"Is there another tower on the grounds?" Trix's murmuring voice woke me.
I remained still, eyes closed, listening to the conversation.
"No. They've distributed motion and heat nanosensors throughout the perimeter. This is an exposed area."
"Alright."
"Cloakify will camouflage you from the nanosystems, but if they see you… you're done."
I woke fully. My head felt heavy above my aching body. I got out of the car and looked for them.
"Look who's awake." Kiara approached and asked how I was.
I ate a few nutritional bars. After that, all we could do was wait.
Kiara explained that nighttime would be best for the infiltration. Even with twice as many guards, the cooler weather would keep me from passing out from the heat.
Besides, once she infiltrated the nanosystem, security would take two hours to restore the connection, and reinforcements would need another thirty minutes to arrive.
S-2880 • L11 Irraluna • D17 Fluxli
"Irraluna radiates silver in a gentle descent. Fluxli releases the thread in a living curve. The tide traces a path through the open air. The story continues whole, in deep radiance."
The day passed slowly. Boredom was suffocating. After so many hours contemplating the same landscape, I had to chain my own anger. I would withstand the pressure of those feelings. Fear of breaking into the prison still predominated, but the determination to unsettle the Aether Network spoke even louder. How would they react? Brasil's largest prison, invaded?
"Hey, Saymon sent another video," Kiara announced when it was almost eight in the evening.
I joined them.
A holoprojection opened, revealing a young Aether News journalist.
"Yesterday, Premier Lorenzo Cardoso's broadcast suffered a hacking attack. During the intrusion, a video dated Silensina of Fluxluna, 2847, was shown. The then-business relations analyst appears speaking to unidentified individuals. The recording suggests the negotiation of a product with other countries that would, in fact, be Siccunsanguine Bacteria, the agent responsible for Vaktiria."
The journalist continued. "After the footage's authenticity was confirmed, the Central Party filed a motion of no confidence against the premier. The request was submitted to the council and now awaits President Priscila McQuoid's review. If approved, Lorenzo must submit his resignation, and the president may appoint a new leader to the position."
He turned his face before continuing. "Meanwhile, the Aether National Crime Agency is investigating Brazil's possible involvement in coweaving the bacterium. Aether News continues to follow the case. New information will be released in real time, interrupting regular programming if necessary."
The image changed to another broadcaster, Visão Global. Two journalists appeared on the screen.
"Protests have filled streets around the world," one announced. "Mass demonstrations in Hong Kong and New York demand punishment for the countries involved in the alleged dissemination of the global disease."
The journalist continued: "The president of the United States and England's prime minister issued statements denying any connection to the Brazilian premier or the purchase of Vaktiria. However, both the United States Federal Department of Investigation and the British Armed Police have launched investigations into possible connections between their national militias and the bacterium's spread. If evidence is found, representatives of those nations may initiate criminal proceedings to hold the authorities involved accountable."
The blond journalist took over. "Meanwhile, Abdel Ramesses Kalil announced that he has filed a motion with the World Criminal Court, accusing the Aether Network of human rights violations, crimes against humanity, and genocide against the civilian population, under the Statute of the League of United Continents. Several NGOs have requested to join the proceedings as assisting parties, as well as seeking the inclusion of the United States and England as defendants, named in the video as buyers of the bacterium. They have also requested investigations into other potentially involved countries."
She paused briefly. "Proceedings have yet to be instituted. If the complaint is admitted, the investigative phase will begin, requiring mandatory cooperation from the countries under investigation. The Egyptian leader expressed solidarity with Vaktiria's victims and announced that Egypt will launch an international assistance program for those affected and their families."
The projection ended. Suddenly, the air grew heavy around me. The scale of it finally struck me. How far events had reached… Would the Aether Network finally face consequences?
"Empress Sonechka said she'll send the Russian armed forces to protect the protesters," Kiara added.
"With the way she's being threatened…" Trix shrugged.
"Yeah. Let's see where all this goes."
While Kiara watched the horizon, I sat, afraid my legs might fail. Another thought suddenly crossed my mind. The way everything was happening… I think this… No. It couldn't be. If this… I swallowed. Would they be capable…?
