Location; Silverbridge Estate – Inner Corridor, 2:11 AM
The estate's alarms wailed like distant banshees as Damien shoved a biometric panel open, dragging Nora toward the armory. "It's breached the rooftop," he said grimly. "We have maybe twenty seconds before it finds us."
Nora's fingers trembled as she typed a command into the estate's internal defense grid. "Activate Guardian Protocol. Lock down every access point from Sub-Level 1 upward."
The system beeped. ACCESS GRANTED. LOCKDOWN IN PROGRESS.
The lights flickered. A pulse of energy rippled through the air.
Then silence.
Damien raised a tactical rifle, sleek and modified with EMP rounds. "I've got six shots. That's all it'll take if I can hit its core. But Nora…" He glanced at her, eyes full of conflict. "Are you sure you want it dead?"
Nora stared at the floor. "If it's what I think it is… it's not just a weapon. It's a reflection of me—without the love I've had, the freedom to choose. If there's a chance to reach it…" She exhaled. "I have to try."
---
Location: Silverbridge Estate – Grand Hallway
Subject 27X-A moved without sound, scanning each corridor with inhuman efficiency. It sensed movement below—a heat signature, racing heart rate, electromagnetic fluctuations. Two targets.
Its pupils dilated. Muscles primed. It leapt downward, smashing through the floor in a blur of motion.
It landed in front of Damien and Nora with terrifying grace, dust swirling around its boots.
"Dr. Nora Bennett," it said in a mechanical yet oddly soft tone. "You will come."
Nora stepped forward. "Who are you?"
The assassin tilted its head. "Designation: Subject 27X-A. No personal identifier."
"You're like me," she whispered. "I was designed too. But they gave me a name. A life. You deserve the same."
It didn't move.
Damien's aim never wavered. "One wrong twitch and you're going down."
Nora placed a hand on his weapon, slowly lowering it. "Let me talk to it. Please."
"Why?" Damien whispered back. "It's not a person."
Nora's voice trembled. "Because it could've been me."
---
Location: Grand Hallway – Moments Later
Subject 27X-A studied Nora. "I was created to end you. That is my purpose."
"No," she said gently. "That's what they programmed into you. But you're more than that. You hesitated. You didn't strike the moment you saw me. Why?"
It blinked—slightly, almost imperceptibly.
"Because something in you recognized me. Maybe not through memory. But on a cellular level. We share a genetic core. I am your mirror… and you are mine."
The assassin's breathing quickened. "Conflicting commands. Purpose disintegrating. Identity breach."
Damien slowly reached for the EMP trigger. But Nora stopped him again.
"Listen to me," she said firmly. "You can choose. You are not their puppet. You are not Marion's blade. If you help us, I can stabilize you. No more degradation. You'll live."
"Live…" the assassin repeated.
Its hand reached forward—hesitantly.
Then—CRACK! A shot rang through the hallway.
Nora gasped as blood splattered across her sleeve.
The assassin staggered, clutching its shoulder.
From the shadows behind them, Marion stepped into view, a pistol smoking in her hand.
"You always were too sentimental, Nora."
---
Location: Silverbridge Estate – Grand Hallway (Continued)
Damien fired instantly, but Marion was already diving behind a marble pillar.
The assassin fell to one knee, shaking violently from the internal damage. "System… overload…"
Nora rushed forward. "Don't fight it. I can stop the destabilization!"
"You won't get the chance," Marion snarled, emerging with a shock baton and lunging at Nora.
Damien tackled her, slamming her into the wall. "Touch her again, and I end you!"
Marion laughed darkly. "You don't understand. That thing is a time bomb. It'll take you all with it."
The assassin looked up at Nora, its expression unreadable. "End me… or free me…"
"I'll free you," Nora whispered, placing a pulse stabilizer against its chest.
With a deep hum, the device activated, flooding its system with cooling energy and suppressing the meltdown.
Subject 27X-A slumped forward, breathing calmly now—its eyes no longer glowing.
"You… saved me…" it whispered, almost like a child.
"Yes," Nora said, tears in her eyes. "You deserve a choice."
---
Location: Silverbridge Estate – Underground Medical Wing (One Hour Later)
Subject 27X-A—now resting in containment—slept peacefully, stabilized and unarmed. Nora monitored its vitals from a distance.
Marion had been detained and turned over to internal authorities. Evidence of her involvement with Phase Wing, illegal experiments, and assassination plots was already being processed.
Damien entered quietly and wrapped his arms around Nora's waist. "You did it."
She nodded. "I saved her."
"Him."
She looked at him.
"I checked the DNA," Damien added softly. "It's male. Barely. But with the right care… maybe he can grow into something more."
"I'll give him a name," Nora said. "No more numbers."
Damien kissed the side of her head. "Then let him be the first one you save… not as a doctor, but as a sister."