442: The Whisper Protocol

Location: Sky Above Tavara – En Route to Blacksite Echo

The stealth jet sliced through the clouds, its engines humming quietly as Nora sat across from Damien, the crystal cube now encased in a reinforced containment module between them.

"You know what this means," Nora said, eyes never leaving the object. "This cube doesn't just contain biometric keys. It holds memories… and truths erased from every archive."

Damien leaned forward. "And enemies who'd kill to bury it again."

The flight cabin dimmed as Cipher Sister One's holographic form materialized.

> "Good extraction," she said calmly. "But you've triggered an old fail-safe. The Whisper Protocol is live."

Damien narrowed his eyes. "What is it?"

Cipher One's expression darkened. "It's a deep-code retaliation system. Meant to wipe all knowledge of the vault, the cube, and the bloodlines tied to it—by targeting them directly."

Nora stood abruptly. "You mean someone activated a silent genocide?"

"No," Cipher replied. "Not someone. The cube did—when it recognized Nora's DNA… and registered Damien's."

---

Location: Eastern Tavara – Coastal Naval Outpost

Across the sea, six high-ranking officials collapsed simultaneously at a diplomatic summit. No trace of poison. No wounds. Just sudden system failure.

On a rooftop nearby, a shadowed figure watched. In her hand, a slim device blinked. "Phase One," she whispered. "Confirmed."

---

Location: Blacksite Echo – Underground Research Lab

Back at the base, the cube's containment unit began pulsing. Cipher One examined the pattern. "It's emitting coordinates. Scattered across four continents."

Damien stepped closer. "Locations of what?"

Nora whispered, "Of the others."

Cipher's eyes met Damien's. "The other vaults. Hidden bloodlines. Untold power centers—all linked to the origin of the Kane dynasty… and the Navarro descent."

Suddenly, the cube projected a hologram—an older man's face, scarred and solemn. Nora gasped.

"...My father," she said. "He's alive?"

Damien's pulse quickened. "We need answers. Now."

Cipher nodded. "Then you'll need to go off-grid. Completely. Because from this moment on… you're the most hunted couple on the planet."

---

Location: Unknown Surveillance Hub

A man in a crimson robe watched the broadcast with cold, precise eyes. Around him, monks typed silently at translucent screens.

"She found it," he muttered. "And the Dominant Flame… burns once more."

He turned. "Prepare the tribunal. If they open Vault Zero, the past will bleed into the future."