Blue and Nova left their digital meeting with Servo and Kilokahn agreeing on one thing: the idea of save points, players, and games was absurd. This wasn't a simulation or some virtual world—this was reality. But as ridiculous as it seemed, the conversation lingered, gnawing at their thoughts. Could Ranger Ops have been compromised? Blue shook his head, pushing it aside for now. No more distractions. The returned Rangers needed to be interrogated, and they were their best chance at getting real answers. We'll get the truth from them, he thought, determined to cut through the wild speculation and expose the facts.
"Let's get back to Ranger Ops," Blue muttered, striding purposefully toward the command center. His mind raced, piecing together the questions he'd ask, the subtle cues he'd watch for. They knew him, but he knew them better. Their minds had been synced too many times for anything to slip past him—or Nova. The idea of one of the Rangers being an infiltrator seemed far-fetched; there were too many holes in Servo and Kilokahn's conjectures for him to take it seriously. But on the off chance that they were right, and one of the returned Rangers had been working against them on Ceres, Blue needed to find out. I'll know if they're hiding something, he thought, his resolve firm. He and Nova would expose whatever truth lay beneath the surface—no matter how improbable it seemed.
Blue materialized on the teleport pad inside Ranger Ops, the familiar hum of the system fading as he stepped forward. The usual security checks followed—retinal scans, fingerprint verifications—but they were routine, barely registering in his mind. His thoughts were elsewhere, focused on the Rangers. But as he approached the command level, something felt off. His steps slowed, a prickling sense of unease creeping over him.
Inside the dimly lit command room, Blue caught sight of General Kassens standing rigidly in front of a bank of monitors. The air in the room felt tense, charged with an energy he hadn't expected. As Blue's eyes swept over the screens, his stomach dropped. Three interrogation rooms, all live feeds—each one showing a Ranger seated inside, facing an interrogator. What the hell? Blue's mind raced. They were already being interrogated? Without him?
Why are they interrogating them without me? A cold wave of disbelief swept over Blue as he stared at the screens. His mind reeled, the gravity of the situation sinking in. This was wrong—he was supposed to be there. As the most senior Ranger operators on Earth, he and Nova had the experience and insight needed to navigate these conversations. No one knew the Rangers better than they did. He felt a surge of frustration as he realized that their absence in the interrogation room was a serious oversight.
Nova's voice cut through the silence, a sharp edge of irritation beneath her usually calm tone. We should be in those rooms, Blue. No one knows them like we do. Her words echoed his own thoughts, the frustration mutual. We've trained with them, fought beside them—we know every hesitation, every tell. They can't hide from us. The conviction in her voice was unmistakable, and Blue felt it resonate within him. They were more than capable of seeing through any deception, and right now, they were being sidelined.
Blue's fists clenched, his gaze hardening on the screens. We were linked to them. We'd know if they were lying. The depth of their bond couldn't be overlooked, forged in countless battles and synced minds. The idea of someone else handling these interrogations without that knowledge gnawed at him. They won't get anything useful without us in there.
Blue marched straight toward General Kassens, frustration bubbling to the surface. "General," he called out, his voice firm, "why are these interrogations happening right now? I need to be in those rooms!" His tone left no room for negotiation—this wasn't just a matter of protocol, it was about ensuring they got the truth from the Rangers.
Kassens turned slowly, his face set in stone, eyes flickering with thinly veiled irritation. To him, Blue's presence was nothing more than an interruption. "Lieutenant," he began, his voice cutting like steel, "when and where did you receive your interrogation training?" The question hung in the air, cold and dismissive, as if Blue's involvement wasn't even a consideration.
Blue opened his mouth to respond, but Kassens continued without waiting. "What makes you think you're remotely qualified to handle this? You'd be better suited in the engineering bay or the cyber warfare suite. Those are your areas of expertise, are they not?"
Blue opened his mouth to respond, but Kassens didn't give him the chance. "What makes you think you're remotely qualified to handle this?" Kassens pressed on, his tone biting. "You're better suited to the engineering bay or the cyber warfare suite. Those are your areas of expertise, are they not?" The dismissal was swift and stinging, as if Kassens had already decided Blue's role and had no intention of letting him step beyond it.
The words hit Blue like a slap, his jaw clenching as frustration roiled inside him. I'm not just an engineer, he wanted to shout, but the sharp sting of Kassens' dismissal kept his voice locked. Before he could respond, the familiar surge of anger from Nova flared within him, amplifying his frustration.
