The words on the screen Project Nexus glowed ominously in front of Hua's eyes. She didn't fully understand what it meant, but the way Ming's expression had darkened at the sight of it told her everything she needed to know. This was big. Bigger than she'd imagined.
"What is Project Nexus?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ming didn't answer right away. His fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard, navigating through encrypted files and locked folders with an efficiency that left Hua both impressed and unnerved. He was clearly more than just some random guy who showed up in an alley. He knew exactly what he was doing.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low and tense. "It was something your father was working on—before they silenced him."
Hua's stomach twisted at the mention of her father again. Every time she thought she could put the past behind her, it reappeared like a shadow, looming over her. "What exactly was he doing? What's Nexus?"
Ming's eyes flicked toward her, his expression serious. "It's not just one thing. It's a system. A control mechanism designed by TechCorp to monitor and influence everything—people, industries, governments. It's the reason TechCorp became so powerful so quickly. They control more than just technology. They control society itself."
Hua blinked, trying to process what he was saying. "Wait, are you saying TechCorp… controls people?"
Ming nodded. "Not directly, but through information. Through data. They've been collecting it for years—on everyone. Your spending habits, your movements, your decisions, even your thoughts. They feed that data into Nexus, and it gives them the power to predict and manipulate everything. And now, they're trying to perfect it."
Hua's breath caught in her throat. "That's… insane."
"It's not just insane," Ming said, his voice hard. "It's real. And your father was one of the engineers who helped build it. But he saw what it was becoming—what TechCorp planned to do with it—and he tried to stop them. That's why they erased him."
The room felt like it was spinning. Hua gripped the edge of the table, her mind racing. Her father had been involved in something this huge? Something that could change the world?
"But why didn't he tell me?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Why didn't he warn me?"
Ming's expression softened slightly. "He was trying to protect you, Hua. He knew how dangerous TechCorp could be. If they thought you knew anything, they would have come for you too."
Hua swallowed hard, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and anger. She had always assumed her father's death was a tragic accident. But now, knowing that TechCorp had been behind it, knowing that he had been trying to protect her—it made her feel both powerless and furious at the same time.
"We can't let them get away with this," she said, her voice shaking with determination.
Ming nodded. "That's why we need to find out what they're planning next. If Nexus goes fully operational, they'll have control over everything. We won't even know we're being manipulated. It'll be too late to fight back."
Hua stared at the screen in front of her, the endless lines of data flashing by. "So how do we stop them?"
Ming tapped a few more keys, bringing up a map of the city. "We need to find the core of Nexus. The prototype you have is part of it, but the real system is buried deep within TechCorp's main headquarters. That's where the central AI is housed—the brain of Nexus."
Hua frowned, glancing at the map. The TechCorp headquarters were located in the wealthiest part of the city, high above the smog and decay of the undercity. It was a fortress, protected by layers of security that no one had ever penetrated. Even thinking about trying to break in seemed suicidal.
"You're saying we need to get into their headquarters?" Hua asked, incredulous.
Ming nodded, his expression grim. "It's the only way. Once we're inside, we can upload a virus into Nexus. It'll cripple the system and expose everything they've been doing."
Hua let out a shaky breath. "And how do you expect us to do that? That place is locked down tighter than anything I've ever seen."
Ming smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "We'll need help. I know some people—people who have as much to lose as we do. If we can gather a team, we might just have a chance."
Hua raised an eyebrow. "And you think these people will want to risk their lives for this?"
"They already are," Ming said quietly. "They just don't know it yet."
The weight of Ming's words settled over Hua like a heavy blanket. This was happening. She was being pulled into something far bigger than she had ever imagined. But she couldn't walk away now. Not after everything she'd learned. Not after realizing that her father had given his life to stop this.
"What about the device?" Hua asked, holding up the small, pulsing object. "What do I do with this?"
Ming looked at the device, then back at her. "Keep it close. It's more than just a key to Nexus—it's a link to your father's work. It may be the only thing that can help us unlock the full system once we're inside."
Hua stared at the device in her hand. It felt both heavy and fragile, like it held the weight of the world inside its sleek, metallic casing. The thought that this small object was somehow connected to everything—her father's death, TechCorp's control, and the future of the entire city—was overwhelming.
But Hua wasn't one to back down from a challenge.
"Okay," she said, slipping the device back into her pocket. "So what's the plan?"
Ming smiled, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "We gather the team. Then, we break into the most secure building in the city. Simple."
Hua snorted. "Simple, huh?"
Ming's smile widened. "Well, maybe not simple. But doable. I've been planning this for a long time, Hua. And with you on board, we finally have a chance."
Hua's heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of fear and determination bubbling up inside her. She had no idea what the future held, but one thing was clear.
There was no turning back now.