The March Begins!

The classroom buzzed with quiet concentration, a steady rhythm of pens scratching on paper, the hum of the projector, and smaller groups of students lounging casually, engaging in conversation.

Kai sat in the back corner, her chin resting on her hand as she stared out the window. Outside, the city stretched toward the sky, sunlight glinting off the towering skyscrapers of New Jericho.

"Daydreaming again?" Naomi's voice broke through the classroom's commotion.

Kai turned her head to see her best friend standing beside her desk, a teasing smile on her face. Naomi plopped into the empty chair next to her, her sleek black hair catching the light.

"I'm not daydreaming," Kai replied, her tone flat but not unkind.

Naomi raised an eyebrow. "Could've fooled me. You've been zoning out all day. Everything okay?"

Kai hesitated, her gaze drifting back to the window. "Yeah. Just... thinking about stuff."

Naomi leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "You're a terrible liar, you know that? Spill it. Is it school? Family? Something else?"

Kai opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, her phone buzzed against the desk. She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping at the message:

"It's time. We're moving forward. Meet me outside."

Nyota's words. She read them again, her pulse quickening. This was it. The weight of the words sank into her chest, her fingers tightening around the phone.

Naomi's curiosity sharpened. "Who's that from?"

Kai stood abruptly, shoving her phone into her pocket. "I have to go," she said, quickly packing her bag.

"What? Go where?" Naomi asked, standing as well. Her voice held a mix of confusion and concern.

"I'll explain later, okay?" Kai slung her bag over her shoulder and headed for the door.

"Kai, wait!" Naomi called after her, but Kai didn't stop.

She glanced back once, just enough to see the worry etched on Naomi's face. "It's nothing bad, I promise. I'll text you later."

And with that, Kai stepped out of the classroom, leaving Naomi behind in a cloud of unanswered questions.

Nyota's patrol car idled at the curb in front of the school, sleek and intimidating in its jet-black finish. Kai hurried down the steps, her bag bouncing against her side. She yanked the passenger door open and slid inside, the scent of leather and faint cologne filling the air.

"Riding in this thing always makes me feel like a delinquent," she muttered, buckling her seatbelt.

Nyota smirked as he shifted the car into drive. "Even in the passenger seat?"

"Yes," she said flatly.

His smirk widened, his tone teasing. "Well, get ready, because what you're about to do will actually make you one."

Kai shot him a sharp look. "Please don't joke like that."

"Who said I was joking?" Nyota's smirk faded slightly, his voice tinged with a seriousness that hung in the air. "Does the code work?"

"Hopefully," she answered, looking into her bag. "Won't know for sure until we get there."

"Fair," Nyota nodded.

They drove in silence, the city blurring past the windows as the weight of their mission settled between them.

--

The plaza in downtown New Jericho buzzed with quiet anticipation. Protesters gathered in clusters, holding signs aloft with bold messages: "Fair Wages for All," "End Exploitation," "Workers Deserve Justice."

Malcolm stood at the edge of the crowd, gripping a folded piece of paper in one hand and a megaphone in the other. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the city, but it did little to ease the tension crackling in the air.

He stepped onto a small set of portable stairs, the makeshift podium creaking slightly under his weight. Raising a hand, he called for silence. The murmurs faded, replaced by an expectant hush as hundreds of eyes turned toward him.

"What we're doing today is dangerous," Malcolm began, his voice steady, every word deliberate. "The system is designed to keep us quiet. To make sure people like us are too scared to fight back. But if we don't fight, nothing will change."

The crowd shifted uneasily, nervous glances exchanged between strangers. Malcolm's gaze swept over them, his expression resolute.

"But let me be clear—this is not a riot. We are not here to destroy. We're here to be seen, to be heard." His voice carried over the plaza, firm and unwavering.

"Violence is what they expect. It's what they're waiting for. Don't give them that satisfaction."

The crowd murmured in agreement, their doubts replaced with a quiet determination. Malcolm stepped down, his shoulders squared as he prepared to lead the march into the heart of the city.

Around the corner from one of New Jericho's tallest skyscrapers, Nyota parked the patrol car in a shadowed alley. Kai followed him out, her bag slung over her shoulder.

Sage, Kilo, and Aurora waited nearby, their faces tense but resolute. Aurora glanced at her watch, her arms crossed.

"Took you long enough," she muttered.

Nyota ignored the jab, addressing the group instead. "Everyone knows their part?"

They nodded, though the weight of the moment hung heavy in the air.

"Good," Nyota said. "Once this starts, there's no going back."

Kai's heart pounded as she met his gaze. "Let's do this."

--

The skyscraper's lobby was a study in sleek modernity—polished marble floors, glass walls, and employees in sharp suits moving with purpose. Kai and Sage walked through the entrance, blending seamlessly into the crowd.

At the security desk, a guard stepped forward, his expression sharp. "Can I help you?"

Sage reached into his pocket and pulled out his badge, holding it up with practiced ease. "Warrant Officer Hikari, EPSA. We received a call about a potential issue on the 32nd floor."

The guard hesitated, his eyes flicking between the badge and Sage's face. "I wasn't notified about anything."

"It was last-minute," Sage said smoothly. "We just need to check it out."

After a moment's pause, the guard nodded, stepping aside. "Elevators are to your left."

Inside the elevator, Kai leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. "You're getting too good at this lying thing."

"It's not lying," Sage replied, a smirk tugging at his lips. "It's creative problem-solving. Now let's hope they don't call to confirm."

The elevator dinged, and they stepped out onto a quiet floor. Navigating the hallways with purpose, they avoided the curious glances of passing employees until they found what they were looking for: an unmarked maintenance room.

The room was dimly lit and cluttered with wires snaking along the walls, breaker panels humming faintly. Sage set his bag down, pulling out tools with methodical precision.

"Alright," he said, his voice steady. "Let's get to work."