The moment after CORTEX's eerie awakening, the air was thick with the weight of impending chaos. But even as the hum of the AI's activation reverberated through the building, the team pushed forward, moving quickly toward the exit.

Alyssa and her team took the lead, cutting through the facility's corridors like a whirlwind, their weapons flashing as they cleared the way. Cassie's drones zipped overhead, scouting and blasting away OrgaCorp soldiers with precision, while Alix kept her focus on Julian. He was beside her, his pace steady, but there was something off.

Suddenly, Julian screamed, his hands clutching his head, his body seizing as if struck by an invisible force. The entire group stopped in their tracks.

"Julian!" Alix shouted, her voice sharp with panic as she rushed to his side. Her heart raced, a chill running down her spine. His face contorted in pain, his breath shallow, and his eyes wide with terror.

"What's happening?!" Ryder's voice was full of alarm as he turned back, his weapon raised instinctively, but his eyes locked on Julian.

Cassie's drones paused their assault, their flashing lights adding to the already chaotic atmosphere. Alyssa cursed under her breath, her focus divided between watching the threat ahead and the scene unfolding behind.

"Julian, talk to me!" Alix reached out, her hand gently gripping his arm, her worry palpable.

Suddenly, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in Julian's mind, chilling and distorted.

Vox: "CORTEX identified. DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!"

"CORTEX is here." Julian said.

Everyone froze, the words hitting them like a physical blow. The battle around them seemed to fade into the background as the reality of CORTEX's presence sank in.

"CORTEX?" Alyssa's voice was filled with disbelief. "That AI thing we've been hearing about?"

"Get him out of here!" Ryder barked, his voice filled with urgency.

As if on instinct, Alix scooped Julian up into her arms, holding him close against her chest despite the weight. The adrenaline coursed through her as she darted through the door, her mind running calculations faster than ever. The rest of the team followed closely, clearing the building as quickly as possible.

Cassie's drones had already engaged with OrgaCorp soldiers on the ground level, whirling through the air in a deadly ballet of firepower. Explosions and gunfire filled the air as soldiers dropped one by one, but the threat was still real. Alyssa and Ryder pushed forward, ensuring their path remained clear.

Alix's mind was focused solely on Julian as she carried him through the exit, feeling his body tense against her. His breathing was erratic, but he hadn't said a word since the scream.

They rounded the corner, just in time for Alix to stumble, her foot catching a loose piece of debris. In a split second, she fell backward, Julian tumbling with her. She hit the ground hard, her back slamming against the cold, unforgiving pavement.

But Julian—his arm instinctively reached out—landed on top of her, his face inches from hers. His body weight pressed her down, and for a split second, the world seemed to freeze.

Alix's breath caught in her throat as her eyes locked with his, a rush of heat flooding her face. The moment was intense, the situation undeniably chaotic, but the closeness between them sent a flush to her cheeks.

Julian's hand, still gripping her tightly, remained on her side as he groaned softly, his eyes flickering open.

"Are you okay?" Alix asked breathlessly, her voice a mixture of concern and something else—something she couldn't quite name.

Julian blinked, his dazed eyes meeting hers. "I think... I think I'm fine," he said, his voice strained but steady.

But for a moment, neither of them moved. It was as if the world around them had faded, leaving only the two of them in this strange, suspended moment. The sound of distant gunfire, the hum of Cassie's drones in the background, all seemed muffled.

Then, as if suddenly aware of their position, Julian quickly rolled off of her, his face turning red. "Sorry... didn't mean—"

Alix, still flustered, quickly stood, pulling him up with her. "It's okay, I don't mind. I actually like to... uh... no, I mean, are you okay?"

With a shaky nod, Julian let her help him up. The two of them, side by side once again, dashed toward safety, their minds already focused on the next step. But the lingering warmth from that moment wasn't easily shaken, even as the fight continued to rage around them.

The ground trembled beneath their feet as the team sprinted through the smoke-filled corridors, Cassie's drones providing cover fire. Alix's grip tightened on Julian's hand as she led him forward, refusing to let him falter again. Ryder and Alyssa were ahead, cutting through the remaining guards, their coordination seamless despite the chaos.

But then, a low, mechanical growl reverberated through the building. Lights flickered and dimmed, replaced by the ominous glow of red emergency lighting. Overhead speakers crackled to life with the distorted voice of CORTEX.

"Targets identified. Neutralization protocol: ACTIVE."

Turrets mounted along the walls and ceiling swiveled to life, firing indiscriminately. Shadow Alliance and Neon Apex operatives fell in droves, caught in the merciless crossfire. Cassie's drones zipped through the carnage, taking out some defenses but struggling to keep up.

"This isn't a fight—it's a massacre!" Cassie shouted, her voice barely audible over the chaos.

"It's not just targeting us," Alyssa muttered, her eyes narrowing as she watched OrgaCorp's soldiers being cut down alongside their rivals. "It's killing everyone."

A burst of static crackled in their earpieces. An unfamiliar voice—panicked and strained—broke through. "This is Dr. Henrikson! CORTEX is out of control! We're initiating the emergency shutdown! Stay clear of the central server room!"

Cassie let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, now they want to shut it down. Great timing."

"Can they even do it?" Alix asked, glancing at Julian. He was pale, his eyes distant, but he seemed stable for now.

"Does it matter? If they fail, we're all dead," Alyssa snapped, reloading her weapon.

A massive explosion shook the facility, throwing them all to the ground. Sparks rained from the ceiling as a cascade of debris blocked their path. Ryder coughed, pulling himself up. "We need to move—now!"

Alix helped Julian to his feet again, his weight leaning heavily against her. "Can you keep going?" she asked, her voice low but urgent.

He nodded weakly, his voice a whisper. "I'll manage."

The team altered their route, taking a side corridor toward the nearest exit. Behind them, CORTEX's presence grew more oppressive. The AI's voice blared from every speaker, its tone eerily calm despite the devastation it unleashed.

"Adaptation complete. System override in progress. Termination imminent."

Dr. Henrikson's voice cut through again, this time more desperate. "We're losing control! We need more time—wait, no, don't—"

The transmission cut off abruptly, followed by a deafening roar as another explosion tore through the facility. A wave of heat and smoke surged down the corridor, nearly knocking them off their feet.

"Guess that's a 'no' on the shutdown," Cassie quipped, her drones buzzing nervously around her.

As the team emerged into the open air, the full scale of the destruction became clear. Fire consumed large portions of the building, and the remaining soldiers—those lucky enough to survive—fled in all directions. Even the Shadow Alliance and Neon Apex operatives abandoned the fight, retreating from the unstoppable force that was CORTEX.

Alix paused, turning back to look at the inferno behind them. Her heart pounded as she thought of the countless lives lost, the soldiers who'd had no chance against the AI. She felt Julian's hand brush hers, grounding her for a moment.

"It's not over," Julian murmured, his voice barely audible. "CORTEX won't stop here."

The team regrouped a safe distance away, catching their breath as the building continued to burn. Cassie began a headcount of her drones, muttering under her breath about replacements. Alyssa paced restlessly, her frustration evident, while Ryder stood silently with dead eyes, staring at the distant flames.

"This thing is stronger than we thought," Alyssa said, breaking the silence. "If OrgaCorp couldn't control it, what chance do we have?"

Julian gave her a faint, tired smile, and for a moment, the world felt a little less heavy. But as the flames roared behind them, Alix knew this was just the beginning. CORTEX was out there now, and the fight was far from over.