Smokes and Circuits (Veils of Kaizhun #1)

Arrival

The city of Kaizhun hit Adira like a slap to the face. From the moment she stepped off the maglev shuttle, the oppressive weight of the city bore down on her. The terminal buzzed with chaotic energy: holographic advertisements flickering overhead, crowds surging in every direction, and the harsh glow of neon reflected off the slick, oil-stained streets just outside. The scent of chemicals, fried street food, and the faint metallic tang of pollution filled the air.

Kaizhun wasn't just a city—it was alive. A relentless, breathing organism that swallowed people whole if they weren't careful.

Adira hoisted her worn duffel bag over her shoulder and took a deep breath. This is it. She'd dreamed of this moment, arriving in the heart of Kaizhun, the largest and most notorious metropolis on Earth. A place where anyone could rise, or fall, depending on their nerve and how quickly they adapted. She adjusted the strap on her bag and forced her legs to move.

A flicker of nerves rose as she checked her handheld for the coordinates. Zac was supposed to meet her here, but he wasn't the kind of guy who would hold up a sign or shout her name. Zac, from everything she had heard, was methodical and efficient—he'd find her first.

She scanned the terminal, trying to stay out of the main flow of traffic. Corporate drones and workers in drab suits bustled around her, their faces expressionless as they went about their day, while a few street vendors loudly hawked cheap tech mods and bootleg data drives near the entrance. There were no wide smiles here, no welcoming energy. Kaizhun didn't care if you were new, lost, or overwhelmed. It just kept moving.

A low, sudden beep on her device made her glance down.

"Stand by the second terminal on the left. I'll find you."

The message was brief, and it fit what she knew about Zac. No small talk, no pleasantries.

The second terminal was near the corner of the station, where a battered old vending machine hummed to life every now and then, the bulbs above it flickering. Adira made her way over, trying to stay calm, trying not to be the wide-eyed girl from the countryside.

The minutes dragged. Her foot tapped against the ground involuntarily, a nervous tick she thought she'd outgrown.

Then she saw him.

Zac, even in the crowd, was impossible to miss. He moved through the masses like water through rocks, effortless. He was dressed in dark tactical gear, though casual enough not to attract attention, a thick coat over his frame that barely disguised the muscular build underneath. His black hair, cut short but not military-grade, framed sharp, intense features. Everything about him screamed control—from his measured steps to the way his eyes flicked over her and assessed the area before they locked onto hers.

No wasted motion. No emotion either, from what she could see.

He approached, and as soon as he was close enough, Adira straightened.

"You Adira?" His voice was low, almost dispassionate, though she could hear the faintest hint of an accent. Not quite from the city. Like her.

"That's me," she said, trying to sound steady despite her nerves.

Zac nodded once. No handshake. No welcome.

"Let's go," he said simply, already turning on his heel. "We don't linger here."

Adira followed without hesitation, even though her heart was racing. He moved with purpose, like they were on the clock, and she had to jog to keep up.

They stepped outside into the streets, and the full force of Kaizhun hit her again. Towering buildings stretched into the smog-filled sky, their facades covered with animated billboards. The streets were a jumbled mess of old-fashioned hovercrafts, pedestrians, and makeshift stalls selling everything from knock-off implants to steaming bowls of noodle soup. Above, a tram rattled across its elevated track, sparks flying as it disappeared into the distance.

Zac navigated through it all with the ease of someone who had lived here far too long. As they moved deeper into the city, the neon lights of the corporate districts faded, and the streets became narrower, dirtier, with more graffiti lining the walls. It was a far cry from the pristine skyscrapers she had seen from the shuttle's window.

"First time in Kaizhun?" Zac asked, breaking the silence as they turned down a narrow alley.

"Yeah," Adira admitted. "Not quite like the holos."

Zac gave a short, humorless chuckle. "No, it's not."

They kept walking, and after a few blocks, they arrived at an unassuming building that looked half-collapsed from the outside. There was no signage, no indication of what lay within. Zac stopped in front of a heavy steel door, pressed his hand to a sensor, and with a hiss, it opened.

"Home sweet home," he said, though there was no warmth in the statement.

The interior was dim, but it immediately felt like a command center. The walls were lined with screens displaying live feeds from around the city, as well as maps and encrypted data streams. A workbench near the back was cluttered with half-finished tech mods, and there was a faint smell of ozone in the air. The low hum of machines filled the silence.

"Sit tight," Zac said, motioning her to an empty chair near the central table. "I'll get the others."

Adira dropped her bag to the floor and sat, her heart finally starting to slow. She watched as Zac moved with the same precision she had noticed before, walking down a hallway and disappearing behind a door. She could hear the faint murmur of voices—probably the rest of the team.

She looked around, trying to get her bearings. This was it. This was her new life.

And as the door opened again and Zac returned with his team in tow, she felt the weight of her decision settle in. There was no going back.

Kaizhun didn't let people leave that easily.