Chapter 16

Raze led Sparrow to the table where the other rebels were gathered, hunched over the blueprints of the Overseer's headquarters. The room was dimly lit, illuminated only by the flickering holographic projections and the faint glow of the monitors. The air was thick with cigarette smoke and the nervous energy of impending conflict.

"Alright, everyone," Raze announced, his voice a low, guttural murmur. "This is Sparrow. She used to work for the Overseer, but she's seen the light. She's going to help us plan our attack."

The rebels looked up, their faces a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. One of them, a burly woman with a shaved head and a cybernetic eye, scowled at Sparrow.

"An enforcer?" she growled, her voice rough and gravelly. "You expect us to trust an enforcer? They're all the same, power-hungry thugs who'll do anything for the Overseer."

"Easy, Bolt," Raze said, his voice firm but not unkind. "Sparrow's different. She's seen the truth. She's one of us now."

Bolt snorted, her cybernetic eye glinting in the dim light. "We'll see about that," she said. "I'm keeping my eye on you, enforcer."

Sparrow ignored Bolt's hostility and focused on the blueprints. She recognized the layout immediately, every corridor, every chamber, every security checkpoint etched into her memory.

"Where are we at with the plan?" she asked, her voice calm and professional.

"We're still working out the details," Raze said. "We know the general layout of the building, but we need more specific information. Security patrols, camera locations, access codes, that sort of thing."

"I can help with that," Sparrow said. "I know the building like the back of my hand. I can tell you everything you need to know."

She leaned over the blueprints and began to point out key locations and security vulnerabilities. She described the patrol routes of the security drones, the blind spots in the camera coverage, the hidden passages and secret entrances that only a select few knew about.

As she spoke, the rebels listened intently, their initial skepticism slowly giving way to respect. They realized that Sparrow wasn't just an enforcer, she was an expert, a valuable asset who could help them achieve their goals.

"What about the Overseer himself?" Raze asked. "Where is he usually located? What kind of security does he have?"

Sparrow hesitated for a moment, her mind racing. She knew that the Overseer was heavily guarded, protected by a team of elite soldiers and advanced security systems. Getting to him would be the most difficult part of the mission.

"He's usually in his private office on the top floor," she said. "It's the most heavily guarded area in the entire building. There are security checkpoints at every entrance, and the entire floor is monitored by surveillance cameras. He also has a personal bodyguard, a cybernetically enhanced warrior named…" she paused, the name catching in her throat, "…Colossus."

A hush fell over the room as Sparrow spoke the name. Colossus was a legend among the rebels, a fearsome warrior who had crushed countless uprisings and eliminated countless enemies of the Overseer. He was the Overseer's most loyal servant, his most trusted protector.

"Colossus," Bolt said, her voice laced with dread. "We can't possibly get past him. He's invincible."

"He's not invincible," Sparrow said, her voice firm and resolute. "He has weaknesses, just like everyone else. I know how to exploit those weaknesses. I know how to get past him."

"How?" Raze asked, his eyes narrowing. "Tell us."

Sparrow leaned closer to the blueprints, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Colossus is a machine," she said. "He's programmed to follow orders, to protect the Overseer at all costs. But he's not intelligent. He can be tricked, he can be manipulated. We just need to find the right way to do it."

She began to outline her plan, a daring and audacious scheme that involved exploiting Colossus's programming, bypassing the security systems, and infiltrating the Overseer's private office. It was a long shot, a desperate gamble, but it was their only chance.

As she spoke, the rebels listened intently, their faces a mixture of hope and trepidation. They knew that the mission was incredibly dangerous, that they were risking their lives for a cause that might be doomed to fail. But they were willing to take that risk, to fight for their freedom, to strike a blow against the Overseer's oppressive regime.

"Alright," Raze said finally, his voice filled with determination. "Let's do it. Let's take down the Overseer and free the Dome City."

The rebels cheered, their voices echoing through the dimly lit chamber. They were ready for war, ready to fight for their freedom, ready to risk everything for a chance at a better future.

But as Sparrow looked around at their faces, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, that something was missing. She sensed a subtle tension in the air, a hidden agenda that she couldn't quite put her finger on. She knew that the rebellion was not as united as it seemed, that there were factions and rivalries simmering beneath the surface.

She also knew that she was still an outsider, a newcomer who had yet to earn the full trust of the rebels. She had to prove herself, to show them that she was truly on their side, that she was willing to fight and die for their cause.

She took a deep breath and looked at Raze, her eyes filled with determination. "What's the next step?" she asked. "What do we need to do to prepare for the attack?"

