"No exits."
The words hung in the air.
Heavy.
Final.
Elric exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah," he muttered. "…that's inconvenient."
The tunnel sealed behind them with a solid metallic clang.
No gaps.
No weak points.
Mii tightened her grip on his sleeve.
"…I vote we undo that."
Pix cracked her knuckles.
"…I vote we break something."
Kaida-9 stepped forward, planting herself firmly between the group and the Helix units.
"…Engagement is viable."
Sera shook her head immediately.
"…No."
Everyone paused.
"…This isn't a normal fight," she continued.
"…They're not here to eliminate."
A beat.
"…They're here to isolate."
Lyra's eyes stayed locked on the lead unit.
Unblinking.
"…She's right," Lyra said.
Elric glanced at her.
"…That doesn't sound reassuring."
Lyra didn't look at him.
"…If we engage directly," she continued,
"…they'll adapt."
A pause.
"…And they won't stop until they separate us."
Pix tilted her head.
"…Separate how?"
Lyra finally moved.
One step forward.
"…They only need one of us."
Silence.
Mii blinked.
"…Okay I really don't like where this is going."
Kaida-9's voice hardened.
"…Clarify."
Lyra didn't hesitate.
"…Me."
The word hit like a shockwave.
Elric frowned.
"…No."
Lyra turned slightly toward him.
Not fully.
"…Yes."
Mii shook her head immediately.
"Nope. Not happening."
Pix crossed her arms.
"…Yeah, we're not trading teammates."
Kaida-9 added, "…Unacceptable."
Sera's voice was quieter.
But sharper.
"…They're expecting you to resist."
Lyra nodded once.
"…Which means they're prepared for it."
The lead unit stepped forward again.
Slow.
Measured.
"Delay detected."
"Compliance window closing."
Elric groaned.
"…I hate how polite they sound."
Mii whispered, "…It's creepy polite."
Lyra took another step forward.
Elric grabbed her wrist.
"Don't."
She stopped.
For a second...
She didn't pull away.
"…If I go," she said quietly,
"…they stop pursuing the rest of you."
Pix scoffed.
"…Yeah, and then what?"
Lyra didn't answer.
That silence said enough.
Mii stepped in front of her.
"No."
Lyra's gaze flicked to her.
"…You don't get to decide that."
Mii crossed her arms.
"…Actually, I do."
A beat.
"…Because this is still a group."
Kaida-9 moved closer.
Standing beside Mii.
"…Agreed."
Sera added quietly,
"…Splitting increases failure probability."
Pix grinned slightly.
"…Also it's boring."
Lyra's expression tightened.
"…You don't understand what they'll do."
Elen spoke.
Soft.
Clear.
"…Then explain it."
Lyra went still.
Elen stepped closer.
"…You're assuming the outcome," she said.
"…before we've chosen the path."
A pause.
"…That's not like you."
Something shifted.
Just slightly.
Elric still hadn't let go of Lyra's wrist.
"…You said they don't lose assets," he said.
She nodded faintly.
"…Yeah."
He tilted his head.
"…Then let's make you a bad investment."
A beat.
Pix lit up.
"…OH I LIKE THAT."
Mii grinned.
"Player strategy unlocked!"
Kaida-9 adjusted her stance.
"…Objective updated."
Sera's eyes flicked between Elric and Lyra.
Calculating.
Then...
"…It's risky," she said.
Elric shrugged.
"…Everything we do is risky."
The Helix unit stepped closer.
"Final compliance request."
Lyra exhaled slowly.
Then...
She pulled her wrist free.
Elric tensed...
But she didn't step away.
She stepped back.
Back toward them.
"…Fine," she said.
A beat.
"…We do it your way."
Mii pumped her fist.
"YES!"
Pix cracked her knuckles.
"Alright, let's break a corporation."
Kaida-9 stepped forward again.
"…Engagement confirmed."
Sera exhaled softly.
"…Then we move fast."
Elen smiled faintly.
"…Good choice."
The lead unit raised its hand.
"Non-compliance confirmed."
The tunnel lights surged...
Energy built...
Weapons activated...
Elric stepped forward.
The lights flickered wildly.
"…Step six," he said.
A grin.
"…we make this their problem."
The world bent.
Just slightly.
But enough.