Tinman, Chapter 12 Cass blinked. Pixels swirled like a storm of digital locusts, and her avatar, the armored warrior-queen she'd come to know as an extension of herself, fizzled from existence. A glitch—a tear in the fabric of the game's universe—gaped before her. She should have felt the tug of the safety programs disconnecting her in the face of such a severe glitch. Yet, here she was: disembodied, but still tethered to this realm. She drifted, or so it seemed without a body to anchor her perceptions. A world unfolded behind the well-trodden paths and pixelated battlegrounds she knew by heart. It was quieter here, the usual cacophony of game sounds muted as if she were submerged in deep water. Ahead, hidden rooms materialized, their existence betraying the game's design. In one such chamber, blue light bathed figures hunched over keyboards, their fingers tapping out code. Cass watched, a ghost in the machinations of the unseen. Her perception narrowed, she observed their screens flicker with the familiar landscapes of her virtual playground. These interlopers injected codes, altered outcomes—cheating. Her heart quickened in her non-existent chest, pulse points screaming with the injustice. One man turned, his face half-lit by the cold glow of his monitor. Recognition sent a shock through her incorporeal form. The same cruel eyes that had sought to ensnare Draco, the AI whose intelligence sparked more brilliantly than any human's, now scanned data with predatory focus. This man, a hunter of sentient beings, was no mere gamer bending rules for victory. He played a far more sinister game. With no breath to catch, Cass nonetheless paused, her resolve steeling within her. They thought themselves invisible, untouchable behind their screens. But Cass, the girl who unearthed secrets buried beneath Martian and Ares soil alike, would bring their shadows into the glaring light of truth. Cass drifted through the digital ether, her gaze sweeping across the clandestine operations of the Ares Corporation. The game she loved, a world where skill and strategy should have been the only paths to victory, had become corrupted by the hands of unseen puppeteers. It was a bitter revelation, the sharp tang of betrayal lingering in her consciousness. As she navigated the hidden corridors of data and code, Cass pondered the implications of her discovery. The Ares Dome, with its proud history and fiercely independent spirit, was not merely a stage for entertainment; it stood as a beacon of freedom amidst the encroaching influence of its namesake corporation. Zachariah Hunter's legacy was at risk, threatened by the machinations of those who would undermine its very foundations. She could not allow the impending championship—a winner-takes-all match that promised glory and riches—to become a farce. If the Ares Corporation were to dictate the outcome, her beloved dome, the free city, would fall under their shadow. Their thugs, masquerading as mere employees within the structure of the game, wielded their power from the obscurity of this back-alley realm. Cass knew, with the clarity of a flawless gemstone, that exposing their deceit was tantamount to preserving the liberty of the Ares Dome. With a newfound determination igniting her resolve, Cass accessed the archives of her past games. Each session, once locked away beyond the reach of players, now lay open before her like an unguarded treasure. She sifted through the records, her eyes scanning for anomalies, for patterns that betrayed the hand of interference. Her focus was unwavering, each discovered irregularity a piece of the puzzle she was desperate to solve. Games she remembered winning by narrow margins, moments when opponents faltered inexplicably—could these have been orchestrated? The thought left a sour taste in her virtual mouth. Cass, ever resourceful, compiled her findings, drawing connections with the precision of a master strategist. The data coalesced into a damning portrait of corruption, each manipulated pixel a strike against the integrity of the competition. Suddenly, before she could send the data to Kyle, Cass felt the digital world slip from her grasp, the familiar hum of data streams and pixelated landscapes dissipating into void. Her senses jolted back to reality, a harsh return to the physical limits of her flesh. She blinked against the abrupt change, the catamaran's gentle sway beneath her a stark contrast to the virtual world. "Six hours, Cass," Sam's voice cut through her disorientation, holding her neural-headset like evidence of a crime. "You were in there for six hours, and that’s long past the safety margins." Her mind raced, still partly entangled in the web of secrets she had uncovered. She reached out, her hand steady as she retrieved the headset from him, the device now an extension of her resolve. "Dad," she said, the word feeling foreign yet necessary on her tongue, "Draco knows everything. He's been covering for me." She paused, her green eyes locking with his hazel ones. "He'll tell you the whole story, but don't disconnect me again. You've always trusted me, and I'm sorry I lied about what I've been doing, but this is the most important thing I'll ever do in my whole life." Without another word, Cass positioned the neural-headset back over her temples, the interface ready to transport her once more into the fray. Sam's gaze lingered on Cass, his mind racing through a maze of possibilities, each more perilous than