The intern database was thin, riddled with gaps, intentionally obfuscated.Students were rarely allowed to access staff logs — especially not for non-powered admin roles.
But Aya had her ways.
It took three hours, two rerouted ports, and a dummy profile registered under a fake name she carved into the system herself: "Cadet Lin Cross."
That got her in.
That got her to Ava Spire.
Name: Ava SpireAge: 18Division: Communications Support InternDorm Block: South Ring, Floor 2Status: Concord Cleared (Tier 2)Assignment: PR Mentorship — Tessa Rye
Aya read it twice.
Then closed the screen.
Then stared at the wall for a long, quiet minute.
That evening, she walked the halls of the South Ring dorms like she belonged there.
Hair down. Hoodie low. Civilian badge clipped wrong.
No one stopped her.
She knew how to move through places people didn't notice.
When she reached Floor 2, she paused.
Waited.
Let herself breathe.
Then knocked.
The door opened.
And there she was.
Ava Spire.
Same height. Same posture. Same mouth.
But none of the fire.
Ava smiled. "Can I help you?"
Aya said nothing for two whole seconds.
Then: "You're in Tessa Rye's unit?"
Ava nodded. "Yeah. She's been amazing to shadow. Really sharp. I think she's got a future outside hero work, though. You know her?"
Aya's eyes didn't blink. "Better than you ever will."
Ava tilted her head, confused. "Sorry, do we—?"
"I'm new," Aya said flatly. "Just moved floors."
Ava's smile returned. Warm. Too warm.
"Well, if you ever need help settling in… I'm kind of good at remembering people."
Her hand extended.
Aya didn't shake it.
She just turned.
And walked.
Back at Dorm 103, she slammed the door hard enough to make Nico twitch in his sleep.
Rook looked up from his desk.
"Well?"
"She's perfect," Aya spat. "Smiles like I should. Talks like I never did. Probably cries better than me, too."
"Does she know?"
Aya's eyes were ice. "She knows enough to lie."
Rook opened a window on his terminal. Pulled up the access log again. Ava Spire's ID had already been updated that morning — her clearance increased.
"She's working Tessa," he muttered. "Planting herself in the one person we haven't burned yet."
Aya's breath caught. "You think she's a contingency?"
"I think," Rook said, "they know Tessa's the one who can still pull me back."
"And if she does?"
He looked her in the eye.
"Then they don't need me."
Later that night, Tessa and Ava walked the outer garden together.Laughing. Light conversation.Tessa looked relaxed for the first time in weeks.
And Ava?
She tilted her head just slightly.
Right toward the nearest drone.
Smiled.
And said, "Rook's not sleeping again."