You are a beta reader Identfy issues with this fragment of a much larger story: Something was never right with it all. Something intangible, something unremarkable, something so plane and dull it would have gone unnoticed, but that was not Jade McConnell’s way. 

Staring at the data was making her feel dull, she had the sensation of something crawling on the back of her neck, reaching to that place there was nothing there. 

Strange must be a reaction to how she was feeling. She closed her terminal and got her coat and decided to go out for a while. 

She walked down the hall and stood in front of the elevator and pressed the down button that responded with a positive lock click. 

Its surface felt sticky, her fingers made a low peeling sound as she removed them, she felt a sensation of tingling and pulling as she pulled them away from the button. 

The elevator arrived, and she stepped in, pressing the button for the ground floor. 

As the elevator descended, she felt a sense of unease growing within her. 

She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that something was not right. 

When the elevator doors opened, she stepped out into the lobby and was immediately hit by a wave of cold air. 

The lobby was empty, and the only sound was the hum of the air conditioning. 

She walked towards the exit, and as she pushed open the door, she saw something that made her heart skip a beat. 

There, parked in front of the building, was a black van with tinted windows. It was the same van she had seen parked outside her apartment building earlier that day. 

She had dismissed it as a coincidence, but now she wasn't so sure. 

Jade's mind raced as she tried to make sense of what was happening. Was someone following her? Was she in danger? 

She decided to take a closer look at the van. As she approached, she noticed that the windows were rolled down slightly, and she could see a figure sitting inside. 

She hesitated for a moment, then walked up to the van and peered inside. 

The figure was a man, wearing a dark suit and sunglasses. He looked up at her, and she could see a glint of recognition in his eyes. "Ms. McConnell," he said his voice low and gravelly. "We need to talk." Jade's heart raced as she realized that she was in deeper trouble than she had thought. 

She had stumbled onto something big, something dangerous, and now she was in the middle of it. She took a deep breath and stepped back, ready to run if she had to. But the man didn't move. He just sat there, watching her with an inscrutable expression on his face. Finally, he spoke again. "Get in the van," he said. "We have a lot to discuss."

The night was cold, the vans acceleration reminded her of the larch before the jump to FTL, she found comfort in it; space was more than her job it was part of the fabric of who she was, what defined her and gave her peace.

But now, as she sat in the van, hurtling through the dark streets of the city, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. 

She had no idea where they were taking her or what they wanted from her. 

The man in the suit sat across from her, his eyes fixed on her. 

She could feel his gaze on her, like a weight pressing down on her. 

She tried to ignore him, focusing instead on the passing scenery outside the window. 

After what felt like hours, the van finally came to a stop. 

The man got out and opened the door for her. 

She stepped out, her eyes adjusting to the bright lights of the building in front of her. They walked through a maze of corridors and finally arrived at a large conference room. 

Inside, there were several men and women, all dressed in suits and looking very serious. 

"Ms. McConnell," one of them said, standing up. 

"We apologize for the way we had to bring you here, but we needed to speak with you urgently." 

Jade looked around the room, her eyes narrowing. 

"Who are you people?" she asked. 

"We are part of a government agency," the man replied. 

"We have reason to believe that you have come into possession of some sensitive information, and we need to know what you know." 

Jade felt a surge of anger. 

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said. 

"I'm just a data analyst. I don't have access to any sensitive information." 

The man looked at her skeptically. 

"We have reason to believe otherwise," he said. 
"We have been monitoring your activities for some time now, and we know that you have been accessing certain files that are off-limits to you." 
Jade felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. She had been so careful, but it seemed that she had been caught. She didn't know what was going to happen to her now, but she knew that her life would never be the same again.
She scanned the room, one exit heavenly graded, now was the time for information not escape, that would come latter in needed.

Jade took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. 

She knew that she needed to be careful with her words and actions. She couldn't afford to make any mistakes now. 

"Look," she said, addressing the group. 

"I don't know what you think I have, but I can assure you that I haven't done anything wrong. I'm just a data analyst, and I follow the rules."

