3:02 p.m. – Observation Tower, Level 7 – Restricted Access Floor
Try One sat across from Maya in the soundproof chamber, his expression unreadable, hands folded as if in negotiation — not confrontation.
Maya closed the folder slowly, her eyes scanning his face. "You accessed the Lazarus archive. That should be impossible."
He leaned back. "It's not impossible when you've tried it over 6,000 times. Timing, behavior, camera dead zones — all mapped."
She said nothing for a long moment, but the twitch in her jaw was enough confirmation.
"So what now?" she asked. "Expose the project? Kill me? Walk away?"
Try One shook his head. "No. I want you to help me."
She blinked. "Help you do what?"
"Collapse the loop from the inside."
---
3:10 p.m. – Observation Tower, Server Wing
While Maya escorted him through the reinforced corridor, every step echoed like a challenge. She kept glancing at him — not with fear, but calculation.
"You've played everyone, manipulated every faction, assassinated internal moles, hacked dead-end chains, and rewritten your own identity to survive. Why should I trust you now?" she asked.
He didn't break stride. "Because I didn't bring a weapon into this room."
"That means nothing."
"No," Try One replied calmly. "It means everything. Because I know that you brought one. And if I wanted to end this, I would've made sure I held the gun."
Her pace slowed.
He had her attention.
---
3:21 p.m. – Server Room Access Hall
The door sealed behind them with a hiss. Try One turned to her, eyes sharpened like razors.
"There's a failsafe command buried in the loop code," he said. "It's not public. But I know it exists. I've seen glimpses during resets. You're the only one with full access."
"You want me to trigger it?" Maya asked.
"I want you to rewrite it."
"To do what?"
Try One leaned in, voice like a whisper wrapped in venom:
"To let me keep my memories after reset. Permanently."
3:35 p.m. – Server Room, Core Terminal
The room hummed with raw power, rows of blinking lights casting long shadows over the cold metal surfaces. Try One stood beside Maya as she typed in commands at the central terminal. His eyes flicked over her movements — cautious, deliberate.
"Alright," she said, voice low but steady. "There's an override sequence buried in the core programming. It's called the Echo Protocol. Supposed to reset all memory flags, but with the right code..."
She paused, fingers hesitating over the keys.
Try One's gaze didn't waver. "But you're afraid to try it?"
Maya's lips pressed into a thin line. "It's risky. If it fails, the loop could tighten — become permanent for everyone inside. No reset. No escape."
He nodded. "I understand the stakes. But I've lived a thousand lives trapped in this same day. If the system won't free me, then I'll break it from the inside."
---
3:42 p.m. – Terminal Screen
Lines of code scrolled past rapidly. Maya entered the override command sequence.
"Echo Protocol initializing..." the system announced.
Try One held his breath.
The lights flickered.
Suddenly, a burst of static, and the terminal flashed a warning:
> ACCESS DENIED.
FAILSAFE ENGAGED.
ADMIN OVERRIDE REQUIRED.
Maya's face hardened. "They built multiple layers. Whoever designed this loop wanted it locked down tight."
He looked at her. "Then we find the admin override."
She smiled faintly, a spark of resolve igniting in her eyes. "You're starting to sound like me."
---
3:50 p.m. – Hidden Console, Behind Server Rack
Maya revealed a hidden panel, sliding aside a section of the server rack to reveal an old console.
"This," she whispered, "is the last fallback — the real key to the system. But it requires a biometric scan from the original creator."
Try One's mind raced. "Do you have it?"
She shook her head. "No. But I know someone who does."
4:05 p.m. – Secure Transport Hub
Try One and Maya moved quickly through the sterile corridors, their footsteps echoing softly against steel walls. Outside, the world carried on unaware — unaware of the power struggle hidden deep beneath the surface.
Maya spoke in a low voice. "The biometric data isn't just locked away. It's protected by layers of encryption and... loyalty. The original creator's identity is a mystery to almost everyone."
Try One's eyes narrowed. "Sounds like a fortress."
"More like a ghost story," Maya replied. "There's a name whispered in the highest circles — Dr. Elias Voss. He disappeared years ago after this project started. Some say he's dead. Others say he went underground."
Try One absorbed the weight of the name. He had heard rumors before, but never confirmation.
"We have to find him," he said simply.
---
4:18 p.m. – City Archives
Maya guided Try One through dusty hallways lined with forgotten files and holographic displays flickering with static. They searched for any trace of Dr. Elias Voss.
Minutes stretched into an hour.
Finally, behind a pile of declassified documents, they uncovered a hidden ledger with a single address scrawled in faded ink:
> Apartment 47B, Old Dock District
---
4:35 p.m. – Rooftop Overlooking Dock District
Try One stood in the shadow of a crumbling building, the wind tugging at his coat as he stared at the rundown complex.
"Do you think he'll help us?" Maya asked.
Try One didn't answer.
He was already planning his approach — every possible outcome, every trap, every ally and enemy.
Because this time, the loop wasn't just about survival.
It was about rewriting destiny itself.
5:00 p.m. – Apartment 47B, Old Dock District
The door creaked open before Try One could knock. An elderly man with sharp eyes and a weathered face stood framed by dim light inside the cluttered apartment.
"Elias Voss?" Try One asked.
The man nodded slowly. "Depends on who's asking."
"I'm called Try One," he said calmly. "I'm trapped in a loop. I need your help to break it."
Elias studied him, then motioned inside.
---
5:15 p.m. – Inside the Apartment
The room was filled with old tech, scattered papers, and half-finished blueprints.
"You've come far to find me," Elias said, settling into a worn chair. "Not many remember the project's origins."
Try One nodded. "I've lived through thousands of loops. I know the system inside out."
Elias's eyes glinted with a mix of curiosity and caution. "You want access to the admin override. It's not just a code — it's tied to my biometrics and a deeper secret."
"What secret?" Try One asked.
Elias smiled faintly. "That this loop wasn't a mistake. It was designed as a failsafe... for something far bigger."
Try One leaned forward, anticipation burning in his chest.
Elias continued, "If you break the loop, you could unleash forces nobody is ready for."