: The Architects’ Vault

Mid-descent, the world warped.

The reactor backlash twisted gravity. For a moment, they were falling sideways. Then upside down. Then not falling at all, but being dragged through a tunnel of pulsing code.

The walls weren't walls anymore. Just a blur of glyphs and memory.

And suddenly—

Stillness.

They hit the ground in a heap.

Lucas rolled, groaning, one hand still on his coat's inner lining where another charge sat humming. "Status?"

Ava sat up, hair wild, suit sparking at the joints. "No bones broken. Probably. What the hell did you route us through?"

Lucas looked around.

And paused.

They weren't in the bunker anymore.