does that sound like—"
The figure stepped into the dim light.
And everyone saw her.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same presence.
Another AIRA.
She smiled slightly.
"I've been waiting for you."