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MidReal Story
The Underdog
Scenario:A normal looking dude who lives in a dystopian world. He’s extremely broke and owns a robot that does nothing but make sarcastic comments. He then notices that there’s tons of cheap gadgets and stuff that he’s always wanted to buy on a black mart website which he orders immediately. The buyer, a hacker girl told him that he got scammed. Thought despite this, he doesn’t really care and continues order more. This leaves the hacker girl confused on why he’s so stupid which he simply answers that there’s always a possibility for the scam to be real and he could be saving a fortune. This intrigues the hacker girl who tell him to download an app which lets him take requests from her. He downloads the app on his robot, the only piece of technology he owns (he used the robot as a messaging app as well)
Create my version of this story
Aiko Nakamura
A girl who’s an excellent hacker,runs multiple black market scams,hacked into many people’s bank accounts,has a website she posts requests on and offers money upon completion
Taro Yamada
a normal looking dude,seems kinda stupid,is desperate for money,owns nothing except for a robot,lives in a dystopian future and fulfills a hacker girls’s requests via an app
I'm just a normal looking dude.
I don't own a single penny in my bank account.
The only thing I own is a robot that I found in the trash.
This robot does nothing.
It just sits there and spews crap out of its mouth.
Not literally, thank god.
But it says crap.
Like insults and just mean stuff.
I was using this robot as an internet hub because I don't own a computer or a phone or anything else for that matter, just the robot.
So I was surfing the web and came across this black market website.
It had all this stuff for sale that looked really sketchy, like drugs and guns and shit.
I didn't want any of that stuff, not because I'm a good guy or anything.
I just don't have any money to spend on that crap.
But then I scrolled down further and saw all this other stuff that's really cheap, way cheaper than it should be.
It's all this crap I've always wanted to buy but never had the money for.
Things like video games and clothes and stuff.
I ordered all of this video games and clothes and shit.
Then I got an email from the person selling this stuff, a girl I think.
It said something like, "You're so stupid. I can't believe you fell for this crap. This isn't real."
I was thinking, "What do you mean?
It clearly says right here, 10 dollars for this video game.
I don't know what she's talking about.
I'm not stupid.
I just want to buy this stuff.
So I ignored her email and kept browsing the website.
I found this other thing that I wanted, a jacket that looks really cool.
It was only 5 dollars.
I clicked the order button and it said to enter my details, so I did.
My robot, Zeta, was sitting next to me and he was saying stuff like, "You're so stupid. This is a scam. You're going to get ripped off."
But I didn't listen to him.
I just entered my details and clicked order.
Then the hacker girl's app on Zeta pinged again.
I looked at the screen and it said, "You're really going to fall for this? You're so stupid."
I just shrugged and kept ordering stuff.
I ordered a new set of headphones, some shoes, a video game.
Every time I ordered something, Zeta would say something mean about me being stupid and getting ripped off.
But I didn't care.
I just kept ordering.
Then the hacker girl's app pinged again.
I looked at the screen and it said, "Seriously? You're still doing this? Don't you have any common sense?"
I stared at the screen for a second, then shrugged and ordered a smartwatch.
Zeta's screen started flashing again and I knew it was another message from the hacker girl.
I stared at the screen and it said, "Seriously? You're really going to keep ordering this stuff?"
I shrugged and kept scrolling through the website.
There were so many cool things that I wanted.
I found a hover-bike for 20 dollars and ordered it.
I found some new clothes for 10 dollars and ordered those too.
I was about to order a new pair of shoes when the hacker girl's app pinged again.
I sighed and looked at the screen.
It said, "Can we talk?"
I shrugged and typed out a message saying, "Sure."
Then I waited for her to respond.
A few seconds later, her app started ringing.
I looked at Zeta and he shrugged.
Then his screen started projecting an image of the hacker girl.
She had a digital mask on, so I couldn't see her face.
She looked like she was in a dark room, maybe with some computers behind her.
"Hello?" she said.