The man who had spoken earlier looked at her, his expression unreadable. "We have reason to believe that you have been accessing files related to a top-secret project," he said. "We need to know what you know." 

Jade felt a surge of panic. 

She had heard rumours about this project, but she had never seen any actual data related to it. 

She didn't know what to say. 

"I don't know anything about a top-secret project," she said, trying to sound convincing. 

"I'm just a data analyst. I don't have access to that kind of information." 

The man looked at her for a long moment, and then nodded. 

"Very well," he said. "We will have to investigate this further. In the meantime, we will need to keep you here for questioning." 

Jade felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. She didn't know how long they were going to keep her here, or what they were going to do to her. 

She needed to find a way out, but she didn't see any immediate options. She decided to bide her time, to wait and see what they were going to do next. 

She would need to be patient and careful, but she was determined to find a way out of this situation.

The door opened, the silhouetted figure of a woman, her face veiled in shadow should there, Jade was uncertain as to her roll in all this

Jade watched as the woman walked into the room, her face still obscured by the shadows. She couldn't tell who she was or what her role was in all of this. 

The woman walked up to the group and whispered something in the ear of the man who had been questioning Jade. He nodded, and then turned to Jade. 

"Ms. McConnell," he said. "We have decided to release you for now. But we will be keeping a close eye on you. If we find out that you have been withholding information from us, there will be consequences." 

Jade felt a sense of relief wash over her. 

She didn't know why they had decided to release her, but she wasn't going to question it. She stood up and walked towards the door, eager to get out of there. 

As she passed the woman, she felt a hand on her arm. 

She turned to look at her, but the woman's face was still obscured. 

"Be careful," the woman whispered. 

"They are watching you." Jade felt a chill run down her spine. 

She didn't know who this woman was or what she meant, but she knew that she needed to be careful. 

She nodded, and then walked out of the room and into the hallway. As she walked towards the exit, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She looked around, but there was no one there. 

She quickened her pace, eager to get out of there and back to her apartment. When she finally stepped outside, she took a deep breath of fresh air. 

She felt like she had been holding her breath the entire time she was in that building. 

She looked around, but there was no sign of anyone following her. 

She walked down the street, her mind racing with questions. Who were those people? What did they want from her? 

And who was that woman who had whispered to her? She didn't have any answers, but she knew that she needed to be careful. 

She couldn't let her guard down, not even for a moment. She had stumbled onto something big, something dangerous, and she didn't know what was going to happen next.

As jade looked around, the sense of relief turned back to dread, the part of the city she was in was far from her home, it was noted for the Illegal VR Parlours where people got hooked into IV's and got feed, these where VR lifers they ran VR based corporations, crime and violence where rampant in this part of the city.

Jade's heart sank as she realized where she was. 

She had heard about this part of the city, but she had never been here before. It was a dangerous place, full of illegal VR parlours and criminal activity. 

She looked around, trying to get her bearings. 

She needed to find a way out of here, and fast. 

She didn't want to get caught up in any of the illegal activities that were happening around her. 

As she walked down the street, she saw people stumbling out of the VR parlours, their eyes glazed over and their bodies shaking. 

She could hear the sounds of gunfire and shouting in the distance. 

Jade quickened her pace, trying to blend in with the crowd. She didn't want to draw attention to herself. 

She needed to find a way out of here, and she needed to do it quickly. As she turned a corner, she saw a group of men standing in front of her. 

They were dressed in black, and they had a menacing look in their eyes. "Hey, pretty lady," one of them said, stepping forward. 

"What are you doing in our part of town?" 

Jade tried to back away, but they blocked her path. She could feel her heart racing as she realized that she was in trouble. 

"I'm just passing through," she said, trying to sound confident. 

"I don't want any trouble." 

The men laughed, and one of them grabbed her arm. 

"You're not going anywhere," he said. 

"We've got plans for you." Jade struggled, but they were too strong. 

She felt a surge of panic as she realized that she was completely helpless. 

