Page 143 of Immersed
Asher shrugged, his casual demeanor a stark contrast to the life-or-death battle raging around them.“What? It’s good footage. We look amazing together.”
Faine’s face twisted in confusion, clearly thrown off-balance by this bizarre exchange in the middle of combat. The momentary lapse inhis attention caused several of the arms to pause mid-attack, their programming awaiting new instructions.
“Just... focus on not dying first, then we’ll discuss your video collection!”Levi shouted, using the opening to advance to an even higher platform.
“Fine,”Asher agreed with a put-upon sigh.“Kill him first, get tape after. Got it.”
The exchange worked. Faine was distracted, his focus divided between two threats approaching from opposite directions. The core in his chest glowed brighter as his systems worked harder to track and respond to both of them simultaneously.
And then, for just a moment, the protective shielding around the core retracted as Faine leaned forward, trying to direct more arms toward Asher’s position. The weak point was exposed.
“Now!”Levi shouted, launching himself from his platform toward Faine’s throne.
Asher moved in the same instant, a blur of coordinated violence. They converged on Faine from opposite directions, perfectly synchronized despite having no opportunity to plan their attack.
Faine realized the danger too late. He tried to retreat, to reactivate the shielding around his core, but his throne’s movement was too slow. Arms swung wildly, trying to intercept them, but the arms moved to where both of them had been, not their sudden, explosive movement.
Asher reached him first, grabbing one of the tubes connected to Faine’s chest and yanking it free with savage strength. Glowing fluid sprayed from the disconnected line, causing nearby components to short-circuit and spark.
Levi arrived a split second later, diving through the gap Asher had created. He grabbed a surgical blade from the ground and drove it into the exposed core with all his strength.
The core’s glow intensified to blinding brightness, energy discharging in violent arcs that scorched everything they touched. Faine screamed—a sound that was both human agony and mechanical failure combined into one horrific noise.
“What have you done?!”he shrieked, limbs flailing uselessly as his systems began to fail.“My work! My evolution!”
The throne’s components began to malfunction, hydraulics bursting and electronics shorting out. The arms throughout the chamber went limp, hanging from the walls like dead insects caught in a spider web. The platforms stopped their programmed movements, freezing in whatever position they last occupied.
Faine’s remaining organic components—his face, primarily—contorted in an expression of pure hatred.“If I am to be deactivated,”he snarled,“then you will join me in oblivion!”
His hand slammed down on a control panel built into the arm of his throne. Red warning lights flashed throughout the chamber, accompanied by a computerized voice announcing:“Emergency protocol activated. Facility self-destruct sequence initiated. Five minutes to structural collapse.”
The entire sanctum shuddered, the floor vibrating beneath their feet as deep within the building, explosives or other destructive mechanisms activated. Dust and small debris rained from the ceiling as support structures buckled.
“We need to get out of here,”Levi said, grabbing Asher’s arm and pulling him away from Faine’s dying form.
“One moment,”Asher replied, his eyes fixed on the monitors. He turned back to Faine, whose eyes flickered as power fluctuated.“Where’s the recording stored? Which system?”
“Asher!”Levi couldn’t believe what he was hearing.“The place is about to collapse!”
“It’s a valid question,”Asher defended, even as he allowed Levi to pull him toward the lower platforms.“That’s premium content.”
Faine’s laugh, distorted now by his shutdown, followed them as they descended.“There is no escape,”he called after them, his voice breaking up with static.“All exits are sealed during emergency protocols. You’ve doomed yourselves along with me.”
A quick survey of the chamber confirmed his words. The massive door they had entered through remained sealed, and no other exits were visible. The room shuddered again, more violently this time, and a large section of ceiling crashed down onto one of the platforms.
“There has to be a way out,”Levi insisted, scanning the walls for any sign of a maintenance door, ventilation shaft, anything they could use.
The computerized voice continued its countdown:“Four minutes to structural collapse.”
“There,”Asher said suddenly, pointing to a small access panel partially hidden behind one of the specimen tanks.“Maintenance access.”
They made their way toward it, navigating the now-stationary but precariously balanced platforms. The panel was sealed, but Asher wrenched it open with brute strength, revealing a narrow passage beyond.
“Tight fit,” he said. “You first.”
Levi squeezed into the passage, which was indeed just wide enough for a person to navigate, just like every other infuriating ventilation shaft in this place. It led upward at a sharp incline, forcing them to climb rather than crawl. Behind them, the sounds of destruction intensified as more of the sanctum collapsed.
“Three minutes to structural collapse,”the computerized voice announced, somehow audible even in the shaft.
