The commander glanced around before leaning closer. “Rumors of an extraction attempt.”
Jameson’s blood turned to ice in his veins.
“For that Boundary whore the President has locked up?” Mikel asked, his tone staying neutral as he pressed for information.
“No.” The commander shook his head. “I’m surprised they haven’t tried to get her yet, though. Unlikely they’d even make it this far, of course. The animals have never managed to breach even the outer perimeter.” His voice lowered. “The rumors are about someone they’ve been calling Python over comms. No one knows who in the Heart that is, but they sound important to the rings.”
Jaeger tensed across from Jameson at the name and the relief he felt was drowned out by suspicion.
Mikel nodded, keeping his composure, matching the commander’s contemptuous tone perfectly. “Ungrateful scum. If they worked half as hard at being useful as they do at causing trouble, maybe they’d have earned better conditions.”
The commander laughed, a sharp, ugly sound. “True enough. Well, carry on, Captain. The Heart endures.”
“The Heart endures,” Mikel echoed, the traditional response falling from his lips without hesitation.
The barrier lifted, and Mikel drove forward, the vehicle passing through the final gate into the Heart itself. No one spoke until they were well clear of the checkpoint, the tension in the compartment so thick Jameson could barely breathe through it.
“That was close,” Mikel finally said, his voice tight. “You need to make this as fast as possible. They are on alert.”
“Who is Python?” Jameson asked, forcing his voice to stay steady.
So many secrets. So much information split between rings, between people. So many different agendas colliding.
“Someone I thought had left the rebellion long ago,” Jaeger answered, and Jameson almost heard sadness in his voice.
“Are you part of these plans for extracting this person?” Jameson pushed, his tone growing agitated.
Jaeger turned to face him, flipping up his faceplate to look at him. “No. And I will not be questioned by you. You’re here out of courtesy to your relationship with Kael, don’t forget that. I don’t question how you lead the rebels, and I won’t allow you to question how I lead my guild.”
Jaeger didn’t give Jameson a second to answer before he flipped his faceplate back down and turned toward Sniper, asking something Jameson couldn’t quite hear. He bit his tongue, turning his eyes back to the windshield.
The Heart unfolded before them, its opulence obscene after the industrial grimness of Cardinal. Buildings of gleaming platinum and glass reached toward the night sky, their surfaces alive with shifting holographic displays. Streets paved with actual stone rather than crumbling concrete. Trees—real trees—lining the boulevards, their branches strung with lights that sparkled like captured stars.
It was beautiful. It was hateful. It was built on the broken backs of the rings.
“I have a two-hour walking patrol,” Mikel said as they approached the Entertainment District. “I’ll park the vehicle in the designated area. You need to be back here when I return, or you’ll be on your own getting out.”
“Understood,” Jaeger replied.
The vehicle slowed as they entered a quieter side street, coming to a stop in a small lot reserved for patrol vehicles. The engine died, leaving them in silence broken only by the distant throb of music from the clubs several blocks away.
“Club Thane is three blocks east,” Mikel said, turning in his seat to face them. “The main entrance will be heavily guarded, but there’s a service entrance on the west side used by staff. They won’t think twice about a uniformed Veyra entering the premises.”
Jameson nodded, committing the instructions to memory.
“When you have her,” Mikel continued, his eyes finding Jameson despite the reflective faceplate hiding his features, “bring her straight back here the same way you came. They’ll be watching for her and all Veyra will be alerted immediately when they realize she’s gone. Getting her into the uniform will buy us time, but only a small amount.”
“Time to move,” Jaeger said on the tail of his words. He turned to the team, issuing quick, precise orders. “Breach, Sniper, secure the perimeter. Comms, monitor Veyra channels for any mention of our presence. Scout, Medic, Trace, establish exit routes in case the primary is compromised.”
He turned to Jameson last. “Ghost, you retrieve Shade. In and out. No engagement with anyone else.”
“And if I can’t avoid him?” Jameson asked, unable to keep the edge from his voice.
“Then you do what’s necessary,” Jaeger replied. “But remember—this is an extraction, not an assassination. Your priority is Shade. Nothing else matters.”
They exited the vehicle in pairs, movements synchronized to appear as normal patrol activity to any watching eyes. Jameson followed Jaeger into the shadows between buildings, the bright lights of the Entertainment District beckoning ahead.
“Stay on comms,” Jaeger instructed as they prepared to separate. “Report in every ten minutes. If something goes wrong—”
