The academy's bio-lab hummed with the quiet whir of machines, a sterile space that smelled of chemicals and forgotten experiments. Alex paced the floor, the blueprints from the Diver's lair spread out on a workbench, lines of schematics blurring under the harsh lights. The Chemist—Vortex's poison master, brewing toxins in a hidden facility—loomed as the next mark. The squad's plan: breach at midnight, neutralize his vats before they could taint the city's water supply. But Alex's mind was a storm, caught in the pull between Mia's quiet admission and Lila's fierce kiss that still burned on his lips.
Mia's confession in the pool had hit like a rogue wave—her eyes soft, voice trembling as she said, "I've liked you for a while, Alex. More than friends." He'd fumbled, the water lapping at his legs like accusations, and she'd swam away before he could respond. Now, she tinkered at a nearby station, mixing antidotes for the op, her neon hair tied back, focus intense. But every so often, she'd glance his way, a mix of hope and hurt that made his chest ache.
Lila burst in, carrying gear bags, her presence like a spark in the room. "Antidotes ready?" she asked Mia, voice casual but her eyes flicking to Alex with that knowing smile. She dropped the bags and pulled him aside, her hand on his arm. "You look like you haven't slept. The Diver still bothering you?"
He shook his head, the system's prompt flashing in his vision:
SYSTEM PROMPT: Mission Unlocked! Objective: Spike the Chemist's main vat with a neutralizer using Mia's antidote as base. Reward: Unlock 'Chemistry Basics Pro.' Failure: 'Perfume Making 101.' Tip: Mix in the lab—don't let the romance brew over.
Perfume? The system's timing was vicious. Spiking with Mia's work meant altering her mix, risking her trust even more. "Just... a lot on my mind," he said to Lila, his voice low. She leaned in, her lips brushing his ear. "Talk to me later? Alone?"
Before he could nod, Mia called over, holding up a vial. "This should counter the toxins. You two... need a room?" Her tone was light, but the edge was there, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.
Jax sauntered in, breaking the tension with a bag of snacks. "Bio-lab picnic! Who's hungry?" He tossed a pack to Mia, winking. "For the genius. Don't let these lovebirds distract you."
Mia caught it, laughing, but her glance at Alex and Lila lingered, a silent storm building.
Poison Play: Vats and Vibes
Midnight cloaked the Chemist's facility, a nondescript building by the river, its vents puffing faint green mist. The squad moved like shadows—Mia hacking the doors, Jax forcing a grate, Lila covering with her scope. Alex's implant mapped the layout, but the system's task weighed heavy: spike the vat.
Inside, the lab was a maze of bubbling tanks and hissing pipes, the air thick with acrid fumes. The Chemist—a gaunt figure in a hazmat suit—hovered over his main vat, stirring a glowing brew. Guards patrolled, masks on, but Mia's drone released a sleep gas puff, dropping them one by one.
"Clear," Mia whispered, her voice tight. She handed Alex a vial of antidote. "Neutralize the smaller vats. I'll handle the console."
He took it, their fingers brushing, her touch sending a familiar warmth. "Mia, about the pool—"
"Later," she cut in, her eyes soft but guarded. "Focus."
Lila signaled from across the room, her nod sharp. "Chemist's moving—take him down quiet."
Alex crept to the main vat, the system's prompt urging him on. He spiked it with a tweak to Mia's mix—a neutralizer that'd fizz the whole batch harmless. But as he poured, alarms blared—the Chemist spinning, his suit hissing poison spray.
Chaos erupted—guards rousing, sprays filling the air. Jax charged, coughing but swinging, smashing a tank that flooded the floor in foam. "Slippery bastards!" he yelled, sliding into a guard.
Lila fired, tranq darts flying, but one spray hit Mia's arm, her skin blistering. "Burns!" she gasped.
Alex dove for her, his implant pulling First Aid Quick, wrapping her arm with a strip from his shirt. "Hold on," he said, his voice cracking, her pain hitting him like a punch.
Lila covered them, her shots precise, but her glance at their closeness carried a flicker of something—jealousy? The Chemist lunged, but Jax tackled him, the vat fizzing over in harmless bubbles from Alex's spike.
They escaped, Mia leaning on Alex, her head on his shoulder. "Thanks," she murmured, her breath warm.
Lila drove the van, silent, the triangle humming like the engine. The Chemist's data pointed to the Enforcer next—a brute boss. But as Mia's hand squeezed Alex's, Lila's eyes in the mirror met his, the road ahead felt rocky in more ways than one.