"Hi," I replied.
"You're really going to keep ordering this stuff?"
"Yes," I said.
"I want all of it."
"But you know it's not real, right?"
"Yes," I said.
"I'm sure most of it is scams. But if there's even one real deal, then I'm saving money."
The hacker girl stared at me for a second, then burst into laughter.
Zeta joined in too, laughing his head off.
"Seriously?" she asked when she stopped laughing.
"That's your logic? That even if 99% of the deals are scams, if there's one real deal then you're saving money?"
"Yes," I said.
She stared at me for a few seconds, then shook her head and started laughing again.
Zeta joined in too, laughing so hard he fell over backwards on the couch.
While they were laughing, I kept adding more items to my cart on the black market website.
The hacker girl watched me for a while, shaking her head in disbelief.
Then she said, "You're really going to buy that hover-bike for 20 dollars?"
"Yeah, why not?" I replied, trying to sound confident.
"Because it's a scam, genius," she said, rolling her eyes behind the digital mask.
"But what if it's not?" I countered, "What if it's the deal of a lifetime?"
I started scrolling through more deals, looking for something else to add to my cart.
The hacker girl's digital mask appeared on Zeta's screen again.
"Stop. I have a better idea," she said, cutting off Zeta's latest insult about my intelligence.
She stared at me for a few seconds, then continued.
"I run a request board. People can post requests for things they want done and other people do them for money."
She paused, then said, "I'll give you access to the app and you can do jobs for me. Then you can buy all the stuff you want - at full price, like a normal person."
I started to argue that I wanted to get the stuff cheap, but she cut me off and terminated my access to the black market website.
I was left with no choice but to download her app and do her jobs.
"Zeta, download this app," I ordered.
Zeta's screen flickered for a second, then started downloading the app.
I watched as the download bar crawled across the screen.
Zeta's processors whirred louder than usual as it processed the unfamiliar code.
"This better be worth it," Zeta complained, its voice a little distorted from the download.
I checked my wallet and saw that I was still broke.
I wondered what kind of jobs the hacker girl would have me do.
When the download finished, Zeta's screen flickered again and a sleek black interface appeared.
There was a list of available requests on the screen.
"Great," Zeta said, "now we're going to be slaves to this hacker girl."
But then Zeta's voice started to distort and glitch out.
The robot's eyes flashed an unusual shade of red for a second, then returned to normal.
I leaned closer to Zeta's screen and scanned through the list of requests.
The interface was pretty simple - each request had a price tag and a difficulty rating.
Most of the requests were for data collection or package deliveries across the city.
Some of the jobs were in dangerous sectors, but they paid a lot more than the ones in safer areas.
I tapped on one of the simpler delivery jobs that paid 50 credits.
Zeta's screen froze for a second, then displayed the full details of the job.
The pickup location was an electronics shop in Sector 7, which was pretty sketchy.
The drop-off location was an unmarked address in Sector 3, which was even sketchier.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Zeta asked, its voice still distorted from the download.
I pulled up the delivery details on Zeta's screen and studied the pickup location.
Sector 7 was a maze of narrow alleys lit by neon signs and advertisements.
The electronics shop was wedged between a defunct arcade and a steaming noodle stand.
I memorized the route to the shop, then checked my shoes.
They were scuffed and dirty, but they would have to do.
I tucked my wallet into my pocket and set off towards Sector 7.
The streets were pretty empty, even for this time of night.
The only sounds were distant echoes of machinery and the steady dripping of pipes.
I navigated through the alleys of Sector 7, using Zeta's screen to light my way.
The electronics shop appeared exactly as described - a small storefront wedged between a flickering arcade sign and a steaming noodle stand.
The streets were even emptier here, with only a few shady characters lurking in the shadows.
"Something feels off," Zeta whispered, its voice still distorted from the download.
"This place is too quiet."
I rolled my eyes and approached the entrance to the shop.
The door was scratched metal with grimy windows that let in slivers of light from the street.