I shook my head. Something was beginning to make sense. Perhaps… I breathed deeply. Calm. I was about to break into a prison. I needed to center myself. Concentration. I forced away the ideas bubbling in my head, as though each were about to explode into chaos.
Ten minutes later, Kiara approached. "Ready?"
"Will it change anything if I'm not?" My eyes smiled.
She winked and came a little closer.
"Trix knows," I murmured.
"Knows…?" Kiara raised an eyebrow. "What does she… Ah, fuck it. No time."
I scratched my forehead. "And Denden?"
"Why do you think they caught him? Who do you think brought the weapons to the protesters? Fucking Denden! Wanted in when he saw the protests."
I drew air through my mouth. "Denden? Makes perfect sense…"
I laughed. Of course. How hadn't I connected the dots before?
"Alright, detective. Time to go."
I nodded.
We headed down toward the prison.
The air smelled of earth, while a heavy odor of burned rubber saturated the surroundings. Though my nostrils and eyes were dry, the refreshing night breeze made the walk less exhausting.
It took fifteen minutes to reach the complex's perimeter.
The alarms would sound as soon as Kiara infiltrated the LI. To keep the sensors from detecting our approach, she had applied Cloakify to the nanosystem. Thermal data would be redirected to her invading nanite, which would destroy the sensor signals before they could trigger alerts.
"Remember what you need to do?"
"Yes." I wanted to be brave. But the fear was palpable.
When we reached the western entrance, we found six ground guards dead, including the one responsible for the booth. All had been shot in the forehead.
I assumed the four tower guards had met the same fate.
It had begun. Only onward now. In truth, it had been only onward for cycles.
I followed Kiara.
She corrupted the nanocameras, adding another hour to the time needed to restore security.
We slipped through the darkness.
Trix remained behind, eliminating nearby guards with silent shots.
We reached the central facility. We needed to descend to the lower levels.
A shiver climbed my spine. I tightened my grip on the nanorevolver, wishing holding it would be enough.
The last guard on the ground floor dropped to his knees. The doors opened.
"Who's—" A quick shot from Kiara silenced him. Before the other guards could draw their weapons, she shot them too.
Blood began its journey across the white floor.
We followed the corridor.
Kiara advanced ahead, firing at whoever appeared in our path.
I followed, breathing fast, my heart racing. Sweat began to emerge on my forehead. Shit.
"Hey, you…" More fatal shots interrupted the threat.
"Alright, reached the stairs."
We began descending.
Kiara continued corrupting the nanocameras along the way.
Six flights of stairs per floor made up that tortuous path.
When we reached the fourth basement level, she held my shoulders. "Your moment." Her gaze seemed to inject courage into me.
I nodded, squeezing my fingers nervously.
Kiara gave me one last look and passed through the door.
Only the cold corridor and I remained. The blue walls seemed ready to collapse over me. I waited for the signal.
"He's on the twelfth basement level," Kiara informed me through the communicator.
I licked my sweaty lips. Water ran down my forehead. I blinked hard. When would I get there? I lost count of the flights I descended. Distress grew, and my calves began to ache.
Finally, an illuminated number appeared before me. 12th floor. I smiled. "Finally!"
"Hey, you're talking too loud," Kiara sounded in my ear.
I stifled a start. "Sorry."
"All good. The guards are elsewhere. The place is soundproof. I'm in the central room. Denden's in cell four. Code's 3287."
"3287?" I repeated the numbers mentally. First left. Last cell on the right.
"No nanocameras down there. Go now. The jailers are out of the corridors. Go, go!"
Trembling gripped my body. My heart accelerated further, and the air weighed in my lungs. I opened the door.
An enormous space with gloomy blue walls stretched before me. Lighting was scarce, and icy air brushed my skin.
I inhaled a sour odor. Everything carried the disturbing atmosphere of a horror film. I shuddered at a cough from one of the cells. Advanced with quick but quiet steps. Staying discreet was difficult.
Stillness reigned there, troubling my ears.
"Separated the list of prisoners to send to Santa Geordana Hospital?" a deep voice echoed.
I stopped. Santa Geordana? The hospital where I worked?
"They asked for some test subjects for experiments with Vaktiria, right?" a thinner voice answered.
