Darius held a cup of coffee in one hand and a digital marker in the other. His heart thumped within as he sat amongst the group, for the first time feeling like an equal amongst them.

Tinker sat at a computer, controlling the hard glow of a holo projection depicting a zoomed in section of the city.

Darius walked around the holo, marking the known search patterns of Del’s P-Sec officers on the map.

Tinker pointed at the holo. “We’ve seen them doing sweeps through condemned buildings here and here. They travel between each building using the roads.”

Darius marked the locations and movement vectors with his digital pen.

Leary stepped up to the holo, passing a finger through its glow. “It looks like they’ll be moving to this abandoned construction yard next. I suspect this is our best shot at taking them down. It’s an open space with plenty of high spots for views, and low spots for ambush.”

“That’s the place, then.” Preature rumbled.

“They’re likely to use the established entryways, as designed. The first floor has been built, but only the framing exists above that,” Leary continued. “I will post up in the framing to take potshots at them from there, with a zipline escape, as usual. The rest of you will be the ground assault team. We’ll need to keep it close-quarters, if we’re going to pull this off.”

The group nodded in unison. Then Leary elaborated, “Preature, you hit them with EMP grenades and shotgun fire here at the entrance. CURL, stay out of sight and try to paralyze them, or at least mess with their cybernetic targeting. Tinker, you protect Preature with cover fire, and keep an ear on comms to ensure you’re there for anyone that needs medical attention. Darius, don’t get captured or shot, and stay out of the way. Keep your face uncovered, we want them to see you.”

“I’ll do my best,” Darius said, with an edge of sarcasm. “But I think I’d rather help…”

“No,” Preature interrupted. “You do what Leary says. He’s our strategy man. He knows what he’s doing.”

Darius held his tongue as seeds of frustration began to root within him. Perhaps he wasn’t as equal as he’d thought.

Tinker pointed to CURL, “As soon as a P-Sec goes down, I need you to break into their registry files and look for any cybernetics that are present in the functional list, but aren’t listed otherwise. That’s the only way we’ll be able to tell who has what parts.”

“Then, as the dust settles, we collect anyone with Darius’s missing parts, and take them to this building here, and Tinker operates on them to get the pieces we need,” Preature added.

“Doesn’t sound very sanitary to be taking parts out of someone to put into me,” Darius commented, less out of curiosity and more out of a rebellious attitude.

Tinker looked from face to face, then responded, “It happens in the streets all the time. There are hunters out there looking for cybernetics on the cheap, and what’s cheaper than free? At least we’ll properly clean and coat the parts with biogel so your body doesn’t reject them. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe. Mostly.”

“You’re welcome, by the way. We’re doing this to get your parts back after all,” Leary interjected.

“Enough, the kid’s been through a lot. He should be allowed to complain a little now and then,” CURL said, walking over to Darius.

“Let’s get back to the matter at hand,” Preature grumbled. “Del’s P-Sec officers will likely be armed with a basic loadout. Submachine guns, pistols, combat knives, flash bangs, and some cybertech; like armature blades. We’re likely to have the best shot of success by hitting them hard and fast from the shadows.”

Darius looked down at his upgraded right arm. He popped the gun out and then back in again. It was only a matter of time until his next ability slot opened up, and he couldn’t help but wonder what options there would be.

“Darius,” Tinker called. “You listening? This is important.”

Leary spoke up, “If things go wrong, Darius becomes our number one priority. We get him out of there as soon as we can, regardless of the circumstances otherwise. We could have most of the P-Sec officers down, but if we need to protect Darius, he’s our top priority.”

Preature looked over to Darius through slit eyes and said firmly, “If we get separated, you come back here. Make sure you’re not being followed.”

Darius nodded, “Okay. And what if they recognize me and take me?”

“Then we abort. All is lost,” Preature said in a darkened tone.

“Why bring me at all?”

“Bait,” Leary added matter-of-factly.

“What?!?”

“Yes. And, you have to learn to protect yourself, kid. Del Peck is coming at you with everything he has. You’re going into the deep end because we don’t have time for anything else,” Leary spoke around a cigarette that he had just lit.

“Why help me get these parts?”

The team looked at each other. Preature subtly shook his head, no. Still refusing to tell Darius about the design files hidden inside of his cybernetics. He stood up. “That tech was made for you. It likely still has bio-encoding for you. We’re just getting you what’s yours. Then, with your newfound power, you’ll help us get what should be ours.”

Darius peered at Preature.

“Give it some time. You’ll understand how the world works soon enough. I’m a Ven, kid. One of the best in the city. People come to me to get what they want, and I get it for them. We all do this, and we get paid well to do it. This all goes as planned, and you’ll officially join the team,” Preature deflected.

A rush of excitement rose in Darius as he soaked in Preature’s words, but a small doubt still remained within him. Why did they all look at Preature that way a moment ago? They were hiding something.