Morrigan: Year 3101.

Siobhan glanced at her companion and gave a slight nod to which he understood. They didn't have a choice anyway.

The mech towered over the street, a behemoth of metal and composite materials standing at least 15 feet tall. Its frame was bulky yet somehow snazzy. The main body resembled a humanoid torso, tapering slightly at the waist before expanding into powerful, pillar-like legs.

The mech's surface was a patchwork of armor plates, likely made of some hyper-advanced alloy - tough enough to shrug off small arms fire, yet light enough to allow for surprisingly agile movement. Hydraulic pistons hissed at each joint, giving the machine an unsettling organic quality as it moved.

It's "head" was more of a sensor array, bristling with cameras, thermal imagers, and other unidentifiable scanning tech.

The guns, and there were several, were mounted in strategic locations across the mech's frame. Twin autocannons protruded from its shoulders, able to swivel and track targets independently. Smaller, rapid-fire weapons were integrated into its forearms, while a heavy-caliber gun was mounted centerline on its chest.

Dotting its surface were multiple launcher ports, likely housing a variety of less-lethal and crowd control munitions. This thing wasn't just built for combat, it was a walking arsenal of urban pacification.

The mech stomped towards them, each step shaking the ground. "HALT FOR VERIFICATION," it commanded.

Kazuo swallowed hard, fighting the urge to run. He watched as a scanner emerged from the top of the mech.

"Ah, shit," Siobhan whispered.

A cone of pale blue light burst forth, enveloping them both. Kazuo felt his skin tingle as the beam passed over him, like thousands of tiny insects crawling across his body.

The light pulsed, changing frequency. It passed through their clothes, their skin, probing deeper.

"The hell?" he hissed.

"Don't move," Siobhan said.

The scan intensified. Kazuo's head throbbed as the mech rifled through his body, sifting through data faster than thought.

Just when he thought his skull might split open, it stopped. The blue light winked out.

The mech's voice boomed out, rattling Kazuo's bones: "VERIFICATION COMPLETE. YOU ARE CLEAR TO PROCEED."

The mech turned away, its hydraulics hissing as it moved on to the next potential threat.

Siobhan let out a long breath, her shoulders relaxing. She turned to Kazuo, who stood rooted to the spot, his face as white as a sheet.

"Hey," she said, giving him a light pat on the back. "Verification's over, man. We're good."

Kazuo blinked, finally seeming to come back to reality. "Holy shit," he whispered. "I thought we were done for."

"Nah, we're too pretty for prison," she joked, trying to lighten the mood. "Come on, let's keep moving before that thing changes its mind."

How the fuck did they pass that scan? It didn't make sense. Their faces should've been plastered all over every database from here to Mars. Maybe the mech's systems were glitching? Or had someone hacked the police networks, erasing their records? Whatever the reason, they just dodged a bullet.

They started walking again, Kazuo's legs still shaky. "How the fuck did we pass that scan?" he asked.

"No idea," Siobhan shrugged. "Maybe Aris's tech is better than we thought. Or maybe we just got lucky."

Lucky? Bullshit. There was no such thing as luck in this world. Aris's tech might be good, but good enough to fool a police mech? No way.

"Lucky," Kazuo scoffed. "Yeah, that's us. A couple of lucky bastards."

"Hey, I'll take lucky over skilled any day," Siobhan said. "Now let's get to that safehouse before our luck runs out."

They pressed on through the crowded streets, passing between pedestrians and ducking behind storefronts whenever a police cruiser zoomed past. Kazuo's muscles tensed with each siren wail. The crash site couldn't be far now - they'd left a trail of destruction in their wake during that insane hoverbike chase. If the cops had any brains, they'd be closing in fast.

Siobhan led the way, constantly scanning for threats as they zigzagged through back alleys and side streets. Kazuo followed close behind, trying to match her confident stride while fighting the urge to look over his shoulder every few seconds.

The safehouse had to be close. With each block they covered, Kazuo's anxiety ratcheted up another notch. What if it was compromised? What if Aris had set them up? What if—

Siobhan suddenly grabbed his arm, yanking him into a narrow doorway as a squad of armored officers marched past. They held their breath, pressed against each other in the tight space until the danger passed.

After minutes, they emerged onto a quiet residential street until Siobhan nodded towards a nondescript apartment building.

Kazuo exhaled in relief as they climbed the steps. They'd made it. For now.

The structure is a four-story complex with a weathered brick facade in a muted tan color, blending with the surrounding architecture. The building has a slightly worn appearance, with faded paint and a few strategically placed cracks to maintain its simple exterior.

The front of the building features symmetrically arranged windows, four on each floor, with faux curtains visible to maintain the illusion of normal occupancy. The windows are double-paned and reinforced, though this isn't noticeable from the outside. A simple metal fire escape zigzags down the right side of the building, providing an emergency exit route.