I reached out for the door handle, then froze when I saw movement in the reflection on the window. Dark figures emerged from the shadows of the arcade's doorway and crept towards me.
I pressed my back against the door and scanned the surrounding streets.
The concrete was barren and cracked, with weeds growing through the broken pavement.
Zeta's screen flickered anxiously as I concentrated, feeling for any signs of plant life.
I hated using this power - it was usually worthless in the city's artificial landscape.
But I focused harder, sensing deep beneath the pavement where a few stubborn roots had managed to survive.
I willed them to grow, forcing them to burst through the tiny cracks in the concrete.
The plant matter responded sluggishly, too weak to do much damage.
But maybe it could buy me enough time to escape.
I turned to face the door, my heart pounding in my chest.
The dark figures approached cautiously, their shadows creeping across the window.
The door creaked under my touch, and I hesitated for a moment before pulling it open.
The air inside was thick and musty, with the scent of old electronics and dust.
I blinked in the dim light, my eyes adjusting slowly to the interior.
The shop was small, with towering shelves of gadgets and tools.
There were tangled wires hanging from the ceiling and half-built projects scattered on workbenches.
I scanned the room quickly, searching for any signs of danger.
But there were no other people inside, just rows of dusty electronics and a few flickering screens.
I moved deeper into the shop, keeping my footsteps light on the dusty floor.
Zeta's screen was still flickering from the download, casting an eerie blue glow over the room. The light revealed cobwebs clinging to the corners of shelves and old parts scattered across workbenches.
The air was thick with dust that hung in the flickering light like fog.
At the back of the store, I spotted a faint red exit sign above a door partially hidden by a tall server rack.
"Don't move," a voice hissed from behind the server rack, and I froze, my heart skipping a beat.
"Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady as I glanced toward the source of the voice.
"I'm the one who set up the request," a man's voice replied, and a figure emerged from behind the server rack.
He was dressed in a long coat and a wide-brimmed hat that cast his face in shadow.
"I apologize for the thugs. I didn't expect them to show up."
He gestured toward the door, where the dark figures were waiting.
"I'll pay extra if you can complete the task."
He pointed to a small package on a dusty workbench.
I grabbed the package, wrapping it in my jacket as I eyed the shadowy man.
Zeta's screen flickered with a map of the area, showing three possible escape routes from the electronics shop - the back door, a narrow window, and a maintenance shaft hidden behind a shelf.
The thugs were still waiting by the front entrance, their shadows looming ominously in the flickering light.
I chose the maintenance shaft, climbing through exposed pipes and ducting to reach the parallel alley.
The package felt strangely warm against my chest as I crawled through the tight space.
As I emerged into the cool night air, I realized the package was pulsing with a faint, rhythmic glow.
I tucked it tighter under my jacket and sprinted through the back alleys, following Zeta's navigation markers.
I kept a low profile, darting between buildings and hiding behind dumpsters.
The package grew warmer against my chest as I ran, its glow illuminating the dark passageways.
I didn't dare look back - I could hear the thugs shouting behind me, their footsteps echoing off the walls.
Finally, I reached the designated address, a nondescript building on the outskirts of Sector 3.
I tucked the package into a narrow gap between two trash cans and knocked on the door.
Then I turned and ran, not waiting for an answer.
The night streets were empty as I sprinted back through the alleys.
I ducked into a shadowy doorway to catch my breath and listened for any signs of pursuit.
The city was quiet except for the distant hum of machinery and the flickering lights that cast long shadows across the pavement.
Zeta's speakers crackled to life with a voice message from the hacker girl.
"Nice job on the delivery," she said, her voice tinged with surprise.
"I didn't think anyone who wasted their money on black market scams could pull it off."
I smiled, feeling a surge of accomplishment.
But then she added, "It's not like it was a real challenge or anything. Anyone could have done it."
Zeta's glitchy voice grumbled in agreement, and I clenched my fists in frustration.
I was going to prove them wrong - I would take on every job I could find and show them what I was capable of.
