Reboot My Heart

Chapter Three: Shadows of the Past

The observatory was eerily silent, save for the faint hum of the city below. Kian stood protectively in front of Elena, his golden System implant glowing faintly in the dim light. Darius stood a few feet away, his crimson implant casting an ominous red glow on his face. His smirk was cold, his eyes sharp with malice.

“Darius,” Kian said, his voice steady despite the tension crackling in the air. “What are you doing here?”

Darius tilted his head, his smirk widening. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m here to finish what I started.”

Elena gripped Kian’s arm, her voice trembling. “Kian, he’s working with Marcus. They’ve been planning something—something big. I didn’t know who else to turn to.”

Kian’s heart ached at the fear in her voice, but he kept his focus on Darius. “Whatever you’re planning, it’s over. The Federation knows about the rebels.”

Darius laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. “Oh, Kian. You always were so naive. The Federation? The System? They’re all part of the problem. And you—you’re just a pawn in their game.”

Before Kian could respond, Darius lunged at him, his movements unnaturally fast. Kian barely had time to react, shoving Elena out of the way as he raised his arm to block the attack. Their implants collided, sending a shockwave of energy through the room.

Kian stumbled back, his mind racing. Darius’s Power Level was higher than he remembered—much higher.

“Surprised?” Darius taunted, circling Kian like a predator. “You’re not the only one who’s been upgraded.”

Kian’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want, Darius?”

“What do I want?” Darius repeated, his tone dripping with venom. “I want what’s owed to me. I want the power you’ve always taken for granted. And I want her.”

His gaze flicked to Elena, who was crouched behind a broken console, her eyes wide with fear.

Kian’s blood boiled. “Stay away from her.”

Darius smirked. “Or what? You’ll stop me? You couldn’t even protect her from Marcus.”

The words hit Kian like a punch to the gut, but he refused to back down. He charged at Darius, their implants clashing again in a burst of light and energy. The force of the impact sent them both crashing to the ground, but Kian was on his feet first, his golden aura flaring brighter than ever.

Darius growled, his crimson glow intensifying as he launched another attack. Kian dodged, countering with a swift strike that sent Darius sprawling.

“You’ve gotten stronger,” Darius admitted, wiping blood from his lip. “But you’re still no match for me.”

He raised his hand, and the room was suddenly filled with a deafening hum. Kian’s implant flickered, the golden light dimming as if being drained.

“What… are you doing?” Kian gasped, clutching his wrist.

Darius grinned. “I told you, Kian. The System is a lie. And I’ve learned how to break it.”

Kian dropped to his knees, the energy draining from his body. He looked up at Darius, his vision blurring.

“Kian!” Elena screamed, rushing to his side.

Darius stepped forward, his expression cold. “Don’t worry, Elena. I’ll take good care of you.”

But before he could reach her, a voice rang out from the shadows.

“That’s far enough.”

Kian looked up to see Captain Selene Drake stepping into the room, her crimson implant glowing fiercely. She was flanked by a team of Elite Division agents, their weapons trained on Darius.

Darius sneered. “You’re too late, Captain. The System is already falling.”

Selene’s eyes narrowed. “We’ll see about that.”

She raised her hand, and a surge of energy shot toward Darius, forcing him to retreat. He glared at her, then at Kian, before disappearing into the shadows.

“He’s getting away!” Kian shouted, struggling to his feet.

Selene shook her head. “Let him go. We have bigger problems to deal with.”

Back at the Elite Division headquarters, Kian sat in a dimly lit room, his mind racing. Selene had taken Elena to a secure location, leaving Kian alone with his thoughts.

The door opened, and Selene stepped inside, her expression grim.

“How’s Elena?” Kian asked immediately.

“She’s safe,” Selene replied. “But she’s shaken. She told me everything—about Marcus, about Darius, about their plans to overthrow the Federation.”

Kian’s fists clenched. “We have to stop them.”

Selene nodded. “We will. But first, you need to understand what’s at stake.”

She handed him a tablet, its screen displaying a series of encrypted files. Kian’s eyes widened as he read through them.

“This… this can’t be real,” he whispered.

The files revealed a shocking truth: the Universal System, the very foundation of their society, had been manipulated for years. The Compatibility Scores, the Power Levels—it was all a carefully constructed lie, designed to control the population.

“Darius was right,” Kian said, his voice hollow. “The System is a lie.”

Selene’s expression softened. “Not entirely. The System was created with good intentions, but it’s been corrupted. And now, Marcus and Darius are using it to their advantage.”

Kian looked up at her, his resolve hardening. “What do we do?”

Selene placed a hand on his shoulder. “We fight back. But we can’t do it alone. We need allies—people who understand the truth and are willing to stand against Marcus and Darius.”

Kian nodded, his mind made up. “Then let’s get to work.”

Later that night, Kian found himself standing outside Elena’s door. He hesitated, then knocked softly.

The door opened, and Elena looked up at him, her eyes red from crying.

“Kian,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Elena,” he replied, his heart aching at the sight of her. “I’m sorry. For everything.”

She shook her head. “No, Kian. I’m the one who should be sorry. I should have trusted you. I should have seen the truth.”

Kian stepped closer, his hand reaching for hers. “We can’t change the past. But we can fight for the future.”

Elena’s eyes filled with tears, but she nodded. “Together.”