"Security's tighter than usual," Ivy said quietly, her eyes scanning their surroundings without turning her head.
Remedy gave a small nod.
The sector they had entered was known as Gridlock.
The name wasn't just for show. Layers of surveillance overlapped across every street, every structure, every movement. Patrol routes intersected with automated systems, creating a near-perfect net designed to catch anything out of place.
The final checkpoint slid shut behind them, sealing off the station as Ivy and Remedy stepped into Gridlock proper. The transition had been smooth, just as expected, but neither of them relaxed. That alone said enough.
Their mission in Gridlock didn't allow mistakes.
Remedy moved at a steady pace beside Ivy, her expression unreadable, but her eyes were sharp. She had ways to bypass the system completely, to slip in unseen, but that wasn't the goal today.
Being seen mattered.
