CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39

The workshop in Unit B-17 smelled of dust, stale motor oil, and the sharp tang of desperation. Ace paced back and forth on the cracked concrete floor, the cheap burner phone Ramos gave him sat heavily in his pocket, feeling like an accusation. The System’s demand pulsed behind his eyes like a migraine: $2000. 7 Days. Paralysis. Evelyn leaned against a cluttered workbench, her fingers flying across her laptop keyboard, its screen casting an eerie blue glow on her focused face.

Ace stopped pacing and stated, "We need leverage that Borland will understand. It can’t just be ’we have your file.’ He’s a cop, so he understands threats. But he also understands containment and damage control."

Evelyn kept her eyes on her screen. "So, we’ll present it as a service: premium data security for people who feel they’re in danger." She tapped a key firmly. "I’m creating the user interface now. It will look like an expensive security dashboard, complete with an encrypted file symbol, status indicators, and fake access logs – all the visual elements that appeal to someone feeling overly cautious." Finally, she glanced at him, a hint of dark amusement in her eyes. "We’ll call it Aegis Solutions. The name suggests strong protection, but it’s also deliberately vague."

Ace repeated the word "Aegis," letting it roll off his tongue. It sounded strong and professional—nothing like the dirty, run-down vibe of the Nite Owl. "Alright," he said. "We’ll go with Aegis. But now, the real question is How do we convince Borland to pay for protection he never even wanted?"

Evelyn spoke calmly but firmly. "We need to show him how vulnerable he is. Deke is gone, and Ramos’s men are eliminating anyone who could expose them. Right now, Borland’s secrets are stored in a digital folder controlled only by us. He needs to understand that someone else has his files—and that working with us is far safer than risking Ramos finding them."

She turned the laptop around to reveal a polished, professional screen. A sleek, shield-shaped icon glowed softly in the corner. Below it, a file labeled Borland_M_Evidence_Package was marked with a red padlock and the words: ENCRYPTED - AES-256. Scrolling logs displayed timestamps and brief updates like Firewall Scan: Clean and Unauthorized Access Attempt: Blocked (Source: External_Probe_7). The whole setup looked like something from a high-end cybersecurity firm—convincing enough to make their bluff believable.

"The illusion is what sells the service," she said.

Ace nodded as a grim plan took shape in his mind. "Alright," he said. "I’ll make the call." He turned to Silva, who was nervously sketching on a scrap of paper near the door. "You know Borland. What’s his weakness—pride, fear, something else?"

Silva jumped, dropping his pencil. "B-Borland?" he stammered, swallowing hard as he wiped his palms on his trousers. "It’s definitely fear. He may have a mean streak, but underneath all that? He’s terrified of losing his badge, his pension... even his freedom. And he absolutely hates feeling out of control or owing anyone anything." Silva pointed a shaky finger at Evelyn’s screen. "That... that looks like control to him. Or at least, the illusion of it."

"Good," Ace said. He pulled out his own burner phone, the one not linked to Ramos. It was time to play Aegis. Using the direct, unlisted number for Borland that Silva had provided – a number lifted from Deke’s ledger – he dialed.

The phone rang twice. Then, a voice answered, sounding both suspicious and rough, like the speaker had been drinking cheap whiskey: "Borland. Speak."

Ace lowered his voice, trying to sound calm like Ramos. "Detective Borland," he began, "my name is Adrian Chase. I represent Aegis Solutions." He used the fake name automatically, like a shield. "Our company specializes in discreetly helping people who face... unusual dangers."

There was a moment of silence, then a low, dangerous chuckle. "Aegis? Sounds fancy. What the hell do you want, kid? I don’t buy security systems."

"We don’t sell hardware, Detective," Ace replied smoothly. "Our business is managing sensitive information assets. We focus on information that might be at risk because of recent problems within certain networks." He paused to let the detective understand what that meant. "We’ve recently taken control of a specific set of digital files. It’s known as the Borland_M_Evidence_Package, and it originally came from a man named Deke Vance."

"The silence on the other end became intensely cold and heavy. Ace could practically feel Borland’s anger rising. Borland hissed, "Vance is dead," his usual rough voice now filled with icy fury. He continued, "And you’re full of shit."

"But the data isn’t," Ace countered, his voice hardening slightly. "It is encrypted and secured. But vulnerable data isn’t the same as destroyed data, Detective. Ramos is currently cleaning up Deke’s mess. Do you want Ramos to find this package? Or worse, do you want one of Deke’s less careful associates to find it?" Ace leaned into the fear Silva had identified. "Aegis Solutions offers containment. For a modest fee, we guarantee this package remains encrypted, completely isolated, and most importantly, silent. We will become its custodians. Think of us as its shield."

More silence followed. Ace could hear Borland breathing heavily. "Protectors?" Borland finally spat out the word. "That sounds like a fancy name for blackmail."

"It’s insurance," Ace stated firmly. "Blackmail means using leverage to force someone. We’re offering you security and peace of mind – a barrier against things spiraling out of control. The fee is $2000 per month. In exchange, your file remains under Aegis protection. You’ll get status reports whenever you request them through a secure online portal." He signaled to Evelyn, who gave a sharp nod, indicating she was ready to proceed.

"Two grand a month? For what? Your word?" Borland’s voice dripped with contempt, but the underlying tremor of fear was unmistakable.

"For our service," Ace emphasized. "For proactive monitoring and containment. Consider it a subscription to silence. Your initial payment secures immediate activation and locks the current encryption protocols." He paused. "We can send you a secure link to access the dashboard immediately. You can verify the file’s status yourself, right now."

Another tense pause. Then, Borland answered grudgingly. "Send the damn link."

