Then static...Mirror Lake was dry now. Just cracked ground and abandoned test chambers.
But beneath it was an old research bunker — the original Echo Lab.
They broke in at midnight.
Inside, it was worse than they expected.
Pods.
Hundreds of memory pods.
Each one pulsing with artificial thoughts.
"They stored people here," Dain said, horrified. "Or... their minds."
Kael ran a scan. "They uploaded memories. Erased originals. Like rewriting someone's soul."
Liora's stomach churned.
They found a final terminal. Her brother's last entry.
> "They found me. I uploaded what I could. The corruption came from the highest level — a Council member named Vex. He used me. Lied to me."
> "Liora… I'm sorry. I tried. I really did."
Dain's voice cracked in her earpiece. "You need to run. Now."
"Why?"
"Company."
Liora looked up.
A tall man in white armor stood at the doorway, plasma blade humming.
"You shouldn't be here, girl."
She recognized him.
Commander Vex.
