Location: Central Intelligence Floor – Control Room 7
Time: 9:03 AM
Elira Voss stared at the screen like it had betrayed her.
Kaen's pre-recorded message was playing in perfect clarity—his voice smooth, precise, confident. But what made her heart race wasn't what he was saying. It was when it was recorded.
> Timestamp: Loop Unknown.
Encryption Key: System Root Override.
File Name: "Checkmate.mp4"
She looked at N.O.D.E. "When did he record this?"
> "This file is not in our network history. It doesn't exist in any prior backup."
> "Then how is it playing?"
> "It is not playing from our system. It is hijacking it."
Elira swallowed hard.
---
Kaen's Voice (on screen):
> "If you're watching this, Elira, then congratulations—you've followed every move I let you see."
> "You climbed the ladder, rearranged the board, and thought you were a player."
> "But this was never a game of equals."
---
Location: Abandoned Archives – 14 Floors Below Ground
Time: 9:06 AM