Evelyn’s fingers danced. Seconds later, a text with a masked URL pinged on Borland’s end. Ace heard the muffled clicks as Borland presumably accessed it on his phone. He pictured the detective staring at Evelyn’s sleek, intimidating dashboard, seeing his name on a securely encrypted file, the logs implying constant vigilance against unseen threats. The illusion was potent.

A long minute passed. Ace held his breath. The System’s paralysis penalty loomed like a physical weight.

"Fine," Borland growled, the word dragged out like broken glass. "Two thousand dollars, upfront. For one month. How do I get it to you?"

Ace responded instantly, his tone impersonal and professional. "It must be untraceable cash. Deliver it to Locker 142 at the Grand Central Bus Terminal. The combination is 15-32-7. You have two hours. Once I receive the funds, your file status will update to ’Active Protection’." He emphasized the consequences clearly: "If you fail to deliver the money on time, or if you try to trace this call, your file will be handed over to... less controlled channels."

"Understood, Adrian," Borland sneered, the fake name dripping with sarcasm. "I will be there in Two hours." The line went dead."

Ace lowered the phone, his hand trembling slightly with adrenaline. He looked at Evelyn. "He will deliver in Two hours at Bus terminal locker."

Evelyn was already typing. On the dashboard screen, the red padlock icon next to Borland’s file shimmered and changed into a green checkmark. A status message appeared: ACTIVE PROTECTION - MONITORING ENGAGED. "The deception worked," she said, a hint of a smirk touching her lips. "Let’s hope he’s as scared as he sounded."

Silva finally let out the shaky breath he’d been holding. "Holy hell, Ace," he said. "You sounded just like a real businessman... a scary one."

"It was necessary, Silva," Ace muttered, running a hand through his hair. He felt the weight of the shakedown settle on him; it felt dirty, even though they called it a "service." But survival was rarely clean. He glanced at the clock. They only had two hours left.

After two hours and seventeen minutes, Ace walked back into the workshop. He clutched a plain manila envelope thick with cash and tossed it onto the workbench next to Evelyn’s laptop. "Here’s two thousand dollars," he said. "It’s all in small bills and untraceable."

Evelyn picked up the envelope, hefting its weight with a grim satisfaction. She pulled out the bills, quickly but methodically counting them. "Two thousand. Confirmed." As the last bill was counted, she entered a command into her laptop.

SYSTEM ALERT: PRIMARY OBJECTIVE ACHIEVED

SECURE REVENUE STREAM: $2000 (WEEK 1) CONFIRMED

REWARD UNLOCKED: SKILL - NANITE SWARM LV.1

The blue text flashed, then dissolved. Simultaneously, a strange sensation flooded Ace. It wasn’t pain, but a sudden, intense awareness spreading from his core down his limbs – a million tiny, invisible points of potential energy humming just beneath his skin. He felt... connected. To the dusty air, to the metal of the workbench, to the dead phone sitting in a pile of scrap parts nearby. Knowledge flooded his mind: how to direct this latent energy, how to command the microscopic machines to assess, disassemble, reassemble. Repair. The power felt raw, limited, but undeniably there. He flexed his fingers, half-expecting to see a shimmer in the air.

"Are you okay?" Evelyn asked, looking up from the stack of cash. "You look pale. Is it an adrenaline crash?"

Ace forced a tight smile. "I’m just relieved the cash is real," he lied smoothly. He picked up the dead disposable phone. Focusing inward, he directed his silent swarm of nanites. A faint warmth spread from his palm into the device. In his mind’s eye, he saw a schematic flicker, showing a disconnected battery terminal. With a mental nudge, the nanites bridged the gap. The phone’s screen flickered weakly, lit up showing a low battery icon, then died again. It worked, he thought. It was a tiny, crucial victory known only to him.

Silva proudly held up his scrap of paper. "Hey! Since we’re ’Aegis Solutions,’ we need a professional logo!" he announced. He displayed his drawing: a lopsided circle containing a wobbly line and a crude stick figure clutching a misshapen square. "See? It’s a guy holding a shield! Protecting things!" he said proudly.

Evelyn leaned over for a better look. After peering at the drawing, she looked directly at Silva, her expression completely deadpan. In a flat tone, she stated, "Silva, that looks like a terrified tadpole trying to defend itself with a cocktail napkin."

Ace snorted, a sudden, unexpected laugh bursting out – the first real one in days. The tension of the shakedown, the dread of Ramos, the System’s relentless pressure... it cracked, shattered by Silva’s gloriously awful art.

Silva slumped, looking hurt. "Hey!" he protested. "It’s symbolic! It represents a protective spirit!"

"That spirit desperately needs to learn the basics of art," Evelyn shot back, though a small smile appeared on her lips. She turned back to her laptop. "I’ll design the logo myself. I’ll make an abstract shield design. Something clean and simple. Something that won’t give people headaches." She started drawing smooth, precise lines.

Ace slipped Ramos’s untraceable phone into his pocket. Its cold, heavy feel reminded him of the dangerous situation they were in. He looked at the money they’d just received – it meant they could survive for one more week, but getting it had forced them to make choices that felt wrong. He could sense the faint hum of the tiny machines implanted beneath his skin, his secret advantage. He glanced at his companions: Evelyn, practical and quick-thinking, and Silva, sincere but not very good at creating things.

Their group, called Aegis Solutions, felt like a shield built on hidden truths, sheer need, and an ugly logo. They had bought themselves just one week with that money. They now had seven days to find another $2000 before Ramos gave them their first assignment. The pressure was building fast. Yet, for the moment, they were still standing. And Ace knew he alone possessed a hidden power. Before coming here he had picked up a broken radio from the pile of junk nearby. It was time to test what his unseen swarm of machines could actually do. To survive what was coming, he needed to use every secret weapon he had.