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Unity's research facility looks different when you're planning to blow it up.

From our concealed position half a kilometer away, the complex rises from the wasteland like an alien structure – gleaming white walls surrounded by security barriers, surveillance drones patrolling in precise patterns overhead.

Floodlights sweep the perimeter, creating pools of harsh illumination against the pre-dawn darkness.

"Quite the fortress," Sara observes beside me, her color-shifting eyes tracking the drone movements. "Security's been heightened since your escape."

“I’ll say. Triple the standard patrol rotation," I confirm, counting the armed guards visible along the outer walls. "And those aren't regular Unity personnel. They’re modified operators."

Vex adjusts the specialized binoculars, fiery eyes narrowed in concentration. "Twelve visible, probably more inside. Early-stage modifications based on movement patterns – still adjusting to enhanced capabilities, maybe.”

Our strike team consists of eight operatives: myself, Vex, Sara, and five Haven fighters with various modifications suited for infiltration and combat. We're positioned on a ridge with excellent sightlines to the facility, making final preparations before beginning our approach.

"Infiltration point remains viable," Marcus says through our comm units from his position coordinating both missions back at Resonance. "Maintenance tunnel shows minimal sensor coverage."

I study the location he's referencing, a drainage outlet similar to the one we used to enter Eastern Arcology. This time, however, we're not trying to sneak in and out undetected. Our mission has a more explosive conclusion planned.

"Time check," Sara requests.

"0427," comes the response from Jo at Resonance. Her distinctive voice is unmistakable even through the comm static. "Extraction team reports successful infiltration at Eastern Arcology. Phase one proceeding on schedule."

The knowledge that Trent and Lily have successfully entered the arcology brings momentary relief. Then I refocus on our own mission, every bit as dangerous and just as critical.

"Approach window opens in eight minutes," Sara announces. "Final equipment check."

We verify our gear one last time, specialized infiltration suits designed to mask thermal signatures, communication devices operating on frequencies outside Unity's standard scanning range, and most importantly, the explosive charges that are this mission's primary purpose.

My pack contains six charges, each powerful enough to destroy a significant portion of the facility's central research area.

Our intelligence has identified the primary sample storage location, the heart of Unity's twisted Project Duality, containing the genetic material harvested from me during my captivity.

All of it has to burn .

"Ready?" Vex asks, his voice carrying that predatory edge it gets before combat.

"Born ready," I respond with more confidence than I feel.

Cuz, fuck, am I ever nervous.

We begin our approach as the sky shows the first hint of lightening in the east. Moving in pairs, we use the broken terrain for cover, advancing in carefully timed intervals to avoid the sweeping security scans.

My enhanced vision picks out the invisible detection grid surrounding the facility, the faint energy patterns that would be undetectable to standard human perception.

"Grid frequency identified," I murmur into my comm. "Pulsing at seven-second intervals. Moving on three...two..one..."

We slip through a gap in the detection pattern, timing our movement perfectly between sensor sweeps. The drainage tunnel appears ahead, a dark opening at the base of the facility's northwestern corner, partially concealed by accumulated debris.

Sara takes point, her slender form sliding into the tunnel with fluid grace. I follow, with Vex and the others close behind. The tunnel is narrower than I remembered, forcing us to crawl through stagnant water and whatever else Unity flushes from its pristine research facility.

"Glamorous work," I mutter as something slimy squishes beneath my palm. Ew.

"Still beats processing," Vex replies from behind me.

We reach an access grate after fifty meters of uncomfortable crawling. Beyond it lies the facility's lower maintenance level, our entry point to the main complex. Sara produces a small device that attaches to the grate's electronic lock.

"Security override initiating," she whispers. "Stand by."

The device cycles through potential access codes, working to bypass Unity's encryption without triggering alerts. After what feels like an eternity but is probably only thirty seconds, the lock disengages with a soft click.

Sara eases the grate open, scanning the corridor beyond before signaling all-clear.

