The underground facility buzzed with life. Wires dangled from steel beams, and old screens flickered as the resistance worked like ants in a storm. Franco stood at the edge of the base, watching Luca and Rocco argue over a broken surveillance drone.
Luca (frustrated):
"Rocco! That's not how you fix a thermal lens, that's how you make a toaster."
Rocco (grinning):
"Well, at least it'll warm up our victory when we destroy Zakrota!"
Franco (chuckling):
"If this team survives the mission, it'll be because Zakrota dies laughing."
From behind them, Marco clapped his hands.
Marco:
"Alright, children. Enough comedy. We've got work to do."
He walked toward a holographic map, projecting a 3D layout of a vast facility surrounded by defense drones and laser grids.
Marco (serious tone):
"This is our next target — Sector 17-B. A key data hub storing encrypted information about Zakrota's movement, base codes, and—"
Savio (interrupting):
"—and probably where they keep their secret stash of robotic shampoo."
Everyone laughed, even Franco.
Marco (smirking):
"Focus. The facility is heavily guarded, but there's a maintenance tunnel underneath. That's our way in."
Colombo, silent until now, leaned forward.
"There's a catch. I've seen Zakrota's patrol routes. They're not random — they're… predictive."
Franco:
"Like an algorithm."
Colombo nodded.
"They calculate behavior, based on patterns. Every time we act, they're one step ahead."
Lucchini:
"Then we stop acting like rebels. We start acting like ghosts."
The room fell silent. Marco looked at each of them with calm intensity.
Marco:
"We're not just fighting machines. We're fighting an empire of minds."
---
Elsewhere…
In a sleek, silent room with dark marble floors, Karos stood before a large digital table. Streams of code and images flickered across its surface — surveillance feeds, intercepted messages, facial recognition results.
Karos (to himself):
"Franco Berto. Poor, angry, broken… but not ordinary."
A pause. Then he zoomed into a file marked: "Project Echo: Generation X"
The image showed a young child — same eyes as Franco.
Karos:
"Your past was never yours. And soon, you'll remember everything..."
A mechanical voice echoed from the hallway.
Robot Guard:
"Status update, Commander Karos: Subject tracking continues. Estimated interception in five days."
Karos:
"Good. Let him feel safe. Let them believe in hope. It'll make their fall so much sweeter."
---
Back at the Base – Night
Franco sat alone on a crate, cleaning an old plasma rifle. The moonlight barely reached through the metal ceiling, casting soft shadows on his face.
Elita approached quietly.
Elita:
"You don't sleep much."
Franco (softly):
"Sleep is a luxury. Dreams are worse."
Elita:
"I had a dream. You were flying… above the city. You had wings."
Franco looked at her, surprised.
Franco:
"Wings?"
Elita (nodding):
"But they were black. And heavy. Like they weren't yours."
A long silence.
Franco (whispers):
"That… sounds about right."
---
Next Morning – Briefing Room
Marco:
"Operation Ghostlight starts tonight. We split into two teams. Luca, Rocco, Colombo — with me. Franco, you lead the second group through the sewers."
Franco (surprised):
"Me?"
Marco:
"You've got instincts. You think ahead. And besides… they trust you."
Franco hesitated… then nodded.
Franco:
"Let's steal some ghosts, then."
The group cheered lightly — but under their laughter was tension, and fear.
Because far above them…
Behind walls of silence and eyes of steel…
Karos was already watching.
And in five days…
He would strike.
---
End of Chapter 9
The shadows are no longer still.
The war beneath the metal begins.