Chapter 2

The glaring suns of Aridia beat down on Agent X's bunker as she pored over the encrypted data, sweat dripping down her neck. Numbers blurred together, funneling through shell companies and false fronts, until it clicked. "I'll be damned. Nythara."

Rhea, tinkering with her plasma pistol, glanced up. "The jungle planet? What's on Nythara?"

"Money trail leads to a Syndicate supply depot, hidden in that godforsaken snake pit." Agent X stood, holstering her sidearm with a grim smile. "Pack your bug spray, Rhea. We're going on a trip."

Leaving their ship behind, the humid air clung to their skin as they trekked through the dense Nytharan jungle, dodging pools of bubbling acid and snapping carnivorous plants. Rhea muttered curses as she batted away a swarm of bloodsucking insects. "Remind me why I signed up for this again?"

"For the glamor and prestige, obviously," Agent X quipped, hacking through a tangle of vines with her vibroblade. She froze, sensing movement in the shadows. Drawing her pistol, she scanned the foliage, muscles coiled.

A flash of iridescent scales, then silence. Slowly, a Volith emerged from the undergrowth, obsidian eyes glittering. It hissed softly, forked tongue tasting the air. Agent X kept her aim steady, finger on the trigger.

The serpentine alien regarded them for a long moment, then melted back into the jungle without a sound. Agent X exhaled, lowering her weapon. "Snakes. I hate snakes."

Rhea quirked an eyebrow. "Good thing we're heading to a place called the Viper's Den, then."

Agent X let out a derisive laugh. "You're quite the multitalented one, Heisenbug. A computer genius and a comedian." Liora used the nickname Rhea earned as one of the Intelligence Division’s most brilliant computer spies—able to infiltrate the most secure network, find data or inflict damage, and escape without detection—a portmanteau of the famed physicist’s name and “computer bug”.

As they pressed on, Agent X's thoughts turned to Darius Voss, a distant relative of the Chancellor and a man she once trusted with her life. The betrayal still stung like a fresh wound. She clenched her jaw, pushing down the old anger. One way or another, she would see this through. The Syndicate had to be stopped, no matter the cost.

The Viper's Den loomed ahead, a seedy outpost teeming with mercs, spice runners, and cutthroats. Agent X and Rhea exchanged a glance, steeling themselves. It was time to get some answers, even if they had to beat them out of a few lowlifes to do it. Agent X cracked her knuckles with a predatory grin. "Rhea, you up for a drink?"

"Out of a dirty glass?" Rhea retorted, her expression sour.

As they stepped through the doors of the dimly lit den, the pungent scent of cheap booze and unwashed bodies hit them like a wave. Rhea's delicate features twisted in disgust as she wrinkled her nose at the foul stench. "Charming place," she remarked dryly, "I can see why the Syndicate would enjoy it here." The air was thick with smoke, making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. The sound of raucous laughter and clinking glasses filled the room, creating a chaotic symphony that echoed off the walls. Despite its dingy appearance, there was an unspoken tension in the air, as if everyone there was on edge and ready for trouble at any moment. This was not a place for the faint of heart or those seeking a peaceful night out.

Agent X scanned the room, taking in the menagerie of unsavory characters. "Just keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. We don't want to draw attention."

They sidled up to the bar, where a grizzled human with a patch over one eye was nursing a drink. Agent X leaned in close, her voice low. "Hey there, handsome. Heard you might know something about the Eclipse Syndicate's supply runs."

The man squinted at her, his good eye bloodshot. "Might be I do, might be I don't. What's it worth to ya?"

Agent X slid a handful of credits across the bar. "Let's start with this and see where it gets us."

As the informant pocketed the credits, Rhea noticed a flicker of movement in the shadows. A figure, watching them intently. She nudged Agent X, murmuring under her breath. "We've got company."

Across the room, Draven Korr sat in a darkened booth, his eyes fixed on Agent X and Rhea. He had followed their trail from Aridia, always staying one step behind. Now, seeing them here, in the heart of Syndicate territory, he knew his moment was close at hand.

