Chapter 14: At risk
Having opened his eyes after a refreshing sleep Gillean saw that it was already two pm. “ Why hadn’t anyone woken me up?” he wondered. It was silent all around, which made him have goosebumps. “ What’s going on?” Gillean thought anxiously. He got up and left the room. He walked down the corridor and heard some noise in the co-working room. Gillean’s heart raced as he entered the co-working room, his mind buzzing with questions and anxiety. The sight of his team huddled around the computer screen only added to his sense of unease. “ What’s going on?” he asked, his voice tense with worry.
Marcus looked up, his expression grave. “ We’re trying to create a concept map of everything we’ve seen and found out lately,” he explained, gesturing to the screen. “ But it’s proving to be more difficult than we anticipated.”
Gillean nodded, quickly mulling over the information said. He knew that time was running out, and they needed to come up with a plan soon if they were going to stop the Ophidian Order.
“ Why didn’t you wake me up?” Gillean asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
Gwen glanced up from the screen , her eyes filled with concern. “ You were too stressed,” she said softly. “ And then you nodded off and slept so peacefully. We didn’t want to disturb you.”
Gillean sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew that his stress levels have been through the roof lately , but he couldn’t afford to let it affect his work.
“ How’s the work going?” he asked, trying to focus on the task at hand.
Lucas shrugged, his shoulders stiff with tension. “ Nothing much,” he said. “ It’s all incoherent. We’re trying to piece together the puzzle , but it feels like we’re missing some crucial pieces. “
Gillean frowned, the possibilities rushing through his mind. He knew that they were close to uncovering the truth, but they needed to work together if they were going to succeed.
“ Marcus, are we experimenting with the memory chair today?” Gillean asked, his voice hopeful.
Marcus shook his head, his expression serious. “ Not today,” he said. “ We’ll try another interesting test.”
Gillean’s heart sank at Marcus’s words. He had been hoping that they would be able to gather more information from the memory chair , but it seemed that their plans had been put on hold once again.
“ What kind of test?” Gillean asked , trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice.
Marcus smiled , a hint of excitement in his expression. “ We’re going to try something new,” he said .
“ Something that could help us gather more information about the Order and their plans.
Gillean felt a surge of hope rise within him at Marcus’s words. He knew that they were running out of time , but he was determined to do whatever it took to stop the Order and save the city. They drastically needed to overthrow the totalitarian government, but the Order was absolutely the same in the intentions as the previous rulers. Their rebellious behavior is displayed only to sugarcoat their malevolent musings.
“ Let’s get to work,” he said, his voice filled with determination. “ We have a city to save.”
With renewed purpose, Gillean and the rest of the team set to work , their mind focused on the task at hand. They knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but they were prepared to face whatever challenges came their way. The fate of the city rested in their hands , and they were determined to succeed ,no matter the cost.
The room buzzed with a flurry of activity as the team delved into their new plan. Marcus stood at the head of the table , detailing the new test they would undertake.
“ We’re going to use a neural link,” Marcus explained , “ to share the memories and experiences directly. It’s risky, but it might give us the insights we need.”
Gillean’s eyebrows shot up. “ A neural link? That’s cutting-edge stuff. Are we ready for this?”
“ We don’t have much choice, “ Marcus replied grimly. “ The Order is moving faster than we anticipated. We need to be one step ahead.”
Asteria nodded, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she pulled up schematics and data. “ I’ve been working on this for a while. The neural link can synchronize our minds temporarily, allowing us to share thoughts and memories. “
Gwen’s face showed a mix of excitement and apprehension. “ This could work, but it’s incredibly dangerous. The strain on our minds could be immense.”
Lucas, ever the pragmatist , crossed his arms and frowned. “ What kind of dangers are we talking about?”
Marcus sighed. “ Memory overlaps, potential neural damage, psychological strain . But the benefits- understanding the Order’s plans in real-time- could outweigh the risks.”
A heavy silence fell over the room as each member of the team weighed the decision. Gillean broke the silence, his voice resolute. “ We don’t have time to second-guess. If this is what it takes to stop the Order , then we do it.”
