#10: Hunt at the Solaris Tower

The Solaris Tower was a monument to the inequality that defined Rio in 2145. The tallest building in the city, it flaunted its wealth with golden solar panels and hanging gardens visible from miles away. Inside, only the richest moved, surrounded by cybernetically enhanced security and cutting-edge surveillance technology. To Lara and Dante, breaking into the place seemed like suicide — but they had no choice.

They ran through the streets lit by the lights of patrolling drones, always on the lookout for cameras that could capture them. Every corner was a challenge, and every step brought them closer to a possible trap.

“Okay, the plan is simple,” Lara said, adjusting the smartwatch on her wrist. “We go in through the basement. I have an old code that should still work. After that…”

“After that, just pray we don’t make headlines,” Dante added, his voice full of sarcasm, but with a hint of nervousness.

Lara chuckled. She knew that behind Dante’s rigid facade was a man who was beginning to understand the nuances of this dark world.

When they reached the Tower’s service entrance, Lara stopped and activated the device on the control panel. She typed quickly, her nimble fingers running over the controls, while Dante kept his eyes on the entrance. The sound of gears moving indicated that the door was unlocked.

“Let’s go,” she said, waving him inside.

The basement was a mix of industrial corridors and exposed cables. The air smelled of roasted copper, and the sound of machinery hummed in the background. Lara led the way, using a hologram projected from her wrist to guide her through the tunnels.

“You’ve done this before, right?” Dante asked, trying to sound confident.

“More times than I’d like,” Lara replied without looking back.

They reached a staircase that led to the upper levels. Upstairs, Zane was somewhere, perhaps already aware that he was being hunted.

“What if he has backup?” Dante asked, grabbing Lara’s arm before she could go up.

“He will. But that’s never stopped me before,” she replied firmly.

They climbed the stairs carefully, each step increasing the tension. When they reached the 27th floor, Lara stopped, checking the data on the hologram.

“He’s here,” she whispered, pointing to a room at the end of the hallway.

Dante took a deep breath, bracing himself for the confrontation. They advanced slowly, hearing muffled voices coming from inside the room. When they reached the door, Lara signaled for Dante to position himself on the other side. She activated a small disc-shaped device and threw it toward the door, creating an electromagnetic blast that disabled all the electronic devices in the room.

The door slammed open, revealing Zane about to transmit data to a holographic platform. He turned quickly, his eyes wide as he saw Lara and Dante enter, armed.

“You,” Lara growled, anger clear in her voice. “How could you?”

Zane took a step back, raising his hands in a defensive gesture.

“It’s not what it looks like, Lara! I… I had to do this. They gave me no choice!” he stammered, his desperation evident.

“You gave me no choice?” Lara stepped forward, her presence intimidating. “You sold our location. You killed people with it. And now you want to play the victim?”

Dante remained silent, watching Zane’s every move. He looked nervous, but something was wrong. His eyes kept straying to a device in the corner of the room.

“He’s up to something,” Dante muttered to Lara, who immediately understood.

Before Zane could react, Lara ran to the device, pulling the main cables. An alarm sounded throughout the floor, echoing through the tower.

“Damn it!” Zane shouted, realizing that his last card had failed.

Without thinking twice, he tried to run for the exit, but Dante was faster. With one sure move, he pinned Zane against the wall.

“You’re going to tell everything. Now!” Dante said, his voice as firm as ever.

Lara approached, her eyes fixed on Zane’s.

“Who else is involved? What did you give away?” Lara said, almost catching him with a right hook.

Zane hesitated, but knew there was no escape.

“They have it all planned. Project Aurora isn’t just about immortality… it’s about control. They want to erase anyone who doesn’t fit into the system. You two are on the list. And now, so am I.” Lara exchanged a look with Dante, the weight of Zane’s words bearing down on them.

“Then we’ll start at the bottom,” she said, turning to Zane’s computer. “And expose every dirty trick of this elite.”

“This is going to be a war, Lara,” Dante warned, still holding Zane.

“So be it. I’ve never been afraid to fight.”

And with that, they got to work, knowing that every second could be their last.