The engineering lab’s emergency lights were like a beacon ahead of them. Ava scanned the room on her approach, her boots skidding slightly on the damp floor.
The Quantum Mesh generator, cradled in foam housing, gleamed like a fragile lifeline in the chaos. Chung’s voice crackled over the comm in frustration, “You want me to haul this thing out of here with half a squad? We don’t have the numbers to cover it!”
"Arriving now," Ava pushed aside a toppled rack as it skidded past the door. Entering the room, her eyes locked quickly onto the mesh device. “Speed over strength,” she said, her voice present and cutting above the static echo.
Chung stepped out from behind a console, his expression a mix of defiance and resignation. “Finally, what the fuck took you so long?"
“Gravity,” Viktor rounded the corner entering the lab, slightly out of breath despite his augments. Viktor’s humor was sharp as ever, but Ava could sense the tension behind his grin. This was how he coped—a levity shield, but his tone was hard and commanding. “Look, if you don’t move, you’ll lose the mesh and probably every person we’re trying to save." Adding with a wink to Chung, "That includes you.”
Ava added, “If they catch you, it won’t matter how many guns you have. Move fast, tight formation, and don’t look back.”
Their dynamic entrance hit like a physical force. Chung’s shoulders straightened as he nodded. “Ok, we'll go. You owe me a drink and why you took so long when we’re all out of this nightmare.”
“You got it,” Ava promised, though the weight of her recent choices sat heavy in her chest. She pushed the thoughts aside and helped secure the mesh device to Chung’s pack with quick, practiced movements.
Viktor clapped Chung on the shoulder. “Go on big boy, time to run like the wind.”
Chung gestured sharply, selecting three Quantum Collective citizens to accompany him. As they disappeared into the dark corridor and their footsteps faded, the lab fell into a tense silence. Ava turned to Viktor, picking up the Abacus and strapping it to her chest. Its intricate mechanisms felt alive in her hands, whispering into the back of her mind.
“Do you think he'll make it?” Viktor asked, watching her carefully.
“Still a lot of sick people that can be saved, he'd better,” Ava replied. A belt around the Abacus tightened in her grasp. "I trust the stakes. And that’s enough.”
Viktor nodded once. “We gave'm the best start we could.”
The fading activity in the lab made the place unnaturally silent. Since being set up, it was always a vibrant center of innovation. The remaining members of the security detail joined Ava, Kai, and a couple of engineers. They methodically disassembled equipment and stripped the space of anything that could be traced. Every clang of metal or hiss of escaping air betrayed their position. The spectre of approaching Veridian forces gnawed at the edges of Ava's concentration.
Viktor worked across the room, barking clipped orders to the engineers struggling to dismantle the data core.
Ava glanced down at the Abacus before swinging it around to her back, an occasional mechanical click audible in the growing silence.
"Three minutes," she called, her voice sharp. "Then we torch the rest."
One of the engineers looked up, wide-eyed. “But the records—”
“Liability,” Ava cut in. “If it’s not in your hands, torch it.” Leaving anything behind could expose intel to Veridian Center—they’d turn scraps into weapons against them.
Behind her, Viktor nodded in approval. “This is way too slow,” he muttered. “We’ll have company at this pace.”
“Then we make time,” Ava replied. She turned to the nearest console, ripping out its mainboard with a harsh tug. Sparks flew, the smell of burnt circuits stinging their nose.
The soft click of a weapon’s safety disengaging froze her mid-motion.
----------------------------------------
Slowly, Ava turned, only to see Jo, Maya, and Marcus standing near the exit. However, their rifles were trained steadily on both her and Viktor.
“Put the Abacus down,” Jo said, her voice low and firm. "Ava and Viktor stay, the rest of you to the hangar," she said nodding to the engineers and other security personnel who made a hasty exit.
Ava felt her chest tighten. “What are you doing?”
“What I should have done days ago,” Jo replied. “This is a dead end, Ava. You know that... thing... is a death sentence. You know what you did.”
“Jo,” Viktor said evenly, stepping forward. “Put the gun down. We don’t have time for this.”
“You don’t get it, do you?” Maya's eyes darted between them, frantic but resolute. “You’ve betrayed the city. Now put it down before you get what you deserve.”
"Woa, Maya's gone all firecracker on us," he said to Ava in surprise.
“Let me guess,” Ava said coldly. “You’re taking it back to Veridian Center. For what? Trading it for your own redemption?”
