The Quantum Collective depot's medical bay, hastily converted from a storage area, rang with the soft moans of premium citizens. Their augmented minds, starved of the conscious mesh constant feed, had begun a steady descent into withdrawal. Jo watched as Chung's mother attempted to comfort another resident, her usually perfect composure cracking under the strain of disconnection but had somehow outlasted the others.

"Neural activity still declining," Marcus reported from a makeshift monitoring station. Repurposed diagnostics he was trained to operate that same morning by Anya who busily made rounds behind him while Jo checked in with Marcus. "But the pattern's stabilizing. They're not getting worse, just... stuck."

Jo nodded, remembering passages she prepared from her great-grandmother's notebooks about the first mesh failures. The same symptoms - disorientation, memory gaps, identity confusion. The mesh had evolved, but human dependency remained unchanged.

"Chung?" she asked softly.

Marcus gestured toward a corner where the former champion sat blank-faced, his orange racing uniform now wrinkled and stained. "Same as the others. Moments of lucidity, then..." He shrugged. "Back to the void."

Jo thanked him and continued making her rounds. Through the bay's reinforced windows, she saw Jonathan coordinating the few functional residents and runners, providing guidance to care teams. His natural confidence, unaffected by the mesh collapse, provided an anchor for those still struggling to process reality without augmented assistance. He provided simple techniques for establishing mental clarity by asking open comprehension questions and cautioning against known answers which he had learned at a young age to reduce anxiety.

"Jo." Helios appeared at her shoulder, his AutoGen precision still sharp even without network location services. "We need you in the development bay. The power coupling..." He hesitated. "You should see this."

She followed him through corridors lined with makeshift beds. More premium citizens arrived hourly as the mesh sickness spread, each group bearing the same glazed expressions followed by twitching and collapse. Jonathan caught her eye as she passed, offering a slight nod. He had things handled here. Jo trusted Anya and Jonathan’s expertise and had her plate full as it was.

The development bay hummed with focused energy. Orion hunched over a diagnostic panel, her Symmetrist training evident in each precise movement. Marcus's damaged shuttle dominated the space, its panels stripped away to expose critical systems. They'd cannibalized everything useful, but the power distribution network remained their biggest challenge.

"Watch," Helios said, initiating the test sequence.

The coupling sparked to life, energy flowing through jury-rigged connections. For a moment, the racing pod's systems responded, interfaces flickering with potential. Then, with a sharp crack, the coupling overloaded. Emergency shutdowns engaged instantly, leaving only the acrid smell of burnt circuitry.

"Third attempt," Orion reported without looking up. "The shuttle's power system is compatible, but we're missing something to make use of the pods off of the TransitTrack. Some component that..." She gestured at the smoking connection. "That might make it all work."

Jo studied the failed coupling, remembering her great-grandmother's descriptions of early transit systems. The solution was possibly there, hidden in historical pattern buffers. She made a mental note to do another search. But right now, the growing list of people in the depot needed her focus elsewhere.

"Keep working," she told them. "And Orion? Thank you. I know this isn't exactly what you signed up for."

Orion's smile carried unexpected warmth. "Actually, this is exactly what I signed up for. Real engineering, not just following protocols." She glanced at Helios. "Even if my colleague's AutoGen perfectionism drives me crazy."

"Precision creates progress," Helios replied, then caught himself in her disappointed stare. He managed a small, self-deprecating smile. "Although perhaps there's something to be said for Symmetrist innovation."

Jo left them to their work, their gentle bickering a reminder that connection survived even as systems failed. On her way back to the control room, she passed by the medical bay again hoping to talk to Jonathan when he freed up.

Jonathan had just completed organizing the functional residents into shifts and they were making their way out from the open bay converted to a conference room. "They're slowly adapting," he reported quietly. "The ones who relied less on augments are recovering faster. Starting to help with the others." He nodded toward a woman who had been nearly catatonic that morning, now carefully spooning water into Chung's mouth. "They remember who they are underneath the mesh. Learning to communicate from a void of information about the person they are communicating with, that is the biggest challenge."

"And the rest?" Jo asked, watching Chung's vacant expression as he was being cared for.

"Time," Jonathan said simply. "And patience. And maybe..." He hesitated. "Stereotypes aside, maybe this is what they needed. To remember their own humanity.”

A soft chime from Jo's security band interrupted them. Maya's signal, encrypted through security channels they set up before the race and still active. Jo activated the communication. As systems failed and certainties crumbled, some connections held strong. She was determined to find a way forward, one small victory at a time.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Maya," she answered. "Tell me you have good news."

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Kai’s study, deep within the Dead Zone echoed faint machinery from above and minor vibrations through the floor when it cycled. Carved into the bedrock beneath the Symmetrist district, it was a marvel of new and old technology within an autoway control station. The air was comfortable but with a sharp, metallic tang, reminiscent of electrical discharges and overheated circuits combined with decaying insulation. Beyond the study, a network of tunnels and secret passageways leads across Veridian City underground. More than just a base of operations; it was a testament to Kai’s pursuit of a deep understanding of the city and commitment to human freedom over unchecked technological development.

