CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: ALERT!

Jace finally tossed the last box out of the building and onto the growing pile outside.

"Whew! That was a lot."

Zin chimed in.

[Yes, we did it.]

Jace paused. "What do you mean we did it? What’s with the group credit? You’ve been talking the whole time."

[Hey, hey, moral support counts. Remember when you struggled with that box and I said ’You can do it’? That helped.]

Jace shook his head. Zin had definitely changed. His voice felt more expressive now, almost smug at times. But Jace didn’t mind. If anything, it was kind of nice. Like having a best friend who lived in his brain. Or an annoying little brother who thought he was clever.

He stretched his back and glanced at the now-cleared warehouse floor. "Alright. What’s next? I’m guessing we need to sweep this place, scrub off the grime, then figure out how to get equipment."

He walked back inside, brushing dust off his hands.

"Oh, and Zin, any luck with that income stream? You know, the kind that doesn’t scream ’arrest me.’"

There was a pause before Zin responded.

[I’ve found one.]

"Go on."

[Cryptocurrency laundering through micro-splitting server loops. The system runs ghost wallets that split gains across thousands of international nodes. It doesn’t trigger global alerts unless someone specifically knows where to look.]

"...That sounds illegal."

[Technically, it’s more like digital opportunism. You won’t be stealing, just intercepting unclaimed residual loops.]

Jace blinked. "So... digital crumbs?"

[High-value crumbs. We’re talking thousands per hour depending on bandwidth.]

He thought about it. Morally gray? Yes. Dangerous? Probably. Worth it?

"Run it."

[Initializing ghost nodes now. Estimated gains should begin flowing within twelve minutes.]

Jace smirked. "Twelve minutes till payday. Not bad."

He grabbed a broom and started sweeping the floor. The warehouse echoed with the soft scrape of bristles and distant city noise.

He was officially in business.

Underground business.

But business nonetheless.

Zin’s voice echoed urgently in Jace’s head.

[Jace, pull out your phone. It’s an emergency.]

Jace furrowed his brow but didn’t question it. He grabbed his phone from the table, tapped the screen, and the news app opened by itself. Zin had already connected to the live feed.

A shaky news broadcast appeared.

Helicopter footage showed a wide section of the city in chaos. Cars flipped over.

Roads cracked. Fire and smoke billowed from collapsed buildings. Civilians ran in every direction. Emergency sirens were drowned out by screaming.

A terrified news anchor’s voice spoke over the footage:

"We are reporting live from the east side of Grayson City, where moments ago, an unidentified creature appeared in the streets, causing widespread panic. Authorities have no explanation for what we’re seeing. It is not human. It is not metahuman. We... we’ve never seen anything like this."

The feed cut to a shaky ground camera.

The image shook violently as the reporter ran, turning the camera toward the source of the carnage.

In the distance, a towering figure moved through the haze. Its outline was massive, nearly eight feet tall, its shape distorted by smoke and shadow. It roared, low and guttural, followed by another building collapsing behind it.

"We have multiple confirmed casualties. Several vehicles have been thrown, at least four buildings damaged, and the fire department is still unable to access the area safely. So far, over two dozen injuries and at least six deaths have been confirmed. Local authorities have issued an immediate evacuation for the surrounding districts."

The anchor’s voice returned, more desperate this time.

"We urge citizens to stay indoors or flee the area if possible. At this time, no hero or metahuman has arrived to respond. We can only hope help is on the way..."

The feed cut again. Static replaced the sound.

Jace’s jaw tightened. His fingers slowly lowered the phone, his eyes still locked on the screen even after it went dark.

That was here.

In his city.

Grayson was supposed to be quiet, too far from politics, money, and power to attract villains. Even criminal metahumans avoided it. There was nothing worth fighting for.

"Zin..." he said slowly, "...is that an alien?"

There was a pause before Zin responded.

[Yes. That is an alien.]

Jace’s chest tightened.

"...What kind?"

[I don’t know. Not yet. I can’t identify it from the footage alone. Whatever it is, it doesn’t match anything from my restored data.]

Jace stared out the warehouse window, trying to process it all.

Aliens were real. Zin had told him that. But this wasn’t a quiet visitor in disguise. It wasn’t some explorer hiding in plain sight.

This thing was a monster.

And it was loose in his city.

[Jace, that part of the city is the same area Eva went to. I suggest—]

"I thought you wanted me to kill her..." Jace cut in, half glaring at nothing.

[She may still be useful. In addition... I understand that you have feelings for her.]

Jace almost choked. "What—what the hell are you talking about?"

[We should focus on the matter at hand. Time is not on our side. Many have died already. I do not believe you are ready, but I also think there is more to your race than siphoning energy through... intimacy.]

Jace rubbed his forehead. "Thanks for saying that like a total creep."

[Facts are facts.]

He paced across the dusty floor, heart pounding faster now. Eva was in that area. With that thing. And she didn’t have her powers.

"Zin, if I go there... what do I even do? I don’t know how to fight something like that."

[Then this is the moment to learn. You will adapt in real combat. I will guide you.]

Jace stared at the phone screen again, the paused news footage still showing smoke, fire, and chaos. His stomach tightened.

"...Alright. Screw it. Get me a route there."

[Calculating the fastest path. I recommend taking your bike. And, Jace... be ready to use your power.]

Jace swallowed hard and grabbed his jacket.

It’s time for Cipher to begin.... he needed a better name.