The first explosion shook the basement like an earthquake.
Dust fell from the ceiling in thick gray clouds. Lights flickered violently, then stabilized into a dim red emergency glow. Somewhere above them, metal screamed as something heavy crashed through the factory roof.
They weren't wasting time.
Vanguard never did.
Mira stuffed her laptop into a worn black backpack with trembling hands, her calm expression finally cracking. "They brought heavy artillery," she said, fingers flying over a handheld device. "Thermal drones, armored squads, signal jammers. They're locking down the entire sector."
Alex listened quietly.
Not to her.
To them.
Boots.
Dozens of boots.
Disciplined. Perfect rhythm.
Unit Zero.
He remembered that sound.
Years ago, those same footsteps had followed him through a research facility in Prague. He'd escaped that night — but just barely. Unit Zero soldiers weren't normal humans. They were enhanced. Faster. Stronger. Conditioned to ignore pain.
Designed specifically for one purpose.
Him.
"How long until they reach us?" he asked.
Mira checked her scanner. "Two minutes. Maybe less."
Alex nodded once. "Then we move now."
She led him toward a narrow corridor at the back of the basement. It looked like an old maintenance tunnel, barely wide enough for two people. Wires hung from the ceiling like vines.
"You made this place?" he asked while they hurried forward.
"Not all of it," she replied. "I hack abandoned infrastructure. Power lines, old city grids. It's easier to hide where nobody cares to look."
"You've been hiding from Vanguard long?"
"Since they killed my brother."
Alex glanced at her.
She didn't look back.
"He was like you," she continued quietly. "Didn't age. He healed too fast. They took him when I was sixteen. Told us it was 'national security.' I never saw him again."
There was no anger in her voice.
Just emptiness.
Alex knew that tone.
It was the sound of grief that had fossilized.
"So you started hunting them," he said.
"No," she corrected. "I started hunting you."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You're the only one who keeps escaping," she said. "Every time Vanguard loses you, their system lights up. Alerts. Transfers. Panic. You're the glitch in their machine. I figured if anyone could expose them… it was you."
Before Alex could reply—
BOOM.
The factory floor above collapsed.
Shouts echoed down the corridor.
"They're inside!" someone yelled.
"Thermals confirm two targets below ground!"
Mira's eyes widened. "They found the tunnel already?! That's impossible!"
Alex smirked faintly. "Nothing's impossible for them."
The lights suddenly died.
Total darkness.
Then—
Red laser beams sliced through the black.
Dozens.
Scanning.
"Hurry," Alex whispered.
They ran.
The tunnel curved downward, ending at a reinforced steel door. Mira slammed her device against the lock panel. Sparks flew.
"Come on… come on…"
Footsteps grew louder behind them.
Too close.
The lock beeped green.
Door open.
They slipped through—
—and nearly walked into another nightmare.
The tunnel opened into an underground railway platform, abandoned decades ago. Rusted tracks stretched into darkness.
Except now, it wasn't empty.
Black armored soldiers stood waiting.
Eight of them.
Perfect formation.
Full tactical gear.
Visors glowing faint red.
Unit Zero.
They hadn't chased Alex.
They had predicted him.
Cut off the escape first.
Smart.
Very smart.
One soldier stepped forward. His armor was heavier, bulkier. Commander, probably.
"Subject A-01," a distorted voice echoed through his helmet. "Stand down. You will not be harmed."
Alex snorted. "You guys really need new lines."
"Resistance will result in dismemberment and containment."
"Yeah, that sounds more like you."
Mira whispered, "Alex… there's too many—"
"Stay behind me," he said softly.
The commander raised a hand.
The squad attacked instantly.
Not hesitation. Not fear.
Pure machine precision.
Two rushed from the front. Three flanked left. Three right.
Perfect trap.
Alex stepped forward.
The first soldier swung an electrified blade.
Alex ducked and punched his chest plate with full force.
CRACK.
The armor dented inward. The soldier flew back and smashed into a pillar.
Second attacker fired point-blank.
Bullets tore through Alex's stomach.
Pain flared hot.
He ignored it.
Grabbed the rifle.
Snapped it in half.
Headbutted the soldier so hard the visor shattered.
Behind him, Mira screamed, "More coming from the stairs!"
Of course there were.
Alex pulled the knife from his own shoulder — one he hadn't even noticed getting stabbed with — and threw it across the platform.
Direct hit.
Another soldier dropped.
But Unit Zero adapted fast.
A metallic clink hit the ground near his feet.
Grenade.
He grabbed Mira and jumped just as it exploded.
The blast launched them across the platform. Concrete shattered. His back slammed against a wall.
Bones cracked.
Then healed instantly.
Mira groaned but nodded. "I'm okay…"
Alex stood up slowly.
Four soldiers still active.
Plus reinforcements.
Too many to keep playing defensive.
Fine.
Then offense.
His veins began glowing brighter.
Blue light pulsed under his skin.
Faster.
Faster.
His heart thundered.
The world slowed down.
Every movement became clear.
Every breath audible.
Time didn't actually slow.
He just moved faster than it.
Alex dashed forward.
To the soldiers, he vanished.
To him, they moved like statues.
He disarmed one. Broke another's knee. Crushed a third's helmet. Slammed the commander into the ground hard enough to crack the platform tiles.
Within seconds—
Silence.
Unit Zero lay scattered like broken dolls.
Alex exhaled.
The glow faded.
That burst always drained him a little.
Not physically.
Mentally.
Like pushing his body past what nature allowed.
Mira stared at him wide-eyed. "What… was that?"
"Adrenaline," he said simply. "And experience."
Before she could ask more—
A new sound filled the tunnel.
Heavy.
Slow.
Metallic.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Alex's smile disappeared.
He knew that sound too.
Something bigger.
Something worse.
From the far end of the platform, a massive shape emerged from the darkness.
Not a soldier.
Not human.
Seven feet tall.
Thick armored exosuit.
Hydraulic limbs.
Glowing red optics.
A walking tank.
"Combat Prototype," Mira whispered. "Oh God… they actually built one…"
The machine's speaker crackled.
"Primary target confirmed. Immortal anomaly detected. Initiating termination protocol."
Alex rolled his neck.
"Well," he muttered, "that's new."
The mech's cannon began charging, humming with blue energy.
The air itself vibrated.
Mira grabbed his arm. "Alex… that thing could vaporize you!"
He looked at the cannon.
Then at the long tunnel behind it.
If that blast fired here, the whole place would collapse.
She'd die.
He wouldn't.
Same old story.
Not this time.
He stepped forward.
"You get to the tracks," he said quietly. "When I say run, don't look back."
"What about you?"
He cracked his knuckles.
"I'll keep the big toy busy."
The cannon flared brighter.
The mech locked onto his chest.
For the first time in years, Alex didn't feel like prey.
He felt like war.
"Come on then," he whispered.
And the machine fired.