We emerge into Unity's sterile white environment, the transition from filthy tunnel to immaculate hallway almost jarring.

My body tenses automatically, memories of captivity flooding back despite my best efforts to suppress them.

"You okay?" Vex asks, noting my reaction.

I nod, pushing past the momentary flashback. "Let's move."

According to our intelligence, the primary research labs are located four levels up, in the facility's secured central section.

We need to place charges at six key locations: the main sample storage, the primary data center, the backup power generators, and three structural points that will ensure complete destruction when detonated.

We split into three teams, each responsible for two targets. Vex and I take the most challenging assignment, the main sample storage where Unity keeps the genetic material harvested from Haven children. The area will have the heaviest security, requiring our combined infiltration skills to access.

"Team Two, proceeding to lower infrastructure," Sara confirms as her group separates from ours at the first junction. "Communication protocol echo in effect."

The "echo" protocol means minimal communication, check-ins only at designated points to avoid detection. From this point forward, each team operates largely independently, synchronized only by the mission timetable.

Vex and I move through maintenance passages, avoiding main corridors where security personnel would be concentrated. My memory of the facility layout proves accurate, guiding us through the labyrinthine structure toward our primary target .

At a security checkpoint, we pause, pressed against the wall as I extend my enhanced hearing to detect movement beyond. Two guards, based on the distinctive footsteps, likely modified operators based on their slightly unnatural gait patterns.

"Two hostiles," I whisper. "Modified. Standing rotation at access point."

Vex nods, already calculating. "Neutralize or bypass?"

"Neutralize," I decide. "We need their access credentials anyway."

We've prepared for this, a non-lethal but effective takedown of modified operators.

The tranquilizer compound in our specialized darts is designed to work even on enhanced metabolisms, though it won't last as long as it would on standard human physiology.

Unity may not spare lives but at least we can.

With practiced coordination, we time our approach, waiting until the guards reach the furthest point in their patrol pattern before striking. Vex moves first, a blur of controlled speed as he closes the distance. I follow a half-second later, coming from the opposite angle.

The guards register the threat just as our tranquilizer darts find their targets—neck for the first, upper arm for the second. They reach for weapons but the compound works quickly, dropping them before alarms can be triggered.

"Eighteen minutes," Vex notes, checking the timer on his wrist. "Less with their enhanced metabolism."

We work quickly, securing the unconscious operators and acquiring their access credentials.

A quick check confirms our suspicions, early-stage modifications evident in subtle physical changes.

One guard's skin shows the beginning of texture alterations, while the other's eyes have developed the faint reflective quality I recognize from Vex's predator adaptations.

"Lin's work," I say grimly. "Forced evolution without stabilization protocols. "

"Not just unstable," Vex observes, examining one guard more closely. "Degrading. The cellular structure is already breaking down at the modification sites."

Unity knows these operators are essentially walking dead men since their modifications will kill them within weeks. Yet they deployed them anyway, treating them as expendable test subjects rather than people.

As if I couldn’t hate the bastards more.

We continue upward, using maintenance shafts to avoid main corridors whenever possible. Two levels up, we encounter another security checkpoint, this one automated rather than manned. The access panel requires both biometric verification and code sequence.

"Their credentials won't work here," I note, examining the security system. "Different clearance level."

Vex produces another device from his pack similar to the one Sara used on the drainage grate but more sophisticated. "Haven tech," he explains. "Designed specifically for Unity's biometric systems."

The device attaches to the access panel, projecting what appears to be a holographic overlay. Lines of code scroll across its small display as it works to bypass the security measures.

"Why do I get the feeling you've done this before?" I ask.

A hint of that predatory smile touches his lips. "Splinter security chief. Breaking into places is practically my job description."

The device beeps softly, security panel shifting from red to green. The door slides open, revealing a laboratory antechamber beyond.

"Decontamination chamber," I recognize, memories of my captivity providing useful intelligence. "Standard protocol requires full cycle before inner door opens."