The moon still glowed over a fractured Earth.

In the days following the Gate’s partial activation, global reality rippled like a taut wire plucked by unseen fingers. People reported shared memories, hallucinations, prophetic dreams. Governments scrambled to explain the event. Scientists argued over data anomalies. Religious leaders declared the world had been touched by something divine—or demonic.

But inside Polaris HQ, silence reigned.

Emma Carter sat alone in the observation deck, ...