NOVEL WEB Chapter 5: Shadows in the Deep
The aftermath of the Vault's destruction left Mira and her team physically exhausted, but the victory felt hollow. As they returned to headquarters, the realization that the Obsidian Collective was still out there loomed over them like a dark cloud. They hadn’t stopped the Collective—they had only delayed them.
In the days that followed, Lila worked tirelessly to sift through the data they had extracted from the Vault. Despite her earlier success, much of the information was corrupted, leaving them with more questions than answers. However, one critical lead survived: a location deep beneath the ocean.
“It’s an underwater facility,” Lila said, her voice tinged with both excitement and dread. “It’s called Atlantis-One.”
Amir raised an eyebrow. “Atlantis? Like the lost city?”
“No,” Lila replied. “It’s a modern construct, but the name’s intentional. The Collective has been working in secret down there for years, developing something big—something that could replace Project Omega.”
Mira stood at the center of the room, processing this new information. “What could be worse than wiping out humanity?”
Lila pulled up a blueprint of the underwater structure. “They’re working on biological weapons this time—specifically designed viruses and pathogens that can target specific populations. They’re planning to engineer a pandemic.”
Victor clenched his fists. “They’re moving faster than we thought. We need to stop this before it gets out.”
Raul, who had now become a full member of their team, nodded. “The facility is heavily guarded. Getting in won’t be easy.”
Mira’s resolve hardened. “Then we’ll have to find another way.”