The plan was simple — on paper. Penetrate the underground data bunker beneath Montreux, neutralize the AI-controlled defense systems, and hijack one of the Black Veil's core relay nodes.
In reality, it was a suicide mission.
Nam, Alina, and two of the team's best — Javier, a silent demolitions expert, and Hana, a former MI6 infiltrator — descended the icy cliffs using magnetic clamps. Above them, the stars blinked silently, unaware of the chaos brewing below.
"This facility wasn't built by humans alone," Hana whispered. "Look at those energy signatures. Some of this tech is… decades ahead."
Nam narrowed his eyes. "Black Veil's been feeding off alien remnants for years. We just didn't want to believe it."
They reached a service hatch hidden behind a false rock face. Javier slid a micro-pulse across its seam, causing the metal to ripple like water. It opened silently.
Inside, the air was cold and humming with life. Not just machines — but something aware.
Alina tapped her earpiece. "We're in."
Back at the command cabin, the monk's voice replied calmly. "Remember: steel can break. But thought — that's where they're truly afraid."
They moved fast. Nam took point, leading the team past motionless sentry bots — frozen mid-step thanks to the backdoor code Hana had embedded last night. But they had only twelve minutes until the system rebooted.
They reached the core chamber: a glowing pillar of light surrounded by rotating data halos, like Saturn's rings.
"Upload the mirror virus," Nam ordered.
Hana connected her pad. "Five percent… nine… fourteen…"
Suddenly, alarms wailed. The walls turned red.
"They've found us!"
A defense bot activated, its sleek silver frame unfolding like a metallic insect. Javier lunged, slamming a magnetic charge onto its core. The explosion took out the bot — and Javier.
"No!" Alina screamed.
Nam caught her arm, pulling her back. "We have to finish this!"
"Eighty-five percent… ninety-nine… uploaded!" Hana yelled.
The data stream cracked, and for a brief second, the entire facility flickered — as if reality stuttered.
Then… silence.
The virus had worked.
Back at the cabin, the monk opened his eyes. "One node down. Three to go."