Morning arrived in shades of ash and bronze. The light filtered through the cracked ceiling like broken glass, glinting off ruined concrete and twisted rebar. Ada was already up, finishing her sweep of the perimeter while Vega packed their gear in silence. The air felt thick, heavy, like the world was holding its breath.
The night had been unusually quiet—too quiet.
[System Alert: New Mission Available]
[Objective: Investigate Signal Source — Zone Theta-4. Coordinates Uploaded.]
Ada's HUD pinged with the new data. She studied the map projection—Theta-4 was to the north, near the old industrial ring.
"New mission," she said, voice low. "Signal uplink. Possible survivor cluster."
Vega glanced up from her task, her gaze steady. "A signal? Anyone still broadcasting has equipment and power."
"Or it could be bait," Ada muttered, tapping her finger against her rifle. "But it's close. Worth checking."
They broke camp and stepped into the dead city, a place that hadn't breathed in years. Skyscrapers leaned like forgotten gods, their once grand forms now twisted and crumbling under the weight of time. The wind stirred dry leaves through the ruins, a mournful whisper against the cracked pavement. Somewhere in the distance, metal groaned, a haunting reminder of what was left behind.
Their steps were cautious but fast, moving through alleys and side roads, avoiding the open streets. Ada's HUD painted arcs of movement and residual heat trails. Nothing too close. Yet.
An hour into their trek, Vega knelt by a crushed car and pulled a flare shell from beneath the seat. "Military issue," she muttered, tossing it to Ada.
Ada turned the shell over in her hands, inspecting the markings. "Recent burn. Someone else came through here."
They continued on, their pace quickening as they approached Theta-4. By mid-morning, the signal had grown clearer—steady, repetitive.
[Signal Verified. Human Bio-signs Detected. Estimated Count: 10+]
They paused on a ridge overlooking a broken city square. Once a place of industry and pride, now it was a graveyard of machines and rusted drones. The air felt heavier here, thick with the smell of old oil and ash.
And in the center of it all—people.
A group of survivors huddled around a power node, their makeshift tents scattered across the square. The survivors seemed to be going about their daily routine—armed lookouts standing watch, others rummaging through what remained of scavenged supplies. Ada's trained eyes took in every detail. The camp was well-organized. Too organized.
Ada's gut twisted. "Something's off."
Vega raised an eyebrow. "You mean aside from the fact that they're broadcasting like it's before the fall?"
"No one survives this long in the open without firepower or a bunker. They're exposed. But not worried."
Vega shifted her weight, eyes narrowing as she surveyed the camp. "So what do you think?"
"I think we stay high," Ada replied, her tone sharp. "Observe first. If they're legit, we make contact. If not…"
"We ghost it," Vega finished, her voice low. "Got it."
They moved into position, settling into a collapsed overlook with a clear view of the camp. Ada adjusted her scope, her sharp eyes taking in the interactions below. There were two guards at each entry point. The central supply area was heavily guarded. But what really stood out was the lack of children.
[Facial Recognition: Partial Match — ID: Garrick Vale, ex-Sentinel Commander. Status: KIA.]
Ada's blood ran cold.
Her gaze locked onto a figure standing by the generator—scar over his right brow, cybernetic jaw. It was Garrick. Or someone wearing his face.
"Problem?" Vega asked, sensing the sudden tension in the air.
Ada's voice was flat, controlled. "I knew him. Garrick Vale. He died five years ago. I saw the footage."
"Resurrected?" Vega's voice was skeptical.
"Or someone's using his ID to lure people in," Ada replied, her hand tightening around the rifle. "Either way, we can't just walk in blind."
Vega checked her weapon, her eyes scanning the surroundings. "So we do it the hard way?"
Ada nodded grimly. "Circle east. Get me a better look at their stores. I'll try to hack their comms."
They split up, moving like shadows across the broken rooftops. Ada tapped into an old satellite dish, her fingers moving with practiced precision as she accessed the signal flow. Vega moved low, keeping to the shadows, near the supply crates stacked against a broken fountain.
Ada filtered through the static, trying to decrypt the signal. It was encrypted, but sloppily done. Someone had been in a hurry. She patched through.
"—shipment delayed. We lost two runners near Grid Delta. If the next batch doesn't arrive—"
"—keep them calm. Tell them they're safe. Don't mention the core."
Ada leaned back, brow furrowed. "The core?" she whispered to herself. What core?
Vega's voice crackled in her ear. "They're stockpiling rations. Military-grade. More than they could carry. This isn't a refugee camp."
"I know," Ada muttered. "They're baiting survivors. Luring them in."
"For what?"
"Power. Manpower. Or worse."
Below, a young girl emerged from one of the tents—barefoot, bruised, with her head lowered in submission. She didn't look up as a guard roughly shoved her back inside with a sharp grunt.
Ada clenched her jaw. The girl's face was a haunting reminder of the desperation that had taken over this world. This wasn't a place for survival. It was a trap.
"Pull out?" Vega asked, her voice laced with concern.
Ada shook her head, her gaze fixed on the camp below. "No," she said, her voice firm. "We wait for nightfall. Then we find out exactly what they're hiding."
As the shadows grew longer, they faded once again into the darkness of the ruined city. The wind carried the faint smell of smoke, mingling with the stench of decay. The system was eerily silent, but Ada's mind raced, processing the fragments of information.
Her eyes never left the camp. Something terrible was buried beneath all the order and structure. She wasn't about to let it stay hidden.
The quiet city, with its dead towers and broken streets, seemed to watch them, as if it remembered what it had once been. And Ada, with her unflinching gaze, prepared for what was to come.