The Hellion black-site prison loomed ahead, a fortress of steel and concrete, buried deep within the wasteland.
No insignias. No broadcasts. A place that didn't exist on any map.
But Ryo knew exactly what was inside.
People like him.
Experiments.
And tonight, he was setting them free.
The Plan
Serra crouched over the holo-map, her cybernetic eye flickering as she studied the facility's defenses.
> "Reinforced walls. Auto-turrets on the outer perimeter. Multiple underground levels. If we go in loud, we're dead."
Vos nodded. "So, we go in quiet."
Krieg cracked his knuckles. "Quiet ain't my style."
Karin smirked. "Then stay outside and make some noise while we do the hard work."
Ryo grinned.
> "We do both."
He pointed to the security towers.
> "Vos, take position here. When we move in, disable the turrets before they rip us apart."
Then to Krieg and Karin.
> "You two? Cause chaos at the front gate. Make Hellion think we're launching a full assault."
Finally, he met Serra's gaze.
> "You and I go inside. We find the prisoners. And we bring them out."
A beat of silence.
Then Serra smiled.
> "Let's break some chains."
Infiltration Begins
The night swallowed them whole as they moved into position.
Vos climbed the rocky ridge, sniper rifle gleaming under the moonlight.
Karin and Krieg approached the main gate, planting explosives along the perimeter.
Ryo and Serra slipped through the shadows, moving toward the ventilation shaft that led underground.
Then—
Boom.
The gate exploded.
Alarms blared. Spotlights flickered to life.
Hellion soldiers rushed out, weapons drawn.
> "We got their attention!" Karin's voice crackled over comms.
> "Then keep it!" Ryo hissed back, already dropping into the vent shaft.
Inside the Monster's Belly
The black-site interior was sterile. Cold.
Rows of reinforced cells lined the walls, each one sealed shut with biometric locks.
Serra checked the terminal. "They weren't lying. These aren't just prisoners."
Ryo's stomach twisted as he scanned the files.
These were failed experiments. Rejected cyborg soldiers. Abandoned test subjects.
People who had been turned into weapons and discarded.
And one name flashed at the bottom of the list.
> [PROJECT 002: STATUS – ALIVE.]
Ryo's heart stopped.
> "002…?"
Then—the lights flickered.
And the system pinged.
> [WARNING: HIGH-THREAT ENTITY DETECTED.]
Serra cursed. "Hellion just locked down the facility."
Ryo clenched his fists.
They were trapped inside.
And something was coming for them.