Episode 6
The Phantom Grid
Power wasn’t just about ambition—it was about knowing how to take what you wanted, no matter the cost.
The wind swept through Geneva’s old town, carrying with it the chill of an impending storm. Maria adjusted her scarf as they approached the nondescript building Kevin had flagged as their destination. It wasn’t marked, didn’t appear on public records—just another shadow in a city full of them. But inside, they were supposed to find the lab. Inside, they were supposed to find answers.
Kano and Laurence exchanged wary glances as Maria pushed open the door. The group crept into the darkened space, flashlights slicing through the shadows. Kevin’s laptop beeped softly, his fingers tapping frantically. “This is the location. This is where the data says the labs were.”
“Were?” Kano echoed sharply. “What do you mean, ‘were’? You dragged us across an entire continent for a dead end?”
Kevin spun his screen around, showing a list of logs and timestamps. “Look at this. They packed up everything—projects, equipment, personnel—all within the last seventy-two hours. Like they knew someone was coming.”
Laurence clenched his fists, his voice low. “So where did they go?”
Kevin stared at his screen, the light reflecting off his furrowed brow. “I’m tracing the relocation protocols now… wait. This can’t be right.”
“What can’t be right?” Maria asked, the tension in her voice rising.
Kevin exhaled sharply, his gaze darting between the screen and the group. “Everything was moved to a central hub inside Keurocity. It’s not just the labs—it’s all of it. The main servers, the experimental tech, the biometric grid infrastructure. It’s all there.”
Maria felt her breath catch. “You’re telling me the answers we’ve been chasing this whole time were sitting right in the city they’re building?”
Kevin nodded grimly. “It’s worse than that. The entire city is the experiment. Keurocity isn’t just the future—it’s their test run for control.”
Kano paced the room, his frustration palpable. “So what now? We bust into a half-constructed city crawling with security and systems designed to hunt us down?”
Laurence stepped forward, his tone steady but edged with urgency. “If that’s what it takes to stop this, then yes.”
Maria’s determination solidified. “Then we’re going back. But we can’t just walk into Keurocity blind. We need a plan, resources, and someone on the inside.”
Kevin hesitated, his voice quiet. “I might know a way… but it’s risky.”
“Risky is all we’ve got,” Kano replied. “So start talking.”
Meanwhile…
Back in the States, John Cashizt stood before a raucous crowd, his smile sharp as he basked in the glow of his victory. The words “Mayor of Keurocity” scrolled across the screen behind him in bold, triumphant letters. Cameras flashed, reporters shouted questions, but none of it fazed him. This was his moment.
As the crowd cheered, John’s mind replayed the campaign—not the speeches or debates, but the private deals, the threats, the leverage he’d used to secure his win. He’d made promises he had no intention of keeping, traded favors that would haunt others, not him. And when persuasion hadn’t been enough, he’d taken things further.
In the dim light of his campaign office a week prior, he had leaned across the table toward a local union leader. “Support me, and your family stays safe. Oppose me, and… well, let’s not think about that.” The man’s face had paled, and by morning, his endorsement had come through.
John smirked at the memory. Power wasn’t just about ambition—it was about knowing how to take what you wanted, no matter the cost.
But as John celebrated, Veronica Steele worked in the shadows, her focus entirely on Keurocity’s grand opening. The K3 Biometric Grid was nearing completion, its capabilities surpassing even her expectations. She relished the control it would give her, the precision with which she could shape the city’s inhabitants. Every scan, every data point fed the grid, giving her a god’s-eye view of Keurocity—and she loved it.
In her office, Veronica tapped a pen against her desk, her gaze fixed on a live feed of the city’s infrastructure. “Let him play mayor,” she murmured to herself. “I’m the one running this show.”
Coming Next…
As Maria and the group prepare for their next move, they face the daunting task of infiltrating the heart of Keurocity. Meanwhile, John Cashizt and Veronica Steele tighten their grip on the city, each with their own dangerous ambitions. The stage is set for a collision of power, control, and rebellion.
Read the Next Story: The Social Credit Paradox.