Tracker

~~~📶~~~

Focused mind. This is like in video games, right?

If in video games I were risking my reputation, my career, or even my life, then yes. But even then, I could have restarted the console and tried again.

In real life, it was more complicated. I was following a man from the cleaning staff through the hallways of the company I had joined earlier that week. If I got caught, my life could go down the drain.

That's why I decided to be extremely cautious in my actions. I had to measure each step with clockwork precision, moving quietly but without drawing attention to my surroundings. No one could know what I was doing. Emphasis on "no one".

I passed the door that led to the terrace and headed toward another door on the left wall, where I had seen the target enter. The door said "MAINTENANCE" in blue letters.

Maintenance. A common place for a cleaning employee, I thought as a sharp pain settled in my head. What if I’m overthinking this?

That idea gained strength in my mind, diluting my fantasies of becoming a vigilante. Espionage and stalking weren’t reasons to be taken lightly.

"Fine. I’ll call Mr. Kariya."

I raised two fingers ahead, and my Lob screen unfolded in front of my eyes. I searched for the business messaging app and quickly found Aguri in the recent contacts. I tapped the call button without hesitation, but on the other side, there was no sound. Only a large red message appeared:

"Signal not found. Try again later."

"You’ve got to be kidding me —I said sarcastically—. No signal in the middle of Anima Tech? It’s... —my smile disappeared as the puzzle pieces connected—. Too strange."

I fixed my gaze on the door, lost in my thoughts. The previously diluted idea was now clearer and at the center of my mind like never before.

Beep. I opened the door and began walking faster.

"Something’s wrong here. Anima Tech is one of the buildings with the best connection in the world. Why wouldn’t there be communications signal in one of the upper floors?"

I turned the quick corner to the right, leading me down a long, dimly lit hallway. Although technology was present in every corner, the place had an oppressive feel. The dark-toned walls and rough flooring absorbed the light, and the dim LED strips embedded in the walls seemed more like decoration than an actual source of illumination. For Anima Tech, this hallway was more of a cave than a futuristic space.

Maybe that’s why I had lost his trail.

"What? No!"

I quickened my pace a bit, not running to avoid drawing too much attention, but with a bit more carelessness than before. My accelerated heartbeat pumped more blood to my muscles and more thoughts into my brain.

If I caught the man and he turned out to be an innocent cleaning employee, I would surely be fired, and possibly arrested for espionage and assault. I could already picture myself in striped black-and-white prison attire, staring at the ceiling of my cell, watching my life slip through my hands like sand.

Ding. A bell sound reached my ears just as my eyes caught the man again, now seeming to board an elevator at the end of the hallway, right next to a dark stairwell.

"Ah!"

I quickly scanned my surroundings, and thanks to the Father, I spotted a pile of disordered boxes to my right. Without hesitation, I dashed behind them, assuming the man would turn around as he went up and might spot me.

"Ouch!"

The impact was hard, and I let out a groan I immediately regretted. I stayed as still as possible, sprawled on the floor, for several moments.

It was the sound of the elevator door closing that allowed me to lift my gaze. I saw the elevator just before both leaves of the door closed, and the already disappeared cleaning employee moved down the shaft. I noticed the floor indicator above the door, which showed an arrow pointing down and the numbers 14, then 13, then 12...

Ah no, you're not getting away.

I took the narrow staircase to the left, which, with a bit of luck, would lead me to the same destination as my quarry. The stairs descended to the left, with a handrail in the middle. Perfect for me to jump over it and land on the steps on the other side.

If you think you can leave behind the best trickster in Kyoto, you're wrong. At that moment, I was grateful my friends had introduced me to parkour and tricking, disciplines that made a small staircase no obstacle for my skills.

Each time I reached a floor, I took a quick step out of the stairs to check that the elevator was still descending.

9, 8, 7...

My heart raced, but not from physical exertion I was used to. On the other hand, if that man really was a malicious actor infiltrated in the building, we were all in danger.

He could be a daredevil just trying to break the rules.

He could be a terrorist wanting to blow up the central building, killing thousands.

Or as I first thought, he could be a hacker trying to infiltrate to steal information or sabotage the operation of the base.