He doesn't get it, Nova seethed, her usual calm fracturing beneath a wave of frustration. Blue felt the weight of her emotions flood their shared link, almost drowning out his own thoughts. It wasn't just about the mission anymore—it was about the bond they shared with the Rangers, the ones who had fought alongside them. A deep, aching longing pulsed through him, but it wasn't his. The thought of reuniting with Aegis and the other AIs stirred something fierce in Nova. She didn't have to say it—he could feel how much she missed them, and that sharp, unspoken yearning cut through him like a blade.
Blue's chest tightened as he tried to control the surge of emotions, but Nova's rage was bleeding into his own. Her anger wasn't distant—it was raw and alive, burning through him like a living force. Their connection was too strong to compartmentalize, too intertwined for him to pull apart her fury from his frustration. Every time she seethed, it fed the fire growing inside him, until the heat of it became unbearable.
The merging... we both needed it, Nova's voice echoed through his mind, trembling with emotion. And when I had to take more of your brain... She paused, the gravity of that truth hanging between them, too heavy to ignore. I became more than just an AI. You made me human in ways I wasn't ready for, and now... I feel all of it. Every bit of this rage. Her voice was sharp, laced with the raw intensity of their connection. The merging had transformed what once was a Ranger-AI link into something deeper, something irreversible. Nova wasn't just data in his mind—she was a part of him. Now, that shared fury surged through them like they were one, their anger fusing into a single, undeniable force.
Blue's gaze snapped to the monitors. Each Ranger sat across from an interrogator, but Blue could already tell it was a lost cause. Without him and Nova in the room, they wouldn't get far. Kassens didn't understand—interrogations like these required more than just questions. They needed someone who could read between the lines, someone who knew these Rangers better than anyone. Without that, they'd get nothing useful.
On the first monitor, Black sat back in his chair, arms crossed, glaring at the interrogator with an expression that left no room for compromise. The room's cold, sterile atmosphere only amplified the tension. A small tablet sat untouched between them, the interrogator glancing at it like it held answers he was desperate to find. But Blue knew that look in Black's eyes—it was a challenge. No matter how much pressure was applied, Black wouldn't break. Not like this.
Too stubborn, Blue thought. It was classic Black. When he didn't want to talk, no force could make him. Blue had seen that defiant look a hundred times—training sessions where Black refused to admit defeat, no matter how outmatched he was. This interrogation wouldn't be any different.
The older interrogator, his thinning hair and hunched posture betraying the strain of the situation, was clearly getting nowhere. Leaning in, he pressed his questions, but it was obvious from his stiff posture and fidgeting hands that frustration was building. Blue didn't need to hear the words to know it—Black wasn't budging, and the interrogator was grasping at straws.
"That's Black," Nova remarked, her tone dry. "Stubborn, bullheaded, and completely uninterested in helping." There was a note of amusement in her voice, as if this outcome had been inevitable from the start.
Blue's gaze moved to the next screen, where Pink sat slumped in her chair, already halfway to sleep. Her arms hung limply at her sides, her whole posture screaming boredom. Scattered across the table were empty cans of energy drinks, evidence of failed attempts to keep her awake. The interrogator, a young woman with sharp features, looked increasingly baffled by Pink's total disengagement. Every so often, she tapped the table or raised her voice, but Pink remained unmoved.
Pink let out a long yawn, lazily rubbing her eyes as if the interrogator's presence was little more than a nuisance. She'd tuned out long ago, clearly uninterested in whatever was being asked of her. The interrogator, visibly exasperated, glanced at her tablet and tapped something in—likely logging yet another failed attempt to get Pink to engage.
"Pink's already checked out," Nova remarked, a hint of amusement in her voice. Blue could feel her observation was half-serious, half-exasperated. His eyes flicked to the scattered energy drink cans again—remnants of a futile attempt to keep Pink focused. "Those drinks didn't stand a chance," Nova continued, her tone carrying a trace of amusement at the absurdity of it. Pink had this uncanny ability to completely disengage when things didn't interest her, and right now, she was clearly doing just that.
Blue let out a sigh. "Typical Pink," he muttered. It didn't matter if they were in the middle of an interrogation or a firefight; if Pink wasn't invested, she could practically nap through it.
