Chapter 7: Kai’s Plan

Summary: Kai introduces the idea that the glitch Maya found could bring down 01, but they'll need more than just code—they need courage, heart, and intelligence.

The room buzzed with low conversation as the group began to gather around the central table, the weight of what Maya had brought setting in. Nia was still poring over the lines of code, her fingers tapping rapidly as she tried to make sense of it all. The other Glitchers spoke in hushed voices, their eyes flicking toward Maya every now and then, as if she had just brought a loaded weapon into their midst.

Maya stood awkwardly to the side, unsure of what to do. This wasn't what she had expected—she hadn't expected any of this. Her discovery, the glitch, the sudden rush into a world she didn't understand... it all felt like a blur.

Kai walked over to her, his eyes sharp but not unkind. "You look like you could use a drink," he said, offering her a small tin cup.

Maya took it, glancing at the murky liquid inside. "What is it?"

"Don't ask," he replied with a grin, but there was a softness in his expression that put her slightly at ease.

She took a sip, wincing as the bitter liquid burned down her throat. It wasn't pleasant, but it calmed her nerves, at least a little.

"So, what happens now?" Maya asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kai glanced over at the table, where the Glitchers were still gathered around the tablet. "Now, we figure out what to do with that glitch. It's not enough to just have a piece of the code—we need to know how to use it."

Maya frowned, her mind racing with questions. "But how? I don't understand any of this. I'm not a hacker, I'm not a... rebel. I'm just—"

"A librarian?" Kai finished, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, I know. But that doesn't matter. You're here now, and whether you like it or not, you're part of this."

Maya felt a surge of anxiety rise in her chest. She had stumbled into something far bigger than herself, and she wasn't sure she was ready for it.

Kai seemed to sense her hesitation, his expression softening. "Look, I know this is a lot to take in. But you're not alone in this. We've all had our moments of doubt, our reasons for fighting back. You're here because you saw something—something that didn't fit, something that made you question everything. That's the first step."

Maya looked at him, her breath catching in her throat. "And what's the next step?"

Kai's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "The next step is figuring out how to bring 01 down."

He walked over to the table, motioning for Maya to follow. The group quieted as Kai took the tablet from Nia, holding it up so they could all see the glitch.

"This," he said, his voice steady, "is the closest we've come to a weakness in the Algorithm. 01 has had a stranglehold on this city for years, controlling every aspect of our lives. But this glitch... this could be the key to breaking that control."

Maya's heart pounded in her chest as she listened. She had never imagined that her small discovery could hold such weight.

"But," Kai continued, "we can't do this alone. It's not just about hacking the system or finding a way into 01's code. We need more than that. We need people willing to fight—willing to take risks. And we need to be smart about it."

He looked around the room, meeting the eyes of each person there. "We've been trying to chip away at the Algorithm for years, but now we have a real chance. We can't waste it."

Maya felt a strange sense of both fear and determination rising within her. She had always been an outsider, always questioning the world around her, but now she was part of something much larger than herself. Something that could change everything.

Kai set the tablet down, his gaze locking onto Maya's. "You've already taken the first step, Maya. Now it's time to decide how far you're willing to go."