The Price of Information

The walls of the dimly lit room seemed to close in as Novak stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back. He watched Vale with a mixture of curiosity and amusement, as if sizing him up. The team was tense, their weapons ready, eyes fixed on the shadowy figure before them.

"You think you've got it all figured out, don't you?" Novak's voice was a low drawl, his words deliberate. "You think you're just going to walk in here, take what you want, and leave. But that's not how this works, Vale."

Vale didn't flinch. His gaze never wavered from Novak as he spoke. "Cut the theatrics, Novak. We don't have time for games. Tell me what you know about the Hidden Hand, or I'll make you regret it."

Novak's smile twisted into something darker, more sinister. "You don't get it, do you? The Hidden Hand isn't some cabal of rich men hiding behind curtains, pulling strings from their ivory towers. No, they're something much more dangerous. Something you can't touch, no matter how hard you try."

Kiera stepped forward, her voice sharp. "What are you talking about? We've been chasing dead ends for weeks. You think we're just going to let you play mind games with us?"

"Easy, Kiera," Vale muttered, holding a hand up to calm her. He then turned back to Novak. "We're listening."

Novak chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "You think you're ready for this? You're barely scratching the surface. The Hidden Hand has eyes everywhere. And they've been planning for years—no, centuries. They have infiltrated every level of society, every government, every corporation. And they know everything about you, Vale. They know your every move before you even make it."

Vale's jaw tightened. He could feel the weight of Novak's words pressing down on him, but he wasn't about to show weakness. Not now. Not when they were so close.

"So, what's your price?" Vale asked, his tone cold. "You don't just give out information like this for free. What do you want?"

Novak's grin widened. "I knew you'd get to that part. You always do. You see, I'm not in this for the money, Vale. I'm in it for something much more... valuable."

"Get to the point," Zero snapped, clearly impatient.

"I want out," Novak said, his expression turning serious. "I've been in this game for too long, running from ghosts, hiding from shadows. The Hidden Hand doesn't take kindly to those who turn against them. I'm a liability to them now. If you want what I know, you have to get me out. You get me out of this city, out of their reach, and I'll tell you everything."

Doc stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "You want us to risk everything for your freedom? You're asking us to play hero for a rat?"

Novak's smile faltered, and his eyes hardened. "I'm not a rat. I'm trying to save my own life here. You think they'll let me live after I've told you everything? They'll come for me, and they won't stop until they're sure I'm dead."

Vale glanced at the team, reading the tension in their faces. He knew Novak was right—this wasn't going to be easy. But the information they needed was too important to let slip through their fingers. The Hidden Hand had their claws in everything, and if Novak truly had the intel they needed, he was their best shot.

"Alright," Vale said, breaking the silence. "We'll get you out. But you better have the answers we need, Novak. If you're lying to us, I'll make sure you regret it."

Novak raised an eyebrow, a flicker of respect crossing his face. "I'm not lying, Vale. I wouldn't be asking you to risk it all if I wasn't. The Hidden Hand doesn't just control people—they control events. They've been orchestrating wars, manipulating markets, and creating chaos. And they're close to their endgame. The question is, do you want to stop them?"

Vale didn't respond right away. He glanced at his team once more, each of them processing Novak's words. It was clear they were deep in thought, weighing their options.

Finally, Vale spoke. "We need to move fast. The longer we stay here, the more likely it is that we'll run into problems. Zero, can you get us out of here undetected?"

Zero nodded, his fingers already tapping commands into his console. "I've been preparing for this. I've got an escape route mapped out. We won't have much time, but it should be enough."

Kiera unslung her rifle and checked her ammo, her voice steady. "Then let's move. We can talk about the rest once we're out of here."

Vale turned back to Novak. "Lead the way. You keep your end of the deal, and we'll keep ours. But if you try anything..."

"I know the deal," Novak interrupted, raising his hands in mock surrender. "No tricks. I want to live, Vale."

"Then let's go." Vale motioned to the team, and they moved as one, stepping carefully into the shadows of the building. The walls seemed to close in on them as they made their way down narrow corridors, Zero leading the way with his tablet scanning for any security systems that might have been triggered.

As they neared the exit, the quiet hum of the building was replaced by the distant sound of sirens. The Hidden Hand was already on the move, aware of their presence. They didn't have much time.

"We've got company," Kiera muttered, her voice tight with urgency. "Looks like they're not going to let us leave without a fight."

Vale's expression hardened. "We'll fight our way out if we have to. Just keep moving."

As the team rushed towards their escape route, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. The Hidden Hand was closing in, and the game was about to get a lot more dangerous. But for Vale and his team, there was no turning back now. They had made a deal with a rat—and now they had to survive the consequences.