Blue's gaze shifted to the third monitor, and his heart skipped a beat. One of the interrogation rooms was completely empty. The chair sat untouched, the sterile walls seemed even more hollow without anyone inside. Yellow wasn't there. His pulse quickened as he scanned the screen again, his mind racing. Did I miss something? But the feed stayed the same—Yellow's absence glaringly obvious.
"Where's Yellow?" Blue asked sharply, his voice cutting through the silence as he leaned in, still hoping for a sign he hadn't seen. He needed to be sure.
Before Kassens could respond, Nova's voice broke through, her tone already anticipating the situation. She's Aquitarian, Blue, Nova said, calm but certain. And she's in line to become a High Priestess. If she's not here, then she's probably been sent home.
"Aquitar…" Blue murmured, his thoughts drifting. He pictured Auroralis—their domed city beneath the Arctic ice, far away from the chaos here. It made sense, but that didn't stop the knot from tightening in his stomach.
Nova's voice chimed in again, Their people will know the truth soon enough. The Aquitarians have their own ways of determining what's real and what isn't. There was a quiet confidence in her words, but it didn't ease the tension inside him.
Blue exhaled, trying to settle his nerves. Yellow's fate was out of his hands now. Whatever had happened, her people would handle it. But the lack of control over the situation left an unsettling weight in his chest.
Blue's eyes landed on the final monitor, showing Red seated across from her interrogator. Even from the back of her head, it was clear she was in complete control. Her posture was flawless—upright, calm, almost regal. But it was her eyes, piercing and unblinking, that held the room in an invisible grip. Every time the interrogator glanced up, he was met with that unwavering gaze. Her eyes didn't just meet his—they pinned him in place, stripping away any authority he thought he had. Across from her, the interrogator fidgeted with his tablet, the intensity of her stare forcing him to break eye contact more often than he should have. The sterile room was thick with tension, and it was obvious who was truly in charge.
The interrogator across from Red was visibly struggling. His shoulders were tense, his fingers restless as they tapped against the tablet in front of him, but it was his shifting eyes that gave him away. Every question he asked seemed to crumble under the weight of Red's silence. He'd try again—his voice tight, his words uncertain—but it was clear he had lost control the moment he entered the room. Red's gaze never wavered, piercing through him like a blade, making him squirm in his seat. His discomfort wasn't just from the lack of answers—it was from the realization that he wasn't the one steering the conversation anymore. He was being outplayed, and the interrogator hadn't even noticed when he lost.
He doesn't even realize what he's giving away, Blue thought, shaking his head. There was no surprise—he and Nova had expected this. Red had a way of drawing people in, making them spill more than they intended, all without her saying much at all. The interrogator, oblivious to how far off track he had gone, was leaking crucial details in his desperation to maintain control. Each time he spoke, he revealed something new—small, scattered bits of information Red quietly gathered, piecing them together like a puzzle. He was so focused on pulling answers from her that he didn't see how much he'd already lost.
Blue couldn't help but feel a flicker of pity for the interrogator. The man had walked into the room thinking he was in control, but now he was handing Red information without even realizing it. This wasn't going to end well for him. His performance review's going to be brutal, Blue mused. It wasn't just a case of being unlucky—he'd walked into an interrogation with someone far beyond his league.
"You're wasting time," Blue said aloud, turning back to Kassens. "These interrogations aren't going to get you the answers you need. I know them. Nova knows them. We've been in their heads. You won't see through their lies the way we can."
"You're wasting time," Blue said, turning his attention back to Kassens. His voice was sharp, frustration leaking through despite his effort to stay composed. "These interrogations aren't going to give you the answers you need." He paused for a moment, eyes locked on Kassens, before adding, "I know them. Nova knows them. We've been inside their heads. You're not going to see what we can see."
Kassens' face hardened, his jaw setting like stone. The irritation that had been simmering beneath the surface now flared openly. "That's enough, Lieutenant," he snapped, his voice colder than before. The thin veil of patience was gone, replaced by something more final. "These interrogations are under control." His words were sharp, leaving no room for argument.
"But—" Blue began, his frustration bubbling over, but Kassens cut him off before he could get another word out. "Go back to your duties in the engineering bay or the cyber warfare suite," Kassens ordered, his tone icy and unyielding. "Leave this to the professionals." The finality in his voice stung, and Blue could feel the door slamming shut on any chance of further protest.
