Chapter 10: The Final Anchor

The New Horizon cut through the waves, its engines humming steadily as it carried its crew toward the first of the remaining Arks. Alice stood on the deck, her arms crossed as she stared at the horizon. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, but the beauty of the moment was lost on her. Her mind was elsewhere—on Kai, on the Arks, and on the fight that lay ahead.

"You've been quiet."

She turned to see a young man approaching, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket. He had tousled brown hair, sharp green eyes, and a lopsided grin that made him look like he was always on the verge of mischief.

"Who are you?" she asked, her tone wary.

"Jace," he said, extending a hand. "Jace Carter. No relation, by the way."

Alice ignored his hand, her gaze narrowing. "What do you want?"

He shrugged, unfazed by her coldness. "Just thought I'd introduce myself. You're kind of a legend around here, you know. The girl who stood with Subject Zero. The one who survived the Convergence."

"I didn't survive," she said, her voice bitter. "Kai did. He's the one who saved us."

Jace's grin faded, replaced by a look of genuine sympathy. "I heard about what happened. I'm sorry."

Alice didn't respond, her gaze returning to the horizon. She didn't want his pity. She didn't want anyone's pity.

"Anyway," Jace said after a moment, "I'm part of the team heading to the first Ark. Thought you might want to know."

That got her attention. "You're coming with us?"

"Yep. Tech specialist. I'm the guy who'll be disabling their systems while you're kicking down doors."

She studied him, her skepticism evident. "You don't look like a tech specialist."

He laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "And you don't look like someone who's taken down a Blackthorn facility single-handedly. Guess we're full of surprises."

Alice couldn't help the faint smile that tugged at her lips. "Guess so."

The first Ark was located in the ruins of Tokyo, its spire rising above the flooded city like a jagged tooth. The New Horizon anchored offshore, and the team prepared to move in.

Alice adjusted the straps of her tactical vest, her heart pounding. This was it—the first step in dismantling Blackthorn's network. But something felt off. The Ark was too quiet, its defenses inactive.

"This doesn't make sense," Liang muttered, his eyes scanning the holographic map. "They should've detected us by now."

"Maybe they're playing dead," Jace suggested, his fingers flying over the keyboard of his portable console. "Trying to lure us in."

"Or maybe they're already gone," Alice said, her voice low.

Elena stepped forward, her expression grim. "We'll proceed with caution. Alice, Liang, Jace—you're with me. The rest of you, stay here and monitor the situation."

The team moved through the flooded streets, their boots splashing in the shallow water. The Ark loomed ahead, its surface gleaming in the moonlight. As they approached the entrance, Alice's unease grew.

"Something's wrong," she whispered.

The doors slid open with a hiss, revealing a dark, empty corridor. The team exchanged wary glances before stepping inside, their weapons raised.

The interior was a maze of steel and glass, the walls lined with dormant machinery. The air was thick with the scent of ozone, and the only sound was the hum of the Ark's core.

"This place is a ghost town," Jace said, his voice echoing in the silence.

"Stay alert," Elena ordered. "They could be hiding."

They moved deeper into the Ark, their footsteps echoing in the empty halls. Alice's grip tightened on her weapon, her senses on high alert.

Then she saw it.

A figure stood at the end of the corridor, their back to the team. They were dressed in a Blackthorn uniform, their head bowed.

"Identify yourself!" Elena barked, her weapon trained on the figure.

The figure turned slowly, and Alice's breath caught.

It was Kai.

But it wasn't.

His golden eyes glowed faintly, and his skin was pale, almost translucent. The black veins were gone, replaced by a faint, pulsating light that seemed to emanate from within him.

"Kai?" Alice whispered, her voice trembling.

He didn't respond, his gaze empty.

"Alice, get back," Elena said, her tone sharp. "That's not him."

But Alice couldn't move. She stared at him, her heart pounding. "Kai, it's me. It's Alice."

For a moment, his expression flickered—a hint of recognition, of pain. Then it was gone, replaced by cold indifference.

"The Convergence is inevitable," he said, his voice echoing unnaturally. "You cannot stop it."

Before anyone could react, he raised his hand, and a wave of energy slammed into the team, throwing them backward. Alice hit the ground hard, her vision swimming.

"Kai!" she shouted, struggling to her feet. "Fight it! You're stronger than this!"

He didn't respond, his form flickering like a hologram. The Ark's core began to hum louder, its light growing brighter.

"He's powering it up!" Jace shouted, his fingers flying over his console. "We need to shut it down!"

"Alice, we need to move!" Elena grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

But Alice shook her off, her eyes locked on Kai. "I'm not leaving him!"

She ran toward him, ignoring the shouts of the team. The energy in the air crackled, making her skin tingle, but she didn't stop.

"Kai, please!" she begged, tears streaming down her face. "I know you're in there! Fight it!"

For a moment, he hesitated, his glowing eyes meeting hers. Then he raised his hand again, and the world dissolved into light.

Alice awoke in a place that was both familiar and alien.

The Nexus.

But it was different now—less chaotic, more controlled. The sky was a deep, endless blue, and the ground was a smooth, reflective surface. Kai stood a few feet away, his back to her.

"Kai," she said, her voice trembling.

He turned, his golden eyes filled with sorrow. "Alice."

"What's happening?" she asked, stepping closer.

"The Core… it's using me," he said, his voice low. "It's trying to complete the Convergence, and I can't stop it."

"Yes, you can," she insisted. "You're stronger than it. You've always been stronger."

He shook his head. "I'm not. Not anymore."

She reached for him, her hand brushing his arm. To her surprise, he felt solid—real.

"You're still you," she said, her voice fierce. "And I'm not giving up on you."

For a moment, he didn't respond. Then he pulled her into a tight embrace, his body trembling.

"I'm scared," he whispered.

"I know," she said, holding him tighter. "But you're not alone. I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."

The ground beneath them began to shake, the sky cracking like glass.

"It's coming," Kai said, his voice filled with dread.

"Then we fight it together," Alice said, pulling back to look him in the eye. "Just like we always have."

He nodded, his expression hardening. "Together."

Back in the Ark, the team watched in shock as Alice and Kai's bodies began to glow, their forms enveloped in a blinding light. The Ark's core hummed louder, its light growing brighter.

Then, with a deafening roar, it exploded.

The shockwave threw the team to the ground, the Ark's walls crumbling around them. When the dust settled, the core was gone—and so were Alice and Kai.

"No," Jace whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.

Elena stood slowly, her expression grim. "We need to move. Now."

The team stumbled out of the Ark, the structure collapsing behind them. As they reached the shore, Jace turned back, his heart pounding.

"Alice!" he shouted, his voice breaking.

But there was no response.

In the Nexus, Alice and Kai stood side by side, their hands clasped tightly. The Core's energy swirled around them, its whispers growing louder.

"This is it," Kai said, his voice steady. "The final anchor."

Alice nodded, her grip tightening. "Let's finish this."

Together, they unleashed a wave of energy, shattering the Nexus and the Core's hold on the timelines. The world dissolved into light, and for a moment, there was nothing.

Then Alice opened her eyes.

She was back on the New Horizon, the sun rising over the horizon. Jace stood beside her, his expression filled with relief.

"You're back," he said, his voice trembling.

Alice blinked, her mind racing. "Kai?"

"He's gone," Jace said softly. "But he saved us. He saved everything."

Tears streamed down her face as she stared at the horizon, her heart aching. But for the first time in days, she felt a flicker of peace.

Kai had given his life to stop the Convergence, but his legacy would live on.

And she would make sure of it.