The ruins of the complex were behind them, and the group found themselves on a plateau where the remains of the old city stretched out. In the distance, they could see the outlines of tall towers, metallic drones patrolling the air, and lights that pulsed like living eyes. Kael knew they weren't alone—a local gangster syndicate controlled the planet and didn't tolerate intruders.
"This doesn't look good," Rex said, looking around. "This city is basically run by gangsters. If they find out we have the artifact... It's going to be bloody."
Zara did a forward roll and landed on a piece of rubble. "Blood, noise, and adrenaline? Sounds like a plan for the afternoon."
Lira climbed higher on the destroyed structure, scanning the area. "The drones are up and running, and the guards are moving in groups. If we want to go unnoticed, we have to find a side route."
Taro hooked up the scanner to the terminal and checked the gangs' communication frequencies. "They're not just patrolling, they've got surveillance too. If the artifact starts pulsing, they'll detect us."
Kael nodded. "Alright, we'll split up. Zara and Rex in front, Lira and I in the middle, and Taro at the back. We'll check the side streets, bypassing the main checkpoints."
Zara rolled in the air, firing into the air for cover. "Let them think we're bigger than we really are!"
Rex looked at the alleys and old buildings. "It won't be easy. This isn't an abandoned city; someone really keeps order here."
Kael was the first to move, leading the group into the narrow streets. The artifact was pulsing, casting blue reflections on the walls and leaving a light smoke in the air. Kael felt like their location was pretty obvious—someone must be watching them.
"I'm not a fan of this," Lira said. "Hey, just a heads-up, but it looks like someone's following us. I'm not sure how many there are, but I don't want to find out."
Zara did a forward roll and landed, holding the artifact high. "Let them try! The more they try, the more we'll learn."
Rex shook his head. "We can't risk open combat in this area. They'll have the numbers advantage."
Kael nodded. "That's why we need to be quick and unpredictable. The artifact gets people's attention, but we can use its energy to confuse our opponents."
The group moved quietly, staying out of sight and avoiding the security drones and guards patrolling the area. Kael saw a metallic signal in the air—someone was sending messages to the rest of the syndicate.
"We've got to jam the transmission," Kael said. "Taro, find the signal's source and shut it down."
Taro hooked his terminal up to a nearby transmitter, and the artifact in Zara's hands started pulsing more strongly, reacting to the approaching voltage.
Zara spun in the air and fired a burst into the air, creating the illusion of a larger group. "Let them think we're more powerful than we really are!"
Rex moved closer to keep an eye on the guards. Some people started to back off, while others checked for threats that weren't even there.
Kael took a look at the artifact. "Alright, Taro, go ahead and jam the signal. We'll shift the balance of power in our favor."
Taro nodded and started messing with the transmitter. "Done! Communication in this sector is down. We've got a window now."
Zara rolled over in the air and smiled widely. "When the fun finally starts, let me know!"
Kael glanced at the group. "This is just the beginning. The syndicate won't stop, and the artifact is getting a lot of attention. We need to find a place where we can assess the situation and plan our next move."
The group moved down a side street, the artifact pulsing, each step bringing them closer to their first contact with the planet's gangster structure.
Right after the signal got messed up, they ended up on a narrow side street with buildings that looked like they were from another time. Kael raised his hand, signaling them to stop.
"We can't back down," he said quietly. "The Syndicate already knows something is going on. They'll be sending out scouts."
Zara did a forward roll and landed on a piece of rubble. "Let them come. I want some noise!"
Rex threw back the cover on his shoulder and checked his weapon. "We're not ready for a mass confrontation. We have to be quick and precise."
Lira climbed onto a piece of debris, scanning the alleys. "The drones are moving in pairs, and the guards are checking every nook and cranny. If we're not careful, we'll walk into an ambush."
Taro hooked his terminal up to a power console nearby to keep an eye on the area. "I'm scanning the area, let's see who's coming. The artifact is pulsing more intensely. It reacts to people's presence."
Kael nodded. "Good. Zara, go for it. Lira and I will cover the center. Taro, you're with us. When they arrive, we'll strike together."
Before long, the alley was filled with the shapes of syndicate guards, armed with energy rifles and armor. Their red markings glowed in the light of the artifact.
