Arc of Destiny

Eric braced himself as the first wave of guards surged toward him. The hum of the reactor on his chest grew louder, resonating with his heartbeat. Time seemed to slow, every detail sharpening in his mind. He ducked under the swing of a baton, using the momentum to land a powerful strike with his wrench. The guard crumpled, and Eric shifted his The stance, ready for the next.

From behind the crates, Nyssa and the rest of the team worked quickly, loading the last of the weapons onto a hovertruck. The alarm blared, an incessant reminder that reinforcements were closing in. Nyssa's voice cut through the chaos.

"Eric, we're almost out of time!"

"I've got this!" Eric shouted back, deflecting a stun baton with a burst of energy from the reactor. The force sent his attacker flying into a stack of crates, the wood splintering on impact.

More guards poured into the warehouse, their boots pounding against the concrete floor. Eric's muscles burned, but the reactor seemed to feed him, its energy surging through his veins. He ducked, rolled, and countered with precision, each movement instinctive. Yet for every guard he took down, two more seemed to take their place.

Suddenly, a deafening roar filled the space. Eric glanced up just in time to see the ceiling erupt in a shower of debris. A Sentinel combat drone descended, its sleek metal body gleaming under the warehouse's fluorescent lights. Its red sensor array locked onto him, and a mechanical voice boomed.

"Target acquired: Reactor Host."

"Great," Eric muttered, gripping his wrench tighter.

The drone unleashed a barrage of plasma bolts, forcing him to dive behind a stack of crates. The heat singed his arm as he barely avoided a direct hit. He peeked out, assessing the situation. The drone's firepower was overwhelming, and the guards were regrouping.

"Nyssa!" he yelled. "You need to go. Now!"

"We're not leaving you!" Nyssa called back, firing at the guards from her cover.

"Don't argue! I'll hold them off. Get the weapons out of here!" Eric's voice was firm, leaving no room for debate.

Nyssa hesitated, her expression torn, but she barked an order to the team. The hovertruck roared to life, its engines whining as it lifted off the ground. Eric spared a glance as it sped toward the warehouse's back exit, Nyssa's silhouette visible in the truck's cockpit.

With the team gone, Eric turned his full attention to the drone. He stepped out from behind the crates, his reactor glowing intensely. The drone's sensors focused on him, its weapons charging.

"Come on," Eric muttered. "Let's dance."

The drone fired, its plasma bolts cutting through the air. Eric darted to the side, the reactor amplifying his speed. He hurled his wrench, striking the drone's sensor array. Sparks flew as the impact disrupted its targeting systems. Eric seized the moment, leaping onto a nearby stack of crates and launching himself at the drone.

His hands gripped its sleek frame, the heat of its thrusters burning through his jacket. With a yell, he channeled the reactor's energy into the drone. The device responded, a surge of blue light arcing through the drone's circuits. The machine convulsed, its thrusters sputtering, and Eric jumped clear as it crashed to the ground in a fiery explosion.

Breathing heavily, Eric surveyed the wreckage. The remaining guards hesitated, their confidence shaken. He didn't give them time to regroup. With a roar, he charged, wielding his wrench like a hammer. The reactor pulsed with each swing, amplifying his strikes.

One by one, the guards fell until the warehouse was eerily silent. Eric stood in the center of the carnage, his chest heaving. Smoke and the acrid smell of burnt circuitry filled the air. He felt the weight of the reactor's power, a dangerous mix of exhilaration and exhaustion.

The sound of distant sirens pulled him back to reality. Sentinel reinforcements were on their way. He had to move.

Eric stumbled out of the warehouse, the cool night air hitting his face. His body ached, and his vision blurred, but he pushed forward. He followed the escape route Nyssa had mapped out earlier, weaving through alleyways and abandoned streets.

After what felt like hours, he reached a small, hidden bunker. The entrance was marked by a faint symbol etched into the wall—a ghostly outline of a mask. Eric entered, collapsing onto a cot inside. The reactor's glow dimmed, its energy spent.

Eric closed his eyes, the events of the night replaying in his mind. He had survived, but the cost was high. Sentinel wouldn't let this defeat go unanswered. They would come harder and faster.

But Eric wasn't afraid. For the first time, he felt like he was truly fighting back. And he wasn't alone anymore.

The Iron Ghosts had a new ally. And Sentinel had a new enemy to fear.