The old community center had seen better days. Its walls were marked with water stains, and the ceiling panels had long since surrendered to gravity in several places. But it still had power most days, and the basement level was shielded from surveillance drones, something that rarely ever happened anymore.
Tera sat at a makeshift table constructed from salvaged shipping crates, surrounded by what remained of the Returners' inner circle. The raid on the Luminex facility had cost them dearly. Three members captured, two more disappeared into hiding, and their equipment stockpile severely depleted, not to mention putting them on high alert.
"So that's where we stand," she concluded, looking at the grim faces around her. "The vote failed. My sister and her allies have been moved to a limited server. And Luminex has doubled security at all physical locations."
Omega, his face gaunt from days without proper sleep, ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "Then we're finished."
"No," Tera said firmly. "We've lost a battle, not the war."
Rivera scoffed. "Pretty decisive battle. They know our faces now, our tactics. And we have no way to reach your sister or the others inside Zenith."
Tera pulled out the small data chip her father had given her. "Maybe we do."
She plugged the ancient technology into their makeshift terminal. For a moment, nothing happened, the system struggling to recognize the outdated format. Then the screen flickered to life, displaying file directories that hadn't been accessed in decades.
"What is this?" Omega asked, leaning forward.
"My grandfather's research, I thought it was all gone" Tera said. "He was one of the early pioneers in neural interface technology, before Luminex monopolised everything, getting even the governments' agreement."
Files appeared on screen: schematics, code fragments, research notes. Most were corrupted or incomplete, but one folder remained intact, labeled simply "BACKDOOR."
"Before the Collapse, before Luminex trademarked the upload technology, there were competing projects," Tera continued, opening the folder. "Different approaches to digital consciousness transfer. My grandfather believed the technology should be available to everyone, not only the richest."
The files revealed detailed technical specifications for an alternative upload protocol, one designed to interface with even the most basic neural networks.
"This feels ancient, we came a long way," Omega said, studying the code. "But the underlying principles are still valid. He was building a system that could interface with any platform."
"Including Zenith?" Rivera asked, a hint of hope creeping into her voice.
"In theory." Tera confirmed. "But we'd need to update it significantly, adapt it to current systems."
"And we'd need serious computing power," Omega added. "More than we can scrape together with salvaged tech."
Tera nodded, her mind already racing ahead. "That's why we need new allies. And I know where to find them."
She pulled up a map of the city on their terminal, highlighting an area in the mid-tier district. "The University research lab. Dr. Eliot Chen."
Omega's eyes widened. "The quantum computing specialist? He works for Luminex subsidiaries."
Yes, Eliot has direct access to advanced computing resources, and according to my sources, although he has shown no tendency to rebel against the company, he has been spending time on uncovering his father's disappearance."
"How do you know this?" Rivera asked skeptically.
"We've been watching everyone who had ex-family members working on the Zenith project, not to mention those who are still at the company" Tera admitted.
She stood up, a new determination in her stance. "We need his help, and he'll need access to this data. With a proper quantum system, we might be able to establish a connection to the limited server."
"And then what?" Omega asked.
"Then we coordinate—inside and outside. If Zac Voss is half as influential as he claimed, he might still have assets we can leverage in the physical world. And the knowledge in the limited server, all those minds Luminex tried to silence could be our greatest weapon."
Rivera shook her head. "You're talking about infiltrating a Luminex-affiliated lab with the highest security in the area. How do we even get to this Dr. Chen?"
Tera pulled out a small envelope. "With this."
Inside was a University ID badge—not a forgery, but a genuine credential identifying her as a research assistant.
"I've been planning this for months," she explained. "Established the identity, built the background. As far as the University systems are concerned, I'm a promising PhD candidate in computational neuroscience who started last term."
Omega looked impressed despite his exhaustion. "What about your parents? They need you."
Tera's expression flickered with momentary pain. "I dropped off a month's worth of supplies and medicine yesterday. And I've asked our neighbour to check on them daily." A tear dropped from her eyes. "They're exactly why we can't stop now. My father's condition is worse. My mother's condition is also worsening. The rationing is getting stricter. The power outages are getting more frequent."
She looked around at the remnants of her team. "We need more than just a raid or a protest now. We need a revolution in the system itself. And for that, we need Dr. Chen."