The words hit harder than they should’ve. “You’re pretty mouthy for a personal assistant.”
“And you’re emotionally stunted for someone with such advanced neural architecture.” DITA’s avatar began to fade. “You don’t have much time.”
A pause. I thought she was gone. Then—
“You know why she ran, right?”
“Because she finally got smart and was scared of me.”
A negative buzzer sounded in my ear, DITA’s avatar looking annoyed.
Something I thought I’d lost a long time ago fluttered in my chest. “Because she was scared that what we had was real—and I’d choose POM over her anyway.”
DITA nodded. “Show her she was wrong.”
“I didn’t say I was going to—”
“You were never going to say it.” The avatar was almost gone now, her voice fading. “But we both know you will.”
As DITA vanished completely, my Vysor returned to normal function, tactical overlays reengaging. In the corner of my display, a small notification indicated a new encrypted file had been received. Route information, just as she’d promised.
“Cy?” Maddox again, sounding concerned now. “You went offline for a minute there.”
I exited the alley, looking up at the towering spires of the Tech District that loomed over Magenta’s decaying infrastructure. Rain plastered my blue hair to my forehead, washing away the blood from my knuckles.
I was opening myself up to more than just pain. I could lose everything I’d spent my whole life building. Stability, safety, control. But that fragile control I’d clung to shattered the moment she’d found me at The Blackout.
DITA was right. Humans were stupid—especially this one. Because if she was the light at the end of the tunnel, I’d follow her anywhere. Straight into hell.
She’d given me a taste, and there was no going back.
I’m coming for you, doll.
As I made my way back to HQ, DITA’s warning echoed in my head. An attack on the Magenta data center wouldn’t be like Green. It would cause catastrophic damage to the district that had been built on top of it.
This was the kind of data I’d normally report right away, but for now, I was going to hold those cards close.
The sleek corporate tower loomed ahead, its Stellarium pipes pulsing with pure white light—so different from the corrupt neon chaos of Magenta. Two worlds, separated by more than just distance.
I’d bridged that gap once, dragged from one reality into another.
It was time to fall from heaven.
And the crash could be catastrophic.
CHAPTER 57
CY
Maddox was already waiting outside Tex’s office, his broad frame looking almost too large for the sleek corporate hallway. He’d changed into a fresh uniform, immaculate as always, making my blood-spattered appearance all the more conspicuous.
“You couldn’t clean up first?” He kept his voice low, eyes flicking to the droplets of water and diluted blood I was tracking across the polished floor.
“Tex appreciates fieldwork,” I replied, running a hand through my wet, blue hair. I pushed open the door to Tex’s office.
“Cyanos,” he said, his voice as perfectly modulated as always. “You’re dripping on my floor.”
“Occupational hazard in this city, boss.” I moved to stand in front of his desk, deliberately avoiding the seating area. I needed to keep this brief.
