Book One

By Daniel M. Ross

A NEW SAGA BEGINS.
BABYLON, 2171. As the fabric of time begins to unravel, the man responsible must wrestle his darkest demons in order to thread the world back together again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel M. Ross
• Release date: Jul 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215104170

Daniel M. Ross

Daniel M. Ross is the pastor of Eternity Chapel: a growing virtual-reality ministry dedicated to making church accessible all over the globe, and is also the founder of The Infinit Foundation: a global trust designed to dynamically impact the entertainment industry for good—producing and distributing theatrical content at no cost to the consumer.Years ago, Ross finally quit producing for his VFX company (rendering images for Hollywood studios and national brands in Los Angeles, California) in order to pursue writing full-time.Walk in the park, right?Many. Years. Later.Today, Ross has published several titles across multiple formats—paving the way for a new storytelling genre: Audible Screenplays. Ross’ work has topped and held leads on international bestseller lists for both fiction and nonfiction, while his sci-fi/fantasy book saga, The Infinit Universe, has entered development as a major motion picture while earning the trademark, FilmicAudioTM, for its audiobook release.Ross speaks one language and does not own a dog. However, he does have 4 beautiful children with his high-school sweetheart of a wife. He enjoys laser tag, baking, and repeating jokes until they aren’t funny anymore.

Book preview

Copyright © 2023 Infinit. All Rights Reserved.

A nonprofit organization.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission, except for the use of brief quotations within critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, businesses, and incidents portrayed in this novel are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

InfinitFoundation.org

the DARKNESS

expanded like an endless abyss, a stark reminder of the infinite unknown. The wails of countless souls reverberated across the blackness, their cries piercing and mournful, like the whispers of lost memories. Each scream seemed to carry with it a deep sadness, a profound sense of loss that hung heavy in the air, the weight of a thousand sorrows pressing down upon the silence.

The crackling of a radio broke through the chorus of screams, its sporadic static like raindrops upon a tin roof; news chatter—distorted and garbled. Yet it sounded as if played...in reverse. It was hard to make out the words, but the urgency in the broadcaster's voice was clear, like the final plea of a drowning man. Something was happening, something big.

Suddenly, the air was filled with a deafening boom, a sound that resonated in the very marrow of one's bones. The ground trembled like an earthquake, its vibrations rippling outward like the aftershocks of a colossal explosion. The sound of crumbling rock and exploding buildings thundered in the distance, a chaotic symphony of destruction, the final dirge of a dying world.

A woman's voice pierced through the chaos, her screams desperate and anguished, as sharp as a blade slicing through the night. She mourned for her child, her agony a visceral echo of a mother's love torn asunder.

The blaring of sirens added to the cacophony, their dissonant roar rising in a backwards lapse, like the anguished cry of a world in reverse. It was as if time itself were unraveling, the threads of existence fraying and coming undone. The once mysterious void had become an inescapable torrent of noise, a never-ending onslaught of pain and terror, as if the very fabric of reality were shattering before the relentless onslaught of despair.

In the hushed stillness of daybreak, a bedroom was bathed in the soft, ethereal glow of the sun's first light. The delicate touch of a loving kiss, as gentle as a summer breeze, was bestowed upon the rugged landscape of a man's face by the tender embrace of a woman's lips. Their eyes met, the warmth and depth of their shared love reflected in the glistening pools of their gazes, as their fingers intertwined. The dazzling reflections of two wedding bands danced amidst the intimacy of their embrace; a husband and wife, their love woven together like the delicate threads of a tapestry, lay atop one another in the sanctuary of their bed, painted in the radiance of the morning sun.

A golden crucifix dangled gracefully from the woman's slender neck, the embodiment of her unwavering faith. Multicolor flecks of light glinted from the many prisms of the crucifix's sparkling diamonds, as if a rainbow had shattered and scattered its vibrant hues across the room. In that moment, she was the epitome of beauty, her very essence radiating a luminous aura.

Their lips met once more in a tender, unhurried kiss. She gently traced her fingers up his cheekbone, each touch sending a shiver of delight down his spine. Her fingertips danced playfully across his nose, eliciting a warm, genuine smile from the man who had long ago captured her heart.

