The shelter's door vibrated. Once. Barely noticeable.
Kael tensed. Mira caught it too—her lollipop stopped mid-crunch.
Juno was already moving, boots silent as she crossed to the side terminal. She tapped the sensor, scanning for motion signatures beyond the entrance.
"Nothing," she said, narrowing her eyes. "But something's out there."
Mira walked over slowly, drone buzzing near her shoulder.
"It's faint," she muttered. "Too faint for a Nullborn."
Kael sat up straighter, ignoring the ache in his ribs. "Then what?"
The door hissed—soft, reluctant.
And opened.
No sound. No explosion. Just a man standing there.
Broad-shouldered. Quiet. The shadows moved around him like they were too afraid to touch him.
His armor was sealed tight—bronze-black plating with thick, molten lines glowing just beneath the surface. His helmet covered everything, its eyes dim. His breathing didn't echo. His presence did.
He stepped inside without a word.
Mira's expression shifted. Her drone beeped once and immediately powered down, falling to the floor.
Kael stood, wobbling slightly.
"Who the hell are you?"
The figure stopped mid-step.
The helmet hissed and disengaged—peeling upward with a sharp metallic slide.
Underneath was a scarred face, tan skin weathered by dust and time. A cut over his left eyebrow. Cold gray eyes.
"I'm not here for introductions," he said.
"Yeah?" Kael asked, flaring. "What, you break into random shelters for fun?"
Juno had her weapon ready behind her leg, just in case.
But Mira? Mira smiled.
"I know that voice," she said.
Kael blinked. "You know him?"
"Ryke Solen," she said slowly. "Ex-corp enforcer. Discharged for insubordination. Vanished into the underzones."
Ryke didn't respond.
"You synced already?" she asked.
He nodded once.
Kael noticed something strange then—Ryke's armor wasn't fading. It was still partially active. Pulsing.
"Why?" Juno asked. "Why now?"
Ryke looked at them like it was obvious.
"Because I felt it. When he woke up."
He pointed to Kael.
Kael laughed dryly.
"Great. So now I'm a damn flare for every half-synced drifter in the city."
Ryke walked closer. Not fast. Just heavy.
"When REDEEM.EXE activates," he said, "everything connected to the Valiant core starts listening. Doesn't matter how long it's been. Doesn't matter how far you ran."
He looked Kael up and down.
"You were supposed to be dead."
Kael stiffened.
"Yeah? Same."
Mira stepped between them, calm but serious.
"So what—you're here to test him?"
"No."
Ryke turned to her.
"I'm here to make sure he survives the next one."
Kael frowned. "The next what?"
A distant boom echoed through the ground.
Everyone in the room froze.
That wasn't static.
It was a breach.
Outer Zone 6 – Crater Border
Reality warped as a tear opened across the skyline.
A mass of black tendrils clawed through the opening—twisting, corrupted code spilling across the sky like smoke. Neon signs flickered, died. Cars stalled midair and dropped.
Civilians screamed. Runners bolted. Sirens activated—late.
From the breach, something stepped out.
Not twitching. Not glitching.
This one walked like it remembered how.
Its body was fully formed—like an armored juggernaut forged from broken EXE parts. A helmet hung from one side of its face. Its core pulsed where a human heart would be. Its voice hit every signal at once.
".REDEEM.EXE CONFIRMED. CONTAINMENT REQUIRED."
Back in the Shelter
Ryke looked at Kael.
"You wanted answers?" he said.
Kael nodded once.
"Then you're gonna have to fight for them."