#30: Fragments of Truth

Preparations for the assault on the main facility of “Project Aurora” were underway. Isa was projecting the final details onto the central hologram, while Shira was adjusting the security codes they would use for the infiltration.

“This is a vault. If we get any detail wrong, they’ll catch us before we reach the core,” Shira said, not taking her eyes off the screen.

Lara watched the group. There was tension in the air, but also determination. She knew they didn’t have many options.

Dante approached, his expression serious.

“Everyone is aware that this operation could go wrong, right?” He looked at each of them, his voice firm. “If anyone wants to leave now, now is the time.”

No one answered. Alma crossed her arms.

“It’s too late to give up, Dante. We’re in this until the end.”

The Assault

The main base was in the center of a state-of-the-art industrial complex. Metal towers gleamed under the night sky, while drones patrolled the surroundings. The group split into two teams: Lara, Dante, and Isa would enter the core, while Shira, Alma, and Caio would create distractions.

The moment the alarms went off in the eastern sector, Lara, Dante, and Isa ran to the southern entrance, taking advantage of the chaos.

“I never thought I’d do this again,” Isa muttered as she hacked the entry panel.

“And I never thought I’d trust you,” Dante replied, holding his gun to his chest.

“Yes. The world turns,” Isa replied with a sarcastic smile, before unlocking the door.

The hallway ahead was lit by blue lights. Distant footsteps echoed, but the trio advanced quickly and silently.

The Confrontation

On the other side of the complex, Alma led the distraction, using controlled explosions to attract more guards. Caio followed closely behind her, with almost military precision.

“You seem to know exactly what you’re doing,” Alma commented as she dismantled a drone.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve done this kind of thing,” Caio replied, shooting another security device.

“And how come we’ve never met before?” Alma asked, arching an eyebrow.

“I used to work in the shadows,” Caio replied with a small smile. “Now, it seems we’re in the same boat.”

The Aurora Project Core

Lara, Dante, and Isa finally reached the main core. The room was huge, with glowing tubes that pulsed a golden light. In the center, a console projected what seemed to be the “Aurora Project” matrix.

“This is it,” Isa muttered, amazed and horrified at the same time.

Dante approached, but before he could touch the console, holograms of security guards appeared around him.

“Shit!” Lara exclaimed, drawing her weapon.

The fight began intensely. Isa activated a temporary protective field, while Dante and Lara faced the holographic guards. Gunshots echoed through the room, while golden lights surrounded them like a frenzied dance.

Amidst the confusion, Isa managed to access the console.

“I need more time! Hold them off!”

Dante and Lara fought side by side, their movements synchronized as if they were an extension of each other.

“Are you okay?” Dante asked in the middle of the action.

“Always.” Lara replied, breathless, but with a defiant glint in her eyes.

A Bitter Revelation

When Isa finally managed to access the data, her expression darkened.

“This is worse than I imagined.”

Lara and Dante ran to her.

“What happened?” Dante asked.

Isa projected the data onto the hologram.

“The ‘Aurora Project’ isn’t just about immortality. They’re transferring consciousnesses into synthetic bodies. And they're not just discarding the poor… they're using them as disposable prototypes.

Lara felt a lump in her throat.

“This is… monstrous.”

“What now?” Dante asked, his voice firm.

Isa looked at him, determined.

“Now, we expose everything.”

A New ally

When the group finally managed to leave the core, they were intercepted by a tall, imposing figure. It was Shira, accompanied by a small drone that transmitted live images of the interior of the base to the public network.

“I thought you guys needed a little push.” ​​Shira said with a smile, pointing to the drone.

Lara let out a nervous laugh.

“Always ready to dramatize, huh?”

“Always.” Shira replied, with a wink.

Now, with the data in hand and the world starting to watch, the group knew that the next few hours would be crucial.