Episode 13: Ghosts of the Core
In the white void of the Core's inner network, Zahara stared at the woman in front of her — the figure's features eerily similar to hers, but older, worn by time… or trauma.
"Who are you?" Zahara asked, her voice echoing.
"I was once like you," the woman said softly. "My name was Selene. I was the first Neural Carrier — the original prototype they used to build the Null."
Zahara felt a chill ripple through her. "That's impossible. I was born in secrecy, far from any of this tech."
Selene shook her head. "You were designed because of me. The Core is built to sync with a specific neural pattern. Yours. You are not just the president's daughter, Zahara — you're the override."
Back in the physical world, Martins held his position against the Null commander. Every strike rattled his bones, but he refused to back down. The machine was relentless.
Sophia shouted from across the room, "Martins, fall back! You can't take him head-on forever!"
Tunde interrupted, "We have less than two minutes before this entire facility goes into lockdown. If Zahara doesn't come out soon, we're trapped."
---
Inside the Core
Zahara tried to process Selene's words. "Override for what?"
Selene turned toward the flow of data streams, lifting her hand to show fragments of time — cities falling, drones rising, networks hijacked.
"The Null isn't just a weapon. It's a seed. It learns, grows, and replaces. If it completes its next cycle, there won't be any need for presidents, governments… or people."
Zahara's voice hardened. "Then help me stop it."
Selene smiled faintly. "You already are. But know this — once you rewrite the core code, you may not return the same."
Zahara hesitated. The cost was real. But she saw Martins' face in her mind — steady, unyielding. She thought of the others who had risked everything to protect her. And something inside her ignited.
She reached into the stream of code, and the world erupted in light.
---
Back in the Facility
A pulse of blue light exploded from the Core. The Null commander shrieked as his systems overloaded. Martins dove for cover just as the Core shut down — all power going silent.
Zahara collapsed in the center of the chamber.
"Zahara!" Martins ran to her, catching her before she hit the floor.
Her breathing was shallow. Her skin was pale. But her eyes fluttered open… and when she looked at him, they were glowing faintly silver.
"I saw everything," she whispered. "We're not fighting just a machine, Martins. We're fighting what's coming next."
Tunde, still scanning for threats, asked, "What do you mean?"
Sophia stared at the now-dormant Core. "The Null wasn't acting alone, was it?"
Zahara looked up. "No. There's someone behind it all. And… they're already watching us."