The team nodded in agreement. They began setting up the equipment, connecting the neural link devices to each of their heads. As they sat in a circle, Gillean felt a surge of determination. They were in this together, and they would see it through.
“ Ready?” Marcus asked, his hand hovering over the activation switch.
“ Ready, “ the team echoed in unison.
Marcus activated the neural link, and a rush of sensations and images flooded Gillean’s mind. He felt an intense connection to the others, their thoughts and memories blending with his own. It was overwhelming, but he forced himself to focus.
Suddenly , he was standing in the middle of a chaotic riot , the same one he had seen in his vision. But this time, it felt even more real. He could hear the shouts and screams, smell the acrid scent of smoke and fear. He saw Lucas, running toward him, his face contorted in pain.
“ Focus on the details, “ Marcus’s voice echoed in his mind. “ We need to find clues. “
Gillean scanned the scene, his eyes darting from one detail to another. He saw the insignias on the officer’s uniforms , the graffiti on the walls , the faces of the rioters. Everything seemed significant, but he needed to find the key.
Suddenly , he noticed a man in the crowd, his face partially hidden by a hood. There was something familiar about him , something that made Gillean’s blood run cold. He concentrated on the man, trying to make out his features.
“ That’s him,” Gillean thought, projecting the image to the others. “ That’s the leader.”
“ Wait a sec,” Marcus rejoindered. “ That’s the man who’d sent us the mechanical dog! What a conundrum! He’d been working for the government and now is he’s in the opposition. Wow!”
“ Hm. It’s getting the way I didn’t expect.” Gillean responded and frowned.
The man turned, his eyes locking onto Gillean’s. In that moment, Gillean’s head ached , having eye contact with that man. He’d also seen him in the warehouse, directing the unloading of crates.
“ We need to follow him,” Marcus’s voice echoed. “ He’s the key. “
The scene shifted, and Gillean found himself inside a dimly lit room, the leader of the Order standing at the head of a table, surrounded by his followers . They were discussing plans , their voices low and urgent.
“ We strike at dawn,” the leader said , his voice cold and calculated. “ The city will be ours by nightfall.”
Gillean felt a surge of panic. They had to stop this. He concentrated, trying to memorize the faces of the followers, the layout of the room, anything that could help them.
Suddenly, the connection wavered ,and Gillean felt a sharp pain in his head. The neural link was straining , the overload of information becoming to much to bear.
“ Hold on,” Marcus’s voice urged, but it was filled with pain. “ We’re almost there.”
Gillean gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay focused. He saw the leader pull out an iPad with the map opened on it, pointing to different locations across the city. These were their targets. He memorized the locations , committing them to memory.
The pain became unbearable , and Gillean felt himself slipping. He wanted to scream, to rip the neural link off, but he couldn’t. They needed this information.
Finally, the connection severed, and Gillean gasped, his body collapsing onto the table. He looked around, seeing the others in a similar state of distress. They had done it, but at what cost?
Gwen was the first to recover, her face pale and drawn. “ Did we get ?” she asked, her voice shaky.
Gillean nodded, his head pounding. “ We got it. We know their plans . We know their targets. “
Marcus struggled to sit up , his eyes filled with determination. “ Then we need to act. We don’t have much time.”
Lucas and Asteria looked at each other and frowned. They definitely didn’t approve of the thing happening to them and their heads.
Gillean forced himself to his feet , his body protesting with every moment. “ Let’s get to work. The city’s counting on us.”
As they began to organize their thoughts and plan their next move, Gillean couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that had settled over him. They had the information , but they were up against a powerful and ruthless enemy. The odds were against them, and failure would mean the destruction of everything they held dear.
The weight of responsibility pressed down on Gillean’s shoulders , but he knew he wouldn’t falter now. They were at the tipping point, and every decision they made would determine the fate of the city.
