A protest rises in his throat. Going along with Lian and his friends at the club is one thing, but this is his freedom they’re talking about. Yet when Rafael opens his mouth, the gun onKane’s back stops anything from coming out.
His gaze flicks up to Kane, and for a heartbeat, something flickers in those green eyes. But the emotion vanishes, leaving Kane’s expression cold and unreadable once more.
“Get Echo ready for discharge,” Kane orders, moving toward the exit. “Then I’ll show you where you’re staying.”
Rafael’s pulse hammers in his ears, but he moves on autopilot, removing the tubes and wires from Echo.
Echo tries to make conversation, asking about follow-up care and what symptoms to watch for. He keeps his responses clipped and professional. The sooner he finishes this, the sooner he can process whatever comes next.
A few minutes later, they step out of the medical bay into the same dark corridor as before. Echo gives a small wave before disappearing down the corridor, while Kane gestures for Rafael to follow him in the opposite direction.
They reach a narrow spiral staircase, and he climbs behind Kane, legs shaking with each step. At the top, Kane stops at a reinforced metal door and presses his palm to a glowing security panel. When the lock disengages, Rafael braces for a cell, mind filled with tales on V-link of gangsters taking people hostage in the slums.
What waits beyond is strange. A simple studio, not unlike his apartment in Midtown, only with furniture and appliances from the late 2010s. He steps inside, moving through the living room toward the bed along the far wall.
Nothing feels personal here. No holographic photos on the walls, no signs of the occupant’s life at all. Only the worn yet outdated kitchen console hints that someone once lived here. Stopping at the large window screen, he reaches for the control panel, hoping for a glimpse outside. At his touch, theimage flickers to black.
Rafael startles, spinning around when Kane clears his throat from across the studio.
“Get some rest,” Kane says. “You’ll be back in the med bay tomorrow.” He shrugs. “And don’t worry about VitaCorp.”
Rafael’s breath catches. That’s right. They’ll wonder what happens when he doesn’t show up tomorrow.
“Your profile shows you’re on a temporary assignment through their shiny new VitaCorp Cares Initiative downtown. Not exactly anything but code and a logo. Though they probably won’t investigate a random nurse.”
His eyes widen. They can manipulate VitaCorp’s own systems that easily?
“But if anyone does dig deeper, Coda patched it.” A smirk tugs at Kane’s lips. “Your wristlink now logs this detour as a trip to their downtown administrative building, a maze of a building with enough security gaps to hide an army.”
He glances at the band on his wrist, stomach twisting. VitaCorp issued his when he started, same as every employee. Rafael knew they tracked his hours, possibly his movements around campus. Not every step he took. Not all the time.
Kane’s tone hardens as he goes on. “As for your friend Lian…Coda’s program combed through your chats, created an AI that sounds like you. Sent her a note about being pulled for the initiative. Told her you’ll be temporarily staying there in staff lodging and you’d be in touch once things settle down.”
The casual way he says her name makes Rafael’s chest clench. They knoweverything. Rumors on V-link say street gangs have techies, but it sounds like they could rival VitaCorp.
“No one else has access through this door.” Kane nods behind him. “Not even the lieutenants. You’ll be safe here.”
Safe.The word sounds strange coming from this man. Yet Kane also helped treat Echo, treated her gently, and provided this secure room without being asked.
The contradictions don’t fit the V-link stories about gang leaders. Those painted simple monsters, not someone like him.
But seeing a human face behind the chrome doesn’t make this right.
Silence fills the room after Kane leaves.
Rafael sinks onto the edge of the bed, staring at his dead wristlink. He tries to summon the hope that VitaCorp will notice his absence, that Lian or anyone talking to the AI-version of him will catch the lie.
But Kane’s easy confidence in this Coda suggests otherwise.
Maybe no one’s coming. Maybe this is how he’ll spend the night. Not catching up on sleep or heading out with Lian to another club.
And who knows what Rafael will be doing here tomorrow? Certainly not visiting Mrs. Chen for that post-op he was worried about or finally returning Maria’s message.
Tears threaten Rafael’s eyes, but he blinks them back. Not breaking down might be his only victory today. But how long can anyone stay composed when their whole world has been turned upside down?
6
Chapter 6 - Kane