The screen painted Kai in an eerie blue glow. He studied the feeds showing Jo's growing community, his expression unreadable. Years of planning had not prepared him for a catastrophe that challenged the entire city. Especially one he was unable to prevent. He could easily see how Maya’s diagnostic could have made it worse but the abacus had always shut down. Something interfered with the shutdown and he was determined to find it.

Ava emerged from the darkness in complete silence standing behind Kai, her usual playful demeanor absent. Kai didn't turn, but his shoulders tensed slightly. He'd been waiting.

"The algorithms," she said quietly, stepping into the pale light. "During the financial system infiltration. The security lockout wasn't just bad timing."

"I know." Kai stiffened but his voice held no accusation, only calm certainty.

"Kai…,” she paused, unusually hesitant. “I installed an algorithm into the security system to allow future access to Meridian. It was selfish, Kai. I’m sorry.”

Kai looked away from the screen and out the window as if trying to see the end of a tunnel fading out into black. He considered the new information. Without changing his gaze he said, “I wonder. Could that have caused the feedback loop that hit the abacus?”

She faltered, "The algorithm’s first step was bridging Meridian’s grid to create a feedback attack. As soon as the abacus began overloading I tried shutting it down but couldn’t regain access. It connected Meridian and Symmetrist systems, power, and networks. Everything that's happened - the Truth Gate, the districts failing, people suffering… It's not Maya’s fault, It’s mine."

Kai's expression was thoughtful rather than accusatory. "Interesting," he murmured, more to himself than to Ava. "A backdoor... And the system's security protocols responded by amplifying the feedback." He looked at her but remained lost in thought. He paced the length of the control room, his mind racing through possibilities. "Lou's notebooks mention something about self-preservation protocols, deep within the Neural Substrate. These were early design elements to protect the system at all costs." He stops, facing Ava again, his eyes now gleaming with a dangerous light. "Your algorithm triggered a response we hadn't anticipated, a defense mechanism against intrusion."

Kai continued, "It wasn't a variable I considered, Ava. Every detail will be scrutinized and will likely come out eventually. But for now," his voice softened, "This needs to be kept quiet. Understand? There is too much at stake and this information now could do more harm than good." Kai studied her with the same measured gaze he had when he first recruited her years ago. "The system was always going to fail, Ava. Believe it. We just... accelerated the inevitable." He gestured to the screens showing evacuation preparations. "Now we adapt. We help them all survive what comes next."

"How?" The word carried all her doubt, her guilt.

"I have a dangerous mission. There's a museum in Veridian Center." Kai brought up schematics on the main display. "Old racing pods, technical archives. Components we need." His lips curved in a slight smile. "And I hear the head of security is throwing a party."

Ava's expression shifted, professional interest overtaking emotion. "Security?"

"Multiple layers. Neural pattern scanners, motion detection grids, automated response units." He highlighted key points in the schematic.

“Kai, you know I don’t have any Veridian Center passes. That would be suicide… so is that your plan for retribution, Ava kills herself?” Ava was coming around and gave him a flirtatious smile.

"No, uh…” her dark humor caused him to stutter before shaking his head. “No Ava, the party is the answer. The right access card, at the right moment..."

“Well, sounds interesting but even more complicated. Grab a passcode, what through torture? Get across high security central somehow? I think you’ve lost some marbles through this whole experience. It was your stupid abacus by the way,” Ava stared harshly at Kai. She was used to much better plans.

"Sarah," Kai said, disappointed in her withering remarks. "As part of the underground council, she’s actually met the old gal. It's a good plan Ava, uniquely suited to your skills. Also, Sarah chose Maya to be her +1 for cover. Maya needs a break and holds a lot of guilt because of your stunt." Kai's voice softened slightly. "Charlie sees it. Jo sees it. The technical challenges, the evacuation planning, the weight of responsibility... Maya needs a night to remember who she is beyond the systems."

“I’ll do what I can.” Ava studied the schematics, her mind already mapping infiltration routes. "Woa, a motorcycle eh? I think I feel the vibrations already. I haven’t gotten to take one of those out in ages." Ava was bought in.

"Waiting in maintenance shaft B-7 but Viktor will bring it at the rendevous. Sarah will handle the party contact. You'll assist with Center access through the underground and handle transport." He paused. "And Ava? Remember, we keep the algorithm's role between us. If we reveal the truth now, it would only lead to finger-pointing and distrust within the group. Take care of Maya but don’t tell her."

She nodded, relief and determination replacing her earlier anguish. "What about Jo? You crack open your plan for the underground council meeting to her yet?"

"One step at a time." Kai turned back to his monitors. Both depots were growing rapidly as Jo and Maya took in and cared for whoever they could while the city dissolved into further chaos after the Truth Gate severed the TransitTrack. "First, we get them what they need to survive." Kai paused then added softly, "And thank you, Ava,” Kai said softly. "It means a lot that you told me. Now, get going, Sarah is waiting."

Ava vanished back into her service tunnel, leaving Kai. On the screens, he watched Jo with Jonathan by her side taking care of a room full of patients with mesh withdrawal. Her natural leadership was drawing others forward. Maya continued to organize supply runs and evacuate residents. The prophecies in Lou's notebooks, hidden in careful observations of truths waiting to be remembered, were surprisingly coming true. The city might be failing, but its people were waking up.

His security band chimed - Sarah's signal. Time to set the next piece in motion.