Chase struggled to get up from the rumble as several parts of his body were, or felt, broken. Fortunately, one of the security guards found Chase and helped him up, and even though Chase would usually brush them off, he was too tired to protest.

"Silverwing?" The guard asked.

"Why weren't you here earlier?" Chase demanded.

"Sorry, we came as fast as we could when we got the call." The Zone soldier said, and Chase assumed this was the captain.

"You mean you weren’t stationed here as guards?"

"No, we’re just the mobile security force for Zone Technologies, but there were guards posted here..." They all looked around, but Chase already felt a strike of guilt twist his heart as his eyes landed on the dead men laying flat on the ground with the usual black and blue colors that marked the Zone Technologies’ guard uniform.

"Right, sorry." Chase said and dusted himself off awkwardly.

"What was that thing?" The captain asked.

“I don’t know,” Chase sighed, "Go tell Marcus what happened here, actually, no, I'll go. You guys stay here and clean up." He walked out of the factory, not wanting to stay around with the shame of not being able to save and protect those people.

He looked for his bike, and tried to focus, he was going to go meet Marcus, maybe he can figure this out. Marcus was a well-known acquaintance of Chase, and he usually helped him out with his cyborg body. Making repairs, upgrades, etc. In fact, Marcus was actually the one who gave him his robotic body in the first place when he needed it.

And now, as much as Chase didn't particularly like going there, he was headed to Zone Tower to meet his acquaintance.

Zone Tower is a huge building in Horizon City that serves as the headquarters of Zone Technologies with its own research and manufacturing facility. Despite also having several other facilities and buildings scattered throughout the city that basically served the same purpose. But Chase never bothered thinking more about it. He rode through the city slower than usual since his energy supply was running dangerously low.

[Battery: 12%]

He wasn't sure what would happen if it did reach zero, since he's made sure to never let it get there, but he had always assumed it would be bad. Unfortunately, he used up a lot of energy during the fight, and it didn't help when his body froze at a crucial moment. What even happened? In all his years, his body never failed him like that before.

Did the Technician do something? Possibly, it seemed like the assailant had some kind of supernatural power over technology. Perhaps, he should've tried getting more information instead of jumping straight into battle.

He grumbled at the thought, yet another mistake that could cost him and the city. It could’ve also been a simple malfunction of his suit, it had been a while since he last got it checked, but whatever the case he’ll have Marcus fix it. He couldn’t have any more critical mishaps.

After a while of driving, Chase rode up to a tall glass building with lights that practically illuminated the entire street. He parked his motorcycle in an alleyway and walked into the building.

The tinted glass doors automatically opened as they sensed his arrival and he was met by the pleasant sound of chimes, as well as the voice of a woman.

"Good evening sir. How may I help?" A woman monotoned from behind a receptionist counter; she was wearing a black business suit, glasses, and sat up straight with an air of professionalism that Chase respected.

He recognized her as Rosalia, the red-haired assistant of Marcus who seemed to be the only employee in this tower. She worked multiple jobs here, probably because she’s one of the few people who ever meets Marcus’s high expectations, and today she was the receptionist. Maybe that was why she always looked dead inside.

"Is Mr. Zone here?" Chase asked.

"Do you have an appointment?" Rosalia said. Chase flashed a silver badge with the word "Guardian" on it, and Rosalia gave a faint nod and sighed. “Mr. Zone is currently at a business meeting but should be back soon. You can wait here if you'd like."

"Could I wait in his office?"

"If you'd like."

"I will," Chase walked past the counter and into an elevator that ran up to the top of the tower.

[Battery: 10%]