Year [Redacted]
Month [Redacted]
City of Rebirth, [Redacted] [█████]
The plaza erupted with the roar of angry voices as a man with wild, unkempt hair climbed atop an overturned police vehicle. Papers spilled from his tattered jacket pockets, and wire-framed glasses sat on his nose as he raised a megaphone.
“The Rebirth they promised was a lie!” his voice boomed across the crowded plaza, amplified by the portable speaker clutched in his trembling hand. Sweat glistened on his forehead despite the cool evening air, his hair whipping across his face as he paced.
“Nine cities, they told us. Nine bastions of hope after the Final War.” His voice cracked with emotion. “But what about the people they left outside the walls? What about the resources they’re hoarding while telling us sacrifices must be made?”
“Those walls weren’t built to protect us—they were built to keep us in!” he shouted, voice cracking with fury. “Nine cities—nine cages—while the rest of the world burns!”
The crowd roared in response, hundreds of faces twisted with the same righteous anger that burned in the man’s chest. Signs bobbed above their heads, bearing slogans condemning the Council of city and demanding transparency.
“Otto!” A woman within the crowd touched her earpiece in communication. “The upload team is in position.”
Otto nodded as he heard her and looked around. Many were wearing masks with the same symbol—a circle and triangle intertwined and bisected by a jagged line. Government drones hovered at the perimeter, recording everything.
From the corner of his eye, Otto spotted the approaching security forces—city police, reinforced by military personnel. He’d been warned this might happen; his sources had informed him that the Council was losing patience with his weekly rallies.
“Look!” He pointed toward the approaching officers. “Here they come to silence us! To hide the truth about what really happened during the Final War, about what’s really beyond these walls!”
The crowd turned as one, their murmurs growing into shouts of defiance. The police line faltered momentarily before continuing its advance.
“Citizen, you are in violation of Public Assembly Code 017 dash 5,” announced a mechanized voice from the police line. “Disperse immediately or face arrest.”
Otto lowered his speaker, his heart pounding. This was earlier than expected—his team wasn’t ready yet. He needed more time.
“They fear us because we know the truth!” he shouted, no longer needing amplification as the crowd took up his words in a thunderous chant.
Two officers broke from the line, moving directly toward him. “Otto Krenshaw,” one called, using his full name rather than his citizen designation—a deliberate intimidation tactic. “You’re under arrest for sedition and unauthorized assembly.”
The crowd surged forward protectively, creating a barrier between Otto and the approaching officers. Hands pulled at his jacket, urging him to retreat.
“Go!” yelled a man beside him. “We’ll hold them off.”
Otto nodded once before he jumped down, moving with haste through the chaotically energized crowd. The protesters closed ranks behind him, their bodies forming a human shield as he ducked down a narrow side street. Otto pulled a tablet from his jacket, fingers flying across its surface as he bypassed security protocols.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“Let's get this show on the road babies!”
…
The basement was dimly lit, but the equipment humming along its walls sang life into the room. Six monitors displayed different camera feeds—some from public surveillance systems Otto had hacked, others from hidden cameras his team had planted over months of preparation.
He adjusted his headset and settled into the office chair, fingers flying across the keyboard as he logged into secure channels.
“Nishino, what’s going on? Where are all of you? Give me your status?” he barked into a communicator.
“We’re at the east entrance,” came the reply. “No cameras here, it’s the blind spot. Don’t worry, you’ll see us soon enough.”
“Alright, tell me when to breach the firewalls,” Otto responded. “You won’t have long after.”
Otto’s fingers danced across multiple keyboards, bringing up schematics of the Central Broadcasting Facility’s security system. Strings of code reflected in his glasses as he prepared the breach that would give his team the access they needed.
“Okay, we’re in position,” Nishino reported. “Four of us ready to move. Jammi’s watching our backs. And … HEY JAMMI DROP THOSE CHIPS AND FOCUS.”
“Ahem… Security patterns?” Otto asked, pulling up the building’s monitoring system on one of his screens.
“Just like you said. Guard rotation in thirty seconds.”
Otto glanced at his countdown timer. “Perfect. On my mark... three... two... one... GO!”
His fingers executed a rapid series of commands, launching an attack on the security network. Warning lights flashed across his digital representation of the facility.
“Doors are unlocked,” Otto announced. “You’ve got twenty seconds before backup systems kick in.”
On one of his monitors, Otto watched his team slip through a maintenance entrance. Each wore a backpack containing the equipment they’d need inside.
“We’re in,” Nishino confirmed moments later. “Moving to phase two.”
Otto switched to another system, giving himself access to the internal camera network. “I’ve got eyes inside now. Two guards at the junction ahead. Wait for my signal.”
He typed rapidly, accessing the building’s controls. “Creating a distraction... now.”
On screen, the fire suppression system activated in a distant section of the building, drawing the guards away from their position.
“Path clear. Move quickly.”
For the next ten minutes, Otto guided his team through the facility, manipulating systems, creating diversions, and offering real-time intelligence on guard movements.
“We’re approaching the server hub,” Nishino reported. “Any surprises waiting for us?”
Otto scanned the security feeds. “Two technicians inside. Should be easy to handle.”
He watched as his team subdued the technicians with quick, non-lethal takedowns followed by zip-tie restraints.
“How are we doing, people? I need to know the status on the package?” Otto asked.
“My package is pretty big haha ow,” came a male voice
“Sorry about him. Anyway we are ready to upload,” replied Nishino. “Just need access to the main broadcasting node.”
Otto cracked his knuckles before launching into his hack. This was what they had been planning for months: the moment when they would reveal the truth to every citizen in Rebirth City.
“Bingo!” he exclaimed as the final firewall crumbled. “You’re clear to connect the device. Uploading a backdoor access now.”
“Package connected,” Nishino confirmed. “Beginning data transfer.”
“Sixty percent uploaded,” Nishino reported. “But Otto... we’ve got company. I’m seeing multiple security teams.”
“Stay focused,” Otto instructed, sweat beading on his forehead. “We are so damn close to this.”
The feed cut out abruptly. Otto stared at the static-filled screen, heart sinking. He tried to reestablish the connection, fingers moving frantically across the keyboard.
Nothing.
…
Silence.
All at once, his access to the security cameras was severed. The monitors went dark.
“Nishino, respond,” he called into his headset. “Jammi? Anyone?”
No answer was given.
Otto slammed his fist against the desk.
He quickly began wiping his systems, destroying any evidence that might lead the authorities to his location. There would be other attempts, other operations. This was a setback, not the end.
As the last of his data scrubbed itself clean, Otto picked up his tablet and headed for the exit. He needed to disappear, to go deeper underground than ever before.
His work would continue, even if he had to rebuild from scratch.