"Yeah. Make sure they're sedated when they get there."
So it was true that they used prisoners as volunteers? A knot of indignation tightened around my heart.
"Also gotta send a batch to UNITED. Apparently, they need labor. Excavating an archaeological site in the East."
"Those ones need a plate of food so they arrive with a little energy. They say the woman in charge whips them just for breathing too loud."
I inhaled deeply. Set my anger aside for a few moments and concentrated on the task. I began checking the cells. One. Two. Three… Four. I stared at the figure behind the nanometal bars.
Denden wore headphones, his head lowered. His bare, bloodied chest left his clothes sticking to his skin. His rib cage seemed motionless.
My heart missed a beat. I approached the lock and entered the code.
CLICK! The mechanism snapped. Enough to…
"You hear that?" The deep voice reverberated in the distance.
Damn it. I hurried into the cell and lifted Denden's head. His eyes remained closed. I searched his neck for a pulse. Come on… A weak pulse. He was alive. I sighed in relief. Crouching behind him, I ran K-K.exe on the nanocuffs. The lock glowed blue and released. I did the same with the cuffs on his legs.
"Hey, what's happening here?" The deep voice sounded closer.
Too close. I poked Denden's back. Come on, wake up. Poked harder.
Adrenaline sent my heart racing frantically. Sweat dampened my hands, and tears began weighing behind my eyes at the possibility of being found.
Footsteps approached.
I pinched Denden's bloodied skin. Nothing. The headphones… the… In one swift movement, I pulled the headphones from his ears and dropped them on the floor.
"Who are you?"
I shuddered. My body trembled so much I could barely remain crouched. My legs threatened to give way. I lifted my already tearful eyes and met those of the man who had just entered.
He was enormous, with evil features and a cruel smile. His body seemed twice Denden's size. Martin. The name was printed on his uniform. He watched me maliciously.
My throat locked. Desperation took over. I was going to die. Shit. I froze.
"Well, well… What have we here?" Martin leaned over me, grabbed my neck, and tore off my mask.
"Hmm…? Who turned off the music? Was enjoying that." Denden's weak voice came from behind him.
Awake. He was awake!
Martin looked from me to Denden, gave a cruel smile, and hurled me against the wall.
My back struck the nanosteel, and I moaned in pain. Come on, Denden. Please. My throat hurt when I swallowed. I trembled so badly I couldn't even try to touch him again. Shock immobilized me. I would die. Desperation raced through my blood like lightning. Agony overflowed. "D-DENDEN!!! D-D…" Terror tore free of me.
Martin punched Denden in the face, snapping his head violently backward.
"Lixiviad…"
Another punch cut him off. The jailer's gaze was that of a tormentor. "Really wanted to have some fun with you." He laughed, overflowing with malice. Prepared to strike again.
But Denden's hand caught his arm. Martin was twice his size, yet couldn't withstand the strength of that gesture.
I drew away, desperately trying to control my breathing.
"Really?" Denden growled fiercely.
The guard's eyes widened. The mercenary shoved him backward and rolled his shoulders. With a single arm, he delivered a powerful punch to the jailer. Martin staggered, but Denden gave him no time to react. He drove an elbow into his cheek, grabbed his neck, and slammed his knee into his nose. The crack of breaking bone echoed through the cell. The man dropped to his knees, drenched in blood.
Denden beat his own chest, delirious. "Who's gonna have fun, you culo de mil cloacas? Soy yo! Yo soy el que se divertirá, gonorrea malparida!"
Another guard appeared in the doorway. His surprised eyes darted from the kneeling Martin to the mercenary. Before he could reach his gun, Denden delivered a powerful kick to his chest, throwing him against the nanometal bars opposite. His body fell limp. The expression of pain vanished from his face.
Denden gave a manic smile, approached, and grabbed his hair.
"And this chupaculos? Got an idea, tumor con patas. How about I shove that mierda head of yours up the culo of that parásito cagón, huh?" He pointed at Martin.
The kneeling man seemed to be recovering. Though barely conscious, he made as if to approach me.
I stood, holding the nanorevolver, ready to fight back. Shit. Damn it.
"What'd you say, carroña parlante?" Denden unleashed merciless wrath on the other jailer. Kicked his face repeatedly. Then smashed his head against the bars.
