Cybernetic Rebirth: Rise of the Techno-Mancer

The Erebus Corp facility loomed ahead, a towering structure of reinforced steel and black glass, nestled between two abandoned skyscrapers.

Neon-red warning signs flickered at the perimeter, marking it as a restricted zone.

Akira, Ramirez, and Kael crouched behind a pile of discarded cybernetics, scanning the building's defenses.

Drones hummed through the air, their red optics sweeping the area. Automated turrets lined the rooftop, tracking movement with eerie precision.

And beyond the front gate, Erebus enforcers stood guard, their exosuits gleaming under the dim city lights.

Ramirez sighed. "Remind me why we agreed to this?"

Kael grinned. "Because we're either insane or desperate. Maybe both."

Akira ignored them, his cybernetic interface linking to the hexagonal hacking chip Veyra had given them.

He had ninety seconds.

BZZT.

The moment Akira activated the device, the surveillance grid went dark.

The drones froze mid-air. The turret cameras blinked out. The guards' earpieces crackled with static.

"Go. Now!" Akira ordered.

They sprinted across the open lot, slipping past the disabled cameras and into the facility's loading bay.

Inside, the air was cold and sterile, the walls lined with metallic crates stamped with the Erebus logo.

Footsteps echoed nearby.

Akira gestured, and the three of them ducked behind a stack of crates just as two guards marched past.

Ramirez gripped her pistol. "We need to move."

Akira's HUD mapped out the facility. The Orion Drive was located in a high-security vault two floors down.

But they only had sixty seconds before the system rebooted.

No turning back now.

They slipped through a side corridor, avoiding patrols as Akira used his cybernetic interface to bypass locked doors.

A stairwell led them down into the research sector, where the air smelled of sterilized metal and machine oil.

Kael scanned the walls, noticing warning signs in bold red letters.

> AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.

AI CONTAINMENT ZONE – EXTREME CAUTION.

Ramirez frowned. "Containment?"

Kael muttered, "I don't like this."

Neither did Akira. Something felt off.

But they didn't have time to hesitate. The vault was just ahead.

Akira interfaced with the final security door—ten seconds left before the system rebooted.

The lock disengaged.

The vault door slid open.

Inside, a cylindrical pod sat on a pedestal, glowing with a soft blue light.

The Orion Drive.

Akira reached for it—

And then the alarms screamed to life.