Yara was absorbed by the data flashing across the monitors inside the high-security room.
Each screen told a different story, presenting information about ongoing operations and security feeds. It wasn't at all complicated as compared to graphs and visuals.
Suddenly, one of the monitors flickered and became stuck on a still frame.
"What's going on?" she whispered to herself.
She reached for the console to troubleshoot, but before she could process the situation further, three monitors abruptly shut off altogether, almost turning the room into darkness.
Just as she realized the severity of the breach, the entire room shuddered violently. She gripped the edge of something to steady herself. In that moment, a door behind her swung open with sudden force, and she turned, startled to see a familiar figure enter.
Meanwhile, not far from the tech depot, disorder erupted within the confines of North Point.
Kingston stormed through the hallways with his men.
"Kill on sight! Take no prisoners!" His voice boomed above the footsteps.
As he led his charge down the corridors, a phenomenon occurred in the midst of the soldiers. Several of his men suddenly transformed into dolls, their bodies stiffening in the blink of an eye before shattering against the hard floor.
"What the—" Kingston halted, bewildered. He could feel another Bandit's presence—an intruder hiding, so it seems. Peering into the faint light ahead, he spotted a glowing yellow hue. He smirked before roaring, "Just a D-Rank in our way, pathetic!"
He utilized his own Band, causing the green light to shine and amplifying instructions to his men: "Charge and take this wannabe down!"
Nia stood beside Kingston. She couldn't comprehend his reckless manner—he was leading them headfirst into a slaughter. But she couldn't intervene.
D-Rank users like the men Kingston commanded typically had enhanced senses or physical abilities, but against the unknown Bandit of AU, they were nothing more than prey.
Nia remained silent, clenching her fists as Kingston's men surged forward, filled with misguided courage.
As the soldiers clashed, it soon became evident that the Bandit was calm. He defended himself, transforming Kingston's men into inanimate dolls, watching as they crumpled lifelessly.
"Fall back!" Nia shouted, but her voice got lost amidst the clamor.
Kingston's men gave a desperate push forward, but one by one, they collapsed under the Bandit's assiduous assault. Eventually, the Bandit was overwhelmed as Kingston's resolve escalated. He cheated by shooting down the Bandit in cold blood!
"Looks like these idiots couldn't handle a simple operation," he sneered, striding toward the fallen Bandit.
As he approached, Nia felt anger and dread clawing at her insides. The remains of fallen comrades lay in disarray, scattered like debris.
Kingston, however, appeared unfazed as he examined the person who caused all this mess.
"Just another guard," he mused. Of course, he wasn't going to let things go that easily; he severed the Bandit's hand, taking his Band. "This might come in handy."
Nia felt more uneasy. She glanced back at the remnants left behind—pieces of clay scattered across the ground—no longer men, but just broken dolls.
They continued pushing through North Point. At a crossway, she felt an unshakeable urge to speak up.
"Cassian instructed us to take this route," she relayed. "The rest should go to where the supercomputer is. That's where North Point's core can be destroyed."
Kingston's brow knitted downward as he considered the information, but he increased his stride, determined to override Cassian's intentions. As such, he had the men go the other route while he and Nia went to the supercomputer.
When they arrived at the end of the hall, they entered an open room.
At the center of the chamber stood Cassian and a woman with a bag over her head tied up beside him. Kingston's eyes glinted in recognition.
"You did well, Cassian!" he said as he took in the sight before him.
Nia felt her heart plummet. The woman—was it possible?
"Is that your mother?" she wondered.
"I didn't want too much bloodshed," Cassian began in a steady tone. "Much like Nia explained, bringing her here gives you leverage, a way for you to make your point to AU."
The weight of Kingston's gaze shifted, and he turned to Nia after understanding what Nia had done. He was in disbelief because Cassian wasn't supposed to know anything about them targeting his mother.
"You didn't tell me," Kingston venomously said.
