Lagos 2080

Chapter 10: The Breaking Point

Ayo's heart pounded as he crouched behind a rusted wall in the heart of the undercity. The air was thick with smoke, flashes of red and blue lighting up the darkness. The Tech-Lords were attacking, and their force was unlike anything he'd seen before.

The buzzing of Sky-Mechs filled the air. They swooped down with lasers blazing, scattering anyone who dared to stand against them. People ran in all directions, desperate to escape the chaos. Ayo's team had managed to hold their ground until now, but this was different. The Tech-Lords were sending a message: they weren't going to lose control of Lagos, no matter the cost.

Ejiro, crouched beside him, clutched her cybernetic arm, her face twisted in pain. "They're tearing us apart, Ayo. We need to retreat."

Ayo clenched his fists, staring out at the Sky-Mechs swooping down on his people. He'd promised them safety, promised that they'd stand up to the Tech-Lords together. But now, it felt like everything was slipping away.

Then, a sound crackled over his earpiece. "Ayo, we're pinned down!" It was Adisa, their hacker and one of Ayo's closest allies. "They're coming from the east, too. It's a trap!"

Ayo's stomach dropped. A trap? How could the Tech-Lords have known exactly where they'd be? Someone had tipped them off. Someone had betrayed them.

The thought hit him like a punch. He scanned the faces around him, his mind racing. Could one of his own team have sold them out? No, it wasn't possible... was it?

"Who would betray us?" Ejiro whispered, as if reading his thoughts.

"I don't know," Ayo said, his voice low. But he felt a terrible suspicion gnawing at him, a fear that one of the people he trusted had turned against them.

They fell back, retreating through the maze of alleys that twisted through the undercity. Ayo led the way, glancing over his shoulder to make sure his team was close. They ducked into a cramped, dimly lit space — one of their safehouses. It was barely more than a hidden corner in an abandoned building, but for now, it would have to do.

Ayo's team gathered around him, their faces tired and wary. Adisa, Ejiro, and the others looked at him, waiting for some kind of plan, some way out of this mess. But Ayo's mind was clouded with fear and anger.

He looked around, his gaze landing on each member of his team, searching their faces for any hint of guilt. And that's when he saw it. Adisa looked away, his hands clenched into fists, his eyes shadowed.

Ayo's heart sank. "Adisa," he said quietly, stepping closer. "Tell me the truth. Did you... did you tell them where we'd be?"

Silence filled the room. Everyone's eyes locked on Adisa, waiting for his response.

Adisa's face twisted, a mix of guilt and frustration. "Ayo... I didn't want to. They forced me. They threatened my family. They said if I didn't help them, they'd... they'd kill them."

Ayo's fists clenched, anger and betrayal boiling inside him. "So you betrayed us? You betrayed everyone here?"

Adisa's voice broke. "I had no choice, Ayo! They're too powerful. We can't win against them. Not like this."

Ejiro stepped forward, her face fierce. "You should have trusted us. We could have helped you. Instead, you put all of us in danger."

The team murmured in agreement, the disappointment and anger palpable. Adisa looked around, his shoulders slumping as he realized the weight of what he'd done. He'd broken their trust, shattered the bond they'd fought so hard to build.

But before anyone could say another word, a loud crash echoed through the building. The walls shook, and dust rained down from the ceiling. They were out of time.

"The Tech-Lords' Sky-Mechs found us," Ayo said, his voice cold. "They're coming."

Without another word, Ayo turned and ran for the back exit, leading his team through the dark corridors of the abandoned building. They could hear the hum of the Sky-Mechs closing in, the red lights flashing through the broken windows as the machines moved in for the kill.

Ejiro grabbed Ayo's arm. "We have to split up. It's the only way we'll have a chance to escape."

Ayo hesitated, glancing at Adisa. "Fine. But if you run, you'd better pray I don't find you."

Adisa's face crumpled, and he nodded, shame in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Ayo. I'll make it right. I swear."

But Ayo didn't answer. He didn't have the energy to forgive. All he could focus on was getting his team out alive.

The group split into smaller teams, each disappearing into different parts of the undercity. Ayo and Ejiro stayed together, slipping through narrow alleys and ducking under cover as the Sky-Mechs swept past. The sound of explosions and gunfire echoed in the distance, the Tech-Lords' relentless assault showing no signs of stopping.

They reached a dead-end, and Ayo pressed his back against the wall, panting. His thoughts were a storm of anger, fear, and regret. Everything they'd worked for, everything they'd fought for — it felt like it was falling apart.

Ejiro looked at him, her face pale but determined. "We can't give up, Ayo. This city needs us. We've come too far to let the Tech-Lords win."

Ayo took a deep breath, nodding. "You're right. But we need a new plan. A way to turn the tables."

As they hid in the shadows, an idea began to form in Ayo's mind. A risky, desperate plan that might just give them the edge they needed. It would mean going back into the heart of the Tech-Lords' territory, risking everything.

But Ayo had made up his mind. They had reached their breaking point — and now, it was time to strike back.