Tribeca was as peaceful as ever. Streetlights glowed softly, and even the mansion that had previously burned down had been fully restored. The high walls surrounding the community concealed hidden defensive systems—laser turrets and high-voltage rods—though their presence wasn't obvious. On the surface, Tribeca looked like a luxury neighborhood untouched by the apocalypse. "Wake up," Zack said as the Avalon landed on the community's tarmac.
"Huh?" Luna stirred, rubbing her eyes as she groggily stepped off the jet. For a moment, the unfamiliar surroundings scared her, but she quickly calmed down when she saw Zack nearby.
"Sir…" she murmured nervously, glancing around. The luxurious mansions caught her eye immediately, their bright lights and pristine appearance contrasting starkly with the devastation she was used to. Her expression softened—not with greed, but with awe. After so long in the harsh, unforgiving apocalypse, she had almost forgotten what peace looked like.
"Sir… is this where you live?" she asked timidly, her voice barely above a whisper. Luna stared at the luxurious mansions in shock. She couldn't help but notice something surreal—there wasn't a single zombie roar here.
A cool breeze swept past, carrying the fresh scent of dew from the grass instead of the rancid stench of decay she'd grown used to. "This will be your home now," Zack said, pointing to mansion No. 10. His voice was steady but firm. "Head there. There are three girls living there—get to know them." He paused, then added, "mansion No. 9 is where I live. That's where you'll be working from now on. And yes, your work will include… everything."
His words were blunt, leaving no room for misinterpretation. Luna's cheeks flushed instantly. She stammered softly, "I… I understand."
"It's late. Go get some rest," Zack said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "mansion No. 10 has plenty of empty rooms. Pick whichever one you like."
"Good night, sir," Luna mumbled, bowing slightly before nervously walking toward mansion No. 10. She opened the door cautiously, trying not to make noise and disturb the other occupants. She needn't have worried. The girls in the mansion—long accustomed to the safety of this haven—slept soundly. Unlike most survivors in the apocalypse, who were constantly on edge, they no longer startled awake at the slightest sound.
"Good night," Zack murmured to himself, watching her retreat into the mansion. He shook his head with a faint, bitter smile. "If I had any superpower," he muttered under his breath, "it'd be immortality… and never feeling sleepy."
With that, he turned and headed toward the basement of mansion No. 9. Zack took the elevator down to the second underground floor—a space he hadn't visited in a while. It had once been the former owner's private collection room but was now repurposed as a showroom for Zack's armor.
As the elevator doors opened, his eyes landed on the riveted, clunky MV-01 armor, the first suit he had ever built. Next to it stood the MV-02, modified into a prototype war machine. Following that was the MV-02W The Titan Armor wasn't here—it was still in active use and too large to fit in the showroom. "Time to add the Apex," Zack said to himself. He walked to an empty display stand and removed the armor, which had served him longer than any other suit.
Apex was a beast—a firepower machine loaded with over a hundred micro-missiles. It had been upgraded multiple times, evolving into a reliable war asset. But its reliance on physical ammunition was starting to feel outdated. "Ego, send me the Apex Mk-2 schematics," Zack said as he placed the Apex onto the stand and turned toward the elevator.
By the time the sun rose the next day, Zack stood in the dimly lit basement, surrounded by a dazzling sea of holographic projections. Blueprints and intricate 3D models of armor components floated around him. His hands moved, guiding the projections as lines of code and technical schematics scrolled rapidly in the background. "Adjust the beam emitter for variable firing modes," he muttered, tweaking the projection of a sleek energy cannon. A burst of light simulated the weapon's functionality, demonstrating a shift between rapid bursts and a high-powered precision shot.
"Increase the shooting frequency," he continued, dragging a virtual slider. The simulated weapon pulsed at intervals so rapid the air itself seemed to hum.
"Keep only the anti-fortification missiles and fortress penetrators," Zack said, swiping his hand to delete secondary weaponry. Explosions rippled across the projection as the updated missile schematics showed destructive power designed to pierce through reinforced structures.
"Add the Singulium reactor…" His eyes gleamed as the hologram morphed. "Streamline the armor design and compress the structure." He pinched and rotated the 3D model, narrowing bulky plates and refining the exoskeleton. The once-rigid design became a seamless blend of strength and agility, interlocked with nanostructures that could adapt to impact stress.
"Apply the optical camouflage coating," Zack finished, layering a translucent film over the armor. The coating shimmered as the hologram demonstrated its cloaking ability, bending light to render the suit invisible.
Piece by piece, Zack reshaped the Apex Mk-2 template provided by Ego, turning it into a marvel of engineering. He wasn't done. In the heart of the hologram, Zack implemented toroidal force-field generator. It appeared as a circular array embedded in the armore, its simulated energy arcs forming a magnetic confinement system. Borrowing principles from magnetic resonance technology, the generator emitted an adaptive energy shield capable of deflecting projectiles and dispersing kinetic energy on impact. With a flick of his fingers, Zack activated the simulation. The force field flared to life, absorbing simulated strikes and nullifying them in bursts of dispersed energy.
The result was no longer just the Apex Mk-2. It was a hybrid, combining the best features of multiple suits into a single, versatile, and battle-ready design. "This isn't just another armor," Zack said, a hint of pride in his voice. "Alright, that's everything," Zack said aloud.
At his command, the holographic projections of the armor parts began moving into position. Despite their intangible nature, the simulated assembly sounded satisfyingly real, as if the pieces were physically clicking into place.
Soon, the image of a sleek, unpainted suit of armor appeared before him. Its design was a masterpiece of streamlined curves and sharp transitions, radiating a muscular, mechanical elegance. The overall look gave off the vibe of a high-performance supercar—only wearable. "A Ferrari you can wear," Zack mused, impressed by the design.
"Good. Now, for the color…" He paused, then smiled. "Let's go with red and gold."
"For someone who likes stealth, that's a bold choice," Ego remarked, a hint of sarcasm in its tone.
Zack smirked. "Don't worry, Ego. By the time the enemy sees me, they'll already be dead." The armor featured optical camouflage coating and reflective stealth technology, rendering it invisible to both the naked eye and radar. Its vibrant paint job was more of a statement than a liability.
"Now for the name…" Zack hesitated. "Forget it. Let's call it Apex Mk-2 for now," he decided. "We'll deal with the naming when we reach the next milestone."