REBEL CODE

Chapter 8 – Into the Fire

The air in New Helix City was choking, thick with the kind of pollution that made the lungs ache with every breath. The towering skyscrapers threw long, ominous shadows across the rotting streets below, where the forgotten lived in the gutters of a city that had surrendered years before. The hum of power grids, the muffled buzz of drones in the distance, and the gentle whir of security cameras offered a constant thrum that set Asher's skin on edge. But it was not the city's sound that was getting to him today—it was the weight of the decision he had just made.

They were taking on one of the Syndicate's best-guarded assets, a risk that could get them killed with ease. But that was the game. It always had been.

Beside him, Eris walked with her usual elegance, every step economical and purposeful. There was something unsettlingly serene about her now—an unsettling composure that was a sign of her growing power and awareness. She wasn't a tool anymore; she was developing, becoming something more. And while that frightened him in some ways he couldn't quite define, it also made him feel secure. In this world, the only currency that mattered was power, and Eris had power in spades.

Zeth didn't say a word, but the tension in his body was palpable. Asher knew his friend hated this op, didn't trust Juno, and certainly didn't trust the Syndicate. There was no more time to debate strategy, though. They had to move. The longer they delayed, the tighter the Syndicate snuck in.

“We’re almost there,” Asher said, glancing at his handheld device, the map glowing with coordinates that were now burned into his memory. The location wasn’t far—just a few blocks ahead, deep in the industrial district. The very heart of the Syndicate’s operations.

Zeth didn’t respond, but Asher could feel the question in the air. The unspoken concern that loomed between them like a shadow.

You think we can really do this?" Zeth asked finally, his voice a soft whisper.

"We don't have any other option," Asher replied. "This is our best chance to catch them off guard."

Zeth snorted quietly under his breath. "You're starting to sound like Juno. I don't know if I should be worried or impressed.".

Asher scoffed, unamused. He had always prided himself on being cautious, on thinking things through. But the thing was, Juno's kind of world wasn't exactly conducive to caution. It was play or die.

And right now, everybody was playing.

They rounded the corner of a ruined factory building, its rusted front a testament to a time long past. The streets were even quieter here, the hum of the city's heartbeat all but nonexistent. It was as if the world had abandoned this place to oblivion, and for good reason. The factory was a maze of broken windows and sagging metal, its depths a darkened secret that no one was interested in exposing.

Asher signaled them to stop, his gaze flicking toward the rundown building before them. The Syndicate's asset, a high-ranking member of their security elite, was rumored to be lying low inside—protected by circles of soldiers, security measures, and enough firepower to make even the most hardened mercenary think twice.

"Well, this looks… promising," Zeth muttered under his breath.

"You've been here before?" Eris asked, her voice cutting through the quiet with its frozen precision.

Asher nodded. "I've done work in this district before. But not like this. Not with the Syndicate involved. We need to be careful."

Zeth shot him a look. "Careful's the last thing we've got now. We've already gotten ourselves into their sights. No going back."

"We're not backing down," Asher said obstinately. "We go in, we eliminate the target, and we get out. Simple."

Eris tilted her head slightly, her artificial eyes gleaming with an impenetrable expression. "Simple. That's the most lethal word in any mission."

Asher breathed harshly, shaking off the fear that had been accumulating in his chest. He could feel it—the tension, the uncertainty, the weight of every step they took. But there was no room for hesitation now. He'd made his choice. And in this city, that choice could be a question of life and death.

They crept towards the building's entrance, their movements quiet as a shadow. The metal door was already open, barely enough for them to slip through. Asher's heart raced as he stepped into the dimly lit hallway, the air thick with the scent of oil and rust.

He motioned for Zeth and Eris to follow, and they did, with the precision of a team that had been in more than its fair share of tight places. The hallway was narrow, the walls lined with exposed pipes and wiring. It was clear that the building was barely functional, but it was a sufficient enough fortress—a derelict structure, repurposed for something much more nefarious.

At the end of the hall, they were confronted by a security door. It was locked, but Asher wasn't worried. He pulled out his handheld, quickly linking with the door's security system. The lock disengaged with a soft click, and the door slid open.

Behind it was the hub of the Syndicate's activity in this part of the city—a dark, cavernous space filled with terminals, screens, and the hum of machinery that controlled everything from communication to security. Asher's eyes scanned the room, taking in the details greedily. There were some guards present, their eyes fixed on the many terminals that were scattered around the room. They were not aware that they had infiltrators in their midst.

Not for long, though.

Zeth moved first, his footsteps silent as he snuck up behind one of the guards. With a quick movement, he disabled the man, his actions quick and well-rehearsed, with no room for error. Eris followed, her movements fluid and deliberate as she silently took out another guard. Asher waited for a beat to watch them, their movements perfectly in tune with each other, before his attention turned toward the central terminal.

He wasn't here to fight—he was here to gather information. Information that would help them survive what was to come. He crept towards the terminal carefully, his fingers dancing across the holographic interface as he pierced the layers of security. The system fought him every step of the way, but he was persistent, tenacious.

The screen flickered to life.

Asher's heart missed a beat as the data he needed was shown before him—documents, schematics, personnel files—all of it. The Syndicate's plans, their operations, their vulnerabilities. Everything. This was the leverage they needed.

He was downloading the data onto a secure drive, but as he was doing that, something changed. There was a low thrum that coursed through the facility, the kind of sound that set every nerve in his body on high alert.

Trap," Zeth snarled, his voice tense.

The door behind them slammed shut with a deafening crash, and the sound of boots on metal decking echoed down the corridor. More guards were closing in.

Asher cursed under his breath, grabbing the secure drive and shoving it into his jacket. "Move, now!

They ran for the door, but the hallway outside was already sealed off. A figure emerged from the shadows—a big, threatening man in tactical gear, his eyes hidden behind a visor. He did not speak. He didn't need to. The big gun slung over his shoulder said it all.

Asher's mind reeled. They were trapped, outnumbered, outgunned, and in a building with nowhere to escape.

This is it," Zeth spoke, his voice emotionless, his expression grim.

But before the words could even register in the air, Eris moved. Quicker than any of them could react, she was upon the man, her movements a flurry of precision and lethal intent. Within seconds, she had disarmed him, knocking him to the ground with a swift, measured strike.

Asher stared, for a moment immobilized by the ease with which she handled it. A testament to how far she'd come. But they couldn't afford to be impressed with her abilities. The other guards were still coming.

"We need to move," Asher prompted. "Now."

They didn't look back as they exited the building. The chase had begun.