"I found something."
Dan's voice carried an excitement that made Tadano and Vivi immediately stop their training and gather around his workstation. It was early morning, three weeks after Vivi's breakthrough with Sure Shot, and they'd fallen into a comfortable rhythm of training, planning, and waiting for the right opportunity.
Apparently, the right opportunity had just arrived.
"What kind of something?" Vivi asked, leaning over Dan's shoulder to look at the holographic displays.
"The kind that could change everything." Dan pulled up intercepted communications—encrypted Dark military transmissions his surveillance bots had captured. "Remember how I said my Tech Magic lets me interface with technology? Well, I've had bugs in the Dark communication network for months now. Most of it's routine stuff—patrol schedules, supply requisitions, boring military logistics."
"And this isn't boring?" Tadano guessed.
"This is the opposite of boring." Dan's fingers flew across his tablet, decrypting files. "Three days ago, a Dark research facility received a shipment. Classified. High security. The transport convoy had six armored vehicles and twenty elite soldiers as escorts. Whatever they were moving, they considered it extremely valuable."
He pulled up a blurry image—apparently captured by one of his surveillance bots. It showed a large metallic container being unloaded from a transport, surrounded by soldiers.
"I managed to intercept part of the manifest before it was triple-encrypted and buried in their secured servers." Dan highlighted text on the screen. "Quantum Processing Core. Prototype. Generation Four technology."
Tadano frowned. "Generation Four? I thought Gen 3 was the newest."
"For magic, yes. Gen 3 magic is only sixteen years old, still evolving." Dan's eyes gleamed with that particular intensity that meant he'd discovered something fascinating. "But technology has been advancing independently. The Darks have been developing cutting-edge tech for millennia. Most of it's Gen 1 or Gen 2—stable, proven, mass-produced. But occasionally, they create something revolutionary. Something that leaps forward."
He pulled up technical specifications—most of which looked like gibberish to Tadano, but clearly meant something to Dan.
"A Quantum Processing Core is basically a computational brain," Dan explained. "But not like normal computers. This uses quantum mechanics—processing information in ways that shouldn't be possible. Multiple calculations happening simultaneously across different probability states. It's..." He struggled for words. "It's technology that borders on magic. Or magic that borders on technology. The line gets blurry at this level."
"Why do the Darks want it?" Vivi asked.
"Why do they want anything? Control. Power. Advantage." Dan zoomed in on the specifications. "But here's the thing—they didn't build this. The manifest mentions 'recovered pre-invasion tech.' This is something from before the Darks conquered the galaxy. Ancient technology they found and are trying to reverse-engineer."
"And you want to steal it," Tadano said. It wasn't a question.
"I want to steal it so badly." Dan's grin was pure mischief. "Do you understand what I could do with a Quantum Core? My Tech Magic already lets me interface with technology, control it, understand it. But there are limits—processing power, computational speed, the complexity of what I can build. A Quantum Core would shatter those limits. I could create things that currently only exist in theory. Weapons. Defenses. Entire systems."
"You could build an army of robots," Vivi said.
"I could build a better facility. Better equipment for all of us. Better surveillance networks." Dan's expression turned serious. "I could give us a real advantage. Right now, we're three teenagers with impressive abilities fighting an empire. With a Quantum Core, we could be three teenagers with impressive abilities AND technology that rivals what the Darks have."
Tadano studied the displays, thinking through implications. "Where is it now?"
"Dark research facility in the eastern sector. About eighty kilometers from here." Dan pulled up a map. "The facility is called Station Sigma-7. It's a mid-sized research complex—not their largest operation, but significant. They study recovered technology, try to understand how it works, replicate it if possible."
"Security?" Alfred asked, appearing beside them.
"Heavy. But not impossible." Dan pulled up detailed layouts—apparently his surveillance had been thorough. "The facility has three security zones. Outer perimeter—standard guard patrols, sensors, the usual. Middle zone—laboratories and administrative areas, moderate security. Inner sanctum—high-security vault where they keep the most valuable or dangerous items."
He highlighted a section deep in the facility's center. "The Quantum Core is here. Vault Seven. Maximum security—biometric locks, magical wards, armed guards, the works. They're not taking chances with this thing."
