"I told you not to create any more fucking problems, and instead of listening to me, you went out and put a bounty on our heads!" Lorien snarled, slamming his fist against the circular wooden table, making his olive, muscular arm jump back up. The impact sent a cup toppling over—thankfully, it was empty. “What the fuck were you thinking blowing up town hall!? It was supposed to be a stealth mission!”


    "I—I… I’m sorry," a weak voice stammered. "It got completely out of hand, boss. I don’t know what to say. It should have been an easy job, get in fast, upload the script, get out. Just like you planned. That guard wasn’t supposed to be..."


    "Shut the fuck up, you idiot!" Lorien cut him off, his voice a sharp crack in the tense air. "I don’t want excuses! Just tell me you at least got the job done…" He exhaled sharply, spitting the name like a curse. "Demi."


    "Y-Yeah," Demi managed, forcing himself to hold Lorien’s dark stare without blinking, writhing his thin hands. "We uploaded the code. We’re ready to disrupt." He could feel his pulse hammering in his throat, hoping the fear twisting in his gut didn’t show on his thin face. He forced his small stature to stay still, to look composed.


    "Good." Lorien exhaled sharply, his sneer softening into something more calculated. "Then we need to move.. now!" He pushed himself up from his worn leather chair and stepped behind it, gripping its scuffed backrest, his olive fingers digging into the material. "Maybe this little fuck-up will work in our favor… If we strike immediately, they’ll be too busy cleaning up your mess to stop us." He let his words hang in the air for a moment before snapping his head up. "Go tell the others to get ready. I’ll be there shortly. Dismissed."


    Demi bowed quickly, spun on his heel, and bolted out of the cramped, concrete-walled room, stepping into the dimly lit corridor beyond. The rhythmic hum of electrical systems and the steady rush of water filled the elongated space. Above him, a tangle of pipes, thick cables, and cobwebs stretched across the ceiling.


    “You don’t deserve this treatment” Demi muttered under his breath. A single tear dropping into the dust on the concrete slaps beneath his feet.


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    This section of the underground hadn’t seen maintenance in years—and that’s exactly how they wanted it.


    Demi had personally ensured that the service tram running through this tunnel was disabled, making it impossible for any unexpected visitors to come rolling through.


    If anyone wanted access, they’d need to send a replacement tram, which would take time, time that the brotherhood no longer needed, now that their plans were moved forward, and this temporary base of operation would cease to exist.


    As he walked, he took a slow breath, trying to clear his mind, ignoring the mix of dust and dampness clinging to the air. The electrical hum rose and fell in waves as he passed by the industrial hardware, his mind racing with both excitement and unease.


    Five minutes of brisk walking later, his gaze absently following the faded blue paint stripe running along the lower half of the wall, he nearly missed his turn.


    "You guys ready to move out?" he called out, trying to sound cool as he turned into a wider corridor. This one curved ever so slightly to the right, lined with small rooms originally meant for electrical cabinets, water piping, and waste management. The Brotherhood had repurposed them: bunks, tables, and a makeshift kitchen.


    "What do you mean “ready”, Demi?" a voice called lazily from one of the rooms. "I thought we were waiting for the opportune time.."


    "This is the opportune time!" Lorien’s voice boomed down the corridor. Just as he himself turned the corner, shoving Demi to the side.


    The response was immediate. Within seconds, the narrow passage filled with thirty or so men and women scrambling to get into position. The moment everyone stood at attention, Lorien began pacing down the corridor, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group.


    "Demi created a… small distraction," he said, his voice laced with icy sarcasm. "And while it was unintentional and nearly destroyed all our hard work, it will have sent the Enforcers on a wild goose chase. That gives us a rare opening." He let his words settle, pausing briefly before continuing.


    "This means we have to strike—now. They’re already combing the system for changes. If we wait too long, they will find the breach. And if that happens, everything we’ve worked for will be for nothing."


    The group murmured their agreement, though several shot cold glares in Demi’s direction.


    Lorien took one final step forward. His eyes burned with conviction as he raised his voice.


    "Are you ready my brothers and sisters?"


    "YES, SIR!"


    Three dozen voices roared back in unison, echoing down the endless service tunnels spreading out under the city.