Everyone Is Connected

In sync chapter 4

The conference room was tense, as everyone from the BSAA team, along with the President and I, gathered once again. I sat next to Kassandra, my mind racing with thoughts of what was coming next. It wasn't just about me anymore—this was about something much larger. But I couldn't deny that a part of me was still reluctant. I stood up, my voice clear but carrying the weight of my demands.

"I'm in, but I want protection... and maybe a proper place to sleep."

Chris smiled, clearly relieved at my decision. "You'll get it. We have a housing facility nearby, secured 24/7 with top-tier security. You'll be safe there. Some of the other BSAA soldiers are stationed there as well. If things get dangerous, they'll be there to protect you."

I nodded, acknowledging the arrangement, and sat back down.

Chris continued the briefing. "Alright, now that we know you're with us, we'll be launching the mission to infiltrate the Hive in four days. Everyone needs to prepare. Leon, Carlos, and Elouise—you'll be the ones going in. Claire and Kassandra will assist via comms from the background. Piers will be our sniper and provide overwatch with me."

He paused, glancing around the room to ensure everyone was paying attention. Every face was focused, knowing what was at stake.

"We'll be training non-stop for the next four days," Chris added, his tone turning serious. "Elouise, you'll be doing daily deep dives to calibrate and control your powers. You'll also have combat training with Leon, Carlos, Piers, and myself. The rest of you know how to prepare. We can't afford any mistakes."

He looked around the room one last time. "Any questions?"

The room remained silent, everyone processing the weight of the mission ahead. I felt a knot form in my stomach. This wasn't just a battle against Umbrella—it was a battle for my own freedom and identity. I just hoped I was ready.....

Chris stood up, signaling the end of the meeting. "Alright, meeting's adjourned. I'll escort the President out. The rest of you, get to work."

With that, the room cleared out. Everyone, except for Kassandra, Claire, and me, filed out to begin their preparations. Kassandra turned to me, her expression focused but gentle. "Claire and I have already set up for the deep dive. We'll conduct it now, and after that, you'll get a half-hour break before the combat training begins."

I nodded in acknowledgment and followed the two of them to the designated room. The moment we entered, I saw it—the suit. That damned suit. I'd worn it too many times before, and each time it felt like I was being dragged back to something darker. My mind flashed back to my first deep dive, a traumatic event where the Blackwall had nearly fried my brain, holding me in cyberspace for so long that I ended up in the ICU for a month.

"Hey, Elouise, are you okay?" Claire's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I blinked, focusing back on her. "Yeah... I just don't want to wear the suit. I'm going in without it. It's too uncomfortable."

Claire nodded understandingly. "Whatever makes you feel more at ease," she replied with a soft smile before returning to her station.

Kassandra, meanwhile, was busy monitoring the systems and setting up the cyberspace interface. I slowly stripped out of my clothes and stepped into the familiar, yet dreaded, tank. The cold metal of the connector touched the back of my head, and within seconds, I was being pulled into the digital void.

I stood in cyberspace once again, the surreal landscape stretching out before me. And there, staring at me, was the Blackwall. She didn't move or say anything at first, just silently watching. It unnerved me. No taunts, no mocking remarks like usual.