The safehouse was quieter than usual, the aftermath of the warehouse mission leaving an eerie stillness in its wake. The faint glow of Reed's computer screens illuminated the room as he sifted through the data they'd managed to extract. Ava stood by the window, staring into the darkness outside, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

Eric entered, closing the door softly behind him. "You've been standing there for hours," he said, his voice low.

Ava didn't turn around. "Can't sleep," she replied simply.

Eric approached cautiously, leaning against the wall beside her. "You're thinking about the devices."

She shook her head. "Not just that. It's everything—the explosion, the guards we had to take out, the look in their eyes before..." Her voice trailed off.

Eric sighed, his gaze fixed on her. "We knew what we were signing up for, Ava. Every choice we make comes with consequences. You're not responsible for all of this."

Ava turned to face him, her eyes sharp. "Aren't I? Marcus, Julian, this entire mess... it all leads back to me. Somehow, I'm at the center of it."

Before Eric could respond, Reed called out from across the room. "Hey, you two! You're going to want to see this."

They joined Reed at his workstation, where streams of encrypted data filled the screen. He gestured to one of the monitors. "I managed to decrypt part of the network's logs. It's... disturbing."

"What are we looking at?" Eric asked, leaning over his shoulder.

"Manufacturing records," Reed said grimly. "The devices we saw—they're not just tracking tools. They're designed to emit some kind of frequency, something that can influence cognitive patterns."

Ava frowned. "Influence how?"

Reed hesitated, pulling up another file. "The specifics are still unclear, but it's like they're designed to manipulate emotions, decisions, even memories. If these things go active, they could destabilize entire populations."

The room fell silent as the weight of Reed's words sank in. Ava's mind raced, flashes of her fragmented memories flickering like a broken film reel.

Eric broke the silence. "We have to stop this before it goes any further. What's our next move?"

Reed adjusted his glasses, scrolling through the data. "The hub is still our best shot. If we can take control of their main server, we might be able to shut down the entire operation."

"And Julian?" Ava asked, her voice steady.

Reed looked at her. "If he's there, we take him out. Permanently."

Later that night, Ava sat alone in the dimly lit safehouse kitchen, a cup of coffee cooling in her hands. The silence pressed down on her, but her thoughts were louder than ever.

The door creaked open, and Eric stepped in, his movements cautious. "You look like you're carrying the weight of the world."

She let out a bitter laugh. "Feels like I am."

He sat across from her, his expression softer than usual. "You're not alone in this, Ava. You have us."

Her eyes met his, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through her hardened exterior. "It doesn't feel that way sometimes. There's so much I don't understand, Eric. So much I don't remember."

Eric hesitated, then leaned forward. "Do you trust me?"

Ava studied him carefully before nodding. "I do."

"Then trust that we'll figure this out together," he said firmly.

Her lips twitched into a small, reluctant smile. "You always know what to say, don't you?"

"It's a gift," he replied with a wink, lightening the mood for just a moment.

The following day, Reed called an emergency meeting. His expression was grim as he laid out a series of printouts on the table.

"We've got a problem," he began. "The logs I decrypted—they include names. Lots of them. People Julian has been manipulating or monitoring."

Ava's heart sank. "Who are they?"

"Politicians, business leaders, military officials," Reed said, pointing to the list. "If Julian activates those devices, these people could be under his control in an instant."

Eric frowned. "What about the ones already active? Are any of them close to us?"

Reed hesitated before nodding. "One. And it's someone you're not going to like."

He turned the printout around, revealing a familiar name. Ava's breath hitched as she read it aloud.

"Eric Kingsley."

All eyes turned to Eric, who stood frozen in place. "That's not possible," he said, his voice low.

Reed shrugged helplessly. "I'm just telling you what the data says. Julian's had his eye on you for a while. Whether or not you've been influenced... I can't say for sure."

Ava stepped forward, her gaze piercing. "Eric, is there anything you're not telling us?"

Eric met her eyes, his expression conflicted. "No, Ava. I swear, I don't know how my name ended up on that list."

Reed cut in. "For now, we can't assume anything. But we also can't ignore the possibility that Julian's already made his move."

The room was thick with tension as Ava grappled with the implications. Her trust in Eric wavered, and she hated herself for it.

Finally, she spoke, her voice firm. "We stay vigilant. We can't afford to let doubt tear us apart."

Eric nodded, his jaw tight. "Agreed. Whatever's going on, I'll prove to you I'm not compromised."

Ava's eyes lingered on him for a moment longer before she turned away. "Let's focus on the hub. We have a mission to finish."