The warehouse felt cold again, despite the warm glow of the hanging lights. The air was thick with the tension of unsaid words. Aemon leaned against a dusty crate, arms crossed, staring out at the quiet street through a crack in the broken window. His mind raced, but the ideas didn't come easily.
Baz, meanwhile, sat at a cluttered table, scribbling on a piece of paper, his brow furrowed in concentration. The faint hum of resonance still buzzed around him, a constant reminder of his power. His mind worked differently than Aemon's—he didn't waste time with second-guessing. He thought fast, acted fast, and often didn't wait for others to catch up.
"So, what's the plan?" Aemon finally asked, breaking the silence. His voice was sharp but filled with uncertainty.
Baz didn't look up from his paper, his hand moving rapidly as he wrote. "I'm trying to figure out how to get past the perimeter. There are enforcer checkpoints, cameras, the whole damn sector's locked down tight after what happened with Ryke. But we need to get in—quietly." He paused, then added, "Or not."
Aemon blinked, his brow furrowing as he processed Baz's words. "You're seriously thinking about just walking in, guns blazing?"
Baz chuckled without humor. "You think that'll work?"
Aemon stood up straighter, his eyes narrowing. "I think we should at least try. You've fought your way out of worse situations."
Baz looked up at him then, his expression unreadable. "I'm not as reckless as you think." He ran a hand through his hair. "We're not charging in with guns blazing, Aemon. We need a plan that'll get us close, unnoticed, and able to get Ryke out without getting both of us killed."
Aemon crossed the room to where Baz sat, his boots heavy against the concrete floor. "Then stop dancing around it," he said, frustration edging into his voice. "What do we need to do?"
Baz finally set down his pen, his gaze meeting Aemon's. There was a flicker of something—annoyance, maybe, or just impatience—but his voice remained calm, controlled. "It's not that simple. Ryke's in the Resonance Containment Facility for a reason. The place is a fortress. It's not just a prison—it's a high-security holding facility for resonants. The only way in is through a backdoor, and even that's nearly impossible to reach. And, if you're asking me to risk us both just so you can play hero, you're going to be waiting a long time."
Aemon's eyes flashed with a fire that was hard to ignore. "I'm not playing hero, Baz. I'm helping you. You said you wanted Ryke back. Well, I'm here now. So stop talking like I'm some kind of liability."
Baz stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. The sudden movement caught Aemon off guard. Baz towered over him, his face flushed with frustration.
"I didn't say you were a liability," Baz snapped. "I just don't think you understand the weight of what we're doing here. Ryke's been locked up for five years. He's not the same person he used to be. You think you can just waltz in there, pull him out, and everything will be fine?" His voice dropped, turning low. "It won't be. It'll be a bloodbath."
Aemon didn't flinch. He wasn't afraid of Baz's anger. He was more concerned with the emotion he heard in his voice—the underlying panic Baz tried to hide.
"I'm not expecting it to be easy," Aemon said, his voice softer now, though still filled with conviction. "But it's not like we have a choice. Ryke's your brother. If we don't do this now, he'll be lost forever."
The words hung in the air between them, thick with the weight of truth. Baz exhaled, running a hand through his hair again. He was visibly torn, struggling with the decision. Aemon knew what that felt like—the constant battle between doing what was easy and doing what was right. It was a fight he had lost too many times in his life.
After a long pause, Baz finally spoke, his tone quieter, though still edged with tension. "You're right. But we need to plan. And if we're going to make it out of there alive, I need you to stop thinking like you're invincible. You're not. This isn't some street brawl. It's not just about fighting. It's about getting in, getting Ryke, and getting out. If we don't think this through, we'll both be dead before we even get close."
Aemon held his ground, refusing to back down. "I'm not saying I'm invincible. But I've got resonance too. And you're not doing this alone, Baz. I'm with you, whether you like it or not."
Baz shot him a sideways glance, then muttered under his breath, "I don't like it."
The two of them stood there for a moment, tension thick between them, neither willing to let the other have the final word.
"Fine," Baz said at last, his voice gruff. "Let's talk strategy."
Aemon nodded, crossing his arms again. "I'll follow your lead. Just don't try to pull some lone wolf shit on me, alright? We're in this together."
Baz gave him a long, hard look, then sighed. "Yeah. Together."
He walked over to a map pinned to the wall, motioning for Aemon to follow. The map was a tangle of lines, scribbles, and markings. It detailed the layout of the Resonance Containment Facility, its entrances, exits, and layers of security.
"Here's what we know," Baz said, pointing to a section of the map. "The facility's heavily guarded. We can't get in through the front, obviously. They'll know we're coming before we even make it past the first checkpoint."
Aemon leaned in, studying the map closely. "So, we go around the back. Is there a way to get through the service tunnels?"
Baz nodded, pointing to a narrow path on the map. "There's a maintenance entrance here. It's usually unguarded, but it's still risky. The only way through is if we can disable the security grid long enough to slip past. I know a guy who might be able to help with that, but he's not exactly the most reliable."
Aemon frowned, but didn't argue. "Who is?"
"His name's Rook. He's a techie—a hacker. He owes me a favor, but I wouldn't count on him being easy to find."
Aemon raised an eyebrow. "Owes you a favor? This doesn't sound like the kind of guy we want on our side."
Baz chuckled, though it was devoid of humor. "You're right. But we don't have many options. If he doesn't help us, we're stuck."
Aemon's gaze darkened. "Alright. Let's find him."
Baz nodded, folding the map and tucking it into his jacket. "We're going to need a few things before we head in. Some tools, extra supplies. You got any connections in Sector 3?"
Aemon hesitated, his expression hardening. "I might."
Baz gave him a sidelong look, then shrugged. "Good. Let's hit the streets. We've got work to do."
They turned to leave, the weight of the mission settling on both of them. The door creaked open, the harsh light of the street outside spilling in.
Baz paused in the doorway, glancing at Aemon, his expression unreadable.
"This is it," Baz said quietly. "We're doing this. We don't come back if we fail."
Aemon met his gaze with an unwavering look. "We won't fail."
They stepped out into the cold night, ready to face whatever lay ahead.