He chuckled, a low, humorless sound. “Revenant sends us interesting observers these days. Pretty ones too.”
I stepped slightly in front of her, not enough to make it obvious, but enough to make it clear she wasn’t here alone. “We’re here to discuss logistics,” I said. “Revenant told me you had… plans.”
He glanced at the maps. “We do. Many plans. Big plans.” He tapped the table. “But strategizing without proper tools is inefficient. With your drones, we can move beyond imagination.”
Katya’s head tilted just slightly. “Move beyond in what way?” she asked.
“That depends on some definitions,” Bashir replied. “Our actions are meant to have impact.”
“What exactly do you intend to do?” she asked.
He walked around the table, fingertips grazing a photo of an urban district. “You see this neighborhood? It’s overcrowded, neglected, has no respect for the law. It’s a perfect testing ground.”
My jaw tightened. “Testing ground for what?”
“For a demonstration,” he said simply.
Katya met my eyes for a split second. Her expression didn’t shift, but I knew exactly what was happening behind her composed exterior. She was piecing together details faster than any computer system Revenant had ever built.
This group wasn’t just violent. They were organized, coordinated, and empowered. And they absolutely did not care who died as long as someone noticed.
“When can we expect the drones?” he asked, turning back to me with a too-sudden brightness. “Revenant promised the new models would arrive within the week.”
“The delivery timeline is still being finalized,” I said. “Our supplier is finishing upgrades on the new batch.”
He frowned slightly. “Revenant told us they were ready.”
“Revenant isn’t the one flying them into a conflict zone,” I countered. “My people are. We need to ensure the shipment is stable, secure, and cleared for transfer.”
He studied me for a beat too long. His eyes flicked to Katya again, lingering there.
He walked closer to the two us until he was near enough so that I could reach out and touch him. “You speak like someone with… concerns.”
“I speak like someone who doesn’t want any complications,” I replied. “Complications cost money.”
“Money is irrelevant,” he retorted.
“That,” Katya interjected, “tends to be something only people funded by someone else say.”
Bashir’s smile widened. “We are funded by purpose.”
Katya’s voice cooled. “Purpose, or an agenda?”
I saw the flicker in his expression. It was there for less than a heartbeat, but I caught it. Irritation. Not at her question, but at the fact she’d asked the right one.
He turned away. “Revenant understands our vision. They believe in our work.”
That was a lie. Revenant didn’t believe in anything but making money.
He gestured again to the maps. “Once the drones arrive, we’ll begin phase one. After that, the world will see what we’re capable of.”
“And what is that?” Katya asked.
“Change,” he answered.
The word hung in the air like a threat.
Katya’s tone stayed calm. “You’re talking about mass casualties.”
