The smoke inside Hollowgate hung thick, the air filled with the scent of gunpowder and scorched metal. Emergency lights flickered weakly against the walls, painting the corridors in a pulse of red and shadow.

Cassius moved fast, his hand steady on Dr. Farah’s arm as they cut through the narrow service tunnel. Brent followed behind, gun raised, while Sophia covered the rear. Every few seconds, the muffled sound of explosions and automatic fire rolled through the concrete.

Brent glanced back, breathing heavily. "They’ll come after us soon."

"They already are," Sophia said, her tone calm despite the tension. "We’re just buying seconds."

Cassius didn’t look back. "Seconds are all we need."

Dr. Farah stumbled, clutching her shoulder. "Where are you taking me?"

Cassius’s answer was quiet but firm. "Somewhere they can’t find you. Keep moving."

She didn’t argue. Her eyes darted around the dark tunnel, terrified but aware that her only chance was to trust him.

They turned a corner, stopping near a collapsed section where debris blocked most of the passage. Cassius crouched, examining a panel half-hidden behind a broken pipe.

Sophia raised a brow. "You really remember this layout from years ago?"

"I helped build it," Cassius replied. He pressed his hand against the panel. It clicked softly, sliding open to reveal a narrow passage that descended into the lower level.

Brent peered inside. "That looks like a death trap."

Cassius’s expression didn’t change. "That’s why they’ll never check it."

Sophia smirked faintly. "Smart."

Before they could move, the sound of boots echoed from the corridor behind them. Shouting voices followed, soldiers calling out orders.

"Move," Cassius hissed. He pushed Dr. Farah through the passage first, then gestured for Brent and Sophia to follow.

They slipped inside just as flashlights cut through the smoke from the other side. The hidden panel closed quietly behind them, muffling the noise of pursuit.

In the cramped darkness, only the faint light from Sophia’s wrist device guided them.

Brent whispered, "You think the others will make it?"

Cassius’s voice was low. "If they’re here, they’ll find us."

---

Up above, the Chief stormed through the corridor, fury radiating off him. His men were scattered, their formation broken by the explosions.

"Find them!" he shouted, kicking aside a fallen crate. "Seal every exit and sweep the lower levels!"

A lieutenant ran up, panting. "Sir, communications are still jammed. We can’t coordinate with the eastern teams."

"Then do it manually!" the Chief barked. "I want Cassius Varen alive!"

He paused, glancing toward the west wing where the walls were scorched black from the blast. Through the haze, faint movement caught his eye, two figures emerging from the smoke.

For a moment, he thought it was his men. Then the smaller figure raised a weapon, moving with sharp precision, and the Chief realized it wasn’t.

"Contact west corridor!" he yelled. "Shoot on sight!"

---

Zephany and Kendrick pressed against the wall, breathing hard. Gunfire burst ahead, bullets shredding the plaster above them.

"Two squads incoming," Kendrick said, voice steady but strained.

Zephany checked her clip. "Four mags left."

"Make them count."

They ducked into cover as the first soldiers came around the corner. Kendrick fired a controlled burst, dropping one instantly. Zephany moved opposite him, sweeping the next flank with a flash of motion.

"Right side clear," Zephany said, reloading. Then tilted her head, murmuring, "Hmm, maybe left side, I mean."

Kendrick checked the next hallway. "Cassius should be below. If we can reach the service tunnels, we can intercept him."

She nodded. "Lead the way."

They advanced carefully, stepping over the fallen soldiers. The deeper they went, the quieter it became, only the distant rattle of gunfire echoing behind them.

Then faint footsteps sounded ahead. Both froze.

Zephany crouched low, signaling silently. Kendrick shifted his stance, weapon ready.

A figure emerged from the shadow, helmet off, hands raised. "Don’t shoot!"

It was Brent.

Zephany lowered her weapon slightly. "Brent?"

Earlier, before they dove into the battlefield, she and Kendrick had both frozen in shock when The Archive sent them the list of people they needed to save.

Four names were at the top: Cassius, Brent, Sophia, and Dr. Farah.

They couldn’t believe it at first, but now, seeing Brent in front of them, the truth finally settled in. It was really Cassius’s group they were here to save.

But what about Reynold? Where was he?

Brent exhaled in relief, unaware it was Kendrick and Zephany behind the masks. "You two, thank God. Cassius is ahead, but we’re cornered. The Chief’s men are swarming the east side."

"Where’s Dr. Farah?" Kendrick asked quickly. She was the only name on that list he didn’t recognize.

"With Cassius and Sophia. He’s leading them to the sub-level exit," Brent answered immediately.

