Raid (Animus Book 9) Read online

  “Well, like you said, we were supposed to do it together, but you took so long that I decided to go solo to get an understanding of the floor plan and all that. I wanted to see if I could make enough time for you to work your hacking magic, shut them down, or gain control or something like that.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Kaiden, first off, the design isn’t one-to-one. It’s based on what we know so far. Much of the information still needs to be decrypted, and there’s no real map of the location. I wouldn’t know where to go without scouting first. Even if I did, it took you thirty minutes to even step foot in there—and only ten to die. That’s not anywhere near enough time for me.”

  He winced as he shrugged. “I’ll make sure to die slower.”

  “And I was running late because I did some investigating this morning—the kind you asked me to do,” she reminded him.

  His eyes widened. “Oh, right, damn. Uh…sorry. Did you manage to find any of them?”

  Chiyo shook her head. “All the people you asked me to look into came up with nothing other than some generic info for civilians who shared names. I assume they went off the grid or joined merc companies and moved on.”

  The ace frowned and focused his gaze on the ceiling. “I guess the Dead-Eyes are living up to the first part of the name, but there was only a couple of dozen left anyway. I guess I shouldn’t give them a hard time for wanting to move on.”

  She looked away. While he didn’t show it now, he had seemed a little emotional when he asked her to find members of his old gang. It must have weighed heavily on him that he never decided to look into them himself and that such a big part of his life was gone.

  “Madame, you have a message from the professor,” Kaitō stated from her EI pad.

  Chief appeared above Kaiden and stared at him. “Partner, Laurie’s looking for you.”

  He closed his eyes at the sudden bright light. “I need to get you one of those pads and keep you tucked away at times like these.”

  The EI’s eye furrowed angrily. “I don’t want one of those glorified fishbowls.”

  “I find it quite a suitable abode, myself,” Kaitō interjected.

  Chief turned an ashen grey and shook for a moment before he refocused. “Get moving. It looks important,” he stated before he disappeared.

  Kaiden sat and rolled his shoulders. “He’s called us both in, so I guess this must be about the AO.”

  “We won’t know until we see him,” Chiyo pointed out and looked at the message on her pad. “But it seems to be with how cryptic he’s being. Let’s go.”

  She helped him up and he cursed quietly until he was on his feet and took a moment to stretch. “Do you mind if I stop at Dr. Soni’s before we go? I need a dose of K-brew to make the day chipper.”

  “The fact that it’s named after you means you use it too much,” she chided and dragged him along. “Walk it off. We have a meeting at the auditorium later, remember?”

  “Can’t we skip it? We already know about the final,” he pleaded and walked almost as robotically as the droids he had recently battled.

  “Consider this part of your lesson,” she stated and continued down the hall.

  “What lesson?” he asked.

  Chiyo stopped at the top of the stairs and fixed him with a firm look. “Never do something foolish without me there to help you.” Without waiting for his response, she spun and resumed her determined stride.

  He chuckled. “She could have worded that better.”

  “At least I don’t have to shoulder it myself anymore,” Chief added.

  “Yeah, yeah.” He looked at the steps and his legs flared with pain simply at the sight. “Fuck that. Which way to the elevators?”

  Chapter Three

  The two friends entered Laurie’s office. Kaiden still tried to stretch his strained appendages and eased his neck for the umpteenth time as he called to the professor.

  “We’re here, Laurie. You know, you can simply ping us instead of—” He stopped when his gaze settled on a rather large figure seated in his usual chair. “Wolfson?”

  “Hey, boyo.” The head officer grunted and looked lazily at him but frowned when he noted his odd posture. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Failed Animus mission,” Chiyo answered calmly and took the chair opposite the giant.

  Wolfson smirked, shook his head, and kicked his feet onto Laurie’s table. “Failing missions in your third year? Come on now, Kaiden. That’s not a good precedent to set now that you’re only a few months away from being a Victor.”