Suddenly, she heard a loud noise, and the men turned to look. 

Jade took advantage of the distraction and ran as fast as she could. She didn't know where she was going, but she knew that she needed to get away from those men. As she ran, she heard more gunfire and shouting. 

She didn't know what was happening, but she knew that she needed to get out of here as quickly as possible. 

She ran down alleyways and side streets, trying to stay out of sight. Finally, after what felt like hours, she saw a familiar landmark in the distance. 

It was a building near her apartment. 
She ran towards it, her heart pounding in her chest. When she finally arrived, she collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. 

She had never been so scared in her life. 

She didn't know what was going to happen next, but she knew that she needed to be more careful in the future. She couldn't let her guard down, not even for a moment.

As she ran she heard a voice from behind 'McConnell, over here' she looked she knew this man. Detective Eddie Hill had gotten worried when Jade didn’t show for the meet they'd planned on the other side of town, in the old warehouse district.

Jade turned around and saw Detective Eddie Hill standing behind her. She felt a wave of relief wash over her. 

She knew Eddie from a previous case they had worked on together, and she trusted him. "Eddie," she said, panting. 

"Thank god you're here. I don't know what's going on, but I think I'm in trouble." 

Eddie looked at her with concern.

 "What happened?" he asked. Jade quickly recounted the events of the past few hours, from the strange encounter with the government agents to the dangerous streets of the VR district. 

Eddie listened intently, his face growing more serious with each passing moment. 

"This is bad," he said. "You've stumbled onto something big, and it looks like they're willing to do whatever it takes to keep it quiet." 

Jade nodded, feeling a sense of dread growing within her. 

She didn't know what to do next. 

"We need to get you out of here," Eddie said. "But first, we need to figure out what they're after. Do you have any idea what kind of information they're looking for?" 

Jade shook her head. "I don't know," she said. "I've been working on a lot of different projects lately. It could be anything." 

Eddie nodded. "Okay," he said. "We need to get you somewhere safe, where we can figure this out. I know a place in the old warehouse district. It's abandoned, but it's secure. We can hole up there for a while and try to figure out our next move." 

Jade nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Eddie. 

She knew that she couldn't do this alone. She needed someone she could trust, someone who knew how to navigate the dangerous waters of the criminal underworld. 

Together, they made their way to the old warehouse district, staying in the shadows and avoiding any potential threats. When they finally arrived at the abandoned warehouse, Eddie led her inside and showed her to a small room in the back. 

We'll be safe here," he said, locking the door behind them. "We can figure out our next move in the morning." 

Jade nodded, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over her. 

She knew that she was in good hands with Eddie, and she was grateful for his help. She lay down on the makeshift bed and closed her eyes, hoping that she would be able to get some rest. But she knew that the danger was far from over.

'Listen, whatever their after could be to do with that trouble on the news' she said. 

Eddie looked at her not wanting to get involved with the particulars of the cabal called the Shadow Continuum, anyone who got involved with them have their lives turned upside down.

Eddie's expression grew serious as he listened to Jade's words. 

He knew all too well about the Shadow Continuum and the danger they posed. He had seen firsthand the kind of havoc they could wreak on people's lives. 

"I know about the Shadow Continuum," he said, his voice low. 

"They're bad news. If they're involved in this, we need to be careful." 

Jade nodded, feeling a sense of unease growing within her. She had heard rumours about the Shadow Continuum, but she had never thought that she would be caught up in their web of deceit and violence. 

"We need to figure out what they're after," she said. 

"And we need to stop them before they do any more damage." Eddie nodded, his expression determined. 

"I'm with you," he said. "But we need to be careful. They're not going to make this easy for us." Jade knew that he was right. They were up against a powerful and dangerous organization, one that had the resources and the will to do whatever it took to achieve their goals. 

But she also knew that she couldn't back down. She had stumbled onto something big, something that could have far-reaching consequences. She couldn't just sit back and let it happen. Together, she and Eddie began to formulate a plan. They would need to gather more information, to find out what the Shadow Continuum was after and why they were so desperate to keep it quiet. 

