Chapter 8

[Unknown Location - September 18th, 2085 - 4 am]

Ava spent the remainder of the night lying in the survival shelter, the cold air seeping in and the throbbing pain in her forehead preventing her from drifting off to sleep. She shivered, huddled in the back corner, desperately clinging to life. As she checked her temperature, she realized she was developing a fever, and a wave of dread washed over her at the thought that her wound might be infected. The cold gnawed at her, and her stomach growled with hunger, but she couldn’t risk making a fire, haunted by the fear of being discovered by the SEA. Hope was slipping away, and she longed for the dawn to break.

Suddenly, she heard rustling in the bushes a few yards away from her shelter, sending a chill down her spine. Holding her breath, she strained to listen, trying to discern what it could be. Again, the sound came closer this time. She waited in tense silence, the minutes stretching on without another sound—just the faint whisper of the cool night breeze.

Then, right in front of the shelter, she noticed a dark figure standing still. Panic surged through her as she froze, heart pounding in her chest. It was difficult to make out its form, but it was undeniably upright. A faint sound emerged, a single frequency that pierced the silence, and suddenly the figure's head began to glow. A thin green neon line illuminated, intensifying as the sound morphed into a soothing chord. The light brightened, casting a soft glow that illuminated the entire camp, revealing a humanoid creature standing on two legs. It was difficult to make out its form, but it was undeniably upright and feminine, clad in black. Its head was encased in a sleek silver helmet with a dark visor.

As fear slowly ebbed away, the creature raised its hand and made an unusual gesture, as if greeting her. Then, reaching into its pocket, it pulled out a small golden prism covered in strange symbols. Holding it aloft, it bowed slightly, presenting it to her as an offering. By now, Ava's fear had melted completely, replaced by an overwhelming sense of curiosity.

"Who are you?" called out Ava.

There was no response. Instead, the sound gradually diminished until silence enveloped the space. Then, the figure glided into the shelter and knelt before Ava, extending the prism toward her. She hesitated for a moment before taking the object from its hand, her curiosity piqued. As she closely examined it, the golden prism began to shift, transforming into a clear crystal that glimmered softly in the dim light.

Suddenly, the crystal pulsed with a burst of vibrant energy that surged through her entire body. A warmth spread from her fingertips to her core, exhilarating her senses as if she had just consumed a powerful drug. This wave of euphoria enveloped her, filling her with an overwhelming sense of relaxation. The throbbing pain in her forehead dissipated, and instinctively, she reached up with her other hand to feel the wound that had been troubling her. 

To her astonishment, as she removed the cloth binding, her skin felt smooth beneath her fingertips. There was no trace of blood, and the wound had vanished completely. 

The creature reached out its hand once more, and Ava returned the prism. As her fingers released the object, an unexpected heaviness washed over her. Exhausted, she sank back down in the shelter, surrendering to the tranquility that enveloped her. In moments, she drifted off into a deep, peaceful slumber, free from pain and fear.

[Unknown Location - September 18th, 2085 - 10 am]

Ava awoke with a renewed sense of energy, greeted by the cheerful sound of birds chirping and the warm sun kissing her face as its rays filtered through the trees. Sentra remained propped against a nearby tree, the bloody cloth from her wound lying discarded on the ground in front of her. She instinctively touched her forehead, seeking reassurance that the events of the previous night hadn’t been a mere figment of her imagination. To her relief, it was all real, and she felt completely invigorated.

Determined to stay at the camp in hopes that the Shadow Republic would come to rescue her, Ava realized she also needed to regain her bearings. Spotting a hill not far away, she set off to climb it, fueled by her newfound energy and the hope of gaining a clearer view of the surrounding forest. 

As she ascended the hill, a thunderous explosion echoed through the woods, shaking the ground beneath her feet. It was Mount Orpheus, erupting with full force. The earth trembled violently, but she pressed on, sprinting up the slope in a desperate attempt to rise above the treetops. Finally, the tremors subsided, and Ava reached the summit. 

Clambering onto a large boulder, she stood, breathless, and gazed at the landscape sprawling out before her. In the distance loomed Mount Orpheus, a massive plume of ash and smoke spiraling into the sky, obscuring the sun. To her horror, she could see that a significant portion of the mountain had been torn away. A torrent of rock and earth was cascading down its slopes, rushing toward the lower section of the city nestled below. Ava felt a wave of despair wash over her, fully aware that the flow would reach the city soon, threatening to obliterate countless lives. 

There was nothing Ava could do. She remembered that there were several safe zones—places that the lahar or lava flows would not reach. The bunker would be a safe place, but accessing it was out of the question. She felt uncertain about whether anyone was coming for them. Certainly, much of the SR was focused on the evacuation, as they should be, but maybe a team had been dispatched to find Sentra and her. After all, Sentra had left her in a campsite and prepared a shelter for her. To Ava, that act alone felt like a message: she should stay put.

