Outside Metro Robotics HQ. 11:05 PM.
The weather was getting uglier by the minute. Thick clouds gathered overhead like a concrete ceiling, swallowing the moon whole and turning the sky into a dead, shifting mass of grey. Cold wind snaked through the empty streets, making the tall glass buildings hum like giant tuning forks.
The citywide emergency alert had already blasted through every phone and screen: "If you're near Metro Robotics HQ, return home immediately."
No one near HQ listened.
That street was packed. Hundreds of people stood behind the police emergency barriers, cameras raised, streams already rolling with titles like "E-UNIT RAID LIVE", "HQ IS DONE", and "Blue Angels vs Corruption: Tonight". Many of them brought portable batteries, rain covers, and snacks. Some even wore E-UNIT merch.
The only thing keeping the crowd from storming the front gate were the rows of police and Intelligence Bureau agents forming a human wall. Patrol cars, vans, armored units — all lined up with sirens off, engines rumbling quietly. Officers stood with rifles, shields, and cold, focused eyes.
They weren't stopping threats from coming in — they were making sure nothing dangerous came out.
Rumors already spread:
"Wallmore escaped."
"No, he's still inside."
"Someone saw him leaving five minutes before the cordon closed."
"I heard he took a tunnel."
"Shh! The E-UNIT is coming!"
Inside the E-UNIT tent, a surprisingly large mobile command shelter made of reinforced fabric, the air smelled like cold metal and polish. It wasn't elegant, but functional: bright white lights, a generator humming like a distant engine, cables running along the floor, a long table at the center with a full 3D layout of the building flickering on a holographic projector. Dr. Nick stood beside it, tapping through layers of the HQ structure. The father watched silently, his arms crossed, face tense. The captain and Mikael talked quietly near a rack full of comm gear.
Everyone was present, 01 through 14. Except 02.
She had gone to the lab "to bring something," and usually with Light Lane she returned in seconds. But this time… minutes passed. Too many.
Dr. Nick finally exhaled through his nose, voice sharp:
"I guess we—"
A thunderous BOOM hit the ground outside the tent.
Dust rose around the entrance as 02 landed from above, crouched low, concrete forming spiderweb cracks beneath her. The crowd outside screamed, phones shaking wildly as dozens of streams zoomed in on her pose. A little delay flashed across her HUD as her internal gyros rebalanced, then she stood up like nothing happened.
Redwood raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"I see why the previous mayor kept begging for a higher road maintenance budget."
A round of laughter rippled through the tent, even the father let a small breath through his nose. 02 allowed herself the smallest smile as she entered. The fabric walls rustled behind her, pushed by the rising wind.
The tent was warm compared to the freezing night. The generator buzzed. The hologram table flickered gently. 02 brushed dust off her armor, a faint metallic, then leaned over the plans.
"I see you're happier with these building plans than with me, Mr. Redwood," she teased, tapping the hologram.
05 blinked rapidly. "You too, captain? Since when does gear make you smile like that?"
02 smirked, but her voice softened.
"Closing this book of corruption will make me the happiest girl in the world. Everything we've done… it finally pays off tonight."
Dr. Nick crossed his arms, amused.
"Indeed, 02. I'd bet Mikael is already doing his stress-dance backstage. Hahaha."
Mikael's head snapped up. "Very funny, Doc, anyway!" He clapped his hands loudly, trying to refocus the room. "Let's begin. Operation… Demons Down. Yes, dramatic name, but it fits. Our blue angels will play the biggest role ever tonight. E-UNIT, the mission is yours now. Be careful. I'm rooting for you, and I placed a big bet on your victory."
02 grinned, tilting her head.
"Your money is safe, Mr. Wilson. And thank you for securing the building plans, Mr. Redwood."
Redwood nodded with a small salute.
Then 02's expression shifted, bright, playful, and proud replaced by cold, razor-sharp seriousness. The tent seemed to quiet around her. The generator hum felt quieter. The wind outside paused for half a second.
"It's time," she said. "A whole month of work for this single moment. The law is with us. The people are with us. And most importantly…"
She turned toward the father.
"Our father is with us. If he says what we're doing is green, we keep moving until the mission is done. Perfectly. No matter the danger."
The father's eyes shimmered. He didn't even try to hide it.
"We need to make tonight a success, for everyone, but also for us. A month may be nothing for humans, but for us… it's our entire existence. And we must make up for it."
Her voice rose just a little, enough for every E-UNIT to straighten their posture.
"As your captain… and as your sister… I beg you all to delete this virus from our city. Lift your heads. You are the weapon. You are the last light in this pit of darkness."
A quiet beep passed through each E-UNIT eyes, their HUDs syncing, one by one, like a heartbeat.
"E-UNIT," she finished,
"move out."
The tent erupted in clapping, metallic palms hitting metallic palms, a sharp rhythmic echo. The crowd outside heard it and screamed in excitement.
05 ran to the massive comm-PC, plugging in heavy cables, prepping her support systems. The rest of the E-UNIT exited the tent in formation. Outside, the wind hit them instantly, rushing between them, pulling at their hair, humming against their armor plates.
In front of them stood the massive HQ gates, two glass walls taller than a semi-truck, reflecting blue light from the street lamps. Police and IB agents cleared a path instantly.
The crowd went wild.
All units took position behind 02. Their eyes glowed a bright, sharp blue, the "calm" color. For now.
02 raised one hand casually.
"Girls… let's make it fun. Whoever destroys the most mechs tonight gets her own team."
08 gasped loudly. "NO WAY!"
07 cracked her neck, grinning. "Heeeell yeah."
A few others groaned, already worried.
02 pointed toward the gate.
"E-UNIT. Code Red… initiated."
The storm above growled.
The night finally broke.