The pair nod in approval.
“What is this? A Synthaholics Anonymous?” Athena mutters under her breath.
With a frown, Pixie reaches into her jacket as Wren’s fingers dance over her wristlink. Viper tenses at the door but remains rooted as Pixie dumps a leather pouch onto the table.
Three metal necklaces with a crossed-out “O” clatter against the surface.
The enemy lieutenants whisper closer together while Athena leans over, inspecting the pendants.
“Those are our insignias!” Nora gasps.
Charles stiffens. “Only the highest in our Order earn them.”
Giselle swipes the homemade jewelry and gapes at Pixie. “How did you get these?”
“Thieves,” Titus hisses.
Wren huffs. “No onestoleanything.” She taps the table’s controls. “We recovered them from your people’s bodies. Two weeks ago.”
A holo video activates above the table—heavily armored Natural Order enforcers breaching a distorted holowall in Shreveport. Unlike their usual gear, they carry grenade launchers, high-caliber rifles, and shining glocks.
Nora mutters a prayer, and Charles gasps. Next to them, Athena studies the footage.
“What the hell?” Titus breathes. “Those weapons…we don’t…”
“Is thatstandardissue for your crew now?” Pixie challenges.
Athena straightens. “Of course not.” Her gaze cuts to Charles. “Brother Charles oversees equipment allocation. He can confirm these facts.”
Charles points at the projection. “I wouldneverallow suchuncleangear.” He whirls to his fellow crewmates. “Youallknow my record for maintaining purity in the Order.”
“He’s always been true to the Fifteen Tenets.” Nora presses a hand to her chest.
Titus and Giselle utter low hums of agreement.
“That said…” A sigh escapes Charles as he folds his hands. “I can’t be everywhere. Perhaps a fewmisguidedBrothers and Sisters thought improvising with stolen weapons would further the cause…”
With a smirk, Athena faces Pixie and Wren. “See? Nothing I could’ve prevented.”
Her dismissal twists something deep inside Kane. “Three of ours died in that raid, Athena. Four of your own. Don’t you care?”
“Of course I care about the losses!” Athena snaps. “But I have bigger concerns than babysitting every piece of equipment. I’m building an Order while you’re counting bullets. However…” She hangs her head. “Those we lost will be honored. As they deserve. Even if theystrayed.”
Titus and Giselle mirror her gesture. Nora bows forward, and Charles closes his eyes, face drawn.
A muscle twitches in Kane’s jaw. “Honor won’t bring back the dead,” he hisses.
Athena’s head lifts slowly. “And what do you want me to do, Kane? Turn back time? I can’t undo what happened. All we can do is move forward andremindour Brothers and Sisters about our stance on weapons and obedience.” She exhales and casts a glance around the room. “Now, are you finished with your little show and tell?”
Kane’s teeth clench together.
This might be their last chance.
He meets Echo’s gaze and gives a subtle nod. She steps forward and clears her throat.
“You’ve probably heard enough about my ‘old grievances.’” Echo swipes her wristlink. “But this? This isfreshnews.”
The current projection vanishes, replaced by a stream of encrypted message threads, blurred V-link IDs, and locked file headers beneath scrolling timestamps. Athena’s brow lifts, though she remains quiet.