So, Ava stood on the small peak, her gaze fixed on the mountain. A whirlwind of emotions surged within her. The sight was both magnificent and terrifying; so many people were suffering or losing their homes and way of life, and there was nothing she could do to help. Then, down the hill, she spotted a small coyote climbing onto a nearby rock. It stood on all fours, looking back at her. After a few moments, it raised its head and howled to its pack. 

Ava smiled, recalling her recent conversation with Sentra and the message of hope she had shared. One by one, she could hear several other coyotes joining in the chorus. An overwhelming sense of peace washed over her. In that moment, Ava knew that somehow, in the end, everything was going to be okay.

The first task she undertook was to scour the surrounding environment for food sources to store in her shelter. She felt a sense of urgency wash over her as she raced against time, knowing she had to gather what she needed before the ominous ash clouds swept in. The air was thick with tension, and the distant rumble of approaching chaos urged her forward.

Thanks to her days living in the artist commune, where survival often meant scavenging with little to no food, she knew which plants were edible. She foraged for blackberries, miner’s lettuce, and cattails. Later, she discovered salmonberries and dandelions. She drank from a nearby stream, careful to choose one that flowed quickly to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination.

As the ash began to rain down steadily, Ava donned a portable mask she had tucked away in her cargo pants—a precaution required by all SR agents in anticipation of the eruption. At first, she had hesitated to bring it on her mission, but now she was immensely grateful for the life-saving device. The ash coated the forest like a thick veil, and she found refuge in her shelter, feeling secure from the falling debris.

The rest of her time was spent trying to address the issues with Sentra or at least figuring out what could be solved once she managed to charge it back online. With determination, she cleaned the ash and burn marks from the device, carefully reattaching wires wherever possible. Each small repair filled her with hope, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there was a chance for restoration and recovery.

[Unknown Location - September 20th - 10pm] 

On the second night, Ava was jolted awake by crashing sounds echoing through the woods. Nervous but hopeful, she wondered if the strange, helpful creature had returned. Slowly, she lifted her mask just enough to call out, “Hello! Who is out there? Hello?”

“Ava! Ava, is that you?!” a familiar voice replied, though it was too distant for her to identify. Her heart raced at the sound of her name. Without hesitation, she left the safety of her shelter and sprinted through the darkened woods.

“Hello! Help! Help! I’m over here!” she cried, her voice cutting through the stillness of the night. Suddenly, a bright white light illuminated her face, forcing her to squint. She removed her mask completely, revealing her features, and in front of her stood two figures—one holding a flashlight and the other clad in a large gas mask. As the man removed his mask, Ava’s breath caught in her throat.

“Ava. I can’t believe it,” James exclaimed as he rushed toward her. They closed the distance, and in an instant, he enveloped her in a warm embrace.

“You came for me. I knew you would come,” Ava said, her voice choked with emotion as they shared a passionate kiss, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. In that dimly lit forest, surrounded by the sounds of nature, she felt a surge of relief and happiness. Even amid the apocalyptic landscape, she radiated an unwavering love. 

But as they held each other, Ava’s gaze fell to James’s arm. “Oh my God. James! What happened to you?”

James smiled reassuringly. “I got hit by a poisonous bullet during the mission. But don’t worry; I’m okay. Zep gave me quite the upgrade, and it’s already proven useful.” 

“How are you doing? Are you hurt?” he asked, concern etched on his face. 

Ava took a deep breath, feeling the weight of everything that had transpired, grateful for his presence and the chance to finally be together again.

“I am fine. Thank you, Zep. You are incredible,” Ava said, a grateful smile lighting up her face.

Zep nodded in acknowledgment. “It was my pleasure. I am proud to work with such a brave and courageous agent. I’m glad you made it out alive.”

“James, we have so much to talk about,” Ava said, her excitement bubbling over as she turned to him. “But first, let’s head over to my camp.”

The three of them hiked the short distance to the camp, where James sank down to rest inside the shelter alongside Ava. She offered him some of the blackberries she had foraged, their sweet juice bursting on his tongue as they reminisced about the harrowing events of the past few days. Meanwhile, Zep set to work, carefully fixing Sentra’s solar charger, his mechanical hands deftly manipulating the components while the two lovers embraced.

As they talked, Ava recounted the explosion and the mysterious creature that had appeared to her. “It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The prism it gave me—it healed my wounds,” she explained, still grappling with the surreal nature of her experience. “I can’t shake the feeling that it was all just a dream.”

“Dream or not, that creature was real, Ava. It appeared to me just before the Zaetra operation,” James replied, his expression serious. “Later, its craft appeared in the hangar right after I was shot. It saved my life and was the reason we succeeded in the mission. The things that craft could do… it was incredible. It disintegrated seven drones—completely obliterated them in an instant. The SEA is absolutely terrified of that thing.”

