Shade stepped into the main hall of the TEC base. It felt strange to be back so soon after that intense mission, but that feeling dissipated as he spotted Nia making her way toward him.
"Shade!" she called, waving a letter in her hand as she approached. "You've got something from Libra."
"What is it?" he asked.
"They're appreciative of our work. Libra sent supplies to support us."
Shade was interested to know. It hadn't been that long since their mission was successful, so he asked what kind of supplies.
"I don't know, but it sure did look important."
Nia led him toward the back of the base. As they walked, Shade's mind wandered, contemplating the possible implications of this unexpected gesture. What exactly was Libra up to?
They stepped outside into the midday sun, and Shade squinted at the sight of a strange truck parked near the loading dock. Three large crates were stacked neatly in the back. Venn was also inside.
"Here it is," Nia said, pointing. "I've been waiting for you to see what they sent."
As he neared the crates, he spotted Venn already examining one.
"Hey, look at this!" Venn exclaimed. "They sent maps and intel on some of the latest rebel factions!"
Venn continued pulling out documents, spreading them on a nearby table.
"They also sent some tech that could really help with our operations."
Shade forced himself to hide his apprehension. The last thing they needed was to become complacent. Glancing around, he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and scribbled, "Check to make sure nothing's bugged."
Venn read it and had completely forgotten about the idea that this was Libra they were dealing with. If they knew so much about other factions, they might have information on TEC, too.
"I'll make sure we check everything carefully," Venn agreed.
"Good," Shade replied, then turned back toward the base.
He needed to think, and the room was getting crowded. He was about to head towards his quarters until he heard Nia following him.
"So… how did the mission go?" she softly asked.
"It went fine," he curtly replied, not wanting to delve into the details.
"What really happened out there?" she prodded.
"That's not something I'd like to discuss right now," he demanded.
She seemed to finally get that he wasn't quite in the mood to chat.
"I understand, but if you ever want to talk—"
"I'll let you know," Shade interrupted, wanting her to feel reassured without inviting conversation.
Once she was gone, he managed to enter his room without being followed. There, he leaned back against the wall, feeling that something about the mission hadn't settled right with him.
Why had Libra sent Cyrus? Did they need to keep a closer eye on TEC, or was it something more?
Cyrus's connection with Libra was troubling. The duality of his role in the organization was akin to a double-edged sword. Shade concluded that even if Libra openly showed support, their suspicions remained.
Feeling uneasy about the situation, he decided to create a report for Venita, detailing his concerns and proposing that she tail Cyrus at all cost. This would be a clandestine mission; she wouldn't be representing TEC, just following leads.
As he wrote, he documented his thoughts on Cyrus's true nature. There had to be more to him than what met the eye. If Libra had chosen him for a mission involving TEC, then they were picking their players with intent.
Finished, Shade folded the paper and slipped it into an envelope, sealing it carefully. Venita was diligent and resourceful; she'd gather the intel he needed without raising any alarms.
With that, he set the envelope on his desk.
So much needed to be considered and understood as a leader of a rebel organization. One wrong move, and the well-being of his followers could be jeopardized. Not everyone was equipped to fight; some just wanted to be away from AU's oppression.
Finally, feeling the aftermath of a busy day crash around him, he decided it was time to head home.
The next day.
Cassian sat in a secluded office within AU. Occasionally, he would peer at the door to make sure the coast was clear before focusing back on the computer. He wasn't supposed to access this system—remote satellite surveillance required strict clearance—but he knew their password.
A satellite feed came on screen. This was his chance to keep an eye on certain things regarding Venita's mission.
Some hours ago, Venita had accepted her assignment and was now somewhere in Velthoria—though where exactly was still an enigma. Knowing her tenacity, she had probably already sunk deep into her own mission, but that didn't mean he wouldn't do his part to ensure her safety.
He pulled up a map of the city, scouring the landscape for any signs of her presence. Trying to locate Venita in this maze felt akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.
The seconds turned into minutes as he worked through trains and crowded thoroughfares, zooming in and out while scanning the movement of countless people.
He concentrated as he navigated the city's various districts. He typed away through the satellite feeds, adjusting the angle, and looked into what he hoped would reveal Venita's whereabouts.
Ten minutes slipped by without any promising leads.
'Where is she?' he wondered.
Just as he mentally prepared to call her, something moved on the screen, grabbing his attention. A familiar truck rolled past a corner.
There it was—the same truck Cassian had ridden in with Cyrus during their last mission. The timing felt almost too fortunate. He recognized the vehicle despite the multitude of moving parts and traffic roundabout.
Cassian zoomed the camera in, squinting at the pixels trying to make out the details. As the truck pulled closer, clarity emerged, revealing Cyrus, still disguised from their mission.
This was intriguing. Why was Cyrus in the city in the first place?
Cassian resolved to monitor the truck, so he followed its path. The anticipation built as it finally rolled to a stop outside a large, nondescript warehouse.
'Now why would you stop here…?'
He leaned forward, eyes glued to the feed. Cyrus exited the truck, holding a small package in one hand. He then dropped off the package at the entrance of the warehouse. But instead of returning to the truck, he started walking away, merging into the shadows of the alley.
The satellite followed Cyrus as he moved a few blocks down. Moments later, a regular passenger cab pulled over, and much to Cassian's surprise, Cyrus climbed in, disappearing from view.
'Where are you going?' Cassian wondered, momentarily losing sight of him.
A minute passed until the cab dropped Cyrus off at an old apartment building that appeared dormant and worn out. The structure lacked any visible exits or peculiar features—no helicopter pad or balconies evident—leaving Cassian with a handful of questions.
He speculated about what this place could be. Was it Cyrus's current home, or merely a hideaway? Cassian needed to know more.
Grabbing his phone, he dialed Venita. The line rang, and he barely allowed time for niceties as she answered.
"Yes, sir?" Venita's voice cut through. "What's happening?"
"Where are you?" he asked.
"I'm traveling underground, and quite frankly, there isn't much room to breathe down here."
He paused, understanding why he hadn't spotted her from the satellite before.
"I need you to change your route within the city. I'm sending you to a new location. It's where Cyrus has just gone."
"What's he doing?"
"I don't know yet, but he just left a warehouse and entered a building. Get there without engaging. I'll send you his description too."
After quickly relaying her this new information, he hung up and leaned back, feeling the weight of it all. Monitoring Cyrus had become a priority; the fact that he was in such close proximity to TEC operations was disconcerting.
Cassian shifted in his seat, deciding to download the data he had gathered onto a flash drive. This way, he could analyze and monitor events from home later, alongside his other plans.
Cyrus had always been a paradox. On one hand, he carried the reputation of a loyal Bandit helping in the fight against AU's oppressive regime. On the other hand, his behavior suggested that he carried secrets ripe for betrayal.
Cassian's gut instinct warned him that Cyrus was dangerous, so it was time to discover the man's past.
With the flash drive finally in hand, he saved the details about both Venita's mission and the coordinates of Cyrus's latest destination, hoping that Venita would gather more intel.