Nia braced herself, feeling exposed as Kingston's expression suddenly changed into a sadistic smile. Who cares that his trusted advisor was going behind his back?
With a flourish, he approached Cassian, eyes narrowing as he scanned Yara's form.
"Let's kill her right here and now!" he declared.
"No!" Nia said in horror. "It's better to hold her hostage—she's far more valuable alive!"
She took a step forward, searching Cassian's face for some reason. But when she caught his gaze, it was distant, frozen. Anxiety prickled at her senses.
Kingston's smirk widened as he proposed, "I've got an even better idea! Let Cassian do it! This will be his moment to prove his loyalty to TEC!"
Nia's breath hitched, saying, "No! That's going too far! Cassian wouldn't—"
"Shut up!" Kingston bellowed. He then advanced toward Nia menacingly, bringing the barrel of a gun near her face. "If you say another word, you're dead."
The snarl, the threat—it was clear. Kingston didn't care about anyone but himself.
Nia bit back her words, head bowed in submission. This caused Kingston to turn back to Cassian and thrust the gun into his hands.
"Shoot her, Cassian!" he commanded.
But Cassian just stood there as he regarded the weapon in his grip, an expression devoid of emotion.
"We never agreed on killing without a viable reason," he replied, "especially not my mother."
Kingston's laughter was cold as he spat, "Aha-ha! You're weak! I knew you had no guts. You're nothing but a coward." With that, he activated his Band, causing it to glow green. "Now, shoot your mother!"
The gun was then aimed at the woman with the bag over her head.
Nia dared to look away, unable to witness what would unfold. She could feel dread pooling in the pit of her stomach. She should have never come here; she should have never gotten involved with this group.
Cassian's finger hovered over the trigger. Just as the atmosphere stilled, a gunshot echoed in the room.
The deafening report broke the stillness. From the corner of her eye, Nia saw Cassian's arm lower. Yet, the figure that lay sprawled on the floor wasn't the woman—it was Kingston!
Nia turned to Cassian, whose eyes widened in disbelief. The gun he had held remained firmly in his hand as he stared at the fallen form of Kingston.
"Why—how…. Just?" she stammered.
Cassian stood frozen, staring at the lifeless form of Kingston sprawled on the ground. Blood began to form a puddle under his now-dead body.
Although the shock was evident on Nia's face, Cassian didn't respond. Instead, he dismantled the gun as he felt an odd stillness settle over him. This was the first time he had killed someone, yet rather than the guilt or horror he had braced for, there was nothing—no shock and no sense of clarity.
Not because he was cruel or heartless; no, Kingston had it coming. He had led his men into a slaughter, pushing them recklessly to their deaths and even tried killing Cassian's mother. For that, Cassian felt an unsettling sense of justification.
Was he right in having done that? Absolutely not.
He glanced down at his palms. Who knew what lurked beneath the surface of his still frame? And as he looked up, his expression remained calm and impassive.
Stepping away from Kingston's body, he moved toward the tied-up woman next to him and knelt, peeling away the bag that covered her face.
What lay before him shocked Nia deeply. It wasn't Yara. Instead, an unconscious guard, her hair a striking resemblance to his mother's. Nia cautiously approached Cassian, wide-eyed with concern.
"Cassian, what is going on?" she asked.
Still, he didn't reply. His focus shifted as he rummaged through Kingston's jacket pockets, pulling out the severed hand he had taken earlier.
Without a word, Cassian examined the severed hand. This was undoubtedly Karl's Band that he lent to a guard, knowing the guard would fail. With calmness, he removed the Band from the hand, tucking it safely away.
Notwithstanding, he took Kingston's Band as well.
Nia watched, caught between disbelief and curiosity, witnessing the entire process unfold in stunned silence. Cassian's demeanor was chilling—the complete opposite of the scene before them.
As he stood, dusting off his hands against his trousers, he lifted his gaze to meet hers and coolly said, "Follow me."
With that, he turned toward the exit, and she found her legs instinctively moving toward his direction.