He was… dead.
I recoiled. Denden had kicked someone to death. I swallowed when the mercenary turned. His face was marked by the desire to kill. Delirium seemed embedded in his brown irises. A beast manifested an aura of devastating violence. Unstoppable. Fatal. I covered my mouth, nauseated.
Denden grabbed Martin's head and twisted it backward. "Ever felt fear, asshole?" He laughed insanely.
His ruthlessness kept defenseless the man who, minutes earlier, had threatened me with a single look. Martin stared at him, expressionless.
"Gonna show you why they call me El Diablo." Denden let out another exalted laugh. He sank his hand into the right side of the guard's chest. A pixelated glow appeared in his hand and advanced toward the man's heart. Then Denden released his head.
Martin's features contorted with dread. Tears streamed from his eyes to his gaping mouth. Overwhelming terror transformed that proud man into a figure curled in a fetal position. Blood, sweat, and tears dripped from his body, revealing the horror he felt.
Denden leaned down. "Your fear is my fun, culo de rata muerta," he whispered threateningly in his ear. Then he stood and stretched his back.
I needed to compose myself. Needed to hide how terrified I was. I swallowed with difficulty, straightened, and tried to slow my breathing, keeping the trembling from betraying me.
"Chica." Blood ran to Denden's lips, reddening the friendly smile on that wounded, bloody face.
He had been imprisoned for two moons and was already in that state? How had he endured?
"What are you doing here? Came for papi?" He gestured at his own chest.
I let out a nervous laugh.
"You did it. I can hear him." Kiara's voice drew my attention through the communicator.
I blinked. Remembered why I was there. Cleared my throat. "Y-yes… we need to go. We'll meet Kiara upstairs."
"Kiara's here too? Now I'm touched, muchacha." Denden's smile widened. "Let's go. Gotta get Rompe-culos. I'll shove that malparido's head up the other guy's culo another day."
Martin remained motionless, terror written on his face.
I walked cautiously toward the door. I held the revolver so tightly I seemed to expect it to lend me courage. I stepped around Martin's body and followed Denden, avoiding the other jailer's corpse. A pool of blood spread until it reached my feet. I held back bile.
The other prisoners wore headphones too. Some had faces that seemed to feel death approaching. Others kept their eyes wide open, trapped in hallucinations.
"Why are they wearing headphones?" I asked, perplexed.
Denden adopted an uninterested expression. "Right, you're new. Never been locked up, huh?"
I shook my head. Had being tortured been insufficient?
"Those bastards put headphones on us to keep us from sleeping."
I pressed my lips together. Deprive them of sleep?
WEEEOOO! An incredibly loud sound shattered the silence.
BWAAA! BWAAA! Red lights began flashing.
VVVZZZT!The signal.
Kiara had hacked the LI.
A familiar robotic voice resounded through the prison. "They imprisoned you unjustly. I'm offering you freedom. Beyond this prison, freedom from the Aether Network. Every cell will open. After that, it's up to you. Stay, and you choose oppression. Run, and we'll run with you! We'll fight with you!" It was the mysterious figure's voice.
Denden and I exchanged glances. There was no time to wonder who it might be. We needed to go up.
"That was good, huh, chica?" Denden nodded respectfully.
I offered a hurried smile. His brutality still occupied my thoughts.
WEEEOOO! WEEEOOO! The nanoalarms sounded chaotically, keeping me from hearing even my own thoughts. Adrenaline dominated me so completely I barely noticed when we reached the ground floor.
"Aki, we have a problem." Kiara's voice sounded in my ears. "R-reinforcements… will arrive… in twenty minutes…" Static interfered with the communication. "N-no… can't… leave you… Trix…"
I followed Denden, disoriented, without fully understanding the direction we were running. I couldn't follow Kiara's fragmented voice, much less understand what was happening with Trix.
BWAAA! BWAAA! BWAAA! The alarms deafened me. Hundreds of people ran outside. I was about to lose it.
"I'm not… g-gonna…" The communication kept failing.
"C'mon, chica. Pick up the pace," Denden insisted.
"Kiara, it's hard to understand," I whispered.
"I sh-should…" The connection died.
