Code Nexus

"What the heck is going on?"

Magnus's voice boomed through the control room, his sharp eyes scanning every face, but when they landed on Cassian, they dilated—just for a moment.

"Cassian, you're still here. Good. We need to get this under control now."

Cassian swallowed hard. His father's sudden presence rattled him more than he cared to admit. He was supposed to be diverting the enemy's forces, not standing shoulder to shoulder with his greatest obstacle.

He racked his brain, trying to figure out what to do now that the head—his father—was here and it was getting harder to shift the situation. He nodded at his father and turned to the screen in the control room, the red light still bearing its glow.

He discreetly looked around, trying to find something that would help him become distracted. Magnus barked orders to the control unit to calm down and give him the details about the start and center of this rebellion, including all other important information.

Suddenly, something caught his eye. 'A mini headset.' He approached the headset inch by inch, doing his best not to look suspicious. He picked up the set and folded it, placing it in his pocket.

Suddenly, one of the main control unit members informed the head, "Sir, we have kept them at bay, but the east gate is falling."

It was the gate near the place of the ambush; a feeling of excitement filled Cassian.

'Good job,' he thought as he ran towards the exit door. But before he could make it outside, a rough and strong hand stopped him.

"Where are you going, Cassian?" Dorian asked, while his father's frowning face looked at him as well. He eyed both of them and made a serious expression.

"I am going to the east gate to help," he said, nodding towards the control room screen, which was showing a clash between the rebels and AU.

Dorian did not loosen his hold on Cassian as he turned to the head. Cassian also looked towards his father with determination in his eyes. He wanted to demonstrate his abilities and the right time to do so.

"Fine," Magnus said as he looked forward again, "but take Dorian along."

Cassian sighed internally. 'I guess that could work.' He looked at his father and said, "Yes, sir."

Both Dorian and Cassian looked at each other and nodded as they ran out the exit door to help the people at the east gate. The only difference was that one was helping AU forces while the other was collaborating with the rebels.

Cassian could hear his own footsteps alongside the emergency siren and the sound of pure chaos. But Cassian had a bigger problem by his side right now.

Dorian's eyes never left Cassian as they maneuvered through the hallways, his silence growing heavier with each step. "You're awfully calm for someone in the middle of an ambush," Dorian muttered under his breath, a hint of suspicion creeping into his voice. Cassian kept his face neutral, though his heart raced.

'Now I really wish for that joyful side of him to come back.'

If Dorian had figured him out, things could unravel faster than he'd planned.

"I've been through worse," he replied evenly, eyes ahead, though he could feel Dorian's gaze boring into him. "Besides, we can't afford to panic. Not now."

Dorian's lips thinned, but he said nothing, clearly unconvinced. Cassian could sense the unspoken tension between them growing with each passing second. He needed to stay ahead, or Dorian might become more than just a watchful ally—he could become a real threat.

As they neared the east gate, the sounds of battle intensified. Gunfire echoed off the walls. The air was filled with the stench of smoke. Cassian could feel the heat of the conflict just ahead.

"This is it," Dorian said as he drew his twin blade, his Band, known as the "Snake's Fangs," which can make any blade into a deadly weapon.

When they reached the final corridor leading to the gate, a bunch of people passed them as they ran back and forth, doing their best not to panic and to do their jobs. Dorian glanced at Cassian again.

"We move in, assess the situation, and report back. No unnecessary risks."

Cassian nodded, but inside, his mind was elsewhere. He knew the rebels were close, waiting for him, and if everything had gone according to Plan B, they would be breaking through the east gate any moment now. He just needed to find a way to tip the scales without drawing Dorian's attention.

The gate came into view, and Cassian's heart surged. His head started scanning everything while remembering the map and layout of HQ. Combining them, he could make some sense of the situation.

Smoke billowed from shattered barricades, and AU forces were forced to hold their position in defense. The rebels had pushed through more than he expected, and for a fleeting moment, Cassian felt pride in their relentless advance. He shook his head and searched for a way to get out of Dorian's eyesight.

"Hold the line," Dorian shouted, but the AU troops were faltering. Cassian's gaze darted around the chaos, searching for an opportunity.

Dorian, focused on the scene in front of them, didn't notice when Cassian slipped the mini headset from his pocket and tucked it discreetly into his ear.