I emerged from the doorway and continued my journey back to my cramped apartment.
The streets were still empty, the flickering lights casting long shadows across the pavement.
As I walked, Zeta's screen flickered back to life, displaying the hacker girl's digital mask.
Her lips curled into a smirk.
"Congratulations on your heroic escape," she said sarcastically.
"That was some real high-stakes stuff."
Zeta let out a glitchy laugh, and I clenched my fists in frustration.
"It wasn't that easy," I snapped back.
"I had to use my powers to get away. And what about those thugs? They were trying to kill me!"
The hacker girl rolled her eyes.
"Oh, come on. They were probably just hired goons. And your powers? You could have just used your powers to steal the package and avoid all that running around."
I gritted my teeth in anger.
Maybe she was right - it hadn't been a very difficult job.
But that didn't mean it hadn't required any effort.
I had still risked getting caught, and there had been a chance the thugs might have been better equipped than they were. But I wasn't going to argue with her any further.
Instead, I forced a smile onto my face and nodded politely.
"Yes, of course you're right. It wasn't much of a challenge."
The hacker girl looked surprised by my sudden change in demeanor, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Well, whatever. You did well enough. Here's another job request - see if you can do better this time."
She sent me another message through Zeta's screen, and I accepted the job without hesitation.
"What's the job?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through me.
"Simple data retrieval," she replied, her tone dismissive. "But this time, it's from a corporate vault in Sector 4."
Zeta's screen flickered with a map of the area, highlighting the building in question.
I nodded, even though I knew she couldn't see me.
"That sounds harder," I admitted.
"Especially with all the guards around there."
"Well, you're going to have to figure it out," she said, her voice firm.
"Just remember to wear a mask."
The connection dropped, leaving me staring at Zeta's screen in confusion.
What kind of mask did she mean?
And why was this job so important that it needed to be done in person?
I tucked Zeta into my pocket and headed towards Sector 4, my footsteps echoing off the concrete.
The corporate vault was a towering structure that loomed over the surrounding buildings.
Its walls were made of thick, bulletproof glass, and its entrance was guarded by two burly men in black suits.
I approached cautiously, trying not to attract their attention.
Zeta crackled to life in my pocket, and I heard the hacker girl's voice whispering urgently. "Put on your mask," she hissed.
"The guards are looking right at you. And don't forget to keep your head down. They can't see your face."
I pulled a plain black mask from my pocket and put it over my face nervously.
It was an old souvenir from a party - a cheap plastic rectangle with a rubber band to hold it in place.
I hadn't thought about wearing masks since I was a kid, but maybe they still worked for sneaking past guards.
I took a deep breath and approached the entrance to the vault.
The door slid open with a hiss, revealing a small antechamber with a metal detector.
The guards were chatting lazily inside, their backs turned away from me. I hesitated for a moment - this wasn't going to be easy.
The guards were trained, and even if I could slip past them, there were probably more security measures inside the vault.
But the hacker girl's voice crackled in my ear again, urging me to act.
I took a deep breath and stepped into the antechamber, trying to move quietly.
The guards looked up as the door slid shut behind me, and I froze, holding my breath.
Their eyes flickered over me for a moment before they returned to their conversation.
I let out a sigh of relief and moved towards the metal detector.
But then I heard footsteps echoing from deeper in the vault - more guards on patrol.
I ducked back out into the night, hiding behind a dumpster as the guards emerged from the antechamber.
They stood on either side of the entrance, their eyes scanning the street. I watched them from my hiding spot, trying to think of a plan.
They were sluggish and lazy in their patrols, but that didn't mean they wouldn't catch me if I tried to sneak past.
And even if I made it inside, there would be more guards waiting inside the vault.
I glanced down at Zeta's screen, where the hacker girl's digital mask glowed softly.
Maybe I should just give up and admit defeat - this job was too hard for someone like me.
But then I spotted something through the glass doors.