"Found it!" Denden stopped before a vast room from which protesters emerged carrying their belongings.
I inhaled deeply and forced myself to focus on the present.
He placed his hands on his hips and began searching for his nanoshotgun amid the gigantic mess. "Should be there."
Everything was a cacophony of sound and movement. People entered and left in droves. We approached a table covered with weapons. That was all that remained. Then we would finally leave.
"Denden?" A soft voice sounded behind us.
I turned.
Two mercenaries stood there.
The first had tied-back dreadlocks reaching his waist, a white T-shirt, colorful trousers, and brown boots. Thick eyebrows, dark irises, and a full beard. His tattooed, feral features reminded me of an owl.
The other wore his dreadlocks in a bun. He had on a colorful T-shirt, cargo trousers, and black boots. His friendly expression concealed wildness beneath a discreet smile, while eyes both welcoming and merciless resembled a lynx's.
Both seemed physically unharmed. I assumed they were low-ranking mercenaries.
"Kai? Luiz?" Denden greeted them.
The two collected their nanoweapons and holstered them. They received the bloodied mercenary with the ease of those who had already seen too much.
"What are you doing here?" Kai asked.
"What can I do when everyone wants a pedacito of papi?" Denden gestured pompously. Then he spotted something. "Ah, found my sweetheart."
It was a black nanoshotgun adorned with turquoise-neon holograms. Denden picked it up tenderly. The name Rompe-culos appeared on its barrel. His joy was so great he kissed the weapon. He really was attached to that thing. "Alright, chica. Let's get outta here." Denden waved at the two mercenaries. "Got a mission for you later, huh. See you, amigos."
I glanced at Kai and Luiz. My eyes widened. Saliva caught in my throat.
They had put on their masks. And when they saw me, their expressions changed. One discreetly nudged the other.
Shit. They know. The thought hammered incessantly in my head. Calm. I needed to follow the plan. Denden was with me. I had to get out of that prison. Fifteen minutes left to reach Kiara and Trix. Yes. Everything would be alright. I clung to that certainty. Kept following Denden.
We crossed the grounds, where emergency lights illuminated thousands of people running toward the exit. Bodies of police officers, androids, and protesters lay scattered on the ground. Denden and I ran, blending into the others.
"Where to, muchacha?"
I tried to match his pace, pushing my legs beyond their limit. Yes, I was running for my life. Falling behind would mean my downfall. "A hill to the west." I pointed. "Kiara and Trix are waiting." A sudden pressure caught my arm. I nearly fell with the momentum.
Denden stared at me, bewildered. "Wait, chica. Did you say Trix?"
I nodded, breathless.
"No, chica…" A bullet grazed Denden's face and buried itself in the ground. He looked toward the horizon, raised his arms in the direction of the shot, and gave it the middle finger. "ALMA PODRIDA! FUCK YOU!!!"
Had Trix fired?
"Muchacha, I'll stay locked up, pero I'm not owing that pelutoda any favors. Mierda." Denden stamped his foot indignantly. "Whatever. Let's go."
I ran after him.
Thirty A.T.F. vans landed nearby and immediately opened fire, neutralizing the protesters who hadn't yet crossed the exit. Most had made it through. The rest ran even faster. Saymon had unraveled the chaos he wanted.
"Ah, the real fun's about to begin." Denden raised Rompe-culos.
The first officer to cross his path took a shot to the belly. His upper body was thrown away as a shower of blood scattered through the air.
The sky itself bled.
I held back vomit. That… that was… argh. I forced myself onward.
"C'mon, fosa de desgracias!" Denden laughed deliriously. "Chica, you with me?" He still found time to check on me?
My heart racing, I tried to keep up with his frantic pace.
Denden roared with laughter as though nothing could touch him. Every shot from his nanoshotgun brought another rain of blood over me.
I could no longer see clearly ahead. I began following his insane voice and the thunder of gunfire. I slipped in pools of blood and among organs scattered across the ground. My body became drenched in red.
Denden cleared the way.
The exit was close.
I rose from another stumble and gathered my last strength to run.
"No, no. You're coming with me." A velvet voice was the last thing I heard. Merciless pain struck my head.
Everything went dark.