The Zenith facility's lower levels hummed with a sinister pulse, its shadowed corridors a maze of secrets Alex Mercer navigated with practiced stealth. His mind, freshly cracked open by the operative's blow, churned with memories of New Haven—Valor's orbs, his parents' faces, Fae's fierce smirk. Zenith had mindwiped him, turned him into AM-17, their pawn for the Control Grid. Huei's encrypted message—Lin's tied to Zenith, defected—burned in his micro-comm, a lead to the truth. Fae's note, hidden in his quarters, anchored him: Remember who you are. He was no longer theirs.
Huei waited in a disused server room, her holo-device casting a faint glow across her sharp features. "You're late," she whispered, eyes darting for patrols. "Shvery's been tailing me—Carlton's orders."
Alex's jaw clenched. Shvery's suspicion was a tightening noose, and Carlton's scrutiny was worse. "He's a problem," he said, handing her the drive with Lin's data. "Cracked anything new?"
She plugged it in, code scrolling. "Lin was Zenith's lead neural scientist—worked on the Grid before defecting to XinTech. She designed the relay and your mindwipe."
His blood ran cold. "She knew me—before." A memory flashed: Dr. Lin's weary eyes, "You're not one of them." She'd been part of his erasure.
Huei nodded, pulling up a file. "This—Control Grid's endgame. Shenzhen's a test, but the real target's a city called New Haven. Massive neural override, millions controlled."
Alex's heart lurched. New Haven—his city, his fight. Memories surged: P.A.I.R.E., Maya's staff, Marcus's resolve, the shield he'd saved. "When?" he demanded.
"Soon," she said, scrolling. "They're deploying relays globally—your op was the first piece."
A flash hit—a burning tower, Fae's voice, "Kid, you're in deep!"—and Alex steadied himself. "We stop it. Find Lin—she's the key."
Huei's device beeped, a new file unlocking: AM-17 Deployment—New Haven Lead. His face stared back, wired to a rig, eyes blank. "They're sending me there," he whispered, rage boiling. "To finish it."
"Not if we burn them first," Huei said, her voice fierce. "Lin's in Shenzhen—underground, hiding. I've got a lead."
Footsteps echoed—Shvery's heavy tread. "Hide!" Huei hissed, yanking the drive. They ducked behind a server as Shvery entered, rifle slung, eyes scanning. "I smell you, Mercer," he growled. "Sneaking's a death wish."
Alex held his breath, Huei's hand gripping his. Shvery lingered, then left, his boots fading. "Too close," she muttered. "We split up—meet at the safe point, midnight."
"Got it," Alex said, pocketing the micro-comm. "Watch Shvery."
She smirked, slipping out. "Watch yourself."
Back in his quarters, Alex stashed the drive, Fae's note a talisman. Lin had built his cage—she'd help him break it. New Haven's fate hung on it. Memories flooded: his parents' pride, Zenith's trap, the mindwipe's cold grip. He wasn't AM-17—he was Alex Mercer, and he'd tear Zenith apart.
Morning brought Carlton's briefing, the team in the sterile debrief room. His gray eyes were unyielding. "Lin's surfaced—Shenzhen slums, hiding with defectors. Recon only, Mercer. Find her, report. No heroics."
Alex nodded, masking his intent. Lin wasn't a target—she was his way out. Huei's gaze met his, a silent pact. Shvery's glare was a blade, his bandaged leg stiff but his suspicion sharper.
"Gear light," Carlton added. "XinTech's hunting her too. Don't draw fire."
In the armory, Huei slipped him an encrypted chip. "Lin's last known—coords, contacts. We'll dig tonight."
"Thanks," Alex said, her trust a lifeline. Shvery watched, cleaning his rifle, his silence heavy. "Got an issue?" Alex challenged.
"You're the issue," Shvery shot back, voice low. "I see you slipping."
Huei stepped in, defusing. "Save it for the op."
The transport hummed through Shenzhen's neon haze, the slums a labyrinth of rust and light. Alex led, staff collapsed in his gear, instincts honed by memories—P.A.I.R.E.'s raids, Fae's blade. Huei scanned with her device, Shvery trailing, rifle ready. Carlton monitored from base, his presence a shadow.
The coords led to a crowded market, stalls buzzing under flickering holograms. Alex spotted a figure—Lin, hooded, slipping through. "There," he whispered, moving to follow.
A flash hit—a lab, Lin's voice, "It's not control, it's freedom!"—and he faltered, pain spiking. Huei steadied him. "You okay?"
"Memory," he muttered, shaking it off. Lin vanished into an alley. They pursued, Shvery's eyes boring into Alex's back.
The alley was a trap—XinTech operatives, masked, rifles drawn. "Ambush!" Alex yelled, diving behind a crate. Huei stunned one, her staff crackling, while Shvery fired, dropping another. Alex fought, staff a blur, but a memory surged—New Haven's shield, his parents' screams—slowing him.
"Focus!" Shvery roared, taking a bolt to the shoulder, blood seeping.
Alex snapped back, stunning an operative, but Lin was gone, the alley empty. Huei's device beeped—XinTech's signal jamming theirs. "We're cut off!" she shouted.
Carlton's voice crackled, faint. "Fall back—now!"
They retreated, blood and neon blurring. Back at the transport, Shvery glared, clutching his wound. "You froze again, Mercer. Carlton's gonna hear this."
"Do it," Alex snapped, but his mind was on Lin. She'd seen him, known him. The Grid was waking, and he was its spark. Huei's hand brushed his, a silent vow.
As the facility loomed, Alex gripped Fae's note in his mind. Lin was close, and so was the truth. He'd find her—or die trying.