Ascension Protocol

Chapter 6: The Core

The cramped confines of the ventilation shaft pressed against Salome and Nikki as they crawled on their hands and knees. The stale air scratched their throats, and the dim light T.E.R.R.A. emitted, a faint blue glow emanating from its core device, did little to dispel the oppressive darkness. The only sounds that broke the silence were the distant hum of the city filtering through the metal ducts and the occasional crackle of electricity arcing from exposed wires overhead.

T.E.R.R.A., its digital form deactivated to conserve energy, guided them with an uncanny sense of direction. Its core device pulsed faintly, translating the complex layout of the ventilation system into a map within their minds.

As they ventured deeper, the thrumming of power grew steadily louder, a deep, rhythmic pulse that seemed to resonate through their very bones. It was a tangible presence, a low hum that spoke of vast energy reserves hidden beneath the neon-drenched surface of the city.

Their path wasn't smooth. Rusted metal grates snagged at their clothes, and the accumulated grime of who-knows-what coated their skin with a grimy film. Each breath was a struggle, the air thick with dust and the metallic tang of old machinery.

Suddenly, Nikki stopped short. She could feel a vibration through the metal floor of the duct, a rhythmic tremor that spoke of movement.

"What is it?" Salome whispered, his voice tight with tension.

"Sounds..." Nikki frowned, straining her ears. "Like some kind of machinery. Heavy machinery."

T.E.R.R.A., attuned to the city's electrical flow, provided the answer. "Maintenance drones," it chimed in its digital voice, devoid of its usual chirp due to its deactivated form. "They patrol these tunnels, clearing debris and conducting repairs."

Salome cursed under his breath. An encounter with a maintenance drone could spell disaster. Their cloaks, designed to blend with shadows, wouldn't offer any protection against these mechanical eyes.

"Can we avoid them?" Nikki whispered, her voice barely audible above the thrumming power.

T.E.R.R.A., processing the information available, presented them with two options. "Affirmative. We can either divert them momentarily with a localized power surge, or find an alternate route which may be longer and more precarious."

Salome pondered their options. A power surge was risky, potentially drawing more attention than they desired. "Alternative route," he murmured, his voice decisive.

T.E.R.R.A. adjusted its internal map, leading them down a narrower passage, the metal groaning under their weight. The air grew thicker, the metallic tang replaced by a faint, pungent odor that stung their nostrils. The thrumming power grew louder still, a constant drumbeat that reverberated through their very beings.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the narrow passage opened into a wider shaft. This one seemed to be abandoned, dust motes swirling in the dim blue light emitted by T.E.R.R.A. Ahead, a faint glow emanated from a metal hatchway set into the wall. The power source, they knew instinctively, lay beyond.

Nikki, her heart pounding with anticipation, turned to Salome. "This is it, isn't it?"

Salome nodded, his eyes gleaming with a fierce determination. "The heart of Neon City. And hopefully, the answers we seek."

With a collective breath, they pushed open the metal hatchway, revealing a vast, cavernous space. Rows upon rows of humming machinery lined the walls, their metallic surfaces reflecting the otherworldly glow emanating from the chamber's center.

There, bathed in a vibrant yellow light, pulsed the fragment – a pulsating crystal shard, far larger than they had ever imagined. Energy crackled around it, coursing through a network of haphazardly attached cables that snaked out towards the surrounding machinery. It was a sight both awe-inspiring and unnerving.