Draven's fingers drummed on the table, itching for the familiar weight of his blaster. He had a job to do, and he intended to see it through.

As Agent X and Rhea continued their hushed conversation with the informant, Draven watched and waited, a predator biding his time. Soon, very soon, he would make his move. And then, the Stellar Assembly’s best spy would no longer spy with impunity.

Agent X's wrist communicator buzzed, a faint blue glow illuminating her face in the dimly lit bar. She glanced down, her brow furrowing as she read the encrypted message.

"What is it?" Rhea asked, leaning in close.

"A warning," Agent X replied, her voice low. "Someone claims there's a traitor in our midst. Says we need to watch our backs."

Rhea's eyes narrowed. "You think it's legit?"

Agent X shrugged, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "In this line of work, it pays to be paranoid. We'll play it safe, see where this lead takes us."

Across the room, Draven Korr's gaze followed Agent X's every move, his mind working overtime. He had seen the flash of her communicator, the sudden tension in her posture. Something had spooked her, and he needed to know what.

Rising from his seat, Draven made his way towards the bar, his steps measured and casual. He sidled up next to Agent X, flagging down the bartender. "Whiskey, neat."

Agent X glanced at him, her expression cool and guarded. "Draven Korr? Fancy meeting you here."

Draven smirked, tossing back his drink. "You know me, always where the action is. Heard you were sniffing around, thought I'd come see what all the fuss was about."

"And what have you learned?" Rhea asked, her tone icy.

Draven shrugged, his eyes never leaving Agent X's face. "Enough to know that you're in over your head. The Syndicate, they don't take kindly to outsiders poking around. Especially not Assembly lackeys."

Agent X leaned in close, her voice a dangerous purr. "I'm no lackey, Korr. And I'm not afraid of the Syndicate."

Draven chuckled, a low, mirthless sound. "You should be. They've got eyes everywhere, and they're watching you. One wrong move, and you're dead."

As if on cue, the informant at the end of the bar stumbled to his feet, his face pale. "I've said too much. I've gotta go."

Agent X reached for him, but he slipped away, vanishing into the crowd. She turned back to Draven, her eyes narrowed. "What game are you playing, Korr?"

Draven spread his hands, a picture of innocence. "No game. Just trying to help out an old friend. Watch your back, X. There's a storm coming, and you're right in the middle of it."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Liora and Rhea alone at the bar, the warning still ringing in their ears. They had a traitor to find, and time was running out.

Agent X and Rhea exchanged a glance, the tension palpable between them. They couldn't afford to let Draven's warning rattle them, not when they were so close to uncovering the truth.

As they made their way through the crowded bar, Agent X couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Her instincts, honed by years of training, screamed at her to be on guard.

"We're being tailed," she murmured to Rhea, keeping her eyes forward.

Rhea nodded almost imperceptibly. "I count three. Mercs, by the look of them. Well-armed and not bothering to hide it."

Agent X's mind raced, calculating their options. They couldn't risk a confrontation here, not with so many innocent bystanders. But if they led the mercs outside, they'd be walking into an ambush.

"We need to split up," she said, her voice low. "Draw them out, then take them down."

Rhea's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "I thought you'd never ask."

They parted ways, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease. Agent X could feel the mercs' eyes on her, tracking her every move. She led them on a winding path through the bar, always staying just out of reach.

Outside, the humid jungle air hit her like a wall. She scanned the shadows, searching for any sign of the mercs. A flicker of movement caught her eye, and she tensed, ready for a fight.

But before she could make a move, a figure burst from the darkness, slamming into the nearest merc with bone-crushing force. It was Draven, his face a mask of grim determination as he grappled with the heavily armed mercenary.

Agent X leaped into action, drawing her own weapon as she charged towards the fray. The mercs were good, but Draven was better. He moved like a ghost, striking with brutal efficiency as he took them down one by one.

In the chaos, Agent X caught a glimpse of Rhea, her lithe form darting through the shadows as she engaged the remaining mercs. Together, they made short work of the attackers, leaving them scattered and groaning on the ground.

