The weapon was still on his desk when dawn broke, a dark silhouette against the pale light leaking through the curtains. Mitya hadn't slept much. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the Cleanroom shimmer, the way the object had appeared as if reality had been edited just for him.
The System's voice came before the tea had finished steeping.
Operator: Contract escalation available. Live deployment recommended. Operative support authorized.
He set the cup down. "Operative?"
Designation: Vega. Special Forces profile. Loyalty: absolute. Origin: classified.
The air in the room seemed to thicken. Then, without fanfare, a figure stepped forward from nothing — tall, lean, dressed in unmarked tactical gear. The face was calm, unreadable, the eyes scanning the space once before locking on him.
"Tasking?" Vega's voice was low, precise, stripped of anything unnecessary.
The Brief
The contract unfolded in his mind's eye:
Type: Recovery & VerificationTarget: Package in transit, intercepted by unsanctioned actors.Location: Warehouse District, Pier 7.Risk: Moderate.Reward: 1,500.00 + Reputation Increment.Complication: Hostile presence confirmed.
Operator: Live combat training integration available. Recommend acceptance.
Mitya's pulse quickened. This wasn't a quiet scan or a dockside stroll. This was stepping into the white horizon with the safety off.
"Accept," he said.
Pier 7
The fog was thick enough to taste by the time they reached the warehouse district. Vega moved like a shadow that had learned discipline — silent, efficient, every step placed with intent. Mitya followed, the weapon hidden under his jacket, the System feeding him a slow drip of data: heat signatures, movement patterns, structural weaknesses in the building ahead.
Two guards at the entrance. One smoking, one pacing. Vega glanced at him once, a silent question. Mitya remembered the Sim's lessons: minimal noise, minimal collateral.
He nodded.
Vega moved. The first guard went down without a sound, the cigarette still burning between his fingers. The second barely had time to register the blur before a chokehold dropped him into unconsciousness.
Inside
The warehouse smelled of oil and damp wood. Stacks of crates formed narrow corridors. Somewhere deeper in, voices murmured in Russian — casual, unguarded. Mitya's HUD marked three hostiles clustered near a table, the package sitting between them.
Operator: Engagement parameters — non‑negotiable retrieval.
Vega looked to him again. This time, Mitya stepped forward. The weapon felt steady in his grip, the training overlays guiding his aim without thought. He moved into position, waited for the moment when all three were within his line of sight.
"Now," he whispered.
Vega was a blur — two down before they could stand. The third turned, reaching for something under his coat. Mitya's shot cracked through the fogged air, clean and final. The man dropped, the echo swallowed by the warehouse walls.
The Package
It was smaller than he expected — metal case, sealed, unmarked. The System confirmed it with a soft chime.
Target secured. Extraction advised.
They retraced their steps, slipping back into the fog. No alarms, no pursuit. Just the sound of the bay lapping against the pier.
Aftermath
Back in his apartment, the Cleanroom shimmered. The package vanished from his hands, leaving only the faint smell of cold metal.
Ledger: 2,200.00Reputation: +2 (Novice Tier)Note: First live engagement recorded. Efficiency: acceptable. Collateral: none.
Vega stood by the window, watching the city lights blink through the fog. "You hesitated," he said — not as an accusation, but as a fact.
"I decided," Mitya replied.
Vega inclined his head slightly, as if that was an answer worth keeping. Then, without ceremony, he stepped back into the shimmer and was gone.
The room felt smaller without him. Mitya sat at the desk, the weapon beside him, the fog pressing against the glass. The System's voice was quiet, almost approving.
Operator: Further escalation available.
He didn't answer right away. Outside, Vladivostok was still breathing, still pretending it didn't notice the storm building in its veins.