The Omega-7 sped toward the end of the tracks. Ahead of the train lay only darkness, beneath it a deep abyss, and beyond shimmered the old NexaCore control center like a huge sleeping metal giant.
Lio clung to a handrail. “Please tell me this train can jump!”
The old conductor grinned far too enthusiastically. “Jump? No.”
“That’s bad!”
“But maybe glide.”
“MAYBE?!”
Pix rushed to the control panel and tore off a cover. “The old emergency magnets! If we overload them, we can hold the Omega-7 over the gap for a few seconds.”
Keks showed a potato with sweat beads. “Just to be sure: Doesn’t overloading usually mean breaking?”
“In this case it means saving first and breaking later,” Pix replied.
Behind them, the Enforcer and the flying drones approached. A rocket shot through the tunnel and exploded against the wall. The whole train was thrown to the side.
Mara shouted: “Now or never!”
The conductor slammed several switches with both hands. Pix plugged his cables into the control panel, Keks held onto Lio’s leg with both gripping arms, and the refrigerator stood in the middle of the carriage as if it were a very serious passenger without a ticket.
Then the Omega-7 left the tracks.
For a moment, everything was silent.
The train glided over the abyss. Below them yawned the dark depth. Ahead, the other side came much too slowly closer.
“We’ll make it,” whispered Lio.
At that moment, one of the flying drones crashed into the rear end of the train.
The Omega-7 tilted to the right.
Everyone screamed at once. Keks screamed the loudest, although he claimed to be conducting only an “acoustic stability test.”
The train hit the other side with full force. Metal screeched, sparks flew, and the Omega-7 slid sideways across a maintenance platform until it finally crashed into a row of old transport crates.
Silence.
Then Keks beeped softly: “Are we dead?”
Lio cautiously lifted his head. “I don’t think so.”
“Too bad. Then I have to write the damage report.”
The train doors popped half open. Outside lay a huge hall with high ceilings, old server walls, and dusty control panels. Here and there lights still blinked, although the facility had apparently been abandoned for years.
Mara was the first to get out. “Everyone out. The Enforcer won’t take long to find another way.”
The refrigerator rolled toward a large metal door. On its display appeared: CENTRAL ARCHIVE BEHIND THIS DOOR.
Lio followed it. “And there we’ll find evidence against NexaCore?”
CORRECT.
Pix knocked on the door lock. “Or a bunch of very old passwords. Both are possible.”
Suddenly the floor vibrated.
Everyone turned around.
On the other side of the abyss stood the Enforcer. He looked over at them, calm and unmoved.
Then he jumped.