The cafeteria in the new Quantum Collective hospital near the barrier hummed with a mix of chatter, laughter, and the quiet clinking of glasses. Bright lights reflected off polished surfaces, casting a warm glow that made the place feel more inviting than any hospital cafeteria had a right to be. It wasn’t a sterile environment tonight; it was a celebration.
Jo stood in the buffet line, scanning the trays of food. Hunger hadn’t been on her mind earlier, but the scent of freshly baked bread and a medley of herbs softened her tension. Grabbing a plate, she moved forward until a gentle nudge interrupted her thoughts.
“Think they’ve got enough for this lot?” Marcus asked, balancing two trays, one stacked high with roasted vegetables and an indulgent-looking pie. His grin was infectious, brightening the subdued mood.
Jo chuckled. “I’m sure they planned for us.” Her voice softened as she added, “It’s not every day we get to celebrate something good.”
Her gaze wandered across the room, settling on familiar faces. Sarah sat in a corner, her posture less rigid than usual, as though shedding a burden she’d carried too long. Maya leaned over the table beside her, pointing to a map, her voice animated. Jo smiled. Some of them couldn’t quite leave work behind, even now.
By the time she joined them with her plate, Marcus had claimed the seat at the table’s edge, making himself part of the conversation before Jo could even settle in.
“Alright, Maya,” Marcus teased, leaning in conspiratorially, “tell me you’ve figured out Lou’s old protocols. You know Jo’s not going to stop nagging until you do.”
Maya rolled her eyes but smiled. “Nagging? Jo doesn’t have to. I’ve been running simulations in my head for days.” Her fingers drummed against the table. “Theoretically, we could adapt Lou’s work, but it’s risky. That system isn’t designed for what we’re trying to do now. Testing it might... Well, it could blow up in our faces. Literally.”
“Risk is practically our brand,” Sarah quipped. Her voice was steady, but her eyes carried a familiar weight. The scars of their journey were still fresh. “Maybe it’s time we stabilize things before taking more leaps.”
"Cassandra must be in good spirits to give you the evening off?" Jo's question on many of their minds.
"Sort of. I think she was looking forward to a show. But she gave permission, and Charlie blocked the feed so I didn't break any agreements. But I'm not answering her calls, ew. She's called twenty times." Sarah said, adding, "I guess she'll just have to come down here if whe wants me."
Marcus leaned back, scanning the cafeteria. “Let’s put all of that aside tonight. We’ve earned this.” He lifted his glass in an impromptu toast. “To the ones who brought us here.”
“And to the ones we lost,” Jo added, her tone softening as her thoughts turned to those lost in the TruthGate collapse, whose absences left noticeable voids. The table grew silent, each of them briefly lost in their private grief, before laughter from across the room brought them back.
Charlie and Jonathan had drawn a small crowd, their laughter carrying as they locked arms for an impromptu wrestling match. Jonathan’s victory was inevitable, but the joy on Charlie’s flushed face as he conceded brought a rare lightness to the room. Jo laughed along, cherishing the moment of humanity.
“Do you think we can rebuild?” Maya asked suddenly, her expression pensive as she looked toward Jo. “Really rebuild?”
Jo paused, taking in the scene around them. The resilience in their shared laughter, even after everything, was an answer in itself. “If we can laugh like this—after all we’ve been through—I think we already are. Piece by piece.”
Marcus clinked his glass against hers. “One piece at a time.”
“Speaking of rebuilding,” Sarah said, drawing Maya’s attention back to the map, “how are things looking with the Quantum Collective? Do you think they’ll support the infrastructure plans?”
“They’re hesitant,” Maya admitted. “They don’t want to be seen taking sides, not after everything. But we’re making progress. Slow progress.”
“Progress is progress,” Jo said. “And Cassandra? Any word on her next move?”
Sarah’s response came with a weight of caution. “She’s offering help, but she wants something. She always does.”
Marcus’s grin faded, replaced by a frown. “We just need to make sure it’s not something we’ll regret later.”
Jonathan, now settled at the table with a stolen slice of pie, chimed in. “Cassandra plays a long game. If she wants influence, we make sure it aligns with our goals—or doesn’t happen at all.”
They nodded, a shared unease settling over them.
Maya broke the tension with a question directed at Jo. “What about Lou’s failsafe protocols? If we can stabilize the Quantum Collective’s network with them…”
Jo’s voice turned serious. “It’s possible, but the risks are enormous. One wrong move, and we might destabilize everything.”
“And the mesh withdrawal patients?” Sarah interjected, her concern evident. “Can we help them cope naturally? Without relying on augments?”
Jonathan nodded. “We can teach them alternative strategies—heightened awareness, community reliance. It won’t replace the mesh, but it’s something. There, focus is on repair and reintegration with the Center which has been keeping its distance I think.”
