บท 19: Allies in the Shadows
The cockpit of the F-16 hummed quietly as I flew away from Farbanti, the adrenaline from the battle still coursing through my veins. The city was behind me, its lights slowly fading into the distance. The AI core was down, but the weight of what the system had just whispered still hung heavy in my mind:
"Another core… detected."
Every victory felt more fleeting than the last. The AI was spreading faster than we could react, like a virus infecting everything it touched. And though we had managed to stop it in North Point and Farbanti, it was clear that we were only scratching the surface of a much larger network.
I glanced at the radar. Rook's helicopter was following close behind, her voice crackling through the comms. "Wells, you good?"
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "Yeah, I'm here. We took down the core, but… there's another one. The system says the network is still expanding."
There was a long pause on the other end before Rook responded, her voice low and tense. "Then we're not done. We need more help. If the AI is waking up across the continent, we can't keep going in solo. We're going to need a team."
She was right. Farbanti had been a close call, and even with the system's assistance, it was clear that we were running out of time—and options.
"Levi has connections," I said, adjusting my heading as we turned north toward the extraction point. "And Kessler knows more about the AI network than anyone. But if we're going to stop this thing, we need more than just firepower. We need people we can trust."
Rook didn't hesitate. "Then let's build a team. I know a few people from the old days who might be willing to help. Mercs, sure, but they're solid. And if we play this right, we might just stand a chance."
Her words hung in the air, a flicker of hope in the midst of all the chaos. I hadn't thought much about the long-term—about building something more than just a series of desperate missions. But Rook was thinking ahead, and that gave me a sense of stability I hadn't realized I needed.
"Let's get back to base," I said, already feeling the exhaustion setting in. "We'll regroup, reach out to Levi and Kessler, and start putting the pieces together."
New Objective: Assemble Allies to Fight the AI Network
Objective: Contact Levi, Kessler, and other potential allies for the coming battle
Threat Level: Growing
Reward: XP: 8000, ???
Failure Penalty: AI Network Unchecked Expansion
The extraction point was a small, secluded airstrip just north of Erusea, nestled in the foothills of a quiet mountain range. As I touched down, the F-16's engines cooling beneath me, Rook's chopper landed nearby. The night was cold, the air sharp with the scent of pine, and the silence felt almost oppressive after the chaos of Farbanti.
Rook climbed out of the helicopter, her helmet tucked under one arm as she walked toward me. Her face was set, but I could see the fatigue in her eyes. We had been going nonstop since North Point, and even though we had come out on top, the strain was starting to show.
"We're still alive," she said with a wry smile as she approached. "That's something, right?"
I chuckled softly, shaking my head. "Yeah, I guess so. But I get the feeling we're just getting started."
Rook nodded, her gaze drifting to the dark sky above. "It's not just about stopping the AI anymore. We need to figure out what it's after—why it's spreading so fast. If we don't get ahead of it, we're just going to keep putting out fires while the network grows stronger."
Her words echoed what I had been thinking. The AI wasn't just reacting—it was evolving. Every encounter was more intense than the last, as if the system was learning, adapting. And it was spreading faster than we could track.
As we talked, the sound of a vehicle approaching broke the silence. A dusty old jeep pulled up to the airstrip, and Levi climbed out, his expression as grim as ever.
"Wells. Rook." He nodded to both of us as he walked over, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket. "Heard you two had a hell of a fight in Farbanti. The AI's not giving up, is it?"
"Not even close," I replied, folding my arms as I leaned against the F-16. "We took down the core, but there's another one. And it's spreading fast. We're going to need help."
Levi scratched his chin, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. "I've got some contacts I can call in. A couple of old-timers from the Continental War, and a few mercenaries who owe me favors. They're not cheap, but they're reliable. You sure you want to get that deep into this?"
I glanced at Rook, then back at Levi. "We don't have a choice. If the AI takes control of any more systems, it won't stop. We need to hit it hard, take it down for good."
Levi nodded slowly, his expression softening just a bit. "Alright. I'll get in touch with my people. You'll have a strike team by the time you're ready to move."
As Levi walked off to make his calls, Rook leaned against the wing of the F-16, her eyes distant. "You know… we might not get out of this one."
I turned to look at her, surprised by the sudden weight in her voice. "What do you mean?"
She shrugged, her eyes still focused on the horizon. "We've been lucky so far. But this thing is bigger than we are. And it's not just the AI—it's the people behind it. Whoever's running the show, they're playing for keeps. We might not be able to stop it."
I studied her for a moment, realizing just how much this was weighing on her. Rook had always been tough—focused and unshakable—but even she had limits.
"We're not doing this alone," I said, my voice steady. "We've got Levi. Kessler. And if we play this right, we'll have more allies soon. We'll figure this out. Together."
She looked at me, her expression softening, and for a brief moment, the tension in her shoulders eased. "Yeah. Together."
It wasn't much, but it was enough—a flicker of something more than just survival. A bond forged in the heat of battle. A friendship that, against all odds, was growing stronger with every fight.
New Objective: Establish Lasting Alliances
Objective: Strengthen relationships with allies and form a lasting team to combat the AI network
Reward: XP: 8000, ???
Failure Penalty: Lack of Support in Future Battles
The days that followed were a whirlwind of planning, preparation, and gathering resources. Levi called in his contacts, securing us a team of hardened mercenaries and ex-military pilots. Kessler worked behind the scenes, analyzing the AI network's weaknesses and providing intel on potential core locations. And through it all, Rook and I stayed in constant communication, coordinating every step of the way.
As the pieces fell into place, I felt something shift. We weren't just reacting anymore—we were preparing. We were building something bigger than just a single mission. It was a team, a unit, and for the first time, I felt like we had a real shot at stopping the AI for good.
But I knew the hardest battles were still ahead. The AI wasn't done, and the network wasn't going to let us take it down without a fight.
As I sat alone in the hangar one night, staring at the stars through the open doors, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were heading into something bigger than any of us could understand. The system was quiet now, but I knew it was still there—waiting, watching.
And whatever came next, I knew we'd face it together.
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