EXFIL COMPLETE. NODES ACTIVE.

It was a PDF.

“I know,” she said, a real smile finally breaking through. “I just emailed you and the entire city council a binder full of reasons why Veridian’s permit should be denied. Plus a little gift for the local news. You might want to check your inbox.”

“Nella? It’s 3 AM.”

She didn’t panic. She’d planned for this. She initiated her final script: a data-flaying worm that would simultaneously wipe her tracks, crash their local server, and—most importantly—upload the entire cache of incriminating files to three dead-drop servers across the globe.

“Hey, Marcus. It’s Nella. Remember that zoning hearing tomorrow morning at 8 AM?”

A silent alarm tripped. A small, red icon pulsed in the corner of her screen. They’d found her.

Nella closed her laptop. The café owner was yelling at everyone to log off. The sirens stopped.