Page 20

Anger surged through me, hot and electric. "Why?" I demanded. "Thousands died in Geneva. We were supposed tobe working for peace, for cooperation between humans and cyborgs!"

The saboteur, I still couldn't bring myself to think of them as Syntax-7,shook their head. "Peace? Cooperation? Such naïve concepts. What we need is control, Goernx. Absolute control. The neural integration protocols were never about harmony; they were about creating the perfect network of obedient drones."

I felt sick, my cybernetic components whirring in distress as I processed this information. "And the attacks on Nexus Prime? The attempts to derail the negotiations?"

"A necessary evil," they replied, their voice cold and clinical. "We needed to create chaos, to make both sides desperate enough to accept our solution. And it's working beautifully."

I lunged forward, my anger finally boiling over. We grappled, a deadly dance of flesh and metal. I was stronger, faster, but they had experience on their side. We crashed through old crates and rusted equipment, neither of us willing to give ground.

"You used me," I growled, pinning them against a wall. "Made me complicit in your schemes."

They laughed again, that awful, modulated sound. "Oh, Goernx. You have no idea how deep this goes. Your hands are far from clean."

Before I could demand an explanation, they activated some hidden device. A pulse of energy surged through me, overloading my cybernetic systems. I staggered back, momentarily paralyzed, as my body reset itself.

The saboteur used the opportunity to put some distance between us, moving towards a shadowy corner of the warehouse. "You want answers, Goernx? Start with this." They tossed a data crystal at my feet. "But be careful what you wish for. Some truths are better left buried."

As my systems came back online, I scooped up the crystal, my curiosity warring with caution. "What is this?"

"Insurance," they replied cryptically. "And a test. Let's see if you're really as committed to the truth as you claim to be."

I took a step forward, determined not to let them escape, but they held up a hand. "Ah, ah. I wouldn't if I were you. Not unless you want your precious Clover to meet an untimely end."

Ice flooded my veins. "What are you talking about?"

The saboteur's mask seemed to grin, the modulated voice dripping with malice. "Did you really think we'd leave such a valuable piece unprotected? Clover Belk has been under surveillance since the moment she set foot on Nexus Prime. And right now, she's walking into a trap that makes Geneva look like a minor inconvenience."

My mind raced, calculating probabilities and potential scenarios. "You're bluffing," I said, but uncertainty crept into my voice.

"Am I?" they countered. "Are you willing to take that risk? The clock's ticking, Goernx. What's it going to be – catch the big bad saboteur, or save the girl?"

I hesitated, torn between my mission and my growing feelings for Clover. The saboteur used my indecision to their advantage, melting into the shadows with practiced ease. By the time I made my choice and moved to pursue, they were long gone.

Frustration and fear warred within me as I stood alone in the empty warehouse. I clutched the data crystal in my hand, its weight seeming to grow heavier with each passing second. What secrets did it hold? And more importantly, was Clover really in danger?

I activated my internal comm system, trying to reach her. Nothing but static. My unease grew. I tried her office, herpersonal quarters, even the general diplomatic channels. All dead air.

"Damn it," I muttered, my resolve hardening. I needed answers, and I needed them fast. But first, I had to make sure Clover was safe.

As I made my way out of the warehouse, my enhanced senses picked up something I'd missed before with the faint odor of high-grade military explosives. My eyes widened as I realized the implications. This wasn't just a meeting place; it was a trap.

I broke into a run, my cybernetic legs propelling me faster than any human could move. I burst out of the warehouse just as the first explosion rocked the building, the force of the blast sending me flying. I hit the ground hard, my systems scrambling to absorb the impact.

As I pushed myself to my feet, ears ringing and visual feed glitching, I saw figures moving in the surrounding shadows. Whoever had set this up, they'd planned for every contingency. They'd wanted me here, wanted me to find the saboteur, to get that data crystal. But why?

I didn't have time to ponder the question. More explosions were going off inside the warehouse, and I could hear the wail of emergency sirens in the distance. I needed to get out of here, to find Clover before it was too late.

As I ran through the darkened streets of Nexus Prime's industrial district, my mind raced faster than my feet. Who could I trust? How deep did this conspiracy go? And what the hell was on that data crystal that was worth blowing up an entire warehouse to protect?

I ducked into an alley, catching my breath and run quick systems check. No major damage, but my energy reserves were running low. I needed to recharge soon, but that would have to wait. Clover's safety came first.

As I prepared to move out again, my internal comm crackled to life. A fragmented message came through, distorted and barely audible:

"Goernx... trap... don't trust... Geneva was just the beginning..."

The voice was Clover's, but there was something off about it. A slight delay, an unnatural cadence. My circuits ran cold as I realized what I was hearing as a synthesized message, probably constructed from recordings of Clover's voice.

Whoever was behind this, they were always one step ahead. They knew I'd try to contact Clover, knew I'd be worried about her safety. This message lured me in, to guide me right where they wanted me.