A Name in the Data

The shop’s sterile, meticulously organized atmosphere carried an edge of unease. Something about the owner felt off—maybe it was his rigid posture or the sharp, probing gaze that lingered on Leo and Rubi as though he were dissecting their every move. Whatever it was, it turned an already tricky situation into something more precarious.

Leo cleared his throat, keeping his tone casual. “So, we’re setting up our house,” he said, casting a glance at Rubi. “We’re looking for something that balances practicality and... style.”

Rubi kept a faint smile as she drifted away, appearing to browse the shelves. Each step was deliberate, her sharp eyes behind holographic glasses scanning more than just the products. Her real focus lay elsewhere—searching for something much more significant: an access terminal that could be tapped without alerting the owner.

“Style is important,” the man replied, tilting his head slightly. His gaze stayed fixed on Leo, wary. “What kind of devices are you looking for?”

Leo hesitated, just enough to appear thoughtful rather than unprepared. “Something versatile. Maybe something that works well in different environments... She likes options,” he said, gesturing toward Rubi, who was examining a sleek drone.

The owner’s gaze followed Leo’s gesture, narrowing slightly as it landed on Rubi. She didn’t miss the scrutiny but moved with practiced ease, feigning interest. “This one looks interesting,” she said, picking up the drone and turning it over before glancing at Leo.

Leo stepped closer, playing along. “Oh, yeah. Looks promising. Do you think it fits?”

“Maybe,” Rubi replied, carefully placing the drone back. She met his gaze for a fraction of a second—a subtle signal that she hadn’t yet found what they were searching for.

While the owner shifted his attention to describing another product, Rubi drifted deeper into the shop, her pace calm but deliberate. Finally, she spotted it: a small console embedded in the wall, discreet enough to be overlooked by most customers but unmistakable to her trained eye.

Leaning forward, she pretended to examine a nearby device while the symbiont extended a slim, flexible key. It slotted silently into the console’s side. A soft click confirmed partial access, the faint green glow of an unlocked interface flickering to life.

“Sweetheart,” Rubi called, her tone light but carrying an undercurrent Leo immediately recognized. “What do you think of this one?”

Leo turned, catching her meaning instantly. He approached, his steps casual and his voice steady. “Oh, that? Looks good. Do you think it matches the other devices we’ve been looking at?”

Rubi adjusted her glasses, activating a hidden holographic interface with a subtle press. To anyone watching, it would appear she was merely fixing her hair. “It matches,” she replied, distracted as streams of data populated her visor.

The owner, still behind the counter, observed them closely. “You two seem to work well together,” he remarked, his tone casual yet sharp. “That’s rare to see.”

Leo forced a laugh, injecting a touch of awkwardness into his response. “Oh, we try. It’s all about... adaptation,” he said, throwing Rubi a subtle warning glance.

“And patience,” Rubi added smoothly, her focus remaining on the interface.

The owner chuckled, though the sound lacked warmth. He began walking toward Rubi’s section, and Leo quickly intercepted him.

“Actually,” Leo said, his voice bright, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask about. I’m looking for a more integrated system—something robust. Do you have anything like that?”

The man hesitated, studying Leo for a beat before nodding. “Maybe. Let me check the stockroom.”

As the owner turned to leave, Rubi’s fingers flew over the console’s controls. “There’s a secondary lock,” she murmured. “I need a key.”

Leo’s gaze followed the man as he moved toward the back, spotting the keychain clipped to his belt. “He’s carrying it?”

“Probably. Smaller shops don’t trust external access,” Rubi replied, her tone clipped but calm.

Leo exhaled slowly, his mind racing. Improvisation wasn’t ideal, but it was their only option. When the owner returned carrying a box, Leo’s expression brightened with forced enthusiasm.

“Perfect,” he said, stepping closer to the counter.

“I’ll open it for you,” the man offered, setting the box down and undoing the latch.

“Sure,” Leo replied, leaning forward as if interested. He glanced briefly at Rubi before turning his attention back to the man.

As the owner explained the contents, Leo timed his movement carefully. Reaching for one of the devices, he let it slip through his fingers, bumping the man’s shoulder in the process.

“Sorry!” Leo said quickly, steadying the owner with one hand. In the same motion, his other hand deftly unhooked the keychain and slipped it into his pocket.

The owner straightened, mildly annoyed but unsuspecting. “It’s fine,” he muttered, resuming his explanation.

Leo took a step back, his heart pounding, and discreetly passed the keychain to Rubi. “Do it now,” he whispered.

Rubi slotted the key into the console, her hands moving with precision as streams of data unlocked.

“Find anything interesting, miss?” the owner asked, glancing in her direction.