"Contact!" Rex shouted, immediately opening fire. Plasma cut through the air, bouncing off the metal walls.
Zara rolled in the air and fired a burst at the approaching guards. "Let them try to catch me!"
Kael moved closer to check out the area. The artifact was pulsing more and more intensely, as if reacting to the presence of the enemies. Its light bounced off the walls and metal, blinding some of the guards.
Rex hit one of the opponents, causing an explosion of sparks. "Keep 'em moving! Don't let them organize!"
Lira jumped off the structure, disabling the traps at the side entrances. "We've got the upper hand if we use the terrain. Don't let them outnumber us!"
Taro watched the artifact and noticed changes in its energy. "The artifact... reacts to adrenaline. If we fight, it pulses stronger. It might catch their attention, but it'll also make our response stronger."
Zara rolled in the air and smiled widely. "I love toys like this!"
The guards tried to surround the group, but Kael used the terrain—metallic fragments, ruins, and narrow passages—to force them into single attacks. The artifact was pulsing, and every flash of light was causing chaos in the enemy ranks.
Rex fired a burst, hitting another guard. "If they'd just wait a few more seconds, they'd be all done!"
Zara did a forward roll in the air, avoiding the shot and hitting two opponents from the hip. "Don't think you can catch me!"
Kael nodded to Lira. "Use the artifact to confuse them. Every pulse is an opportunity to gain the upper hand!"
The artifact was pulsing in Zara's hands, and it sent out a wave of energy that momentarily knocked several guards back. Their armor creaked, and some lost their balance.
The guards started to retreat, and Kael led the group to the next side passage. "Alright, let's keep going! This isn't over yet. The syndicate won't stop, and the artifact is still getting a lot of attention."
Zara tumbled through the air, smiling like a maniac. "I'm excited to see what happens next!"
The group went towards the city center, the artifact's pulse lighting their way, and Kael knew that any moment of calm was just an illusion—the syndicate and the artifact were just beginning their games.
The group moved deeper into the city, and the ruins gave way to neighborhoods that had been partially rebuilt. There, metal and concrete buildings formed a maze of narrow streets and alleys. The artifact in Zara's hands was getting stronger and stronger, and it was reflecting blue light on the walls around it and on everyone's faces. Kael could feel the tension mounting. These weren't your typical patrols—they were heading straight for the syndicate's control center.
"Looks like we've stumbled right into the heart of the nest," Rex remarked, keeping an eye on the guards' movements on the platforms above the streets. "We don't have the numbers, and they know where we are."
Zara did a forward roll and landed on a part of the structure. "Advantage? Who needs an advantage when you've got a trinket like this?"
Lira climbed onto one of the platforms and started scanning the area. "These aren't your typical guards. They're organized, armed to the teeth, and several of them have cybernetic enhancements. This is no joke."
Taro hooked up the scanner to a terminal nearby and checked the data flow in the city's system. "They're quick to reply, and their messages are encrypted. If the artifact is pulsing so strongly, they can sense it. It's not just a physical threat, but an information threat as well."
Kael nodded. "Okay. We'll move quietly and control every move. Zara and Rex, you two can go ahead and check the passages. Lira and I will take the middle. Taro, you're taking the back. We can't provoke them until we find a safe place."
Zara rolled in the air and smiled widely. "A safe place? Ha! That's boring!"
The syndicate's first scouts started showing up in the alleys. Tall figures with red markings, rifles at the ready, drones patrolling above their heads. The artifact was pulsing more and more intensely, and Kael could feel it capturing their enemies' attention.
"Contact!" Rex shouted, breaking the silence. Plasma cut through the air, bouncing off the metal walls.
Zara rolled in the air, firing at the approaching guards. "Let them try to catch me!"
Kael moved closer to check out the area. "Don't let them gather in groups. We have to keep them separated."
Lira jumped off the platform, disabling the traps and alarms at the side entrances. "We've got the advantage when it comes to the terrain, as long as we move in a dynamic way. Don't let them predict our movements."
Taro noticed that the artifact reacted to stress and tension. "The artifact pulses more strongly when enemies are nearby. We can use that to our advantage. Each pulse can temporarily disorient our opponents."
Zara did a forward roll in the air, shooting a burst at the enemies, forcing them to retreat and scatter.
