The tranquilizer dart slammed into Yin Lie's shoulder with a vicious hiss, like a snake striking in the dark.
His breath hitched sharp. Knees buckled. The Null Field crashed down on him—heavy as a skyscraper collapsing from the heavens.
"L-Lie…!" Qin Mian's voice broke as she clawed forward on her belly, desperate.
Yin Lie fought to rise, but his legs shook like they were made of shattered glass. Fire raced through his veins, blurring the world at the edges.
Boots echoed—cold, mechanical—soldiers circling their prey.
"Target subdued," the captain barked into his comms, voice flat as steel.
Qin Mian's scream ripped through the air: "No! Don't take him!"
The field pinned her too, slamming her chest-first into the tiles, an invisible hand grinding her down.
Kai's grip tightened on her arm. "Stay down!"
Tears streamed from Qin Mian's eyes, hot and endless. "Why?! Why hurt him? He didn't do anything—!"
Kai's jaw locked so tight it ached.
*She knew exactly why.*
For years, she'd been the one pulling triggers like this. Hunting "variables" like Yin Lie. Hauling scared kids into sterile cells. All for the "greater good," she'd lied to herself. The city's survival.
But seeing Qin Mian tremble like a leaf in a storm—watching Yin Lie gasp for air, fighting just to stay conscious—
It hit different now.
Wrong. Soul-deep wrong.
The captain raised his rifle to Yin Lie's neck. "Second dose. Full sedation."
"No!" Qin Mian lunged anyway, fingers scraping tile—
A faint blue glow sparked from her tips, wild and uncontrolled.
Kai's eyes snapped wide. Shit.
Emotional trigger. Even a flicker from Qin Mian could warp reality—crack the station open like an egg. Or worse. Much worse.
Qin Mian's plea shattered: "He'll die… Lie will die… please, just stop…"
Something knifed through Kai's chest—twisting, unfamiliar.
Not fear of the power.
Fear of loss. Of choices slipping away forever. Regret she couldn't outrun.
The captain loomed closer. "Full restraints. Hands and legs."
Kai's fingers itched on her holster.
Chen Gu hissed low: "Kai—if they take her, it's done. Battery farm. You know it."
Thorne bobbed his head like a maniac. "She's no battery! She's our squishy little sky goddess who thinks gravity's a myth!"
Kai froze.
Soldiers hauled Yin Lie up by the arms, his body limp.
Qin Mian's scream clawed the air again: "STOP! PLEASE—!!"
Through hooded eyes, Yin Lie mustered a smile for her—weak, but real. "I'm… okay…"
Liar. She saw right through it.
Her hand stretched out, shaking, blue flickers dancing like dying stars.
Captain swung his rifle her way. "Subject Zero—restrain for transport."
Kai stepped forward. "Captain."
He froze mid-motion.
"Agent Kai. Step. Back."
Silence stretched, thick as smoke. Her pulse thundered in her skull.
All her life: orders were gospel. Obey or die. Loyalty was her armor.
But flashes hit her—Yin Lie shielding her in the redline chaos. Qin Mian's wide-eyed whisper: "Is the sky real?" Him trekking the wasteland with the girl on his back, never faltering. Her tiny hand fisted in his sleeve, like he was her whole world.
Kai swallowed, throat dry as ash.
First time in years… she doubted.
His visor mirrored her—cold, blank.
"Stand down."
Fingers hovered over her trigger. "Or… what?" Her whisper barely carried.
He pivoted fully. "Detained. For protocol violation."
One heartbeat. One life-altering beat.
Directorate dog forever?
Or shatter the chains?
Qin Mian's sobs gutted her: "Please… helphim…"
Kai closed her eyes. Half a breath.
Decision made.
Gun whipped up. Stance locked.
BANG!
Bullet punched the Null Field generator's vent. Sparks erupted like fireworks in hell.
It whined—WHRRRR-KCHHT!—then died.
Pressure vanished. Yin Lie sucked in air, ragged and greedy.
Qin Mian shoved up, arms quivering.
Kai's command cut sharp: "Yin Lie! Move!"
Chaos detonated.
"AGENT KAI—TRAITOR CONFIRMED!"
"ENGAGE! FIRE ON KAI!"
Shadows exploded with muzzle flashes. Bullets chewed stone.
Thorne belly-flopped behind a bench, yelping. Chen Gu yanked Qin Mian into cover as rounds stitched the floor.
"KAI, WHAT THE HELL—?!" Chen Gu roared.
Kai didn't flinch. She planted between Yin Lie and the squad, popping precise shots—rifles flying from numb hands.
"Making a choice," she said, ice in her voice. "My choice. For once."
Captain bull-rushed her.
She met his baton with her forearm—thud—boots skidding.
"Career's over," he snarled.
Teeth bared: "Like I give a damn. Not anymore."
He swung wild—CLANG!
Parry. Grab. Twist.
CRACK!
He reeled, cursing.
Kai's gaze burned—feral, alive. Not for victory.
For them. First time ever.
Yin Lie staggered up—toxins still fogging his head, but fire in his gut.
Snatched a dropped baton. Frost raced over it, sharpening into a gleaming ice shard.
"Lie, no—!" Qin Mian's cry cracked.
He flashed her a grin that stole her breath. "Promised I wouldn't leave you."
Lined up beside Kai.
She side-eyed him. "You're barely upright."
"Half's plenty."
Shock lances hummed to life. Twelve elites locked on.
Captain bellowed: "Neutralize the traitor and the variable!"
Qin Mian's terror shook the air: "Lie—Kai—stop, please—!!"
They didn't.
Advanced together.
Frost spiderwebbed the floor from Yin Lie's exhale. Kai slammed home a fresh mag, face carved from stone.
Blade high, captain roared: "Advance!"
The station ignited into war.