Chapter 13: Patching Up

The relative quiet of the safe house, 'The Glitch,' was a welcome change after the klaxons of Node Delta-9 and the sensory assault of the Market Concourse. Zero sank onto one of the worn synth-leather couches, the simulated fatigue pressing down on him. His HP was full thanks to the medical station, and his EP was slowly regenerating, the boost from the station accelerating the process. He finally had a moment to breathe, to think.

He pulled up his [STATUS] screen, reviewing the changes. Level 2. New skills: [Scan], [Silent Movement], [Weak Point Analysis]. An upgraded INT and DEX, a slight boost to CON. He'd acquired the [Basic Toolkit], 80 Chrono Credits, the [Corrupted Logic Chip], and the memory of finding that impossible data slate with the Digital Dragons logo and his old backdoor code. He now also possessed the heavily modified [Blackfire Pistol - Mark II], capable of hitting hard, at least while the temporary [DEX Override] module Nyx had helped him build was active – and charged.

He checked the module in his [INVENTORY]. Its icon showed a durability bar, slightly depleted from the crafting process, and a charge level that was currently near zero. "Nyx," he called out, keeping his voice low. "This DEX booster… does it recharge? Or is it a one-shot deal?"

Nyx glanced up from the analysis console where they were carefully interfacing the [Corrupted Logic Chip]. "Rechargeable," they replied, their filtered voice echoing slightly in the quiet room. "Requires a high-yield power source and a stabilization matrix. This safe house has a charging station integrated with the medical bay. Slower than my workshop's setup, but safer. Less likely to leave an energy signature OmniCorp can trace." They gestured towards the medical station he'd used earlier. "Plug it in. Should be ready in an hour or two, Nexus time."

Zero nodded, detaching the small, pulsing device from its slot on his suit – another subtle integration he hadn't consciously registered – and plugging it into a designated port on the side of the medical station. A soft green light indicated the charging process had begun. So, the power boost wasn't constant, but it was reusable. Good to know.

With the immediate tasks handled, his mind inevitably drifted back to the chaos, the questions, the lingering distrust. He replayed the events in Node Delta-9. The sudden alarm, Nyx's focused climb, the explosion from below, his near fall, Nyx opening the vent, Nyx staying behind… Trust no one. The warning felt less like paranoia and more like sound advice. Nyx's survival and reappearance were convenient, almost too convenient. Their explanation – tracking his faint energy signature – felt plausible for a high-level Infiltrator, but the timing was impeccable.

Was Nyx playing him? Were they an OmniCorp agent testing his loyalty or leading him into a deeper trap? Or were they genuinely part of a resistance, pragmatic and ruthless, willing to use him but also risking themselves? He thought back to the workshop, the shared focus while modifying the pistol, the almost-mentor role Nyx had adopted. There was a strange connection forming, a reliance born of shared danger, but it was built on shaky foundations.

He remembered the betrayal by his old esports team, the accusations, the sponsors pulling out, how quickly his world had collapsed. He'd trusted people then, believed in the camaraderie, only to be hung out to dry. That experience had left deep scars, a cynicism that made trusting anyone, especially an enigmatic figure like Nyx, incredibly difficult. He ran a hand through his messy virtual hair, a habit carried over from reality. His past was a ghost that haunted him even here, in this simulated world. And now, somehow, it seemed to be literally embedded in the code, on that impossible data slate.

He watched Nyx work at the console. Their movements were precise, economical, their masked face betraying nothing. They were attempting to decrypt the fragmented data streams on the [Corrupted Logic Chip]. Lines of code, symbols, and diagnostic readouts scrolled across the holographic display projected above the console.

"Find anything interesting?" Zero asked, pushing himself off the couch and walking over, keeping a casual distance.

"Fragments," Nyx replied without looking up. "Corrupted data packets, looping algorithms, references to unauthorized 'behavioral modifications' in low-level maintenance systems." They paused, zooming in on a specific string of code. "This anomaly… it's not random noise. It has structure. Intent. Someone designed this corruption."

"OmniCorp?"

"Maybe. Or maybe they just unleashed something they couldn't control." Nyx brought up another window on the display, showing a complex network schematic. "The corruption seems to be propagating through older, less secure sub-networks. Like the maintenance tunnels you explored. It's causing… deviations. Malfunctions. Like your cleaning bot, or the drone, or the data sprites."

"Sub-routine 734," Zero murmured, recalling the error logs on the legacy terminal. "Environmental Simulation - Fauna Behaviors."

Nyx glanced at him sharply. "You remember the sub-routine number? Good memory." They tapped a few commands. "Yes, that's one of the affected systems. But it goes deeper. Power grids, atmospheric controls, even basic physics simulations in some isolated zones are showing instability." They pointed to a cluster of blinking red nodes on the network map. "These are areas reporting high levels of anomalous activity. And Node Delta-9… was right in the middle of a convergence zone."

"So accessing the slate didn't trigger the alarm?" Zero asked. "It was the node itself?"

"Or the combination," Nyx clarified. "The node was unstable. Our intrusion, drawing power, accessing legacy systems, decrypting the slate… it might have pushed the local system over the edge, triggering automated failsafe alarms OmniCorp can detect, even if the node itself was supposedly offline." They zoomed out on the map. "The problem is, these convergence zones are spreading. Whatever this corruption is, it's getting worse."

