Chapter 937 First mission


    "We''ve received intel that the rebels are nning to raid a deposit in the eastern district," Silent Scream said.


    "We need to intercept them before they can cause any damage."


    Erik''s mind whirred, processing what the man was saying. He knew what the man was saying was true—that the raid was really nned by the resistance, his own people.


    He knew that because he was present when Fischer and Van Dyke talked about the matter and nned the attack, and Fischer kept him updated regarding this and many other matters.


    There was a problem, though. If he apanied the ckguards, he would be forced to confront and kill his own allies. If he didn''t, his disguise as Ben Fink would cease to exist.


    He would lose the opportunity he had been waiting for—a chance to gather intelligence on the ckguard team that had been thwarting the resistance''s efforts for so long, and that even the biological supeputer could do nothing to find.


    To abandon this chance could jeopardize the rescue of Richard Stone and the resistance''s overall ns, especially because a single but precious fact.


    The ckguards knew Erik got the ability to get more brain crystal powers, how that worked wasn''t really known by them, but they suspected it had to do with getting powers from others.


    To the ckguards, that would exin why he stole Max''s body back in Caelora City.


    Reasonably, Erik could now shapeshift. This meant that if Ben Fink acted way out of character, the ckguards would suspect the man wasn''t who he imed to be.


    At the same time, if he disappeared and changed identity, the disappearance could lead the ckguards to think something weird happened if they didn''t find a body.


    "Understood, sir," Erik said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "When do we depart?"


    "Immediately," Silent Scream said.


    "Grab your gear and meet me at the transport. We can''t afford to let the rebels slip through our fingers."


    Erik nodded. He would have to be careful from now on, aiding the resistance without blowing his cover, but for sure, he needed to contact Fischer and Van Dyke to at least learn what they had in mind, and to have suggestions or tips on how to move.


    Erik joined Silent Scream in the transport, and faked being under heavy contemtion, but in truth, he was calling Van Dyke while the transport soared through the air.


    Erik used the biological supeputer to connect to the soldier''s phone and dialed Van Dyke''s number. The older man''s voice soon filled his mind.


    "Who is this?" Van Dyke asked.


    Erik used his biological supeputer to transmit his own voice. "It''s Erik. I have little time, so you need to listen carefully."


    "Erik? What''s going on?" Erik''s tone was urgent, and that left Van Dyke confused.


    "I''ve been selected to join a ckguard team that''s going to be keeping watch over a deposit in the eastern district," Erik said. "I think it''s the same one you were nning to raid."


    Of course, Erik already told the resistance that his acting within the military made the ckguards set their eyes on him and that he joined the group. He wasn''t an initiate yet, but he knew he was going to be,


    So, everyone was aware of the situation and knew how valuable it was. Since Erik was also their most important spy at that point, whatever he told them was really important.


    He could almost hear the gears turning in Van Dyke''s mind. "I see. This is certainly an interesting development."


    "I wanted to warn you," Erik said. "I don''t want to blow my cover, but I also can''t let you walk into a trap. Can you hold off on the raid until I can get more information?"


    Van Dyke paused again. "That''s aplicated proposition, Erik. But I trust your judgment." Van Dyke remained silent for a while.


    "All right," he said. "We''ll hold off for now, but keep me updated." Van Dyke was going to close the call. Maybe Erik didn''t call at the right moment, as van Dyke looked like he was in a hurry.


    "This is not the only problem, Tom." Van Dyke remained silent.


    "Yeah, I think I know what the other problem is." The two didn''t talk about this particr matter yet, but it was pressing over Erik''s mind.


    "I haven''t been assigned to a faraway ce. It looks like the ckguards are having problems and have assigned me here within the city."


    "Yeah," Erik said.


    "I''m honestly unable to decide what to do. I know what the best thing would be, but..."


    "Yeah, I know…"


    "This means that..."


    Van Dyke sighed. "You have to fight against us to keep your cover up."


    "Yeah," Erik said.


    "I''m honestly unable to decide what to do. I know what the best thing would be, but..."


    Erik knew the best thing was to stay within the ckguards and act like one of them. The problem was a moral one. He knew many of the rebels; some came from prison, and he was the one who saved them. Besides, Fischer, Lain, Amber, Mira, Emily, June and his clones.


    He didn''t want to fight them, knowing what would happen if they did.


    Either they died because of him or ended up in prison again, likely tortured by Volkov''s men or the ckguards.


    Honestly speaking, death was many times better than torture, knowing what Volkov did.


    Of course, Erik was ready to blow up his cover if someone really close to him risked his life. For sure he would not kill them, but some he knew, but not so well as to make him throw everything in the trash. That was a different story.


    Van Dyke was old. He had a lot of experience, and he himself went through some of the things Erik was going through right now. He understood what was going on in Erik''s mind.


    "Do it."


    "Are you sure?"


    "Yeah, don''t worry about anything. I will make sure that you won''t have to fight anyone you know or anyone who knows too much. Just go easy on Fischer''s guys, all right?"


    "Yeah…" Van Dyke was going to close the call again, when Erik stopped him.


    "There is something else."


    "I''m all ears," the old man said, not without a hint of annoyance.


    "My mentor, the man assigned to evaluate me, said they got told the rebels were going to attack. You know what that means, right?"


    "We might have a spy." Erik couldn''t see it, but there was a grim look on Van Dyke''s face. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Yeah. I''m not entirely sure if this is true. I read the man''s mind, and he didn''t know, as he was referring to having received that information from his superiors."


    Erik''s brow furrowed, a crease forming between his eyes as he processed the weight of the information. Van Dyke had a simr expression. His lips pressed into a thin line, reflecting his concern.


    "Still, at this point, it is not something we can rule out with certainty, and I''m going to be inclined to think there is really someone spying on you."


    Van Dyke''s expression darkened even more, but Erik couldn''t see it.


    "The question is, does this person know the headquarters are inside the Red Pce? Because if he or she does, the ckguards are waiting for something before attacking you guys."


    Van Dyke''s voice took on a pensive tone. Following a lengthy sigh, his expression became one of resolution.


    "Understood. We''ll need to rework how we recruit people then and make a search for potential spies. Thank you for the warning, Erik. Stay safe out there."


    The line went silent, and Erik refocused his attention as the transport neared its destination.


    Beside him, Silent Scream sat quietly, his masked face betraying no emotion. But most likely, knowing the ckguards, Silent Scream had none.


    Erik, though, was calmer since Van Dyke decided to avoid the attack.


    It wasn''t tactically good to perform since there was going to be resistance from the ckguards, and that Erik, basically a killing machine, was among them.


    As the transportnded, Erik followed Silent Scream and the other soldiers out onto the streets of the eastern district. The only ckguards there were him and his mentor.


    The area was rtively quiet, save for the distant rumble of activity. Erik scanned the surroundings, searching for any sign of the rebels.


    There were none luckily, but it was still too soon. The building was full of New Alexandria''s soldiers, Volkovs'' men and women.


    They were all waiting for the two ckguards toe, knowing every decision was going to be taken by them. It wasn''t unusual, but there was a chain ofmand in Volkov''s army. A ckguard intervened only when the situation was serious orplicated, when there was something valuable to defend or a valuable person to save.


    Silent Scream turned to address the group. "Intel shows the rebels will strike this deposit. We''re to secure the perimeter and eliminate any hostiles. Savage Blood, you''ll take point with me. The rest of our men will fan out and maintain positions."


    Erik nodded, falling in step beside his mentor as the soldiers from Volkov''s army dispersed to their assigned posts.