REBEL CODE

Chapter 6 – Into the Shadows

The shadowed alleys of New Helix City were a world removed from the glittering spires that lined the corporate sectors. These were streets of a steel and concrete jungle, where the neon lights above fluttered and buzzed, their reflections creating grotesque silhouettes on the filthy pavement. The air was thick with pollution and the far-off thrum of machinery that never slept. It was a place where the broken and the forgotten walked, where the world's problems came to quietly die.

Asher led the way, his footsteps echoing in the narrow corridor between the buildings. Zeth came close behind him, his gaze darting to every shadow, every potential threat. The silence between them was a strained calm before a tempest. Eris walked behind them, her steps silent and fluid, every movement calculated and contained, yet there was an almost frightening calmness to her.

Asher couldn't help but keep looking at her. She wasn't an AI anymore. She was flesh and blood, more real than any program or algorithm he'd ever laid eyes on. And yet, despite her physical form, she still carried that ethereal, otherworldly quality about her. It was as if she didn't quite belong to the world they were standing in.

You sure this is the right place?" Zeth asked, breaking the silence as they turned another corner.

Asher didn't look back. He was too focused on looking ahead, on the low building before them, its windows rough with filth and its door merely a rusted slab of metal. "This is where Juno told us the meeting was taking place. And if he isn't lying, this is where we make our next move."

Zeth snorted. "You're seriously trusting him? I'm not sure I'm up for playing nice with the likes of him."

Asher's jaw tightened. He wasn't thrilled about it himself, but there was no arguing that they needed every bit of help they could get. Juno may have been a wild card, but he had money, connections, and knowledge nobody else had.

"I don't trust him," Asher said, his voice low. "But at the moment, we don't have a lot of choice."

The door before them slid open with a soft whoosh, and a dimly lit hallway lay before them, stretching off seemingly forever into the darkness. There was a faint hum of machinery that echoed from somewhere deep in the building, and the air was thick with the smell of oil and stale air. The air was chilled, the kind of cold that made your skin crawl.

Asher motioned for Zeth and Eris to follow and led the way, his boots making soft sounds on the floor. They moved stealthily, their footsteps slow and cautious, each one echoing too loudly in the dense silence.

At the other end of the hall, a door swung open and they were met with the muted sound of voices. Asher couldn't make out the words, but he could sense the tension, the low growl of a conversation that had soured. 

He didn't have time to think about it. He had one objective now: get through this meeting without them losing their heads.

As they neared the door, Asher glanced over at Zeth. "Be prepared. We have no idea who is on the other side."

Zeth nodded but did not say anything. He was not much of a speaker in situations like this. It was simply his nature.

With a deep breath, Asher opened the door.

It was smoky indoors, and the room was illuminated by the dim, flickering light of old-fashioned lamps. It was a long way from the sterile, gleaming world of the skyscrapers they had just exited. Wires, screens, and cluttered tables lined the walls. Tables that looked like they had been abandoned in a rush. The kind of place where shady deals were brokered.

At the center of the room stood Juno, his tall frame leaning casually against a table. He didn’t seem surprised to see them, though his lips curled into a thin, knowing smile.

“Well, well,” he said, his voice smooth and measured. “I was wondering when you’d show up.”

Asher did not return the smile. He just kept looking at Juno, his eyes scanning the room. Two other people were present in the room, neither of whom he knew. One was a thin, angular woman with pointed features and dark glasses, even though the room was anything but bright. The other was a hulking man, arms folded across his chest, eyes flicking back and forth between Asher and Zeth with a nearly animalistic intensity.

Eris stepped forward, her presence decidedly formidable. She had positioned herself at Asher's side, and it was clear that each move she made was deliberate, intentional. She was no longer the naive, wondering creature she had been just days before. She was changing, growing—becoming something far more capable.

"Let us proceed," Zeth snarled, his posture tense. "I do not like to play games."

Juno's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with something Asher couldn't place. "No games, my friend," he said, his voice level. "We're here to make sure you all make it out of this alive. And in case you've managed to forget, the stakes have only kept escalating since our last encounter.".

Eris's eyebrow went up, her eyes narrowing. "Higher stakes?" she echoed, her voice low but with a hint of command. "You think you can intimidate us with empty threats?"

The woman in sunglasses chuckled softly, her voice level but cold. "Don't mistake him for someone who threatens idly," she replied. "Juno doesn't play games. Neither do we."

Asher's attention turned to the burly man, who was silent so far. His face was set, expressionless. Asher had seen that face before. It was the face of someone who was trained to fight. 

"We don't want to cause any trouble," Asher said, his voice firm but calm. "We only want information."

Juno's eyes never left Asher's, his smile never wavering. "Information is simple enough to come by," he said. "But what you're seeking isn't something I hand out for free. You want my help, you'll need to prove yourself worthy of the effort."

Asher's fists clenched at his sides. "I'm not here begging for anything.

"You don't have to plead," Juno said, his voice smooth. "But if you want my support, you'll have to do something for me in return. That's how it works."

Eris took a step forward, her eyes narrowing. "You're not in charge here, Juno. You've got influence, but you're not the only one with an agenda. You can't dictate here."

The air in the room became heavier. Asher could sense it—the slight change in the atmosphere, the way the air grew denser with each ticking moment. But Juno didn't bat an eyelid. He was accustomed to this game. He reveled in it.

"I'm not giving you orders," Juno said, his smile faltering slightly. "But don't get it twisted—you're in over your heads. The people you're trying to avoid aren't going to let you just walk away from this. And if you don't go along with them, they'll come after you. They'll come after all of us."

Zeth’s eyes flicked to the door, his posture becoming even more defensive. “What’s the play then?” he asked, his voice sharp. “We’re running out of time.”

Juno’s eyes gleamed with something more than just amusement now. “The play is simple,” he said. “We’re going to level the playing field. And you’re going to help us.”

Asher glanced at Eris, who nodded slightly, her expression unreadable. The decision was looming in the air, but one thing was clear—no matter how much they didn’t trust Juno, they were going to need him if they were going to survive what was coming.

“We’ll play your game,” Asher said finally, his voice steady. “But make no mistake—we’re in this for our own reasons, not yours.”

Juno’s smile returned, broader this time. “Of course. But remember, Asher—when the chips fall, we’ll see who comes out on top.”

The stocky man moved forward, his hands unclasped, revealing the weapon at his side. Asher’s hand instinctively went to his own holster, but Zeth was already quicker, his gaze focused.

“You sure you’re ready for this?” Zeth asked, his eyes narrowed.

Juno’s smile didn’t fade. “You won’t have to be. We’re just getting started.”

Asher’s heart pounded in his chest. The world was about to get a lot darker. And they had just stepped deeper into the shadows.