As the investigation unfolded, the sound of applause and triumphant music echoed through the hangar, drawing their attention to the main stage. On the elevated podium, the designer of the Goliath stood tall, holding the gleaming first-place trophy aloft. The crowd roared its approval, cameras flashing as confetti rained down.

The official overseeing the investigation glanced up at the scene, his jaw tightening. A pained expression crossed his face as the announcer’s voice boomed across the arena.

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, we’re proud to announce that the championship-winning design, the Goliath, will soon be available to the public as the flagship model of Marauder Arms, a rising star in the manufacturing world!”

The official froze. His head snapped toward the stage, his eyes narrowing as the name “Marauder Arms” echoed in his ears. Jackie, still standing beside Kovacs, caught his reaction immediately.

“What is it?” she asked, her voice edged with urgency.

The official grimaced, his face pale. “Marauder Arms,” he muttered under his breath. “They’re new—too new. And now they’re launching with a championship mech? That’s not coincidence.”

Kovacs’s gaze sharpened. “You think they’re behind the sabotage?”

The official hesitated, clearly weighing his words. “I can’t confirm anything yet. But if Marauder Arms orchestrated this, they had everything to gain—instant credibility, market dominance, and the discrediting of a rival design.”

Jackie’s frustration boiled over. “And you’re just going to let them walk away with the trophy? After everything?”

The official looked at her, his expression heavy with regret. “It’s not that simple. This is a public stage, and we don’t have proof yet. If I pull the plug now, it could bring down the entire competition. But…”

He paused, glancing at the technicians still combing through the logs. After a moment, he straightened, his voice firm. “I can’t guarantee anything, but we can try to make this right.” He gestured to a nearby security officer. “Get me a full background check on Marauder Arms—ownership, funding, personnel. I want to know everything about them. And track down Marcus Cain. We need him in custody before he disappears.”

The officer nodded and hurried off as the official turned back to Kovacs and Jackie. “We’ll dig into this, but it’s going to take time. For now…” His voice trailed off as he glanced back at the stage, where the designer of the Goliath was shaking hands with executives from Marauder Arms. His expression darkened, and he walked off, issuing more orders to the personnel around him.

Jackie clenched her fists. “It’s not fair. They’re getting away with it right in front of us.”

Kovacs placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice steady. “They won’t get away with it forever. The truth has a way of coming out—and when it does, we’ll make sure they answer for it.”

Jackie exhaled slowly, nodding. “Let’s hope you’re right.”

***

The hangar was alive with activity, the hum of engines and the clatter of tools creating a chaotic symphony. Kovacs stood near the edge of the landing platform, staring out at the sprawling cityscape of the advanced world. Towering spires gleamed under the pale light of twin moons, a testament to the engineering marvels he had only begun to comprehend.

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Behind him, Jackie Stewart checked their minimal gear, ensuring everything was ready for their departure. Despite the bustling energy around them, a quiet tension hung between the two. Jackie caught sight of Kovacs, his figure silhouetted against the city’s glow, and frowned. He’d been distant since the end of the competition, torn by the weight of his decision.

“You’re thinking about staying,” she said, her voice breaking the silence.

Kovacs didn’t turn, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.”

Jackie walked up beside him, folding her arms. “This place is impressive, no doubt about it. The tech, the knowledge—it’s light-years ahead of anything back on Prescott. But…” She hesitated, searching for the right words. “Is it worth it? Staying, I mean. What’s here that you can’t take back with you?”

Kovacs sighed, rubbing his temples. “That’s just it. There’s so much I don’t know yet. Materials, systems, design philosophies—they’re operating on a completely different level. If I stay, I could learn enough to push everything I’m working on ahead by decades. But if I don’t go back…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “Who’s going to put it to use? Prescott needs progress now, not years from now.”

Jackie studied him for a moment before speaking. “It’s not just about the tech, is it? You feel responsible. For your designs, for Prescott, for everyone counting on you. You think if you leave, you’re letting them down.”

Kovacs’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Am I wrong?”

“No,” Jackie admitted. “But staying here doesn’t mean you’re abandoning them. And going back doesn’t mean you’ll never catch up. You have to decide what’s more important: what you can learn or what you can share.”

Before Kovacs could answer, their comms crackled to life. “Attention, team. Prep for departure. The enemy has begun a full retreat, but command believes they’re regrouping. We’ve got bigger problems coming our way.”

Jackie frowned as she activated her communicator. “Acknowledged. We’ll be ready.”

She turned back to Kovacs. “Looks like we don’t have much time to debate this.”

“No,” he said quietly, “but it doesn’t make the choice any easier.”

As they boarded their transport, Jackie allowed herself a moment to reflect. The mission had been a success—technically. They’d gathered vital intelligence, uncovered critical weaknesses in the enemy’s infrastructure, and exposed the sabotage that had marred the competition. But the cost weighed heavily on her.

Her role had been clear from the start: protect Kovacs. But watching him wrestle with decisions that could shape the future of Prescott left her feeling powerless in a way the battlefield never had. Protecting him physically had been easy. Shielding him from the crushing expectations he placed on himself was another matter.

“He’s carrying the weight of the world,” she muttered under her breath as she secured her harness. “And all I can do is make sure he doesn’t break under it.”

Kovacs, sitting across from her, noticed her distracted look. “You okay?”

Jackie forced a small smile. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

Kovacs chuckled faintly, though his eyes betrayed his weariness. “Maybe. But I’m used to overthinking things. You’re the one who usually keeps me grounded.”

She shrugged. “Somebody has to.”

The transport lifted off, ascending toward orbit. Kovacs stared out the window, watching the gleaming city shrink beneath them. His mind churned with indecision. Staying meant knowledge, potential breakthroughs, a chance to push the limits of what was possible. But Prescott needed him now, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that the answers he sought might lie back home.

Meanwhile, Jackie’s thoughts turned to the enemy’s retreat. They’d been caught off guard, yes, but they weren’t gone. The pieces they’d uncovered—a shadowy conspiracy, sabotage aimed at undermining new designs—hinted at something far larger. Something that wasn’t finished.

“We’ll have to be ready when they come back,” she said, more to herself than to Kovacs.

He turned to her, raising an eyebrow. “What?”

“The enemy. They’re not gone. They’re regrouping, and they’re planning something. You don’t sabotage a competition and retreat from a battle unless you’re trying to buy time.”

Kovacs nodded, his expression darkening. “And if they’re regrouping, they’re going to hit us harder. Which means everything we’ve learned here needs to get back to Prescott.”

Jackie smirked. “Sounds like you’ve made your decision.”

He sighed, but managed a small smile. “Yeah. Let’s go home.”