Page 24

I looked up at him, taking in the concern etched on his face. Despite everything we'd been through, despite the lingering doubts and unanswered questions, I knew in my heart that I trusted him.

"I'm sure," I said, reaching up to cup his cheek.

Goernx leaned into my touch, his eyes closing for a moment. When he opened them again, a fierce determination filled his eyes, causing my breath to catch.

I moved to step away, a flicker of movement caught my eye. I turned, just in time to see Kaidan slip something into his pocket, something that looked suspiciously like a data transmitter.

My blood ran cold as I realized the implications. We had a mole in our midst, right here in what we thought was our inner circle.

I caught Goernx's eye, a silent message passing between us. We couldn't confront Kaidan directly, not without risking the entire operation. But now we knew we couldn't trust anyone completely, not even those we thought were on our side.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Goernx

The acrid smell of ozone filled my olfactory sensors as I pressed my back against the cool metal wall, my cybernetic eye whirring softly as it scanned for any signs of movement. Beside me, Clover's breath came in short, controlled bursts, her heart rate elevated but steady. We'd made it this far into the high-security data center, but the real challenge was just beginning.

"Security patrol," I whispered, my enhanced hearing picking up the rhythmic footsteps long before they'd be audible to human ears. "Two guards, approaching from the east corridor."

Clover nodded, her blue eyes sharp with focus. "How long?"

"Thirty seconds, give or take."

We exchanged a quick glance, a silent understanding passing between us. After everything we'd been through, we'd developed a kind of shorthand, a way of communicating volumes with just a look or a gesture. It was one of the many things I'd come to appreciate about working with her.

"Vent shaft?" Clover suggested, already eyeing the narrow opening above us.

I shook my head. "Too risky. My cybernetic components would make too much noise. We need another way."

My processors kicked into overdrive, analyzing our surroundings and calculating potential escape routes. Twenty seconds left. Fifteen. Ten.

"There," I said, pointing to a recessed alcove partially hidden by a bank of servers. "It's a tight fit, but it should conceal us both."

Without hesitation, Clover moved towards the hiding spot. I followed, my larger frame making it a challenge to squeeze into the narrow space. As we pressed together, I was acutely aware of Clover's proximity, the warmth of her body against my cool metal components.

"Sorry," I murmured, shifting to give her as much room as possible.

"Don't be," she whispered back, a hint of a smile in her voice despite the tension of the moment.

The guards passed by, their conversation a low murmur as they completed their rounds. I held my breath, a habit left over from my fully human days, as they paused near our hiding spot. For a heart-stopping moment, I thought they might investigate further, but then they moved on, their footsteps fading into the distance.

We waited another full minute before emerging from our hiding place, my systems running a quick scan to ensure the coast was clear.

"That was close," Clover said, smoothing down her rumpled clothing.

I nodded, my mind already focusing on our next move. "We need to hurry. The longer we're in here, the greater the risk of detection."

We made our way deeper into the heart of the data center, each step bringing us closer to our goal. The information wesought was here, somewhere in this labyrinth of servers and data banks. If we could find it, we'd have the evidence we needed to expose the conspiracy that threatened to tear apart human-cyborg relations.

As we approached a heavily fortified door, I felt a familiar tingle in my cybernetic components. A sign that we were getting close to some serious processing power.

"This is it," I said, my voice low. "The main server room should be just beyond this door."

Clover pulled out a small device, a prototype hacking tool she'dborrowedfrom a contact in R&D. "Let's hope this thing works as advertised," she muttered, attaching it to the door's security panel.

I kept watch as she worked, my enhanced senses on high alert for any sign of approaching danger. After what felt like an eternity, but was probably only a few minutes, the door slid open with a soft hiss.

"We're in," Clover said, a note of triumph in her voice.