  The ace wobbled over to one of the couches in the lounge and sat gingerly. “I was running through a simulation that Laurie made about the AO facility.”

  “A very early simulation that is not even close to complete that you pushed for, I should remind you.” The professor huffed and strained to push his colleague’s large boots off the table. “And I would thank you to not scuff my table.”

  “I can be delicate when the situation calls for it. I’m not saying it does now, but the hope is there.” Wolfson chuckled and returned his attention to the ace. “So, you wanted to have a look at the facility. What did you find?”

  “A crap-load of droids,” he muttered and laid down. “It was as if I was being hunted by every droid in the Death Match simultaneously. I ended up gunned down by a team of Assaults.”

  “What was the point, then?” Wolfson asked. “To see if you could wreck an entire production facility on your own?”

  “I was testing something,” he explained and looked at Chiyo, who was asking if she could have tea while Laurie continued to stare daggers at the giant. “According to some, I would have been more help simply streaking through as quickly as possible.”

  “I made no such insinuation,” his friend retorted quietly as she went over to a tea heater near Laurie’s desk.

  “Either way, it was foolish to attempt it on your own, Kaiden,” the professor reprimanded him. “I made the map empty on purpose. It was only for reconnaissance. To have changed the settings and turned it into a death trap like that, your instincts should be far sharper than they are.”

  “So, you were watching then?” he asked.

  “We certainly were.” Wolfson chuckled. “I was surprised to see any parts of you left by the end.”

  “You too? Then why did you ask what was wrong with me?” he asked and raised his head to stare at his instructor.

  “I wanted to hear you admit it.” He laughed. “Humility is healthy every once and a while.”

  “I wish you would demonstrate ‘every once and a while,’” he muttered and turned his attention to Laurie. “Did you call us here for a reason, or is this simply a lecture?”

  “If that was the case, I wouldn’t have asked Chiyo to join us,” the man retorted and turned his monitor. “I wish you had more patience. If you had, you wouldn’t have bothered to use the current map because Aurora and I have found a new one.”

  “Their HQ?” Kaiden asked and bolted upright in excitement despite his stiffness. “Where is it?”

  “I don’t think it’s their main base,” the professor clarified as he opened the file and displayed the blueprints for a large facility. “Despite that, it’s built like a stronghold. It’s definitely of some importance to them. My guess is that it’s some kind of off-site storage facility or barracks, maybe even a lab.”

  “Perhaps a little of all of them,” Chiyo suggested as she studied the diagram. “The assassin didn’t label them, but a few of the rooms are circled with symbols in each. I assume they are a personal code.”

  “I agree, but that brings me to my next point—or question, rather.” Laurie looked at Kaiden. “When we agreed on this venture, you said you had an idea where you could get additional forces. How is that coming along, dear Kaiden?”

  The ace glanced quickly at Chiyo and assumed a solemn expression. “Let’s go with slowly.” He sighed and leaned back. “But I guess, looking at it now, even if my idea had worked out, we still wouldn�
�t have had nearly enough men to raid something that big.”

  “From the looks of it, the number of hostiles you faced in the Animus is actually a safer estimate than I thought,” the infiltrator admitted and grimaced while she flipped through the various blueprints and a few hazy pictures. “I’m not sure if there’s a production component to this building or not, but there are a considerable number of droids and even some of those golems.”

  Kaiden closed his eyes to think without distraction. He needed more men if he wanted to actually accomplish this, but he consistently drew a blank. Aside from anything else, he certainly didn’t have the credits to hire a merc force—not that he wanted to, even if he had the means to hire one of the right caliber.

  “Hey, Wolfson,” he called. “Do you know anyone who would like to eliminate a shadowy doomsday group?”

  “Not offhand. Most of my buddies are retired or… Well, they can’t join for obvious reasons.” He shrugged and it was clear he wouldn’t expand any further.

  “Not even Raza?”

