Chapter 17: Tujo's Specialty

Tonight’s mission was bold, even for him. Disrupting the System’s surveillance network wasn’t just risky—it was suicidal. But if Kiryu’s discovery was to have any chance of success, they needed a window of opportunity. Tujo was determined to create it.

A faint buzz echoed through his earpiece as Faye’s voice broke the silence. “You’re in position?”

“Just about,” Tujo replied, his voice calm despite the adrenaline coursing through him. “Tell Kiryu to be ready. This won’t last long.”

“Don’t do anything reckless,” Faye said, her tone edged with concern.

Tujo smirked, his hand hovering over the device strapped to his wrist. “When have I ever been reckless?”

The line went silent, and Tujo turned his focus back to the task at hand. Below him, the surveillance hub loomed, its sleek black facade a stark contrast to the neon-drenched chaos of the city. Inside, the System’s operators monitored every corner of Paradoxium, their screens filled with live feeds and cascading data streams. If Tujo could disable it, even temporarily, it would buy Kiryu and the Network precious time.

Tujo moved with practiced precision, dropping from the rooftop into a shadowed alley. The air was thick with the hum of machinery, the faint glow of surveillance drones casting eerie patterns on the walls. He blended seamlessly into the darkness, his movements silent and deliberate.

Reaching the perimeter of the surveillance hub, Tujo paused, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement. The sentinels were predictable, their patrol patterns ingrained into his memory after days of observation. He slipped through the gaps in their coverage, his body moving like a shadow across the courtyard.

The entrance was secured by a biometric scanner, its sleek surface glowing faintly in the dim light. Tujo pulled a small device from his pocket, attaching it to the scanner. A series of soft beeps followed as the device bypassed the security protocols, the door sliding open with a quiet hiss.

Inside, the hum of machinery was louder, a constant reminder of the System’s omnipresence. Tujo moved quickly, his eyes scanning the rows of terminals and monitors. Operators sat in silent concentration, their faces illuminated by the flickering screens. He felt a pang of unease as he passed them, knowing that any mistake could trigger an alarm and unleash the full force of the System’s defenses.

At the heart of the hub was the main control panel, its surface covered in an array of holographic displays. Tujo approached it cautiously, his fingers moving deftly as he accessed the system. He had memorized the steps, each keystroke a calculated move designed to overload the network with false data.

The program he and Faye had developed was a masterpiece of deception, a virus designed to flood the surveillance grid with fabricated feeds and redirect resources to nonexistent threats. Tujo activated it, watching as the holographic displays flickered and glitched. A faint smile crossed his lips as the first signs of chaos began to spread through the network.

The satisfaction was short-lived. A sudden alarm shattered the silence, the sharp, piercing sound reverberating through the room. Tujo’s heart raced as the operators sprang into action, their hands flying over the terminals. The virus was working, but it had triggered a failsafe. The System was already adapting.

“Faye,” Tujo said into his earpiece, his voice tight. “The grid’s compromised, but we’ve got a problem. The System’s countering faster than expected.”

“Can you get out?” Faye’s voice was sharp with urgency.

“Working on it,” Tujo replied, his eyes darting to the exits. The operators hadn’t noticed him yet, but it was only a matter of time. He moved quickly, his footsteps silent as he retraced his path through the hub.

The corridors were alive with activity now, sentinels converging on the source of the disturbance. Tujo ducked into a side passage, his body pressed against the wall as a pair of sentinels passed by. He held his breath, waiting until their footsteps faded before continuing.

As he neared the exit, Tujo’s path was blocked by a squad of sentinels. Their glowing visors swept the area, scanning for any signs of intrusion. Tujo cursed under his breath, his mind racing. He couldn’t afford to engage them directly—not here, not now.

He pulled a small device from his belt, a makeshift EMP he had designed for emergencies. Activating it, he tossed it into the corridor. The device detonated with a burst of light, the sentinels’ systems sparking and shutting down. Tujo didn’t wait to see the results. He sprinted through the corridor, his heart pounding as he reached the courtyard.

The air outside was a welcome relief, the cool breeze cutting through the adrenaline-fueled haze in Tujo’s mind. He didn’t slow down, weaving through the alleys and backstreets until he was far from the hub. Only when he was certain he wasn’t being followed did he activate his communicator.

“Kiryu,” he said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. “The window’s open. Make it count.”

Kiryu’s reply crackled through the earpiece. “Got it. Stay safe, Tujo.”

Tujo allowed himself a small smile as he leaned against a wall, catching his breath. The mission had been dangerous, but it had worked. For now, the System’s surveillance network was in disarray, giving the Network a critical advantage.

As the adrenaline began to fade, Tujo’s thoughts turned to what lay ahead. The fight was far from over, and the risks were only growing. But for the first time in weeks, he felt a glimmer of hope. They had struck a blow against the System, and with Kiryu’s plan in motion, they might just have a chance.