Rubi picked up a random module from the shelf, smiling faintly. “Yes. I was wondering if this integrates with home security systems.”

The owner frowned slightly but nodded. “Depends on the model. Want me to check?”

Before he could move closer, a soft chime signaled completion. Rubi deactivated the interface, removing the key and passing it back to Leo.

“Actually, this might be too complicated,” she said lightly, stepping away from the console.

Leo caught her meaning immediately. “Do you have something simpler?” he asked the owner, keeping his tone relaxed. “We might be overthinking this.”

The owner hesitated before nodding. “I’ll check the back again.”

As the owner disappeared into the back room, Rubi leaned close to Leo. “I’ve got the data, but we need to leave before he gets suspicious.”

Leo raised his voice, loud enough for the owner to hear. “You know, we should think it over and come back later!” His tone was casual, but his grip on Rubi’s arm was firm as he guided her toward the exit.

“Take your time,” the owner called after them, his tone neutral but with a faint edge of curiosity as they disappeared through the door.

Outside, Leo exhaled the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Rubi was already analyzing the data on her portable device, her fingers flying over the screen.

“Did you get it?” Leo asked, his voice tight.

“Yes,” Rubi said. But her expression shifted, her brows furrowing.

“What is it?” Leo asked, stepping closer.

Rubi turned the screen toward him, and his breath froze as the name pulsed on the display: Lead Engineer: Lucy.

His sister.

The name blinked back at him like an open wound, raw and unhealed. Lucy—his protector, his anchor in the chaos of their lives—was gone, but her presence lingered here, entwined with something dark and dangerous. What had she uncovered that had cost her life? The question burned, igniting a storm of grief and fury that surged through him. The Vanguard had silenced her, but they couldn’t erase her entirely. He would uncover the truth, not just to understand, but to ensure her death carried meaning.

He had always known Lucy carried burdens she never shared. Her silences, the way her eyes clouded when he asked too much, the tension in her voice when she brushed off his questions—it all came rushing back now, sharper than ever. She had kept secrets, yes, but this? This wasn’t the sister he’d known. The sister who had faced every hardship with quiet strength and unwavering resolve. This was something far darker, and he couldn’t let it remain hidden.

Rubi’s voice cut through the storm of his thoughts. “It’s not just her name.” She scrolled through the data, bringing up a detailed logistics report. “These records show regular shipments tied to her project. Materials, high-grade components... and they all link back to a place called Krynn Delivery Services.”

Leo stiffened at the name. “Krynn?” He repeated it like it was a bitter taste on his tongue. “I know that place. I used to work there.”

The realization hit him hard. Krynn wasn’t just another delivery service—it had always operated on the fringe of legality, with backroom deals and shipments that nobody questioned too closely. But this? This was bigger. This was personal. If Krynn was connected to Lucy, then it wasn’t just about her skills—it was about her life, entangled in whatever the Vanguard was planning.

“They’ve been hiding her work behind layers of operations,” Rubi said, her tone grim. “The Vanguard’s good at this—keeping things compartmentalized. But the amount of security on these files means her project is critical to them.”

Leo’s jaw tightened. His thoughts turned to Lucy—the little moments he had overlooked: the faint strain in her voice when she talked about her work, the late nights she brushed off with excuses, the flickers of doubt in her eyes she never explained.

What was she building? And why hadn’t she told him?

“I need to know why they killed her,” Leo said, his voice low but resolute. His hands curled into fists, the weight of his emotions pressing against his chest. “And I need to uncover what she was dragged into.”

“I get it, but we have to be careful,” Rubi said, her expression measured. “The Vanguard doesn’t leave loose ends. Whatever they were hiding—whatever your sister was involved in—it’s big enough to cost her life. And it’s dangerous enough to take ours if we’re not smart.”

Leo nodded slowly, the anger in his chest hardening into determination. “I’ll take you to Krynn,” he said. “We’ll start there. If they’re part of this, they’ll have answers.”

Rubi hesitated for a moment, her eyes scanning the street around them. The bustling noise of the Electronics District seemed to press in, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside Leo’s mind.

“Fine,” she said. “But we move carefully. No charging in without a plan.”

Leo didn’t respond immediately. His thoughts were already racing ahead—to Krynn, to Lucy, to whatever they might find. But one thing was certain: he couldn’t stop now. Whatever it took, he was going to uncover the truth.

“Let’s go,” he said finally, his voice steady despite the fire burning inside him.

As they disappeared into the chaos of the district, a sense of foreboding trailed behind them—an unshakable reminder that answers might come at a cost. Rubi walked with purpose, her gaze darting between her portable device and the surroundings. Leo, on the other hand, moved like a man possessed, his mind fixed on one thing: Lucy.