READY OR NOT

Liora sat in the corner, listening as Razor laid out the details of their next run. The room carried the low hum of conversation, maps and data feeds flickering on nearby screens. It was clear from the start—this wasn't about her.

The Clan had their own agenda, and she was just another body taking up space.

"Supply retrieval," Razor said, his upper body almost hovering over the table.

"One of our contacts left a drop in the mid-sector, just outside the safer routes. We go in quick, take what's ours, and get out before anyone notices."

"Sounds simple," Blaze scoffed, leaning back in his seat. "Too simple."

"It never is," Cipher muttered, eyes still locked on his tablet.

"That's where we come in." Echo stretched his arms, then casually glanced at Liora. "Maybe we should bring the stray along. Let her see how things work."

Razor's gaze flicked over to Liora, unreadable, then back to Echo who's slightly grinning. "She's not ready."

"I think she's not an idiot either," Nyx argued, throwing her a knowing look. Liora stiffened as her eyes glanced around.

Flux spoke, another cigarette burning between his fingers, shoulders shrugging at her. "You can keep sitting in that corner, though. Your call."

She knew this wasn't an invitation—it was a test whether they admitted it or not. And whether they like the idea or not. Staying put meant giving them another excuse to treat her like dead weight.

"Fine," she said, trying to swallow the lump in her throat. "I'll go."

The route was a mess of half-collapsed buildings and neon reflections in puddles of oil-slick water. Liora trailed behind the group, absorbing the quiet efficiency in how they moved.

Razor leading with careful precision, Cipher scanning the area, Blaze watching the shadows. Even Echo, with his usual smirk, had an alert edge to him.

"Keep close," Nyx murmured beside her. "Some of the locals don't ask questions before pulling a trigger."

"That's... comforting."

"You get used to it."

They reached the drop site—an old storage unit wedged between two gutted buildings. Cipher and Blaze moved ahead, searching for potential traps. A few minutes later, they whispered through the comms. "Clear."

Echo nudged Liora. "See? A piece of cake."

The second he said it, the floor gritted under their boots. A motion sensor, too well-hidden for even Cipher to catch. The hum of an alarm system powered up, and the entire place locked down with a heavy, metallic hiss.

"Oh, for fuck's sake—" Blaze muttered, already reaching for his weapon.

"Movement outside," Shade reported, glancing at his Xen-Link. "Someone's coming."

Liora's heart is panicking as she is. The Clan was already shifting, moving into defensive positions. She should stay out of the way, let them handle the situation.

But then her gaze caught the lock system. Something about it tugged at her memory—flashes of blue code, fragmented sequences, a feeling just out of reach. The layout, the sequences… all suddenly looked too familiar.

She moved before she could think. Her fingers hovered over the panel, then pressed against the interface. A shiver ran through her veins.

"Hey—" Cipher's voice was sharp. "What do you think you're—"

The sound of static snapped. The locks clicking open. The alarm cut off.

"I… I don't..." Liora stepped back, her hands trembling slightly.

Cipher's eyes darted between her and the system, almost shaking his head in disbelief. "That's not fucking possible."

"No time for that," Razor cut in, already moving. "We move, now."

The others didn't hesitate to follow orders. They grabbed the supplies and slipped away from the scene. Flux appeared beside her, his smirk in place but his eyes switching between awe and calculating.

"Sweetheart, if you keep pulling stunts like that, you either earn a place in the group or a target on your back."

"Which one is more likely?" Liora asks, biting on her lower lip as her brows knotted. Flux's grin widened, but he didn't answer.