CHAPTER 10
1063 Words
CHAPTER TEN
The Dominion research facility loomed in the distance, an ominous fortress surrounded by high walls, security cameras, and patrol drones. The team crouched behind a ridge overlooking the complex, tension hanging thick in the night air.
“This place is locked up tighter than I expected,” Erydan muttered, scanning the perimeter through binoculars.
“Good thing you brought me,” Lira said, smirking as she unpacked her gear. “By the time I’m done, it’ll be like walking through an open door.”
“Let’s hope so,” Noxana said, her voice low. Despite her growing resolve, she couldn’t shake the gnawing sense of dread in her gut.
Kael had insisted on giving them a window of opportunity by staging a diversion in another part of the city. Dominion forces had already scrambled to contain the unrest, but there was no guarantee they wouldn’t reinforce the facility once the alarm was raised.
“Clock’s ticking,” Jax said, his voice a low rumble. He hefted a satchel of explosives over his shoulder. “Let’s move.”
---
The team approached the facility through a drainage tunnel, its metallic walls damp and claustrophobic. Lira led the way, her tablet glowing faintly as she bypassed the first layer of security.
“Give me a sec,” she said, tapping furiously. “Just need to loop the drone feeds.”
Erydan glanced at Noxana. “Ready?”
She nodded, clutching her weapon tightly. “Let’s do this.”
The team emerged into the facility’s courtyard, slipping past the deactivated cameras and patrol drones. They moved swiftly, sticking to the shadows as Lira guided them toward the main building.
“Control room’s up ahead,” Lira whispered, pointing to a staircase. “I’ll need ten minutes to disable the internal security.”
“Make it five,” Erydan said, his tone grim. “We don’t have the luxury of time.”
---
Inside the control room, Lira set to work while the rest of the team stood guard. Noxana’s gaze darted around the dimly lit space, her nerves on edge.
“Something feels off,” she murmured to Erydan.
He nodded, his hand resting on his holstered weapon. “Stay sharp.”
The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Erydan signaled for silence, and the team took up defensive positions.
A Dominion guard rounded the corner, his rifle at the ready. Before he could raise the alarm, Noxana lunged forward, striking him with the butt of her weapon. He crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
“Nice work,” Erydan said, a hint of admiration in his voice.
“Thanks,” Noxana said, her pulse racing.
---
With the security systems disabled, the team moved deeper into the facility. Lira’s map led them to a heavily guarded lab, where rows of servers blinked ominously.
“This is it,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jax began planting explosives around the room, his movements swift and practiced. “Once these go off, there won’t be a scrap of data left.”
Noxana wandered to a terminal, her curiosity getting the better of her. She tapped a few keys, and a series of files appeared on the screen.
Her breath caught as she read the titles: **Project Obsidian: Genesis** and **Subject Lineage – Noxana Verik.**
“What is this?” she muttered, opening the files. Her blood ran cold as she scanned the data.
The Dominion hadn’t just used her family—they had built Project Obsidian on their research, exploiting their knowledge for their twisted agenda. Her parents had been complicit, their hands stained with the same blood she was now trying to avenge.
“Noxana!” Erydan’s voice snapped her out of her daze.
She turned to see him staring at her with concern. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly, shutting down the terminal. “Let’s keep moving.”
Erydan didn’t look convinced but nodded.
---
As they made their way toward the exit, alarms suddenly blared throughout the facility.
“What the hell?” Lira exclaimed. “I disabled the systems!”
“Looks like someone tipped them off,” Erydan said, his eyes narrowing. “We need to get out of here. Now.”
The team raced through the corridors, dodging Dominion guards who had mobilized in response to the alarm.
Jax brought up the rear, covering their escape. “Go! I’ll catch up!”
Noxana glanced back, a sinking feeling in her chest. Something about Jax’s demeanor felt... off.
---
The team burst into the courtyard, the night air cool against their flushed faces. A transport vehicle waited for them, Kael’s promise of extraction fulfilled.
As they climbed aboard, Noxana noticed Jax hanging back, his hand hovering near his comm device.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
He froze, guilt flashing across his face.
Erydan stepped forward, his weapon drawn. “Answer her.”
Jax sighed, raising his hands in mock surrender. “It’s nothing personal. Just business.”
“You’re working for the Dominion,” Noxana said, her voice trembling with fury.
Jax smirked. “You didn’t think I’d join this little suicide mission out of the goodness of my heart, did you?”
Before Erydan could react, Jax tossed a smoke grenade, the thick cloud obscuring him as he disappeared into the night.
“Damn it!” Erydan shouted, coughing as he waved away the smoke.
---
Back at the underground base, the mood was somber. The team had escaped, but the betrayal weighed heavily on everyone.
“Jax must have planted a tracker,” Lira said, scanning their equipment. “We’re lucky they didn’t find us before we got out.”
Kael nodded grimly. “We’ll need to relocate. The Dominion will come for us now.”
Noxana sat silently, her thoughts a whirlwind of anger and doubt. She couldn’t shake the image of her family’s names on those files, the realization of their involvement a bitter pill to swallow.
Erydan approached her, his expression softening. “You okay?”
She shook her head. “No. But I’ll deal with it.”
He placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. “We’ll get through this. Together.”
For the first time that night, she felt a flicker of hope.
— END OF CHAPTER 10 —
- Writer
