The world didn't end with explosions.The world didn't end with explosions.
It ended quietly.It ended quietly.
Phones lost signal first. Then the sky changed color—just slightly, like a bad filter layered over reality. People noticed, talked about it online, laughed. By the time the laughter stopped, it was already too late.Phones lost signal first. Then the sky changed color—just slightly, like a bad filter layered over reality. People noticed, talked about it online, laughed. By the time the laughter stopped, it was already too late.
Evan was inside his RV when it happened.Evan was inside his RV when it happened.
He had parked on the edge of a highway rest area, halfway between two cities he no longer remembered caring about. The engine was off. The kettle was warm. Everything felt normal enough to be dangerous.He had parked on the edge of a highway rest area, halfway between two cities he no longer remembered caring about. The engine was off. The kettle was warm. Everything felt normal enough to be dangerous.
Then the warning came.Then the warning came.
[Reality Stability: Critical][Reality Stability: Critical]
The words appeared in front of his eyes, translucent and calm, as if nothing was wrong.The words appeared in front of his eyes, translucent and calm, as if nothing was wrong.
Evan froze.Evan froze.
He hadn't taken drugs. He wasn't tired enough to hallucinate. He reached out instinctively, and the words stayed where they were.He hadn't taken drugs. He wasn't tired enough to hallucinate. He reached out instinctively, and the words stayed where they were.
Outside, someone screamed.Outside, someone screamed.
The scream cut off abruptly, like a switch had been flipped.The scream cut off abruptly, like a switch had been flipped.
Evan stood up slowly and looked through the RV's front window.Evan stood up slowly and looked through the RV's front window.
The parking lot was chaos.The parking lot was chaos.
People were running. Some had collapsed. Others were standing still, their bodies twisting unnaturally, bones shifting under skin that no longer looked human.People were running. Some had collapsed. Others were standing still, their bodies twisting unnaturally, bones shifting under skin that no longer looked human.
A man lifted his hand.A man lifted his hand.
The air around it compressed.The air around it compressed.
Something invisible slammed into a parked car, flipping it onto its side like a toy.Something invisible slammed into a parked car, flipping it onto its side like a toy.
Evan stepped back.Evan stepped back.
His heart was racing, but his mind felt strangely clear.His heart was racing, but his mind felt strangely clear.
Then the second notification appeared.Then the second notification appeared.
[Adaptive Mobile Bastion System detected a compatible host.][Adaptive Mobile Bastion System detected a compatible host.]
[Primary Anchor: Vehicle — RV confirmed.][Primary Anchor: Vehicle — RV confirmed.]
[System binding initiated.][System binding initiated.]
The RV vibrated.The RV vibrated.
Not violently—steadily. Like a machine waking up after a long sleep.Not violently—steadily. Like a machine waking up after a long sleep.
Evan grabbed the counter to steady himself.Evan grabbed the counter to steady himself.
"What… the hell is this?""What… the hell is this?"
No answer came. Only another line of text.No answer came. Only another line of text.
[System binding complete.][System binding complete.]
[Bastion Rank: Shell I][Bastion Rank: Shell I]
[Modification Authority: 1][Modification Authority: 1]
Outside, the screams continued.Outside, the screams continued.
Evan looked at the RV around him—the walls, the floor, the ceiling that had always felt thin and fragile.Evan looked at the RV around him—the walls, the floor, the ceiling that had always felt thin and fragile.
For the first time, he didn't feel exposed.For the first time, he didn't feel exposed.
He felt… protected.