Past shadows

Victor leaned against the edge of his sleek glass desk, arms crossed, the dazzling expanse of Horizon City glowing through the transparent walls of his office. Beside him, Kieran stood with a folder in hand, his sharp gaze scanning the data within. The room was quiet except for the distant hum of traffic below, an odd contrast to the gravity of their conversation.

"The NeoSys acquisition went through without a hitch," Kieran began, his tone steady, though his frown hinted at unease. "But Orionsoft rejected the $2 trillion offer. Funny thing is, when Magnus was here, they seemed fine with $1.9 trillion. Doesn't that set off alarms for you?"

Victor tilted his head, his sharp features betraying nothing. "It's curious," he admitted, "but not alarming. Magnus's exit probably shifted priorities on their end. Let's not forget—14 out of 15 are already under our control. Orionsoft can play hardball for now, but they'll come around. They always do."

Kieran shut the folder; his lips pressed into a firm line. "Maybe. But they're no small player, Victor. They control 100% of Aurelia's software market. That includes everything from our drones to our phones. We depend on their systems, and that's not exactly a comfortable position to be in."

Victor's eyes narrowed slightly. "It's not. But NeoSys was a bigger threat, and now it's ours. Orionsoft's leverage weakens by the day. Besides," he added, a sly grin forming, "the software for EternalLink is still under their control. It keeps them close."

Kieran's expression hardened. "Speaking of EternalLink, they've been unusually persistent about buying it out since we announced the shutdown. They even sent a proposal yesterday."

Victor raised a brow. "Another one? That's… bold."

"Desperate is more like it," Kieran countered. "We turned them down again, of course, but their fixation on EternalLink is suspicious. What do they know that we don't?"

Victor stepped back from the desk, his steps measured and deliberate as he weighed the question. "It's irrelevant," he said, his tone calm but resolute. "The infrastructure will be repurposed. With Horizon Biotech now integrated into Horizon Corp's headquarters, it makes far more sense to establish a dedicated facility—a research hub committed to uncovering the truth behind the pandemic that nearly wiped us out sixty years ago. That holds far greater value than clinging to an obsolete VR platform."

Kieran nodded, but his focus remained sharp. "The plans for the new lab are ambitious—thirty labs in total. But it'll take more than infrastructure. We need researchers, and we need them fast. I've scheduled a hiring initiative for next month to staff Horizon Biotech's new division."

Victor stopped pacing and turned to face him, his gaze piercing. "And the pandemic itself? What have we uncovered so far?"

Kieran's expression darkened as he reopened the folder. "Not much," he admitted, flipping through the sparse documents. "What we do know is that it wiped out over 90% of the global population. The exact cause is a mystery—there's no clear evidence pointing to a virus, bacterium, or anything else. The records are incomplete, possibly doctored. But one thing stands out: Aurelia. It was largely unaffected."

Victor's brows furrowed, his voice dropping. "Why Aurelia? What protected it while the rest of the world fell apart?"

"That's the question," Kieran replied. "We've found no clear explanation. It wasn't isolation—Aurelia was as connected to the rest of the world as any region at the time. And yet, while billions perished, Aurelia remained intact."

Victor's jaw tightened; his frustration palpable. "The deeper we dig, the less sense this makes. What about the researchers? Any leads from their side?"

Kieran sighed, closing the folder with a snap. "Not yet. They're combing through the data, but the gaps are significant. It's as if someone deliberately erased the truth."

Victor moved to the window; his silhouette framed by the glittering skyline. "We're missing something. Something critical." He turned back to Kieran; his voice resolute. "We need answers, Kieran. This isn't just about understanding the past—it's about securing our future."

Kieran met his gaze, his own resolve hardening. "Agreed. We need to prioritize this. I'll arrange a visit to the labs. We can't afford to let this mystery linger any longer."

The room fell silent, the weight of their mission hanging heavy in the air. Outside, Horizon City shimmered like a jewel, its brilliance masking the secrets that lay buried deep beneath its surface.

Inside Horizon Biotech Lab-76, the sterile white walls hummed with the faint vibration of cutting-edge machinery. Lead researcher Dr. Noah sat at his cluttered desk; his brow furrowed in frustration as he flipped through a worn file. His other hand hovered over a glowing holographic display, swiping between data sets that only deepened his confusion.

"Why doesn't any of this make sense?" he muttered, shoving the file onto the desk with a frustrated sigh. His fingers pinched the bridge of his nose as if to ease the mounting tension.

The sound of approaching footsteps broke his focus. Dr. Noah straightened as Kieran and Victor entered, their presence commanding attention.

"Greetings, Dr. Noah," Kieran began, his tone brisk. "How's the research progressing?"

Dr. Noah gestured to the hologram; his expression weary. "We've uncovered some documents from Horizon Biotech's old building. They were locked inside a vault—seemingly untouched for decades. These papers confirm the pandemic: 211 million people dead—nearly 90% of the global population. The report was issued in 2126."

Victor frowned. "And what's the issue?"

Dr. Noah's lips tightened as he picked up one of the faded documents. "The problem is that the paper was printed only ten years ago, and the signature of the AHO—Aurelia Health Organization's head—is fake."

Kieran's eyes narrowed. "Fake? Are you certain?"

Dr. Noah nodded grimly. "It doesn't stop there. We've also uncovered other documents suggesting a mass grave in Lumora City, located in Vastora. But here's the twist—Vastora has been abandoned for over a century, long before the pandemic supposedly occurred."

Victor exchanged a sharp glance with Kieran. "A mass grave? And you're sure these papers aren't forgeries?"

Dr. Noah leaned back, exhaling heavily. "I can't say for sure. It's possible the documents were reprinted because the originals were damaged. But if the grave exists, it could hold invaluable samples or answers."

The room grew tense as the gravity of the situation settled in. Kieran broke the silence, his voice firm. "So, what do you suggest? Should we investigate?"

Dr. Noah hesitated, his gaze flickering between the two men. "It's risky, but if there's even a sliver of truth, it's worth verifying. The samples from such a site could be groundbreaking."

Victor crossed his arms, his voice edged with skepticism. "Do you think it's another dead end?"

Dr. Noah shrugged. "It's possible, but I wouldn't dismiss it without checking. If these documents were fabricated, whoever made them wanted us to find this lead. The question is—why?"

Kieran nodded slowly, his mind racing. "Prepare your crew. We're going to Lumora tomorrow. I'll be joining the mission myself."

Victor raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's wise?"

Kieran shot him a determined look. "If this is as significant as it seems, I'm not sitting behind a desk while someone else uncovers the truth."

Dr. Noah straightened, already making mental notes for the preparations. "Understood. I'll make sure we're ready."

As the two men turned to leave, the hum of the lab seemed louder, a constant reminder of the stakes. Tomorrow, Lumora would reveal whether the truth lay buried—or if another layer of deception awaited them.