Her giggle, a melodious sound that seemed to vibrate with the joy of a thousand sunrises, rang out in the air between them. She playfully picked his nose, the unexpected act catching him off guard. A snort escaped his lips, and they both burst into laughter, their mirth as pure and as boundless as the love they shared.

Yet, just as their laughter began to subside, the nightmarish screams of a crumbling universe rose again, like a relentless tide crashing upon the shore, reaching its fevered crescendo. The sudden contrast was jarring, as if the harmony of their love was being torn apart by the discordant symphony of a world in chaos.

———

A pair of bloodshot, swollen eyes snap open, betraying the depths of a dream that had been fractured and forgotten. Silence pervaded the space, suffocating and absolute. The man they belonged to found himself trapped in a haze, fragments of memories swirling around him.

Xavier was a middle-aged man with a face that bore the weight of untold stories. His scowl and unwavering glare masked an emotional storm that threatened to break free. He blinked, the simple act like a slap that brought him back to reality. Still groggy and sleepless, he stumbled into a narrow, tube-shaped wall with a resounding thud.

"Wake up, please wake up..." he hissed in defeat.

As Xavier struggled to regain his bearings, his senses began to sharpen. He detected the faint hum of machinery, and his nostrils were filled with the sterile scent that clung to the capsule's interior. The dimly lit capsule was eerily reminiscent of a place he knew all too well, like a nightmare once endured. The occasional flash of LEDs cast fleeting shadows that danced along the walls, adding to the disorienting atmosphere.

With an impatient gesture, Xavier wiped the remnants of sleep from his eyes, feeling the grit of his own exhaustion against his fingertips. His heart rate quickened in anticipation as he reached up and yanked a lever above his head. The sound of liquid nitrogen hissing and escaping was like the sharp intake of a breath, followed by an almost inaudible sigh. The capsule walls slowly inched apart, as if reluctant to reveal the world beyond.

As the walls separated, slivers of light seeped through the cracks, casting a kaleidoscope of colors that danced and shimmered against the cold metallic surfaces. The sight that unfolded before him was both breathtaking and ominous, a stunning vestige of the awe-inspiring world that awaited him outside his metal cage.

Outside the capsule, the aerial panorama of an otherworldly skyline presented itself like a wounded titan. Babylon, a supercity of floating cities, lay in ruins—a testament to the ambitions and failures of humankind. The towering buildings, once symbols of progress and innovation, were now twisted and entangled like a steel and concrete cavern, their shattered silhouettes painting a somber picture against the sky. The air was heavy with an eerie silence, punctuated only by the distant echoes of destruction and loss.

In Babylon, architectural marvels defied gravity, achieving feats that seemed to bend the laws of physics. Entire plazas and city squares hovered over the very skies, held aloft by the power of gyroscopic gravitation. The once-thriving plazas and city squares now drifted eerily above the ravaged landscape, held aloft by the enigmatic force of antigravity. It was as though the very fabric of reality had been shredded, permitting these gargantuan structures to remain suspended and wandering like celestial bodies through the empty skies.

Xavier squinted against the sky, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the desolate panorama before him. A disdainful expression settled on his face, creasing his weathered features. He appeared to be at the summit of one of the tallest towers, a vantage point that offered him an unparalleled view of the floating ruins of Babylon.

He took a deep breath, the metallic tang of the air filling his lungs. The weight of the destruction seemed to settle on Xavier's shoulders, his gaze unwavering as he stared out at the fallen city.

Clad in tactical gear and a titanium staff strapped to his back, he climbed out of the capsule and walked towards the edge of the rooftop. Xavier couldn't help but notice the peculiar raindrops that seemed to defy the laws of nature, rising instead of falling from the sky. Each tiny droplet glistened like a liquid gemstone, catching the faint light that managed to pierce through the gloom of the stormy day.

These gravity-defying raindrops were suspended in mid-air for a moment, forming mesmerizing patterns as they swirled upwards, joining the stormy clouds above. They collided and merged with one another, creating bigger droplets that shimmered like floating pearls before continuing their ascent. Xavier marveled at the sight, momentarily distracted from the weight of his mission.

