The Zenith facility's dim corridors pulsed with the hum of unseen machinery as Alex Mercer slipped through a maintenance hatch, his stolen drive heavy in his pocket. The files he'd siphoned—Control Grid, Subject AM-17, Memory Suppression—burned in his mind, each a shard of a truth Zenith had buried. Fae's note, tucked beneath his bunk, whispered louder: They've taken your mind, kid. Remember who you are. A memory flash hit—a neon city, a collapsing shield, a woman's voice shouting "Hold it!"—fading before he could grasp it. His head throbbed, but he pressed on, driven by the need to know.
Huei waited in a shadowed alcove, her holo-device casting a faint glow across her sharp features. "You're late," she whispered, her eyes scanning for patrols. "Shvery's sniffing around—caught him near the server room after you left."
Alex's jaw tightened. Shvery's distrust was a growing threat, but Huei's alliance was a lifeline. "He didn't see me," he said, handing her the drive. "Can you crack these?"
She plugged it in, her fingers a blur. "Encrypted, military-grade. Give me a minute." Her voice held a mix of caution and excitement, like she thrived on the edge.
They crouched in silence, the facility's sterile air heavy. Another flash struck—gunfire, a man's bloodied face, "You're our edge!"—and Alex gripped the wall, steadying himself. Huei's gaze flicked to him, concern breaking her focus. "You're getting worse, aren't you? Those… moments."
He nodded, the truth spilling out. "Flashes—memories, maybe. I don't know what's real. You sure Zenith's clean?"
Her lips thinned. "They're not. I've seen files vanish, operatives reassigned overnight. You're not the only one they're watching."
The holo-device beeped, a file unlocking. A holo flickered—schematics of the neural relay, linked to a "Control Grid" spanning cities. Another file: "Subject AM-17, Neural Reprogramming—95% Stability." A grainy image showed Alex, unconscious, wired to a rig. His blood ran cold. "That's me."
Huei's eyes widened. "They're rewriting people—minds, memories. You're their test case."
"For what?" he demanded, voice low but fierce.
She scrolled deeper, a classified memo flashing: Control Grid Phase 1: Shenzhen Deployment. AM-17 to lead. "They're using you to roll it out," she said, horrified. "The relay—it's not just tech. It's control."
A flash hit harder—a tower in flames, a woman with auburn hair, "They're taking it!"—and Alex staggered, catching himself. "Fae," he whispered, the name slipping free. Huei froze, but before she could ask, boots echoed nearby.
"Hide!" she hissed, yanking the drive. They ducked behind a crate as Shvery's hulking frame appeared, his rifle slung but eyes sharp. "I know you're skulking, Mercer," he called, voice a low growl. "Carlton won't like this."
Alex held his breath, Huei's hand steadying him. Shvery lingered, then moved on, his steps fading. "Too close," Huei muttered, pocketing the drive. "We need a safer spot to dig."
"Tomorrow," Alex agreed, heart pounding. "After the op."
Back in his quarters, sleep eluded him. The files confirmed Fae's warning—Zenith had stolen his mind, turned him into their weapon. But who was he before? The flashes—battles, allies, a city called New Haven—felt like a life he'd lived, not dreamed. He clutched Fae's note, its scrawl a tether to sanity.
Morning brought Carlton's briefing, the team gathered in the sterile debrief room. His gray eyes were unreadable. "XinTech's scientist, Dr. Lin—mastermind behind their relay. We eliminate her tonight, cripple their retaliation. Mercer, you're point."
Alex nodded, but his mind was on the files. Dr. Lin might know more about the relay—about him. Huei's gaze met his, a silent vow to keep digging. Shvery's stare burned, his bandage fresh but his suspicion sharper.
"Gear up," Carlton said, dismissing them. As Alex passed, Carlton's hand gripped his arm. "Med bay after the op—no excuses. You're slipping."
"Understood," Alex replied, masking his unease. Carlton's concern felt like a leash.
In the armory, Huei slipped him a micro-comm. "For later—encrypted. We'll crack the rest of those files."
"Thanks," he said, her trust a rare anchor. Shvery watched from across the room, cleaning his rifle with deliberate slowness. "Problem?" Alex called, testing him.
"You tell me," Shvery shot back, his voice a challenge. "Sneaky types don't last."
"Enough," Huei snapped, defusing it. But the tension lingered, a storm brewing.
As they loaded the transport, Shenzhen's neon haze loomed outside, its pulse syncing with Alex's racing heart. The op was a kill mission, but Dr. Lin was a lead—maybe a way to the truth. Fae's note, hidden in his gear, was a spark he couldn't ignore. Another flash hit—a woman's smirk, a blade flashing, "Kid, you're in deep." He shook it off, gripping his staff.
The transport hummed, carrying them toward Dr. Lin's safehouse. Alex's eyes met Huei's, her nod a promise. Shvery's glare followed, a warning. Carlton's silence was heaviest, his trust a question mark. The relay's purpose, Zenith's lies, his own mind—all were pieces of a puzzle he'd solve, no matter the cost.
As the city blurred past, Alex steeled himself. Dr. Lin was the next step, but Zenith was the enemy. He'd play their game—until he broke it.