Innate Trigger – Towards the unveiling
Cipher, along with Gabriel and Zero, began walking toward the armed man, who was also approaching them. Their escorts the nine Nomads and the six tech-freaks tried to control their anxiety and tension as they watched Cipher, Gabriel, and Zero advancing with their weapons slung over their backs toward the armed man. Behind him, thirty meters away, stood two more armed individuals. It was certain that these three gunmen were not the typical wanderers of the Wastelands. The armed man stopped about ten meters in front of Gabriel, Zero, and Cipher. Cipher spoke first.
“Do you want to tell us how you ended up here? Something tells me you’ve been watching us for a while now.”
The man looked at all three of them and replied in a firm, commanding voice.
“I am Antreas, and I can tell you that we are also interested in the structure with the organic computer, as well as the cylindrical pillar.”
The three of them exchanged glances, sharing the same thought.
“You want us to share our research with you, but you’ll have to share your findings as well,” Zero said.
Gabriel immediately continued,
“We don’t want any conflict with you, and from what we understand, just like us, you also left the Grid to live freely. There’s no reason for us to kill each other out here in the middle of nowhere.”
Antreas smiled and replied,
“We didn’t come here to fight you. However, we cannot simply walk into the Nomad camp to meet you, as someone might see it as an invasion. In the Wastelands, everyone lives day by day, protecting what they have. And we all know that, in the end, the one with the most firepower and soldiers survives.”
They looked at him with concern, and Cipher spoke next.
“It seems like you’re well-organized and knowledgeable about survival.”
Antreas nodded in agreement and responded,
“There’s a lot we could discuss. Would you like to come with us to speak with our leader? We’ll have you back at the Nomad camp in two hours at most.”
“Give us a few minutes, and we’ll follow you,” Gabriel said before turning to the other two.
“Who’s coming? We need to inform the escort that’s returning to camp. Fernanda will definitely worry.”
“Don’t worry. The drone is transmitting everything back to the camp, and Fernanda is messaging me,” Cipher replied.
Zero and Gabriel, satisfied with this information, relaxed slightly and turned back to look at the Nomads and Tech-freaks accompanying them.
“Let’s head back, inform the others, and then we’ll return to follow Antreas and his team,”
Zero said, beginning to walk toward the rest of their group outside the structure. Cipher informed Antreas that they would follow him in five minutes and then joined Zero and Gabriel as they headed back to their escort. When they arrived, Cipher addressed the group.
“Gabriel, go back and give Fernanda a concise update. Zero and I will go, along with Emma from my team. Emma has geo-tracking implants and can continuously transmit our location to you. Additionally, the micro-transmitters that all the Tech-freaks have will send you audio as well.”
With that update, they left their escort to prepare for the return to the Nomad camp and turned back toward Antreas.
“We’re ready,” Cipher told him.
“We leave in two minutes,”
Antreas replied, as they all watched the convoy of Nomads and Tech-freaks start their journey back to the camp. A few seconds later, a powerful mechanical engine sound made them turn their heads toward Antreas and the other two armed men. A transport aircraft, somewhat outdated but in excellent condition, was approaching.
“No, these people aren’t like us…” Zero muttered to Cipher and Emma.
And together, they all moved toward the aircraft as it began its landing.
Innate Trigger : Towards the unveiling
Release date : 10 – 3 – 2025
Music by : Innate Trigger