With every upward journey of a raindrop, it seemed as if the world's sorrows were being pulled towards the heavens, only to be released again in the form of a thunderous lament. The rain's reverse symphony echoed through the ruins of Babylon, underscoring the once-thriving city's current desolation.

As Xavier approached the edge of the rooftop, the raindrops danced around him, their upward trajectory mirroring the defiance of the very city he stood in. The thunder rolled in reverse, a low, mournful growl that filled the air, and he couldn't help but feel that it was a warning—a reminder of the great challenges that lay ahead.

A sudden strobe of lightning illuminated the desolate skyline, cutting through the fog and casting eerie shadows across a cavern of skyscrapers. The dazzling flash was accompanied by a cacophony of sound as concrete, metal, and glass were torn from the depths and lifted into the air, swirling and twirling in the storm's powerful grasp. The earthen agglomeration ascended into the skies, as if gravity had lost its grip on the very fabric of Babylon.

Xavier watched the phenomenon with a mixture of awe and contempt, his eyes narrowing as he took in the gravity-defying spectacle. There was something both mesmerizing and infuriating about the way the wreckage danced in the wind, as if mocking the destruction that had befallen the once-great city.

As he continued to observe, the cluster of debris took on a new form, morphing and coalescing as it ascended higher into the sky. The pieces twisted and turned, merging with one another to create a new form: a tower, vertically inverted—upside down, that seemed to defy all logic. It drifted by, suspended in antigravity, a monument to the chaos that had been unleashed upon Babylon.

The antigravity technology that had once been Babylon's pride now seemed to mock its own ruin, as the abandoned structure drifted by in a ghostly, weightless ballet. Xavier couldn't help but let out a derisive huff through his nose, the sight of the once-great city reduced to this haunting spectacle.

With a soft click and a low hum, a metallic saucer detached itself from the tip of the capsule. Gracefully, it floated down to the ground, emitting a series of chirps and beeps as it did so. Its single blue iris darted left and right, scanning the surroundings with an almost human-like curiosity. From its underside, an array of cyanic lasers shot out, meticulously examining the rooftop with mathematic precision.

Xavier spared a brief glance at the drone before a sudden realization seemed to strike him. His hand moved to pat his jacket, and then he froze as a quiet dread washed over his face. With trembling fingers, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a hollow metal ring.

Upon initial inspection, the object appeared unremarkable—similar in size to a medallion, with a deceptively simple design that obscured its true nature. However, as Xavier cradled it in his hand, an unsettling presence seemed to emanate from the unassuming ring, commanding both attention and a sense of foreboding...

A wave of anguish washed over Xavier's face as he stared at the platinum band, its ghostly hollow center appearing to stare back at him. With a heavy heart, he tapped its rim—

TEETEE-TEET! With a sudden electronic chirp, the band flickered to life, its surface illuminated by dancing LEDs that strobed with captivating brilliance. Within the hollow center, a series of crimson petals emerged, as if conjured from light itself—reminiscent of a rose unfolding its delicate petals for the very first time.

Glowing particles fluttered and danced around the device's radial edge, creating a mesmerizing display of light and color. As Xavier's eyebrows rose in awe, the incandescent blossom cast its radiant glow across his eyes, reflecting both its beauty and the weight of the power it held.

Xavier reached out hesitantly towards the glowing petals, pinching one gently between his thumb and index finger. With a soft whoosh, he pulled the radiant band through the air, magnifying the image to a much larger scale.

A dome of pure, shimmering light enveloped Xavier, creating an ethereal display around him. Within this luminous display, the Solar System, depicted in a geocentric model, revolved gracefully around the Earth. Its celestial bodies—planets, moons, and stars—danced with one another, their orbits weaving intricate patterns as they traced an ever-growing array of delicate rose petals. The sight was awe-inspiring, each heavenly object shimmering with its own unique radiance, creating an otherworldly ballet of cosmic harmony.

The drone, momentarily pausing its work, seemed to be captivated by the universally mesmerizing beauty of the scene.

So, what do you think Al...looks promising, right? Xavier breathed with a mix of wonder and hope...

...The robot beeped affirmatively.