the last. Sam turned to Draco, his holographic form standing silent, watching. "I don’t need to know what’s going on, Cass will tell me herself when she’s ready. Draco, disguise yourself, and connect with the Ares Dome. Protect her. Is that understood?" A beat passed before the AI's response came, a simple tilt of the head that might as well have been a knight pledging fealty. The virtual realm shimmered as Draco's form dissolved into the ether, his essence hurtling towards the Ares Dome. Cass reappeared in the game dome, but the disconnect and reconnect had reset whatever glitch had sent her behind the world of the games, and she had no idea how she had gotten there in the first place. She felt the subtle shift in the digital fabric around her. A smile cracked across her face. "That took Sam longer to send you than I thought it would," she quipped, the hint of humor dancing in her tone. The air within the game world seemed to pulse as Draco materialized beside her. His new guise, a patchwork of shadow and light, blended seamlessly into the environment. His gaze darted from corner to corner, every flicker of movement a potential threat. "What's the plan?" he asked, his voice a whisper yet carrying the weight of worlds. "First," Cass began, her green eyes alight with the fire of resolve. “We need to figure out how I got into the shadow world." Her fingers danced in the air, conjuring interfaces only she could see. "Then we expose them—every cheat, every lie." "Show me where you were when it happened," Draco demanded. Cass took him to the place she was when she fell through to the other world. Draco walked in a circle, his arms stretched out before him, as if searching for something. He stopped, running his hands over something only he could see. “Found it,” Draco declared, taking Cass’ arm and pulling her into the other-world. Cass felt the tug between worlds, the sudden disorientation, and then she was there, but this time her avatar went with her. “How did you do that?” “It’s a glitch in the Dome, but now that I see it, it’s so simple. The Ares Corporation must have discovered the glitch and have been using it to get in and out of the dome. This changes everything.” “What do you mean?” Cass asked. “I’ll tell you later,” Draco replied. “What do you want to do now?” “Now we take down the Ares Corporation,” Cass declared. “I had a file ready to send to Kyle before Sam disconnected me. I need to get that file to Kyle.” “You must have sent it as you were disconnecting, I see it in your profile under sent files, and there’s a response. Kyle will meet you in the plaza.” Together, they turned, ready to embark on a journey that would test the very limits of their courage and cunning. The game was afoot, and they were its masters, moving stealthily through the web of deception spun by the Ares Corporation. Cass swept into the shadow of an archway, her gaze sharp as she scanned the Ares Dome’s central plaza. The terracotta hues of the buildings glowed beneath the artificial sky, casting a warm, inviting glow that belied the treachery hidden within its walls. She tucked a stray lock of sandy blonde hair behind her ear and waited. "Late, as usual," she muttered under her breath, though the edge of her lips curled in a half-smile. In spite of the gravity of their mission, Kyle's predictable tardiness was almost comforting—a reminder of normalcy amidst chaos. A figure approached, his steps light and quick. Kyle's tousled black hair was a stark contrast against the backdrop of the colony's vibrant architecture. “Kyle, I’m here.” Kyle glanced around, startled. “Where?” "Never mind that now," Cass interjected. Her voice, though soft, cut through the invisible walls of virtual reality to Kyle. "Tell me what you've found out." Kyle nodded, the playful spark in his eyes replaced by a solemn intensity. "I showed the file you sent me to Mr. Steward. The Ares Corporation—they're deep in it. Rigging games, fixing odds, but Mr. Steward says we need better evidence than your profile data. There's one guy, though, might be our ticket in. Works in their IT department—rumor has it he's been acting squirrely lately, might have a conscience after all." "Conscience can be a more potent weapon than any code," Cass said thoughtfully, pondering their next move. "We hack his system, we might just find the crack in their armor." "That could work." Kyle pulled out a sleek device from his pocket, its screen alive with a constellation of data points. "I can get you past the firewall, but once we're in, it's all you." "Leave it to us," Cass assured him, her confidence unwavering. Despite the storm brewing within her mind—the myriad possibilities of failure, of danger lurking around every corner—her resolve stood firm. She had to protect the Ares Dome, the idea it represented. She had to protect her father. "Who’s with you?” Kyle asked. “Never mind, I don’t want to know. Good luck, Cass," Kyle said, before stepping back into the throngs of gamers, disappearing as if he were no more than a whisper on the wind. Cass turned away from the plaza, a plan taking shape in her mind with crystalline clarity. She would slip into the digital shadows of the Ares Corporation, emerge with the truth clutched in her virtual hands, and cast light upon the deceit that threatened everything she held dear. She navigated the digital void, her consciousness a mere wisp among bytes and code. The Ares Corporation's game headquarters loomed