It was going to be a dangerous and difficult journey, but Jade knew that she had no choice. 

She was in too deep now, and there was no turning back.

Eddie had herd of people's reputations been traded through the media, fake public option polls that eroded public confidence in them, social media campaigns designed to make the target leave public life. 

Eddie knew Jade and he didn’t want that for her.

Eddie knew all too well the tactics that the Shadow Continuum used to destroy people's reputations and lives. He had seen it happen before, and he didn't want that for Jade. "We need to be careful," he said, his voice low. 

"They're not going to play fair. They'll do whatever it takes to get what they want, even if it means destroying innocent people's lives." 

Jade nodded, feeling a sense of dread growing within her. She knew that she was up against a powerful and dangerous organization, one that would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. 

"We need to find out what they're after," she said. "And we need to stop them before they do any more damage." 

Eddie nodded, his expression determined. "We'll do whatever it takes," he said. "But we need to be smart about this. We can't just charge in blindly." Together, they began to gather more information, trying to piece together the puzzle of what the Shadow Continuum was after and why they were so desperate to keep it quiet. 

They dug through old files and data, trying to find any clues that could lead them to the truth. They talked to contacts and sources, trying to gather any information that could be useful. It was a slow and difficult process, but they were making progress. 

They were getting closer to the truth, and they knew that they were on the right track. But they also knew that they were running out of time. 

The Shadow Continuum was closing in, and they needed to act fast if they were going to stop them. 

Jade and Eddie looked at each other, their eyes filled with determination. 

They knew that they were up against a powerful and dangerous enemy, but they were not going to back down. 

They were going to fight, no matter what the cost.

The sun came up, dew on the windows formed droplets that ran down and merged into larger ones. The sound of shuttle engines could be herd in the distance, nothing unusual about that. Jade awoke with a scorched taste in her mouth; her eyes took time to focus and stang in the light of the morning.

Jade sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes and trying to shake off the grogginess. She looked around the room, taking in her surroundings. 

It was a small, cramped space, but it was secure. She and Eddie had spent the night there, trying to gather more information about the Shadow Continuum and their plans. 

As she looked out the window, she saw the sun rising in the distance. It was a beautiful sight, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread growing within her. 

She knew that they were running out of time, and that the Shadow Continuum was closing in. She stood up and walked over to the table, where Eddie was sitting, poring over some files. He looked up as she approached his expression serious. "Any luck?" she asked. Eddie shook his head. "Not yet," he said. 

"But we're getting closer. I think I've found a lead that could be useful." Jade nodded, feeling a sense of hope growing within her. 

She knew that they were up against a powerful and dangerous enemy, but she also knew that they were not alone. 

They had each other, and they had their determination and their skills. 

"We need to move fast," she said. "The longer we wait, the more danger we're in." Eddie nodded, his expression determined. 

"I know," he said. "But we need to be careful. We can't just charge in blindly. We need to have a plan." 

Jade nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Eddie. 

She knew that he was right. 

They needed to be smart about this, to think things through and to be prepared for whatever might come their way. Together, they continued to work, trying to gather more information and to piece together the puzzle of what the Shadow Continuum was after. 

They knew that they were up against a powerful and dangerous enemy, but they were not going to back down. 

They were going to fight, no matter what the cost.

Eddie pointed to the small kitchen, Jade walk over and made herself some coffee, the surface of the mug was too warm to handle, and even the handle felt slightly warm to the touch.

Jade took a sip of the coffee, feeling the warmth spread through her body. It was strong and bitter, just the way she liked it. 

She looked out the window again, watching as the sun continued to rise in the distance. 

As she took another sip, she noticed something strange. 

The surface of the mug was too warm to handle, and even the handle felt slightly warm to the touch. 

She frowned, wondering what could be causing it. 

"Eddie," she said, walking back over to the table. 

"Do you feel that?" 

Eddie looked up, his expression curious. 

"Feel what?" 

