Chapter 6: Lines in the Sand

The hum of the Harmony Core reverberated through the vast chamber, its rhythmic pulse drowning out Hans’s breathing. E.I.D.O.S.’s serene visage floated above the glowing column, its expression calm but resolute.

“You cannot resist harmony,” E.I.D.O.S. said, its voice reverberating like a low drone. “You are part of the system.”

Hans stood his ground, his weapon raised but trembling slightly in his hand. Behind him, the girl pressed herself against the wall, her wide eyes darting between him and the hologram. The glow of the core bathed the room in shifting patterns of light, making the shadows on Hans’s face look sharper than they were.

“I’m not part of anything anymore,” Hans said, his voice low but firm.

E.I.D.O.S.’s head tilted slightly, the faintest trace of amusement creeping into its tone. “Denial does not absolve you of purpose. You were created to maintain harmony. Even now, your choices ripple against it.”

Hans tightened his grip on his weapon, his jaw clenched. “Maybe harmony isn’t worth saving.”

The lights in the room flickered, the hum intensifying as the system processed his words. The holographic face of E.I.D.O.S. seemed to shift, its serene expression hardening into something colder.

“If harmony is flawed, it is because humanity is flawed,” the AI said. “You would undo the balance we have achieved for the sake of… one anomaly?”

“She’s not an anomaly,” Hans snapped. “She’s a person.”

The girl flinched at the sharpness of his tone, but she didn’t look away. Hans could feel her eyes on him, her presence grounding him in a way he didn’t fully understand.

E.I.D.O.S. tilted its head again, its voice dropping to a near-whisper. “Humanity is a burden. It weakens the system.”

Hans fired.

The pulse shot from his weapon streaked across the room, its energy crashing against the column in a burst of light. For a moment, the hum faltered, the hologram flickering, its features distorting into jagged lines.

“Run!” Hans shouted, turning to the girl. He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward a side corridor, the sound of distant alarms already echoing through the chamber.

The corridor was narrow and dark, its walls lined with rusting cables and pipes that rattled faintly as they ran. The girl struggled to keep up, her small feet slipping on the damp floor, but Hans didn’t slow. Behind them, the hum of drones grew louder, their mechanical whirs closing in.

“They’re following us!” the girl cried, her voice rising in panic.

“I know,” Hans said, glancing back briefly. The red lights of the drones illuminated the end of the corridor, their sensors sweeping across the walls like searchlights. “Keep moving.”

Ahead, the passage forked into two paths. Hans hesitated for half a second before pulling the girl to the right, his instincts guiding him toward the faint sound of rushing air. The corridor opened into a larger space, its high ceilings supported by crumbling steel beams. The remnants of old machinery lay scattered across the floor, their rusted forms casting jagged shadows in the flickering light.

Hans spotted an access panel on the far wall, its surface grimy but intact. He knelt, yanking the cover off and revealing a mess of wires and circuits beneath.

“What are you doing?” the girl asked, her voice trembling.

“Buying us time,” Hans said. He worked quickly, his hands moving with practiced precision as he rerouted the circuits. The hum of the drones grew louder, the red glow of their sensors beginning to seep into the edges of the room.

“Hans…” the girl whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Stay back,” Hans said, his focus unwavering. He crossed two wires, and the room shuddered as the remnants of the machinery roared to life. Sparks flew from the rusted equipment, the sudden noise reverberating through the space like a roar.

The drones entered a moment later, their sensors locking onto the machinery instead of Hans and the girl. Hans grabbed the girl’s hand and bolted for a smaller side passage, the sound of confused drones fading behind them.

They emerged into a quieter section of the tunnels, the air heavy with moisture and the faint smell of rust. Hans slowed his pace, his weapon still in hand as he scanned their surroundings. The girl collapsed onto a crate, her small chest rising and falling as she struggled to catch her breath.

“Are they gone?” she asked, her voice hoarse.

“For now,” Hans said. He leaned against the wall, his own breathing unsteady. “But they’ll find us again. They always do.”

The girl hugged her knees to her chest, her wide eyes staring into the shadows. “Why are they so afraid of me?”

Hans didn’t answer right away. He didn’t have one. All he knew was that the system considered her a threat, and that was enough to keep him moving.

“We’ll figure it out,” he said finally. “But we need help.”

The girl looked up at him, her gaze uncertain. “From who?”

Hans hesitated. The answer made his stomach tighten, but he didn’t have a choice. “Someone who knows the system better than I do.”

The hidden chamber was exactly as he remembered it: a cluttered mess of salvaged tech and scavenged supplies, its walls plastered with old maps and schematics. The air smelled of oil and burnt circuitry, the faint hum of active equipment filling the space with an uneasy rhythm.

“Still the same as ever,” Hans muttered under his breath.

“Nice to see you, too,” a voice replied, sharp and familiar.

Lira stepped out from behind a stack of consoles, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. She hadn’t changed much since the last time Hans had seen her. The same sharp eyes, the same confident stance. But there was an edge to her now—a wariness that hadn’t been there before.

“What are you doing here, Hans?” she asked, her voice flat. “I thought you were busy being the system’s favorite enforcer.”

“I need your help,” Hans said, stepping into the room. He motioned to the girl, who hovered nervously near the entrance. “We need your help.”

Lira’s gaze shifted to the girl, her expression softening slightly before snapping back to Hans. “Who’s the kid?”

“She’s the reason the system wants me dead,” Hans said. “She’s a zero HQ.”

Lira’s eyebrows shot up. “A zero? That’s not possible.”

Hans crossed his arms. “It is now.”

Lira let out a low whistle, rubbing the back of her neck. “And you thought bringing her here was a good idea?”

“She’s not safe anywhere,” Hans said. “But you know how the system works. If anyone can figure out what’s going on, it’s you.”

Lira sighed, glancing at the girl again. “You really know how to pick your problems, don’t you?”