  “He’s back on his homeworld, dealing with some kind of ritual event. He couldn’t come even if he wanted to, and despite the warp gate, it would take him a few days. From the sounds of it, though, you don’t even have a plan.”

  “What about you?” he suggested. “You have some skin in this, don’t you?”

  “I certainly do.” He nodded and craned his neck over the back of his chair to look at Kaiden, who had moved closer to the blueprints. “I intended to go with you, whether you suggested it or not, but from the sounds of it, you are simply going on a suicide mission that will accomplish nothing. So, for now, my job is to make sure you keep your happy ass here until you do make a slightly reasonable suggestion.”

  “So that’s why you’re here—to metaphorically sit on me,” Kaiden complained.

  Wolfson scoffed, removed his feet from the table, and stood. “Try something foolish and it will be literal.”

  “He already has, technically,” Chiyo interjected.

  “You’ve both made your point.” The ace huffed and ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll think of something. I won’t let this opportunity pass me by.”

  “You’re not in this alone, Kaiden,” Laurie reminded him. “We all want to succeed and expose the organization and its activities. But as it stands, our hands are tied and we don’t want to lose one of our best students when it’s actually in our hands now.”

  “I know. That’s why you offered to make something up for our final,” he responded and closed his eyes wearily.

  Ringing sounded in his head and from Chiyo’s pad. He opened his eyes to read a message.

  All Masters, please report to the auditorium for your finals seminar.

  “Well, speaking of which…” Chiyo smirked, put the pad away, and finished her tea.

  “Do we have to go?” Kaiden sighed and sank into a nearby chair. “We already know the gist of it, and we have our target squared away.”

  “It’s mandatory, Kaiden,” she reminded him, walked over, and extended a hand to help him up.

  “You’re contract-free like me so don’t have to be a teacher’s pet anymore,” he grumbled but took her hand and allowed her to haul him to his feet.

  “That’s a good point,” she stated and released him without warning. He lost his balance and toppled into an untidy heap and she grinned.

  “Son of a… Daughter of a… Dammit!” he stammered as he forced himself up and glared at her with a mixture of pain and annoyance. “Funny, Chi.”

  “I agree,” she said with a small smile. “We’re going so the others don’t worry, and there’s something Genos wanted to ask as well.”

  “Genos? What does he want?”

  “You’ll learn at the auditorium.” She made no effort to elaborate and shooed him toward the door where she paused and turned to address Laurie with a bow. “Thank you for notifying us, Professor.”

  The ace gave a lazy wave. “Yeah, appreciate ya. I’ll think of something and be back soon,” he promised as they stepped out of the office.

  Professor Laurie sighed and turned his monitor to study his findings. “I certainly hope so, my boy.”

  Chapter Four

  The auditorium was abuzz with the third years chatting amongst themselves. Kaiden had to admit he wasn’t as swept up in it as he had been in previous years. For one thing, he knew what lay ahead—to the letter, in fact, as Laurie had explained it all. What he was more interested in was what Genos had to say. Chiyo had made it sound rather cryptic. Had his Tsuna friend done something wrong? Did he need help? He would certainly lend a hand with whatever his friend needed, but Genos knew he wasn’t exactly the one to call for delicate matters.

  As the duo entered the side door that led into the balcony, he looked over the railing to the Tsunas’ section. At this point, it was only partially filled with more coming in, but the integration had been more and more successful, so most actually filed into the room amongst the general populace. He didn’t see Genos or Jaxon. They must already be with the group.

  “It’s good to see you, Kaiden.” A firm hand slapped his shoulder and he turned to see Flynn’s wide smile. “You too, Chi. Did you just get here? Come on. Everyone is waiting for us.”

  The three of them continued to the balcony. Marlo and Mack greeted one another with a firm handshake that seemed to evolve—devolve?—into an arm-wrestling match. Luke, his grin wide, jogged over to referee. Izzy waved at Chiyo while Silas and Otto greeted the trio as they entered. The entire group was together except for their Tsuna buddies. The ace frowned and wondered if they’d chosen not to join them.