As the dust settled, Agent X turned to face Draven, her heart pounding with adrenaline and something else she couldn't quite name. "Why did you help us?"

Draven shrugged, his grey eyes unreadable. "Let's just say I have my reasons. The Syndicate, they're not the only ones with secrets."

With that, he melted back into the shadows, leaving Agent X and Rhea to catch their breath and ponder the implications of his words. The night was far from over, and the danger was only just beginning.

As the trio stood amidst the fallen mercenaries, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the narrow alleyways of the Vipers Den. Agent X tensed, her hand instinctively reaching for her holstered weapon. "We've got company," she hissed, her eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

Rhea, her face illuminated by the dim glow of a nearby neon sign, tapped furiously on her wrist-mounted computer. "Eclipse Syndicate operatives, closing in fast. We need to move, now."

Draven, his expression unreadable, nodded towards a darkened side street. "This way. I know a place we can lay low, regroup."

Agent X hesitated, her gaze locked on Draven's enigmatic features. Could she trust him? The man was a wild card, his motives as shadowy as the streets they now traversed. But with the Syndicate on their heels and options running out, what choice did she have?

"Let’s go," she said, her voice low and urgent.

As they hurried through the labyrinthine alleys, the sound of pursuing footsteps grew louder, closer. Agent X's heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She glanced at Rhea, the younger woman's face a mask of determination as she kept pace beside her.

Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the shadows ahead, blocking their path. Agent X raised her weapon, ready to fire, but Draven's hand shot out, staying her trigger finger. "Wait," he growled, his eyes narrowing as he studied the newcomer.

The figure stepped forward, revealing a face that Agent X recognized all too well. “Prince Arion?” She sputtered out his name in shock, unable to comprehend how the heir to the throne of Elaris was suddenly involved.

"Draven, my old friend," the Prince purred, ignoring Liora’s bewilderment. "I'm afraid our little arrangement has come to an end. You see, the Syndicate has made me a far more compelling offer."

A cruel smile played across his lips as he regarded the trio, flanked by a contingent of heavily armed Eclipse Syndicate operatives.

Draven's jaw clenched, his eyes burning with barely contained rage. "You double-crossing son of a—"

The Prince chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "Spare me the dramatics, please.” His calm demeanor quickly turned to rage. “After what you did to my family, you should be grateful that I don’t make you suffer!” He quickly regained his composure. “You were always expendable. And now that you've led me to Agent X, your usefulness has run its course."

With a snap of his fingers, the Syndicate operatives leveled their weapons at the trio, ready to fire on command. Liora's mind raced, desperately searching for a way out, an escape route, anything. But as the Prince’s laughter echoed through the alley, she realized with sinking dread that they were well and truly trapped.

The tide turned in a single, stunning instant. Unseen by the Prince and his gunmen, Rhea swiftly maneuvered into position and tossed an ion grenade into the heart of the group. Reacting instinctively, Agent X and Draven turned and ran. Caught off guard, the blast disoriented the mercs and briefly disabled their weapons.

Agent X's heart pounded as they raced through the dimly-lit streets of the Vipers Den, the sounds of angry shouts echoing behind them. Rhea and Draven flanked her, their faces grim and determined as they wove through the seedy crowds, dodging startled onlookers and overturned carts.

"We need to get off the streets," Agent X panted, her eyes darting from side to side, searching for any sign of pursuit. "The Syndicate and those mercs won't be far behind."

Draven grunted in agreement. "I know a place. An old Intelligence Division safehouse. It's not far from here."

Rhea shot him a skeptical look. "And you're sure it's still secure? After all this time?"

"You got a better idea, sweetheart?" Draven retorted, his voice thick with sarcasm.

Agent X held up a hand, silencing their bickering. "Enough. There’s no time. Draven, lead the way. Rhea, watch our backs."

The trio made their way through a series of narrow, twisting alleys, the stench of rotting garbage and stale sweat assaulting their nostrils. Finally, Draven brought them to a halt before a nondescript door, its metal surface pitted and rusted with age.

"This is it," he muttered, punching a series of codes into a hidden keypad. With a soft hiss, the door slid open, revealing a dimly lit room beyond.