Zephany straightened. "Then we move. Take us there."

---

Down in the sub-level, Cassius led Sophia and Dr. Farah through the narrow passage. The air was colder here, the walls dripping with condensation. Pipes hissed faintly overhead, carrying steam from the facility’s old generators.

Dr. Farah stumbled again, clutching her arm. "You’re risking too much for me," she said. "They won’t stop."

Cassius’s tone stayed calm. "They won’t have to stop if we end this now."

She gave him a look of disbelief. "End it? You can’t destroy the data. Even buried, it will survive somewhere."

Sophia spoke up. "He doesn’t mean destroy. He means redirect."

Cassius gave a slight nod. "If we can access the old archives, I can reroute every trace of Helix data back into the dead network Elias created. It’ll vanish with the system."

Dr. Farah’s eyes widened. "That could work... but only from the core terminal. That’s three levels below, near the reactor." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Cassius looked at Sophia. "We’ll need time."

Sophia checked her device. "Then we’d better pray Null’s team can hold them off long enough."

---

In the upper corridor, Zephany and Kendrick fought their way toward the lower access. The battle had grown louder again, grenades detonating in quick succession, echoing through the halls.

They reached the maintenance stairs, but another squad was already there.

Kendrick motioned silently. "You take left."

Zephany nodded and instantly moved to the right side.

Kendrick’s eyes widened and then he sighed as he took the left instead.

The first soldier barely saw them before Zephany’s shot hit his shoulder. Kendrick swept in from the opposite side, disarming the next two with brutal precision. Within seconds, the hallway fell silent again.

Zephany exhaled. "Path clear."

"Move."

They descended quickly, footsteps echoing on the steel steps. At the bottom, they met Sophia waiting with her weapon raised.

She lowered it upon seeing them and took a breath of relief knowing it was the Nulls. "Took you long enough."

Kendrick smiled faintly. "You could’ve left us a sign."

Sophia’s lips curved slightly. "And ruin the fun?"

Zephany glanced past her. "Cassius?"

"Inside," Sophia said, gesturing to the heavy door at the end of the hall.

They pushed through, entering a dim chamber filled with cables and machinery. Cassius stood before a massive terminal, the green light from the screens casting sharp angles on his face.

He turned as they entered. "You made it."

Kendrick approached. "What’s the situation?"

Cassius’s expression was focused. "We’re in the core access. Once I start this, it will pull every Helix file from their network and isolate it permanently. But it will also trigger a full purge protocol. We’ll have five minutes before this whole place goes into lockdown."

Zephany frowned. "You’re planning to trap them inside."

Cassius didn’t deny it. "If we let them leave with any of the data, it starts again."

Sophia checked the timer on her device. "Then let’s make it quick."

Cassius began typing commands, his movements precise and deliberate. The monitors flickered as lines of code scrolled rapidly.

The air hummed with rising energy, the reactor below beginning to stir.

Then the alarms screamed again, harsh and metallic, echoing through every corridor.

Brent ran in from the hallway. "Chief’s men found another route. They’re coming straight here!"

Cassius didn’t stop typing. "Then hold the line."

Kendrick and Zephany exchanged a look. Without a word, they turned toward the door, weapons ready.

Footsteps thundered from beyond the hall.

Zephany crouched near the barricade, eyes sharp. "Ready?"

Kendrick took a steadying breath. "Always."

The first soldier burst through the smoke, and the firefight began again.

Bullets tore through the air, sparks flying as they hit the metal walls. Zephany moved like a ghost, every shot clean and efficient. Kendrick stayed low, covering her flank, his focus absolute.

Sophia provided overwatch from the upper platform, her rifle cracking with precision.

Amid the chaos, Cassius finished the last command. The system blared a warning.

[PURGE SEQUENCE INITIATED]

Cassius stepped back from the console, his expression unreadable. "It’s done."

"Then we need to go!" Sophia shouted.

Kendrick fired one last shot before turning. "Move!"

They began retreating toward the stairwell, gunfire still echoing behind them. The red lights now pulsed faster, signaling the imminent lockdown.

Zephany grabbed Cassius’s arm. "How long do we have?"

"Three minutes."

They ran.

The corridors shook as systems began collapsing one by one. Steel doors slammed shut behind them. Alarms blared overhead.

Smoke filled the air again, but Zephany didn’t slow down. Neither did Kendrick.

Only then did the two remember something. "Helix," they murmured at the same time, looking at each other.

Realization struck them both. The data Cassius had just purged was the same one they were supposed to retrieve from Brent—their other mission from The Archive.

A wave of disappointment washed over them. It was gone now.