Liv knew she had made the wrong decision.
Not because she failed to see the risk, but because she chose to do it anyway, fully aware that the consequences would come faster than she was ready for.
She said nothing.
About Leon.
About what she saw.
About the fact that someone who was supposed to be dead was now moving freely inside a system even their own team believed was secure.
And it wasn't because she didn't trust them.
It was because she knew that the moment his name was spoken — everything would change.
Kai wouldn't stop. Not searching. But hunting.
And once that started, there would be no space left for answers. Only pursuit. Only control.
Liv stood in front of the briefing screen, her eyes fixed on the data scrolling endlessly — access paths, exploited gaps, infiltration patterns — all delivered in a steady tone, convincing enough without ever revealing what she truly knew.
Kai listened. Too quiet. Too focused.
And that was how Liv knew — this wasn't just a briefing. This was an observation.
When she finished, the room fell silent for a few seconds before Kai finally spoke.
"That's all?"
Liv looked at him. "For now."
Kai gave a small nod, but his eyes didn't shift.
"Interesting," he said. "Because out of everything you just explained… there's still one thing missing."
Liv didn't react.
"What is it?"
"Intent."
One word. And it hit exactly where it should.
"The one who entered our system doesn't just know how," Kai continued. "He knows when, knows where, and knows who to approach."
That last part felt more personal than it should have.
Liv held her ground. Gave him nothing.
And then —
"Guys, we've got a problem."
Rian's voice cut in through comms, sharper than usual.
Every screen in the room flickered at once. Data began moving faster. Panels shifted color.
"Unidentified signal just hit the outer layer," Rian continued. "It's not scanning… It's pushing."
Kai turned immediately.
"Source?"
"Unknown. It's masked… multiple entry attempts, switching patterns."
"Block it."
"I'm trying —" Rian stopped abruptly. "No, wait. It's adapting."
The room shifted instantly. Everyone moved. Operators pulled up deeper layers, revealing hidden pathways, trying to lock down entry points that kept changing.
Liv stared at the screen. And she knew.
This wasn't a normal attack. This wasn't someone trying to get in. This was someone who already knew how.
Kai stood at the main display, his gaze sharp as he followed the shifting patterns.
"He's not brute forcing," he said. "He's reading our responses."
"Yeah, and he's learning fast," Rian replied.
"Cut external nodes. Force him into one channel."
"That'll slow us down, too."
"Do it."
The command went through. Systems shut down. Access narrowed.
And for a few seconds — everything looked under control.
Then the lines on the screen shifted again. Deeper. Closer.
"He's inside the second layer," Rian muttered.
Silence.
Then Kai spoke, his tone different now.
"Lock internal routes."
"That'll trap us too."
"I know."
That wasn't just an order. It was a decision.
And everyone in that room understood one thing — Kai wasn't going to back down.
Liv watched him. The way he stood. The way he took control. No hesitation. No pause.
If this was Leon — then Kai would find him.
And if that happened — everything would end.
Liv held her breath quietly. Her eyes stayed on the screen, but her mind was already moving ahead.
She had to get there first. She had to.
"Liv."
Kai's voice pulled her back.
She turned.
"You see this."
Not a question.
Liv stepped closer, her eyes tracing the path Kai pointed at, reading the same pattern she had already recognized.
"He's not looking for access," Liv said quietly.
Kai looked at her.
"He's choosing a route."
A pause. Their eyes met.
And for a split second — Kai knew she understood more than she was saying.
"That means he's been inside before," Kai continued.
Liv didn't respond.
"And he's going back to the same point."
Kai's tone shifted. Sharper. More dangerous.
"Track that pattern."
The command was executed immediately. The system began reconstructing pathways. Searching for a destination. Searching for someone.
Liv stood still.
And for the first time since all of this began — she truly felt like time was running out.
Because now — she wasn't the only one searching. Kai was, too.
And Kai never stopped.
—
And Liv knew one thing for certain.
If Kai finds Leon first — he won't give him a chance to explain anything.
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