Ch 16: Things in Motion

Mira leaned against the crumbling wall of an old building, her eyes fixed on Kael's makeshift workshop. From her vantage point, she could see him tinkering with his crawler, his movements deliberate and methodical. For hours, she had been observing him, trying to piece together the enigma that was Kael.

He intrigued her. A scavenger, yes, but one with a surprising level of skill and resourcefulness. He'd managed to evade the Consortium's grasp for this long, a feat few could boast. But as much as Mira admired his ingenuity, she couldn't ignore the risk he posed.

A part of her had considered approaching him again, perhaps even offering an alliance. After all, his knowledge and technical prowess could be invaluable. But the target painted on his back was too large to ignore.

"He's a liability," she muttered to herself.

Mira had defected from the Consortium, a decision that had cost her dearly. The hounds would kill her without hesitation if they ever found out. Associating with Kael, someone who was actively being hunted, felt like tempting fate.

Still, she couldn't bring herself to leave Uchiha just yet. Something about Kael—his confidence, his calmness in the face of danger—made her hesitate. He wasn't just surviving; he was planning, preparing for something.

Inside his workshop, Kael was hard at work. The small space was cluttered with tools, scrap metal, and half-finished devices. Despite the chaos, Kael moved with purpose, his mind racing as he fine-tuned his creations.

He wasn't naive. The Wraiths had been the first wave, and he knew more would follow. If the hounds themselves got involved, he'd need every advantage he could muster.

On the workbench in front of him, a small device hummed softly. It was a proximity alarm, rigged to alert him if anyone got too close to his crawler. Beside it lay a collection of vials filled with chemicals, their contents ranging from corrosive acids to fast-acting poisons.

Kael paused for a moment, wiping sweat from his brow. He glanced at the hidden compartment where the second data chip was stored. The weight of it felt heavier than ever.

"This isn't just about the chip," he muttered. "It's about sending a message."

Kael had no illusions about his situation. He was being hunted, not just for what he carried but for what he represented—a wildcard in a game that the Consortium sought to control.

He turned his attention back to the vials, carefully labeling each one before tucking them into a padded case. His trench coat hung on a nearby chair, its inner lining already modified to hold his arsenal of surprises.

"Let's see how they handle this," he said under his breath, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

The Hunters Gather

Meanwhile, in another part of Uchiha, the group hunting Kael was making their final preparations. The leader of the team, a grizzled man known only as Danner, sat at a table surrounded by his crew. Plates of food and bottles of cheap liquor littered the surface, but the mood was far from celebratory.

"So, what do we know about this Kael guy?" Danner asked, leaning back in his chair and lighting a cigar.

One of his crew, a wiry man with a scar running down his cheek, spoke up. "From what we've gathered, he's way too lax for holding Consortium tech. Doesn't seem like the type to run with something that hot."

Another crew member, a burly woman with tattoos covering her arms, chimed in. "The guy isn't a fighter either. His build's too scrawny. He wouldn't last a minute in a real scrap."

Danner raised an eyebrow. "And what about his other attributes? Anything worth noting?"

Scarface nodded. "Two things stand out: he's a damn good mechanic and an even better chemist. If the rumors are true, he's got a knack for making poisons that'll drop a man before he even realizes he's been hit."

"Hmm," Danner mused, taking a long drag from his cigar. "So he's either a tech scavenger who got lucky or a poison master worth his toxins. Either way, we're not dealing with your average blank rat."

Tattooed Woman leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "What about his reputation? Does he have any allies?"

"None that we could find," Scarface replied. "The guy's a total neutral. No gang affiliations, no partners, just customers. He keeps his head down and his nose clean—until now, that is."

Danner grinned, a predatory glint in his eyes. "Interesting. A lone wolf with Consortium tech and a knack for chemistry. Sounds like a fun challenge."

He stood, addressing the crew. "All right, then. Eat up and strap in, folks. Tomorrow night, we hunt the biggest game of our lives."

The Calm Before the Storm

Back in his workshop, Kael finished his preparations and stepped outside. The air was cool and still, a stark contrast to the storm brewing beneath the surface. He looked up at the night sky, his thoughts racing.

"Tomorrow," he muttered, "things are going to change."

Unbeknownst to him, Mira was watching from the shadows, her own thoughts conflicted.

And somewhere in the city, Danner and his crew were gearing up for what they believed would be an easy payday.

The pieces were moving, and the game was about to begin.