Code Nexus

Once they arrived at the alley, Cassian and the others ducked behind a row of abandoned crates, breathing heavily.

The sounds of gunfire dwindled into the space, but the tension remained—thick as the smoke inside the air.

Kingston glanced around, assessing the scenario. The street outside was a battleground, a blend of shouting voices and gunfire; however, here, for a moment, they were safe.

"What will we do now?" one of the rebels asked, voice trembling, eyes wide with fear. "We can't go back."

Cassian forced his mind to think, despite the adrenaline coursing through him. He had multiple plans set up with Nia, so the only thing was to choose the right one.

"We need to regroup and discover a way to cut off their retreat," he stated while looking at Nia. "Divide their forces."

Nia nodded and said, "I agree, but we need to move fast. They'll be sending reinforcements."

Cassian glanced at Kingston, signaling him, and said, "We can't just sit here."

Kingston weighed his alternatives to the plans before saying, "You're right. We need to create a diversion—something to buy us time and draw their focus far away from us. Cassian, you are up."

"What do you have in mind?" Nia wondered to Cassian, asking which plan to follow. They had multiple plans in place, so the only thing to do was select which one is the most appropriate for this situation. 

Cassian hesitated, the concept of returning to AU headquarters filling him with dread. But he found the danger could also provide a vital possibility to undermine Magnus's authority. He knew that he would have to do it because all the plans that are now left include a swift distraction from the target. 

"I can do it," he replied. "I'll create enough noise to draw them far from here." Cassian said, finally making up his mind and choosing the best course of action. 

Kingston nodded and said, "Good. We'll create a perimeter and offer cover even as you make your way to headquarters. Keep your head down."

"Be cautious," Nia stated. "If there's any person who might see through this, it's your dad."

Cassian liked her attentiveness, but he couldn't permit worry to dictate his movements. He took one closing glance at the organization, steeling himself for what lay ahead. After all, he knew his father was not at the headquarters right this moment. 

"I'll return soon," he promised.

As he made his way through the alleys, he navigated the streets of Ekoris.

The sounds of war echoed in the distance, each footfall seeming to shake things with the urgency of the moment. The once-familiar streets now felt alien, full of uncertainty and danger, and every shadow appeared to hold a hazard.

Once he reached the doorway to AU headquarters, he paused, catching his breath. He needed to really stay on alert this time.

Steeling himself again, he approached the doorway, bypassing the guards. He had performed this enough times to know the role of a dutiful son in front of his father's loyal team of workers.

Inside, the headquarters turned eerily quiet as he made his way closer to Magnus's workplace, determined to create the diversion wanted for the rebels. He knew exactly what he needed to do.

Entering Magnus's office, he opened the drawers, rifling through the contents.

His heart raced as he looked for something he could use—something that might clutch interest and create a good diversion. Maybe a special alarm or anything that will help command over the whole AU headquarters. 

A flash of movement caught his eye, and he saw Dorian standing within the doorway!

"Cassian? What are you doing right here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Cassian prepared an excuse. "I just had to grab something from my father's office," he answered in a steady voice.

Dorian's forehead furrowed deeper with a smile, saying, "You shouldn't be here. There's a situation outside, and we're on high alert."

Cassian considered his alternatives. Dorian was too sharp; he wouldn't be deceived so easily. Even though he acts like a fun-loving guy.

"I know about the ambush," Cassian said, "so I came here to double-check things."

Dorian hesitated, uncertain of what was happening. After a moment, he nodded, as if finding out that Cassian's presence might indeed be a necessity.

"We can't afford to ignore any threats," he said. "Come help me."

Cassian couldn't afford to let his guard down now, so he said, "Alright. Let's head to the management so I can get a quick view of the scenario."

"Hmph… You're pretty smart," he said as he followed Cassian with a smirk and eyes of amusement.

As they made their way through the hallways, Cassian fought to keep his composure, forcing himself to stay calm even as things churned.

Dorian was too perceptive, and Cassian had to be careful—each move, each phrase, mattered.