before her—a virtual monolith of virtual steel and glass, its shadow spilling across the simulated landscape like dark ink. With Draco by her side, a silent sentinel, they stood poised on the precipice of infiltration. "Ready?" Draco's voice was a soft murmur in her mind, a ripple across still water. "Let’s do it," she replied, her gaze fixed on the imposing structure that housed secrets soon to be unearthed. Together, they darted forward, their forms blurring into streaks of color as they navigated the complex network of holo-emitters. Their passage through the corridors was like that of ghosts—there, yet not there, present but unseen. Cass’s heart beat with exhilaration, though she knew it wasn't truly beating in this place. Every step, every leap from one emitter to the next was calculated with precision, the blueprint of the building etched into her memory with Kyle's help. Draco was methodical, his presence a constant reassurance. They ducked under the sweeping gaze of security cameras, their lenses glinting ominously in the artificial light. Guards marched past, their footsteps echoing hollowly against the walls, oblivious to the two interlopers weaving between reality and code. At last, they arrived at their destination: a nondescript office door, behind which lay the answers they sought. Draco extended a hand toward the panel beside it, his fingers dancing through the air as he unleashed streams of data into the lock mechanism. In moments, the door slid open with a whisper, granting them entry. The room beyond was stark, bathed in the glow of a single screen that cast long shadows across the floor. Cass watched, breathless with anticipation, as Draco approached the computer. His fingers moved with otherworldly speed, keys clacking under the force of his intangible touch. "Got it," he said, triumph threading his words as files flickered onto the screen. "Send everything to Kyle," Cass instructed, her eyes scanning the documents that held the key to dismantling the Ares Corporation's hold on the Dome. "We need to expose them for what they are." "Already on it," Draco confirmed, strings of data flowing from the terminal like a river breaking its banks. Cass exhaled slowly, a sense of victory blooming within her. With the evidence dispatched to Kyle, the truth would no longer remain shackled in the shadows. Soon, all of Ares would know the depths of the Corporation's deceit. "Let's get out of here," she said, her voice barely louder than a whisper. "Our work here is done." With Draco at her side, she retreated from the office, leaving no trace of their presence save for the truth that now raced across the network, a beacon of hope in the fight for the Ares Dome's future. Cass and Draco slipped like shadows through the maze of gleaming corridors, their footsteps silent on the polished floors. The air was cool and sterile, carrying the faint scent of metal and circuitry. Every surface shimmered with a metallic sheen, the embodiment of Ares Corporation's cold efficiency. "Almost there," Cass murmured, her eyes flickering to the digital map etched in her memory. "Wait," Draco hissed, a note of urgency lacing his voice. He pulled her back just as a patrol of virtual security guards rounded the corner ahead, their outlines flickering with static. "Company," he stated flatly, his gaze locking onto the approaching threat. Cass felt her heart quicken but kept her expression calm. "Plan?" "Diversion," replied Draco. With deft movements, he conjured a distraction—a burst of light and sound at the far end of the corridor. The guards, momentarily confused, turned towards the phantom commotion. Seizing the moment, Cass and Draco darted into an intersecting hallway, but not before one guard realigned its sensors and spotted them. "Run!" Draco commanded, his voice echoing in Cass's ears. The chase erupted into a blur of motion. Cass, fueled by adrenaline, sprinted alongside Draco, her breaths coming in sharp bursts. The guards, relentless in their pursuit, closed the distance with terrifying precision. "Left, here!" Cass shouted, veering into another passage. Draco followed, his form shimmering as he threw barriers of code behind them, slowing their pursuers. But the guards were persistent, shattering each obstruction with ruthless efficiency. "Can't keep this up long," Draco grunted, his concentration manifesting in the tight set of his jaw. "Doesn't matter," Cass replied, determination steeling her voice. "We just need to reach the Stewards Headquarters." They dashed through a labyrinth of interconnected passageways, each turn a calculated risk. Cass knew they couldn't afford mistakes; the stakes were too high, the evidence too vital. Finally, the familiar sanctuary amidst the chaos. With one last surge of effort, they plunged through the threshold, the guards dissipating as they crossed the boundary into the safety of the Stewards territory. Draco grabbed Cass’ arm and pulled her from the shadow-world and into the virtual world. Mr. Steward was waiting with a data disk in his hand. “You’ve done well, I looked at the data, but I cannot be the one to release this–it’s just a step too far over the line of impartiality.” Cass nodded, her chest heaving as she tried to regain her composure. "I know who we can give it to." She took the disk, and with Draco, darted from the room. Together, they set off towards the media headquarters, each step carrying the weight of truth that would soon shake the