Page 30

Myall

The tech lab feels like a tomb. My footsteps are muffled on the polished floor, the stillness of the room almost oppressive. The encrypted channel Ziva set up is supposed to be untraceable, but with the recent security increases, I’m more paranoid than ever.

We agreed to meet after shifts’ end, to come separately. This is too important to risk, especially with Arden joining us for the first time. My thoughts race, calculating the dangers, the potential fallout if we’re caught.

I rub the back of my neck, my fingers digging into the tight knots of muscle.

Regent Colvin’s arrival in the city feels like a weight pressing down, the strain crawling under my skin.

My shoulders are so stiff now, they feel like they belong to someone else, someone who’s been carrying too much for too long.

I haven’t had a proper rest in days, but there’s no time for it—not with the city on the brink of rebellion.

The door creaks open, and Ziva steps inside, her movements deliberate but quick.

She scans the room, and when her gaze finally settles on me, it lights up.

She smiles, brief and tentative, but it’s enough to send a jolt of something through me.

Then she looks away, and the warmth inside me turns into something heavier—something like longing—like I’ve been burned by the very thing I crave.

Her cheeks flush, and I ache with the knowledge that I’ll never be brave enough to say what we both already know.

I can still taste her on my lips—salt and something sweeter, something I can’t name.

The kiss was brief, a clash of need and fear.

It felt like surrender and defiance all at once.

Her lips trembled against mine as she broke the kiss, pulling away.

Her eyes were wide, wide with fear, and something darker—something that made my chest tighten in a way that has nothing to do with the rebellion.

I don’t know what it is, but it hurts, sharp and raw.

Was it regret? Or was it just fear of what we could become?

It was a moment of weakness on my part. But I wonder if we were too hasty in putting any potential relationship on hold for the rebellion. Being around her every day only adds to my doubts. Would it be such a terrible idea to pursue something between us?

“Any word from Arden?” Ziva asks, her voice low, avoiding my gaze as she fiddles with the console. Her tension is palpable, even in the stillness of the lab.

“Not yet,” I say, trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice. I’m not even sure if it’s about Arden or Ziva. Probably both. “She knows the about the increased security measures Colvin’s introduced and the risks we’re now taking.”

Ziva nods, still not meeting my eyes. “She’s smart. She’ll be fine.” I glance at Ziva, her face unreadable, but I know she’s just as on edge as I am.

I want to tell her that I’m more worried about us, that I don’t know how to balance this thing growing between us with the cause. But I stay silent, watching her slender fingers dance over the controls. She’s so sure of herself, so determined. I envy that.

The door creaks open once more, and we both stiffen.

Marcus slips into the room, looking even more drawn than usual.

His eyes dart around, skimming the corners like he’s expecting someone to leap out of the shadows.

His tawny skin is unusually pale, his jaw tense, as though he’s been running on nothing but fear for days.

Every movement feels sharp, jerky, like a cornered animal—nervous, desperate.

“We need to talk,” he says, his tone brokering no room for argument.

Ziva steps back from the workbench, folding her arms across her chest. She remains silent, watching Marcus with a wary eye, waiting for him to elaborate.

“I just came from my interview with Regent Colvin,” Marcus continues. “He’s asking a lot of questions. He knows something’s up.”

Ziva’s eyes narrow. “What did you tell him?”

“Nothing. I played dumb, but he’s not an idiot. He’s definitely sniffing around, looking for any hints of a rebellion.” Marcus tugs at his hair, his fingers trembling. “You should know so you can get your story straight, Myall. You’re the only one who hasn’t been interviewed yet.”

The three of us fall into a heavy silence. My mind races, calculating the odds, the risks. If Colvin is this close, our entire rebellion could unravel before it even starts.

The door creaks open, and Arden strides in, her presence like a gust of wind through a stifling room. “Sorry I’m late. Had to lose a tail.”

The tension breaks, but only just. “Looks like I’m not the only one who’s nervous,” Arden adds.

“We’re always nervous,” Ziva says, but there’s a hint of warmth in her tone. She respects Arden, I know. Maybe even likes her. I’m not so sure.

We need her—there’s no doubt about that. Her skills are unmatched, and without her, we’re dead in the water. But Arden’s a wildcard, and wildcards are unpredictable. You can’t control them, can’t trust them to play by the rules.

