The D.C. control room was silent, broken only by the low hum of server fans and the flicker of holographic screens. Adela stood at the central console, arms crossed, eyes fixed on four faces displayed across the intel panel. Footage from Warehouse Q-29 replayed in slow motion, every movement by Noah, Eric, Liam, and Jay dissected by automated analysis.
"Four subjects confirmed," the AI reported in a neutral tone.
"Control-terminal data successfully extracted by units Liam and Jay."
Adela inclined her head slightly. "They moved faster than projected."
With a swipe of her fingers, the display zoomed in on Jay.
A newly formed Omega.
His body still unstable after ingesting Ferom-9.
Adela studied the pheromone graphs. Spikes. Drops. Another spike. Irregular.
"He's still adapting," she murmured. "But his potential is high."
The AI responded, "The Ferom-9 consumed by Subject Jay originated from a missing component within the core set. The source of that loss remains unidentified."
Adela's jaw tightened. "Not unidentified. Just deliberately ignored."
Her voice was low, directed at someone not physically present, yet clearly watching.
Another swipe brought Noah's profile forward. His movement patterns. His command signals to Eric. Clean. Efficient. Too precise. His eyes, even on camera, missed nothing.
"He'll notice us eventually," Adela said quietly. "He reads patterns."
"Do you maintain current orders?" the AI asked. "Continued observation without direct interaction?"
There was a brief pause.
"Yes," Adela answered. "It's not time to interfere."
She inhaled slowly. "They need to believe they uncovered something stolen. That illusion draws them closer."
A hidden file surfaced. Ferom-9 shipments deliberately marked as "lost" from D.C. storage, including the batch Jay had consumed.
"The four operatives have followed the bait," the AI confirmed.
"Good." Adela sat, opening another file showing Jay's movement logs throughout the mission. "They think they're watching us. In reality, we've been waiting from the start."
The room dimmed as the system shifted into secure mode.
Adela closed every display except one. A circular radar showed four small blue points moving in sync.
"Increase surveillance. Notify me when they return to their safehouse."
"Acknowledged."
She leaned back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, eyes never leaving the radar. The four points moved like chess pieces, exactly where she wanted them.
"Their mission succeeded," she said softly, a thin smile forming.
"Because we wanted it to."
The control room darkened further as the automatic doors sealed shut, swallowing the space in silence.
---
Blue and green lights pulsed quietly across the control center. A large display tracked the movements of Noah, Eric, Liam, and Jay. Their Q-29 mission had ended, and D.C. possessed a full record of every step, every choice, every coordination.
"They're more capable than anticipated," the central AI observed.
"No significant errors detected. However, an anomaly registered in the eastern corridor. Omega pheromone spike."
Adela frowned slightly. Jay's heightened sensitivity due to Ferom-9 was not a coincidence. It was leverage. Strategy could shift. Pressure could be increased.
"Observe closely," she said. "We need to know whether they suspect Ferom-9 was always part of our design. If they see this as routine, we control the narrative."
Another screen showed Noah and Eric's reaction to the masked decoy. Clean misdirection. Effective deception.
"We left false trails intentionally," Adela murmured, almost to herself. "Let them believe the traitor is still somewhere else."
She marked several new control points across the map. "Prepare another bait. Increase stress levels. Monitor Ferom-9 closely. Jay's response may be critical."
A list appeared: Ferom-9 Ignis. Aqua. Terra. Each variant powerful. Each still a mystery to the operatives.
Time passed slowly.
"Q-29 was only the beginning," Adela whispered. "When the next move comes, it will surprise them."
---
Cold air wrapped around the abandoned industrial zone outside the operations base. Noah, Eric, Liam, and Jay stood ready, tactical gear secured, weapons holstered, sensors active. A new directive arrived via holo-screen.
"New target: Ferom-9 shipment," the AI announced.
"Location: Warehouse Zeta-13. Abnormal activity detected. Teams will deploy separately. Zero exposure."
Noah nodded. "Team A takes the upper level. Team B the lower. No engagement without confirmation."
They moved toward the waiting vehicle. Fog drifted across the road, streetlights dim and uneven. Eric glanced at the others. This mission felt different. Closer. Like someone was already watching.
At Zeta-13, Liam scanned the perimeter. "Active sensors. Blind spot on the south corridor. That's our entry."
Jay tightened his grip on his pistol. "If anything happens, don't let me compromise the corridor."
They slipped inside, using shadows and stacked crates for cover. Eric overwatched from above. Every sound calculated. Every step controlled.
Motion alerts flashed. Two figures moved below.
"Hold," Noah whispered through the comm. "Don't trigger."
They studied the pattern. Another decoy. Another deliberate confusion.
Below, Liam and Jay accessed the control terminal. Shipment data streamed across the holo-screen. Jay felt it settle in. The Ferom-9 he had taken was never an accident. It was always part of something bigger.
After bypassing patrol routes and sensors, they secured the device. Noah and Eric regrouped with them. Clean execution. No alarms.
"Extraction," Noah ordered. "Data secured. We analyze back at the safehouse."
The vehicle waited outside. Gear dusty. Muscles tense.
Eric looked at the team. "Ferom-9 is pulling us closer to D.C. than we realized."
Jay nodded. He understood now. This wasn't just a mission. It was an opening move.
The warehouse doors closed behind them. Streetlights reflected off dark steel.
For tonight, they escaped unharmed.
But D.C. was still watching.