17

The tunnel stretched into darkness after Atlas disappeared, leaving Zara standing alone, her pulse roaring in her ears. The air felt heavier now, thick with silence and something far worse—dread. Every instinct screamed at her to chase after him, to stop him from hurling himself into danger again, but her feet refused to move.

“Damn you, Atlas,” she whispered, her voice trembling as her hands curled into fists at her sides.

Her breaths came unevenly as she tried to steady herself, tried to quiet the terror clawing at her chest. But her mind was a relentless storm, replaying every moment: the sparks flashing from his battered body, the flicker in his glowing eyes when he said he would protect her—no matter what.

“He’s not invincible,” she murmured to herself, shaking her head as if she could banish the thought. “He’s not—”

A low, mechanical rumble in the distance snapped her from her thoughts. Her spine stiffened, her eyes darting toward the tunnel ahead. She could hear it—the Torrak. Their guttural snarls reverberated through the narrow walls, mingling with the unmistakable sound of weapons charging up.

Her heart dropped.

Atlas fought ahead, somewhere in that dark hell of snarling soldiers and clanging metal. And here she stood, hiding in the shadows while he faced them alone. The realization sent a surge of anger through her, raw and untamed.

“No,” she muttered, her grip tightening on her rifle as she turned toward the path he had taken. She forced herself to move, ignoring the tremor in her legs as she pressed forward. “You’re not doing this alone, Atlas. Not anymore.”

The tunnel curved sharply, the flicker of distant lights guiding her steps. Zara’s boots splashed through shallow puddles, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she ran. The closer she got, the louder the sounds of the battle became—metal meeting metal, Torrak screams, the unmistakable force of Atlas’s fists breaking through armor.

And then she saw him.

The cavern Atlas had entered was larger than she expected, its ceiling stretching high above, lost in darkness. Pockets of light emanated from damaged Torrak soldiers, their mechanical bodies flickering as they collapsed to the ground. The floor was littered with scorched metal and debris, a grim testament to the battle raging within.

In the center of it all stood Atlas.

His broad frame was silhouetted against the faint light, his glowing silver-blue eyes burning with a quiet ferocity. His once pristine synthetic skin was shredded, torn apart in places to reveal the exposed framework beneath. Sparks crackled from his damaged arm, and his movements, though still powerful, were slower now, more deliberate.

Zara’s chest clenched as she watched him. He looked unbreakable—a warrior forged from steel and resolve—but the damage was clear. He couldn’t keep this up much longer.

“Atlas!” she screamed, her voice cutting through the cavern.

His head snapped toward her, his eyes widening slightly as he registered her presence. “Zara? No!”

Before she could respond, a Torrak soldier lunged at him, catching him off guard. The alien’s weapon slammed into his side, sending him crashing to the ground. The sound of metal meeting stone echoed through the cavern, and Zara’s breath caught painfully in her throat.

“Atlas!”

He struggled to rise, his damaged arm trembling as he pushed himself onto one knee. The Torrak soldier loomed over him, weapon raised, ready to strike the killing blow.

Zara didn’t think. She raised her rifle, her hands steady as she squeezed the trigger. The pulse shot struck the alien in the head, its body convulsing before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

Atlas turned to her, his glowing eyes flickering faintly. “I told you to stay back,” he said, his voice strained.

“And I told you I’m not leaving you!” she shot back, rushing to his side.

Up close, his injuries were worse than she had realized. His synthetic skin was peeling away in jagged strips, exposing intricate wiring and metal joints that sparked with every small movement. His left arm hung limp, the joint completely destroyed, but his eyes—oh, his eyes—still burned bright, locking onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said quietly, his voice laced with exhaustion.

Zara dropped to her knees beside him, her trembling hands hovering just inches from his damaged chest. “You’re the one who shouldn’t be doing this,” she replied, her voice cracking. “Look at you, Atlas. You can’t keep fighting like this.”

“I can,” he said, his voice soft but resolute. “Because I must.”

“No, you don’t!” she snapped, tears stinging her eyes. “You don’t have to break yourself for me. I didn’t ask for this.”

Atlas tilted his head slightly, his glowing eyes narrowing as he studied her. “You don’t understand.”

“Then make me understand!” she said, her voice trembling.

For a long moment, he was silent. His gaze didn’t waver, but something shifted in his expression—something that made her heart pound harder in her chest. Finally, he spoke, his voice low, almost reverent.

“I was created to follow orders,” he said quietly. “To protect, to fight, to win. But you—you are the first thing I’ve ever chosen for myself.”

Zara’s breath caught, the weight of his words settling over her like a physical blow. She stared at him, tears spilling freely now as her throat tightened. “Atlas...”

“You are my purpose,” he continued, his voice softer now, as though he were confessing something sacred. “Not because I was programmed that way, but because I choose you, Zara.”

The raw honesty in his voice shattered her. She didn’t know how to respond, how to process the storm of emotions his words unleashed inside her. All she knew was that she couldn’t lose him—not now, not like this.

“You can’t keep doing this alone,” she whispered, reaching for his face. Her fingertips brushed against his jaw, the cool surface of his synthetic skin sending a shiver through her. “Let me help you.”

His eyes flickered as her touch lingered, and for a moment, he looked almost... afraid. “Zara—”

“Please,” she said, her voice breaking. “Don’t shut me out. Not this time.”

He closed his eyes briefly, as if steeling himself against something, before nodding. “We fight together,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

She let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through her. “Together.”

The roar of Torrak engines echoed through the cavern again, louder and closer than before. Zara rose to her feet, her pulse racing as she turned toward the tunnel where the sound originated.

Atlas pushed himself upright beside her, his movements slower but still powerful. His glowing eyes burned brighter now, their light steady and determined.

“Stay close,” he said quietly.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she replied, raising her rifle.

The Torrak soldiers poured into the cavern moments later, their guttural snarls filling the air. Zara’s heart pounded as she aimed, her hands steady despite the fear twisting in her chest. Beside her, Atlas stepped forward, his massive frame still imposing despite the damage.

As the first Torrak soldier lunged, Zara fired. The pulse shot struck its core, sending it crashing to the ground. Atlas moved in a blur, his remaining arm slamming into the next soldier with devastating force.

For the first time, Zara didn’t feel helpless.

She fought beside him, her rifle firing shot after shot as they held their ground. The cavern echoed with the sounds of the battle, but Zara’s focus never wavered. Atlas was at her side, his every move calculated and deliberate, and for the first time, she felt strong.

But as the waves of Torrak soldiers continued to surge forward, a new, chilling sound cut through the chaos—a low, mechanical growl that reverberated through the walls.

Zara froze, her blood running cold as she turned toward the tunnel.

“Atlas,” she said, her voice trembling. “What is that?”

He didn’t answer, his glowing eyes narrowing as he stared into the darkness. “Something worse.”