Rex took out a group of guards on the flank with some well-placed shots. "We have to move quickly before the reinforcements get here!"
Kael nodded to Lira. "Zara, Rex, keep 'em moving. We'll go through the middle and secure the side passages. Taro, keep the artifact close; its energy can help us."
The group ran through the narrow streets, the artifact pulsing and lighting the way. Kael felt that their opponents were reacting to the artifact's energy, which was echoing through the city and betraying their presence, and it was also messing with the enemy's movements.
The gangsters started to retreat, looking unsure and slowed down by the artifact's unknown energy.
Zara took a leap and landed with a confidence that belied her years. "When the real fun starts, let me know!"
Kael took a look at the artifact. "This is just the beginning. The syndicate will try to regain control. We need to find a safe place to think about our next steps."
The group kept moving deeper into the city, the artifact moving with them, and Kael knew one thing: they were now entering the heart of the syndicate's game, and every moment could decide their fate.
The group went into the middle of the syndicate's district. The streets were narrower and the buildings taller, their metal facades reflecting the light of the artifact, creating strange reflections and shadows. With Kael at the forefront, it was clear that the tension was about to escalate into a full-blown confrontation.
"This is the control center," Rex said, looking around at the platforms and watchtowers. "This is where their greatest forces are. If they spot us, there'll be no turning back."
Zara rolled in the air and landed on a piece of debris. "Retreat is overrated. I'd rather have a fight."
Lira climbed up onto one of the higher platforms to size things up. "Based on their deployment, they have at least three patrols and navigation drones in the air. We won't be able to pass unnoticed."
Taro hooked up the terminal to a nearby transmitter. "I'm messing with their communications, but only for a bit. The artifact is getting stronger and stronger. If the clash is brutal, I don't know how long it will last."
Kael nodded. "Okay. Zara and Rex are in the front, and they're the ones who throw the first enemy groups off balance. Lira and I are in the center. Taro, keep the artifact close and watch for the pulses. This is our only shot."
The first wave of guards rushed out from the side streets, their energy rifles flashing in the light of the artifact.
"Contact!" Rex shouted, opening fire. Plasma cut through the air, bouncing off the metal walls.
Zara rolled in the air and fired a burst at the approaching enemies. "Let them try to catch me!"
Kael moved closer to check out the area. The artifact was getting stronger and stronger, and its energy was causing brief disturbances in the enemies' armor, weakening their reflexes.
Rex hit one of the enemies, and his body bounced off it, colliding with the metal structure. "Keep 'em moving! Don't let them regroup!"
Lira jumped off the platform, disabling the traps in the side passages. "We've got the advantage when it comes to the terrain. Use it before reinforcements arrive!"
Taro noticed the artifact's energy level spike suddenly. "Disturbing. It seems like the artifact is reacting to an approaching threat. It might overload."
Zara did a forward roll and fired a burst at the group of guards. "Let them try to catch me! I'm not letting them!"
The guards started to back off, totally freaked out by the artifact's energy waves. Kael took the opportunity and led the group through the side streets to an abandoned hangar.
But then, a bigger, modified figure came out of the dark alleys—and it wasn't a person, it was a cybernetic-biological hybrid. Its metallic limbs were sparkling in the light of the artifact, and its red eyes followed the group's every move.
"What the...?" Kael whispered.
Zara tumbled through the air, smiling like a maniac. "Now the fun begins!"
Rex threw back his shield and fired at the figure. The plasma bounced off the armor, but didn't do much damage.
Kael nodded to Lira. "This guard is no ordinary guy. Stay close, use the artifact to confuse it."
The artifact was pulsing more and more intensely, and it sent out a wave of energy that pinned the figure to the ground for a second. But more groups of guards were on the way. Kael knew that if the artifact overloaded, the whole mission could be lost.
Zara rolled in the air and fired off another series of shots, taking out her opponents with incredible precision. "Let them try! They won't hit me!"
Kael glanced at the group. "We've got to get to the hangar. There, we can stabilize the artifact and figure out what's going on. Every second here is a risk."
The group moved on with the artifact pulsing like a heart in their hands. Kael knew one thing: the Syndicate wouldn't relent, and the real battle had just begun.