Bathed in the ethereal glow of the luminescent dome, Xavier moved his fingers, expanding them in a graceful motion. One of the petals, previously a mere sliver of crimson light, magnified under his touch, revealing a series of dates etched along its gossamer edge. Each date, a landmark in time, a moment of significance in the grand tapestry of existence.

Suddenly, an alert broke the tranquility. A sharp, insistent TE-TEET, TE-TEET echoed through the air, its rhythmic insistence pulling Xavier's attention towards the Earth. From behind the blue and green sphere, one of the dates began to blink and beep urgently. Its call was impossible to ignore.

With a determined stride, Xavier approached it. The date was stark and clear, etched in glowing luminescence against the backdrop of the spinning Earth: DEC. 8, 2171. The sight of it seemed to widen his eyes, the implications of the date hitting him like a physical blow.

Reaching up, he tapped a small device strapped to his wrist. It hummed to life, a small, blue light indicating its readiness to record. His voice, when he spoke, held a certain gravitas, a solemn respect for the moment.

Entry zero-one-six-seven. December the 8th, 2171 at three forty... He trailed off, his gaze shifting to his wristwatch. An odd sight met his eyes as the minute hand seemed to tick backward, while its digital counterpart flicked from 3:47 to 3:46 PM. ... Six, PM. Ten-point-five degrees Celsius.

With a flick of his wrist, he shut off the recorder, the blue light dimming as it complied. His gaze returned to the destruction around him, the once-majestic city of Babylon now a hostess to chaos and ruin. The clamor of unseen explosions and the phantom screams of its absent inhabitants seemed to swell in his mind, a stark reminder of the cataclysm that had ravaged the floating supercity.

With measured movement, Xavier tapped his disc. The vibrant holographic display wavered for a moment, a shimmering curtain of light, before it dissolved into nothingness. The Solar System and its celestial dance dissipated, leaving Xavier alone once more against the backdrop of the desolate horizon.

Beyond the rooftop from where he stood, in the heart of the ruined cityscape, rose the skeletal remnants of a triplet of towers. They lay toppled amidst the ruins, their once majestic forms cloven through the middle as if struck by an unseen giant's axe. The broken silhouette they cast against the sky bore witness to their former glory, a melancholic echo of their past splendor.

Even in their fallen state, they held an aura of grandeur. Their twisted beams and shattered windows suggested an architectural prowess that was a marvel even for this advanced civilization. They stood taller than their peers, their design more audacious, their ambition unmatched. These were the Avalon Towers, their name a whisper of a time when Babylon was a city of dreams rather than a graveyard of aspirations.

Once, they had touched the sky, defying gravity with their towering spires, a monument to mankind's indomitable will and ingenuity. Now, they lay broken, their proud stature reduced to a jagged scar across the skyline, a poignant reminder of the city's tragic downfall.

His gaze was riveted on the sight, the sorrow of countless memories flickering in the depths of his eyes as he took in the ruin of what was once a symbol of human brilliance. Xavier's steps carried him to the edge of the roof, each footfall echoing the weight of the world he carried on his shoulders. The grief of a lifetime was etched into his visage, each line and furrow telling a story of loss, regret, and a city that once thrived with life now reduced to a shadow of its former glory.

He spoke, his voice barely more than a whisper against the quiet ruin around him, "Won't be long now..."

His eyes slowly drifted closed, the once vibrant cityscape replaced by the darkness behind his eyelids. A moment of stillness hung in the air, the city holding its breath as he leaned forward...more...more...and then, without a sound, he tipped over the edge. His form, once solid and unyielding against the backdrop of the sky, became a fleeting silhouette as he free-fell from the top of the tower, a mere speck against the ruins below.

From across the roof, the drone flinched, its scanners cutting abruptly at the sight. Its voice, tinged with a British accent and a hint of apprehension, broke the silence left in Xavier's wake, "...That was all rhetorical, right?" The question hung in the air, unanswered, as the blue saucer stared at the spot where Xavier had just stood moments ago.

Locked in a death-defying descent, Xavier seemed to be swallowed whole by the skeletal remains of the cityscape around him. The drone, in a bid to keep up, hurtled through the air, casting a mechanical shadow that danced beside Xavier's plummeting form.