Jo flinched, but her aim didn’t waver. “No, you don’t get to do that. This isn’t about me. It’s about stopping the devastation before it gets worse. I'm not asking Ava. Now, put your rifles and the Abacus down, slowly.”
Ava’s mind raced. She needed to defuse this without losing precious time—or hurting anyone. “You’re right,” she said finally, her tone softer. “You caught us, but this is a strange cycle we're in Jo. You can break us out, or let them win faster.”
Maya's finger twitched on the trigger, her breathing uneven. “You think you’re so righteous, Ava. You aren't the one to decide. You're the one that pays for what you did.”
Viktor moved like a shadow. Before Marcus could react, he closed the distance, grabbing the rifle barrel and wrenching it aside. The shot went wide, shattering a nearby monitor. In an instant, he disarmed Marcus, holding him between himself and Maya. Jo kept her rifle on Ava.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“I think you should be dropping your weapons,” Viktor growled. “If you want to live—”
Ava stepped between Viktor and Maya, her heart pounding. “Enough,” she said, her voice cutting through the tension. She locked eyes with Jo. “You want the Abacus? Fine. But please listen.”
Jo's defiance flickered, then crumbled as Ava put down her rifle and unstrapped the Abacus from her shoulders.
Viktor held onto Marcus, his rifle moving from Maya over to Jo.
After Ava put the Abacus on the table, she reached out for Viktor's rifle. "It's time to come clean, Viktor" Ava said. "Without their help, Kai and Sarah are lost. Try to trust me." Viktor shrugged and released the rifle, "Okay boss."
"I don't think I'll ever be able to trust either of you," Jo said.
"Me neither," Maya said.
"Nor me," said Marcus pulling away from Viktor's grasp.
Maya's rifle stayed on Viktor.
"Maya," Jo said. "They've shown restraint, we'll do the same. Lower your weapon." Maya lowered her weapon, reluctantly.
Jo continued, "We've come to find the mesh generator has also been built with stolen parts. We need that immediately."
Ava looked at Viktor and back to Jo. "Holy shit Jo, what stolen parts?"
Maya couldn't hold back, "You good for nothing thief. You think you can sneak around, mass murdering people, destroying cities, and keep it all a secret. You pathetic bitch. Your arrogance is over the top. How 'bout we just shoot you here and now." Maya raised her weapon again on Ava.
Ava looked at Maya. Tears flowed down Maya's cheeks. Ava was both surprised and worried.
"Maya!" Jo was firm. "Lower your weapon, that is an order. Marcus, take Maya's weapon. I will have order."
Marcus put his hand on Maya's rifle as she lowered and released it, falling into him overwhelmed with emotions. "I just can't believe..." she said as Marcus put his arm around her to stabilize her. Viktor and Ava remained motionless, stealing a glance at one another.
Viktor spoke, "Jo, I ... uh. We ...," faltering, "... Well, ..."
"For the love of God, out with it," Jo said impatiently.
Ava finished his sentence, "The mesh generator is the only way to help Quantum Collective citizens. Veridian Center is withholding the mesh and you know it, too."
"Doesn't matter," Jo said, "We are returning stolen equipment."
There was a long pause before Ava broke it, staring at Jo intently, "Cassandra?"
"What does that matter Ava? The only thing that matters is that you stole it!" Jo replied.
"Well, she didn't deny it," Ava said looking at Viktor. Viktor shrugged. "Anyway," Ava said moving on, "Jo, I don't know how she got into your head or what she said, but that generator will save lives instead of sitting in some museum. Kai knew..."
"Kai? The mastermind behind the devastation of the TruthGate," Maya yelled, the anger swelling.
"Oh God, please," Ava felt unable to reach them. "Jo, are you listening to me?" Ava asked.
"Yes Ava, we all know the mesh-device cures Category 2 and 3 patients within range. But Cassandra also funded our hospitals. We can't just steal from people who help us."
Ava shook her head, "Well, it's not here."
"Ava, where is the mesh device?" Jo asked.
"It's with Chung and some of his Quantum Collective team. You know its life-saving potential. Whatever you think of us, which, by the way, seems way off base... well, it shouldn't take anything away from that and the work Maya and Charlie have done here." Ava explained evenly without her usual over-the-top sarcasm.
"OFF BASE! OFF BASE!" Maya yelled again. "OFF BASE?" her voice breaking with her entire demeanor.
Jo struggled with what to say to her. "Maya, please pull yourself together. Believe me, I understand. But these outbursts really are not helping. Please try Maya, for me."
