The storm drain spat them out two blocks west, just beneath a warped overpass dripping with rust. Ava crouched beside the hatch, watching the street with sharp eyes as her system flicked through scan after scan.
Lucas leaned against the wall behind her, silent for once, breathing deep but steady. The scorch marks along his bracer glowed faintly—flickering blue, then dead.
His biosuit was shot. So was his right arm brace.
Even his blade had dulled from the last kill.
[GEAR STATUS – LUCAS BAI]
[BIOSUIT CORE DAMAGE: 67%]
[RIGHT BRACER: OFFLINE]
[ENERGY OUTPUT (BLADE + PISTOL): BELOW OPERATIONAL THRESHOLD]
Ava narrowed her eyes as her HUD picked up a blip three blocks north.
"There." She pointed toward a building warped into a wedge between two fallen towers. "Old gym. Reinforced frame. Second floor's still intact. Roof access is sealed. No signs of heat or movement inside."
Lucas tilted his head.
"What gave it away?"
"Emergency stairwell still has a door."
