Not quite. I knew she’d cook something up if I asked, but it wasn’t her area of expertise, and I didn’t want her fingerprints on the code if I went down mid-rescue. “You don’t need to be involved in this, Cass.”

“Cass?” Cipher squinted at the screen, and then blinked. “Wait. Cassiopeia? Orpheus?”

“See?” Cass hit me again. “I’m famous.”

Apparently. “You know each other?”

“Not really,” Cass said. “Just anyone who knows tech knows Cipher.”

“And I know your games,” Cipher said. “But we mostly play console in the Voids. Nobody has the servers to host VR.”

“Console gaming?” Cassie’s mouth twisted. “That’s so—”

“Can you debate platforms later?” I didn’t have time for this. My neck prickled with the need to take action. “Quanta’s life is in danger.”

“Quanta?” Cipher turned to Eva.

“She’s his match,” Eva said, as if that explained everything.

It did.

“Shit.” Hunter gripped Cipher’s shoulder. “Where?”

“Doctor Nagi’s facility underneath the senate. If you can work up a program for me, I can upload it from my father’s office.”

“Maybe.” Cipher chewed at her lip ring. “I could probably buy you a few minutes, but getting out…”

“Just get me in.” I was already brewing a plan based on my mental map. Which lifts to take. Where to plant explosives. I’d need smoke pellets. Weapons. Even then it would be borderline suicidal, but I had to try. “Please.”

“I need a few hours,” Cipher said.

“Thank you.” I couldn’t relax, but it was a start.

“I’d like you to put a team together, Knight,” Eva said. “We’ll coordinate an external distraction to go off as Altair uploads the program.”

“I’ll ask for volunteers,” Hunter said, “but I won’t order anyone to go on a mission this dangerous. I hate to even say it, but are we sure Quanta is worth the risk? Going after the senate—”

“Yes.” Eva and I spoke at the same time. Our gazes met across the screen. At least there’s one point we can agree on.

Cipher elbowed him in the side. “You risked it for me.”

His gaze softened as he stared down at her. “That’s different.”

“It’s really not,” Cipher said. She turned back to me. “I’ll get to work on a virus to kill their systems, but you better have a really fucking good plan for after that.”

As Cipher strode off screen, Hunter’s eyes followed. The adoration on his face was as good as a premonition. That was what I was headed toward—absolute devotion.

Maybe I was already there. The thought didn’t bother me.

“I’ll put my team together,” he said.

“Thank you.” I’d owe him more before this was over.