Children of the Virus

46: Global Arena

The city lay enshrouded in a silver haze, a toxic veil illuminated by the pale moonlight that cast an eerie glow. Above, drones wavered erratically in the sky, their operations faltering as the dense vog interfered with the wireless power they desperately needed. The mechanical hum of their rotors grew fainter, turning into feeble sputters of resistance. Then, one after another, they succumbed, plummeting to the earth in a silent cascade of plastic rain.

"I think it's working!" Ren's voice echoed in Toshiro's mind, a mental transmission clear amidst the chaos.

He watched as another drone made its helpless descent, its once vigilant eyes dimming. "The minis are losing power and falling from the sky," she continued, her mental imprint tinged with triumph.

"That's what I like to hear!" Toshiro responded in kind, his thoughts reaching out to hers across the invisible air waves they shared.

In the shadow of the crumbling infrastructure, Toshiro signaled to his team, his fingers moving with silent precision. The tension in his prosthetic arm was a constant reminder of the stakes—they couldn't afford to draw attention now. A nearby cluster of robot guards patrolled in ignorance, their programmed diligence unyielding but soon to be outwitted.

"Go time," he murmured under his breath, almost inaudibly, as he mentally checked in with the B team. "How are the explosives coming along?"

A brief digital distortion flickered through his thoughts before the B team's response materialized, calm and collected, directly within his consciousness. "They're all set and in position, thirty meters away from the lake's perimeter on the opposite side of your location. We've taken cover in an abandoned office building."

"Excellent work, team!" Toshiro praised. "Stay on alert," His gaze scanned the murky horizon for signs of movement. He then turned his thoughts towards the C team, seeking their status update with a mix of anticipation and urgency. "What about C team? Are they in position?"

"C team here and ready, sir," the response was immediate, as if they had been waiting for just this moment. "We have 100 members stationed."

"Good. Everyone, wait for my signal." Toshiro's command resonated with authority but also with the underlying current of adrenaline that now pulsed through the ranks of the Rebellion. They were shadows within shadows, poised on the brink of a decisive move that could tilt the balance in their favor—or spell their doom.

Ren's gaze locked onto Toshiro's, her eyes shining in the moonlight that filtered through the vog, glowing like distant lighthouses. "Toshiro, there's no turning back once we start this," she said, her voice steady despite the swirling haze surrounding them. "You know that, right?"

Toshiro nodded, his prosthetic arm twitching with a mix of nerves and adrenaline. The cold metal felt more a part of him than ever, an extension of his resolve. "I'm ready," he affirmed.

"Good." Ren reached out, her fingers brushing against his cheek. "Stay alive. Promise me."

The request hung between them, heavy as the dense air. "I promise," Toshiro replied, the weight of his words anchoring him to the spot.

"Remember," Ren leaned in, her breath mixing with the toxic fog, "no matter what happens, I'll always be with you."

"Same here," Toshiro whispered before their lips met in a fervent kiss, sealing their pact amidst the peril.

As they parted, Ren turned on her heel and sprinted towards the lake's communication gateway, her silhouette gradually consumed by the silver mist. She clutched the case of AI snakes tightly, knowing they were about to become chaos incarnate within Zo's well-oiled machine.