A Capital Assignment

Director Lyssa Hale sat in her office, absentmindedly chewing her mint gum as she stared at the holographic interface hovering above her desk. The faint glow reflected in her eyes as a soft chime pulsed through the air as her AI, SALA activated.

"Director, two figures approaching. CIX and Vega."

Hale exhaled, rolling the gum over her tongue. "Let them in, SALA. Activate soundproofing."

A faint hum resonated through the room as the walls subtly shifted, locking out any potential surveillance. The door slid open with a hiss as Agents CIX and Vega stepped in. Vega went in first, dropping into a chair while CIX remained standing , his arms crossed.

“Director, you called for us?” Vega asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes.” Hale’s gaze flicked between them. “I need to send both of you on an assignment.”

Vega smirked. “To where?”

“To a lab in the Capital.”

CIX frowned. “The Capital? Is this about the murders?”

Hale’s jaw tensed. “I’m not sure yet.”

Vega leaned forward, intrigued. “And this lab? Who does it belong to?”

Hale hesitated for only a second. “Doctor Elara Vance.”

CIX stiffened. “The scientist murdered six months ago? I thought you said you weren’t sure. What are you not telling us director?”

Hale spun in her chair for a moment, then popped her gum and stood up.

“Fine,” she said, starting to throw the gum on the floor. A vacuum bot came to clean it up instantly.

“We may have been compromised A few months ago, during the precinct attack, someone stole an Encrypter key from my office. That key was later used to breach the classified Archive Files at the Nihlus Plant facility…”

“Wait…” CIX interrupted. “What are the archive files?”

“They have everything that has been collected since the first Integration. Basically, any classified information the Network has deemed too dangerous for public knowledge,” Vega answered, her smirk fading.

“Well…more or less,” Hale added. “Anyway, these files were stolen by three suspects and taken somewhere in the lower districts.”

“And you need us to recover them?” CIX asked.

“No,” Hale answered. “We have countless of backup archive files, it’s fine. What’s important is the information in the files.”

Vega leaned forward, intrigued. “And this lab is where the files lead to?”

“Yes and No. The Council is withholding information and I can’t trust the internal channels to get me what I need. That’s where you two come in.”

CIX let out a slow breath, finally sitting beside Vega. “Okay…but there’s one problem. I don’t have clearance to access a lab that is tied to an open investigation in the Capital.”

“I’m aware, Agent CIX,” Hale said smoothly. “That’s why you’re getting an A-Grade Temporary Certificate.”

Her irises briefly flickered with a soft blue glow as she interfaced with Sala.

“SALA, send Agent CIX the certificate.”

A notification blinked in CIX’s neural display, his AI DAX processing the immediate system upgrade.

“There.” Hale folded her arms. “With that, you should be able to bypass most of the security barriers in the Capital. But the lab itself is hidden. There’s no official record of its location, only that it exists. You’ll have to find it yourselves.”

CIX exhaled sharply, glancing at Vega. “This is big, isn’t it?”

“Bigger than I can afford to let slip through my fingers,” Hale said, her tone softened slightly. She leaned on her desk, looking at them both.

“I chose you two because I trust you. This is too important to mess up. Do not…under any circumstances try to contact me. This is not an official sanctioned operation. If something goes wrong…”

“You need deniability,” CIX finished, nodding.

"Exactly."

Vega grinned. “I like the sound of that. We’ll leave immediately.”

"Not yet." Hale held up a hand. "Wait until after the Integration Procedure begins. Leaving now will be suspicious. Just sign in at the hubs and then leave. I’ll cover for you for as long as I can, but if this goes south…" She hesitated. "Just be careful."

CIX nodded. "Understood."

"SALA, open the door."

The streets of the Central city glowed under the artificial sky, neon circuits pulsing in veins beneath the pavement like veins carrying lifeblood through a city of steel and light. Sleek, towering structures framed the skyline, their glass surfaces reflecting the vibrant hues of passing hovercrafts.

Along the district’s main avenue stood the Integration Hubs—pristine facilities encased in crystalline glass. It was here that the AIBI Integration took place, a process that had become the foundation of society’s stability.

The AI-Integrated Behavioral Implant (AIBI) was the most sophisticated security advancement of the century—a neuro-synthetic system embedded into the human brain to ensure one absolute function:

No human could take the life of another.

The process had been refined over seven decades, merging cognitive conditioning with biochemical regulators. Unlike primitive cybernetic implants, AIBI didn't just inhibit violent behavior; it rewired the very neurological pathways that triggered homicidal intent. The neuro-lattice, constructed from quantum synapses, formed an unbreakable barrier, blocking impulses before they could become action.

However, the window for successful integration was limited. The human brain needed to be at a developmental stage where neuroplasticity was still flexible—but not too mature for resistance to set in. Extensive research determined the optimal age range to be between 12 and 18 years old.

For most, the process was seamless. For others… well, there were rumors. Some resisted. And those who did? No one really talked about them."

CIX and Vega stood near the entrance of the Hub, observing as civilians and children entered in organized lines. Among them, CIX’s gaze landed on a small boy clutching his mother’s hand. His entire body trembled, his teeth rattling audibly.

The tag on his wrist identified him: Xander Vasquez. Age: 13.

CIX knelt beside him, lowering his voice. "Hey, little man. What’s going on?"

Xander hesitated before whispering, "Will it hurt?"

CIX shook his head. "No. You won’t feel a thing. They’ll put you to sleep, and when you wake up…" He smiled. "You’ll have a new friend."

Xander’s eyes widened slightly. "A friend?"

"Yep." CIX ruffled the boy’s hair. "Your own AI partner."

The excitement faded almost instantly. Xander looked down. "I… I’m not good at making friends. "

CIX’s chest tightened slightly. "That’s not true. I’m your friend."

The boy hesitated, then whispered, "What if my AI doesn’t like me?"

"That’s not gonna happen," CIX assured him. “But tell you what…let’s think of a really cool name for your new friend. Got any ideas?”

Xander tapped his chin. "Hmmm… What about Alex?"

CIX grinned. "Alex? That’s… a really cool name.”

"You think so?"

"Of course! Right, Mom?" He looked up at the woman beside him. She nodded, smiling softly.

"Next!" The guard at the Hub entrance called out.

CIX stood, giving the boy a small nod. "You’re up, buddy."

Xander hesitated, then turned. "Mister? Will you wait for me when I come back so you can meet Alex?"

CIX hesitated, glancing at Vega. He sighed. "I don’t think so, kid. I have an important mission. But I promise I’ll visit when I return, okay?"

Xander bit his lip before nodding. "Okay." He took a step, then turned back. "Hey! By the way—my name’s Xander. What’s yours?"

CIX chuckled. "Nice to meet you, Xander. My name is CIX."

“CIX…cool,” Xander said before stepping into the hub.

CIX watched as the doors sealed behind him, lost in thought. He remembered his own first time—how scared he had been. His mother was an official so she was busy to take him. But he wasn’t alone, because his older brother went with him. He was only two years older but he was braver. His brother even waited for CIX to turn twelve, so they could both go through the procedure together. His brother had given him a lopsided grin that day, squeezing his hand.

“Don’t worry, C. I’ll go first, so you don’t freak out too much,” he said.

A sudden tap on his shoulder jolted him back.

"CIX," Vega said, her voice softer than usual. "It’s time. Let’s go."

CIX exhaled. Right. The mission.