Chapter 20: Returning
With that settled, Zack continued his path toward the underground parking lot where the Night Stalker leader had disappeared. As he entered the basement, he immediately felt the air grow colder and the light fade, leaving him surrounded by total darkness. The silence was deafening, thick and oppressive. Zack activated the armor's light, cutting through the darkness and revealing a narrow path ahead. Still, the vast parking lot remained hidden beyond the small beam of light.
"Ego?" he called out.
"Scan mode activated, sir," Ego responded, already anticipating his command. While the scan range was limited, it would at least ensure that no Night Stalkers could sneak up on him.
After finding nothing on the first floor but piles of bones, Zack pressed forward. "Ego, how many floors are there?"
"Two, sir," Ego replied.
"A big facility, with its own underground parking and multiple levels," Zack muttered to himself as he made his way down the ramp to the second floor.
Halfway down, he suddenly heard a familiar twang—the sound of steel wire snapping into place. The next instant, steel pipes and wooden spikes shot out from the corner! Two of the projectiles struck his armor, leaving only harmless white scuffs on the MV-01's surface, but Zack stood there in shock.
"Did... did a Night Stalker set a trap?" he muttered, barely believing it. The trap was almost identical to the ones he'd set up at the steel mill—right down to the mechanism. While the setup was crude, the intent was unmistakable.
"Sir, it seems the Night Stalker's threat level needs to be re-evaluated," Ego remarked.