Code Nexus

It was the next day.

Cassian was on leave because his mother insisted that his father give him a break after what had happened in the Dolls case. While Cassian was generally fine with going on duty after just earning his pin, his mother was a little too forceful when it came to rest and relaxation.

She had just left the house after she made sure Cassian had had a proper lunch and didn't starve, which, considering how old he was, was kind of embarrassing on his part.

After she had left, he grabbed his bike keys and exited his apartment.

He had scheduled another meeting with The Ethereal Covenant, or TEC for short. And what he needed to do was find out more about the heads and brains of the group, Kingston and Nia.

Cassian reached the parking lot and inserted the keys into his bike, slowly revving it. The bike was almost like him: bold, sleek, and just a little bit dark, but always true to itself. He donned his helmet and began his fast journey to the TEC hideout.

Not long after, he parked just out of sight from the Ethereal Covenant's concealed entrance. Dismounting and placing his helmet on the bike, he scanned his surroundings, taking special care to cover his tracks.

Today's meeting needed to be quiet and far from AU's eyes. But little did he know what kind of moods awaited him underground in the city of Ekoris.

Without any delay, he slipped into the shadows of the tunnels below.

Inside, the cavernous hideout was as he remembered: dark but familiar, with traces of lights marking the walls.

Kingston and Nia waited for him in one of the side rooms—an old planning area hidden far from the main tunnels. The air here was cool, even colder than the streets above.

As Cassian entered, Nia's tense expression softened, and Kingston's roguish smile greeted him with a sense of relief. After all, they had been waiting for him.

"Cassian, you finally came," Kingston greeted, extending a firm handshake.

Cassian took Kingston's hand, returning the shake with equal firmness.

"Of course," he replied, releasing the handshake as he stepped further into the room.

He noticed Nia's eyes studying him, observing every detail from his attire to the subtle weariness in his expression. Cassian knew that he and Nia had started to bond a little, but his wariness never allowed such bonds to stretch further than he needed them to be.

"How's the bike treating you?" Kingston asked with a grin, clearly interested in any benefits Cassian had gained from his new position in AU, which he didn't know if he liked or just found annoying.

"That's not really something important," Cassian said with a shrug. "But it should come in handy for the work I'm aiming to do with you all."

Nia raised an eyebrow. "Aiming? Sounds like you're serious about making yourself a regular."

His expression remained neutral, but in his head, he was already thinking about the next steps he would be taking, which may or may not include the destruction of TEC.

"Let's just say I have an interest in where this alliance could lead. I did the legwork for the convoy and made sure no strings were tied back to AU—or to any of us here," he added, meeting Kingston's eyes. "But there's more than a convoy I want to talk about today."

Kingston's expression sharpened, though his usual roguish demeanor still played on his smile. Cassian didn't fully understand his personality just yet, but he knew one thing: he didn't like him quite as much as Kingston thought.

"We expected you'd have questions. The convoy's valuable, no doubt, but that's only a piece of the bigger puzzle."

'Bingo…'

Nia leaned back, crossing her arms with a wry look. "You want to know about our inner circle, don't you?"

Cassian nodded, cutting to the chase, and said, "To understand what I'm getting into. If we're to trust each other moving forward, I need to know a little more about who I'm working with."

Kingston's was quite amused.

"Fair enough," he obliged. "TEC started as a network of people dissatisfied with the way AU, Libra, and companies like SolTech monopolized control. We're the thorn in their side, offering the world the chance to breathe free, away from their grip." He paused, looking at Cassian's reaction. "But it takes more than ideals to fight giants; it takes resources, information, and strategy."

"Like the convoy," Cassian said, piecing things together. "And my intel on AU was more than helpful."

Nia nodded approvingly. "Exactly. We needed those supplies. But we also needed you to see that TEC has reached a point where we are seen as big and troublesome—that we aren't just a street gang but a movement capable of real change."

He could sense that they were both observing him, gauging how much they could trust him.

"So then," he asked, "what is it that you're planning beyond AU's scope? If I'm to be involved, I'll need a clearer picture of what TEC hopes to achieve."

Kingston leaned in, his expression uncharacteristically serious, ticking something off inside Cassian.

"Our goal is simple," their leader stated: "Disrupt the control Libra and AU have over the city, one piece at a time. That convoy held weapons and tech that can help us stay a step ahead."

Nia added, "The resources in that convoy weren't just for TEC; they're intended to support smaller groups, those whom AU and Libra would otherwise crush. If we can dismantle their authority over those groups, we can weaken the foundation of their power."

Cassian nodded and said, "If you're serious about weakening the AU, then you'll need more than resources—you'll need to know their strategies, their blind spots. You'll need a man on the inside who can feed you what you need. Someone who has already proven themselves."

Kingston's grin returned. "And you're volunteering for that?"

"Not volunteering," Cassian responded with a hardened expression. "Like last time, I need to know that this cause is worth the risk. I've been inside AU my whole life and know just about everything by heart. I know how ruthless they are. If we push them too far too fast, they'll retaliate, and TEC might not withstand it. Last time was a fortunate turnaround; it will not be the same every time."

"That's why we're careful," Nia said. "Kingston and I handle strategy, intel gathering, and resource allocation. TEC isn't here to wage an all-out war; we're here to bleed them out, one operation at a time."

Cassian considered her words carefully. He couldn't help but feel a subtle pull toward their cause—an urge to see AU's grip loosened, if only slightly. Maybe rather than destroying TEC, he could change them instead.

"So what exactly do you need from me right now?" he asked.

Kingston's grin widened. "We want more intel. We need you to keep feeding us key AU movements, upcoming missions, weak spots—anything that could give TEC an edge. And when the time is right, when you've worked your way up, we might even be able to strike a major blow to their operations."

"And in exchange…?"

Kingston and Nia swapped a look before Nia spoke, saying, "Protection, for one. TEC looks after its own. You'll have people watching your back, a place here whenever you need it, and resources at your disposal. Plus, you'll gain access to a network that even AU hasn't fully mapped out yet."

Cassian's gaze sharpened. He could sense the power TEC wielded, hidden from the eyes of those who believed they ruled Ekoris.

"If I'm to work with TEC," he said slowly, "I need assurances that what we're doing will make a difference, that it won't all just collapse and leave the city worse off."

Kingston's eyes gleamed. "You're not wrong to be cautious. But with someone like you on our side, we can ensure this city finds its own path again. Imagine a world where people aren't constantly watched, controlled, and silenced."

For a moment, Cassian allowed himself to imagine it: a world without the unrelenting grip of AU's control. It was an enticing thought until he saw a picture of Karl Millars in his head.

'There are truths and lies in his words—not just perspective.'

This exact thought grounded Cassian again, reminding him to go slow but be prepared.

Nia looked at him, her eyes searching. "We need to know you're truly with us, Cassian. That, when push comes to shove, you won't just run back to AU."

"Trust goes both ways, Nia. Prove to me that TEC is committed to this vision and that my contributions won't go to waste."

Kingston chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. "Then I think we have an understanding. Keep feeding us intel, help us grow our influence, and watch as we chip away at AU's control."

Cassian allowed a faint smile, though his mind remained calculating and full of ideas.

He would give them what they needed, but he'd also keep his own interests close. This alliance was temporary, a step toward his own goals—until he could find a way to turn the tables in his favor.

As they sat in the room, Kingston's words echoed in his mind. Cassian needed help right now, but with just a little more time, he would be the one helping. Even if everyone was against him, he wouldn't change.

It didn't matter to him if he was the hero or the villain of this world.