There was an eerie tranquility that cloaked the moment, the chaos of destruction momentarily kept at bay. Xavier's eyes remained shut, his expression serene as if he were seeking refuge from the harsh reality in the darkness behind his eyelids.

Then, in a heartbeat, his eyes snapped open, the brown of his irises stark against the greyness of the surroundings.

Now.

On his command, the drone made its move. With a quick metallic click, it latched onto Xavier's back. A circular anti-gravity sail unfurled from its frame, humming with energy as it fought against the pull of the earth. A gentle hum of energy resonated around them as their speed decreased, their swift plunge transforming into an elegant descent, expertly guided by the saucer’s sophisticated technology.

Once his feet touched the ground, Xavier reached over his shoulder, his fingers curling around the handle of his staff. With a swift tug, he unhooked it, the cool titanium feeling familiar and reassuring in his grasp. His grip tightened around the rod as it hummed to life, a resonant thrum echoing around him like the purr of a resting beast. Arcs of electric energy crackled at each end, igniting a luminous azure glow that pulsed with an undercurrent of raw, volatile power. The electric light danced across Xavier's features, painting him in a wash of iridescent blue, casting an island of tranquility in stark contrast to the calamitous cityscape that stretched before him.

———

The courtyard of ARC Enterprises, once an architectural marvel, now stood as a solemn monument to the ravages of time itself. Crumbled stone lay scattered like confetti, and frayed rebar jutted out from the wreckage, skeletal and haunting. Uprooted magnolia trees, their branches reaching out like desperate hands, lay strewn haphazardly, their fallen beauty stark against the ruined landscape. This place was a shadow of its former glory.

Undeterred by the extensive devastation, Xavier moved with a purposeful stride through the debris-littered courtyard, his faithful drone companion, the enigmatic blue saucer, following close behind. Its single blue eye scanned the surroundings, its lenses adjusting minutely to every change in light and movement.

Together, they passed under the skeletal remains of a colossal steel arch, its once elegant curve now marred by the ravages of an invisible cataclysm. The stylized outline of the letter A remained discernible, a faded reminder of the company's once-prominent status.

Embossed within the weathered structure was a slogan that had once been a beacon of hope and promise: DEFENDING OUR TOMORROW™. Xavier’s gaze landed on the now hollow words, a sneer twisting his features. The irony was not lost on him, the bitter sting of spite palpable in the silent condemnation of his gaze. Once a promise, now a haunting epitaph for a world lost to time and folly.

———

Xavier persevered through the ruins of what had once been a thriving street, now transformed into a haunting spectacle of mangled vehicles and strewn debris. Every shattered window, every crumbled brick bore testimony to the immense catastrophe that had enveloped this place, leaving an eerie desolation in its wake.

As he continued his trek through the wreckage, the rhythmic pulse of a deep, reverberating hum permeated the air. It was akin to the distant hum of a colossal engine, a sound that ebbed and flowed, creating an almost tangible vibration that seemed to resonate with the desolation around him. He lifted his gaze to the source of the dissonant symphony: a gigantic swathe of land, stubbornly clinging to its position in the sky amidst the ruins. The airborne expanse was a ghostly mirage of what it once was, now home to the shattered husks of apartment complexes and skeletal remnants of once-majestic skyscrapers. The vestiges of a community that once thrived high above the ground now lay in ruin, presenting a haunting echo to the terrestrial devastation below.

Branded on the colossal platform's underbelly were the words, GRAVIMAXX: REAL ESTATE, ELEVATED. GraviMaxx, a trailblazer in the real estate industry, had been the largest consumer of antigravity technology. Their audacious venture had revolutionized urban living, creating floating metropolises that defied gravity and sparked the imaginations of millions. The slogan was not merely a tagline, but a prophecy of a future filled with soaring aspirations and unprecedented innovation.

But now, the hovering platform, once a beacon of human achievement, teetered on the brink of collapse. Its starboard end grazed the asphalt below, while the other tilted precariously skyward. It was an ironic spectacle, hovering amidst the ruins, a poignant reminder of the fragility of even the most advanced creations. It clung to the heavens, a tragic monument of the world's descent into chaos, a landmark to the hubris that had preceded this fall.

