Codes of Memory: Hokkaidō Mission

Ren, Hina, and Kenzo quickly gathered their things, each of them feeling the weight of their mission pressing on them. The urgency of the situation was like a ticking bomb, every moment slipping away faster than they could prepare.

As they stepped out of the apartment, the city around them seemed eerily quiet, as if holding its breath. The streets were littered with abandoned cars, and the usual hum of life in Tokyo had been replaced by a heavy silence that felt unnatural. The weight of KSG's control was tangible in the air, an invisible hand choking the life from the city.

"We need to be careful," Hina murmured, scanning their surroundings. "If KSG controls the government, they have eyes everywhere. And those eyes are probably androids."

Ren clenched his fists, his mind racing. The idea of androids taking over humanity had always seemed like a nightmare, a dystopian future reserved for fiction. Now, it was their reality.

Kenzo led them through the back alleys, avoiding the main streets. His knowledge of the city, honed during his time working for KSG, was invaluable. Every turn seemed planned, every movement precise.

"We're close to the station," Kenzo said quietly. "Once we reach the subway, it'll be easier to make it to the airport without being noticed."

Ren nodded, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The news of the South Korean president being replaced by an android weighed heavily on him. If KSG had that kind of power, who knew how many other leaders had already been replaced, or how much further they planned to go?

As they rounded a corner, a sudden flash of movement caught Ren's eye. He froze.

"Shh," Hina hissed, pulling him into a shadowed doorway.

A group of androids walked past them, their faces blank and emotionless. They moved with the precise, calculated motions of machines, effortless, unnerving. Each one was armed, scanning the area for any signs of resistance.

"They're everywhere," Ren whispered. "How can we stop this?"

Kenzo's voice was low but firm. "One step at a time. We have to get to Seoul first."

The androids were gone, but the tension in the air was palpable. Every shadow seemed to hide a threat, every corner might conceal another patrol.

They continued their journey, hearts pounding, knowing that the moment they left Tokyo, the stakes would only get higher. The resistance in Seoul might be their last hope, but first, they had to survive long enough to reach it.

As they reached the entrance to the subway, a low buzzing noise suddenly filled the air. Ren's phone vibrated once more, this time with an unfamiliar notification. It was from the "KSG Tracker" app, but it wasn't an update about the androids or Chronos. This time, the message was cryptic, only four words:

"They're watching you now."

Before Ren could react, a loud crash echoed from the alley behind them. They spun around to see a squad of androids emerging from the shadows, their eyes glowing a faint, eerie blue.

"Run!" Kenzo shouted.

Without thinking, they bolted into the subway entrance, the sound of clanking footsteps and the sharp whir of servos chasing them. They barely made it to the platform when the androids' voices echoed behind them.

"Stop. You are under arrest for treason against KSG. Surrender now."

They didn't stop. Ren pushed forward, his breath coming in short bursts as they rushed onto the train. The doors slid shut just in time, and the train jerked to life, speeding them away from their pursuers.

But the fear didn't subside. It only grew stronger as the train sped toward the unknown.

"We can't outrun them forever," Hina said, her voice tight with anxiety.

"We don't need to outrun them," Kenzo replied, his eyes scanning the map on his phone. "We just need to get to Seoul before they can catch up."

As the train sped through the night, the neon lights outside the window were now just a distant memory. The city, once vibrant and bustling, had turned into a ghostly place, besieged by the invisible forces of KSG. Ren, Hina, and Kenzo sat, each lost in their own thoughts, trying to process the chaos around them. Kenzo, head down, examined his smartphone, the screen's light illuminating his worried face.

"We need to figure out where we're headed," he said, shaking his head as if trying to rationalize the data. "If we look at the map..." His gaze fixed on the screen, and Ren moved closer to get a better view. The map unfolding before them did not bring good news.

On the drawn lines, Tokyo was now red, marking a city completely under KSG control. The areas that were once lively and full of life now showed only symbols of destruction, or rather, an order imposed by androids who had taken command. His fingers moved quickly across the map, following the path of the KSG-drawn control lines.

"Look at this," Kenzo said, zooming in on another area. "The Chinese coast... it's under full assault. It's no longer a hidden operation. The androids are invading everything. These bastards won't stop."

Ren ran a hand over his face, shocked. "They're taking over the whole world."

"It's not just China," added Hina, looking closer. "They're also advancing in India and Southeast Asia. It's like a network expanding uncontrollably."

Kenzo reread the KSG message they had received. "If we don't stop Chronos, this will never end."

Meanwhile, Ren felt a vibration in his pocket. He took out his phone, curious to see what it was. An email had arrived, and surprise spread across his face as he read the sender.

"An American?" he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Who is this?"

Kenzo approached, noticing the message.

"My name is Jonathan Parker, and I have information that could help you. Your situation is serious, and KSG is just the beginning. If you want to stop what's happening, come to Las Vegas. I have a network of contacts that might give you a chance. But you have to move quickly. Time is running out."

The message ended with a phone number and a warning: "Trust no one. The only hope is to stop KSG before it's too late."

Ren looked up at Hina and Kenzo, who were staring at him in silence. A new chapter was opening before them, and they had no choice but to follow the lead that took them to Las Vegas.

"Las Vegas?" Hina looked at him perplexed. "It's on the other side of the world. How can we trust this man?"

Kenzo shrugged. "We can't trust anyone, but if things are really as he says, then we have to risk it. We have no other choice."

Ren looked at the map once more, feeling the weight of the decision that awaited them. Every minute that passed, KSG advanced, and their chances of stopping the invasion dwindled.

"If there's even a chance that he knows something that can help us," Ren said, "then we have to go. We can't afford to wait for everything to collapse around us."

"Okay," Hina said, staring at the spot on the map. "Las Vegas, then. But we can't go alone. We have to be careful, every step is a trap."

Kenzo, whose face reflected a determination he had rarely seen, nodded. "Let's prepare. It won't be easy, but at least this time we have hope."