The tears continued to stream down her face. Maya couldn't comprehend her pain but she heard Jo. She trusted her and committed herself to finding her calm. She nodded at Jo, adding weakly, "I will try."
Jo let the moment breathe. Ava was right about the mesh generator. Veridian Center's actions and the week's events were bizarre to her. She was grateful the mesh generator was with Chung where it could make a real difference.
They stood in silent impasse. In the silence, Jo felt an inner feeling, almost a voice. Whatever it was, there was something about Ava that she trusted. Moreover, there was something about Cassandra that she distrusted with her whole being. The silence in the room allowed her to catch her breath, something deep was becoming clear.
"I hear you, Ava. I'm grateful the mesh generator is with Chung. That was a good call." Jo said simply. Everyone seemed to catch their breath. They all had grown to trust each other completely. It was at the far edge but visible.
"Jo, I don't know how you'll believe this but I need you to believe, desperately. It's the God's honest truth," Ava pleaded for understanding in a way Jo had never seen. To Ava, Jo was a woman she had grown to admire. Both Maya and Jo had become close friends and she hated her actions and secrecy had jeopardized it.
"I'm listening," Jo said. They were all glued to Ava.
"There is something evil about this Abacus. Cassandra arranged Kai's arrest, but something is ... off. There is no way we would have ever used it to destroy the TruthGate or kill anyone," Ava said and Viktor nodded. "Please, Jo. Our mission was small. It was to restore access to a financial trust taken from us by Veridian Central. Yes, Kai thought the Abacus would help, but something went horribly wrong that he did not understand. None of us did. You must believe that the level of destruction this caused was not intentional. I need you to believe me if we have any chance at the truth. You may not trust us, but Sarah risked everything to send me a message about Reeves."
"Norman Reeves, director of Veridian Security?" asked Marcus.
"Yes, the same. Kai's arrest was out of the blue, so I pursued Reeves. But, when I got to Normy's house, he had the Abacus. He had given it to Kai for the mission and Kai had already returned it. No way we were trying to bring down the TruthGate. Oh God, you have got to believe me!" Ava couldn't imagine anyone believing her story.
Jo was thinking and listening to something deeper than how things looked.
"I just stole it back. Three days after the collapse, I stole it back to try and understand what happened. I gave it to Charlie to help me but I didn't tell him anything." Ava explained. There was a far-off look in her eyes, but not as far off as Jo. "Look," Ava said. "Director Reeves said something called a Stylus was stolen from him too. He suspected Cassandra. "I don't know what her game is, but I don't like it. I don't like what happened and I've got to find out."
Jo looked at Viktor and read him like a book, he wholeheartedly backed Ava. Jo looked at Marcus, whom she trusted through thick and thin. Then to Maya, who had only begun to regain herself.
"Maya?" Jo asked.
"I'm sorry Jo, I'm so confused right now. I feel like a StormBall between two paddles. I ...," She looked at Ava not with approval but some of the hatred had dissipated. "I tend to believe her story for some reason. If I trust anything, something went horribly wrong to destroy the TruthGate and I want to know too. If we give back the Abacus now, well... we may lose our chance. You know I thought it was my fault, now I have no idea whose to blame. It probably is Kai but I want to know instead of guess."
"Agreed," Jo said. "You guys might not like this, and it means lying. So, I can't ask you to do it if you don't want to." She looked at Marcus and Maya, "I believe Ava and Viktor should bring the Abacus to Charlie, for more testing. We return empty-handed and ready to face some hard questioning."
There was a long pause. No one disagreed.
Jo continued, "If you need to, this was my call and my fault. Don't jeopardize yourselves."
Still, Jo was curious about one thing. When she was sure they had agreed, after a long pause she asked, "So what was that explosion about?"
Viktor shrugged, "I do like blowing up tunnels. It appeared to throw our pursuers off our track and give the evacuees a bit more time. All in a day's work."
"Well, I'm glad no one was hurt. Also, it was a good thing you did because otherwise there would be a squad here with us, and it would've gone way worse. It was the only thing that allowed me to get them to leave," said Jo.
Jo looked at Ava and Viktor, "You two are never allowed to lie to me, ever... if we get out of this, that is." Then she looked to Marcus and Maya, "I understand if you want to go to the hangar with them, but I must ask if you would return with me. It is probably my only chance out of this mess."
"We're with you Jo," said Marcus. Maya nodded.