Xavier's footsteps echoed, punctuating the haunting solitude. The air was heavy with a sense of foreboding, while tiny whirlwinds of trash twirled in the wind, adding to the ghostly atmosphere...

KRGM! A crashing sound shattered the quiet. Xavier spun around, eyes narrowing. But there was nothing there. He resumed his pace, only for another crash to sound off from the opposite direction.

Al, do a sweep up ahead, he instructed, his voice steady despite his rising pulse. The blue saucer zipped forward obediently.

With a sizzling sound, Xavier activated his staff. A shower of sparks erupted from its ends, illuminating the gloom around him. He took another step forward, his senses on high alert.

Suddenly, a high-pitched trilling filled the air. A strange insectoid creature, all gangly limbs and jagged exoskeleton, scuttled out from the rubble. Despite its intimidating exterior, there was an almost gleeful energy about it, as if it were thrilled to have found another living being in this desolate place.

Xavier crouched down, studying the creature closely. Its exoskeleton was made of burned titanium, black as the darkest obsidian, and laced with glowing red joints. It moved with an anxious jitter, reminiscent of a cockroach trapped in a corner.

What do we have here...what’d you get lost? Come on out, come on... Xavier coaxed, his voice softening. The creature emitted a cooing sound that was surprisingly endearing. Xavier gently cradled it in his hands, marveling at its intricate design. Hundreds of tiny arms surrounded a single glowing red eye.

But in the next instant, his demeanor changed. With a swift, brutal motion, he jammed his staff through the creature's eye socket—SHRRZZZ! A harsh, electric sizzle filled the air as the staff discharged a surge of electricity. The insectoid shrieked and writhed in agony before it exploded in a shower of sparks and metal.

Nonchalantly dusting off his hands, Xavier carried on his way, his demeanor as casual as if he'd just swatted a bug. Hmph, he grunted, the brief moment of empathy now forgotten.

...The frame of the dead insectoid shifted slightly, pushing outward by a long, sinewy tentacle. The metallic limb squirmed and twisted, its movements giving life to the otherwise deceased creature.

Then, a threatening creak echoed through the deserted street as an enormous coil of black tentacles embraced an overturned combine transport nearby, squeezing its rigid frame. With a resounding crack, the massive vehicle began to rise, morphing under the relentless pressure of the entwining black wires.

This was no ordinary spectacle. It was a display of raw, monstrous strength as an amalgamation of obsidian tendrils effortlessly hoisted the twenty-ton vehicle like a child's plaything...

Xavier, his back turned to the entire event, froze. Was it irony or spite that made him pause? His eyes rolled skyward, and he shook his head, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He had been through enough, but it seemed fate had another challenge for him. The weight of his plight was etched onto his features, the burden of his task casting a shadow over his usually determined face.

With measured steps, Xavier pivoted to face the menacing presence behind him, his heart pounding in his chest. As he did, the magnitude of the gargantuan entity that towered before him became strikingly clear. It was an awe-inspiring sight, both terrifying and captivating. Nestled within the chaos of the wreckage, the creature unfurled from its hiding place, spiraling outward from the midst of broken spires of rock and floating plazas.

The creature was colossal, rivaling the skyscrapers in sheer height and scale. Its form bore a grotesque resemblance to a centipede, but it was adorned with countless tentacles instead of legs. Each limb writhed with a life of its own, flexing and curling in a mesmerizing display of raw power. It reared up, its size dominating the landscape, casting an ominous shadow over the ruins below.

A palpable air of hostility emanated from the creature, a silent vow of brutal retaliation waiting for those who would dare provoke it. Its countless tentacles twitched in anticipation, each appendage a weapon in its own right.

Despite its monstrous visage, there was an undeniable majesty to its form, a dark allure that was both repelling and captivating. This entity was a portrait of the harsh reality of a fallen world—a world born from the ruins of what once was.

The floating blue drone, unnervingly calm, regarded the monstrous entity before it. The myriad of lights reflecting off its convex surface seemed to dim a bit as it began to pull back...

Well, I don't know what I was expecting... the hovering companion’s voice trailed off, a hint of apprehension piercing his artificially composed tone.

