Location: Black Helix Satellite Base – Eastern Tavara
Damien stepped out of the armored vehicle before it had even come to a full stop. The air here felt charged—like static before a storm.
Behind him, Alpha Team moved in silence. Each operative knew this wasn't just another recovery mission. This was personal.
The moment his boots hit the ground, Damien's earpiece crackled.
"Sir, secondary energy signature just pulsed from the north quadrant—deep underground. It's identical to the Oracle protocol signature from Nora's last known location."
"She's alive," Damien said, jaw tightening. "And she's awakening."
He signaled two fingers forward. "Move in. No mistakes."
---
Location: Underground Archive – Beneath the Abandoned Church
Nora stood still, staring at the screen. Her face was pale, but her mind raced with heat—rage, betrayal, revelation.
Project Oracle.
She wasn't born by chance. She was engineered.
"What happens if they find this?" she asked Elira, voice low.
"They'll activate the Directive," Elira replied. "Every remaining Helix sleeper agent will converge. You won't be hunted. You'll be expected to lead them."
Nora's stomach turned.
"I'm not their weapon," she said. "I never was."
"You're right. But your genetics say otherwise. You have to choose now—destroy what's here, or use it against them."
Nora turned to a sealed container labeled "Vial Omega-X: Prototype Anti-Serum." Next to it, a log entry from her mother:
> "In case Nora ever finds this, I've created a serum to suppress the Helix gene expression—so she can live free, unbound."
Her hands hovered over the vial.
But before she could decide, the chamber lights flickered—and alarms blared.
"Intrusion detected," the system announced. "Unauthorized personnel approaching vault sector."
Elira pulled her weapon. "Looks like they've found us."
---
Location: Entry Point to Vault Sector
Damien's team had broken through two security barriers. The underground air was thick, every hallway echoing with metallic groans.
"Motion sensors picking up two figures ahead," said Rider, one of his top agents.
"Hold fire until confirmed," Damien ordered.
Seconds later, they turned a corner—and there she was.
Nora.
Weapon drawn. Staring him down across the divide, eyes full of fire and confusion.
Behind her, Elira raised her weapon too.
"It's me," Damien said, voice steady. "I came for you."
Nora didn't lower her weapon. Not yet.
"Tell me, Damien... if I was made to be their queen—would you still love me?"
His heart ached. "I didn't fall in love with your bloodline, Nora. I fell for you. The fighter. The survivor. The woman who never bowed, even when the whole world tried to break her."
Silence.
Then, slowly, Nora lowered her gun.
"You're late," she murmured.
Damien stepped forward, eyes never leaving hers. "Never again."