Inside the antechamber, there were a few potted plants scattered around the room.
A smirk spread across my face as I realized the guards' fate was sealed.
I focused on the plants, using my powers to make them grow and thrive.
Vines snaked out from the pots, wrapping themselves around the guards' feet.
The men stumbled and cursed as they tried to pull free, but the vines only tightened their grip.
I slipped past them into the building, ducking into a dimly lit corridor.
Zeta's screen flickered with a map of the vault's layout, guiding me towards the data terminal.
The corridors were narrow and poorly lit, with exposed pipes running along the ceiling.
I moved cautiously, listening for any signs of guards.
But the only sound was the distant hum of machinery and the soft crackle of Zeta's speakers. As I turned a corner, I saw a group of guards gathered around a bank of screens.
They were chatting and laughing, completely unaware of my presence.
I froze for a moment, watching them from the shadows.
Then I crept forward, trying not to make a sound.
The guards were too distracted to notice me as I slipped past them and entered a small room filled with rows of data terminals.
Zeta's screen guided me to a specific terminal in the back corner, where a single chair sat empty.
I sat down nervously and began typing on the keyboard.
The hacker girl had given me a password to access the system, but it still felt strange to be inside a corporate vault like this.
As I worked, I could hear the guards shuffling around in the hallway outside - they still hadn't noticed me. But then I heard another sound that made my heart skip a beat - footsteps echoing from deeper in the vault.
More guards were coming, responding to some unknown alarm that had been triggered by my presence here.
I typed faster, trying to download as much information as possible before they caught me.
The hacker girl's digital mask flashed on Zeta's screen again, urging me to hurry.
Finally, I finished the download and tucked Zeta into my pocket.
I turned to make a quick escape, but a shadowy figure was standing in the doorway, flanked by two burly guards.
"Well well well," he sneered, his voice dripping with malice.
"Look what we have here. A petty thief."
I backed away from him, my heart pounding in my chest.
Zeta's screen flickered anxiously, warning me of the danger.
The man stepped closer, his eyes cold and menacing.
I glanced around the room, looking for an escape route.
But the guards were closing in on me from every side, their boots echoing off the metal floor.
I readied my powers, feeling the familiar surge of energy building inside me.
Vines sprouted from nearby pots, wrapping themselves around the guards' legs and holding them in place.
The man in front of me laughed, drawing a weapon from his coat.
He sliced through my vines with a swift motion of his blade, the leaves falling to the floor with a soft rustle.
The man took another step closer, his eyes fixed on me.
"I'm Kenji," he said, his voice devoid of warmth.
"You've caused quite the disturbance."
I faced him squarely, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Who are you?"
I asked, glancing nervously at the guards closing in around us.
"I'm the security chief for the data center," he replied, his voice calm and confident.
"I've been watching you from the moment you entered the building."
I could feel Zeta's speakers humming anxiously in my pocket, and I glanced down at her screen.
It was dark and silent, but I could sense her fear emanating through the connection.
The man's blade flashed in the dim light of the room, casting a golden glow over the walls.
He took another step closer, his eyes locked on me.
"You're quite resourceful," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.
"But this time, you've gone too far."
I swallowed nervously, feeling my powers surging inside me.
I could sense the plants all around us - their energy was like a pulsing heartbeat that echoed through every cell in my body. The man raised his blade, its edge glinting menacingly in the dim light.
I raised my hands, feeling the familiar surge of power coursing through me.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and growing things.
The man paused, his eyes flicking uncertainly between me and the plants.
"You're one of the hacker girl's errand boys, aren't you?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
I hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly.
The man's lips curled into a cold smile.
"I thought so," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction.
"I've been tracking users of her website for weeks now. It's part of a promotion they’re running - if I can catch one of her errand boys, I'll get a promotion to head of security for the entire corporation."
He paused, glancing around the room at the guards closing in around us.
"But I have to admit, I didn't expect you to be so... resourceful."
I could feel Zeta's speakers humming anxiously in my pocket, and I glanced down at her screen nervously.
