“Then the worst is true.” Eva pressed a hand to her chest and closed her eyes. When they opened again, that teary-eyed mother figure was gone and the woman who’d led a rebel faction for centuries stared at me with steely resolve. “One of our new recruits is a talented hacker and a Red, genetically paired with Agent Marquez. She uncovered a detailed list of all known Reds with locations and identifiers. I contacted you because we confirmed that the information leaked from one of Nagi’s labs. If Quanta is in play, I think we can safely assume the source.”

My chest tightened. If that was the case…

I’d seen how it worked. Doctor Nagi might not be getting the information from her easily, but he was getting it.

“Cipher and Marquez were also ambushed while hiding in a dead zone. They should have been safe, but again, my sources point to a leak.” Eva shook her head. The heart of the problem was obvious. “You’re going to have to take care of her, Altair.”

“You want me to kill her.” I saw the necessity, but it seemed incredibly cold coming from her, of all people.

“I want you to save her. But the reality…” Eva let out a heavy breath. “What was your instinct when you met?”

For a moment, I was back in that white room with Quanta.

The way she stared, defiant after everything. Those beautiful drawings on her walls. The ache I’d felt as she curled into herself, hurting…

Doctor Nagi had tried to break her. Maybe she was cracked, but she wasn’t broken.

My conscience said there was only one choice. “I want to help her.”

“Good.” Eva smiled, unusually smug for some reason. “Follow your heart.”

I lifted a brow. “I’d rather follow my head.” My heart was more impulsive than it should be today.

“Anything else to report? Have you dug in to his files?” Now her voice was over eager, but I didn’t blame her. I felt the same itch and I’d only been scheming a handful of years. She’d waited a few lifetimes.

“Nothing yet. I’ll get as much as I can, but don’t expect to hear from me soon.”

Eva nodded. “I’ll be waiting.”

“Any messages for her?” I wasn’t sure how we could communicate yet, but I was going to have to find a way.

“No.” Eva touched her hand to her heart. “Just bring her back.”

“I’ll do everything I can.”

“Be careful, Altair.” She clicked out and the vid screen disappeared, leaving me alone in wizard’s robes as I stared out at the vacant, white plane.

Did I just volunteer for a suicide mission?

Probably.

Even in VR, anticipation hummed through my body. I was up for the challenge.

I believed in our cause.

And I was ready to fight.

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

QUANTA