Ava’s eyes widened with intrigue. “What do you think it is? Is it the entity Sentra was talking about?”

“I have no idea what it is, but whatever it is, it’s definitely on our side,” James replied. “There have been several reports of encounters like this within the SR. Hopefully, we can get Sentra back online; I’m sure she could provide us with some answers.”

Ava looked puzzled. “Why are we going there? Why not back to the bunker? What about my work at the lab?”

James exchanged a glance with Zep, the weight of the moment settling in as he realized Ava was unaware of the situation. Zep took a deep breath and spoke up. “Unfortunately, the SR headquarters was destroyed. As far as we can tell, James and I are the only ones who escaped. We suspect there was a SEA mole who compromised our location, leading to a coordinated attack with bombs and a ground assault. They even filled the lower levels with toxic gas. James barely made it out alive.”

Ava’s face turned pale as the gravity of the news sank in, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Finally, James broke the silence. “We had your coordinates from Sentra's final emergency beacon and made our way here on foot. The plan is to head to Atlantica. There’s another secret hideout there, and we believe the remaining forces are regrouping. There’s still a droid regiment out in the city, helping people reach safe zones, but we’ve lost a significant portion of the rebellion. Communication has been cut off since the SEA took out our comm systems and seized control of the bunker.”

Ava absorbed his words, her mind racing with the implications of their situation. The weight of the loss and uncertainty pressed heavily upon her, but she knew she had to remain strong for herself, Sentra, and the mission ahead.

As the three of them caught up on the state of affairs, dark clouds began rolling in from the east, signaling the arrival of a storm. A heavy downpour soon descended on the camp, prompting them to take cover and eventually remove their masks. This change in weather was a relief; the shifting winds and rain helped wash away the light ash that had been falling from the distant eruption. The accumulation of ash had been a growing concern for Zep, but with the rain now pouring down, they could finally rest after their long trek.

“Maybe I can even get Sentra to partially function by sunrise,” Zep assured them as he settled down nearby, focused on the damaged droid.

James and Ava huddled together inside the shelter, grateful for the protection from the heavy, welcome rain. Their gas masks rested in the corner of the shelter, as they breathed in the fresh cold night air. The sound of the raindrops hit the roof creating a soothing rhythm, and for a moment, they felt safe.

“Ava, there’s something else I need to tell you,” James said, his voice low as she lay next to him, her head resting on his arm. He took a deep breath, the weight of his confession pressing heavily on his chest. “I killed someone at the Zaetra plant. I shot him in the head.”

Ava turned to look at him, concern etched across her face. “James...”

“I know it was what needed to be done,” he continued, his gaze distant, “but I can’t stop thinking about it. The man probably had a family. Hell, it was just a typical day at the office for him that morning, and then he just happened to walk into the wrong room at the wrong time.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with regret. Ava could feel the turmoil within him, the internal struggle that came with taking a life, even in a time of war. She placed her hand gently on his cheek, her eyes searching for him. “You did what you had to do to protect us. You can’t let that consume you, James. It’s a part of this fight we’re in, but it doesn’t define you.”

James nodded slowly, grateful for her understanding, but the shadows of his actions still lingered in his mind. As the storm raged outside, they clung to each other, finding solace in their shared warmth amidst the chaos of the world around them.

“It bothers me,” James said, his voice heavy with emotion. “I never wanted to kill anyone. In fact, when I first took over the family business, I turned down a military contract. It was a lot of money, but I didn’t want to create something that someone else would use to intentionally take lives. Yet, here I am—a true hypocrite. A murderer. There are even viral videos of me on MetaWave, labeling me a terrorist.”

Ava didn't respond immediately. Instead, she leaned in closer, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. “A terrorist isn’t bothered by committing violence. This is war, James. War makes good people do terrible things, but it’s not your guilt to bear. The guilt belongs to the SEA, who stripped away our rights, our privacy, our freedoms, and actively perpetrated violence against us. You’re a good man.”

James sighed deeply, the weight of her words sinking in. “I still wish it hadn’t come to this insanity. I wish there were a better way.”

As if in response to their somber conversation, the rain gradually ceased, leaving behind a profound sense of calm. Ava and James sat in reflective silence, the chill of the night air wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. They held each other closely, contemplating the stark contrast between the tranquility of their moment and the chaos of the world outside.

Thoughts of the crumbling society swirled in their minds. The rising conflicts, the revolution brewing, the ash and lahars from the eruption, the corruption, and the political violence intensifying with each passing day. Yet, in this quiet refuge, they found a fleeting peace. The rain had stopped, leaving them in a tranquil meditation, their hearts intertwined amidst the turmoil that surrounded them.