Sector B

30

Theodore was awake and there to greet Decha when he got back to the Agency. He was rubbing his neck, still sore from the dart that sedated him.

"You look like crap," Decha announced and stopped in front of him. He was still concerned for his father's well-being, despite his standoffish posture.

"Yeah, well, I feel like it too." Theodore groaned and rolled his neck around. "Whoever broke in somehow managed to turn off our cameras. The Agents are trying to lift the lockdown and trace steps back to the hacker. We need to find that dastard at all costs and arrest him."

"You've got bigger things to worry about," Decha gestured to all the council members who were recovering from their sedation. "We need to get them to a safer place. The person who hacked our computers was most likely looking up information about the council, you, or any other high-ranked Generals. Any of us could have a target on our backs."

"You speak like you've encountered the culprit." Theodore raised a brow, wondering why Decha seemed like he knew more about the situation.

"That's what I wanted to speak to you about. Privately."

"Let's head up to my office, I guess," Theodore sighed.

"We can talk here, just keep your voice down." Decha shifted his gaze to the commotion behind them. Over Theodore's shoulder, Jax and the council members were talking amongst each other. It was enough to keep them out of their private conversation.

"The culprit shouldn't have been able to enter unless you have someone in the Agency sneaking around. But my theory is that this person must have trained with other Generals. This guy is no joke, he's not bad when it comes to his abilities. He's very agile, not lacking."

"Have you seen their face?"

"I was able to identify them."

"Great! ...So?"

Decha brushed his hair back and clenched his jaw. "His name is Jamison Clarke. He's a Bracketer and works at a Butchershop right on the border. Somehow, during the collapse or before it, he infiltrated Sector A. I don't know how he's been able to roam around Astell freely, but since I know what he looks like, it won't be hard to track him down."

"N96, why are you fidgeting?"

"I am?" Decha relaxed his shoulders.

"You look like you're about to explode. Did something happen between you and the culprit?"

"He's someone I'm familiar with."

"Nepotism with the enemy? What other facts can you give that we don't have to search for?" Theodore was proud of his son. Decha was always ten steps ahead of them. Never had he been grateful to have a genius for a son.

"He's... Rory's father."

"I'm sorry, what?" Theodore laughed and punched his ear lobe. He thought he heard Decha wrong. "It sounded like you said the culprit was Rory's father."

"I did."

"Which Rory?"

"Chen," Decha groaned, allowing Theodore to accept his statement. Theodore Chen wasn't going to take it lightly. He looked around quickly.

Decha knew that Theodore's reaction was going to be worse. "So... what are you going to do about it?"

"I'm going to find him, and kill him, as the law allows me to."

"I assume you'll also remove Rory out of your care."

"No." Decha refused.

"I want her out of my house, Decha! She built the machine that killed dozens of Generals! Now her father hacked into our systems and we have targets on our backs!"