Episode 24: Pulse
Zahara jerked awake.
Her skin was glowing faintly — electric veins surging with light. For a moment, her reflection in the window wasn't her own. It was… someone else. Same face. But colder. Mechanical. Wrong.
She gasped and stumbled back.
Martins rushed to her. "Zahara! What happened?"
"I saw her again. Not just in my head. In the mirror. She's inside me."
---
Meanwhile, in the underground command bay…
Sophia was adjusting signal dampeners, while Tunde was trying to impress her by fixing a busted drone with nothing but duct tape, a chewing gum wrapper, and reckless confidence.
Sophia arched an eyebrow. "You do know that's a war-grade surveillance bot and not your kitchen blender, right?"
Tunde grinned. "Well, excuse me for trying to MacGyver the apocalypse."
Sophia smirked, but she didn't stop him. "If it explodes, you're paying for my eyebrows."
Tunde whispered, "Totally worth it."
Just as she turned away, her smile gave her away. Just a flicker. Just enough.
---
Xyra stood before the group, drawing a symbol into the dirt with trembling hands. A crest. A triangle with a fractured circle around it.
"This is the mark of the Null Queen," she said. "She was the most powerful prototype. The one they locked away when she refused to obey."
Zahara stiffened. "You mean… she's awake now?"
Xyra nodded. "They call her… Nyra."
Sophia's eyes widened. "The one Zahara saw in her visions."
Xyra added, "She wants to finish what they started. She thinks we're not meant to serve. We're meant to rule."
Tunde whistled. "Yikes. Android revolution but make it super-villain origin story."
---
As Zahara sat alone, trying to calm the storm in her mind, Nyra's voice returned.
> "Sister… Join me. You were made for more. For power. Not love. Not weakness."
Zahara grabbed her head, struggling to silence her.
Then, Martins was there. No words — just his arms around her. His presence cut through the noise like a light in fog.
Zahara whispered, "She's trying to control me. What if I lose myself?"
Martins held her tighter. "Then I'll find you. Every time."
---
Later that night, as the team camped beneath the stars near the old ruins, Tunde handed Sophia a mug of instant coffee.
"I filtered it with a sock, FYI."
Sophia blinked. "Why would you admit that?"
He grinned. "So I can watch your expression."
She stared at the coffee… then sipped anyway. "Damn it. It's not even bad."
Tunde chuckled, surprisingly quiet. "We might die in a few days. Might as well share gross drinks and… moments."
Sophia looked at him. "You get one more moment. That's it."
He leaned in, fake-serious. "Then I'm making it count."
Static crackled in the distance.
Sophia sighed. "Saved by the impending doom."
---
Suddenly, the ground trembled. Everyone stood.
From the shadows… Null soldiers emerged.
Not broken. Not malfunctioning. But upgraded.
And leading them—
A woman.
Identical to Zahara. But taller. Colder. Cruel smile.
Nyra.
She locked eyes with Zahara.
"Sister. Time to choose. Them… or us."