The glass façade of Hayes Tower reflected the rising sun like a mirror to another world—one untouched by firewalls and artificial echoes. But inside, deep beneath the mirrored windows and steel walkways, a quiet war continued to pulse behind the walls.

Emma stood alone in the archive chamber beneath Sub-Level 6. The holographic display flickered before her, each image dancing with fragments of forgotten code, voiceprints, and memory shards. Her breath misted slightly, the temperature lower ...