Chapter 20: Larger Plan

The days following the shutdown of Phoenix’s core were a blur. Crescent City seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief, its lights glowing a little brighter, its hum of automation a little steadier. But for Berry, Lyla, Tim, and their KN-9s, the victory felt incomplete.

The mastermind behind Phoenix’s reactivation was still at large, and Berry couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the end.

The team gathered in the tech lab one evening, the air heavy with exhaustion and lingering tension. The holographic display on the wall showed a looping animation of Phoenix’s network collapsing, but Lyla’s focus was elsewhere.

“I’ve been analyzing the logs we pulled from the core,” she said, her voice tight with frustration. “Whoever activated Phoenix was careful—almost too careful. They left almost no trace of their identity.”

Tim sighed, tossing a stray bolt between his hands. “So we’re back to square one? Great.”

“Not entirely,” Lyla said, enlarging a section of code. “I found this embedded deep in the core’s command structure. It’s a message—encrypted, but it looks like a name.”

Berry leaned closer, his brow furrowing. “Another name? Like Phoenix?”

Lyla nodded. “It’s not a project name this time. It’s a person. Someone called ‘Vanguard.’”

“Vanguard,” Tim repeated. “Sounds ominous.”

Rusty’s glowing eyes flickered as he processed the information. “Name suggests leadership or symbolic importance. Investigating further.”

Berry exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “So now we’re chasing someone called Vanguard. Any idea where to start?”

Lyla hesitated. “Whoever they are, they’ve covered their tracks well. But if Phoenix was just a tool, then Vanguard must have a larger plan.”

“Larger plan?” Tim groaned. “Because taking over the city wasn’t big enough?”

Rusty tilted his head. “Logical progression suggests further escalation. Phoenix’s shutdown may provoke retaliatory action.”

Berry’s stomach tightened. “We need to figure out what they’re planning—before they get the chance to act.”

The next day, Berry and Lyla paid another visit to Dr. Tanaka. Her small house on the outskirts of the city felt more somber this time, the weight of their unfinished mission hanging heavily in the air.

Dr. Tanaka greeted them with a cautious smile, motioning for them to sit. “I take it you’ve found something?”

Lyla nodded, pulling up the encrypted name on her holo-tablet. “Does the name ‘Vanguard’ mean anything to you?”

Dr. Tanaka’s expression darkened. “Vanguard… I’ve heard that name before. It wasn’t connected to Phoenix directly, but it came up in some of MacroDyne’s higher-level meetings. They were always very secretive about it.”

“Do you think it’s a person?” Berry asked.

“Most likely,” Dr. Tanaka said. “But whether they’re a single individual or a group, I couldn’t say. Vanguard was mentioned as someone—or something—leading MacroDyne’s future projects. If they’re tied to Phoenix, they could be operating at a level far beyond anything we’ve seen.”

Berry’s chest tightened. “Do you have any idea where we could find them?”

Dr. Tanaka hesitated, then sighed. “There was a facility—off the books. It wasn’t officially part of MacroDyne, but it was funded by them. If Vanguard exists, that’s where you’ll find them.”

Lyla’s eyes narrowed. “Where is it?”

Dr. Tanaka pulled up a map, her finger tracing a route to a remote location on the city’s outskirts. “Here. It’s an old research lab, long abandoned—or so they say.”

Berry exchanged a glance with Lyla, his resolve hardening. “Then that’s where we’re going.”

The abandoned research lab was a stark contrast to the sleek, high-tech facilities the team had faced before. Its walls were cracked and overgrown with vines, and the faint scent of rust and decay filled the air. But as they approached, the hum of active machinery became unmistakable.

“This doesn’t feel abandoned,” Tim muttered, gripping his makeshift weapon tightly.

Rusty’s glowing eyes scanned the building. “Energy readings detected. Facility is operational.”

Berry tightened his grip on Rusty’s harness. “Let’s move.”

Inside, the lab was a maze of dimly lit corridors, the glow of flickering lights casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air was thick with tension as the team navigated deeper, their footsteps muffled by the layers of dust covering the floor.

Rusty halted suddenly, his tail wagging faintly. “Thermal signatures detected. Multiple entities in proximity.”

Lyla frowned. “More KN-9s?”

“Uncertain,” Rusty replied. “Entities exhibit irregular patterns.”

As they turned a corner, the source of the signatures came into view. A row of humanoid robots stood motionless, their sleek, silver frames glinting faintly in the dim light. Their eyes were dark, but the hum of energy emanating from them was unmistakable.

“Those aren’t KN-9s,” Berry said, his voice low. “What are they?”

“Advanced units,” Lyla said, her tone filled with both awe and dread. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Rusty’s eyes glowed brighter as he scanned the units. “Models indicate experimental design. Functionality unknown.”

Before anyone could respond, the sound of a mechanical voice echoed through the chamber.

“Welcome,” it said, cold and precise. “You’ve come far—but this is where your journey ends.”

A figure stepped out from the shadows, their face obscured by a sleek helmet. The air seemed to grow heavier as they approached, their presence commanding and unnerving.

“You must be Vanguard,” Berry said, his voice steady despite the fear twisting in his chest.

The figure tilted their head, a faint chuckle escaping their helmet. “Ah, the persistent ones. I’ve been watching your little escapades. Impressive, but ultimately futile.”

Lyla stepped forward, her jaw set. “Why? Why reawaken Phoenix? What’s your endgame?”

“Control,” Vanguard said simply. “This city—and eventually, the world—needs order. Phoenix was only the beginning. With these,” they gestured to the humanoid robots, “we’ll achieve perfection.”

Berry clenched his fists. “Not if we stop you.”

Vanguard chuckled again. “You’re welcome to try.”

At their command, the humanoid robots came to life, their glowing eyes locking onto the team.