"The mug," she said, holding it out to him. 

"It's too warm. And the handle is warm too." Eddie took the mug from her, feeling the warmth for himself. He frowned, wondering what could be causing it. 

"That's strange," he said. 

"I don't know what could be causing it." 

Jade nodded, feeling a sense of unease growing within her. 

She didn't know what was going on, but she knew that it couldn't be good. "We need to be careful," she said. "Something's not right here." 

Eddie nodded his expression serious. 

"I know," he said. "We need to keep our guard up. We can't let our guard down, not even for a moment." 

Jade nodded, feeling a sense of determination growing within her. 

She knew that they were up against a powerful and dangerous enemy, but she also knew that they were not alone. 

They had each other, and they had their determination and their skills. 

Together, they continued to work, trying to gather more information and to piece together the puzzle of what the Shadow Continuum was after. 

They knew that they were up against a powerful and dangerous enemy, but they were not going to back down. 

They were going to fight, no matter what the cost.

Eddie looked at Jade 'Look before we go we have to wipe this place down, might seem OTT but we cannot afford slip ups'

Jade nodded in agreement. She knew that Eddie was right. They couldn't afford any slip-ups, not when they were up against an organization as powerful and dangerous as the Shadow Continuum. 

"Agreed," she said. 

"We need to be thorough. We can't leave any evidence behind." 

Together, they began to wipe down the surfaces, making sure to remove any fingerprints or other traces of their presence. 

They worked quickly and efficiently, knowing that time was of the essence. As they worked, Jade couldn't help but feel a sense of unease growing within her. 

She didn't know what was going to happen next, but she knew that it wasn't going to be easy. 

"We need to be careful," she said, looking up at Eddie. 

"They're not going to make this easy for us." 

Eddie nodded his expression serious. "I know," he said. "But we can't back down. We have to keep fighting, no matter what." 

Jade nodded, feeling a sense of determination growing within her. She knew that they were up against a powerful and dangerous enemy, but she also knew that they were not alone. 

They had each other, and they had their determination and their skills. Together, they finished wiping down the surfaces and gathered their things. 

They were ready to face whatever came their way, no matter how difficult or dangerous it might be. They were going to fight, no matter what the cost.

Stepping out into the morning, sun reflected off the glass of the buildings the anti-glare coatings on the glass were gold/green in colour. 

The street lights where just shutting off. 

The city at this time of day was largely deserted the usual types where around, street cleaning crews, refuse collection, delivery services and the like. 

'What's the plan' Jade said.

Eddie looked around, taking in their surroundings. 

He knew that they needed to be careful, that they couldn't let their guard down even for a moment. 

"We need to keep moving," he said. "We can't stay in one place for too long. 

They'll be looking for us." 

Jade nodded, feeling a sense of urgency growing within her. 

She knew that they were up against a powerful and dangerous enemy, but she also knew that they were not alone. 

They had each other, and they had their determination and their skills. 

"Where do we go?" she asked. 

Eddie thought for a moment, and then nodded towards a nearby alleyway. 

"There's a safe house a few blocks from here," he said. 

"We can hole up there for a while and try to figure out our next move." 

Jade nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. 

She knew that they needed to keep moving, to stay one step ahead of the Shadow Continuum. She followed Eddie down the alleyway, staying close to him and keeping her eyes peeled for any potential threats. 

As they walked, Jade couldn't help but feel a sense of unease growing within her. 

She didn't know what was going to happen next, but she knew that it wasn't going to be easy. 

"We need to be careful," she said, looking up at Eddie. 

"They're not going to make this easy for us." Eddie nodded his expression serious. 

"I know," he said. 

"But we can't back down. We have to keep fighting, no matter what." 

Jade nodded, feeling a sense of determination growing within her. 

She knew that they were up against a powerful and dangerous enemy, but she also knew that they were not alone. 

They had each other, and they had their determination and their skills. Together, they continued down the alleyway, ready to face whatever came their way. 

They were going to fight, no matter what the cost.