Page 166 of Neon Flux

Tex looked up, his eyes sweeping over me with clinical precision. “I assume you have progress to report on the Renard case.”

I nodded, swiping data to Tex’s holoprojector. A three-dimensional rendering of Renard’s apartment materialized between us.

“Based on the evidence from the scene and our investigation at the Church of Divine Light, we believe Renard removed his Flux chip.” I manipulated the projection to highlight the pattern of the explosion. “The resulting energy discharge essentially vaporized him from the inside out.”

“Where is Ms. Ibarra?” Tex’s question came abruptly, his eyes not leaving the projection.

My pulse quickened slightly, but my expression remained neutral. “Her contract’s complete. Won’t be seeing her again.”

Something flickered across Tex’s face—too subtle to name, gone in an instant. “A pity. Her insights were astute.”

I zoomed in on the projection, focusing on the residue pattern. “The explosion originated from within Renard’s body, specifically where his Flux chip would’ve been implanted. The Church ritual we witnessed confirms our theory. The disintegration there matches this pattern almost exactly. They’re removing Flux chips as some kind ofspiritual liberation. Renard must’ve done the same—had some sort of psychotic break.”

“That’s impossible.” Tex’s voice was flat, but there was an edge to it I rarely heard.

“Look, I don’t get it either,” I continued, cycling through the evidence. “You’ve got the whole world at your fingertips and you do some dumb shit like this. Maybe he just wanted to feel something—”

“No.” Tex rose from behind his desk, his movement unnaturally fluid. “Renard could not have died this way.”

“Boss, there isn’t—”

He raised his hand and my mouth snapped closed of its own accord, my lips tingling with a strange sensation. My eyeswidened as I realized he’d used his Flux to shut me up. The room crackled with sudden tension, thick enough to taste.

“You will continue the investigation later,” Tex said, his voice eerily calm as he lowered his hand. “Now, we have an immediate threat to be dealt with at the Magenta data center.”

My lips buzzed as control returned to them. I exchanged a quick glance with Maddox, whose expression betrayed nothing, though his posture had shifted subtly into defensive readiness.

“What kind of threat?” I asked carefully.

Tex walked out from behind his desk. “Intelligence has identified an anarchist cell planning to breach the Magenta data center tonight. Their goal appears to be data theft, but our analysts believe they may attempt something more destructive.”

DITA had been right. Those fucking rebels couldn’t keep their damn mouths shut.

“What’s the objective?” Maddox asked.

“Containment and elimination.” Tex turned back to face us, his expression unreadable. “We do not want a repeat of Green. You will deploy with a beta unit at 2100 hours.”

My mind raced. “Sir,” I began, choosing my words carefully, “would it be more effective to track the rebels to their source? If we intercept them earlier—”

“No.” The single word landed like a stone. “Their presence in the data center is essential.”

My Flux surged in response to his tone, a hot wire of electricity racing down my left arm. I fought to keep my face neutral, but Tex’s eyes narrowed slightly—he’d noticed.

“Why?”

“I’m afraid that information is above your clearance, Cyanos.”

I exchanged a look with Maddox.Above alpha-level clearance?

“Of course,” I replied, my voice steady despite the growing unease in my gut. “We’ll handle it.”

“See that you do. Dismissed.”

We turned to leave, but as the door slid open, Tex spoke again. “And Cyanos—”

I paused, not turning back.

“I hope that no personal…alliances will be interfering with your work.”