#19: Pacts and Secrets

The woman crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on Lara, as if she could see right through her. The silence in the room was overwhelming, only broken by the faint hum of the computer in the background.

“What do I want from you?” she repeated with a slight smile. “Simple. I want access to the central core of their system. And for that, I’m going to need her skills.” She nodded at Lara.

Lara narrowed her eyes, her distrust evident.

“And who are you again?”

“They call me Alma,” she replied casually. “And before you ask, no, I don’t work for either side. I’m only here because what you have”—she gestured toward the computer screen—“is exactly the kind of material that can change the rules of the game.”

“If you don’t work for anyone, why do you care?” Dante replied, his hand still resting on the hilt of his gun.

Alma stepped forward, ignoring the hostile tone.

“Because I’ve lost enough to know that those who control the future can’t be left unanswered. And because, to be honest, I like to see big people fall.”

Lara exchanged a quick glance with Dante. Alma’s story sounded like a convenient excuse, but there was something in her posture that conveyed a mix of determination and weariness.

“Let’s say we accept. What guarantees you won’t screw us over?” Lara asked, her voice thick with irony.

Alma chuckled softly.

“Nothing. But let’s be honest, you’re not in a position to choose either.”

The Reckoning

Dante walked over to the table, crossing his arms as he glared at Alma.

“First of all, we want details. What do you know about the central core?”

Alma pulled a small portable unit from her pocket and plugged it into the computer. Within seconds, virtual diagrams and maps began to fill the screen.

“This is the heart of the ‘Aurora Project.’ An autonomous system located in the most protected sector of the Solaris Corporation. It’s where all their operations are controlled: from the algorithms that regulate access to immortality to the management of disposables.”

Lara snorted.

“Disposables? What a nice euphemism for “the people they throw away.”

“That’s exactly it,” Alma replied bluntly. “And if you really want to change something, that’s where you have to aim. The problem is that we’re talking about maximum security. No physical entry, only virtual.”

Dante sighed in frustration.

“Great. So you want Lara to hack this, is that it?”

“Not exactly.” Alma pulled up another screen, showing a string of codes glowing blue. “You need to access an external server first, a secondary satellite that serves as a backup.” Without it, any attempt to enter the main core will trigger security protocols that will end you before you even begin.

Lara frowned.

“And where is this server?”

Alma smiled, but her eyes were serious.

“On the edge of the Restricted Zone.”

Dante straightened, his eyes wide.

“You have got to be kidding me.”

Lara looked from one to the other, confused.

“What’s the Restricted Zone?”

“A place no one goes willingly,” Dante replied dryly. “It’s their territory. Drones, armed guards, and whatever else they’ve hidden there.”

Alma shrugged.

“It’s risky, sure. But not impossible. And honestly, it’s your only chance of making this work.”

The Mission Begins

After hours of planning, Lara and Dante were ready to go. Lara adjusted her backpack, her face serious as she reviewed the diagrams Alma had given her.

“Aren’t you coming with us?” she asked, looking at Alma, who was sitting casually in an armchair.

“My part is to guide you there and make sure you have everything you need. I’m not suicidal.”

Dante laughed, but without humor.

“How convenient.”

Alma raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be monitoring everything from here. If anything goes wrong, you’ll know.”

“As if that were any reassurance…” Lara muttered, before pulling on her hood and following Dante to the exit.

The Tension Grows

The walk to the Restricted Zone was silent. The city seemed more oppressive as they approached the territory controlled by the Solaris Corporation. Lara felt her heart beating faster, but she kept her head held high.

Dante broke the silence.

“Do you trust her?”

Lara shrugged.

“No. But that doesn’t matter. We have to make this work.”

He nodded, not arguing. He knew that deep down, Lara was just as nervous as he was.

When they finally reached the edge of the Restricted Zone, the surveillance lights and the sound of drones flying overhead made them both freeze for a moment. Lara took a deep breath, trying to control her anxiety.

“It’s now or never,” she said, activating the devices Alma had provided.

Dante placed his hand on her shoulder for a brief moment.

“We can do this.”

Lara nodded, more confident than before.

“Let’s finish them off.”

The two moved with precision, disappearing into the shadows as the tension in the air grew stronger by the second. This game was about to get even more dangerous.