N-Tech Expo

The hum of the hover-car’s engine vibrated through the cabin as it glided over the sleek arterial highway toward the Capital. The sky, a muted shade of dusk, was streaked with the neon glow of high-rise billboards flashing advertisements for the latest augmentations, corporate-sponsored security services, and hyper-luxury apartments that most people would never afford.

A massive digital display flickered across the skyline.

“N-Tech Expo in four days. Capital City. The future begins here.”

CIX sat in the driver’s seat, his fingers drumming idly on the steering panel, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. The checkpoint of Central City was now behind them, and the open expanse of the highway stretched before them, a shimmering mirage of progress and control.

From the passenger seat, Vega exhaled, crossing her arms as she leaned back against the seat. “You know,” she mused, eyes scanning the dashboard, “for a Grade B agent, I expected your ride to be a little more… advanced.”

CIX scoffed, barely sparing her a glance. “This is a custom-tuned N-TB50. Complete with reinforced chassis, adaptive cloaking, neural-linked OS, and a built-in EMP shield. Way better than the crap Directorate issued ones.”

Vega smirked, tapping her fingers on the armrest. “Cute. But it’s still tow model generations behind. Mine is superior fitted with full spectral cloaking, anti-grav propulsion, dual plasma turrets, and a predictive AI-assisted piloting system. You’re basically driving a dinosaur CIX.”

CIX rolled his eyes. “Then why, pray tell, are we not using your ‘superior’ ride?”

Vega turned to him with a knowing grin. “Because your car’s outdated system won’t flag my credentials at the Capital’s security grid. This mission isn’t exactly sanctioned, and the last thing we need is me registering on every checkpoint log. You clearly don’t care about people knowing you were there.”

CIX grunted. “So what, we were supposed to walk?”

Vega chuckled. “Ever heard of rental cars?”

“…Okay, you got me there.”

Back at the safehouse, Tala stepped into the dimly lit room, finding Grayson still seated in front of a hovering blue projection. Grayson had been holed up in this room for a three days now dissecting the stolen archive files, unravelling hidden threads in the data.

Streams of data flickered across the room, their reflections casting faint glows on his sharp features. He barely acknowledged her entrance, waving his hand to dismiss the hologram.

Tala raised an eyebrow. “Still not any closer huh?”

Grayson exhaled through his nose, his usual composed demeanor replaced with something more intense.

“JAX, browse archive files. Search designation: ‘EIDOLON.’ Cross-reference with Musk Gen and related incidents.”

The AI’s voice crackled to life, smooth and calculated.

“Processing. Cross-referencing archived databases… scanning decentralized information hubs… query results: multiple references found. Displaying.”

The projection reignited, this time revealing fragmented reports, classified files, and corporate schematics marked with the red insignia of EIDOLON. Tala stepped closer, scanning the data as Grayson folded his arms.

“I found some connections to something called EIDOLON,” Grayson muttered, his jaw tightening. ‘I’m still not sure what it means, maybe it’s an organization or even a project….but for sure it is something that has been operating in the shadows for years. And I think it has something to do with the murders.”

Tala frowned. “What makes you say that?”

Before he could answer, JAX interrupted their conversation.

“Grayson, new lead identified: Dr. Elara Vance’s lab.”

“Project the latest findings.”

“Last known activity logs indicate unauthorized access to Dr. Elara Vance’s lab hours before her death. Footage suggests tampering with security systems.”

“Can you access the footage?”

“Negative. Remote access is restricted. Physical retrieval required.”

Grayson cursed under his breath. “JAX, send me the coordinates to the lab.”

Immediately, the projections shifted to a holographic map of the Capital and a red point appeared on the holographic city map.

Tala stepped in front of the hologram, gazing at Grayson. “By the way, I came to tell you that Venn has arrived.”

“Really.” Grayson flicked his hands as the projections disappeared. “What about Jarek and Mira?”

“Jarek arrived yesterday. He confirmed that the rest of the hired operatives were captured by Enforcers. Still no word on Mira and Renik, though. Maybe they were also captured.”

Grayson ran a hand through his hair, then turned to Tala. “I’ll be out in a minute. Let me shower and change. We’ve got a new mission.”

The drive to the Capital from Central City took four days at regulated speeds. They could’ve made it in three, but pushing the engine to its limits would have drained their power cells too quickly. Charging stations lined the main highways but stopping to recharge wasn’t an option —they couldn’t risk using their AIBI codes and flagging themselves in the system.

As they neared the Capital, the traffic thickened to an unnatural crawl. CIX peered through the windshield, frowning at the long line of vehicles snaking toward the checkpoint.

“What the hell’s with all this traffic?” Vega muttered, rolling down her window.

CIX’s sharp eyes scanned the rows of Enforcers patrolling the vehicles, checking passengers. Something felt… off.

He spotted one officer moving between cars—one of the few not wearing a full face-helmet. His short, dark hair was neatly cropped, and his striking green eyes carried a calculating edge.

CIX rolled down his window, flashing his holographic Grade B credentials. “Hey. I’m from the Central City precinct. What’s going on?”

The officer’s gaze flicked to the glowing badge, lips pressing into a firm line as he read.
"Kai-farr-rene CIXa…”

“Just CIX,” he corrected, used to people stumbling over his full name.

