Agent 23

Chapter 3: Gild

Amber’s was a popular coffee shop at Prisma’s Axiom boulevard, among other similar businesses, restaurants, bars, places where people went to get free of the city’s usual chaos, even just to see something else than blue edifices and giant advertisements. Amber’s had a rustic aesthetic, abysmally different from the general ambience of the other places. All of the walls were made to look like stacked up trunks, the place’s inside was illuminated with hanging light bulbs, their yellow light mixed with the wood of the walls, chairs and tables magnificently.

Tyler was waiting for Clarissa, he was sitting on a small lounge meant for two people, right at the bottom of the coffee shop, under a part of the ceiling that simulated a star filled sky, the most technological thing at the place. He scrolled his phone’s screen, reading blogs and other publications on his social media.

“Hey!” Clarissa’s sudden greeting almost made Tyler to jump from the couch.

“Oh…hi!” Tyler got his hand off his chest. It was the first time he saw her in normal clothing, not in her regular, simple lab coat. She wore a pair of black jeans and a purple T-shirt.

Clarissa kissed his cheek and gave him a hug. “How are you?”

Tyler broke the hug. “Good.” He glared briefly at his surroundings. “You really know about places.”

Clarissa chuckled. “You like it?”

Tyler nodded. “It’s cool.” He gestured at one of the two gray couches, Clarissa thanked him with a nod and sat down on the opposite couch, then Tyler sat down on his. “So, you wanna order?”

Clarissa sighed, subtly smiling at him. “First things first.” She rested her elbows over the black, circular desk between them, holding her face with both hands. “What’s up with you, Tyler?”

“Nothing, I mean, I’m fine.” Tyler said. “Let’s just say that…” He glared away for a moment then sighed and covered his face with both hands “…I don’t know how to explain.”

“Tyler, we are not getting out of here till’ you tell me what’s going on.” Clarissa warned.

“I know, I know.” Tyler breathed in and out, he locked his gaze on hers for a moment. “I just, uhm…”

Clarissa raised her shoulders. “Just say it.”

Tyler let out another sigh. “Alright.” He slowly lowered his arms and looked at her. “I want to expose HexTech.” He gasped and clapped rather unconsciously, standing up and breathing out. “Yeah, I’ve said it.” He glanced at the shop’s exit.

Clarissa was thoughtful, processing what Tyler had just confessed, she then looked up at him. “Like, what they do? You know, the contracts and stuff?” Tyler nodded at the inquiry, making her to nod slightly. “Okay.” She mumbled. Both of them didn’t say anything for two long minutes, then Clarissa finally broke the silence. “Tyler, sit down, would you?”

Tyler looked at her hesitantly, she gestured at his couch so he approached it again and slowly sat down, not losing his sight on her eyes. He sighed and shook his head. “You know what? Forget about it, I was just kidd…”

“How are we gonna do it?” Clarissa asked, smirking with commitment.

Tyler raised an eyebrow, backing away a bit. “Uhm, but you work there too is v…”

“That’s not what I asked.” Clarissa insisted.

Tyler got thoughtful. “How…” He sighed and covered his face, regretting being so open with her about his plan, knowing there was no way back.

“Tyler, you can trust me.” Clarissa reached for his arm, placing her hand on it.

“I know.” Tyler replied, uncovering his face an looking at her. “I know.”

Clarissa smirked. “Alright.” She mumbled.

Tyler nodded and glared down, breathing out to calm his nerves. “Antennas.” He finally began to explain his plan. “I’ll place antennas.”

Clarissa raised an eyebrow. “Like, where?”

“On the roof, you know, HarmNix’s.” Tyler said, with his gaze still on the wooden floor. “Yeah, that way I’ll be able t…” He briefly looked at her. “…we’ll be able to transmit the archives, to every corner of the city.”

“And how are we gonna get those archives?” Clarissa asked.

Tyler chuckled slightly. “I already have them.” He glanced at her. “I’m quite into backups.”

Clarissa shared the same chuckle. “Okay.” She nodded at him. “But, why from there? Why transmitting from HarmNix?”

“I can’t do it from home because…” Tyler was interrupted.

“Yeah, I get that.” Clarissa gestured at him so he could keep talking.

“When a menace comes from the inside, the logical way to act is to dig that way, to the inside, not the other way.” Tyler explained. “We just have to be careful, that’s all.”

Clarissa nodded. “I like when you talk like that, you know?” She smirked.

Tyler chuckled. “How?”

“I don’t know, like, nerdy.” Clarissa laughed subtly.

“Are you calling me a nerd?” Tyler asked jokingly, raising an eyebrow with his arms crossed.

“Am I lying?” Clarissa tilted her head a bit, sharing the same face of inquiry.

Tyler didn’t have an answer for that, so he just raised his shoulders and let out another brief chuckle. “Okay, so…any ideas?”

Clarissa scratched her chin, looking at the dark ceiling, thinking about possible scenarios. “Well…maybe we should, uhm…” She looked at Tyler. “…hide our id…”

“Identities? I got that covered.” Tyler smirked arrogantly.

“Oh.” Clarissa expressed. “We’ll use masks or something?”

Tyler chuckled. “It won’t be necessary. The strike will be at night. We’ll only need dark clothes, that’s all.” He smirked and glared at the surface of the table. “I bought a bodysuit.”

“Oh, you are kidding, right?” Clarissa asked, with a grin of incredulity.

Tyler shook his head then looked into her eyes. “Too odd, you think?”

“Well…yeah.” Clarissa answered. “Nobody wears those.”

Tyler smiled and nodded, without losing his sight on her eyes. “That’s why it’ll work.”