The plan formed quickly, born of desperation rather than hope. The Council spire dominated Neo-Arcadia's skyline, a needle of gleaming metal and light that pierced the perpetual smog.
"We'll never get through the front door," Kaela said, studying the building schematics. "But there's an old maintenance conduit from when the spire was built. It emerges near the network hub."
Elias watched the security patterns on the screen. "They'll be expecting us after the archive incident."
"Then we give them something else to worry about." Lena brought up a map of the city's power grid. "The resistance can create diversions across multiple districts. While the enforcers are responding, we infiltrate the spire."
The preparations took hours. Elias found himself armed and equipped alongside resistance fighters who had been preparing for this moment their entire lives. He was an outsider, a memory trader from the upper levels, yet they treated him with a respect that made him uncomfortable.
"You're the key to this, Vance," Kaela told him as they suited up. "Thorne chose you for a reason."
"Because of my father," Elias said.
"Maybe. Or maybe because you see what others miss." She checked her weapon. "In my experience, the truth finds the people who can handle it."
They moved out as night fell, the artificial lights of Neo-Arcadia creating a false daylight in the streets. The diversions began exactly on schedule—power outages, data breaches, even a fake chemical spill near the Council headquarters.
While the enforcers scrambled, Elias, Lena, and Kaela entered the maintenance conduit. The tunnel was narrow and dark, the air thick with the smell of ozone.
"The hub is ten levels up," Kaela whispered, her cybernetic eyes seeing in the darkness. "Minimal security, but that will change once we trigger the alarm."
They emerged into a service corridor behind the network hub. Through the observation window, Elias saw rows of servers humming with activity. This was where every memory transaction in the city was processed, where the Council's edits were applied.
"Two technicians," Lena counted. "Four guards. We can take them quietly."
But as they prepared to move, the corridor lights flashed red. An alarm began to sound.
"They know we're here," Kaela said grimly.
The hub door slid open to reveal Councilor Valerius himself, surrounded by enforcers. His human facade was perfect, but Elias now saw the subtle tells—the too-perfect symmetry, the eyes that didn't quite focus.
"Elias Vance," Valerius said, his voice calm. "You have something that belongs to us."