In a high-rise tower in Sector 22, Valora Tren stood by a panoramic window, her arms crossed tightly as the wind tugged at the edge of her coat. Her dark suit blended into the shadows, while behind her, flickering monitors displayed a grid map of Neo-Lagos. One zone glowed brighter than the rest—Sector 18.
"Power grids, smart shelters, food drops," said Wolfe, her lead analyst. "He's building faster than projections. His civilian approval rating jumped by 12% in just two weeks."
Valora's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then we slow him down. Make the people question his success. Pressure cracks everything eventually."
Wolfe nodded. "Drone strike?"
"No. Too direct," Valora said. "Sabotage. A fire. Make it look like an internal fault. People fear failure more than force."
She turned to the room's far wall. A massive, broken NovaCore crest hung crooked—her former employer. Her exile didn't dim her desire for control. It sharpened it.
"Send a remote unit to target his food depot. Keep it clean. Minimal signature."
Back in Sector 18, the sun had barely risen when alarms blared through the Command Center.
ALERT: Depot Fire – Food Supply C
Cause: Unknown
Damage: 63%
Thick black smoke curled into the sky above the southern sector. Emergency drones zipped toward it as water cannons fired. Jaden sat frozen, reading the report on a floating screen.
Carl rushed in. "We think it was faulty wiring. Maybe a battery overload—"
"No," Jaden interrupted, eyes narrowing. "It wasn't. Too clean. Too perfect. This was a message."
System Prompt: Defensive Blueprints Recommended
– Auto-Turret Nest (Tier 1)
– Fire Damping Towers
– Internal Network Logger (Beta)
He tapped his console. "Build fire towers around all major storage areas. Limit access to blueprints — Lyra and me only."
The system glowed in response. Jaden felt the pressure creeping in again — public fear was harder to extinguish than flames.
As firefighters worked, whispers began to spread across Sector 18. A few vendors paused deliveries. A mother from Shelter Block B asked if the city was "safe anymore."
Jaden heard every voice. He stored every question.
And still, he moved forward.
That same evening, a figure waited at the edge of the city's outer gate.
Dani Rivera, once NovaCore's chief mechanical systems designer, now an exile. Her dark coat was worn, but her posture was firm.
A voice spoke from the gate's security drone. "State your business."
She lifted her badge. "Tell your Architect... I'm someone who regrets not stopping NovaCore when I had the chance."
Within minutes, Jaden met her at the entrance.
"I've seen your work," she said. "I studied your shelters, your grid logic. You're doing what we dreamed of. Let me help."
Talent Detected: Dani Rivera
Specialty: Engineering, Military Systems, Urban Design
Status: High Potential – Monitor Loyalty
Jaden nodded cautiously. "I'll start you on grid diagnostics. You'll report to me directly."
"Understood."
Meanwhile, outside the command structure, the city pulsed.
A street beggar named Rami uploaded another vlog: "Three days ago, I was under a tarp. Now I sleep on a mattress with light above my head. This Architect guy... he's real."
His video reached 18,000 views in one night.
A teen hacker named Niles hijacked an unused radio frequency. "Sector 18 is like a dream out here. Safe water. Real food. If you're listening, come see it for yourself."
Local artists joined in. A rising rapper named Kruze dropped a single called "Power in the Dust." It went viral, racking up over 400,000 plays in less than 24 hours.
Jaden's city was becoming more than just a zone.
It was a symbol.
Back in Sector 22, Valora's screen flickered with the growing numbers.
Wolfe frowned. "His public influence is escalating. People are calling it a tech revival. Some even say he's the next frontier."
Valora narrowed her eyes. "Influence fades when the cracks start to show. People believe in hope until it's snatched away."
She turned toward her black console.
"Begin Phase 2," she ordered. "Infiltrate his labor queue. We'll plant one of ours among his builders. Then... we break him from the inside."
As the screen faded, Valora stared long at the image of Sector 18 glowing like a flame in the dark.
"Let's see how bright he burns."