GENETICA (BOOK ONE: THE AWAKENING)

The air in the rebellion's underground base buzzed with a restless energy as preparations for the next mission began. Teams moved through dimly lit corridors, loading supplies, sharpening weapons, and running drills. Kai, Maya, and Leena gathered in the operations room, where Elias stood over a table strewn with maps and blueprints.

Elias tapped the map, his finger landing on a red circle labeled Supply Node Theta. "This is our next target. It's a Gene Council distribution hub for prototype materials. If we can destroy it, we'll cut off a major supply line and delay Project Genesis."

Maya studied the map, her brow furrowed. "What kind of defenses are we looking at?"

"Heavy," Leena replied, pulling up schematics on her tablet. "High-voltage fences, automated turrets, and a garrison of armed guards. It's a fortress."

Kai leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Sounds like a suicide mission."

"It's not," Elias said firmly. "We've identified a weak point—a maintenance tunnel leading into the compound. It's narrow and heavily monitored, but it's our best shot."

"Great," Kai said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Crawl through a tunnel, dodge turrets, and hope we don't get fried. Easy."

Leena smirked. "Don't forget the armed guards. Wouldn't want you to miss out on the full experience."

Kai rolled his eyes, but Maya nudged him with a grin. "Relax, hotshot. We've faced worse."

Elias cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Focus. This mission is critical. If the Gene Council gets those materials, they'll mass-produce the prototypes, and we'll lose whatever edge we have."

The gravity of his words settled over the group. For all their banter, they knew the stakes were higher than ever.

Nightfall shrouded the city as the team made their way to the target. The maintenance tunnel entrance was hidden behind a crumbling industrial complex, its rusted gates hanging open like a gaping mouth. Elias led the way, his movements precise and silent, with Maya close behind. Kai brought up the rear, his fire simmering just beneath the surface.

The tunnel was a claustrophobic maze of pipes and wiring, lit only by the faint glow of Leena's handheld device. She guided them with whispered directions, her eyes glued to the map.

"Left here," she murmured. "The access point should be just ahead."

As they rounded the corner, the tunnel opened into a small chamber with a heavy metal grate in the ceiling. A faint hum of electricity vibrated through the air.

"There's your entrance," Leena said, pointing to the grate. "It leads directly into the supply hub. Once you're inside, you'll need to move fast. The security override I uploaded will only give you a five-minute window."

Kai craned his neck to look up. "Five minutes? That's cutting it close, don't you think?"

"It's the best I could do without tripping every alarm in the city," Leena shot back. "You're welcome."

Elias gestured for silence. "Enough. Let's move."

Maya climbed first, using the wall's ridges for leverage. Elias followed, then Leena, with Kai bringing up the rear. As he pulled himself through the grate, he couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.

The supply hub was a sprawling facility filled with rows of metal crates, conveyor belts, and towering machinery. Guards patrolled the area, their weapons glinting under the harsh fluorescent lights. The team stuck to the shadows, moving with practiced precision.

"Security room's on the second level," Leena whispered, her eyes scanning the layout. "We take it out, and the whole place goes dark."

Elias nodded. "Maya, Kai, you're with me. Leena, stay here and monitor the system. If anything changes, signal us immediately."

Leena gave a mock salute. "Got it, boss."

The trio crept along the catwalk, their movements synchronized. When they reached the security room, Maya took position by the door while Kai readied himself, flames licking at his fingertips.

Elias held up three fingers. Two. One.

Maya swung the door open, and Kai unleashed a burst of fire, incapacitating the guards before they could react. Elias moved swiftly, disabling the security panel and pulling out a device from his pack.

"Planting the EMP," he said. "Thirty seconds."

The hum of machinery suddenly spiked, and an alarm blared through the facility. Red lights bathed the room, and the sound of boots echoed below.

"Looks like they found us," Maya said, her voice tight.

Elias finished setting the EMP. "It's armed. Move!"

They sprinted back to Leena's position, the guards' shouts growing louder. Kai turned and unleashed a wall of fire, forcing their pursuers to scatter.

"Nice trick," Maya said, grinning. "But don't burn the place down before we do."

Kai smirked. "No promises."

Leena was already at the exit, her fingers flying over her device. "The override's about to expire! We need to go—now!"

The team raced for the tunnel just as the EMP detonated. The lights flickered and died, plunging the facility into darkness. A low rumble shook the ground as the power grid overloaded, and the hum of machinery ceased.

"That's our cue," Elias said, ushering them into the tunnel. "Move!"

The team emerged into the night, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. The glow of the fire still burned in Kai's palms, a testament to the intensity of the battle. They had succeeded, but the cost of their mission weighed heavily on them.

Elias glanced at the distant horizon, where the Gene Council's headquarters loomed. "This is just the beginning," he said. "They'll retaliate. Hard."

Maya nodded, her face set with determination. "Let them come. We'll be ready."

Kai stared at the horizon, his jaw clenched. Deep down, he knew the fight was far from over—and that the rebellion's greatest battles were yet to come.