Chapter Four: A Game of Shadows (Shadows of Orion)

The Hideout

Sam parked the SUV in the overgrown driveway of a decrepit cabin deep in the Rockies. The structure looked like it might collapse under the weight of a strong breeze, but that was part of its charm—or so Maya claimed.

“This is the safehouse?” Sam asked, eyeing the sagging roof and boarded-up windows.

“It’s off the grid,” Maya replied, hopping out and scanning the perimeter. “Orion won’t find us here.”

Rachel clambered out of the backseat, looking unimpressed. “It’s charming. In a ‘we’re-about-to-die’ kind of way.”

Inside, the cabin wasn’t much better: one room, a wood stove, and a questionable couch that Sam decided he wouldn’t touch without gloves. Maya spread a map on the rickety table, while Rachel rifled through a bag of supplies Blink had sent ahead.

“Coffee?” Rachel asked, holding up a tin of instant powder.

Sam grunted. “I’ll take my chances with dehydration.”

The Nexus Core

Once settled, Rachel laid out everything she knew about the Nexus Core.

“It’s more than just an AI,” she said, pacing the room. “It’s a neural network that learns and adapts in real time. Orion plans to use it to destabilize global systems—finance, energy, defense. They’ll create chaos and then sell the solutions.”

“And you were working on this?” Maya asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I didn’t know what it was at first,” Rachel admitted, her voice tinged with guilt. “By the time I realized, it was too late to back out. I tried to sabotage their progress, but they caught on.”

“And now they have everything they need to finish it,” Sam said grimly.

“Not everything,” Rachel countered. “The prototype can’t function without a core module I designed. It’s in their main facility in Dallas.”

“Dallas?” Maya said. “That’s Orion’s stronghold. We’d need an army to get in.”

“We’ve got something better,” Sam said, his eyes narrowing. “Surprise.”

The Plan

Blink’s voice crackled over the comms as they outlined their plan.

“I can get you into the facility,” Blink said, “but only for a short window. Their security is state-of-the-art—facial recognition, motion sensors, the works.”

“And you’re sure you can override all that?” Maya asked skeptically.

“Relax,” Blink replied. “This isn’t my first rodeo. You just focus on getting to the core module.”

Sam studied the map, his finger tracing a route through the facility. “We’ll go in through the loading dock. Less security, easier access to the sublevel.”

“And when the alarms go off?” Rachel asked.

“Then we improvise,” Sam said.

Maya groaned. “Your plans always involve improvising.”

“They work, don’t they?” Sam shot back.

Rachel exchanged a glance with Maya. “This guy always like this?”

“Pretty much,” Maya said.

Gearing Up

The next day was spent preparing. Maya cleaned and checked their weapons, while Rachel worked on a device to disable the module’s security casing.

“This should do it,” Rachel said, holding up a small EMP generator. “Just don’t drop it.”

Sam examined the device with a critical eye. “Looks fragile.”

“It is,” Rachel replied. “Which is why I’m giving it to Maya.”

Maya smirked. “Smart choice.”

As they loaded up the SUV, Sam caught a moment alone with Rachel.

“You sure about this?” he asked.

Rachel hesitated but nodded. “I helped create this mess. I have to help fix it.”

Sam’s expression softened. “Just stick close, and we’ll get through this.”

The Calm Before the Storm

That night, the three of them sat around a small fire outside the cabin, the tension thick but unspoken.

“Ever think about what you’ll do when this is over?” Maya asked, breaking the silence.

“Sleep for a week,” Rachel said without hesitation.

“Go somewhere quiet,” Sam added. “Maybe by the ocean.”

Maya raised an eyebrow. “You? The ocean? I can’t picture you relaxing.”

Sam shrugged. “You’d be surprised.”

As the fire died down, they retreated into the cabin, each lost in their own thoughts. The mission ahead was daunting, but for the first time, they felt like a team.

On to Dallas

The following morning, they hit the road. The tension in the SUV was palpable, but there was also an unspoken determination.

As the Dallas skyline came into view, Sam tightened his grip on the wheel.

“Ready?” he asked, glancing at Maya and Rachel.

Maya loaded her rifle. “Let’s do this.”

Rachel adjusted the EMP generator in her bag, her jaw set. “No turning back now.”

Sam smirked. “Good. I hate turning back.”

The facility loomed ahead, a fortress of steel and glass. As they approached, Blink’s voice crackled in their ears.

“Alright, team. Showtime.”