Blue clenched his jaw, biting back the sharp retort that was on the tip of his tongue. He could feel Nova's simmering anger through their connection, her frustration feeding into his own. But they both knew there was nothing more to do here—not now, not while Kassens held the reins. There would be no convincing him. Blue exhaled slowly, forcing himself to reel in the anger that threatened to break loose.
With a final glance at the monitors, Blue turned and headed for the door, his movements tight with the frustration still boiling beneath the surface. Nova's presence pressed against his mind, the weight of her anger mirroring his own. The feeling of being sidelined, powerless to do anything, gnawed at him as he walked away. But this wasn't over—far from it.
With a final glance at the monitors, Blue turned and headed for the door, his movements tight with the frustration still boiling beneath the surface. Nova's presence pressed against his mind, the weight of her anger mirroring his own. The feeling of being sidelined, powerless to do anything, gnawed at him as he walked away. But this wasn't over—far from it.
We'll get our turn, Nova's voice echoed quietly in his mind, her usual calm replaced with a steady determination. There was an edge to her words, a promise that this wouldn't be the end of it. Blue could feel it too—the growing resolve. They weren't going to stay on the sidelines for long. One way or another, they would get their answers.
Yeah, Blue thought, his resolve hardening as he pushed forward. The next move will be ours. The frustration that had been simmering within him began to morph into something sharper, more focused. They wouldn't be kept out forever. Whatever Kassens thought, Blue and Nova would find a way—there was no stopping them once they set their minds to it.
As Blue left the command center, frustration boiled inside him. Nova's presence shifted in his mind, her anger sharp and clear. We can't just sit this out, she muttered, determined. Let's reach out to Servo. If anyone can bypass Ranger Ops' security, it's him—and Kilokahn. If they handled the hack, even if it was discovered, there'd be no trail leading back to us.
With a quick mental command, Blue initiated the connection to Servo. The familiar digital hum filled his head, a signal that always preceded the mischievous voice of Servo. Soon enough, it came through.
"Yo, Blue! What's up? Need another crash course on digital save points?" Servo's voice buzzed through, his usual playful tone intact. Blue, however, wasn't in the mood for games, and the seriousness of his thoughts quickly cut through the lightheartedness. This wasn't the time for jokes.
"We need your help," Blue said, his voice firm. "Kassens isn't letting us near the interrogations. Can you and Kilokahn get us through the security?" There was no hesitation in his tone. This wasn't about asking for favors—it was about getting results. And if Servo and Kilokahn refused? Then Blue and Nova would find another way to break through the system themselves. One way or another, they weren't going to be kept out.
There was a brief pause on the line before Servo responded, but it wasn't hesitation—it was calculation. Then Kilokahn's unmistakable, deep laugh echoed through the connection. "You're asking us to break into Ranger Ops? I was hoping for something more... interesting, but this? This is almost too easy." There was a hint of amusement in his voice, as if the challenge wasn't challenging at all.
Servo chimed in, his playful energy back. "Consider it done. Your credentials will be ready when you arrive at each interrogation room. And the cameras? Let's just say... you'll be ghosts to everyone monitoring." The confidence in his voice was absolute. For them, hacking Ranger Ops' security wasn't just a task—it was child's play.
Looks like we're in, he thought. The frustration that had weighed on him earlier began to lift, replaced by a growing sense of determination. If Kassens wouldn't let them in the front door, they'd slip in through the back—and no one would even know they were there.
"Thanks, Servo," Blue said, his voice carrying genuine appreciation. He didn't trust many, but Servo had proven himself time and again. Even now, when Blue was being kept at arm's length by Ranger Ops, he knew he could count on this unpredictable ghost in the machine.
"Anytime, Blue," Servo replied, his tone light and carefree. "Just try not to get caught, okay? Kilokahn's terrible at prison breaks." The playful edge to his words lingered, but underneath it was an unspoken truth—there was a real risk in what they were about to do, and failure wasn't an option.
Kilokahn's laughter echoed through the connection, rich and theatrical. "True, but I'll make exceptions if it involves torturing you with the security systems," he said, his words dripping with exaggerated flair. Blue wasn't sure yet whether the AI was serious or just enjoying the performance, but either way, it was clear Kilokahn loved playing games—especially dangerous ones.
With that, the connection dropped, leaving Blue with a renewed sense of determination. Whatever obstacles Kassens had thrown up, they weren't going to last. He and Nova would get the answers they needed—one way or another. They were in, and now it was time to act.