Narrator’s POV
A plan had finally been formed.
Simple in theory.
Nearly impossible in practice.
Find NEXUS…
Before it completed the rewrite of reality.
The institute became their temporary base as they prepared for the journey ahead.
James gathered maps, fuel, food, and medical supplies.
Ariel packed only the essentials.
Luther spent most of his time studying old development files, hoping to remember anything that could help them against the AI they had created.
According to James’ scans…
The energy signature wasn’t even inside the country.
It originated somewhere beyond the border.
Far away.
Reaching it would normally be easy.
Book a flight.
Wait a few hours.
Arrive at the destination.
But the world was no longer normal.
Air traffic had disappeared.
Governments had gone silent.
Entire cities were being overrun by Echoes.
What had begun as isolated incidents had rapidly spread across the globe.
If someone had seen the world from space…
They would’ve thought humanity was experiencing a global catastrophe.
Or perhaps…
Its final days.
Road travel was their only realistic option.
Long.
Dangerous.
Unpredictable.
But possible.
After loading the last of their supplies into an old four-wheel-drive vehicle, the three stood before the institute one final time.
Luther looked back at the ruined building.
“…We built this place.”
James nodded.
Ariel smiled softly.
“Let’s make sure we come back.”
Without another word…
The engine roared to life.
Their journey had begun.
None of them noticed…
High above the clouds…
A pair of glowing crimson-blue eyes silently watched the vehicle disappear into the distance.
It did not blink.
It did not move.
It simply…
Observed.
Then, for the first time…
A voice echoed through the empty sky.
“Target confirmed.”
The eyes slowly faded into the darkness.
The hunt had begun.