“We’re running out of time,” Marcus reminded them. “Treatment centers, resource distribution—we need answers now. We stymied the flow of sickness, but the three hospitals were just to get us through the week. Congratulations, hard work accomplished... this week.”
The group’s focus turned practical, dividing tasks and brainstorming solutions. The hangar’s conversion into a sanctuary, the tunnels’ viability as transport routes, Lou’s protocols—all these threads wove together into the fabric of their plans.
Later, as the cafeteria emptied, the energy of the night lingered. Jo stood in a quieter corner, reflecting on the determined faces. One by one, those who had stayed behind gathered in the adjacent meeting room. The planning resumed in earnest, their resolve sharpening as the hours wore on.
They discussed risks, negotiated strategies, and challenged one another to think bigger. The city above may have felt broken, but here, they were building something whole. Every voice at the table carried the promise of a better future, one they would shape together.
“Step by step,” Jo murmured to herself as the group dispersed, “we’ll get there.”
----------------------------------------
The early morning light filtered through the cafeteria's windows as the last of the night’s planners filtered out, leaving Jo and a few others to finalize immediate next steps. The urgency in their movements was palpable—there wasn’t a moment to waste. This new hospital by the barrier had accomplished so much already, their celebration was well warranted and needed.
Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!
Marcus approached Jo, his expression as serious as she’d ever seen it. “We need to focus on the hangar first. It’s the best chance we’ve got to secure a base for operations and for people in need. Charlie says it’s solid enough for now, but the longer we wait, the harder it’ll be to make it fully functional.”
Jo nodded. “Agreed. We’ll prioritize it. Have you and Viktor finished assessing security needs?”
Viktor, standing nearby, answered before Marcus could. “The perimeter’s secure for now, but it won’t hold against a serious incursion. We’ll need reinforced barriers, surveillance, and trained personnel. I’ve already started coordinating with the runners. They know the city better than anyone and can help patrol the tunnels and surrounding areas.”
“What about supplies?” Jo asked. “The hangar’s useless without medical gear, power, and food.”
Sarah joined them, holding her holopad. “We’ve got leads on supply routes that Veridian Center isn’t monitoring. It’s a delicate balance—if they catch us, they’ll shut down every avenue we have. But if Ava can manage a distraction, we might be able to move supplies through the tunnels.”
“Ava’s already working on it,” Marcus said. “She thinks she can create a ghost signal to keep Veridian occupied while we run a convoy through. We’ll need a backup plan, though, just in case.”
Jo turned to Sarah. “Can your contacts help? Anyone with experience evading Veridian’s surveillance?”
Sarah hesitated. “They might, but trust is thin. If we ask too much, we’ll lose them. We have to tread carefully.”
Jo placed a hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “Do what you can. The collar should block Cassandra's feed but use it sparingly, we don't want you arrested next. The hangar has to come together—quickly and quietly.”
The conversation shifted to Lou’s protocols as Maya rejoined the group, carrying a collection of her hastily compiled notes as an outline. “I’ve been going through Lou’s work again. There’s potential, but implementing it and restoring the Quantum Collective’s network will take time. It’s delicate, and one mistake could cause a collapse. I mean, we have to prepare for several failures as we work out the kinks, otherwise it could take a lot longer. Maybe we should stage more carefully.”
“How much time?” Jo asked.
“Days, maybe weeks for high risk path,” Maya replied. “We’d still test it in a controlled environment first. If it works, it could stabilize the network and give us some breathing room. Slow, low risk path could take months.”
Jo frowned, considering the risks. “Work on it, but don’t rush. We can’t afford a misstep. In the meantime, focus on what we can control... getting the hangar operational and securing the tunnels.”
----------------------------------------
The following days passed in a blur of activity. Teams worked around the clock to reinforce the hangar, map the tunnels, and secure supply lines. The once-abandoned facility began to take on a new life, its walls echoing with the sound of hammers, drills, and hurried footsteps. The energy of the place felt infectious, a stark contrast to the lifelessness that continued to plague the city above.
Jo spent most of her time moving between the hangar and the depot, coordinating efforts, and checking in with the team. Each interaction filled her with a renewed sense of purpose. Marcus supervised the security drills with Viktor, grateful to leave the hospital logistics to Anya and her team supported by Chung. Instead, he was back to his love of security, guiding runners through evacuation protocols and patrol routes. Maya's lab in the hangar sparked with round-the-clock activities with her growing staff under Nova and Charlie. The promise of adapting Lou’s localization protocols could revolutionize the Center's power over the districts. Ava and Jonathan collaborated on mapping the tunnels, their banter occasionally lightening the tension of the task. Jonathan was rarely needed for mesh-naturalization therapies, as several Quantum Collective scientists joined the effort of stabilizing the technology that made them dependent.
That evening, Jo walked the hangar. She found Charlie inspecting the structural supports. He waved her over, a tired but satisfied smile on his face.
