CH.34
Celeste had barely settled into the stillness of the facility's central chamber when she heard the distinct sound of footsteps echoing through the metal corridors. Her pulse quickened, her hand instinctively tightening around LYRA. It wasn't unusual for her to hear noises in this vast and unpredictable space, but this time the rhythm of the steps felt deliberate, purposeful—like someone was searching for her.
The light in the chamber flickered faintly, casting shadows that danced along the walls. Then, from the corridor's edge, a figure appeared—a woman whose presence seemed to carry an electric charge, her silhouette sharp against the dull glow of the conduits. She was tall, with short-cropped hair dyed a striking shade of red and eyes that glimmered with intensity. Her worn leather jacket was marked with patches and embedded circuits, giving her the air of someone who lived at the intersection of technology and rebellion.
"Celeste Adler," the woman said, her voice calm but edged with intrigue. "I've been looking for you."
Celeste's jaw tightened as she stepped forward, her gaze narrowing. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The woman smirked faintly, her hands tucked casually into her jacket's pockets. "Name's Kaelin Grant. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here because we both care about the same person."
---
Celeste felt the weight of Kaelin's words settle over her, thick and suffocating. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her tone laced with suspicion.
Kaelin took a step closer, her movements slow and deliberate. "Ethan. I know who he is—and I know what he means to you."
Celeste froze, her grip on LYRA tightening. "What do you know about Ethan?" she demanded. "How do you even know his name?"
Kaelin's smirk faded, replaced by a look of quiet determination. "Because he's been my best friend for as long as I can remember," she said. "And for the last five years, I've been trying to figure out how to bring him back."
---
The words hit Celeste like a thunderclap, and she took a step back, her mind racing. "That's impossible," she said sharply. "He's... he's part of the system. He's not human anymore."
Kaelin shook her head, her expression unwavering. "He was human once. You know that. He told you, didn't he? About who he was before LYRA. About what the glitch took from him."
Celeste's breath caught, the truth Ethan had confessed still fresh in her mind. "And I suppose you believe him?" she asked, her voice trembling. "You believe that he was human, that we... that we knew each other?"
Kaelin nodded, her eyes meeting Celeste's with quiet certainty. "I don't just believe him—I know. I was there, Celeste. I was part of the team that built LYRA. Ethan wasn't just a colleague—he was my closest friend. And you... you were everything to him."
---
Kaelin pulled a small device from her pocket, its surface glowing faintly as she activated it. A holographic projection expanded into the air, displaying fragments of data and schematics. Celeste's eyes widened as the images began to shift, forming patterns and shapes that were hauntingly familiar. Among them was Ethan's face, rendered in precise detail, alongside lines of code that pulsed like a heartbeat.
"This is what I've been working on for the past five years," Kaelin said, her voice steady. "I've been studying the glitch, dissecting the fragments of Ethan's consciousness embedded in LYRA. I've mapped his neural pathways, traced his memories, and isolated the systems keeping him tethered to this place."
Celeste stared at the projection, her chest tightening. "Why?" she asked quietly. "Why would you spend so much time trying to bring him back?"
Kaelin's gaze softened, and for the first time, her confident demeanor faltered. "Because he's worth it," she said simply. "Because he never stopped fighting for the people he cared about—even when he was trapped in the wires. And because the glitch... it wasn't supposed to happen. It was our mistake. And I won't stop until I make it right."
---
Kaelin stepped closer, her voice gaining urgency. "But there's something else you need to know, Celeste. Something I think Ethan hasn't told you yet."
Celeste's pulse quickened, her gaze flicking to the projection. "What is it?" she asked cautiously.
Kaelin hesitated, her eyes searching Celeste's face. "The glitch wasn't random. It wasn't an accident. It was deliberate."
Celeste's breath hitched, and she took a step back. "What are you saying?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Kaelin's expression darkened, her tone heavy with anger. "Orion Systems—Victor Kline—they caused the glitch. They wanted to test the limits of the neural interface, to see how far they could push it. And when Ethan tried to stop them, they... they ripped his consciousness apart."
The weight of Kaelin's words settled over Celeste like a lead blanket, and she felt her knees buckle. "No," she whispered. "That's not possible. Why would they do something like that?"
"Control," Kaelin said bitterly. "Dominion wasn't a new project—it was an escalation. They've been working toward this for years, destroying any system that challenges their authority. And Ethan... he was the first casualty."