The vibration intensified.
The blue glow of the core stuttered like a heartbeat under threat, flickering faster and faster until the entire underground chamber trembled with it.
Palo grabbed Ash's sleeve.
"Ash—something is coming. We need to move!"
Ash steadied himself, eyes fixed on the core.
"No. Someone activated the facility remotely. Someone who knows I opened it."
A metallic thunk echoed above them—like a door slamming shut.
Palo's eyes widened.
"That sounded like the hatch!"
Ash turned sharply toward the ladder, but before he could take a single step, the lights above them flashed red.
A cold automated voice filled the chamber:
"Containment Protocol 7 initiated."
"Original and Replicate proximity detected."
"Stabilization sequence armed."
Palo whispered, horrified, "Stabilization sequence? Ash… what does that mean?"
Ash's breath hitched.
"It means they're trying to force a merge between me and the copy."
Palo froze.
"A merge? Ash—won't that—"
"Yes."
Ash swallowed hard.
"It could erase one of us. Or both."
Palo's stomach dropped.
---
Footsteps Above
The vibration stopped suddenly.
Silence.
Then—
Footsteps.
Heavy.
Measured.
More than one person.
Ash's posture stiffened. "They're here."
Palo's heart hammered in his chest. "The scientists? The intruder?"
Ash shook his head once.
"No. They wouldn't come themselves."
The footsteps reached the hatch above.
Metal creaked.
Something—or someone—began to descend the ladder.
Palo grabbed a metal pipe from the floor, hands trembling. "Ash… who is it?"
The shadow descended slowly first.
Large. Tall. Definitely not the copy.
Ash stepped slightly in front of Palo.
"I don't know."
The figure reached the bottom.
A