The safehouse in Sector 9 was little more than a crumbling apartment block on the edge of the city. Its windows were boarded up, the air thick with the smell of rust and old rain. Somewhere nearby, a stray dog barked, then fell silent.
The three of them moved through the narrow alley in formation — Ava ahead, scanning for threats; Jack covering the rear; Leo in the middle, holding the small satchel where the drive would be stored.
Sector 9 was a ghost district, abandoned after the factories shut down years ago. The perfect place for the academy to stash something it didn't want found.
"This place feels wrong," Ava murmured as they approached the door.
Jack gave a low chuckle. "Everything feels wrong to you."
"Maybe that's why I'm still alive," she shot back.
Leo pushed the door open. The hinges creaked loud enough to make them all wince. Inside, the apartment was dim, lit only by pale daylight leaking through cracks in the boards. Dust floated in the air like lazy snow.
According to the mission file, the drive was in a wall safe hidden behind a false panel. It took Ava less than a minute to find it — she knelt, pried the panel loose, and spun the safe's dial with sure, practiced fingers.
The safe door swung open. Inside, a small silver case sat waiting.
"That's it?" Jack muttered. "All this trouble for a metal box?"
Leo reached for it — and that's when the sound of boots echoed in the hallway.
---
Ava swore under her breath. "We've got company."
The door burst open, and four armed men in tactical gear flooded in. Their weapons weren't standard academy issue.
Jack's eyes narrowed. "These aren't our people."
The firefight was instant. Bullets splintered the rotting walls, the air filled with the deafening crack of gunfire. Leo dove behind an overturned table, clutching the silver case to his chest. Ava returned fire with sharp precision, dropping one of the intruders.
Jack moved like a blade, smooth and deadly, but even he was forced back by the sheer volume of fire.
"Eleanor didn't say anything about this!" Leo shouted over the chaos.
"Exactly," Ava said, ducking as a bullet grazed the wall beside her. "Which means this was a setup."
---
They fought their way to the back of the apartment, forcing open a door that led to a narrow stairwell. The building shook as an explosion ripped through the front entrance.
Leo stumbled, nearly losing his grip on the case. Ava grabbed his arm, pulling him up the stairs two at a time. Jack followed, covering them with bursts from his rifle.
On the rooftop, the rain had started, cold and sharp against their faces. The drop to the street below was three stories.
"We jump," Jack said.
"You first," Ava replied.
One by one, they hit the street and kept running, weaving through the maze of alleys until the gunfire faded behind them.
---
They didn't stop until they were miles away, crouched in the dark corner of an abandoned warehouse. Leo set the case on the floor.
Ava gave him a look. "Open it."
Inside, instead of the expected encrypted drive, there was a single black envelope. No markings, no seal — just Leo's name written in block letters.
His stomach tightened. He tore it open and slid out a single sheet of paper.
It read:
We know who you are.
---
Jack frowned. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Leo didn't answer. He couldn't. Because somewhere in the back of his mind, he heard the voice from Eleanor's office again: Make sure he's ready when the time comes.
---
Back at the academy, Eleanor was waiting in the debriefing room. Her expression didn't change when they handed her the case — but her eyes flicked to Leo, just for a second too long.
"You completed the mission," she said. "That's all that matters."
Ava crossed her arms. "What about the ambush?"
Eleanor's voice was cool. "Not all missions go as planned."
Leo opened his mouth to speak, but Eleanor's gaze silenced him. Whatever this was, she knew more than she was telling — and for now, he'd have to play along.