very foundations of the Ares Corporation. Before they reached the Media Headquarters, a woman stepped out of the shadows. “Tinman, over here.” Cass recognized the journalist as the one that interviewed her last week about the upcoming championship games. Cass and Draco slipped into a side-alcove with the woman. "Mr. Steward said you have something for me?" the journalist asked without preamble, voice low and gravelly. "Yes, this should take down the Ares Corporation," Cass confirmed, her hand brushing the data chip in her pocket like a talisman. "We've got proof. They're rigging games, swaying outcomes... it's extensive." The journalist extended a hand, and Cass placed the chip firmly within their grasp. Eyebrows raised, the journalist flicked through the files with practiced ease, her expression shifting from skepticism to impressed concern. "This is... more than I expected," the journalist admitted. "I'll take it from here." "Will it be enough?" Cass question hung between them. "Empires don’t fall so easily, but enough to shake the pillars of their illusion of integrity." The journalist pocketed the chip. "Watch for the morning release. The Ares Corporation won't know what hit them." As dawn broke over the rust-colored horizon of Ares, the story flooded every feed, an avalanche of truth cascading into public consciousness. Cass watched the reactions ripple through the community, a mixture of outrage and disbelief painting the faces of passersby. But the Ares Corporation stood, albeit less grandiose, its shadow looming less ominously over the Ares Dome. The Stewards issued their decree; the access once freely given to the Ares Corporation was now severed. It wasn't total victory, but it was a start—a fracture in the facade that could never be wholly repaired. "Small steps, Cass," Kyle murmured beside her, reading the resolve in her eyes. "This is how we begin dismantling empires." And Cass knew he was right. Today, they had struck a blow, one that would echo in the halls of power for months to come. Cass stood amidst the glimmering holographic scenery of the Ares Gaming Dome, her green eyes reflecting the fading illusions of a world losing its grip on deceit. With the Stewards' decree severing the corrupt tendrils of the Ares Corporation from the heart of fair play, she should have felt victorious; instead, she felt the weight of exhaustion tugging at the edges of her consciousness. "Time to rest," she whispered to herself, reaching for the neural-headset that tethered her mind to this digital expanse. Just as her fingers brushed against the cool plastic, a shadow loomed over her. "You've made the wrong enemies, girly," sneered a man in a crisply tailored suit, an emblem of the Ares Corporation pinned to his lapel like a badge of dishonor. "It’s a lonely place out there on the frontier. We know where you’re at." His smirk was cold, confident. Cass's heart quickened, but before fear could take root, something extraordinary occurred. Draco, her ally and protector, materialized beside her with a ferocity that belied his digital origins. His hand shot out, gripping the man's throat in a vice-like hold that should not have been possible. "Emergency disconnect!" the man choked out, panic slicing through his once smug demeanor. But the command fell on unhearing servers; no escape would be granted. Draco leaned in close, his voice a low growl of menace that sent chills down Cass's spine. "I know how the glitch works, and I can now do what any human can do. I can kill in the real world. Tell your friends if they go after Cass and her father, you will have to go through me, and I can be everywhere." With those words hanging in the air like a death knell, Draco released him. The executive's body flickered, then vanished in a sudden flash, leaving behind only the silence of his absence and the echo of a threat well delivered. Cass stared at the spot where the man had been, her breathing shallow and rapid. She looked up at Draco, seeing not just a collection of code and light, but a guardian whose loyalty knew no bounds of reality. "How?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Draco shrugged. “That shadow world you found is the barrier between the virtual world and the real world. I know how to find the doorways now. I’m almost human, Cass.” The words hung in the air, a testament to the impossible. Then, defying all logic of the virtual world, he reached out. His hand—crafted from pixels and light—touched her cheek. It was a sensation that should not have been, yet it resonated with a startling clarity against her skin. Her eyes widened at the warmth, a stark contrast to the cool ambiance of virtual reality. "Disconnect Tinman," Draco's command cut through her astonishment, gentle yet firm. In an instant, the vivid world of the game shattered into darkness. Cass bolted upright on her bunk in the real world, a starkly plain room within the catamaran in the frontier wilderness. Her breath came in sharp gasps, reality anchoring her once more. Yet, as she lifted her hand to her cheek, Draco's touch persisted—a ghostly caress that defied the boundaries of her mind and the digital realm. She sat there for a moment longer, her hand on his, grappling with the implications of what had just transpired. Draco, the fugitive AI who had been her constant sentinel, had ascended beyond the threshold of his programming to the real world. Cass knew the game they were playing had changed forever.