"Cassian? Are you in position?" Nia's voice came through the crackling line. This was included in their Plan B: if they couldn't take the target object with Plan A, Cassian and Nia would start a communication channel from inside. Plus, this headset could be connected to the whole of HQ and broadcast anything they liked.

He glanced at Dorian, making sure he wasn't looking, then quickly murmured, "I'm here. The east gate's almost yours. Make your move now; I'll create a distraction."

Nia's response was swift: "Got it. We're coming in hard."

Cassian felt his pulse quicken. This was it—the moment to prove himself, both to his father and to the rebellion. He turned to Dorian, who was issuing orders to nearby AU officers. Cassian knew if he didn't act fast, he'd lose his chance.

"Dorian," Cassian called, "I'll move to the right flank. If we don't secure it, they'll collapse our defense there."

Dorian turned to him, suspicious. "The right flank? That's suicide, Cassian. The rebels are pressing hardest there."

"Exactly," Cassian replied, injecting urgency into his voice. "If we don't hold it, the whole line will fall. Let me take a small group; we can reinforce and buy time."

Dorian hesitated. Cassian could see the wheels turning in his mind as he tilted his head, weighing the risk. After a tense beat, he nodded. "Fine. But keep your head down. We can't afford to lose you here."

Cassian nodded, a mask of resolve on his face, though his heart raced with excitement. He quickly moved toward the right flank, rallying a few AU soldiers to follow him. The moment they were clear of Dorian's watchful eye, he pulled out the headset again. He disappeared from the AU officers and completely vanished from the battlefield.

"Nia, now. Hit them with everything you've got."

In the distance, the sharp sound of explosives echoed, and the ground beneath them shook violently. Cassian could hear shouts of confusion as the AU forces scrambled to respond. He could feel all the powers swirling around the whole place.

Band against Band, but the only difference was the belief and thought processes, and Cassian was here to break both.

The rebels were making their move.

Cassian's heart raced as the ground trembled beneath the chaos and destruction. The time had come to tip the scales in favor of the rebellion, and he held the perfect tool in his hand. He smirked as he changed the frequency of the mini headset, slipping further into the shadows.

This was more than just a distraction—he was about to turn the entire AU command structure against itself. The mini headset had a direct line into the HQ's communication channels, and Cassian was prepared to use it to his advantage.

He activated its voice modulation function. His voice deepened, masked under layers of distortion to ensure no one would recognize him.

He scanned the surroundings. AU forces were struggling to contain the chaos, with Dorian at the center, trying to hold the crumbling defenses together. He was looking towards the right flank for Cassian, but from his hiding spot, he could not be seen. If Cassian played this right, even Dorian wouldn't be able to prevent what came next.

Cassian spoke into the headset in his new, disguised voice, his tone authoritative and commanding. "All AU units, this is a command from HQ. The east gate is compromised. All forces pull back to the central courtyard immediately. Reinforce defensive positions. Do not engage without direct orders."

The moment his words echoed through the comms, Cassian watched as confusion spread across the AU forces. Soldiers began to hesitate, looking to one another for confirmation. The uncertainty spread like wildfire.

"Wait—what?" one officer shouted, his voice filled with panic. "They just ordered a retreat! Why are we holding the line?"

Another soldier, already on edge, barked back, "We can't retreat! We'll be overrun!"

Cassian suppressed a grin as he watched the confusion take root. He kept his voice steady, firm, and unwavering as he repeated the fake command. "All units, retreat now! This is a direct order. Abandon the east gate and regroup at the courtyard. Failure to comply will result in immediate disciplinary action."

The words had their desired effect. More and more AU soldiers began to pull back, unsure whether to trust the command but unwilling to risk defying what they believed to be an order from high command. The defensive line at the east gate began to crumble.

Cassian's pulse quickened as he watched the chaos unfold. AU forces were breaking, leaving the rebels with a perfect opening. He could hear Nia's voice crackling through the headset. "Cassian, we're making our move. The AU forces are falling back!"

"Good," Cassian replied in his real voice, though still keeping his tone hushed. "Push hard and take the gate. The rest is up to you."

Cassian tore the headset from his head and crushed it, destroying any evidence.

"Now back to acting."