"So it's impossible to steal," Vivi said.
"It's very difficult to steal," Dan corrected. "There's a difference. Impossible would mean I wouldn't even try. Very difficult just means we need a really good plan."
"Master Dan, I feel obligated to point out that 'very difficult' often translates to 'high probability of death,'" Alfred said.
"Your optimism is noted and ignored." Dan pulled up more files. "I've been monitoring the facility for the past three days. Guard rotations, shift changes, supply deliveries, everything. And I found something interesting."
He displayed security footage showing a convoy of trucks entering the facility.
"Supply delivery happens every week. Food, equipment, materials—everything the researchers need. The convoy arrives, gets inspected at the outer perimeter, then drives through the middle zone to the loading docks. During that time, security focuses on the delivery—checking manifests, scanning cargo, making sure nothing dangerous gets smuggled in."
"And that's when we infiltrate," Tadano said, seeing where this was going.
"Exactly. We hide in one of the supply trucks. Get through the outer perimeter legitimately. Once we're inside the middle zone, we slip away from the convoy, make our way to the inner sanctum, steal the Core, and escape during the chaos."
"That's a terrible plan," Alfred said flatly.
"That's a brilliant plan," Dan countered. "We bypass the outer security completely. The middle zone is mostly researchers—civilians, not soldiers. Easy to avoid or disable non-lethally if necessary. The real challenge is the inner sanctum."
He zoomed in on Vault Seven. "This is where it gets tricky. Biometric locks mean I can't just hack my way in—they require authorized DNA, retinal scans, fingerprints. But—" his smile widened, "—they also have a backup electronic system in case the biometric readers fail. That's my way in. My Tech Magic can convince the electronic lock that the biometric scan succeeded, that an authorized person is requesting access."
"How long will that take?" Tadano asked.
"Five minutes. Maybe ten if the security is really sophisticated." Dan pulled up guard patrol data. "The vault guards change shifts every six hours. During the changeover, there's a three-minute window where the old guards are leaving and new guards are arriving. That's when we hit the vault. I open the lock while you two keep watch. We grab the Core, head back to the loading docks where the supply trucks are being unloaded, steal one, and drive straight out."
"Driving out seems risky," Vivi said. "They'll notice a stolen truck."
"Which is why we won't use the truck long. Just to get outside the outer perimeter. Once we're in the forest, we ditch the vehicle and disappear." Dan closed the displays. "The whole operation should take less than an hour. In and out before they even realize what happened."
Tadano studied the plan, looking for flaws. "What about cameras? Security monitoring?"
"I'll be jamming their surveillance systems from the moment we enter the middle zone. They'll see static on every screen." Dan tapped his temple. "Tech Magic advantage."
"Magical wards on the vault?" Vivi asked.
"Present, but not sophisticated. Basic detection spells meant to alert guards if unauthorized magic is used. I can work around them—my Tech Magic doesn't register as traditional magic to most wards. To them, I just look like someone using advanced technology."
"Backup plans?" Alfred pressed.
"If we're discovered before reaching the vault—we abort and extract via the nearest exit. If we're discovered at the vault—we fight our way out, prioritize survival over the Core. If the Core is too heavy to carry—I've got anti-gravity devices that can reduce its weight to practically nothing." Dan met each of their eyes. "This is risky, yes. But it's manageable risk. And the payoff is worth it."
Tadano looked at Vivi. She was grinning, that wild excitement in her eyes that meant she was absolutely on board with whatever crazy plan Dan had concocted.
"When's the next supply delivery?" Tadano asked.
"Tomorrow morning. Oh-seven-hundred hours." Dan pulled up the convoy route. "The trucks gather here—a warehouse twenty kilometers from the facility. We infiltrate the warehouse tonight, hide in one of the trucks before they load the actual supplies, and ride in tomorrow morning."
"One night to prepare," Vivi said. "That's tight."
"That's exciting," Dan corrected. "Besides, we've already got most of what we need. Stealth gear, weapons, communications equipment. The real preparation is mental—memorizing the facility layout, understanding guard patterns, knowing exactly what we're doing every second."
