Chapter 13: The First Sparks

As dawn broke, the explosions began. The first was a small communication tower, then another energy hub, each one setting off an alarm. The once-quiet city buzzed with activity as guards and drones scrambled to contain the chaos.

Elara and Kade watched from the shadows as Ascendant soldiers rushed to control the damage. But before they could restore order, more explosions rocked the city, and Solis Prime was plunged into darkness.

"Now's our chance," Kade murmured. They slipped through the chaos, heading for the Ascendants' primary data center. Inside, they hacked into the city's central systems, stealing blueprints, security codes, and information that could turn the tide of the war.

Just as they downloaded the last of the files, the door behind them slid open. A group of Ascendant guards stormed in, weapons raised.

"Drop everything!" one guard barked.

Elara's heart stopped. They were cornered, and there was no escape.