Neo-ilka was bathed in the dark orange of simulated dusk as Zypher and his team moved quietly through the maze-like streets. The wind was heavy with the scent of rusted metal and burning oil, the air thick enough it felt like the city leaned down to watch them. Every sound echoed as they made their way to the meeting point, one forgotten district far from any snoop's prying eyes or surveillance drones' lens.
But tonight was different. Tonight, their mission wasn't about hunting artifacts nor battling ancient forces-it was testing loyalties, pushing every individual in the team to one's limits so any hidden fracture in that bond would be laid bare.
Zypher had reconvened the team after receiving information from a network of informants that had, admittedly, been expensive. He knew that The Iron Accord, a powerful syndicate recruiting mercenaries, was selecting troops. He had heard about The Iron Accord: merciless control over multiple sectors within Neo-ilka, assorted weaponry and secrets, and unspeakable acts beyond his understanding. And only recently had they evinced interest in the shards of Divinitas—an interest which could unwrap everything that Zypher and his team had worked toward.
A message had come from the Iron Accord: they wanted to meet Zypher's crew and make an offer—a "buy-in" that could tempt any mercenary, any rebel, anyone who thought they could hide from their past. Syndicate influence was so deep that even the corporations kept wary distance.
But then, he had a personal reason for putting them here - besides, he trusted them, but one must know when not to trust them because their loyalties wouldn't be swayed; they would not be hypnotized by the promises the Iron Accord was sure to throw their way.
The dim lighting in the rundown meeting hall would be full of tension. The building had been forgotten so long ago that its walls were painted over with chipping, inscrutable symbols. Shadows crouched in every corner of the place so that it felt like a trap, ready to spring.
Zypher, Orion, Kiera, Nyra, and Lys stood, brooding in silence as they waited. The minutes ticked by, each of them alone with their thoughts.
A great metal door creaked open, and a figure in dark armor stepped through it, followed by three more who flanked him as sentinels. His name was Kato, this high-ranking enforcer of the Iron Accord known for ruthlessness toward ambition and cunning in equal measure. He looked at them with a gaze that suggested he knew each of their weaknesses and how he might exploit them.
"Welcome," Kato said, his voice smooth as a blade. "I see we've heard a lot about you people. Powerful, resilient, and. searching for a cause, as the saying is, though I think I heard that's what you're looking for."
Kato smiled, a cold calculating expression. "Ah, but everybody has a price. Even the most loyal, the most determined can be bought with the right offer. I know your kind, Orion. You've fought battles that leave scars no one else can see." He looked at each one of them in turn, his eyes glinting with amusement. "And that goes for each of you.".
Kiera shot him a deadly glare, her hand drifting unconsciously toward her weapon. But Zypher gave her a subtle shake of the head, reminding her of the delicate game they were playing.
"Why don't you cut to the point, Kato?" Zypher's voice was steady but cold, his eyes narrowed.
Kato smiled. A predator's grin. "We give you a home in the Iron Accord. A family, of sorts. All the resources you could ever imagine would be at your disposal, protection from every corporation in Neo-ilka, and power— true power. You will have nothing to hold you back; your ambitions will be limitless should you join us.
But Kato wasn't finished with him yet. He leaned in closer to Orion, his voice sliding into a menacing whisper. "Orion, think of never having to answer to anyone but himself again. No codes of honor, no rules. Loyalty only to the Accord and limitless power. Isn't that what he has always wanted?
Orion clenched his jaw, his temptation eating at him. He had been a pawn as long as he remembered, thrown from one handler to the next, from one decided game to the next. The Iron Accord promised him a way out of it all, and the temptation was sweet-and-bitter indeed.
Kato took another step forward, his eyes glinting with wicked intrigue. "And you, Kiera. Think of what you could do with our resources all at your fingertips. Your vendettas, your secrets-nothing would be beyond your reach."
Kiera narrowed her gaze, unwavering, yet tense. She held the Accord's gaze, unwilling to allow him a glimpse of vulnerability, but the reminder of her dark past hung heavy in the air.
His voice went low and conspiratorial as he turned to Nyra. "Nyra, with our tech, you could rebuild a world where knowledge wasn't locked up by the powerful. You could have the freedom to explore every mystery Neo-ilka hid.".
Nyra stepped back, suspicion clouding her gaze. But the appeal of Kato's proposal gnawed at the back of her mind, tempting her with forbidden knowledge and the sizzling thrill of unravelling Neo-ilka's darkest secrets.
Finally, Kato faced Zypher, and his smile widened. "And Zypher think of all you could build with us. We know what it is that these fragments of Divinitas possess. You could command their power to reshape Neo-ilka or maybe to master it. You want to liberate the city? Well, here's your chance.
Zypher stood up tall, his face set steel. He knew the Iron Accord had a poisoned gift. But as he turned to look at his teammates, he could see the shadow of doubt flickering through their eyes. Kato's words had stirred something inside each one of them-their old desires, their roads that they'd long since left behind. This was what Zypher was afraid of.
"We will think about your proposal," Zypher said, neutral.
Kato smiled, seeming to be pleased. "You take all the time you need. But understand this—membership in the Iron Accord isn't free, and if you choose to accept, there's no going back."
The room fell silent once Kato and his guards had turned to leave. Once the door closed behind them, Zypher turned to his team. For a man who was always quick with a smile and word, he looked very serious.
"This wasn't just a negotiation," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I needed to know if we're all still in this. The Accord knows our weaknesses. If any of us gives up or breaks.they'll use that to break us."
Orion looked down, his jaw set in a hard line. "Okay, fine.their offer was tempting. But I'm with you, Zypher. Whatever it takes."
Kiera nodded, her dark eyes locked with determination. "We've come too far to turn back now."
Nyra, though still visibly shaken, nodded hard to herself. "If we're going to change this city, we can't do it by following people like Kato."
Zypher let out a breath he hadn't even known he held, quiet relief spreading over him. He looked to each of them, a glint of pride in his eyes. "Then let's move forward, together. We have all faced our own shadows this night. Now, we know where we stand.".