Flickers of Solaris: Volume I

Echoes of Perdido

The morning light did little to lift the heavy shroud hanging over Solaris. The rain had paused for now, leaving the streets slick and reflective, catching the city's neon glow in shallow pools. The distant hum of traffic and the chatter of early commuters did nothing to quiet the anxious pulse in Haruto's chest as he stood outside the crumbling facade of the building Mila had traced. Perdido District loomed around them, a forgotten part of the city where whispers died in the wind and eyes in dark corners watched from the shadows.

Mila shifted beside him, her fingers wrapped tightly around the strap of her shoulder bag. She glanced up at the building, its broken windows like eyes staring back, unblinking. "This is it," she said, her voice a strained whisper. "The address from the transaction log."

Haruto took a deep breath and nodded. "Stay close. We don't know what we'll find in there."

He pushed open the rusted door, which groaned in protest, and they stepped inside. The air was thick, heavy with dust and the faint tang of rusted metal. Piles of abandoned office furniture were scattered throughout the space, overturned desks and shattered computer screens forming a maze of debris. The room was dim, the only light seeping in through cracked windows, casting fractured shadows.

"Why would anyone route millions through a place like this?" Mila whispered, more to herself than to Haruto. She reached into her bag, pulling out a flashlight and shining it around the room. The beam caught the outline of faded logos and posters from a company that had long since been forgotten. It was a name Haruto recognized but hadn't thought about in years — Gentech Solutions, a tech firm that had been embroiled in scandal before disappearing without a trace.

He frowned, memories surfacing like unwelcome ghosts. Gentech had been the center of a high-profile investigation once, accused of illegal data harvesting. The charges had been dropped mysteriously, and within months, the company dissolved, leaving behind nothing but speculation and whispers.

"Someone's keeping this place connected," Mila said, pulling Haruto from his thoughts. Her flashlight hovered over a pile of old filing cabinets, one of which had been shifted slightly, revealing the edge of a metal door set into the floor.

Haruto's pulse quickened. A trapdoor.

They exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them. He reached down, prying it open with a sharp, metallic creak. The smell of dampness and oil wafted up, followed by the faint hum of machinery. Below was a set of narrow stairs leading into the darkness.

"Stay behind me," Haruto said, gripping the flashlight tightly. He descended, each step groaning under his weight as he tried to quiet the noise. Mila followed, her breath shallow, eyes wide with anticipation.

At the bottom, the narrow passage opened into a large, dimly lit room. Haruto's flashlight swept across the space, revealing rows of server racks, their lights blinking methodically. It was an unexpected sight, an island of modern technology hidden beneath the decay above.

Mila's eyes widened. "This... this is an active server room," she said, her voice trembling with disbelief. She rushed to the nearest console, fingers dancing over the keys as she logged in. Lines of code appeared on the screen, and her expression shifted from confusion to shock. "These servers are routing encrypted data — massive amounts of it. And the source IDs... they're linked to Loom."

Haruto's jaw clenched as he took in the room, the faint hum of the servers filling the silence. It was a direct link to Loom, more tangible than anything they had found before. But before he could say anything, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs behind them.

"Someone's coming," he whispered, instinctively positioning himself between Mila and the noise. He scanned the room for a weapon, spotting a length of metal pipe lying on the floor.

The footsteps were slow, deliberate. A shadow stretched across the doorway as a figure appeared — tall, with a dark coat and a face partially obscured by the brim of a hat. The light from the servers cast a cold glow on the man's expressionless face.

"Curiosity is dangerous," the man said, his voice deep and calm. He took a step forward, eyes fixed on Haruto. "You shouldn't be here."

Haruto raised the metal pipe, heart racing. "Who are you?"

The man's lips curved into a faint smile, devoid of warmth. "A keeper of secrets. And yours just ran out."

Mila glanced at the computer, then at the man. Her fingers tensed around her bag as she made a quick decision, pulling a small USB drive from her pocket and jamming it into the console. The server screen flashed, and the hum grew louder as data began to transfer.

The man's eyes flicked to Mila, his smile fading. "I see you've made your choice."

Without warning, he reached into his coat. Haruto lunged, swinging the pipe, but the man was faster. He sidestepped the blow and drove his fist into Haruto's chest, knocking the wind out of him. The room spun, and Haruto crashed to the floor, gasping for air.

Mila backed away, the transfer still in progress, but the man was on her in an instant. He grabbed her wrist, squeezing until she cried out and dropped the flashlight. It rolled across the floor, casting long, erratic shadows.

"Stop it," Haruto rasped, struggling to his feet. His vision blurred, but he forced himself forward, driven by instinct and desperation.

A sudden click filled the room, and all movement stopped. Mila's eyes widened, and the man's grip on her wrist tightened as he turned to see the source of the sound. Haruto held the handgun, finger on the trigger, eyes locked on the man's cold stare.

"Let her go," Haruto said, his voice steadier than he felt.

The man released Mila's wrist slowly, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "You have no idea what you're playing with, detective."

"Try me," Haruto spat, eyes not leaving the man for a second.

A tense silence hung in the air. Then, without a word, the man took a step back, eyes flicking to the USB drive still lodged in the console. He gave them one last, cryptic smile before turning and disappearing up the stairs, his footsteps fading into the distance.

The room was still again, save for the hum of the servers and the harsh breathing of Mila and Haruto. Mila pulled the USB drive free, the transfer complete, and pocketed it with shaking hands.

"We need to go," she whispered, eyes darting to the stairwell. Haruto nodded, adrenaline surging through his veins as he took one last look around. This was only the beginning, and he knew it. The game they were in was deeper than they had imagined, and there was no turning back now.

Together, they ascended the stairs, leaving the flickering servers behind, knowing they had just lit a match in the darkness of Solaris.