Innate Trigger – One bugshot for Viktor Antonov
Manuel, once a police officer of the old world before the rise of the Grids, had been teleported from Megacity-2 of the European Grid to Megacity-1 of the West Asia Grid. The armed resistance had recruited him months earlier, recognizing his instincts, discipline, and the scars that made him unbreakable. His mission was direct, assist in locating and capturing Viktor Antonov a traitor whose actions had cost countless lives. After two relentless months of tracking, infiltration, and dead ends, Manuel finally closed in. Guided by his experience, he directed Major Alexey Lobov, the enhanced soldier with a fully integrated exoskeleton, and Mikaela, the team’s signal and systems specialist. Together with a five-man elite strike unit, they followed Antonov’s trail to a desolate outer sector near the Grid Wall the massive barrier separating every megacity from the Wastelands beyond. The location itself was alarming. If Antonov had chosen a hideout near the Wall, he was planning an escape into the Wastelands. And someone out there someone powerful enough to offer sanctuary beyond the Grid was waiting for him. The team set up their observation point near the traitor’s refuge. The plan was simple but precise, launch a swift assault, and if Antonov slipped away, the team’s sniper would tag him with a bugshot round a micro-projectile containing nanobots broadcasting his position indefinitely. Even if he vanished into the Wastelands, they would follow his signal. The attack began late at night. Major Lobov moved first, his exoskeleton amplifying every step with reinforced strength and hyper-responsive balance. Three elite Resistance fighters followed in formation, while Manuel and Mikaela coordinated the assault from an elevated vantage point. Off to the side, their sniper adjusted his position, scope tracking for the single opening that would give him a line of fire. The firefight lasted less than twenty seconds. The gang members guarding Antonov fell quickly outmatched and overwhelmed. In the chaos, Antonov bolted toward the rooftop, looking for the escape path he had prepared. Mikaela spotted him instantly.
Manuel’s voice came through the comms, calm and sharp: “Take the shot.”
A single flash.
The Bugshot round struck Antonov between the shoulder blades. Not lethal by design. He stumbled, hissed in pain, but kept running, disappearing into the black horizon beyond the sector’s edge. At least, that was what he believed. Minutes later, the team regrouped at their rendezvous point. On Mikaela’s terminal, a pulsing red marker began to move slow at first, then accelerating toward the one pathway that led beyond the Grid Wall. They watched it in silence.
Then Lobov exhaled, half amused, half grim. “Let’s see, traitor Antonov… who’s waiting for you out there in the Wastelands.”
Manuel answered without looking away from the terminal: “Patience, my friend. We’re close to revelations that could change everything. We owe that to our dead.”
Mikaela transmitted a coded report back to Resistance HQ:
“Bugshot deployed. Nanobots active. Tracking link attached. Returning with zero casualties.”
With that, the strike team began its journey back to headquarters, leaving the night behind them. Somewhere beyond the Wall, Viktor Antonov was on the move. And whoever was expecting him in the Wastelands was about to be exposed.
Innate Trigger : One bugshot for Viktor Antonov
Release date : 4 – 12 – 2025
Music by : Innate Trigger
