Chapter 9: Plans in the Dark

  The factory was back in operation, the hum of orbal machinery once again filling the air. Workers moved efficiently, though the tension from the previous attack lingered, their movements sharper, more cautious. The smell of smoke had been mostly cleared, but the memory of alarms and chaos still clung to the walls.

  Inside Murdok’s office, the five of us — Me, Agate, Estelle, Kloe, and Tita — gathered around the long table, papers, schematics, and Orbal maps scattered across its surface. Murdok stood at the head, arms crossed, his expression stern.

  “We need a plan,” he said firmly. “The Intelligence Division knows exactly what they’re doing. We can’t afford mistakes. If Professor Russell isn’t rescued quickly, the consequences could be catastrophic — not just for the factory, but for Ziess itself.”

  Agate leaned over a map, tracing possible exit routes. “They must have had a vehicle or transport network ready. We need to anticipate their path and set up intercept points.”

  Estelle added, voice tense but focused, “We should split into teams — some to track movement, some to protect the factory and its assets, and one team to extract the professor as safely as possible.”

  Kloe nodded, scanning the schematics. “Timing is everything. The longer we wait, the harder it will be to predict their next move. We need all available information — now.”

  I reached into my pocket, expecting the familiar weight of the Gospel — and froze. My heart skipped. It’s not here.

  “Tita… the Gospel,” I said, voice tight. My fingers shook slightly as I patted down the other pockets. Nothing.

  Her eyes widened. “Wait… it’s gone?”

  Agate slammed a hand onto the table. “Missing? How? You had it the whole time, Jack.”

  I shook my head, panic rising alongside frustration. “I don’t know… I must have dropped it when Walter attacked, or — or when the smoke incident happened. It’s gone, and we don’t know where.”

  Murdok’s face darkened. “That artifact… if it’s in the wrong hands, the Intelligence Division could use it to locate more of the Society’s relics. Or worse, it could be weaponized.”

  Estelle’s voice was sharp. “Then we need to find it. Now. And we still have to get the professor back. Everything depends on both of them.”

  Kloe’s gaze met mine. “Jack… we’ll get both. But you need to stay focused. Panicking won’t help.”

  I took a deep breath, forcing my fingers to unclench. We can’t lose the Gospel. Not now. And we can’t let them get away with Russell either.

  The room fell into a tense silence, everyone calculating, planning, readying themselves for the next move. The chase had begun, and nothing — not smoke, not attacks, not missing artifacts — was going to slow us down.

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  Meanwhile, far from the bustling streets of Ziess and the chaos at the Central Factory, a grand chamber in the capital of Grancel sat cloaked in shadows. Tall windows let in only slivers of pale moonlight, illuminating the sharp features of a man seated at a polished ebony desk. Colonel Richards, leader of the Intelligence Division, surveyed maps, dossiers, and arcane devices with cold precision.

  “This city, this kingdom…” he murmured, almost to himself. “All of it blind to what’s coming. Queen Alicia sits on the throne, thinking she governs. But governance without control is meaningless.”

  A soft click echoed behind him, and two figures stepped into the light. One was tall and imposing, armor gleaming faintly in the moonlight — Captain Amalthia, a stalwart enforcer of the division, known for ruthless efficiency and unwavering loyalty to Richards. The other, Lieutenant Laurence, younger but equally sharp, carried an air of quiet menace, his analytical eyes taking in every detail.

  “Sir,” Amalthia said respectfully, bowing slightly, “the operation in Ziess has succeeded. The bracers have been observed. Professor Russell has been removed. The artifact is —”

  Richards raised a hand, cutting her off. “The Gospel? I care not if it has been secured or lost, so long as the Queen remains unaware. Our objective is clear: destabilize her power, remove obstacles, and place Liberal entirely under the control of the Intelligence Division. The Society will guide us, and in return, we will enforce order as we see fit.”

  Laurence stepped forward, voice measured but cold. “And the bracers, sir? Jack Herron and his companions? They are proving more capable than anticipated.”

  Richards leaned back, steepling his fingers. “Let them test us. Every move they make brings them closer to the edge. Captain Amalthia, ensure the intelligence units are in place. Lieutenant Laurence, prepare contingency plans — I want every escape route, every possible reinforcement considered. No mistakes. The Queen must fall without suspicion, and when the time comes, Liberal will kneel to us.”

  Amalthia and Laurence nodded, turning to leave, each aware of the lethal efficiency expected of them. Richards’s eyes lingered on the maps once more, lingering on Ziess and the routes leading to the Central Factory.

  A faint smile curved his lips.

  “Soon,” he whispered, “everything will be in place. The Society has been patient… and so have I. But now, it is time to strike.”

  Outside the chamber, the city of Grancel slept, unaware of the shadow that moved within its walls. Orders had been given, plans set into motion, and the Intelligence Division, once thought a neutral force, revealed its true allegiance — poised to reshape the kingdom in its image.

  I slipped a few steps away from the group, pressing the orbal communicator tightly to my ear. My fingers fidgeted slightly — more from nerves than anything else. I had to sound calm, composed, but inside, the disappointment burned like fire.

  “Sir… it’s me,” I began, voice steady despite the tightness in my chest. “We’ve returned to the factory. The situation is… complicated. Professor Russell has been taken by the Intelligence Division, and… the Gospel… it’s missing.”

  There was a pause on the other end, the faint static of the line filling the silence. “Explain,”

  Cassius’s voice said, clipped but calm.

  I swallowed, forcing my thoughts into order. “It seems that during the smoke incident, and the subsequent commotion… I must have dropped it. I didn’t notice at the time, and now it’s gone. I — I’ll track it, I’ll recover it, I promise. But I wanted to report immediately.”

  Another pause. “Do not panic,” he said finally, his tone measured but firm. “You are still the most capable of handling this situation. Focus on what you can do — recovering Russell and the Gospel comes first. The rest will follow.”

  I nodded, though he couldn’t see it. “Understood, sir. I’ll… stay sharp. I won’t let this slip again.”

  The communicator clicked softly as the line went silent. I pocketed the device, taking a deep breath. Around me, the others moved through the factory, searching for clues, analyzing corridors, and questioning workers. Agate’s eyes were sharp, Estelle’s determination evident, Kloe’s mind working through patterns, and Tita… she kept close, noting every detail with her usual precision.

  But then I saw her — Tita, shoulders slumping, small hands covering her face, a muffled whimper escaping. Her eyes were red, her usually bright expression clouded with fear and worry.

  I moved quickly to her side, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder. “Tita,” I said softly. “Hey… it’s okay. We’re going to find Russell. I promise you — no matter what it takes, me and the others, we won’t stop until he’s back safe.”

  Her trembling slowed slightly, eyes meeting mine. “Y-you really think so…?”

  I gave her a small, reassuring nod. “I know so. You’re not alone in this. We’ll get him back. Every step, every clue, every move we make — it’s all for that. You just focus on staying safe and helping us however you can.”

  A small, shaky breath escaped her, and I felt some of the tension in the room ease. But the weight of the mission still pressed down on all of us. The Intelligence Division had made their move, and now it was up to me — and the bracers — to respond. Failure wasn’t an option, not when lives, history, and the future of Liberal were at stake. I needed to focus now, I can't slip up like earlier.