Chapter 4: Threads of Deception

The sunless morning in the Techno Canyon brought little comfort. Elián woke to the hum of machinery outside his cramped apartment, his thoughts weighed down by the previous night's events. He had barely slept, his mind replaying Oleg's words over and over again. Tomorrow, we're making our first move.

But what did that mean? And was he truly ready to be a part of it?

He dressed quickly, pulling on a worn jacket that still bore the stains of his factory days. The streets below were already alive with activity — vendors shouting their wares, repair crews welding together broken machinery, and children darting through the crowds. Despite the chaos, a sense of unease hung in the air.

Elián made his way to the meeting point Oleg had mentioned: an abandoned magitech workshop hidden deep within the lower city. The place was a relic of a bygone era, its walls covered in faded posters advertising long-forgotten inventions. The air smelled of rust and oil, a sharp reminder of the life he had left behind.

Inside, Oleg and his team were already gathered around a holographic map projected in the center of the room. The map displayed a detailed blueprint of the Energy Tower, its towering structure casting a long shadow over the lower city.

"You're late," Oleg said, glancing up as Elián entered.

"Sorry," Elián muttered, stepping closer to the group. "What's the plan?"

Oleg gestured to the map. "The tower's main power grid is located here, in the mid-levels. It's heavily guarded, but we've identified a weak point in their defenses. If we can disable the grid, it'll disrupt their control over the city for hours — long enough to send a message."

Elián frowned. "And what happens to the people relying on that power? The lower city depends on it just as much as the upper city."

Oleg's expression darkened. "Sometimes, sacrifices have to be made. You know that better than anyone."

The words hit harder than Elián expected. He clenched his fists, memories of Ana's death surfacing unbidden. She had been a sacrifice, too — one the system had deemed necessary. But this was different. Wasn't it?

"Look," Oleg continued, his tone softening, "I get it. This isn't easy. But we're not just shutting down a grid. We're waking people up. Showing them that the system isn't invincible."

Before Elián could respond, the woman with the cybernetic arm — Sera, he remembered her name now — stepped forward. "I've been scouting the area. Security's tighter than we expected. They've added patrols, and there's a new surveillance drone circling the perimeter."

Oleg nodded. "Then we'll need to adjust the plan. Sera, you'll handle the drones. Elián, you're coming with me to breach the grid. You've got the technical expertise we need."

Elián hesitated. "What if something goes wrong?"

"It won't," Oleg said firmly. "We've planned for everything."

But as the group continued to strategize, Elián couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The plan seemed solid, but there was a tension in the room that hadn't been there before.

Hours later, as they made their way to the tower under the cover of darkness, Elián's unease only grew. The city's neon glow cast eerie reflections on the wet pavement, and the hum of distant machinery filled the air. Oleg led the way, his confidence unshaken, while Sera moved silently beside him, her cybernetic arm ready for action.

As they approached the tower's perimeter, Elián spotted the surveillance drone hovering overhead. Sera pulled out a small device and aimed it at the drone. A faint pulse of light emitted from the device, and the drone's lights flickered before it fell silently to the ground.

"Nice work," Oleg whispered. "Let's move."

They slipped through the shadows, avoiding the guards patrolling the area. When they reached the grid, Elián got to work, his hands steady despite his racing heart. He connected a portable terminal to the grid's interface, bypassing the security protocols with practiced precision.

"You've done this before," Oleg remarked, watching him work.

Elián didn't respond. He focused on the task at hand, ignoring the knot of anxiety tightening in his chest.

Suddenly, an alarm blared, shattering the silence. Elián's heart stopped.

"What happened?" Oleg demanded.

"I don't know," Elián said, his fingers flying over the terminal. "Someone must have triggered—"

Before he could finish, a squad of guards appeared, their weapons drawn. Oleg and Sera sprang into action, engaging the guards with calculated precision. Elián ducked behind the console, his mind racing.

This wasn't part of the plan.

As the chaos unfolded around him, Elián realized that someone had betrayed them. But who? And why?