The man's words were confusing - what did he mean by a promotion?
And why was he so interested in catching one of the hacker girl's errand boys?
He seemed to sense my confusion, and his smile grew wider.
"Let me explain," he said, his voice dripping with condescension.
"I used to be just a low-level guard here in the data center. But then I saw an opportunity - if I could catch one of the hacker girl's errand boys, it would prove my worth to the corporation. And if I could bring them in alive... well, that would be even better." He paused, glancing around the room again.
"The corporation is always looking for ways to improve their security. And if I could bring them a live hacker... well, that would be worth a lot more than just catching some petty thief."
I felt a surge of anger at his words - who was this man to think he could just use me as a pawn in his game?
I faced him squarely, feeling the power of the plants coursing through me.
The man raised his sword, its blade glinting menacingly in the dim light.
I could feel the plants responding to my anger - their energy was like a pulsing heartbeat that echoed through every cell in my body.
The man charged at me, his blade flashing through the air.
I dodged to the side, using my powers to make a small vine burst from a nearby potted plant.
The vine wrapped around his sword, trying to hold it back.
But the man was too skilled - he sliced through the vine with a swift motion of his blade.
I stumbled backward, tripping over my own feet as I tried to regain my balance.
The guards were closing in on me, their boots echoing off the metal floor.
I could feel their footsteps getting closer and closer - they would be on top of me in just a moment. I used my powers to make a root burst through the floor, tripping one of the guards as he lunged at me.
He fell heavily to the ground, his rifle clattering out of his hands.
The other guard was right behind him, but I managed to dodge out of the way just in time.
He stumbled past me, his arms outstretched as he tried to regain his footing.
I took advantage of his momentary distraction to grab one of the fallen rifles and point it at him.
He froze for a moment, looking down at the barrel pointed squarely at his chest.
Then he slowly backed away from me, holding up his hands in surrender.
The man with the sword was still closing in on me, but I had a few seconds' reprieve thanks to the guards' confusion. I turned to face him again, using my powers to make a thin vine wrap around one of his legs.
The man stumbled as he felt himself being pulled backwards by some unseen force.
His eyes flickered uncertainly between me and the ground beneath him, and for a moment I thought he might actually fall over. But then he regained control of himself and sliced down at the vine with his sword.
It cut easily through the thin stem, releasing him from its grasp.
I stumbled backward as he advanced on me once again, his blade flashing menacingly in the dim light.
I retreated into a narrow corridor lined with rows of humming servers, hoping to lose myself in their maze-like passageways.
I crouched down behind a server rack, listening as the man's footsteps echoed through the dimly lit corridor.
The server room was quiet except for the hum of machinery and the distant shouts of guards.
I glanced over at Zeta, its screen flickering erratically.
The hacker girl's mask flashed on its screen, urging me to hurry.
I crouched behind a server rack, listening as the man's footsteps grew closer.
Zeta's screen flickered anxiously, the hacker girl's mask urging me to hurry.
I scanned the room, looking for a way out.
The walls were lined with rows of humming servers, their lights casting a dim glow over the metal floor.
But then I spotted something above - a ventilation duct, its metal grille partially open.
I used my powers to grow a thin vine that snaked up into the duct, pulling me silently into the narrow passage.
I crawled through the duct, my heart pounding in my chest.
The air was thick with dust and the smell of machinery, and I could feel the vibrations of the servers humming beneath me.
As I crawled, I could hear the man's footsteps echoing through the ducts below me.
He was still searching for me. But I had a plan - I would lead him into a trap and catch him off guard.
I reached out with my powers, making a thin vine stretch across the entrance to the duct.
It would snap shut around his ankles if he tried to follow me.
I continued crawling forward, listening as his footsteps grew closer and closer.
Finally, I heard him stop at the entrance to the duct, listening for any signs of me inside.
Then he began to climb up into the duct, his footsteps growing louder as he made his way deeper into the passage.