Raze smiled, a rare and unsettling sight. "The next step," he said, "is to gather our forces, to arm ourselves, and to prepare for war. The Overseer won't know what hit him."

And with that, the rebels began to mobilize, their movements quick and purposeful, their faces etched with determination. Raze turned to Sparrow, his expression serious. "We need to arm ourselves," he said. "The Overseer's forces are heavily equipped. We can't fight them with rusty pipes and salvaged stun guns."

"Where are we going to get weapons?" Sparrow asked. "I doubt there's a rebel armory hidden somewhere down here."

Raze smirked. "Not exactly," he said. "But we have our ways. Come on, I'll show you."

He led Sparrow through a maze of tunnels, deeper into the underbelly of the Dome City. The tunnels became increasingly narrow and dilapidated, the air thick with the smell of decay and desperation. They passed by makeshift shelters, where families huddled together, their faces gaunt and weary. They passed by gambling dens and opium dens, where people sought escape from the harsh realities of their lives.

"This is the Scars," Raze explained, gesturing to the squalid surroundings. "It's the poorest and most forgotten sector of the city. The Overseer doesn't care about us down here. He leaves us to rot."

"But how does this help us get weapons?" Sparrow asked, her brow furrowed.

"Patience," Raze said. "We're almost there."

They reached a dead end, a crumbling wall blocking their path. Raze approached the wall and pressed a hidden switch, revealing a secret passage.

"Clever," Sparrow commented, impressed.

"We have a few tricks up our sleeves," Raze said with a grin.

They entered the passage, which led to a hidden chamber. The chamber was filled with crates and boxes, stacked high against the walls. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and oil.

"Welcome to our supply depot," Raze announced. "It's not much, but it's enough to get us started."

Sparrow looked around, her eyes widening in surprise. The chamber was filled with weapons and ammunition, salvaged from various sources. There were energy rifles, stun grenades, plasma pistols, and even a few heavy machine guns.

"Where did all this come from?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

"We've been collecting it for years," Raze said. "We raid the Overseer's convoys, we scavenge from abandoned military outposts, we even buy weapons from corrupt officials in the upper city."

"You buy weapons from the Overseer's own people?" Sparrow asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Everyone has a price," Raze said with a shrug. "Even the most loyal servants of the Overseer. Some of them are just looking for a way out, a way to make a quick buck before they disappear."

He led Sparrow to a table where a group of rebels were sorting through the weapons, cleaning them, and repairing them.

"We need to arm everyone," Raze said. "Make sure everyone has a weapon that they're comfortable with. And don't forget the ammunition. We're going to need a lot of it."

The rebels nodded and began to distribute the weapons, their movements quick and efficient. Sparrow watched them, her mind racing. She realized that the rebellion was far more organized and resourceful than she had imagined. They had been preparing for this moment for years, gathering weapons, recruiting soldiers, and planning their attack.

"What about armor?" Sparrow asked. "We're going to need armor if we want to survive a firefight with the Overseer's forces."

"Armor is a little harder to come by," Raze said. "But we have some. It's not the best, but it'll offer some protection."

He led Sparrow to another chamber, where a pile of salvaged armor was stacked against the wall. The armor was a patchwork of different materials, scavenged from various sources. There were pieces of military-grade body armor, riot gear, and even some makeshift armor made from scrap metal and plastic.

"It's not pretty," Raze said. "But it'll have to do."

He handed Sparrow a set of body armor, which was dented and scratched, but still functional. She put it on, feeling the weight of it on her shoulders.

"We also need medical supplies," Sparrow said. "We're going to need bandages, antiseptic, and painkillers."

"We have a medic," Raze said. "He's gathering the supplies now. He'll meet us at the staging area."

"Where's the staging area?" Sparrow asked.

"It's a hidden location near the Overseer's headquarters," Raze said. "We'll meet there before we launch the attack."

He paused and looked at Sparrow, his expression serious. "Are you ready for this?" he asked. "This is going to be a suicide mission. We're going to be facing overwhelming odds. Many of us won't make it out alive."

Sparrow looked at Raze, her eyes filled with determination. "I'm ready," she said. "I'm willing to risk everything to stop the Overseer and free the Dome City."

Raze nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Good," he said. "Then let's get moving. We have a lot of work to do."

And with that, Sparrow and Raze joined the other rebels, preparing for their desperate gamble, their fate hanging precariously in the balance. The scars of the city were a constant reminder of the oppression they were fighting against, and the hope for a better future fueled their determination.