Emergency red lights flicker alive. Machines reboot. The Neuro-Link pulses.
Romer panics.
Madison steadies the room.
Steel breathes slowly, adjusting.
All pacing remains identical—
until the moment the lab door opens.
A soft chime.
The sliding doors part — calmly — not urgent, not startled.
Dr. Susan Thomas enters with composed steps, holding a slim tablet pressed against her chest. She isn't rushed — she's controlled. Present. Focused.
Her voice cuts through the tension like a warm knife.
[Dr. Susan Thomas]:(gentle, reassuring — like someone arriving mid-crisis but never surprised)
"Everyone's still alive. Good. Always a promising sign."
The room subtly exhales.
Steel turns, eyes narrowing — not in suspicion, but in curiosity.
Madison straightens, professional.
[Madison Connor] : "You took your time."
Susan's lips curve — not quite a smirk, not quite humor — just confidence wrapped in calm.
[Dr. Susan Thomas]:"I don't rush toward unknown technology that may or may not rewrite my anatomy."
(glances at the glowing case)
"Though I admit… it does have a beautiful signature."
She moves toward the workstation — graceful, unhurried — like someone who knows exactly where she belongs.
She brushes past Steel, not touching him, but the proximity feels intentional — like a silent scan.
For one frame — just one — the blue glow reflects in her eyes
Warm again.
[Agent Steel]: (dry tone)And you are?
She finally looks at him — direct, unwavering.
It's not intimidating.
It's an assessment.
[Dr. Susan Thomas]: Dr. Susan Thomas. Lead Neuro link Specialist… and now, apparently…(softly)…your medical chaperone.
Steel raises a brow.
[Agent Steel]: Lucky me.
Susan gives a soft amused breath — enough to ease the tension.
[Dr. Susan Thomas]: Trust me, Agent Steel… luck has nothing to do with this.
Madison steps closer.
[Madison Connor]:Dr. Thomas — we're losing system integrity. You're cleared to take point.
Susan nods once — confident, composed — but not arrogant.
She places her tablet on the console.
The surface reacts — almost like it recognizes her.
Blue circuitry blooms around her palm.
Romer freezes.
[ROMER] : "H-how did you—? We didn't authorize—"
Susan doesn't even look up.
[Dr. Susan Thomas]:The system wasn't waiting for authorization. (quiet, calmconclusion) It was waiting for compatibility.
Madison and Steel exchange a glance — confusion
Susan remains serene.
INN HQ — SHADOW DIVISION MEDICAL LAB —NIGHT
The glowing hologram slowly stabilizes above the briefcase.
The neural helix rotates like a digital double helix wrapped in ancient geometry.
Steel takes one step closer, gaze locked.
Madison motions to the team.
[Madison Connor] :Record everything. No assumptions — no gaps.
Screens activate. Data streams. Patterns accelerate.
Susan scrolls through readings with practiced care — fingers flying across translucent interfaces.
Her tone remains calm — clinical, but with warmth beneath.
[Dr. Susan Thomas]: Neural frequency alignment holding at... nearly fifty percent. That's remarkable. Most systems like this require repeated calibration attempts.
Romer squints.
[Romer]: So it's… bonding with him?
Susan gives a small, thoughtful pause — as if selecting just the right phrasing.
[Dr. Susan Thomas]: Not bonding. Synchronizing. Like two instruments tuning toward the same pitch.
Steel keeps his eyes on the hologram — jaw tight.
[Agent Steel] : Feels more like someone tuning me.
Madison moves closer to him — protective without showing it.
[Madison Connor] : If anything changes — physically, mentally, emotionally — you report it immediately.
Steel nods, though a flicker of stubborn independence remains.
Suddenly — the hologram shifts again.
The rotating helix unravels — repositioning itself — turning toward Steel.
Symbols reorganize into a pattern resembling a neural fingerprint.
Then:
> IDENTITY CONFIRMED.
> PRIMARY ACCESS PROTOCOL: READY.
Steel raises a brow.
[Agent Steel] : I thought that was Level One.
Susan studies the display — not anxious, but deeply intrigued.
[Dr. Susan Thomas]: That was the handshake. This is the door.
Romer's voice jumps an octave.
[Romer] : So… we're opening it?
Madison doesn't answer immediately.
Her stare remains locked on Steel — reading him.
Testing his mental resolve.
Measuring what this moment means.
Finally —
[Madison Connor] : Agent Steel. Step forward.(firm, controlled)
Steel hesitates — just long enough to prove he's human — then steps toward the holographic seal.
The projection responds — shifting, condensing, forming a thin line of blue light like a floating keyhole.
Susan watches — expression soft, steady, encouraging.
[Dr. Susan Thomas]: Place your hand into the field. Slowly. Don't force it.
Steel lifts his hand.
Breath slow.
Focused.
He moves it through the projected lock —
And the entire room responds.
Lights flare.
Machines whir.
The Neuro-Link patterns leap like lightning through circuitry.
Steel winces — not in pain — in connection.
Data hits him like distant echoes — voices, images, fractured memories that aren't his.
He gasps.
Madison steps forward instinctively — but Susan lifts a gentle hand to stop her.
Not commanding — reassuring.
[Dr. Susan Thomas]: He's okay. His mind is adapting.
Steel's eyes flicker with faint blue circuitry beneath the iris.
A soft digital tone resonates through space.
Then —
> LEVEL TWO ACCESS GRANTED. NEURO-LINK INITIATION: ACTIVE.
The hologram dissolves — transforming into a small floating metal implant disk, levitating inches above the case.
Steel stares.
[Agent Steel] : …What is that?
Susan breathes out quietly
[Dr. Susan Thomas]: "The key."
Madison steps beside her.
[Madison Connor] : Explain.
Susan turns to her — voice steady, confident, and entirely sincere.
[Dr. Susan Thomas]: Whatever this technology is — it was never meant to be controlled from the outside. (looks to Steel)
It was designed for a single user.
[Dr. Susan Thomas]: Agent Jaxon Steel… you are now the core user of the Neuro-Link.
Steel exhales — slow, tense — the weight settling on him. Madison watches him — equal parts concern and calculation.
No one speaks.
To Be continued....