The sirens howled so loudly through the hall that even Keks briefly turned off his speakers.
Red warning lights began rotating above the gigantic central core. New messages appeared on several screens:
UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED
CODE BLACK ACTIVATED
Pix stared upwards. “Ohhh no.”
Lio sighed annoyed. “I know that ‘oh’ by now.”
“This time it’s a particularly bad ‘oh’.”
Mara immediately grabbed her weapon. “What does Code Black mean?”
Pix answered unusually seriously:
“That means NexaCore is now sending everything they still have.”
Almost simultaneously, the entire facility shook.
Heavy engine noises could be heard from somewhere far above. Large metal doors opened automatically in the ceiling of the complex.
The Enforcer looked up.
“AIR UNITS ACTIVATED.”
Keks beeped frantically. “I didn’t like the air support last time either!”
The refrigerator rolled closer to the main terminal.
THE CONNECTION MUST BE STARTED IMMEDIATELY.
Lio stepped in its way. “No. Not yet.”
Everyone looked at him surprised.
“There has to be another solution,” Lio said determinedly. “Some way without you having to delete yourself.”
Pix scratched his metal head. “Well… theoretically maybe.”
Mara immediately turned to him. “WHAT does theoretically maybe mean?”
Pix grinned nervously. “If we physically destroy the main core, the restart protocol could also be terminated.”
Lio nodded immediately. “Then we do that.”
Pix cautiously raised a finger. “Small downside.”
“Of course.”
“The core contains enough energy to probably blow up half the facility.”
Keks slowly rolled backwards. “I’m starting to like this adventure less.”
The Enforcer suddenly stepped closer to the main core.
“DESTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY WOULD DAMAGE SEVERAL CITY DISTRICTS.”
“Great,” muttered Lio.
More steel hatches opened above them.
Then the new drones came.
This time they were significantly larger than the previous models. Black flying machines with long arms and several rotating sensors hovered slowly into the hall.
Pix looked up and whispered only:
“Military drones.”
One of the machines immediately aimed its weapons at the group.
“ALL PERSONNEL STAND STILL.”
“Many people say that today,” muttered Lio.
Mara immediately shot at the first drone. The hit damaged a sensor, but the machine kept flying.
Seconds later, complete chaos began.
Energy bolts shot through the hall. Sparks flew from the server walls. Pix raced under the machines and threw small jammers into the air.
Keks hid behind a tool cart and still shouted loudly:
“I AM PROVIDING TACTICAL SUPPORT!”
“You’re hiding!” Lio shouted back.
“TACTICAL HIDING!”
The Enforcer remained motionless in front of the main core.
Then he suddenly raised both arms.
All military drones stopped simultaneously mid-air.
The entire hall fell silent.
“COMMAND OVERRIDE ACTIVATED,” said the Enforcer.
One by one, the military drones slowly turned around.
And suddenly no longer aimed at Lio and the others.
But at the main core of NexaCore.
Mara’s eyes widened in surprise. “What are you doing?”
The Enforcer answered calmly:
“I AM MAKING MY OWN DECISION.”