Meanwhile, Xavier took a moment to size up the colossal creature. He scanned the mass of writhing tentacles from its base to the towering apex. The reality of the situation settled on his face, a mixture of grim determination and disbelief. Then, with a shake of his head, he turned on his heel and dashed away, his boots pounding against the rubble-strewn ground. Outta there.

The blue saucer, still as a ghost, hovered in place, the azure glow of its body casting elongated shadows on the cracked concrete. Xavier's voice echoed back, impatience biting through each word. What, you need an invitation?! And wipe that smirk off your face!

How has it in five minutes, you’ve already managed to endanger us both?! the drone retorted, its voice carrying a note of mechanical exasperation. Its single eye then locked onto the ominous black tentacles crawling toward them, weaving around the wreckage of overturned cars and spreading across the street; a webwork of metal, pledged to destruction.

Amidst the chaos, a glimmer caught Xavier's eye. Amongst the contorted metals and shattered glass, a pair of untouched carbide tires emerged from the debris, belonging to a sleek, dormant machine. It was a thing of beauty, its sharp lines and aerodynamic design untouched by the destruction around it. Xavier reached out, his fingers tracing the cold metal before gripping onto it firmly. A spark of hope ignited within him.

He kick-started the machine, and the dead city was instantly bathed in an electrifying symphony of blue pin-lights. They spiraled to life, illuminating the shell of the machine and casting an otherworldly glow across Xavier's face. A small smirk played on his lips as he whispered a triumphant "...Eureka," to the wind.

In an explosive burst of acceleration, the sleek machine, a jetcycle, roared into life under Xavier's expert handling. The ground blurred beneath him as he pulled away from the approaching tendrils of the monstrous colossus. The wind whipped through his jacket, carrying with it his words directed at the hovering drone, Betta' wipe that smirk off your face, I'm not gon' say it again!

"...Oh."

The drone—jolted from its stasis, ignited its thrusters—KHRRSH! Emitting a cobalt glow across the wreckage, and darting in Xavier’s wake towards a looming, dark tunnel.

GROOAAR! The monster gave a guttural roar, echoing across the deserted canyon of a city. Its innumerable tentacles thrashed and flailed, crashing through buildings, and leveling plaza squares as it pursued the fleeing duo with the momentum of a freight train. Its massive form slithered through the wreckage—a living cataclysm leaving further destruction in its wake.

The tunnel ahead expanded before them, a forbidding chasm of darkness that was both an unknown threat and their sole chance of salvation. The gaping cavity seemed eager to consume them, an ominous abyss against the backdrop of ruin and the relentless pursuit of the monstrous colossus. As they raced towards the seeming sanctuary, the creature's lashing appendages whipped through the air, missing them by mere fractions.

In an instant, they were enveloped by the tunnel's stygian depths, their existence swallowed by its colossal maw. Their vibrant lights, a stark contrast against the encroaching blackness, were the sole indicators of their presence in the cavernous void. As they plunged deeper into the tunnel, the beast's furious roars echoed behind them, its bulk too large to follow. Its clusters of crimson eyes glowed ominously against the darkness of the tunnel, the thwarted beast left to roar its defiance to an empty street.

———

The tunnel swallowed them whole, a vast maw of darkness that seemed to stretch into infinity. The echoes of their engines rumbled around them, bouncing off the damp, uneven walls, and the air was heavy with the scent of decay and damp earth.

Shed us some light, Al, Xavier's voice echoed through the vast cavernous space.

With a soft sheen, the drone's headlights blazed to life, casting long, pallid beams of light that pierced the enveloping darkness. Their illumination revealed an unexpected sight: the skeletal remains of an expansive underground excavation.

The tunnel around them was teeming with life, but not the kind they were familiar with. The walls were alive with thousands of tiny red lights, each one a mechanical eye observing their intrusion. The lights stretched into the fathomless depths of the tunnel, creating an eerie, undulating sea of red that shone like a macabre constellation. It was as if they had stumbled upon a mechanical beehive, a nest teeming with unseen, artificial life.

A low hum began to fill the air, a mechanical drone that grew louder and more insistent with every passing second. Xavier, aware of the rising danger, shot a glance over his shoulder.