I waited until he was almost on top of me before triggering my trap.
I tightened the vine, yanking it hard to slam his head down onto the metal floor.
The man's body crashed onto the duct with a heavy thud, and I heard a pained grunt as he tried to sit up.
The guards rushed to help him up, and I army-crawled deeper into the ventilation system.
My elbows scraped against the cold metal as I moved, but I didn't dare look back.
Zeta's screen cast a dim glow over the narrow passage ahead of me, guiding me towards the building's exterior wall.
Behind me, I could hear the man's angry voice ordering his men to seal all exits.
I reached a junction where the duct split into three separate paths, and I had to make a quick decision about which way to go.
I chose the middle path, trusting my instincts and hoping it would lead me to freedom.
The duct opened up into a large cafeteria, where guards were gathered at tables eating their meals.
They looked up in shock as I dropped down out of the ventilation duct and into their midst.
I landed awkwardly on top of a table, scattering trays and dishes in all directions.
The guards were momentarily stunned, but they quickly regained their composure.
They stood up slowly, their hands reaching towards the weapons holstered at their hips.
I scrambled to my feet, grabbing the rifle I had stolen from one of the guards and holding it up in front of me.
The guards were closing in on me from all sides, and I stood on top of the cafeteria table, pointing the empty rifle at them.
I was completely surrounded, but I wasn't going to go down without a fight.
As the guards rushed towards me, I used my powers to grow vines out from the floor, tripping them up and sending them crashing to the ground.
But there were too many of them - they kept coming at me from every direction.
One guard lunged forward, trying to grab me around the waist.
I swung the rifle at him, knocking him backwards into a nearby table.
Another guard tried to grab me from behind, but I managed to dodge out of his grasp.
I swung around and knocked him off his feet with a quick blow from the rifle butt.
The guards were getting closer and closer, and I could feel myself getting tired.
I ducked under a table to avoid a guard's grasping hand, using my powers to make a vine wrap around his wrist and yank him away from me. The guards were closing in on me from every direction, and I could feel myself getting desperate.
I used my powers to make vines burst out of the floor all around me, tripping up anyone who got too close.
The guards were falling all around me, but there were still too many of them.
I ducked under another table as one lunged at me with a knife, using my powers to make a thin vine wrap around his ankle and pull him backwards.
I leapt over the table and burst through the double doors leading out of the cafeteria, using my powers to make a wall of vines spring up behind me to slow down the guards.
I sprinted down the hallway, using my powers to make roots erupt from the floor and trip up anyone who tried to follow.
Zeta's screen flickered as I ran, showing me the hacker girl's masked face watching me.
I ducked into a service hallway, barely avoiding a guard's baton swing.
I could hear his footsteps echoing behind me as he chased after me.
With one final push, I used my powers to make a thicket of thorns erupt from the ground, trapping the last few guards in a snare of deadly spikes.
That gave me just enough time to reach the exit, where I burst through the doors and out into the night air.
I sprinted across the street, ducking into the dimly lit alleyways and using my powers to create a wall of vines to block the guards' pursuit.
Zeta's screen flickered again, showing me the hacker girl's masked face.
"Whoa, nice moves," she said, her voice tinged with surprise.
"I didn't expect that of you."
I panted as I ran, glancing back over my shoulder at the corporate vault.
"Why were you watching me?"
I asked, shaking my head in confusion.
"I was bored," she replied simply.
Her digital mask tilted slightly, as if she was smiling.
I finally reached the safety of an alleyway and slumped against the wall, trying to catch my breath.
Zeta's screen flickered again, and the hacker girl's masked face appeared once more.
"You did well," she said, her voice tinged with amusement.
"But what about Kenji?"
I hesitated for a moment, remembering the man's sword slicing through my vines.
"He's still in there," I replied, wiping sweat from my brow.
"Probably furious that I got away."
I checked the data on Zeta's screen, making sure it was all still intact.
The hacker girl nodded, then vanished from the screen again.