"And Project Chimera? The Digital Dragons logo? My code?" Zero pressed again. "How does that fit in?"

Nyx finally turned away from the console, facing him fully. The red eye-slits on their mask seemed to bore into him. "That," they said slowly, "is the billion-credit question, isn't it? Pre-Singularity tech shouldn't interface cleanly with current Nexus systems. That data slate… it's an anomaly in itself. The logo, your code… it suggests a connection, a bridge between the past and the present, that shouldn't exist." They paused, letting the weight of their words sink in. "Either someone is meticulously crafting these clues specifically for you, Zero. Or your past, the Ghostrunner's legacy, is far more entangled with the origins of the Nexus, and perhaps this corruption, than anyone realizes."

The implications were staggering. Was his downfall orchestrated? Was his recruitment by the Oracle part of some long game? Was he a key, a catalyst, meant to unlock something buried deep within the simulation? The thought was both terrifying and strangely exhilarating. It hinted at a purpose beyond mere survival, a chance to uncover a truth that might dwarf even his personal quest for vindication.

"So, what's our next move?" Zero asked, pushing aside the larger existential questions for the immediate tactical concerns. "We decrypt the chip? Try to access the slate again?"

"Decrypting the chip fully requires more processing power and decryption protocols than this safe house offers," Nyx stated. "We need to reach a core resistance node. As for the slate…" They tapped the console, bringing up a security alert feed. Red icons pulsed across the map of Aethelburg Prime. "OmniCorp security is tightening the noose. Network traffic analysis shows increased surveillance on known underground access points, including this one. They're actively hunting us."

"So this place isn't safe anymore," Zero concluded grimly.

"It was never perfectly safe," Nyx corrected. "Just safer. We bought ourselves some time, but we can't stay here indefinitely. We need to move soon, and carefully." They looked back at Zero. "Your toolkit. The modifications you made to the pistol. Impressive work, especially for a Level 2 using basic components."

Zero shrugged, uncomfortable with the rare praise. "Just following instructions. And adapting."

"Your 'adaptation' disabled a Level 3 drone and bypassed legacy security," Nyx countered. "Your core skills are rusty, but the potential the Oracle saw… it's there. You have value beyond just being a key to that data slate." Was that… respect? Or just another form of manipulation, appealing to his ego?

"We need a plan," Zero said, steering the conversation back to practicalities. "If OmniCorp is locking things down, how do we reach this 'core resistance node' without getting flagged?"

"Stealth. Misdirection. And exploiting the system," Nyx replied, a hint of their usual confidence returning. "OmniCorp's lockdown focuses on known pathways, major data hubs. But the Nexus is vast, full of forgotten corners, backdoors, glitches… paths that don't appear on their official maps." They gestured towards the complex holographic map again. "We use the chaos of the Market Concourse as cover, access a secondary transit network used for black market data smuggling, bypass the main security checkpoints, and route through the old, decommissioned Geo-Metro tunnels beneath the lower sectors. Risky. Full of potential hazards, both systemic and… otherwise. But less likely to be actively monitored by OmniCorp's main security forces."

It sounded like another dive into the dangerous underbelly, trading the certainty of OmniCorp patrols for the uncertainty of glitches, unstable environments, and potentially other, less official threats. But it also sounded like exactly the kind of challenge Zero was suited for.

"Okay," Zero said, nodding slowly, his mind already working through the potential problems, the required skills, the necessary precautions. "Black market networks, decommissioned tunnels… sounds like my kind of tour." He checked his EP regeneration – it was back up to about half. The [DEX Override] module was still charging, but maybe he wouldn't need it immediately if the focus was on stealth and hacking.

"Good," Nyx said. "While your booster recharges, familiarize yourself with the local Concourse network topology." They flicked a data packet from the main console to Zero's interface. "I need to send a secure, encrypted ping to the node, let them know we're coming. And potentially… bringing a guest."

Zero caught the implication. He was the guest. Still an outsider, being brought into the inner circle, but only under Nyx's vouching. He opened the data packet Nyx sent. It contained complex, multi-layered maps of the Market Concourse's hidden data networks, smuggler routes, known security blind spots, and rumored glitch locations. It was a treasure trove of information for an Infiltrator.

He sat back down on the couch, immersing himself in the data, his hacker brain eagerly absorbing the information, cross-referencing it with his own knowledge, identifying potential choke points, alternative routes, system vulnerabilities he could potentially exploit. For the first time since entering the Nexus, he felt like he was doing more than just reacting, surviving. He was planning. Strategizing. Preparing to take the fight, however small, back to the system.

The doubt about Nyx still lingered, a cold knot in his stomach. The 'Trust no one' warning felt burned into his consciousness. But right now, they were his only lead, his only way forward. He would cooperate, use their resources, learn what he could. He would play their game, while always watching his back, always looking for the angle, the exploit, the hidden truth. He was Zero, the Ghostrunner. And even in this strange new reality, some core programming never changed. He would survive. He would adapt. And eventually, he would find the answers he sought, one hidden path, one system override at a time. His resolve hardened. He would continue. He had to.