Innate Trigger – Clarify
Cipher took cover behind the vehicles, along with Gabriel, Zero, the Nomads, and the tech-freaks. The Nomads accompanying Gabriel and Zero were better equipped with automatic weapons and grenades compared to the tech-freaks, who only carried pistols. Together, they observed the cars approaching the circular structure they had just explored,continuing their investigation of the mechanical obelisk earlier that day.
The approaching cars stopped about half a kilometer away, prompting Cipher to send a drone halfway between them and the vehicles to gather intel before losing the advantage of deciding whether to shoot first. The cars came to a halt, and their engines were turned off.
Cipher zoomed in with the drone’s camera and noticed that the passengers wore full-face masks and carried modern rifles and semi-automatic weapons gear far too advanced for the average wanderers of the Wastelands to acquire easily. They were all men, and when the doors opened and they stepped out, their build revealed muscular, battle-ready individuals who showed no signs of hesitation.
“They don’t look like struggling wanderers. This won’t be easy,”
Cipher remarked, her voice tense as the others nervously watched her monitor the drone feed.
“We outnumber them, but your concern is valid,”
Gabriel replied, while Zero appeared lost in thought.
One of the armed men gestured toward the drone, seemingly attempting to communicate with it and its operator.
“They seem like they want to talk,”
Cipher said, glancing at the others.
“And if it’s a trap? What if they shoot at us? They probably have
snipers in their group,” someone responded.
“They seem capable, yes,”
Zero interjected,
“but if they wanted to kill us, they would have done so from a distance by now. There might be more of them around, and they definitely come from somewhere with greater numbers.”
Gabriel nodded in agreement. “Let’s hear them out,” he said.
“I’ll respond,” Cipher decided, activating the drone’s microphone.
“Do you want to talk?” she asked, her eyes fixed on the drone’s feed.
The lead man, who had stepped out of one of the vehicles, nodded and replied,
“Yes, there’s no need for us to kill each other. We can exchange information about whatever it is that concerns you.”
Cipher turned to the others.
“They’ve definitely been watching us for days us, the Nomads, the tech-freaks, and you, Zero.”
“Tell them to meet us halfway,”
Gabriel suggested.
“We’re coming,”
Cipher said into the microphone. She moved forward with Gabriel and Zero, walking toward the armed man they had spoken to through the drone.
This meeting seemed destined to either raise more questions or
clarify a great deal.
Innate Trigger : Clarify
Release date : 8 – 2 – 2025
Music by : Innate Trigger