The main entrance is a solid wooden door painted a dark brown, centered on the ground floor. It's equipped with a state-of-the-art electronic lock disguised as an old-fashioned deadbolt. A short flight of concrete steps leads up to the door, flanked by two neglected-looking potted plants that serve as camouflage for hidden sensors.

The building's roof is sloped and covered with weathered shingles. Several innocuous-looking vents and chimneys conceal high-tech communications equipment and air filtration systems.

Upon entering, they find themselves in a narrow hallway with scuffed linoleum flooring and peeling wallpaper. A rickety-looking elevator (actually a cutting-edge silent lift) and a set of stairs provide access to the upper floors.

The safehouse proper is located on the third floor, accessed via a reinforced door that appears unremarkable from the outside. Once inside, the contrast is striking. The interior is modern, clean, and efficiently designed.

The main living area is an open-plan space combining a kitchen, dining area, and living room. The kitchen is equipped with high-end appliances hidden behind mundane facades. A large dining table doubles as a planning surface, with a holographic projector built into its center.

The living room features comfortable, modular furniture that can be quickly rearranged for different purposes. One wall is entirely covered by a high-resolution display screen disguised as a bookshelf when not in use.

Off the main area are two bedrooms, each spartanly furnished but with hidden compartments for weapons and equipment. The beds are designed to quickly convert into medical stations if necessary.

The bathroom is ordinary at first glance, but conceals an advanced decontamination system in the shower and a hidden cache of medical supplies behind a false panel.

A small office, packed with cutting-edge communication and surveillance equipment, is hidden behind a sliding wall panel. This room serves as the nerve center of the safehouse, allowing occupants to monitor the surrounding area and communicate securely.

The entire apartment is equipped with power systems, air and water filtration, and multiple hidden exits. Soundproofing and signal-jamming technologies are built into the walls, floors, and ceilings to prevent surveillance.

Kazuo's jaw dropped. The place was insane - like some high-tech spy lair straight out of a holo-film. He ran his hand along the countertop, expecting to trigger some hidden laser grid.

"Holy shit," he breathed. "This place is..."

"Secure, yes," Siobhan finished, already heading for the bathroom. "It's one of Morrigan's safehouses scattered around the city."

"I know I've been some of her houses but how many does she have?"

Siobhan paused at the bathroom door. "Hard to tell. Even I don't know, and I'm her familiar." She shrugged. "Morrigan likes to keep her secrets close."

With that, she disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of running water followed a moment later.

Left alone, Kazuo wandered the space, taking it all in. The place was a mindfuck - looking like some run-down shithole from the outside, but a high-tech fortress on the inside.

His fingers traced the edge of what looked like an ordinary bookshelf. But knowing Morrigan, it probably hid a cache of rifles or pistols.

Kazuo flopped onto the couch, his body finally registering the day's exhaustion. As the adrenaline faded, questions bubbled up. How long would they have to lay low? What was the endgame here?

He closed his eyes, listening to the distant hum of the city and the steady sound of Siobhan's shower.

Then he remembered something, his hand drifted to his pocket, fingers brushing against the small, hard shape of the USB drive. He pulled it out, turning it over in his palm. This tiny piece of tech held the potential to blow the lid off one of the biggest scandals in UEF history.

Could he really pull this off? Expose the corruption at the highest levels? The potential consequences were staggering. Lives could be ruined, power structures toppled. But wasn't that the point? To tear down the rotten system and build something better?

He stood up, muscles groaning in protest, and made his way to the computer terminal hidden behind a false panel. The system hummed to life as he plugged in the drive. Encryptions fell away, revealing a treasure trove of data.

He scrolled through file after file. Financial records, communications logs, surveillance footage - it was all there. Minister Lefebvre's name appeared again and again, linked to massive payoffs and clandestine meetings with known terrorist groups.

But it wasn't just Lefebvre. The corruption ran deep, implicating high-ranking officials across the UEF Defense Department. And there, buried in a subfolder, was evidence linking his own editor-in-chief, Antoine Dubois. Victoria was right in her information.

He leaned back.

This was big. Bigger than he'd imagined. The kind of story that could reshape the political landscape of Europe. Or get him killed. Was he ready to risk everything for this story?

Kazuo was so engrossed in the data that he didn't hear Siobhan approach. Her low whistle made him jump.

"Holy shit," she said, leaning over his shoulder. Water dripped from her hair onto the keyboard. "That's some crazy stuff you've got there."

"Yeah, it's... it's big," Kazuo replied, eyes still glued to the screen. "Bigger than I thought."

Siobhan straightened up, adjusting her towel. "I'm gonna get dressed. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone."

As she disappeared into the bedroom, Kazuo called after her. "Define 'stupid.'"

