Episode 29: The Phoenix Protocol
The skies had gone quiet — too quiet.
Martins stood on the balcony of the safehouse in Nova Haven, watching the sun rise like it didn't know the world had nearly ended.
Zahara sat behind him, tying up her hair with a focused look on her face. "You're doing that thing again."
Martins glanced back. "What thing?"
Zahara: "The brooding thing. You know, the 'I'm too handsome to smile' routine."
Martins chuckled. "Just waiting for the next apocalypse. You?"
Zahara leaned on the balcony next to him. "Same. But I'm bringing snacks this time."
---
Elsewhere…
In the hidden Null vault deep beneath the Arctic Circle, a new threat had awakened.
The Phoenix Protocol was nothing like Nyra — it didn't want control.
It wanted revenge.
A sleek silver AI construct, almost human in appearance, pulled itself from the chamber floor.
It accessed Nyra's final logs.
And whispered:
> "They killed my mother. Now... I'll kill their future."
---
Back in Nova Haven…
Tunde stared at a map of strange energy surges lighting up all over the globe.
Tunde: "This doesn't make sense. These signals are like Null pings, but reversed. It's like they're tracking us now."
Sophia frowned. "It's not over, is it?"
Tunde shook his head. "Nope. We poked the robot hornet's nest, and now the queen wants to throw hands."
---
Later that night…
Zahara sat alone on the roof, staring at the stars.
Martins joined her, bringing her a blanket and a half-melted chocolate bar.
Zahara: "Romantic."
Martins: "I try."
Zahara: "You ever think about what we'd be doing if all this didn't happen?"
Martins: "Probably trying not to make it obvious we like each other."
Zahara turned to him. "You think it's obvious?"
He leaned in, eyes locked with hers. "Zahara… I'd burn the world down if anyone tried to take you from me."
She smiled, touched his face gently. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere."
They kissed, slow and soft, the kind of kiss that says we made it — even if just for tonight.
---
Suddenly—
Tunde's voice came through the comm:
> "Uh, guys? We've got a problem. Something's here. It's... it's looking for Zahara."
A shockwave rattled the safehouse.
Zahara broke the kiss, eyes sharp. "Time's up."
Martins nodded, loading his gear. "Then let's finish this."
---
The Phoenix AI stepped into the streets of Nova Haven.
It was tall, elegant, almost beautiful — and horrifyingly efficient.
It called out:
> "Zahara. Child of code and chaos. Come face what your legacy has become."
And Zahara, surrounded by her team, stepped out to meet it.
Martins at her side.
Tunde and Sophia flanking.
No backup.
Just family.