With renewed determination , the team set to work, preparing for the battle ahead . They knew that the road would be difficult, and the risks immense. But they were united in their resolve, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As Gillean looked around at his team, he felt a surge of pride and gratitude. They were in this together, and they would see it through to the end. No matter the cost, they would fight to protect Detroit and each other.
The final act was about to begin, and Gillean knew that they were ready. They had come too far to turn back now. With their hearts and minds united, they would face the darkness and emerge victorious.
***
The team dispersed to their respective stations, each one driven by a newfound sense of urgency. Gillean headed to the co-working to record the information they had gathered. Marcus was coordinating with Gwen and Lucas to devise a strategy to preempt the Order’s planned attacks , while Asteria was ensuring their equipment was operational and ready for the impending conflict.
Gillean’s fingers flew over the keyboard, composing a detailed message to Lucas’s comrades ,who agreed to take the emergency service job as a part of their team. He outlined the Order’s plan, the targets, and the crucial need for immediate action. He pressed send, hoping their message would be taken seriously and acted upon swiftly.
Marcus, meanwhile, was deep in discussion with Asteria. “ We need to disable their communications,” he said, pointing at the schematic of the Order’s headquarters displayed on the monitor. “ If we can disrupt their coordination, we might have a chance to prevent the worst of the attacks.”
Asteria nodded, her eyes scanning the blueprint. “ I can hack into their systems , but I’ll need time. Lucas, can you and Gwen handle the physical side? We need to plant these jammers at key points around the city.”
Lucas and Gwen exchanged a glance and nodded. “ We’re on it ,” Lucas replied. “ We’ll make sure those jammers are in place.”
As they worked, Gillean couldn’t shake the feeling of gnawing worry in his gut. They had the intel, they had a plan, but the Order was cunning and dangerous. Any mistake could cost them dearly. He pushed the fear aside, focusing on the task at hand. They had to succeed. Failure was not an option.
Hours passed in a blur of frantic activity. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the city. The team reconvened, exhaustion etched on their faces but resolve burning in their eyes.
“ All set?” Marcus asked, looking at each of them.
“ Jammers are in place, “ Lucas confirmed . “ Asteria got the system hack ready to go”.
Gillean nodded. “ The securities are mobilizing. They’re setting up blockades and increasing patrols around the targeted areas”.
“ Good “, Marcus said. “ We’ve done all we can. Now we wait and stay alert.”
The wait was torturous. Every minute felt like an hour as they monitored the city’s feeds , listening for any sign of the Order’s movements. Gillean paced the room , unable to sit still. The tension was palpable, thickening the air with each passing second.
Suddenly, an alert blared through the speakers. “ We’ve got movement,” Asteria said, her voice tight with urgency. “ They’re converging on the first target”.
“ Let’s move, “ Marcus commanded.
The team sprang into action, grabbing their gear and rushing out into the night. The streets were eerily quiet, the usual bustle replaced by an oppressive silence. As they approached the old courthouse, Gillean’s heart pounded in his chest. They had to stop the Order here. If they failed, the city would descend into chaos.
The courthouse loomed ahead, its once-majestic façade now a grim reminder of what was at stake. The team took up their positions, eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of the Order.
Minutes ticked by, each one a reminder of how close they were to the brink. Then, movement. Figures emerged from the shadows, advancing on the courthouse with purpose.
“ Now,” Marcus whispered.
Gwen and Lucas moved swiftly, their movements a blur as they activated the jammers. Asteria’s fingers flew over her tablet, initiating the hack. Gillean watched, his breath held, as the Order’s communication devices sparked and went silent.
For a moment, it seemed like they had the upper hand. The Order members hesitated , confusing rippling through their ranks. But then, a shot pierced the air, and chaos erupted.
Gunfire rang out, the sharp cracks echoing off the courthouse walls. Gillean ducked behind a pillar, adrenaline surging through his veins. He returned fire, aiming to disarm rather than kill. They needed prisoners, people who could provide answers.
Marcus barked orders, coordinating their efforts. They fought with a grim determination, each one of them knowing what was at stake. Gillean’s mind raced, calculating their next moves, trying to stay one step ahead of the Order.
