Knife's Edge

Chapter 9 ◈ In Plain Sight

[09 // In Plain Sight]

Judging from the current situation we found ourselves in, I decided that it would be best to raise the threat level to code white just so that if ever the time comes when we need to escape, we're all on the same page. We'll all know our tasks and we'll all know our designated hiding places.

"How come Keith gets to stay in Tuwondo Sentro? He doesn't even go out to the nightclubs there!" Nala protested as Pyre brought out his notes. With the press of a button beneath my white glass table, light grey holograms materialized up from its surface and within seconds, a three-dimensional model of Zuluron came to be in front of us.

Pyre formulated the plan – I used to tease him that it was an obsession, because it is, and he'd always say that one can never be too assured. The probability of his plans being foiled is low, but he'd argue that it's never zero. I think he just likes planning, a lot – like a thick book of three years' worth of compiled hand-drawn plans a lot.

He unfolded an underground map of the downtown area of Tuwondo – the second-most populous city in Zuluron – and laid it across the table. Nala had to move the holographic map aside with the wave of her wired palms just so that we can read what it says on the paper. "Precisely. Keith's the least likely among the four of us to even bother going out for a drink. If we put you there, the chances of you getting into trouble skyrockets to at least 80%."

"Hey, I don't drink that much!" She crossed her arms and pouted at him. He only squinted his teasing eyes before chuckling. "Well, yeah, but you have the alcohol tolerance of a 12-year-old, Mimi." Keith couldn't stifle his laugh which gained him an elbow jab to the side from Nala's good arm.

"Still, why do I always get the rural hiding spot? If you're trying to get me hooked to that cottagecore aesthetic then no-siree, that is not happeni—" Keith shushed her down, paired with a wave of a finger in front of her before replying. "You're the fancy tech guy and they know it. They're less likely to look for someone who deals with technology in the countryside. Besides, the internet isn't so bad in Paljan, so quit fussing." Fair point, but I'm pretty sure Pyre only chose to assign Nala in one of Aunt Fareeha's chateaus down the southeast of the city so that my aunt's loyal physician can easily reach her if ever she needs assistance. Before, we all could get to her even on short notice since we all lived relatively far apart yet are still within the city – now, the closest one to her is going to be Pyre but their houses are still at least three hours' worth of a drive apart. That's not going to be enough time if one of her organs "fucks up at their one job", as she'd lovingly say, out of nowhere.

Pyre then zoomed into the country map, putting Keith's designated house in focus at the center of the table. "Besides, the house is the closest one we have to the chemical storage warehouse of Medico Alvarez." A finger's touch moved the digital map and now centered a huge private compound for us to focus on, aligning with the underground schematics etched in the paper map. Pyre eyed Keith. "If you access the underground tunnels, you can easily get into the compound without being seen by the cameras, especially the ones in the police station just a few streets away. I mean, everyone knows that every security camera in the city siphons information from its citizens, but the police cameras are a different case. Be extra careful with those" He continued, pressing a button to highlight the imposing building which was only three intersections away from Keith's two-story home.

"You'll have enough resources for your weapons and experiments at your disposal. Just, try not to use them on yourself again." I added. The last time that happened – which was when he tested his prototype sleep serum – he ended up passing out and sleeping for 17 hours straight. It would be an understatement to say that Nala was on the verge of having a breakdown when he wouldn't answer our calls the entire day.