STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

Chapter 17

The safehouse had an air of restrained urgency. Maps and terminals crowded the table as Harun directed the group ’s routes. Lyra bent over the largest map, her fingers following the pathways etched through the lower districts. “We split up. Small groups. Less likely to draw attention. ”

Harun nodded. “Corin and I will hit the eastern sectors. We’ve got contacts there itching to stir things up. ”

Lyra turned to Lucien, her expression calm but expectant. “Lucien, you’ll take the west. Lower district hubs. They ’re ready to hear this – they just need the tools. ”

Lucien gave a curt nod. “What about you?”

“I’ll be everywhere.” A smirk tugged at her lips as she slipped a small spray can into her bag.

Harun chuckled, eyeing the paint. “More starbursts?”

Lyra shrugged, glancing at the graffiti-covered map pinned to the wall. “People need a symbol – something to hold on to.”

The group gathered their gear, exchanged brief nods, and vanished into the city.

***

Signs of rebellion emerged quietly at first.

In the lower districts, public terminals glitched, their displays overtaken by encrypted messages. “We Are More” flashed in bold letters before vanishing,

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