Code Nexus

Cassian arose from his sleep.

To think he had a meeting with the Ethereal Covenant. He had made a choice that would either propel him forward or plunge him into despair.

The sun had barely risen over Ekoris. He dressed quickly as he prepared for the day ahead. He couldn't shake the feeling of urgency; the ambush on the AU convoy loomed closer, and every moment counted.

Today, he would finalize the details with Kingston and the rest of the rebels.

After a hurried breakfast, he stepped out into the streets of Ekoris. Merchants hawked their wares, and citizens moved without a purpose. Cassian felt invisible.

As he walked around the city, he caught sight of a familiar figure—a man in a dark coat, standing at the corner of a street. It was Dorian, one of his father's trusted aides.

Cassian felt uneasy due to Dorian's perceptive ways, a quality that made him an invaluable asset to Magnus. If anyone could sense that something was amiss, it would be him.

"Cassian!" Dorian called out after seeing him. "There you are. I've been looking for you."

Cassian forced a smile as he approached and asked, "Just taking a stroll, Dorian. What brings you here?"

Dorian's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing him with a smile as he answered, "Your father has been asking about you. He wants to see you at the headquarters."

"I'm busy," he replied, attempting to sound casual. "Can it wait?"

Dorian shook his head, saying, "You know how he is. He doesn't like to be kept waiting. Especially not now."

Cassian understood the severity of things. He needed to maintain his cover, but he also couldn't afford to draw suspicion.

"Fine. I'll head there now," he conceded, suppressing the unease.

As he made his way to AU's headquarters, he considered things. The rebels were counting on him, so he needed to tread carefully.

The structure of AU headquarters loomed ahead.

Cassian remained calm as he entered the building. He walked through the halls, nodding at the guards and aides who acknowledged his presence. It felt strange the second time coming here since it was the same environment he had once abandoned.

When he reached his father's office, he knocked before stepping inside. Magnus Black sat behind his desk, reviewing a stack of reports without acknowledging his presence yet.

Cassian did not like coming here, especially if he was ordered to. The atmosphere was always tense here.

"Cassian," he said, looking up. "I'm glad you could make it. We need to discuss the Bandits."

Cassian nodded, feigning interest. "Of course. What's going on, father?"

"There have been reports of increased activity among the rebel factions," Magnus continued. "I need you to keep your ear to the ground. You're well-connected because of our family name; use that to our advantage."

Cassian fought to keep his expression neutral. "I'll do my best."

Magnus leaned back in his chair, studying him intently. "You've changed, Cassian. I can see it. You're not as eager to follow orders as you once were. What's going on?"

His father's keen perception was unsettling, and Cassian felt the walls closing in. "The world was a much simpler place when I was a kid."

Magnus's eyes narrowed. "You're speaking in riddles. Are you questioning my methods?"

"No, of course not," Cassian replied quickly, but he could feel the tension rising between them. "I just think we need to adapt to the changing landscape. The Bandits are becoming more organized."

Magnus regarded him with skepticism and pride. "You're right about that. But never forget who your allies are, Cassian… AU is the only force keeping Zephorya from ending."

"Understood," Cassian said, forcing himself to meet his father's gaze. He needed to get out of this conversation before he revealed too much. "Is there anything else you need from me?"

Magnus shook his head. "Just be vigilant. I'll have eyes on you. If you hear anything concerning, I expect you to report it."

"Of course," Cassian replied, making his exit.

Back outside, he knew that he couldn't let his father's suspicions derail things. The ambush needed to happen; it was a critical step toward dismantling AU's hold on power.

That evening, he met with Kingston and Nia at the rendezvous point, a secluded area beneath the city's park.

"There you are," Kingston greeted. "What took you so long? We need to finalize our plan."

Cassian nodded, pushing aside the unease from his earlier meeting. "There was something important that came up. I'm here now, though, so let's discuss things."

Nia stepped forward and said, "We've gathered intel on the convoy's schedule. It's more heavily guarded than we initially thought, but we believe we can exploit their weaknesses."

Cassian listened, focusing on the details as Nia laid out the plan. They would position themselves at the ambush point, where the convoy would slow down to navigate a passage after the main checkpoint.

But as the conversation continued, he began to loathe this thin line he was treading. With every detail he shared with The Ethereal Covenant, he risked revealing more than he intended.

They were counting on him, but how long could he keep up the charade?

"Cassian," Kingston said, interrupting his thoughts. "We need to know you're fully committed. This isn't just another operation."

"I understand," Cassian replied. "I'm in this just as much as you all are."

Nia's expression softened. "Glad to hear. We're fighting for a future free from AU's grasp."

Regardless of what she said, he understood that this was not possible. A change through sheer revelry would only cause mischief and disorder─something that wouldn't solve the problem but fuel it.

As they finalized their plans, they parted ways, expecting everyone to be on time.

The night before the ambush, he lay awake, unable to sleep. Eventually, dawn broke, and he dressed quickly.

Was he tired? A little. But soon, the events today would jolt his senses. There was no turning back.

Arriving at the ambush site, he found Kingston and Nia already preparing their positions.

"Wow, look at the bags under your eyes!" Nia relayed. "What happened to you last night?"

"Don't worry about it," Cassian replied.

"He's right," Kingston added. "The real question is, are you ready?"

"Yeah…" he coolly answered.

As they waited in silence, the sounds of the city faded away. Time felt suspended in their respected positions. He glanced at Nia, who met his gaze with a nod.

The rumble of engines broke the silence, and Cassian's heart raced. The convoy was finally approaching.

Gunfire rose, and the air quickly became thick with smoke as Cassian crouched behind the concrete barrier. The ambush had descended into a frenzied battle.

The plan had been so carefully crafted, but the reality of the confrontation was far more brutal.

"Cassian!" Kingston shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. "Fall back!"

Cassian scanned the scene. The AU convoy had not only been well-guarded but had also reinforced its ranks with additional guards. He had underestimated their response, and now they were caught in a firefight.

"Cover me," Cassian stated.

As he moved toward Kingston, he ducked low, narrowly avoiding a burst of gunfire that pinged against the concrete. The chaos around him was disorienting, but he kept his focus on Kingston, who was directing the other rebels with a calm intensity.

"Fall back to the alley!" Kingston shouted, waving his arm. "We'll regroup and assess our losses!"

Cassian joined Nia and a handful of rebels. Many of them had faces smeared with dirt. He could see the fear in their eyes. Based on their looks, this was not what they had envisioned.

As they retreated, he became convinced of the superiority AU held. They were not the rebels of his fantasies, fighting against an oppressive regime; they were just pawns!