The Questioner System (Ask Me Anything)

Chapter 35: Into Sector Delta

Leaving the Red Pine Forest behind, the group headed toward Sector Delta, a sprawling abandoned tech hub rumored to be home to Lex, the hacker Cross had mentioned. The journey was far from straightforward. Sector Delta was surrounded by treacherous terrain—steep cliffs, narrow passes, and the looming presence of Verdan's patrols.

Victor led the way, his sharp instincts keeping them on the safest paths, while Cross provided commentary on the landscape.

"This place used to be a tech haven," Cross explained as they approached a crumbling overpass covered in graffiti. "Startups, cutting-edge research, the whole deal. Then the Nexus Initiative bought it out years ago and cleared everyone out. Rumor has it they still run experiments in the underground labs."

Marcus frowned. "And Lex decided to set up shop in the middle of all that? She's either fearless or insane."

"Probably both," Cross replied with a smirk.

As they neared the outskirts of Sector Delta, the group stopped to survey the area. Adam took a deep breath and whispered, "System, what's the best way to approach without alerting anyone?"

Adam shared the information, and Victor nodded. "Service tunnels it is. Everyone, stay sharp. These places are notorious for traps and collapsed sections."

The entrance to the tunnels was hidden behind a cluster of rusted shipping containers. Cross led the way, his familiarity with such environments evident in his confident movements.

The air inside the tunnels was damp and cold. The faint hum of machinery echoed through the space, suggesting that parts of the hub were still operational. Marcus gripped his rifle tightly, his eyes darting to every shadow.

"This place gives me the creeps," he muttered.

Adam couldn't blame him. The further they ventured, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Faint graffiti on the walls hinted at previous occupants, some of it cryptic and unsettling: They watch. Don't trust the lights.

"System," Adam whispered, "any threats nearby?"

"Watch your step," Adam warned. "The tunnel ahead is unstable."

Victor gave him an approving nod. "Good call. Let's find another way around."

After navigating a maze of passages, the group emerged into a cavernous space filled with derelict machinery and old computer terminals. At the far end of the room, a single monitor flickered, displaying lines of code.

"She's here," Cross said confidently. "Lex always leaves a breadcrumb trail."

As they approached the terminal, a mechanical voice echoed through the room. "That's far enough. State your business."

Victor raised his hands. "We're here to talk. Nathaniel Cross sent us."

A moment of silence passed before a figure stepped out from the shadows. Lex was a wiry woman in her late twenties, with a shock of dyed blue hair and a piercing gaze. She wore a utility vest covered in tools and gadgets, her every movement precise and deliberate.

"Cross, huh?" she said, crossing her arms. "Didn't think you'd come crawling back after what happened in Sector Five."

Cross sighed. "Lex, now's not the time for grudges. We're dealing with something bigger than either of us."

Lex's eyes narrowed as she looked at Adam. "And who's the kid? He looks like he's about to faint."

Adam straightened, trying to look more confident. "I'm Adam. I have something Verdan wants, and we're trying to stop him."

Her expression shifted slightly at the mention of Verdan. "You've got my attention. What's the plan?"

The group spent the next hour explaining the situation, from the ChronoOracle System to the Nexus Initiative and Verdan's plans for the Chronos Core. Lex listened intently, occasionally asking sharp, probing questions.

When they finished, she leaned back against a terminal, her fingers drumming on the metal surface. "You're right. If Verdan finishes the Chronos Core, we're all screwed. But stopping him won't be easy. His network's built like a fortress, and the Core's likely buried in Zone Beta."

"Can you help us?" Victor asked.

Lex grinned. "Help you? I can do better than that. Give me access to your data, and I'll find a way to crack his system wide open."

Cross hesitated. "Verdan has eyes everywhere. If you start poking around, they'll notice."

"They always do," Lex said with a shrug. "The trick is to make them look the wrong way while I work."

Marcus chuckled. "I like her. Finally, someone who thinks like me."

As Lex began setting up her equipment, Adam felt a flicker of hope. For the first time, they had someone who could match Verdan's technological prowess. But he knew their journey was far from over.

"System," he whispered, "what are our odds now?"

Adam frowned. Even with Lex on their side, the odds weren't in their favor. But for now, they had a plan, and that was enough to keep moving forward.

The fight against Verdan was about to escalate, and Adam was determined to see it through matter the cost.