Tactical Retreat

The Orb rested in Victor’s chamber, its glow faint but steady, like a muted ember refusing to be extinguished. Victor paced before it, his movements sharp and controlled, his voice a low murmur of commands and invective. Whatever influence he was exerting over the Orb, it was clear he believed he was winning.

But deep within its core, a pulse stirred—a signal that reached beyond the confines of its prison.

Mina clutched her head, wincing as a flicker of light danced across her vision. She stopped mid-step, her breath hitching as a faint sensation brushed against her mind. Not a voice exactly, but a presence—calm, insistent, and familiar. The Orb.

She turned to Anaxi, who was poring over a makeshift map on the cell’s wall. “It’s the Orb,” she said, her voice shaking. “It’s trying to tell me something.”

Anaxi looked up sharply. “What do you mean?”

“It’s faint, but it’s been getting stronger,” Mina explained, closing her eyes as if trying to focus. “It’s showing me things—a place. The communications hub. Victor’s been using it to amplify his control, but… the Orb knows how to stop him.”

Anaxi frowned, their gaze flickering between Mina and the lattice. “It’s communicating through you while he has it?”

Mina nodded. “It’s resisting him. It’s stronger than it was before, but Victor doesn’t realize it. Not yet.”

“Good,” Anaxi said, their voice low and steady. “That means we’ve got a chance.”

In Victor’s chamber, the Orb’s faint glow grew ever so slightly brighter, unnoticed by Victor as he turned his back to consult a projection. Its pulses quickened, subtle but deliberate, like a heartbeat growing stronger.

Mina pressed her hands to the lattice, urgency sparking in her voice. “Anaxi, we have to act now. The Orb says there’s something—an override buried in the hub. If we can get to it—”

“We can break his control,” Anaxi finished, their expression hardening with resolve.

The tension between them held for a moment before Anaxi stepped closer, their voice softening. “Mina, you’ve already risked everything to bring this to me. I need you to get somewhere safe now. Victor’s control is slipping, and that makes him dangerous.”

Mina shook her head. “I can’t just leave—”

“You can and you will,” Anaxi interrupted, their voice firm but kind. “The Orb needs time to gain strength. If Victor realizes what it’s doing, he’ll tighten his grip. You’ve done more than enough. Let me handle the rest.”

Outside, the storm gathered in earnest, lightning splitting the sky as thunder rolled through the valley. Mina hesitated, her jaw tightening, before she finally nodded. “Just… don’t let him win,” she said quietly.

Anaxi gave a small smile, their expression unreadable. “That’s the plan.”

As Mina slipped into the shadows, the Orb pulsed once more, its light briefly brightening before dimming again. Victor turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer to the pedestal where it rested.

“What are you hiding?” he hissed, his voice like venom.

But the Orb gave no reply—only a faint, rhythmic pulse that spoke of a growing defiance just beyond his reach.