The Data Heist

After the heated arguments and Azael’s chilling presence left Solace, the tension slowly began to fade. People retreated into their corners, processing what had happened. Some stared blankly into the distance, lost in thought, while others withdrew completely into themselves.

Riven, Luna, Travis, Mat, Seraphis, and I gathered to discuss the events of the day. Seraphis, his voice more serious than before, spoke first.

“You’ve all seen it. The people are consumed by fear and hopelessness. We need to act, but rushing into a decision would be reckless. We can’t move without a solid plan to reach the Fate Tower.”

Riven crossed his arms and leaned back. “The real issue is whether we even have time to make a plan. Orbis is tightening its grip, and we’re running out of time.”

Luna let out a short huff. “Do you think we don’t know that? But if we rush and get caught, we’ll be putting everyone in Solace at risk.”

Just as Riven and Luna were on the verge of another argument, the heavy creak of the door echoed through the room, and Nihilos entered.

His presence immediately shifted the atmosphere. A wave of silence settled over the room, quieting even the tension between Riven and Luna. We all turned to look at him. His posture was as relaxed as ever, but the sharpness in his eyes and the ghost of a smirk on his lips carried a different energy this time.

“We found a way in,” Nihilos said without unnecessary elaboration. “We move tonight.”

Seraphis furrowed his brows slightly. “Where?”

Nihilos, in his usual nonchalant tone, continued. “One of Orbis’ data centers. As you know, when the system erases someone, they are meant to be completely forgotten. But there’s a theory. Even when we’re erased, the data isn’t entirely destroyed, just locked away.”

I spoke up. “So, if we can recover that data, we might be able to learn more about those who were erased? Maybe even find a way to bring them back?”

Nihilos nodded. “Exactly. And if we succeed, we might also find a path to the Fate Tower.”

Luna crossed her arms tightly, her voice calm but wary. “But those data centers are heavily guarded. The Silver Guardians will be there.”

Nihilos smirked. “That’s why we move silently. If we engage in direct combat, we lose.”

Travis and Mat joined the conversation. Travis, as indifferent as ever, asked, “What’s our role?”

Nihilos looked at each of us, laying out the plan step by step:

A heavy sense of seriousness settled over the room. This wasn’t just another escape attempt, this operation had the potential to change everything. Or to destroy everything.

For the first time, I found myself at the very center of an operation. A part of me was gripped by fear, but another part of me accepted it. If all these people were fighting in the depths of despair, then I had to fight too.

We exchanged glances, the weight of our decisions pressing down on us. Finally, Seraphis took a deep breath and broke the silence.

“Alright. We move tonight.”

The weight of the mission settled upon us. Nothing was certain. But one thing was clear—we couldn’t turn back now.

                                                                                   ***

As Orbis’ artificial stars shimmered in the night sky, we moved under the cover of darkness. The Silver Guardians were on patrol, silently but carefully circling the city’s data center.

After leaving Solace, we halted at the designated point. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the safest way in. Riven, Luna, and Travis analyzed the movements of the patrolling guards ahead, while Mat observed from a higher vantage point using his telescopic visor.

Nihilos’ voice crackled through the earpiece:

“We can’t afford mistakes. Be silent and fast.”

All eyes turned to me. The first move was mine. By activating the Zenith Rings, I was to create a breach in the data center’s energy barrier. Clenching my fists, I focused my thoughts on the rings.

A faint vibration pulsed at my fingertips. An energy surge coursed through my body, radiating through my veins before materializing into visible ripples in the air. The rings glowed, crackling lightly with energy as they made contact with the data center’s barrier.

“Hurry up, Haru,” Riven’s voice echoed in my ear.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to control the energy flow. The barrier’s surface quivered, distorting like ripples on water. Light refracted unevenly, creating a shimmering effect. Suddenly, a dark fissure formed at the center, appearing like an endless void. The passage to the system’s core crackled with electrical sparks, expanding as it pulled in surrounding light, distorting the air around it. A weight pressed against our minds, as if something unknown lurked beyond this gateway.

“All right! Go now!” I whispered urgently.

Nihilos was the first to step through the dark breach. Luna, Riven, and I followed close behind.

