The sky above Nova Helix was an oppressive sea of black, streaked with sharp beams of searchlights from the relentless drones pursuing them. Elior, Vera, and Dax sprinted through the labyrinthine alleys of the lower district, the air alive with the shrill hum of engines and the occasional burst of gunfire.

  “Left!” Dax shouted, his voice muffled by the chaos around them.

  Vera darted into a narrow passage, Elior close on her heels. Dax brought up the rear, his augmented legs propelling him forward in long strides. Behind them, three sleek drones zipped into the alley, their rotors slicing the air with a predatory whine.

  “We can’t outrun them forever,” Vera snapped, glancing back.

  “I’ll slow them down,” Dax said, skidding to a stop. He turned, plasma blades extending from his wrists with a sharp hiss.

  “Dax, wait—” Elior started, but it was too late.

  The drones unleashed a hail of projectiles. Dax leapt into the air, his augmented reflexes turning him into a blur. He landed on the first drone, driving a blade into its chassis. Sparks erupted as the machine faltered, crashing into the alley wall. Dax jumped clear, rolling as another drone opened fire. He launched a blade of plasma energy, severing its rotor in a burst of light.

  “Move!” he barked, turning to the last drone.

  Elior and Vera hesitated, but the urgency in his voice propelled them forward. They didn’t stop until they burst into an abandoned factory, the heavy steel doors slamming shut behind them. Outside, the sounds of combat faded into the distance.

  Inside, the air was thick with tension. Vera paced the room, her hands balled into fists, while Elior leaned against a rusted support beam, catching his breath. When Dax finally entered, his armor singed and his plasma blades dim, Vera rounded on him.

  “What the hell were you thinking?” she demanded. “You almost got us killed back there!”

  “You would have been dead if I hadn’t stayed to fight,” Dax shot back, his voice cold.

  “We’re supposed to be a team,” Vera snarled. “But you—”

  “Enough!” Elior’s voice cut through the argument. He stepped between them, his emerald eyes burning with intensity. “We don’t have time for this. The Overlords are the enemy, not each other.”

  Vera glared at Dax but relented, crossing her arms. “Fine. But we need to talk about your past,” she said, her voice tight with suspicion.

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  Dax stiffened, his gaze hardening. “What about it?”

  The silence was heavy as Vera pressed on. “You’ve spent years enforcing the System’s will. Suppressing dissent, hunting people like us. How can we trust you now?”

  Dax’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t know what they were doing. I thought I was maintaining order, protecting the city.”

  “And how many lives did you destroy in the process?” Vera demanded.

  Elior placed a calming hand on Vera’s shoulder, then turned to Dax. “She’s right to ask. If we’re going to move forward, we need honesty.”

  Dax exhaled sharply, his shoulders sagging. “I was one of their best,” he admitted. “I’ve led raids, crushed uprisings, eliminated targets without question. And now I know… many of those people were taken. Their minds stripped and digitized to fuel the System.”

  The weight of his words hung in the air. For a moment, even Vera seemed at a loss for words. Dax’s hands trembled, and he clenched them into fists to steady himself.

  “I didn’t know,” he said again, his voice breaking. “But that doesn’t excuse it.”

  Elior stepped forward, his voice gentle. “Then let’s start making it right.”

  Elior extended his hands, summoning the Echoes. The air grew cold, and the room darkened as spectral forms materialized. They were clearer than ever, their faces etched with pain and anger. They surrounded Dax, their fragmented voices rising in accusation.

  “You took our lives,” one said, her translucent form flickering with sorrow.

  “You served the Overlords,” another hissed, his eyes burning with fury.

  Dax fell to his knees, unable to meet their gaze. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t know. I didn’t…”

  Elior knelt beside him, his voice steady. “Speak to them. They deserve to hear it from you.”

  Tears streaked Dax’s face as he looked up at the Echoes. “I failed you,” he said, his voice trembling. “I was blind, a tool for their corruption. But I swear, I will fight to end this. For you. For everyone they’ve hurt.”

  The Echoes’ cries softened, their forms flickering as if unsure whether to vanish or linger. One stepped forward, her expression a mix of sadness and resolve.

  “Do better,” she said simply. Then, one by one, they faded, their presence leaving an eerie stillness.

  Vera watched from the corner of the room, her hardened expression beginning to crack. When the last Echo disappeared, she stepped forward, her voice hesitant.

  “That was… something,” she said, struggling to find the words. “I still don’t trust you completely, but… maybe you’re not a lost cause.”

  Dax looked up at her, his face etched with guilt. “I’ll earn it,” he said quietly. “Whatever it takes.”

  The terminal buzzed with new intel, pulling their attention. Vera leaned over the screen, her eyes scanning the lines of data.

  “There’s a shipment of advanced hardware scheduled for transport tomorrow night,” she said. “High-level encryption, elite drone escorts. If we can intercept it, we’ll have a chance to cripple their operations.”

  Dax’s brow furrowed. “It’ll be heavily guarded. This isn’t just another raid. If we go in unprepared, we won’t make it out.”

  Elior stepped beside Vera, his determination evident. “Then we prepare. We’ve come too far to stop now.”

  The trio exchanged a glance, the weight of the mission sinking in. The stakes were higher than ever, but so was their resolve.

  As they stood on the precipice of their next battle, the echoes of the past lingered. Trust was fragile, alliances uncertain, but for now, they stood together, ready to face whatever the System threw at them.