Cyber Cats: Code of Survival

Chapter Four: ＴŘｕＬƳ Ｂᖇ๏ⓚ𝔢𝔫

[Scene: Cipher's Old Bedroom]

[5 days before the incident]

In a small room, scattered with wires, spare parts, and sketches, young Cipher tinkers with a tiny robot on her workbench. The dim light casts long shadows across the metallic walls, highlighting her sleek robotic tail swaying anxiously as she tries to attach the final piece. Her mechanical cat ears twitch in concentration. As she reaches for a screwdriver, her elbow knocks the robot off the table. It hits the floor with a soft clank, shattering into several pieces.

Her digital eyes well up with tears, and she sniffles, her voice trembling. "Mom... I tried so hard, but it's broken."

Her mom, standing in the doorway, approaches with a gentle smile, her own metallic hands reaching out. She places one on Cipher's shoulder. "Nothing's truly broken unless you give up on it."

She crouches down, gathering the pieces and placing them back on the table. Together, they begin reassembling the tiny robot, Cipher starts to smile as she bonds with her mother, her ears flicking as she focuses.

[Scene: Hospital Room]

The sterile glow of white LED lights fills the hospital room, bouncing off the chrome surfaces. Cipher's eyes flutter open, and her vision is greeted by a pair of concerned faces. Theo and Clara sit beside her. Cipher looks down, noticing the wires connected to her body, gently humming with the steady stream of diagnostic data.

"W-Where's Zero? What happened!? Is everyone okay?" Cipher's voice rises, her breathing quickens as panic sets in.

Theo takes her hand; he feels the coldness of Cipher's metal. "Everything's fine. Zero isn't here... But..." Theo pauses, his voice faltering. "He's attacking the surrounding Cyber Cat cities."

Cipher's eyes widen. "Then we need to stop him! We can use the hacker on him!"

Theo shakes his head. "Cipher... it's not that simple. We're not ready yet. We need more time."

A cyber cat nurse walks in, adjusting her glasses as she reviews a clipboard. "You're good to go. Just a minor encryption error—your systems should repair themselves in no time, NOW GET OU-

[Scene: The Streets]

The trio walks down the dimly lit streets, the city around them bustling with mechanical whirrs and faint buzzing from neon signs above. The skyline is filled with towering, metal buildings that have been destroyed. Theo, Cipher, and Clara Walk throughout the streets as they talk.

Cipher kicks a small rock, sending it clattering down the empty road. "I don't get it... We need to kill him soon."

Theo becomes frustrated. "We need a plan, Cipher! This isn't some stroll in the park we're up against a god-like entity!"

Clara nods, her tail flicks as she walks.

Cipher's face scrunches in defiance. "Okay, smart guy, what's your plan?"

Theo sighs, his brain racing. He pauses in thought, then turns to the others. "We need help from Joe."

[Scene: Joe's House]

Joe's home, a modest yet quaint house for someone of his age, stands on the outskirts of town. The exterior is rugged, worn down from years of disrepair. Theo approaches and knocks. After a few moments, Joe, the aged cyber cat, opens the door. His robotic ears twitch, but his face shows exhaustion.

"You three again... what do you need this time?" Joe's tone is gruff, different from his usual warmth.

They exchange glances, sensing something's off, but press forward.