C500 The Recording

Trojan Horse One bowed his head apologetically. “I'm sorry, Madam. I'm new here, and I wasn't sure where I was supposed to go.” Stacy stared at him suspiciously for a moment. She had already received enough bad news that evening, and the last thing she wanted was to waste her time answering questions from a recruit who couldn't even find directions. Eventually, she sighed and waved a hand. “Fine. What do you want?” “Madam, I only wanted to ask where everyone sleeps.” Stacy stared at him as though he had just asked the most ridiculous question imaginable. “Where everyone sleeps?” she repeated. “We're at the border, not at home! You don't get to sleep whenever you want. Even when you do get the chance, you'll be lucky to get two hours of rest before someone calls you back to work.” She pointed towards the entrance of the tent. “As for where you should go, find a group and join them. They'll tell you what needs to be done. Don't stand around waiting for someone to hold your hand.”

Trojan Horse One bowed again. “Understood, Madam. Thank you.” Then, just as the Trojan Horse One passed her table, his arm brushed against the glass of water sitting near the edge. The glass tipped over. Water spilled across the table and splashed onto Stacy's uniform. “Hey!” she shouted, jumping to her feet. “Watch where you're going!” Trojan Horse One immediately turned around. “I'm sorry, Madam! It was a mistake.” “A mistake?” Stacy snapped, grabbing a cloth and trying to dry her uniform. “Can't you even walk properly?” “I'm really sorry.” He lowered his head again, making himself appear embarrassed and frightened. Stacy barely spared him another glance. She was too busy wiping the water from her clothes to notice his hand move towards the phone lying beside the glass. In one quick movement, he picked it up and slipped it out of sight. “Be more careful next time!” Stacy warned. “Yes, Madam.” He left the tent without looking back. The moment he stepped outside, his apologetic expression disappeared. He moved away from the entrance, found a relatively quiet spot, and took out the burner phone he had been given before arriving at the border.

He checked the recording function and Pixel had prepared. The phone Stacy had just been using was the one he needed to reach. He started recording while he redialled the last number that Stacy called. The call connected almost immediately. “Stacy, what was that?” Hanna demanded. Trojan Horse One remained silent. “Stacy?” He held his breath and listened. “Are you there?” Hanna asked again, her voice growing impatient. “Stacy, answer me!” He had what he needed. He ended the call and quickly saved the recording. Then, after checking that the audio had been captured, he returned to Stacy's tent and tossed her phone back inside through the partially open entrance. He didn't wait to see whether anyone noticed. Instead, he walked away with a small smile. “The distraction worked,” he whispered to himself. “Pixel, I did it.” Trojan Horse One felt that the operation was beginning to move in their favour. He had entered the First Family's camp as an ordinary recruit. Stacy had spoken freely in front of him, never imagining that the person standing in her tent could become a problem for Hanna. Now, he had something valuable. And he knew exactly who needed it. Pixel's Secret Plan

Back in the Third Family's camp, our tent was filled with excitement. Cipher had defeated Tyson and Ignacio in front of both families. Her victory had silenced the people who had questioned her leadership, and for the first time since her arrival, there was a noticeable change in the atmosphere. Some soldiers were still frightened of her. Others admired her strength. A few were probably wondering whether they should have challenged her when they had the chance. Whatever they thought, one thing was certain: nobody could dismiss Cipher as an inexperienced leader anymore. While the others discussed her victory, Pixel approached me quietly. “Cracker, I need your help.” I turned towards her. “What's wrong?” “Can we talk somewhere else?” Her expression immediately caught my attention. Pixel was usually direct when she needed something, but there was something different about her now. She looked as though she desperately needed something. I followed her away from the others until we were far enough from the tent to speak privately. “Alright,” I said. “What's going on?” She glanced around to make sure nobody was listening. “I need to ask you something about technology.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Technology? That's a broad subject. You'll have to be more specific.” “Do you know how voice-changing software works?” I studied her face. “Voice-changing software?” “Yes. I need something that can make my voice sound like someone else's. Preferably something simple to use.” I folded my arms. “Are you asking about a voice changer that modifies your voice in real time, or one that can work with an existing recording?” “Something that can help me sound like another person.” I looked at her for another moment. “That's possible. Some applications can alter the sound of your voice. But the quality depends on the software and the voice you're trying to imitate.” Pixel nodded, as though she had expected that answer. “Can you install something like that on my phone?” I smiled. “Hand it over. I'll see what I can do.” She immediately gave me her phone. I returned to my technical equipment and began setting it up. I didn't ask too many questions. We had enough problems at the border without turning every conversation into an interrogation, and Pixel had always been capable of making her own decisions. Besides, if she needed my help with technology, I was hardly going to refuse. After a short while, I handed the phone back. “There. You should be able to use it now. Just make sure you understand how it works before relying on it.” Pixel examined the screen and smiled. “Thank you, Cracker.

Later that night, the Lions gathered around a fire. The cold air had settled over the border, and the flames provided the only real comfort as we discussed Cipher's next move. The wall was our immediate priority. Without a proper defensive barrier, we were leaving our people exposed to enemy attacks. Cipher wanted the soldiers organised as early as possible the following morning. We needed timber, manpower, and cooperation from both families. None of those things would be easy to secure, but after what had happened earlier that day, nobody was likely to challenge her openly. While we discussed the work ahead, Pixel quietly slipped away. Silver noticed her leaving but didn't call attention to it. Away from the fire, Pixel made her way towards the agreed meeting point. Trojan Horse One was already there. He stood near a cluster of trees, keeping watch over the surrounding area. When he saw Pixel approaching, he stepped forward. “Did you do it?” she asked. He nodded. “Yes. I followed your instructions. I recorded her voice, but I'm not completely sure whether the voice was Hanna's.” Pixel held out her hand. “Let me hear it.”

He transferred the recording to her phone. Pixel put in her earphones and listened carefully. The first time she heard the voice, her expression remained neutral. She replayed the recording, listening to the tone and the way the words were spoken. Then a smile slowly appeared on her face. “Yes,” she whispered. “That's her.” Trojan Horse One watched her carefully. “Then the first task is done.” Pixel removed one earphone. “I know.” There was no hesitation in her answer. For a moment, she looked down at the recording. The sound of Hanna's voice brought back everything she had been trying to control since her father's death. The strange call the night before, the grief, the anger, and the terrible feeling that she had failed to protect the person who mattered most to her. She had spent too many days imagining what she would do if she ever got the chance to make Hanna suffer. But Hanna was not the only person she wanted to hurt. Samson was her father, now in the sense that mattered to her plan, he was Hanna's father, and Pixel believed that making him suffer would be a way of making Hanna feel the pain she had inflicted on others. It was a dangerous plan. It was also a deeply personal one. Pixel took a slow breath and looked back at the recruit. “Send the recording to me.” “Already done.” “Good. And remember, you were never here with me. If anyone asks, you were carrying out your duties.” Trojan Horse One nodded. “Understood.” Pixel slipped the phone into her pocket. “Thank you. You've done well.” She turned and headed back towards the camp, keeping her face calm as she walked. The recording was only the beginning.