The streets of New Eden were no place for hesitation. Alex moved through the shadows, his hood pulled low, his thoughts a storm of rage and purpose. His father's memories had been a flood—flashes of secrets hidden beyond the S-Wall, the truth of his bloodline, and the suffering imposed on humanity. But anger alone wouldn't keep him alive. He needed allies, and he needed them fast.
Twilight. The name echoed in his mind like a distant promise. His father had been one of them, part of the resistance that sought to break the Saints' hold on Earth. If Alex wanted revenge, if he wanted to free humanity, he had to find them.
The underground was alive with whispers. The imperial families controlled everything—governments, resources, even history itself. Those who knew the truth either served willingly or vanished without a trace. But there were cracks in their control, and the resistance thrived in those spaces.
His first lead had brought him to the lower sectors of New Eden, to a notorious contact known only as Elias. If anyone could get him closer to Twilight, it was him.
Alex slipped into an alleyway behind a rundown tavern, its neon sign flickering weakly in the night. The air smelled of oil and rust, a stark contrast to the pristine upper districts of the city. He rapped his knuckles against the steel door twice, paused, then knocked three more times.
Silence.
Then, a click of a latch, and the door creaked open just enough for a pair of sharp eyes to peer through.
"You're either very brave or very stupid," the voice said. "What do you want?"
Alex pulled back his hood just enough to show his face. "I'm looking for Elias."
The door shut. A pause. Then it swung open fully.
Inside, the room was dimly lit, cluttered with maps, weapons, and old data terminals. A man in his late forties sat behind a desk, his face lined with the weight of experience. His gaze bore into Alex with suspicion.
"I don't deal with strangers," Elias said flatly. "Especially not ones who look like trouble."
Alex stepped forward. "I have information. About Twilight."
Elias stilled. "That's a dangerous name to throw around."
"I don't have time for games," Alex pressed. "My father was part of them. He's dead now, but he left me something. A way to fight back."
Elias studied him, his expression unreadable. "Your father's name?"
Alex hesitated. Revealing too much could get him killed. But he also knew that trust had to start somewhere.
"Darius."
A sharp inhale. Elias rose from his seat, stepping around the desk. "Darius… I knew him."
Something in his voice shifted—grief, maybe, or understanding.
"If you're really his son, then you're in more danger than you realize."
Alex's fingers clenched at his sides. "Then help me."
Elias was quiet for a long moment. Then, finally, he nodded. "Follow me."
As Alex stepped deeper into the underground, he knew there was no turning back. The war for humanity's freedom had just begun.