Chapter 15: Android Riot

  Location: Science Castle, Fountain Plaza

  Time: After witnessing Zhang's fear

  Seeing Zhang's terrified state, both Valeria and Thunderhawk sensed danger closing in.

  The evidence already pointed to Director Graham as the direct suspect in orchestrating the Old Chen incident and abusing the "Echo Protocol," actions that seriously endangered Science Castle's safety. Valeria decided not to wait for cumbersome approval from superiors, preparing to conduct an emergency search of Graham's office and related areas based on existing evidence. This was a risky move, but the situation allowed no hesitation.

  Just as Valeria gathered the few reliable officers she'd brought, preparing to act, an accident occurred!

  At first, there were a few short, sharp cries from the direction of the central hall. Then, piercing alarm sounds rang throughout Science Castle! Not an intrusion alarm, but an even more unsettling "internal system critical failure" alert.

  Thunderhawk and Valeria both rushed toward the central hall. The scene before them sent chills down their spines:

  Several AI androids responsible for cleaning and guidance services had completely deviated from their usual docile mode. Their optical sensors flashed with an abnormal, steady red light, smooth joint movements replaced by rigid, violent twitching. Mechanical arms wielded tremendous force, indiscriminately attacking nearby living beings!

  One android was using its metal arm to strangle a researcher's neck, lifting him off the ground and pinning him against a wall; another was frantically ramming its alloy skull against the bulletproof glass viewing window, spider-web cracks rapidly spreading. Not far away, a third android had seized an electric baton from a security officer, crackling with blue-purple arcs, advancing toward the next target.

  The AI androids had collectively rioted!

  The hall instantly descended into hell. Terrified screams, cries, running footsteps, and the sounds of destruction merged into chaos. Researchers and family members scattered like frightened beasts, shoving and tripping over each other. Isabella Chen was struggling to guide the crowd but was swept up in the panicked flow. Thunderhawk's peripheral vision caught Ryan Zhang crawling and scrambling under an overturned alloy table, hands over his head, body trembling violently.

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  "Everyone stay calm! Evacuate toward the living quarters! Security personnel, use non-lethal force to subdue targets!" Valeria's shout cut through the noise. She quickly took cover behind a pillar, raised her weapon, and took aim. "Thunderhawk, left side, cover me!"

  Thunderhawk reacted instantly—this was absolutely not a system error! It was deliberate sabotage! "Understood!" he responded, his body already lunging like a hunting leopard. He slid to avoid a swinging metal arm, and as he rose, his stun gun fired almost point-blank into an android's back. "Zzzt—" The high-voltage current temporarily paralyzed it, and it collapsed.

  Just then, a child's piercing scream came from a corner of the hall. A little girl about five or six years old had become separated from her family, terrified and frozen beside an overturned planter, while an android with glowing red eyes was attracted by the sound, rigidly turning toward her, raising its heavy mechanical arm.

  "No!" A figure cried out, rushing from another side passage—it was Verdandi Lee! She had obviously been trying to find a safe route through the chaos, but without hesitation lunged toward the frightened child, using her own body to shield her.

  The android's arm came down with a whooshing sound!

  "Verdandi!" Thunderhawk's heart nearly stopped. He was a dozen meters from Valeria, with panicked crowds and another destructive android between them. No time to think—pure instinct drove his body. He hurled his stun gun at the android in between, temporarily disrupting its sensors, then used a knocked-askew long table as a springboard and leaped!

  Time seemed to stretch. He saw Valeria tacitly firing repeatedly, precisely hitting the knee and shoulder joints of the android attacking Verdandi, slowing its movement. Just that precious half-second! Thunderhawk descended like a meteor, a heavy elbow strike smashing into the android's neck connection—a structural weak point he'd observed.

  "Crack!" A heart-stopping sound of metal twisting. The android's movement suddenly froze, red light flickered several times, its arm fell limply. Thunderhawk landed and rolled, sweeping up the still-shaken Verdandi and the child, quickly dragging them behind a sturdy support column.

  "Are you alright?" Thunderhawk asked urgently, his gaze quickly scanning her and the child.

  Verdandi's face was pale, breathing rapid, but her eyes remained determined. She held the now-softly-sobbing child tightly. "I'm... I'm fine! Thank you!" She looked at Thunderhawk with gratitude and lingering fear.

  Valeria had also fought her way back to them, retreating while engaging. "We can't stay here! There might be more androids! We need to establish a more solid defense line!" Her tone was urgent but clear.

  Thunderhawk's mind was crystal clear: this android riot was too coincidentally timed! It precisely prevented Valeria from searching Graham's office.

  The android riot pulled everyone into the vortex's center. Thunderhawk and Valeria were forced to temporarily shelve their plans against Graham, having to join forces to deal with this sudden survival crisis.

  Science's cage had officially become a hunting ground. And in this chaos, the fragile trust just established was tempered by blood and fire.