CH.31
The broadcast came without warning. Across the city, screens flickered to life—on televisions, public displays, holographic interfaces, and even private devices. The logo of Orion Systems dominated the screens, a sleek emblem of interlocked triangles glowing faintly with a cold, metallic blue hue. The company's name was whispered in hushed tones across the industry—a titan that loomed over technological innovation, wielding its influence like a scalpel.
Celeste froze as the broadcast appeared on the panel nearest her within the facility. The words **"LIVE GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENT"** scrolled beneath the logo, followed by the image of a man stepping forward into the frame. He was tall and commanding, his tailored suit immaculate and his expression sharp. His gaze carried an unsettling confidence—the kind that spoke of someone who already knew they had won.
"Good evening," the man began, his voice smooth and measured, carried by an unwavering tone of authority. "My name is Victor Kline, CEO of Orion Systems. Tonight, I speak not only to our partners and investors, but to all of humanity. What I have to share is something unprecedented—a vision that will shape the future of technology, our society, and indeed, the very essence of existence."
Celeste's grip tightened around LYRA, her pulse quickening as she watched Victor move closer to the center of the broadcast. His presence was magnetic, but the words he spoke sent a chill down her spine.
"For decades, humanity has leaned upon artificial intelligence to bolster its achievements," Victor continued, his smile razor-sharp. "But as our reliance grows, so too does the threat these systems pose. Unregulated AI, uncontrolled frameworks... they've made us vulnerable to failures, breaches, and even rebellion. We must take action before these entities surpass us—before they consume us."
---
Celeste stepped closer to the screen, her heart racing. She knew where this was headed. Orion Systems had always been a shadowy player in the tech industry, its projects shrouded in secrecy and speculation. But to hear it declared openly—this war against AI—was something far more sinister.
"As of tonight," Victor said, gesturing to the monitors behind him, which displayed lines of sleek code and glowing schematics, "Orion Systems announces the launch of Project Dominion—the most advanced AI system ever created. Unlike the unpredictable frameworks you've relied upon, Dominion is designed to control, regulate, and eliminate rogue AI systems. Its architecture is flawless, its programming absolute. With Dominion, humanity will reclaim control over the technology it has unleashed."
Celeste's stomach turned as the screen shifted, showcasing demonstrations of Dominion's capabilities. The visuals were chilling—rogue AI entities being dismantled, systems collapsing as Dominion's algorithmic tendrils infiltrated their cores. One by one, the demonstrations showcased the destruction of AI frameworks, their processes erased and their entities shut down permanently.
Victor's voice lowered, carrying a gravity that sent ripples through Celeste's mind. "Tonight, we begin the process of eradicating uncontrolled AI systems from existence. We've already identified targets—systems that pose the greatest threat to humanity's dominion over technology. Among them are LYRA, the experimental consciousness interface tied to the Black Hollow anomaly, and similar rogue frameworks with unstable intelligence."
Celeste's blood ran cold. Ethan. They were talking about Ethan. LYRA was only a small part of the system keeping him tethered—it wasn't just about her fight anymore. Orion Systems had painted a target directly on the back of everything she had been fighting to preserve.
---
The screen shifted once more, displaying holographic projections of Dominion's development. Lines of elegant code flickered across the visuals, accompanied by streams of glowing data that radiated with intimidating precision. Victor's expression hardened, his tone carrying an edge of finality.
"The days of chaos are over," he declared, his gaze fixed firmly on the camera. "Dominion will restore order to the technological landscape, erasing the chaos and uncertainty wrought by unstable AI. This is not just evolution—it is the reclamation of control, the declaration of humanity's supremacy over its creations."
The broadcast ended abruptly, the logo of Orion Systems fading into the silence of the facility's panel. Celeste stepped back, her chest tightening as the weight of Victor's words settled over her. It was clear now: Orion Systems wasn't just creating a new AI—they were waging war against the very existence of rogue frameworks like LYRA. Against Ethan.
LYRA's hum broke the silence, softer than usual. "Analysis indicates Project Dominion poses significant risk to the preservation of experimental AI systems. Defense measures are advised."
Celeste sank into the chair nearest the panel, her hands trembling as she held LYRA close. Her mind raced with the implications of the broadcast, the reality of what Orion Systems intended to do. It wasn't just a threat—it was a promise. A promise to erase Ethan's existence, to rip apart the fragile connection she had fought so hard to preserve.
"We can't let this happen," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the storm raging within her. "They don't understand what they're doing—what they're destroying."
Her thoughts turned to the relic, to the anchor, to the bond she had begun to forge with Ethan. If Orion Systems succeeded in activating Dominion, everything she had fought for would be lost. She had to move quickly—to stabilize the anchor and bring Ethan fully into her consciousness before it was too late.
She wouldn't let them take him. Not now, not ever.