The contract was in Khabarovsk — a hostage retrieval.The System deployed Vega without being asked.
They moved through the frozen streets like they'd done it a hundred times. The target building was an abandoned factory, the windows black holes in the brick. Inside, two hostiles, one hostage.
Vega took the lead, silent as smoke. Mitya covered the rear, the System feeding him angles and timing. The breach was surgical — two suppressed shots, one quick takedown. The hostage was shaken but unharmed.
On the way out, Mitya asked, "Where were you before this?"
Vega didn't look at him. "Tasking?"
"I'm asking about you."
"Tasking," Vega repeated.
The System's voice cut in.
Operator: Origin data — restricted.
Back in Vladivostok, Mitya watched Vega vanish into the Cleanroom shimmer. He wasn't sure if the silence was loyalty or programming.
Volkov's Progress
Volkov's aide dropped a file on her desk. "We traced the Busan incident to a vessel registered under a shell company. The same company appears in Vladivostok manifests."
Volkov smiled thinly. "Then we're getting closer.