  “Greetings, friends!” Kaiden whipped around at the familiar voice and smiled when Genos and Jaxon appeared from the opposite stairwell. The group greeted the two while he made his way over to them.

  “How ya doing, Genos?” he asked, grasped his hand, and all but dragged him over to Chiyo.

  “Hello, friend Kaiden. You seem rather eager. Also, your movements seem a little stiff,” the mechanist noted.

  “I was blasted this morning but I’m getting better,” he responded and ignored a twinge of pain in his shoulder. He was improving slowly but surely. “I wanted to speak to you—or, rather, I heard you wanted to speak to me.”

  “Ah, yes, that. Certainly. We should have some time before the speech begins.” Genos nodded and sat beside Chiyo while Kaiden settled next to him. “I suppose I should begin right away. I have heard of your plans from friend Chiyo.” He nodded to the infiltrator.

  Chiyo? It wasn’t like her to spill secrets and he thought they were supposed to keep this quiet. He looked at her, puzzled.

  “He had already decided something was off,” she explained. “We never said anything about the drive after we gave it to the Academy. His team was the one who recovered it.”

  “I didn’t want to pry. But after she told me what you were planning…well, I want you to know first that I haven’t told the others. Friend Chiyo did tell me it was a sensitive matter. However, I want to tell you that I wish to help.”

  Kaiden frowned. It was a kind offer, but if Chiyo had filled him in, he should know all that it would entail. “I know you have been given orders to not involve us,” the Tsuna stated and gestured to the group behind him. “But I am offering on my own behalf with no coercion or even an invitation from either of you. That should be a…loophole in your contract correct?”

  He regarded his friend with new respect. Genos displayed a rather wily side, which was a little out of character for him, but he could see the determination in his eyes. This wasn’t him trying to be cheeky but wanting to help and coming up with a way to circumvent the contract was merely a part of it. The ace nodded, but before he could reply, the lights dimmed and the stage illuminated. Holoscreens appeared on the front of the balcony with Chancellor Durand’s face and smile filling the display. A look through the translucent screens confirmed that the chancellor now stepped to the podium on the stage.

  “Good
morning, students.” He greeted them cheerfully. “You know the date and that the end of your master year is coming up, which means this meeting is for one thing and one thing only. Discussion of your upcoming finals.”

  Well, that and the message they received before the conference, although that had only been he and Chiyo.

  “This is the big one. I would argue that this is the test of greatest importance—even more so then next year’s,” Durand continued. “That may sound odd, but I’m sure you all know that next year’s rank is dubbed ‘Victor,’ a signifier of your goal. To be victorious and strive for success. When you graduate, it will have true meaning. As such, this year’s final is proof that you are prepared to take on the tasks that await you once you graduate.”

  The chancellor looked around the room. Despite his earlier smile, he seemed much more stern than normal. Still, there was a trust in his gaze that Kaiden recognized and he was sure others could see it as well. “We know that after last year’s incident, some are concerned that there may be other ‘complications.’ I give you my word now, exactly as I did at the beginning of the year, that nothing will befall you.” His face turned solemn for a moment before it relaxed again as quickly. “At least, I can promise that as long as you stay here. But to show that you are prepared for the dangers that await you outside of this island, you must face reality—a rather loaded word in this case.”

  He looked off-stage and nodded at someone in the wings. “This year, your finals will not take place in the Animus but in the world itself.”

  His face faded from the holoscreens, which now displayed the profiles of the various students, teachers, and faculty members as they appeared and disappeared in rapid succession.

  “All of you will take part in a mission in teams of two to four,” he announced

  “Oh, we have this made.” Flynn chuckled and glanced at Kaiden, who merely shrugged. The marksman was certainly right for himself and the others. He, however, was less sure about his chances for obvious reasons.