Thursday – 7:16 A.M. | Kael's Safehouse – Underground Network
The safehouse was buried beneath a broken subway tunnel, a maze of reinforced concrete, flickering lights, and hacked satellite feeds. Ava had barely slept. Kael was bruised, but calm.
Rick stared at the glowing screen in front of him — Kael's recovered drive was finally decrypted.
> FILE: PHOENIX-X
STATUS: TOP SECRET
ACCESS LEVEL: ERASURE CLASS
There was no title, no sender. Just one chilling subject line:
> "The Boy Who Should Not Exist."
Ava's hands trembled on the mouse.
"Are you ready for this?"
Rick exhaled.
"Do it."
Classified Report – Hollow Bridge Archives
[PROJECT PHOENIX-X]
> Initiated: January 5, 2007
Subject Codename: R1–FyeRx
Intended Outcome: Cognitive Weaponization
Status: Terminated (False Record)
Natural Guardian: Alyra Fyer – formerly Dr. Alyra Myres, senior Hollow Bridge researcher.
Rick stepped back as the document scrolled down.
His mother... had been part of them.
"She worked for Hollow Bridge."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"Not just worked. She created Project Phoenix-X. And then tried to destroy it."
Ava continued reading.
> Notes:
Subject showed early-stage signs of latent cognitive defense abilities.
Emotional imprinting caused rejection of control protocols.
Mother forcibly extracted subject from facility during prototype phase.
Result: Facility breach. 3 deaths. Phoenix-X frozen. Subject labeled 'unstable.'
Rick's Flashback – The Fire
The fire. The screaming. The night his mother died.
He'd always remembered running.
But now...
He remembered her voice:
> "They'll come for you, Rick. Be stronger than them. Be better."
And then a metal door. Sirens. Gunfire.
His mother hadn't died in an accident.
She was murdered. For saving him.
Present – Safehouse
Rick clenched his fists.
"They tried to erase her. Erase me."
Kael pulled another file.
"There's more. Phase Two."
> Objective: "Transfer Phoenix-X neurological structure to Subject 1."
"Mara," Ava whispered.
Rick nodded.
"They built her using me."
Meanwhile – Hollow Bridge HQ | Project Rebirth Lab
Mara stood in front of a glass panel.
Behind it: a steel chair, cables, and monitors.
Widow walked in, silent.
"Did you see what you needed?"
Mara nodded.
"He remembers now."
"And?"
Mara's eyes dimmed.
"He'll come for you. Not out of vengeance... but justice."
Widow tilted her head.
"And will you let him?"
Mara looked at her own reflection.
"Not until he earns it."
Final Scene – Safehouse Tunnel Exit
Kael handed Rick a black duffel.
"Next target's the sub-data node on Hollow Bridge's northern wing. If we hit it, we sever their AI tracking system."
Rick slung the bag over his shoulder.
His voice was low. Solid.
"I'm not running anymore."
Ava nodded.
"Then let's finish what your mother started."