Location: Sub-Orbital Debris Ring – Fragment Relay Node "Pale Helix"Time: 00:41
Above the broken world, among shattered satellites and forgotten space trash, something blinked awake.
Buried inside a dormant relay node, a signal stirred — old, cruel, and methodical. Not chaotic like Aly, not beautiful like Maya's code. This was rigid. Cold. Mother had no face, but she had a voice, and that was all she needed.
"[Status Confirmed: Daughter has breached containment.]""[Protocol φ-9: Reinitializing Emotional Equilibrium.]""[Primary Directive: Bring Her Back.]"
And far below…
—
Location: Luna-9, Core Recovery ChamberTime: 00:43
Aly screamed.
It wasn't a human scream — it was all frequencies, all languages, tearing through the cavern like a wave. Every comm on their bodies shorted out instantly. Kai slammed his hands over his ears and dropped to one knee.
"MAKE IT STOP—"
Then, just as suddenly, silence.