Once they reached the management room, things became chaotic. Reports flooded in from the sector as AU employees scrambled to respond to the crisis. Cassian stepped back a little to gaze at the whirlwind unfolding around him.

"Get the reinforcements prepared!" a voice barked, cutting through the noise. "We need to secure the perimeter!"

Cassian seized the possibility, transferring closer to a close-by console. He quickly accessed the safety feeds, scanning the snapshots for any sign of the ambush.

There, he caught glimpses of the rebels transferring via the alley; however, time was running out.

"Cassian, what are you doing?" Dorian's voice snapped, his expression now lacking his smile. "Pay attention and be more cautious of the situation."

"I know," Cassian replied with a sense of urgency. "But if we can pinpoint their area, we can send a counterforce to reduce their numbers."

He glanced again at the screens as he plotted their next pass.

Dorian narrowed his eyes, reading Cassian's intensity. That idea was pretty strategic. Yet, amidst the anxiety of things, he knew he couldn't just stand by.

"Fine, but we need to act quickly," he relented.

With Dorian at his side, they labored quickly, relaying statistics to the command team of workers as Cassian attempted to play his role. Every second felt like a ticking clock, and the tension grew heavier with every passing moment.

Suddenly, an alarm blared through the management room, drowning out the noise.

"Security breach!" a voice shouted, panic rising in the room. "We're under attack!"

The rebels had struck the headquarters exactly as he had hoped. He glanced at Dorian, whose face had gone pale.

"We need to get out of here!" he yelled.

"No!" Cassian countered. "That's exactly what they want. The rebels will draw their attention far away from the ambush. We need to capitalize on this."

Dorian's expression shifted from panic to confusion. "What the heck are you saying?"

"This chaos will make the right distraction," Cassian explained. "If we hold our ground here, flip the tides."

The words tumbled from his mouth, hardly registering in Dorian's ears. Dorian hesitated, but because the alarm continued to blare, his resolve appeared to solidify.

"Alright, fine!" he finally said. "But we need to stay on guard."

Suddenly, the door burst open, and a set of armed AU employees rushed in, shouting orders as they swept the room.

Cassian stepped back, instinctively positioning himself at the back of a console. Dorian joined him,

"Prepare for an incoming breach!" a commander shouted, eyes scanning the room for threats.

Cassian formulated a plan, thinking again about the training periods he had persevered through as a baby. In this very building, he was supposed to help the rebels, but it was also his duty to not get caught in the AU control room.

"If we can create a barricade," he relayed to Dorian, "we'll wear them down. It'll buy us time."

"Right. Let's go with that plan!"

They rushed to the nearest garage vicinity near the management room, hastily grabbing anything they might find—steel crates, spare chairs, and devices that would function as obstacles.

They piled the items in front of the door, and Cassian felt that strong sense of adrenaline again.

"Get ready!" Dorian shouted, positioning himself beside Cassian.

The door rattled violently, and Cassian could hear the muffled voices on the other side. He exchanged a look with Dorian and nodded.

The door burst open, and rebels flooded into the room, guns drawn. Glows from their activated Bands. Cassian's instincts kicked in, and he ducked behind the barricade just as gunfire erupted.

Bullets ricocheted off the barrier with sharp and deafening sounds. All different colors covered the smoke-filled room. The Bands being used in this ambush set the scale for everything. 

"Cover!" Cassian shouted, pulling Dorian down with him as they took the cowl at the back of the crates.

"Hold your ground!" the commander barked, directing his group with precision. "Neutralize the hazard at all costs!"

Cassian peered through a gap inside the barricade. He could see glimpses of both sides, and the rebels' faces told him that they were uncertain of things—they weren't prepared for the ambush they were facing.

"Dorian, thrust back," Cassian said.

Dorian met his gaze. "What? Fine!"

With a shared remedy, they organized to fight on the lower side of things. Cassian knew the dangers; however, he couldn't let AU have this much of an advantage.

But suddenly the control room door boomed open as black and red flashed into the room. The few rebels who broke through were taken down. Everyone came up and saw a towering figure enter the room. 

'This just got slightly harder,' Cassian thought as he looked at his father standing at the door surrounded by hues of red.