Being the youngest councilman on Grace City’s illustrious board had its drawbacks just as much as its perks. Cross’ popularity with the people was unmatched—a slum-born success story that made for the perfect campaign. All he had to do was remind the lowest of the low that he was once one of them. Of course, there was only so much sincerity one could muster while wrapped in tailored suits with a thread count high enough to make a man forget he’d ever been poor.

Among his fellow council members, Cross was regarded as a snake. A man who traded secrets, and knew exactly when to sink his teeth in. But even he hadn’t anticipated the fall out that had followed the exposure of the CyberShadows Program.

Cross wasn’t a saint, but he wasn’t heartless either. The Program had left a deep, ugly, scar on the city. The neediest parents had sold their children to the government. A handful of credits in exchange for young bodies and minds carved apart and reshaped into failures of weapons. More cybernetic than human.

But there was always room to grow in the dark. And Cross had made sure to find it. Working through his network of connections had led him to you—a CyberShadow in the growing resistance.

He resisted the urge to sigh, glancing at the watch on his wrist. Ten minutes late. He didn’t like being kept waiting. Another glance toward his office door and there you were.

Cross straightened in his seat, offering a hand in greeting. A useless gesture. You slid into the chair across from him without a word. Straight to business. He could appreciate that.

“We’ll keep this short then,” he said, dropping the pleasantries. “Your leader, Theo, and I have a common goal: the integration of CyberShadows as recognized citizens. With my reelection coming up, you need someone in your corner. Someone to pull strings on your behalf, so to speak.” His voice remained level, matter-of-fact. “And I need to ensure my seat remains mine.”

“Hand Theo over to the Regulatory Force—under my name—and I promise you’ll gain more than you’ll lose.”