G.O.D Complex// Earth Prime

"Damn!" Petty slammed the controller repeatedly in frustration. "How many times will this thing regenerate?!" he shouted. The bot's energy reserves were nearly depleted, and they were almost out of ammunition.

"It's resilient. And because of it, we still haven't located Linus and Levi," said Nathalie, her eyes glued to a separate monitor. She was staring at the image of the massive incoming battleship, her mind overwhelmed by the surreal, futuristic sight.

"What era are we even in? How long were we asleep? And what really happened during the blackout?" Nathalie questioned aloud.

"I've been wondering the same," Petty muttered. "That ship looks too advanced for us to have built. Must be one of those gifts from the guy in the sky."

[Incoming communication request.]

Both froze as the screen lit up.

"Who might that be?" Nathalie asked cautiously.

Petty accepted the call. The screen blinked, revealing several helmeted individuals, two of whom stood out immediately.

"Linus!" Nathalie exclaimed in relief.

Petty gave a slight nod. "I'm here too," Levi added softly, though no one acknowledged it.

Linus scanned them quickly. His eyes paused briefly on the bruises on Nathalie's face and the bandage wrapped around her head, but he said nothing.

"You both must've noticed the giant ship approaching the dome," Linus began.

Petty and Nathalie nodded.

"Is that one of the colonies? Is it affiliated with Logia?" Nathalie asked.

Linus shook his head. "That's too long a story, and we don't have time. I need you two to do something for me."

After Linus explained the plan, Nathalie and Petty exchanged uneasy glances.

"They'll notice something's off," Nathalie said. "They're not dumb."

"Just do as I said. If it fails, leave. Remember—we're working together to survive, not because we're friends or partners," Linus said coldly, a smile playing on his lips.

Beatrice and the others, listening in from the side, watched him with unease. The heartlessness in his tone made them question whether they were dealing with a monster in human skin.

"Fine," Nathalie replied. "We'll be ready at the designated time."

"What about the others?" Petty asked.

"A separate team is recovering them," Linus replied, pointing at Cross and his team. "If they don't make it in time, they'll be left behind."

Beatrice's expression hardened.

"I don't care what you do with your own, but in Ironhold, we don't abandon our friends!"

Linus shrugged. "I didn't ask. We barely know each other. I'm not risking my life for strangers."

He turned and activated a video chat. "Understand this—in the old world, the threat was human. Here, the enemy is still human. A creature I can bait and manipulate."

"When are we going to stop running?!" Sebastian shouted, legs burning beneath him.

Benjamin didn't answer. Wasting breath on words was pointless. If Sebastian collapsed, he'd use the distraction to escape.

Kyaaaa!

The monstrous screech echoed again. They both turned and saw the battle bot pulling away, retreating from combat.

"Traitor!" Sebastian cried.

"Don't leave us!" Benjamin screamed.

But nothing could be done. The creature was closing in.

"You guys need to get rid of that thing trying to crawl up the levels," Linus said, still fiddling with the control panel.

Cross retrieved a nitrogen tank and turned to leave. "You all help him. I'll handle the parasite."

"Captain!" Beatrice protested, frustrated by Cross's unwavering trust in Linus.

"Beatrice, if word gets out that Ironhold opposed Teilvel, there'll be war," Cross said.

Beatrice clenched her fists. "We'd be invaded within 24 hours. We can't win."

"Maybe we can appeal to them? Ask for open discussion?" Charlotte offered.

Levi chuckled darkly. "Why would a man talk to bugs?"

Charlotte blinked. "What do you mean?"

"If food's left out and bugs land on it, do I try to reason with them—or squash them?"

His cold analogy silenced everyone.

Cross handed off the task. "I'll deal with the creature. Finish the setup. If it fails, I'll kill you before they do."

Linus smiled faintly. "As you ordered, sir."

Three hours later.

The Teilvel vessel arrived within Logia's perimeter.

The moment communications opened, it wasn't negotiations that followed.

"Kill all colony natives. Capture the humans in white," Captain Rhys ordered, shocking Beatrice and the others.

They turned furiously toward Linus.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Beatrice screamed.

Linus's calm voice echoed from the comms.

"In exchange for knowledge of the G.O.D. and the old world, I seek asylum and good treatment. I have no ties to these people, nor do I care about their fate."

Captain Rhys grinned as the order was carried out. Troopers assembled rapidly to extract the newcomers.

To be continued...