Dante Graves felt the weight of the stolen drive in his palm as he and Mira weaved through the Lower District's back alleys. They had barely escaped Dominion's ambush, and now every second counted.
Mira pulled him into a dimly lit hideout beneath an abandoned tech shop. Inside, a small group of rebels—survivors, ex-heroes, and underground operatives—looked up as they entered.
"We lost the safehouse," Mira said, tossing the drive onto the table. "But we got this."
A grizzled man, Orion, picked it up and examined it. "And Dominion knows you have it."
"They've known about us," Dante said, his voice edged with frustration. "But now we know something about them."
Orion inserted the drive into a secured terminal. Lines of classified data scrolled across the screen. Maps, schematics, test logs—evidence of Dominion's true purpose.
Mira scanned the files. "This isn't just control—it's extermination. Any enhanced individual who resists integration is marked as a liability. They're being hunted."
A tense silence filled the room. The rebels weren't just fighting oppression; they were fighting for survival.
A warning light flickered on Orion's screen. Proximity Alert.
Dante's stomach twisted. "They found us."
The walls trembled as an explosion tore through the entrance. Dominion's enforcers poured in, weapons raised.
"Scatter!" Orion shouted.
The rebels fought back, but Dominion's forces were relentless. Dante unleashed a shockwave, throwing enemies back, but the AI adapted too quickly. Mira fired, covering Orion as he secured the drive.
Dante grabbed her wrist. "We need to get to higher ground."
They sprinted up a crumbling staircase to the rooftop. The city sprawled below, neon lights reflecting off the rain-soaked streets. Hover-drones circled, scanning for them.
Mira checked her weapon. "We can't outrun them forever."
Dante's eyes burned with determination. "Then we stop running."
The battle for survival had just begun.