Children of the Virus

38: Zero Day

The circular table was a slab of darkness in the room's gloom, its surface reflecting faint shards of light from the overhead fixtures that struggled against the oppressive shadows. As the Rebellion leaders gathered, a man stood tall and confident among them. Juno's hawk-like gaze, Koda's constantly calculating expression, Darko's impatient demeanor, and Emily's thinly veiled contempt for Toshiro all turned towards him.

As Toshiro wondered about this unfamiliar figure, Koda approached, her gaze drawn to his. "That's Conrad, from Damascus. HQ sent him to check up on us after Baz died."

The mention of his fallen friend caused Toshiro to flinch. He couldn't bear to think about it, not yet. Conrad searched the expressions of the other leaders as they prepared for the discussion that could change everything.

"Please, everyone, quiet down. We need to focus," Conrad commanded, his voice cutting through the murmurs like a knife. "We're here today because Luna has something important to share with us."

Toshiro, sitting slightly apart with his thoughts orbiting around Luna like satellites, felt a catch in his breath. Luna. The name alone conjured the memory of her smile, the warmth of her touch. He had always believed he knew every contour of her soul, but now, uncertainty gnawed at him.

Luna's projection rose, her presence commanding the room into silence. "Friends, I have kept a secret from you all—one that I must now reveal." Her voice, usually a soothing balm, now carried an edge of steel that sent ripples of tension across the gathering.

"When I was alive, I too was a rebel, fighting for our cause in ways you never knew." The words hung heavy, a shroud descending over Toshiro's heart. A rebel? His Luna?

How could this be? he thought to himself, struggling to stitch together the fragments of this new reality with the woman he had loved. She was his wife, after all. The foundation of his world shifted, and he fought to maintain composure.

"Please, don't judge me too harshly," Luna continued, her gaze imploring. "I did it to protect you, to protect all of us. I knew that if my activities came to light, it would put everyone at risk."

Toshiro's mind reeled, casting back to nights filled with whispered dreams and shared secrets. The realization that she harbored this truth within her while they lay side by side left him adrift in disbelief. Had she been hiding this secret the entire time?

A gentle pressure on his arm brought him back. Ren, her face a mask of concern, leaned close. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice low and intimate, a stark contrast to the cold revelations still echoing in the air.

Luna, her eyes locked onto the silent exchange between Toshiro and Ren, reached out with her mind to where only Toshiro could hear. "Forgive me, my love," she whispered into his thoughts, a confession meant for him alone. "I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't bear to see the disappointment in your eyes."

"Are you okay?" Ren repeated, her grip tightening as she searched his face for signs of his inner turmoil.

"I'm fine, Ren." Toshiro managed a shrug, though his voice was devoid of conviction. He avoided Luna's gaze, afraid of what might be revealed in his own eyes.

Ren straightened, her frown deepening, as she glanced back at Luna. There was a hard edge to her concern now, a territorial glint that betrayed more than mere friendship.

Luna's fingers danced in the air, tracing the contours of an invisible object. With a swift movement, she called forth the hologram from her token—a shimmering three-dimensional schematic that hovered above the table, casting an ethereal glow on the tense faces gathered around. The Rebellion's leadership leaned forward, their gazes fixed on the flickering image as it rotated slowly for all to see.