REBEL CODE

Chapter 9 – The Escape

The thunder of the escape vehicle's engine echoed through the air as Asher pushed the throttle forward, the vehicle careening through the cramped, neon-lined streets of New Helix. Behind them, the wail of alarms and the sound of heavy boots pounding against the concrete in the distance told them that the Syndicate was close behind. But for the moment, they were ahead. For the moment, they had the upper hand.

Asher's fingers gripped the wheel hard as his brain raced. What they had stolen from the Syndicate HQ was a game changer, a piece of equipment that they could use to dismantle the Syndicate's operation inside out. But it wasn't enough. Far from it. Not yet.

Eris sat beside him, her gaze fixed on the screen integrated into the dashboard. Her fingers hovered over the holographic display, her expression focused, aloof. Scanning the system, she was hacking into traffic control, rescheduling streetlights, and redirecting them to get around the Syndicate drones. It was a fine dance, one Asher had never seen her perform so competently.

"Eris," he said tightly, "how much longer before we lose them?"

"Less than five minutes," she replied flatly. "They'll try to block the main roads. We'll have to take the side streets."

"Do it," Asher told her, his eyes flicking into the rearview mirror. The spinning red lights of the Syndicate vehicles were closing in, their engines growling in the night.

Zeth in the rear shifted uncomfortably and rearranged his weight, his drumming fingers tapping infinitesimal motions against the seat. "You sure this the quickest route?" he asked tightly.

“We don’t have time to second-guess ourselves,” Asher shot back, steering the vehicle into a sharp left turn that sent them careening into an alleyway, narrowly avoiding a collision with a stack of abandoned crates. The vehicle’s tires screeched, the sound harsh in the otherwise silent street.

“I’m trying to reroute their drones,” Eris said, her voice focused, unshaken. “Give me a few more seconds.”

The alleyway was black, the faint light of neon signs off the nearby street stretching the shadows long. Asher's heart pounded in his chest as he pushed the vehicle harder, each turn and sharp corner taking them further away from their pursuers. But he knew they couldn't outrun the Syndicate forever.

You have to get out of here," Zeth said, his voice then falling low. "This is not going to be the two of us driving off into the sunset. You have to have a plan for where you go from here.".

"I have a plan," Asher said between clenched teeth, his jaw angrily working against the frustration. He resented that Zeth was correct. He resented that they were playing the game with such lack of preparation. But there was no time for a more solid plan. They had to do something now, or they would be out of luck altogether.

Eris’s voice cut through the tension. “We’re clear. The drones are locked in a loop. We’ll have a few minutes before they reorient and start searching for us again.”

“Good,” Asher said, but the relief was short-lived. They couldn’t keep running. Not forever.

The vehicle swerved to the side as a sudden jolt of force shook it, and Asher instinctively slammed on the brakes, his heart leaping into his throat. The shriek of metal echoed through the alleyway as they slowed down, and Asher rapidly assessed the damage. One of the Syndicate drones had overtaken them and fired a warning shot, its targeting system not quite advanced enough to strike them directly but advanced enough to deflect them.

"Shit," Zeth muttered, punching forward from the backseat. "How long until they lock us in?"

Not long," replied Eris, already plugging into the diagnostic computer for their vehicle. "The drive shaft damage is cosmetic. We can still move. But we have to disable their targeting system before they get a chance for another shot."

"Do you know how to do that?" asked Asher, looking down the dark alleyway for the first sign of their next step.

"I can," Eris interrupted, her tone cutting through the tension. "But you'll need to keep on the move. We can't stay in one place for too long."

As the Syndicate's drone nipped at their heels, Asher hit the gas, feeling the car lurch forward. The tires squealed, spinning as they sped out of the alley and back into the heart of New Helix's underworld.

Zeth whistled softly as the city came into view on the horizon. "This is not good," he said. "We have to find somewhere they can't follow us."

Asher shot him a glare. "Where? Everywhere's infested with Syndicate patrols."

"The docks," Zeth replied, his eyes scanning the area. "They've got abandoned warehouses and tunnels there. If we can get to them, we might have a chance at shaking them.".

Asher gritted his teeth. He hated the idea, but it was their only option. He nodded, driving the car towards the docks, thinking hard as the sound of engines grew louder. They were still on the run, still in trouble, and time was running out.

As they drew nearer the docks, the city's industrial side lay revealed before them. The cranes loomed above, spidery arms stretching out into the night. Stack after stack of containers occupied the yards and the smell of saltwater in the air rounded out the sense of alienation. The only thing that felt real was the sinister pressure of the Syndicate closing in.

Eris worked on, her fingers moving quickly over the dashboard screen. Asher glanced at her, seeing the focus in her expression. She was more than just the AI who had helped him breach systems. She was a force unto herself, a partner in this fight.

"I've taken down their comms network for now," Eris said, her voice steady. "But only temporarily. We need to get cover."

Asher's eyes darted toward the docks, looking for some place to take cover. The warehouse district was old, a dark and silent area. The buildings were dilapidated, long abandoned by the city's population. Perfect for getting cover. They just needed to get there before the Syndicate became aware of what they were attempting.

Hold on, Asher warned, making another abrupt turn into a tiny alleyway that led to the warehouses. The car jolted and skidded as it hit the uneven surface, the tires struggling to get a hold on the broken pavement.

As they reached the end of the alley, they noticed a small, unmarked warehouse. It was tucked away, behind a stack of shipping containers, and for a moment, it looked like the world had forgotten that it existed. Asher didn't hesitate. He slammed on the brakes, skidding the car to a stop just in front of the building.

Get out," Asher commanded, his voice low but firm. "We have to go, now."

Zeth was the first to jump out, and Eris was hot on his heels, her movements smooth and controlled. Asher followed them, quickly scanning the area for any sign of danger.

As they entered the warehouse, the door groaned on its hinges, the sound of rust in the silence. The inside was dark, the air thick with the bitter smell of oil and decay. But it was safe—at least, temporarily.

We'll have to do this in a hurry," Asher declared, producing the secure drive from his pocket. "We got what we went for. Now we need to know what to do with it."

Zeth shot him a look. "And how exactly do we do that, hotshot?

We use it to bring down the Syndicate," Asher said, his tone steady even as the unrest lingered in the air. "We find a way to turn their power against them. We convince them that we're a threat—but something they can't ignore."

Eris's voice echoed in the warehouse. "And then we rebuild.".

Asher gazed back at her, sensing something in her eyes that was more than calculating coldness. There was a spark—a determination that was reflected in his own.

They were no longer just surviving. They were fighting back.

And this fight was only just starting.