He pulled up the facility blueprint again, and they spent the next three hours studying it. Every corridor, every room, every potential hiding spot and escape route. Dan quizzed them until they could navigate the layout blind. Alfred provided tactical analysis, pointing out chokepoints and danger zones.
By evening, they had the plan memorized.
"Supply warehouse infiltration at twenty-two hundred hours," Dan summarized. "Hide in truck overnight. Convoy departs oh-seven hundred, arrives at facility oh-seven-thirty. We slip away during cargo inspection, make our way to inner sanctum. Vault guard shift change happens at fourteen hundred hours—that's our window. Steal the Core, extract via stolen supply truck, ditch vehicle in forest, return to base."
"Simple," Vivi said sarcastically.
"Elegant," Dan countered. "The best plans are simple. Complicated plans have too many failure points."
"The best plans also account for Murphy's Law," Alfred said. "If something can go wrong, it will."
"Which is why we have contingencies. And why we have abilities that make us extremely hard to kill." Dan stood, stretching. "Get some rest. We move out in four hours."
At 22:00 hours, they stood at the edge of the forest overlooking the supply warehouse. It was a large building on the outskirts of a small town—the kind of place the Darks used for civilian operations that didn't require military-level security.
"Four guards visible," Tadano reported, watching through the scope Dan had provided. "Two at the front entrance, two patrolling the perimeter. Standard Dark soldiers, not specialists."
"Lights?" Vivi asked.
"Spotlights on the corners, but they're on timers. Sweep patterns every two minutes, leaving blind spots." Tadano lowered the scope. "We can get in through the back loading dock during the next sweep cycle."
"Cameras?" Dan asked.
"Two visible on the rear wall. I'll handle those." Dan's hands glowed faintly green—his Tech Magic already reaching out to the electronic systems. "Feeding them loop footage... now. We've got ten minutes before anyone notices the timestamp discrepancy."
They moved.
Silent, coordinated, using the shadows and blind spots they'd identified. Tadano led, his Cursed Arts making his movements supernaturally precise. Vivi followed, flames suppressed but ready. Dan brought up the rear, his attention split between physical movement and the digital interference he was running on the facility's systems.
They reached the loading dock without incident. Dan's Tech Magic opened the electronic lock with a thought, and they slipped inside.
The warehouse was vast—rows of shelving filled with supplies, crates stacked to the ceiling, equipment waiting to be loaded into tomorrow's convoy. And at the far end, six large trucks sat empty, ready to be filled in the morning.
"Third truck," Dan whispered, checking his tablet. "Manifest shows it's scheduled for laboratory supplies—lighter cargo, which means more empty space for us to hide in."
They approached the truck carefully, checking for additional security. Finding none, they climbed into the cargo area—a large enclosed space that would be packed with crates by morning.
Dan pulled out three emergency beacons. "Hide these in different locations inside the truck. If we get separated, we can track each other. And if something goes catastrophically wrong, hit your beacon's panic button—Alfred will mobilize emergency extraction."
"You built emergency extraction protocols?" Vivi asked, hiding her beacon behind a support beam.
"I build protocols for everything. That's what separates successful operations from corpse-creating disasters."
They settled into their hiding spots—spaces between structural supports where they'd be concealed once cargo was loaded around them. It was cramped and uncomfortable, but survivable.
"Now we wait," Dan said quietly. "Loading crew arrives at oh-six hundred. Until then, try to sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
Tadano closed his eyes, feeling his sword's presence—still back at the facility, ready to be summoned when needed. His Cursed Arts hummed quietly, a constant companion. Tomorrow they'd steal from the Darks. Tomorrow they'd risk their lives for technology that could change everything.
Tomorrow they'd prove they were more than just three lucky teenagers.
Tomorrow they'd show the Darks what real revolutionaries could do.
But tonight, in the darkness of a supply truck in an enemy warehouse, Tadano allowed himself a moment of doubt.
This plan was solid. Well-researched. Carefully executed.
So why did he have the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong?
He pushed the thought away and tried to sleep.
By dawn, they'd be inside Station Sigma-7.
By afternoon, they'd either have a Quantum Processing Core or be dead.
Simple.
Elegant.
Absolutely nothing could go wrong.