Chapter 15: The Signal Strikes

The steady hum of the signal interceptor filled the tech lab, its faint glow illuminating the group as they sat in tense silence. The air was thick with anticipation. Lyla adjusted the device, her eyes scanning the holographic interface for any anomalies, while Rusty and Bolt stood vigilantly at their sides.

Berry shifted in his seat, his nerves on edge. “How long do you think it’ll take to pick something up?”

“It’s hard to say,” Lyla admitted. “They’ve been quiet since the MacroDyne hit. Either they’re regrouping, or they’re planning something big.”

Tim leaned back in his chair, tossing a small screwdriver between his hands. “Big, huh? That’s what I love to hear.”

Berry shot him a look. “You could try being a little less sarcastic.”

Tim smirked. “Sarcasm is my coping mechanism, buddy. I don’t see you cracking jokes.”

“Not exactly in the mood,” Berry muttered.

Rusty’s glowing eyes flickered. “Tension detected. Suggestion: maintain focus on task at hand.”

“Thanks, Rusty,” Berry said, shaking his head with a faint smile.

Hours passed with little progress. The lab grew quieter as exhaustion began to set in. Tim dozed off in his chair, his head resting on the table, while Berry paced back and forth, the faint buzz of the interceptor his only distraction.

Suddenly, Rusty’s tail wagged, clanking against the floor. “Signal detected. Origin trace in progress.”

Lyla snapped to attention, her fingers flying across the interface. “I’ve got it! The signal’s coming from… downtown. An old maintenance hub near the central power grid.”

Berry’s stomach tightened. “The power grid? That can’t be a coincidence.”

Lyla nodded, her brow furrowed. “If they’re targeting the grid, they could shut down the entire city—or worse, take control of every automated system connected to it.”

Tim jolted awake, rubbing his eyes. “Wait, did you just say ‘shut down the city’? Like, everything?”

Berry nodded grimly. “We have to stop them.”

The maintenance hub was a sprawling underground facility, its entrance hidden beneath an overgrown lot in the heart of the city. Rusty led the way, his glowing eyes scanning the area as they descended into the depths. The air grew colder, the faint hum of machinery reverberating through the concrete walls.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Tim muttered, his voice echoing slightly.

“You’re not the only one,” Berry said, his grip tightening on the metal rod he had brought as a makeshift weapon.

Lyla held up a small scanner, its display flickering with data. “The signal’s coming from deep inside. Be ready for anything.”

Rusty’s tail wagged faintly. “Hostile activity likely. Proceed with caution.”

The central chamber of the maintenance hub was a maze of pipes and cables, illuminated by the glow of a massive terminal at its center. Rows of inactive drones lined the walls, their eyes dark but their presence unsettling.

Lyla pointed to the terminal. “That’s where the signal’s being transmitted. If we can shut it down—”

A low growl interrupted her. Berry turned sharply as a group of hostile KN-9s emerged from the shadows, their red eyes glowing with malicious intent.

“Rusty, Bolt—defend us!” Berry shouted.

The two KN-9s leapt into action, intercepting the attackers with practiced precision. Sparks flew as metal collided, the sound of the clash echoing through the chamber.

“Go!” Berry called to Lyla. “We’ll hold them off!”

Lyla sprinted to the terminal, her fingers flying across the interface as she worked to disable the transmission. Tim grabbed a piece of pipe, swinging wildly at one of the attackers as it lunged toward him.

Rusty’s voice rang out, calm despite the chaos. “Override attempt initiated. Defensive protocols active.”

Berry swung his rod at another KN-9, his heart pounding. “How’s it coming, Lyla?”

“They’ve layered the encryption,” she called back, her voice strained. “It’s going to take time!”

“Time’s not something we’ve got!” Tim shouted, dodging another lunge.

Rusty intercepted an attacker heading for Lyla, his mismatched legs clanking as he held the hostile KN-9 at bay. “Threat neutralized. Override progress: 47%.”

Berry gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay focused. “We’re not letting them win.”

Minutes felt like hours as the battle raged on. Rusty and Bolt worked tirelessly, their glowing eyes bright with determination as they defended the group. Berry and Tim fought side by side, their movements clumsy but driven by sheer determination.

Finally, the terminal let out a chime, and the glow of the hostile KN-9s’ eyes flickered and dimmed.

“I’ve got it!” Lyla shouted, her voice triumphant. “The signal’s been cut!”

Rusty’s voice followed. “Override successful. Hostile units deactivated.”

The chamber fell silent, the hum of the terminal fading to nothing. Berry sank to the ground, his chest heaving as relief washed over him.

“We did it,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah,” Tim said, collapsing beside him. “But let’s never do that again, okay?”

Lyla joined them, a tired but victorious smile on her face. “We shut them down. At least for now.”

Rusty approached, his tail wagging softly. “Team performance optimal. Probability of continued success: high.”

Berry smiled faintly, resting a hand on Rusty’s head. “Thanks, buddy. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

As they emerged from the maintenance hub, the city lights seemed brighter somehow, the familiar hum of automation a comforting sound. The fight wasn’t over, but for the first time, Berry felt like they had a chance.

Lyla turned to him, her expression serious but hopeful. “We’ve come a long way, Berry. Whatever comes next… we’ll face it together.”

Tim grinned. “Yeah, as long as you two do all the hacking and let me handle the moral support.”

Rusty wagged his tail, his voice calm. “Team unity remains strong. Victory achievable.”

Berry looked at his friends and their loyal KN-9s, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Then let’s finish what we started.”