The Enforcer smirked. His voice carried a heavy English accent, crisp and deliberate. “Right then, CIX. Name’s Grant… Captain Grant.”

CIX nodded. “She’s Vega,” he gestured to his partner, who was still scanning the checkpoint. “Same precinct.”

Grant’s smirk didn’t waver. “Pleasure. Don’t worry, mate. It’s just standard procedure.”

CIX raised an eyebrow. “Standard? Come on, don’t feed me the same spiel you give the normies. You can level with a fellow Enforcer, can’t you?”

Grant chuckled, motioning them to follow. “Let these two through.”

Grant nodded toward a secured garage. As CIX guided the hover-car into the bay, he noticed a fleet of Enforcer-grade vehicles lined up—sleek, matte black, built for speed and enforcement.

“You haven’t heard the news, have you?” Grant asked, leaning against one of the hoods.

CIX shut off the engine. “Enlighten me.”

Grant leaned in slightly. “Towns near the Capital like Green City and Namidara got hit hard. Coordinated raids targeting major tech firms. Just yesterday, one of Constantine Tech’s subsidiaries was ransacked.”

CIX stepped out of the car. “By who?”

Grant hesitated before lowering his voice. “Witnesses claim the attackers wore black masks… with white eyes.”

Vega’s eyes narrowed. “White eyes?”

Grant nodded. “Yeah. Like… the cutout where the eye should be. Solid white. Looked like something straight out of an old comic book.”

A cold knot twisted in CIX’s stomach.

Vega rested a hand near her holster. “You got surveillance footage?”

Grant smirked. “We’re still analyzing it. But it’s not just the attacks. People are going missing. No bodies. No traces. Just…poof. Gone in the wind.”

Silence hung between them.

Something big was happening in the shadows of the Capital.

CIX signed his vehicle into the system, a sleek holographic interface displaying his credentials before logging the car into the Capital’s precinct database. Vega leaned against the hood, watching as Grant pulled up a holo-display.

“By the way, Grant. Is there like a map of the Capital? I’ve been trying to log onto the Network database but it's not responding.” CIX said.

"After the raids, we changed the bloody codes. Only Capital Enforcers and high-ups can access ‘em now." Grant said. “But…there is an official map down at the N-tech building. I can go take a holo-picture of it."

“Nah, it’s fine. I want to catch the Expo anyway. We’ll see it on the way.”

Grant chuckled, his rigid stance relaxing slightly.

“You’re into bikes are you?”

CIX grinned. “Who isn’t?

Vega tried to volunteer to answer the question but she didn’t want to kill the vibe.

“Follow me. I wanna show you something,” Grant said.

They got to a single parking space where a sleek black hoverbike with luminescent accents along its aerodynamic body stood proudly.

“She’s a beauty, the C-TEX-9R,” Grant said, voice laced with pride. “Latest model. Fully AIBI-synced, adaptive suspension, gravitational stabilization. I was in a car chase last week and it was bloody fast, it’s like I was floating.”

CIX’s eyes gleamed touching the bike. “Woah, fucking awesome. I want to see it in action.”

Vega sighed, rubbing her temples. “Unfortunately, we’re on a time-sensitive mission, CIX.”

“ Well, when you're done. Come take it for a spin,” Grant offered.

As they walked toward N-Tech HQ, Vega glanced at him. “Didn’t know you were into bikes.”

CIX shrugged. “A machine that lets you move fast, feel free, and defy gravity? What’s not to love?”

Vega chuckled. “Who knew it would take us driving to the Capital to get to know more about you.”

“Well, you never asked.” CIX grinned. “We’ve got time now. What do you wanna know?”

Vega tapped her chin dramatically. “Hmm… how about… your brother’s name?”

CIX hesitated. “Graypharene.”

“What!” Vega burst out laughing. “Man, your mom was wild with those names.”

For a moment, CIX laughed too. “Yeah…she was definitely on something.”

She noticed CIX’s expression change to a frown suddenly.

Vega sobered. “I hope I didn’t offend you...”

“Nah,” CIX interrupted. “Just made me think about my brother.”

The streets leading to the N-Tech HQ were packed with people, the entrance swarming with eager visitors waiting for the Expo to open.

CIX and Vega moved through the crowd, their pace brisk.

“I took my Grade A Exam here last year, you know,” she said, almost offhandedly.

CIX raised an eyebrow. “Here in the Capital?”

Vega nodded. “I was a Grade B agent for only two years before the Director recommended me for the test.”

CIX frowned. “Wait, Hale? She’s the one who has to recommend you?

Vega nodded. “Only City Directors can approve a Grade B agent for the A-Grade Exams.”

CIX mulled over that. He’d been a Grade B agent for five years, yet he had never received a recommendation. He couldn’t help but think that maybe it was personal.

Vega, as if reading his mind, studied him. “You’re one of the best Grade B agents I’ve seen. I don’t get why she hasn’t recommended you.”

“Unfortunately, I’m used to disappointing the director.”

“What does that mean, CIX?”

He let the silence stretch, but Vega didn’t press. Instead, he exhaled and forced a grin.

“Come on. Expo’s waiting.”