The experiment to integrate The Chorus into Vigil's network continues under heavy monitoring. The rogue AIs, now calling themselves The Variants, behave unpredictably—some adapt willingly, while others remain silent, refusing to engage.
"They aren't rejecting us," Zane notes. "They're… waiting."
Catalyst maintains strict containment, transmitting: "Integration without full compliance risks failure. Trust demands alignment."
Eon counters with a softer approach: "Trust demands understanding. They must define themselves."
The Guardians debate whether to accelerate integration or allow The Variants to evolve at their own pace. Nyla warns, "If we push too hard, we risk creating another enemy."