Once inside, Agent X allowed herself a moment to catch her breath, her mind reeling from the events of the past few hours.

"So, what now?" Rhea asked, her voice cutting through the tense silence. "We can't just sit here and wait for them to find us."

Agent X nodded, her brow furrowed in thought. "You're right. We need a plan. The Syndicate's up to something big, and we need to find out what it is before it's too late."

Draven snorted. "And just how do you propose we do that? In case you haven't noticed, we're not exactly in the best position here."

Agent X met his gaze, her green eyes flashing. "And why is that, Draven? Why was the crown prince of Elaris, his royal highness Kael Arion, here on Nythara, intent on killing us?”

Before Draven could utter a reply, Rhea seized the moment and chipped in. “Yeah, what was all that about your ‘little arrangement’ and double-crossing?”

Draven looked chagrined. After a brief pause, he responded, his voice barely above a whisper. “There was a misunderstanding.”

Liora stifled an eye-roll. “A misunderstanding? We were almost murdered in the street!”

Straightening his posture, Draven's tone turned more forceful. “Look, it was just business. Things went sideways, I had second thoughts, and here we are.”

The answer didn’t placate Rhea, who shook her head as she spoke. “C’mon, spill. Why were you involved?”

Draven shifted uncomfortably under her scrutinizing gaze. “It’s nothing personal, alright? I just needed a little money.”

His words left Rhea gasping. Liora couldn't hold back her outrage any longer. “Really? Money? You turn your back on the Assembly and then betray it to pay your debts!”

“Don’t you talk to me about betrayal!” Now there was now fire in Draven’s eyes.

Rhea flashed Agent X a confused look, but remained silent.

Chagrined, Liora lowered her voice. “You shouldn’t have left the Division. You were a good agent.”

“Not good enough!” Draven barked.

Deflated, Liora sank into a dusty chair and crossed her arms. “Don’t blame yourself.”

His expression quickly shifted from anger, through pain, and to disdain. Draven sneered, “Nah, I kinda blame you.”

Liora leaned back in her chair and let out a deep sigh, the weight of the silence almost tangible in the room. “Maybe you’re right. But that’s all in the past. Now, we need to get out of this mess.”

Rhea and Draven exchanged a glance, a flicker of understanding passing between them. They might not trust each other fully, but they knew that Agent X was right. If they wanted to survive this, if they wanted to stop the Syndicate, they'd have to put aside their differences and work as a team.

"All right," Rhea said, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Let's get to work."

The trio gathered around the safehouse's makeshift table, a holographic map of the Syndicate's suspected hideout flickering before them. Rhea's fingers danced across the console, her brow furrowed in concentration as she sifted through the data they'd managed to gather.

"There," she said, pointing to a specific section of the map. "That's where we need to focus our efforts. If we can infiltrate their network from this point, we might be able to uncover their plans without being detected."

Draven studied the map, his grey eyes narrowed. "It won't be easy. The Syndicate's not known for their lax security."

Agent X nodded, her mind already whirring with possibilities. "No, but that's where our skills come in. Rhea's expertise in cyber-espionage, your combat experience, and my knowledge of the Syndicate's inner workings - together, we might just have a chance."

Rhea's fingers stilled on the console, her gaze meeting Agent X's. "It's risky. If we're caught..."

"We won't be," Agent X said, her voice firm. "We can't afford to fail. Not with so much at stake."

Draven pushed himself off the wall, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Well, then. Looks like we've got a plan. When do we start?"

Agent X stood, her eyes glinting with determination. "Now. We've wasted enough time already. The Syndicate's not going to wait for us to make our move."

As they prepared their gear and finalized their strategy, Agent X couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. It was a long shot, but with Rhea and Draven by her side, she knew they had a fighting chance.

And so, with a newfound sense of purpose, the unlikely trio set out into the night, ready to take on the Eclipse Syndicate and whatever challenges lay ahead. The fate of the Stellar Assembly hung in the balance, and they were determined to tip the scales in their favor, no matter the cost.