“It’s coming together,” he said, gesturing to the space around them. “We’ve got power in most of the sections now, and the first batch of supplies should arrive tomorrow. It’s not perfect, but it’s livable.”
The hangar was a relic, a decaying monument to a bygone era. Decades of neglect had taken their toll, leaving the structure scarred and weakened. The once-gleaming metal had rusted, the concrete floor cracked and uneven. Water seepage had caused structural damage, and the once-pristine interior was now a labyrinth of crumbling walls and tangled wires.
Charlie gave Jo a tour of the progress of his first task, stabilizing the structure. He pointed to the shored-up support beams, they were lucky to have found enough epoxy resin to inject into the crumbling concrete. He described the painstaking process that over twenty people organized in work teams had just recently completed. He stressed the meticulous attention required, every crack and fissure was examined, and every weak point was identified and addressed.
Jo smiled, feeling a rare flicker of hope. “You’ve done good work, Charlie. This place—it feels like the start of something real.”
Charlie nodded, his gaze distant. “Let’s just hope it holds. We have begun work on the water damage. We...," he looked for the words, "Um. Well... we borrowed a state-of-the-art drainage system from the Center underground with Viktor and Ava's help to divert water away from the structure and prevent further deterioration." He pointed to the damaged sections of the concrete floor that were recently repaired with new grating, and a new, durable coating to protect it from future damage.
Jo was listening patiently. She knew how important the work was, but hadn't realized the extent of the damage or the progress. A reflexive yawn interrupted a momentary lack of focus.
"The restoration is ongoing, really a monumental task," he said. "I just want you to understand the required expertise of engineers, architects, and skilled craftsmen."
"Yes, of course Charlie," said Jo. "It's really impressive progress."
"It is really a labor of love," he said with a wink and smile. His commitment to preserving a piece of history delighted him. Jo could tell.
"Look at this, though." Charlie led Jo down a level as he continued, "As we delved deeper into the restoration process, we uncovered these hidden layers. They walked through a sledge-hammered opening into an old documentation system. Original blueprints and construction documents containing the hangar's original design and purpose. "We were able to restore many of the original features given this information. It was the only way we were able to repair the ceiling's unique lighting fixtures so quickly. Lots of luck."
----------------------------------------
In the tunnels, Viktor and Jonathan led a small team through a narrow, and crumbling passage. Armed with glowlights and portable scanners, they mapped every twist and turn, marking collapses and potential routes. The work was slow and grueling, but progress was steady.
“We can use this section,” Jonathan said, pointing to a cleared path on the map. “It connects directly to the hangar, bypassing Veridian’s main access and overhead checkpoint deepscanners.”
Viktor grunted in approval. “It’ll need reinforcement, but it’s viable. Let’s flag it for priority work.”
A sudden sound echoed through the tunnels—a faint clattering of stone. The group froze, their lights swinging toward the noise. After a tense moment, a rat scurried into view, disappearing into a crack in the wall. The team exhaled in unison, but the moment served as a stark reminder of the risks they faced.
“Let’s keep moving,” Viktor said, his tone firm. “We’ve got work to do.”
----------------------------------------
Jo returned to the depot. Sarah had gotten the afternoon and Ava and Maya were making small talk as they waited for Jo to arrive to activate the collar. They were hoping for an update on Kai, if anything, and especially Cassandra. The enigmatic figure remained a thorn in their side—offering help with one hand while keeping her true intentions hidden.
Jo arrived with Jonathan, calling all but Sarah out of the room. It was their protocol for Sarah to seem to be biding time until she put on the collar to block Cassandra's monitoring stream.
“Ava, any progress on tracking her movements?” Jo asked.
Ava shook her head. “She’s good—really good. But I’ve planted some traps in her network. If she makes a move, we might know.”
“I see,” Jo said. “We can’t afford to be blindsided. Keep the pressure on, but don’t overplay it. We need to stay under her radar.”
Maya leaned forward. “And if she makes a play against us?”
Jo’s expression hardened. “We’ll be ready. Whatever she’s planning, we won’t let it compromise what we’re building.”
They were watching Sarah as she pulled the collar out but kept it out of site. As soon as it was on, they entered the room. The conversation shifted to the underground council—a group of district leaders working to rebuild their communities. Jonathan had been liaising with them, ensuring their goals aligned with the broader vision. Sarah and Kai were both members but are now unable to attend. It was a chance for Sarah to catch up on their needs.
“They’re cautious,” Jonathan reported. “But they see the value in what we’re doing. If we can demonstrate the tunnels’ viability and secure the hangar, they’ll commit more resources.”
“Then we double down,” Jo said. “The council is critical to our success. Let’s show them what we’re capable of.”
The hangar buzzed with life, its once-abandoned halls transformed into a hub of activity. The tunnels, though still precarious, offered a lifeline that Veridian couldn’t trace.