LOCATION: UNDERCITY – ARCHITEUM RUINS

TIME: 1:14 a.m.

Morrow bled from the lip.

Not from a fight from the truth.

Solene stood over her.

No gun. No blade. Just a black envelope.

“Open it,” Solene said.

Morrow did.

Inside:

DNA reports.

Medical logs.

Photos.

The embryo.

The child.

Half Rafael.

Half Solene.

Harvested from stolen genetic material during the overwrite period.

Not conceived.

Extracted.

Morrow’s voice broke. “You didn’t know.”

“No,” Solene ...