I had to stop him, no matter what, but that dangerous person could be armed or have military training. Beyond my ability to defend myself, I was not exempt from encountering someone dangerous...

Ding.

I stopped dead in my tracks on the mezzanine when the elevator bell sounded just below. A large holographic panel integrated into the wall, with glowing lines and a minimalist design, projected an arrow pointing down along with the text:

"Level -2".

The indicated floor blinked in electric blue, accompanied by a soft technological hum that highlighted the depth below sea level, in the heart of the crater. The elevator door opened, and I heard the man’s footsteps and the sound of the cart moving away.

I decided to peek, finding him standing in front of a double sliding door with heavy security. A large sign reading AUXILIARY SERVER ROOM was prominently displayed above the frame.

We’re in the auxiliary server room. Cleaning employees don’t usually go into these areas, much less unsupervised. I shouldn’t even have access here.

However, the man’s access card caused the door to open without difficulty.

This can't be. He’s really not an employee. I have to do something, or... Ah!

The man quickly passed through the door, and the cart followed behind. But if I didn’t have access, I had to figure something out or I’d lose him.

I took a few silent strides until I was at the threshold of the door. I heard a cybernetic sound indicating that it was about to close.

"Hah!"

I took one final leap and quickly hid behind a server rack.

I glanced quickly at the room and noticed it was smaller than I expected. About six rows of racks extended on either side of a central console, which looked like an altar with a digital screen above it.

Once inside, the man looked around once more, unable to spot me, and hurried toward the central structure.

Good thing I’m dressed in black today, I thought before refocusing on his movements.

Just before reaching the console, the man pulled a small device from his pocket and placed it on the connector. Something that, in general, wasn’t part of a cleaning employee’s duties.

Damn it! He’s really a hacker! Come on, Aguri, pick up!

I tried calling my boss again, but my Lob still couldn’t find any signal. I was all alone down here.

Ah! Damn communication companies, leaving you hanging at the worst possible moment!

"Here we go, heh," the man said as he hummed to himself.

My gaze returned to him, and I made a decision. I had to stop this man, no matter what.

You can do this, Kaori. Think of Dad and Hakase. And remember, you took this job to protect people.

I began walking crouched down, with feather-light steps that barely made a sound.

The only sounds that were audible were the quantum hum of the machines and the tapping of his fingers on the screen, along with his cheerful humming.

Each time his face became more visible beneath the cap. A little closer, a little more...

"Heh, heh."

Suddenly, the man took a white mask with red details out of his bag and put it over his eyes, preventing me from recognizing him.

I took another step. And another. And another. The man took his access card and turned his back on me, unaware that he was about to become my prey.

Push hard toward him, grab his arm while my leg whips around his like a lash. A precise maneuver that destabilizes anyone. Easy. Let’s see if after this I’m still reading stupid docume-

"Whisky!"

The screen that his Lob displayed in front of his eyes opened the camera, and it began to record image by itself. In that vision, I could clearly see the man with the mask.

And behind him, a newly hired analyst, squatting and with her arms wide open.

I have to admit that those three seconds were very uncomfortable.

"Ah! Stop-"

The man moved, and something flew toward me.

"Ah!" I tried to move my hands to protect my face, but his access card hit between the edge of my right hand and my eye, blinding me for a moment. "Son of-"

Before I could finish the sentence, another object flew toward my face.

A weapon.

"No!"

Instinctively, I ducked, veering right, and whatever it was that had the cable sent a chill down my spine as it passed just above my head. 

Now it was my turn.

You shouldn’t have missed, you idiot.

I took a quick step forward with my left leg, and before the rookie could react, I landed a kick to his stomach, a right strike worthy of an Italian league footballer.

"Gah!" he groaned, stumbling back.

He looked pained, his mouth twisted in discomfort, though his eyes were hidden behind the mysterious mask. His weapon had fallen behind me, and I noticed a small object had dropped from his side due to the jolt. Whoever he was, it was now a hand-to-hand fight against this racing-hearted, nervous, and brave analyst.

Who... is this person? And what does he want?