                                                                                ***

Fate Eye Data Center

The moment we stepped inside, an eerie chill crawled over us. Everything seemed to be operating in perfect harmony, yet a deafening artificial silence filled the space. Blue holographic screens displayed ever-changing streams of data, while cables hanging from the ceiling slithered across the metal floor like serpents. The entire facility was sterile, clean, yet disturbingly lifeless.

We hadn’t been detected yet, but it felt as if the building itself was watching us. The AI-driven surveillance systems were inactive, yet an unsettling feeling gnawed at me. Could a facility of this magnitude truly be this silent? Something felt off.

Nihilos moved toward a data terminal. Placing his fingers on the holographic screen, he began infiltrating Orbis’ data streams. The screens flickered to life, displaying cascading lines of code. The erratic flashing of warning lights indicated that the system was resisting but slowly giving way.

Suddenly, the terminal trembled, reacting as if it were alive. "These records are buried deep… No ordinary person could access them," Nihilos muttered, fingers dancing across the interface as he bypassed layers of security encryption. Symbols, fluctuating data, and red warning windows flickered across the screen.

Something was definitely wrong. The system’s responses were erratic, it was as if it was on the verge of detecting us.

Then, Nihilos’ eyes lit up. "Got it. I think I found the restricted archive."

He swiftly pulled a small metallic device from his belt. Symbols flickered across its surface as it emitted a faint blue glow, syncing with the terminal. "These security protocols are ridiculously complex. Orbis has stacked encryption upon encryption to lock away the past. But… there’s a way to bypass it."

The device pulsed, sending out a ripple that momentarily destabilized the system’s encryption. "If I can manipulate the data flow here, I can unlock the archive’s gatekeeping protocols," Nihilos said, rapidly altering the symbols in the system’s algorithm.

The screen’s data streams accelerated, red warning signals flashing one after another. Nihilos hesitated. "Damn it… Something’s wrong. The system is actively resisting."

Quickly, he retrieved a small, disc-shaped tool and magnetically attached it to the terminal. "This data packet is too massive, I can’t download it directly. The system is correcting its encryption errors faster than I can break them. But I’ll race against it."

A soft purple glow emitted from the device, merging with the cascading lines of code on the screen. "Transfer initiated. But it’ll take a few minutes. We can’t hold this position for long." Sweat formed on Nihilos’ forehead as his fingers flew over the controls.

Meanwhile, a creeping unease settled over me. A sensation I couldn’t name, a pulse, fleeting like lightning yet as insidious as a shadow.

A warning blared through the radio. Travis’ panicked voice crackled through the static:

"I think we’ve been spotted! The patrols outside are suddenly shifting!"

Riven immediately turned to Nihilos. "How much time do you need?"

Still working, Nihilos grimaced. "Three more minutes…"

But three minutes was an eternity. The Silver Guardians were mobilizing.

Before we could react, an alarm erupted, shrieking through the facility. A metallic grinding sound was followed by a high-pitched whine. The walls trembled as crimson emergency lights blazed, pulsing ominously.

The holographic screens flickered like a glitched film reel before being overrun with warning messages: "UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED! SECURITY PROTOCOL ENGAGED!"

A static charge crackled in the air, as if the building itself was trying to fight back. The underground generators hummed to life, and from the side panels of the terminal, automated security drones deployed.

Riven instinctively reached for his weapon. Nihilos, still locked in his hacking attempt, muttered, "This shouldn’t have triggered so quickly…"

Then, on the central terminal’s main screen, a name flashed in bold letters:

Haru Akihara – Unidentified Entity.

My heart nearly stopped. They… recognized me!?

Seraphis’ voice cut through the static of our radios. "Damn it, what’s our next move? Hurry! I’m routing you an escape path, but you don’t have much time!"

Footsteps echoed from beyond the door. First measured and controlled, then accelerating into a frantic rhythm. Heavy boots thudded against steel floors, each step a chilling announcement of their approach.

Then, suddenly… they stopped.

A beat of silence… then a mechanical beep.

The door’s locking mechanism engaged. But was it sealing us in, or granting someone access?

The cold breath of imminent danger filled the air.

They had finally found us.