"You know what I mean," her voice drifted back. "No sending that shit to every news outlet in Paris."

"Give me some credit. I'm not that reckless."

"Could've fooled me," Siobhan replied. There was a rustling of fabric as she dressed. "So what's your next move, hotshot?"

"I don't know. This is... it's a lot to process."

"No shit. You've got enough dirt there to bury half the UEF."

"Yeah, and probably get myself buried in the process."

Siobhan emerged from the bedroom, now dressed in a plain black t-shirt and jeans. "You're not thinking of backing out, are you?"

"No, but... I gotta be smart about this. One wrong move and I'm fucked."

Siobhan leaned against the desk.

"You know, there's another way to play this," she said, tapping her fingers. "Forget about writing some exposé. That shit's old school. You've got leverage here, real power."

Kazuo looked up from the screen, brow furrowed. "What are you getting at?"

"I'm saying you could make a fortune with this info. Think about it - all those bigwigs would pay through the nose to keep their dirty laundry hidden."

Kazuo pushed back from the desk. "No way. That's not what I do. I'm a journalist, not some two-bit extortionist."

"Come on, don't be so righteous," Siobhan scoffed. "You think these assholes deserve your integrity? They'd sell you out in a heartbeat."

"That's not the point," Kazuo said, standing up. "I didn't get into this game to get rich. I want to expose the truth, make a difference."

Siobhan rolled her eyes. "Oh please, spare me the Boy Scout routine. You really think your little article's gonna change anything? They'll bury it and discredit you, maybe even make you disappear."

"Maybe. But at least I'll have tried. I can live with that. I couldn't live with myself if I used this info to line my own pockets."

Siobhan sighed. "Look, Tanaka, I get it. You want to be the hero, expose the bad guys. But that's not how the real world works."

"Oh yeah? Enlighten me then."

"These aren't some small-time crooks we're talking about. These are powerful people with deep pockets and deeper connections. You think they'll just roll over because you wrote a spicy article?"

"No, but—"

"But nothing," Siobhan cut him off. "They'll hire armies of lawyers. They'll tie everything up in courts for years. And that's if they don't decide to make you disappear first."

"So what, I should just give up? Let them get away with it?"

"I'm saying you need to be smart about this. You've got leverage here. Why not use it to your advantage?"

"You mean blackmail."

Siobhan shrugged. "Call it what you want. But it's a hell of a lot safer than trying to be some crusading journalist."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this," Kazuo said, shaking his head. "You want me to become the very thing I'm trying to fight against?"

"I want you to survive, dumbass," she shot back. "You think these people give a shit about ethics? They'd sell their own mothers if it meant keeping their cushy positions. We're talking about exposing very powerful politicians here."

Kazuo paced the room. "There has to be another way. Some middle ground."

"Maybe," Siobhan conceded. "But whatever you decide, you need to be prepared for the shitstorm that's coming. These people won't go down without a fight."

She might have a point. The stakes were higher than he'd ever faced before. These weren't just corrupt politicians, but powerful figures. Was his integrity worth his life? He pushed the thought away, disgusted with himself for even considering it. No, he had to find another way. There had to be a path between naive idealism and cynical self-preservation.

"No, I'm going to find another way. The people have to know the truth."

"Truth?" Siobhan laughed. "You think people give a shit about the truth?"

"Of course they do. That's the whole point of journalism."

"Wake up. People don't want truth. They want entertainment. That's all you're giving them - a juicy story to gossip about over their morning coffee."

"That's not true."

"Face it, you're just feeding the outrage machine. Half the people who read your exposé will just share it on their social feeds for likes. The other half will use it as ammo in their petty online arguments."

Kazuo slumped against the wall. "So what, it's all pointless?"

"I didn't say that," Siobhan replied. "But you need to be realistic about what you're doing. You're not some crusading hero. You're an entertainer, giving people what they want - a chance to feel superior by hating on the big bad politicians."

"That's a pretty cynical view."

"It's the truth. People will lap this shit up, sure. But will it change anything? Doubtful. They'll be onto the next scandal before the ink's dry on your article."

"So what am I supposed to do? Just give up?"

"No, but maybe adjust your expectations. You're not going to change the world with one story. But you might make a few people think. That's something, right?"

Was she right? Was he just another cog in the outrage machine, feeding people's desire for scandal without creating real change? He'd always believed in the power of journalism to expose truth and hold the powerful accountable. But maybe that was naivety. Still, giving up felt wrong. There had to be a way to make this story matter, to cut through the noise and apathy. He just needed to figure out how.

"Whatever. I'll still expose them regardless."

"Your funeral," Siobhan shrugged. "Just don't come crying to me when you're broke and on the run."

Kazuo turned back to the computer. "I'll take my chances."