Rogue Frequencies
The city was alive — neon flashing, horns honking, thoughts buzzing like radio waves. But Arman was dead silent inside.
Sitting in the dim safehouse kitchen, he stared at the flickering bulb above, Rina pacing nearby like a caged panther in silk pajamas and frustration.
"You realize what you just did?" she hissed, slamming a steaming mug on the table.
Arman didn't flinch.
"Saved someone innocent?"
"You defied Ascend. That's a death sentence," she said, voice low, urgent. "You're a fugitive now, Arman. You're not a pawn. You're a target."
He sipped the tea. Bitter. Just like the moment.
"Good," he muttered. "Let them come."
Rina blinked at him, then exhaled in a mix of amusement and disbelief. "You're either brave or the dumbest man alive."
He grinned faintly. "Both. Depending on the angle."
---
Unknown Location – Ascend Headquarters, Level 8
"Subject: Arman Syed. Codename revoked. Status: Compromised."
The words echoed in the sterile command chamber.
Dr. Kael, head of Ascend's Psychological Enforcement Division, watched a projection of Arman's profile flicker with red warnings. His eyes narrowed behind wireframe glasses.
"This boy was a weapon," Kael muttered. "Now he's a variable."
He turned to his assistant. "Activate Protocol 11."
"You mean—"
"Yes. Bring out the Gatekeeper. Let's remind the Thought Broker who built his stage."
---
Safehouse – Midnight
Arman stood shirtless in front of the bathroom mirror, tracing the faint scar just above his collarbone. The place where Ascend first injected their neural imprint, months ago. Supposedly dormant tech. Now probably lighting up like a flare on their sensors.
He grabbed the tweezers and a blade. "No more control."
"You're not seriously doing that yourself," Rina said from the doorway, now in a loose oversized hoodie and boxers. (Not that he was trying to look. Okay, he was a little.)
"I don't trust anyone else."
She sighed, walked in, and snatched the tools. "Hold still. If you flinch, you bleed."
"You've done this before?"
"I've removed more than trackers," she said casually. "Don't ask."
He sat still, letting her work in silence. The pain was sharp — but focused.
"So," she said while digging into his flesh, "what's your plan now, rebel boy?"
Arman winced. "Survive. Figure out what Ascend's really planning. And take it down, piece by piece."
Rina paused, then handed him a small bloodied chip. "Then you're going to need a war."
---
Later That Morning – Hidden Alley Lab
"You brought me to a hacker rave?" Arman asked as the walls pulsed with EDM and stench of energy drinks.
"No, I brought you to our contact," Rina said, guiding him past a crowd of technomancers in VR goggles and coded hoodies.
In the corner, a tiny girl with massive headphones and a bubble tea typed on six keyboards at once.
"This is Mimi. She's seventeen. She's smarter than both of us combined. Also slightly unhinged."
"I like her already," Arman said.
"Flattery doesn't get you firewall access," Mimi replied without looking up. Her voice was higher pitched but carried venom. "You're Arman. You pissed off Ascend. You're trending on the DarkNet."
"Wait—what?"
She spun a monitor toward him. A photo of his face. Captioned: "EX-THOUGHT BROKER: WANTED DEAD OR INTEGRATED."
Rina muttered, "Well, that escalated."
Mimi finally looked up. "So. You want into Ascend's backend without getting ghosted by their AI sweeps? That'll cost you."
Arman raised an eyebrow. "What? Bitcoin?"
"No," she smirked. "Secrets. You tell me one thing Ascend doesn't know. I'll get you in."
He hesitated, then leaned in.
"I know who the real founder of Ascend is."
Mimi stopped typing. Her eyes sharpened.
"...I'm listening."
---
Meanwhile – Ascend Mobile Unit Zeta
Safia, the empath girl Arman had saved, sat in a dark containment pod, wrists glowing with psychic dampeners.
Two Ascend enforcers sat across from her.
"You're not here because you're powerful," one said. "You're here because he protected you. That makes you leverage."
Safia closed her eyes and focused.
> "Arman… if you're still out there… I'm not afraid."
---
Safehouse Rooftop – Dusk
Rina stood beside Arman, overlooking the neon jungle of the city.
"You still have time to run," she said quietly.
"I already made my choice," he replied.
She looked at him. "You're really going to try to tear it all down, huh?"
He turned to her, eyes calm but burning with something new.
> "I'm not just trying, Rina. I will."
---
End Scene
He's cut the leash. He's off the grid. Ascend wants his head.
But Arman Syed isn't a weapon anymore.
He's a wild card.
And chaos is only beginning.
---