The steady hum of the ceiling lights dragged me awake. I forced my eyes open against the harsh glare. My head throbbed—a symptom from last night's extraction—and every muscle ached, bruised in ways I hadn't even realized. I pushed myself upright, realizing I'd been laid out on the tiny sofa in Devin's office.
"How are you feeling, kid?"
I looked over to find Devin typing away at his computer, like always..
"Like I got run over by a car…multiple times."
"Not surprised. From what the other two said, that job gave you guys a run for your money." He paused, then stood and walked over. "Glad you all made it back in one piece."
"Barely. The client better be satisfied—we went to hell and back for those memories."
Devin placed a hand on the top of my head. "I know. You did good, kid. It's not easy, but we couldn't have done it without you."
I could only sigh at his response. What's done is done, I guess. As long as we get our payout, that's all that matters… but that memory—what did it really mean? Whatever it was, that Blackwood guy was mixed up in some seriously sketchy shit.
"Uh… hey Dev, how long was I even out for?"
"Two days," he replied simply.
I jolted from the couch, startled. I knew the operation would take a toll, but I hadn't expected to be out for that long.
"T-two days?!" My stomach dropped. "Oh shit—Kai's been alone this whole time—"
"Juno, relax. I went with Mishka to check in on him. Took him to school, fed him, and everything."
I let out a long, relieved sigh. Still, I knew he was likely worried I'd been gone longer than usual. Working night shifts let me take care of him during the day.
"Thanks boss, I owe you one."
"Don't worry about it. By the way, the others are in the lab. I'm sure they'll be relieved to see you're awake."
I didn't waste another second. I could only imagine what my extended absence had done to them. I slid the doors open to reveal Mishka, Ryker, and Dex standing close, their conversation cutting off the moment they saw me.
"Oh my god, Jun!" Mishka cried.
She rushed toward me and threw her arms around my neck, nearly knocking me off balance as she pulled me into an embrace. "You scared me to death. Don't you ever do that again."
"I didn't exactly have a choice," I said with a weak laugh, wrapping my arms around her and returning the warmth of her grip.
"Glad to see you back on your feet," Ryker said. "I started to think we lost you."
"Honestly, I could say the same about all of us. It's a miracle we made it back at all…"
My words settled over the room, and a heavy silence followed.
"Like they said, I'm glad you're okay, Juno," Dex added. "Not the best time to ask, but… did you get the memories we needed?"
I hesitated before answering. How was I supposed to explain the vision I'd seen? I hadn't been able to extract the full memory—only a fragment. Would that even be enough for the client?
"I did. Only managed to pull a small piece of it. But I can upload it to the system, and you can all see for yourselves."
They nodded, worry lingering on their faces. Normally, I'd give them a full rundown of what I saw before uploading anything—but I barely understood it myself.
I pulled my chip free from my head and slid it into the computer's slot. Once the scan finished, the memory appeared on the screen—the brief scene I had managed to access before the malfunction, played through. When it ended, there was a pause as everyone absorbed what they'd just seen, each lost in their own thoughts.
"We always knew the state was collecting data from our chips for the renewal plan, but doesn't this seem off?" Mishka asked.
"Yeah, what really caught my eye were the red zones scattered across the West Side. And those numbers… what could they mean?" Ryker noted, replaying a close-up of the map.
I looked towards Dex, who was still in contemplation. "Got any theories?"
"Based on what we're seeing, something isn't going according to the state's plan. The word… anomaly. Some kind of irregularity is interfering, though I'm not entirely sure what those plans might be."
With that, the slight momentum we did have immediately died.
"But what I do know," he continued, "is that memory was never meant to be accessed. The state—likely with Hex's help—went to great lengths to protect that chip, ensuring no one but its owner could interact with it. Your reaction during the extraction proves just how dangerous it is." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "And I have no doubt the buyer was fully aware there was illicit information hidden inside."
He had a point. Whoever the buyer was, they knew exactly how much weight their request to target Blackwood carried. The thought made my stomach knot. Whatever we uncovered last night would circle back.
"So what do we do now? Just send the file to the client and pretend none of this ever happened?" I asked.
"Maybe that is the best move," Ryker said. "Leave the problem in their hands. We're just messengers."
Mishka started pacing in tight circles. "That won't work. There's no way the state will let this slide. We need to figure this out—now."
"And how exactly are we supposed to do that?"
Mishka reached into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. "With this."
We all stared at her.
"Uh… care to explain what we're looking at here?"
