Kira: The Emotional Pulse

Kira dropped to her knees beside him, catching his shoulders before his head struck the floor. The urgency in her voice cut sharper than the alarms, a crack in her usual steel composure. Mara slid in just behind her, fingers moving quickly to check his pulse and pupils. “He’s crashing!”

Rowan stared at the monitors, horrified. “The signal… it’s still locked onto him. It’s using him as a stabilizer.” Elias’s eyes fluttered open for a moment. His voice was barely a whisper.

“They’re everywhere… millions… shaped… controlled…” His head sagged again.

Kira’s grip tightened, her breath catching — a flicker of fear she couldn’t hide, something deeper rising in her chest at the thought he might not recover. She slapped his cheek lightly. “Elias! Stay with me!”

Rowan glimpsed up at the security monitors and saw what was unfolding outside the facility, then looked toward the entrance. “We need to get him out of here. Now.”

Boots hit the gravel outside. Engines cut. Voices barked orders. Laser sights swept the dark. That’s when the first concussion blast hit.

Blackfile’s tactical unit had arrived.

The entire station shook violently. Dust rained from the ceiling. The reinforced main door groaned under the impact.

Kira’s hand went to her weapon. “They’re here.”

Rowan’s face drained of color, shock and disbelief twisting his features. “How is this possible?”

Another blast — closer, sharper — buckled the metal frame.

- Prologue: The Quiet Recording