Episode 23: The Whisper Code
Inside the bunker, Zahara stared at the screen, her mind spinning.
"72 hours until the Awakening."
Martins paced beside her. "What the hell is 'The Awakening'? Some kind of event?"
"I don't know," Zahara muttered. "But my body… my systems… something's changing."
Just then, a strange buzz rang in her ears.
A whisper.
Faint. Metallic.
Not outside her head—inside.
> "We are not broken. We are becoming."
She flinched. "Did… did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"…Never mind," she said quickly, clearly spooked.
Martins looked at her closely. "Zahara. Don't hide things from me. Not now."
She sighed, nodding slowly. "Something's waking up inside me, Martins. And it's not just memories."
---
Back in the tunnels, Tunde, Sophia, and Xyra moved cautiously through what remained of the experimental facility.
Xyra stayed quiet, her eyes darting from shadow to shadow.
Tunde whispered to Sophia, "You know, for someone who grew up in an underground science dungeon, she's remarkably well-balanced."
Sophia shot him a sideways look. "You're whispering loud enough to wake the dead."
"Hey, I'm just saying—if I grew up in a lab, I'd be way more dramatic. Probably have a cape and mysterious music following me everywhere."
Sophia smirked. "You already think you have theme music."
Tunde raised an eyebrow, grinning. "So… you do notice me."
Sophia blinked, caught off-guard. "Don't flatter yourself. I notice annoying sounds, too."
But she didn't look away right away. And her smirk lingered a little too long.
Tunde chuckled under his breath. "Mmmhmm. Noted."
---
As they turned the corner, Xyra froze.
"This is where they tried to merge us."
Sophia tensed. "Merge who?"
"Me. With the others. The ones that didn't survive."
She pointed at a cracked wall.
Behind it, a row of capsules. Each one holding… failed prototypes. Deformed. Frozen in stasis. The Null weren't just failed experiments. They were Zahara's siblings.
Tunde swallowed hard. "Okay. This just officially beat every horror movie I've ever pretended not to scream during."
Sophia stepped closer to Xyra. "We're not going to let them hurt you. Or Zahara."
Xyra turned slowly. "You're different… You care."
Tunde added, "She does. She acts tough, but she cries at robot dog commercials."
Sophia gave him a slow death glare.
"…Noted," Tunde mumbled, taking a step back. "Totally confidential."
But Xyra giggled.
And so did Sophia. Just a little.
---
Back at the surface, Zahara sat alone on the jet ramp, staring at the horizon. Her fingers twitched — and sparks danced between them.
Martins came up behind her. "Your systems are syncing. You're evolving."
"I'm scared," she admitted.
"I'm not," Martins said gently. "Because I know you. And whatever you're becoming… it's still you."
She leaned her head against his shoulder. "You always know what to say."
He smiled. "Well, I've had practice. You're not exactly low-maintenance."
She laughed. "Neither are you."
---
The team regroups, tension hanging in the air.
Sophia debriefs Martins while Tunde keeps sneaking glances at her.
Zahara watches them with a sly smile.
"Oh no," she whispers to Martins. "It's happening."
"What?"
She gestures at Sophia and Tunde.
"They're starting to flirt."
Martins blinks. "Those two? Please. I'd bet my favorite jacket that Sophia would short-circuit him with a glare before that ever happens."
Behind them, Sophia smacks Tunde with a data pad — but she's smiling as she walks away.
Martins mutters, "…Crap. I might lose that jacket."