Arden shrugs and sets down a small duffle bag. “Got the gear Ziva, just like you asked.”

Ziva finally looks at me, then back to Arden, guilt washing across her features. “It’s better if you don’t know,” she mutters quietly to me.

I hold back a groan. If Ziva’s been stealing more equipment, we’re all going to get caught.

Arden raises an eyebrow, glancing between us, but doesn’t press. “So, who’s your friend?”

Realizing she’s referring to Marcus, I clear my throat and step into the uneasy silence. “Marcus, this is Arden.” I gesture to her. “She’ll handle the software and security side of things.”

Arden extends a slender hand, and Marcus takes it with hesitation.

“Nice to meet you.” Her eyes, however, are already elsewhere, her mind clearly elsewhere.

“I’ve also got news.” She doesn’t wait for us to speak before adding, “The Harmonization Authority’s network is more vulnerable than we thought. ”

Ziva perks up, her skepticism momentarily set aside. “You’re sure?”

Arden nods, her eyes bright. “I’ve spent the last few days looking into it like you asked. There are ways to get around the new security protocols. It won’t be easy, but I think it’s doable.”

Marcus opens his mouth, but quickly shuts it, his lips pressed into a thin line. I wonder if he’s beginning to have second thoughts. Doubt isn’t something we can afford now.

“So, what’s the plan?” Ziva asks, turning to face me.

All eyes are on me. I feel the weight of their expectations, their fears, their hopes. Regent Colvin. The looming interview. The NeuroMods. The Reconditioning and Detention Centers. The people silenced by The Authority.

“First, we have to figure out a solution to make our NeuroMods appear active and show that we are still under The Authority’s control. It will be difficult, but if we can give off the impression of being harmonized while still experiencing all of our emotions—”

“That way, we won’t have to worry about Regent Colvin’s ‘random’ NeuroMod checks,” Ziva adds, finishing my thought.

I can see the wheels turning in her mind, already strategizing the next steps.

Arden lets out a low whistle, impressed. “That’s some next-level coding we’re talking about.”

Marcus watches us all, his expression unreadable. He finally speaks up, his voice soft yet firm. “It would have to be flawless work. This kind of deception is almost impossible. If we get caught…” His words hang heavy in the air, a reminder of the consequences we’re facing.

Arden outlines it quickly, her voice brimming with confidence.

Hacking the system, reprogramming the NeuroMods—it sounds both insane and brilliantly simple in her hands.

I nod in agreement, absorbing every detail.

The others chime in with questions, concerns, and Arden swats them down with the ease.

“We’ll need a diversion,” Marcus says, his brow furrowed. “Something big enough to cover our tracks, but not so big it brings down the entire Authority.”

Arden smirks. “Leave that to me. I’ve got tricks up my sleeve.”

I steal a glance at Ziva. She’s been uncharacteristically quiet tonight, her usual sharp-edged commentary replaced with a soft, almost resigned silence. I wonder if she, like me, is thinking about the people we’ve lost—about the people we stand to lose.

“So, what about recruiting more members?” Arden asks, breaking the silence. “We seem stretched thin as it is. Can we even pull this off without more bodies?”

The room goes still. This is the crux of it. We can plan and scheme all we want, but without enough hands, any plan we have has room for error.

“You’re right. We need to expand,” Ziva agrees. “We can’t keep operating at this pace. The more people we have, the stronger we are.”

“Or the more vulnerable,” Marcus counters. “One weak link, one person who cracks, and we’re all in the Detention Center.”

They turn to me. Their trust. Their doubt. It weighs on me. Expanding the rebellion was once our priority, but now with Regent Colvin tightening his grip on the city, recruiting more is a dangerous gamble. We’re playing with loaded dice.

“We have to be smart about it,” I say. “Careful. We vet everyone, make sure they’re committed. But Marcus is right—we can’t afford to rush this.”

Arden leans back, crossing her arms over her chest. “We don’t have time for a long vetting process. The Authority’s closing in. We need to take a shot at them before we miss the chance. It’s now or never.”

I want to believe her. I want to believe that we can just charge forward, that sheer force of will can see us through. But I know better. I’ve seen what happens to the reckless, to the impatient—to my parents.

“We proceed as planned.” My voice cuts through the tension. “We recruit, but cautiously. No mistakes—no rushing. We can’t afford to alienate potential allies, but we can’t afford to be naive either.”