The dim corridors of Subterra buzzed faintly with the hum of flickering lights, casting eerie shadows on the metallic walls. Kit, ever the restless tinkerer, sat cross-legged on the floor of the rebellion’s makeshift command room. His makeshift hat, slightly askew, framed his iridescent purple hair as his fingers danced across a cluttered console of scavenged screens and cracked keyboards.

“Oi, Cipher,” he called out in his signature drawl, not bothering to look up. “You gettin’ this static on yer end, or is it just me lucky charm actin’ up?”

Cipher, leaning over a battered terminal on the other side of the room, adjusted her glasses. Her long blond hair glinted faintly in the green glow of the screens. She arched an eyebrow and tilted her head toward the screen.

“Static isn’t random, Kit. Not in our line of work. Could be interference. Could be something more.”

Kit’s grin widened. “Aye, that’s what I’m hopin’ for. Let’s see what the ole’ beast’s got for us.”

Lena entered the room, wiping grease from her hands onto her utility jacket. Her piercing green eyes darted between Kit and Cipher. “What’s going on?”

Kit’s fingers froze mid-typing as a strange sound burst through the speakers—a low, rhythmic pulse that sent a shiver through the room.

“Static… with a heartbeat,” Kit muttered, his playful tone slipping into seriousness.

Lena stepped closer, her gaze narrowing on the screen. “What is it?”

Cipher adjusted a dial on her console. The static ebbed and flowed, and within the noise, faint patterns began to emerge. Her bronze eyes glinted as she stared intently.

“It’s not just noise,” Cipher said quietly. “It’s data. Encrypted, but deliberate.”

Jarek’s steady frame appeared in the doorway. The quiet protector’s presence always seemed to anchor the room. “Encrypted by who? The Authority?”

“Doubt it,” Cipher replied, her voice calm but tinged with curiosity. “Their encryption is more… structured. This is chaotic. Almost… personal.”

Kit’s grin returned as he cracked his knuckles. “Well then, let’s see who’s leavin’ love notes for us rebels, shall we?”

As Kit worked his magic, lines of code scrolled rapidly across the screens. The pulse of the static grew more defined, forming into something almost melodic. Lena’s breath caught as the pattern finally broke through, revealing a faint, distorted voice.

“...Protocol... not... safe...”

The room fell silent.

Lena’s jaw tightened. “That voice… it can’t be.”

Cipher turned to her, eyebrows raised. “You recognize it?”

Lena swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on the screen. “It’s my brother. Aric.”