"We didn't get a chance to fill you in on what happened after Hex. We took multiple detours to lose their units in the chase. Once they were off our tail, we cut back to the West Side. The agent dropped us a quarter mile out. Ryker carried you in."
She unfolded the crumpled paper and handed it to me.
"Before I left, he gave me this. Address. Date. Time."
I leaned in and studied the handwriting.
1843 Atlas Plaza, Unit 52. 05/10. 23:00.
Atlas Plaza? That's right on the North–West border. And the date—wait. That's today.
My gaze snapped to the clock on the wall. 23:00 was only a few hours away.
The pieces clicked into place—slow and uneasy..
"So what you're saying," I said carefully, "is that you think we should meet him?"
"Not happening." Ryker stepped forward and snatched the paper from my hands. "Whoever this guy is, he's setting us up. You saw the suit—he's one of Hex's rats. This is clearly a trap!"
I understood both of their perspectives. Mishka had a point—we had no leads and had to work with what little we had at our disposal. But, as Ryker pointed out, could we really trust a corporate? The timing all seemed too suspicious.
Dex walked over to Ryker and placed a hand on his shoulder. "All three of you should go. He chose not to turn you in for a reason, right? Besides, it'll give me time to send the file to the buyer—and figure out how I can help slow the state down before things escalate."
Ryker's face fell into disbelief. He turned to me. "Well… it's up to you now."
I still hadn't fully wrapped my head around the situation. Was there even a right choice here?
My thoughts drifted back to the other day. The last thing I remembered before losing consciousness was what he said: I need you alive.
The phrase replayed in my head. What did he mean by that?
"I think we should go."
"Then it's settled. We'll meet back here an hour before heading to the address," Mishka said. "Oh, and Jun—you should go home for a bit to see your brother. The kid was telling me how much he misses you."
"Yeah, I'll do that. And… I forgot to thank you for looking after him."
She flashed a proud smile. "Of course. I'd never pass up a chance to see my sweet Kai."
I wasn't sure what I'd do without them. It was comforting to know the team genuinely cared for him. It made raising him so much easier. In times of need, I knew I could rely on them—they were practically family.
Following the debrief, I rode Devin's motorcycle home. Normally, I would've walked, but everyone insisted it would be too strenuous on my body. The sun was starting to set, which meant Kai would be home around the same time. The breeze whipped through my hair, cool against my skin. Once I parked the vehicle at our apartment building, Kai's school bus arrived at the same time.
"Sis!" the small boy cried, running toward me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his face in my chest, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Where were you?!"
Guilt hit me instantly. He was only six, yet somehow he stayed strong for me.
I leaned down to his level and held him tight. "I'm sorry, Kai. I promise I won't ever leave you like that again."
A tear slipped down my cheek. Moments like this reminded me just how precious life was—and how unforgiving the work I did could be. But I had no choice; it was the only way to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table.
"Let's go inside for dinner, okay? How about I make noodle soup and stir-fried pork tonight."
Kai wiped his tears and nodded, a small grin breaking across his face when he heard stir-fried pork—his favorite, after all.
I took his hand, and we climbed the stairs up to our floor.
"While I was gone, did you have fun with Aunt Mishka and Uncle Devin?"
"Mhm. Uncle Devin helped me with my homework, and Auntie Mishka made fish porridge."
"Oh? How was it?"
"Terrible." He pouted dramatically. "I like your cooking better."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Interesting. I'll be sure to let her know." I pulled the key from my pocket and unlocked the door. "Don't worry—we're eating good tonight."
Ah, home sweet home. It had only been two days, but it felt like ages. The apartment was small and a little rundown, but it was more than enough for Kai and me to live comfortably.
As I started preparing the ingredients, he ran straight to his bedroom to unpack his belongings. Half an hour later, the noodles and pork were ready. I called for Kai, and without hesitation, he dug into a generous portion of his food.
I, on the other hand, could barely touch mine. It had to be the nerves from tonight's meeting hanging over me. But regardless, I was glad I was able to cook the kid a warm, home-cooked meal.
After dinner, we spent the few hours we had together playing card games. As night settled in, I helped him bathe and get ready for bed. Time flew by, and before I knew it, I was tucking him in.
"Hey, Sis… are you leaving for work soon?"
I sat down on the edge of his bed and gently ran my fingers through his hair. "Unfortunately, yeah. But I'll be back in the morning, okay? And remember—if anything happens, you can always go to the neighbors."
Kai reached up and pressed his small hand against my cheek. "Be safe, okay?"