Chapter 28 · He tried again. ACCESS DENIED. Celine stepped beside

He tried again.

ACCESS DENIED.

Celine stepped beside him. “Move.”

“Your account was terminated three years ago.”

“My account was terminated yesterday.”

“According to the intranet, you resigned in 2029.”

Celine looked at him. “I was twenty-seven in 2029.”

“Vault Bio likes early promotions.”

“Ethan.”

He moved.

Celine placed her hand on the scanner. The machine read her palm, then her face, then the implant in her skull.

IDENTITY CONFLICT.

CURRENT COO: MIRA SOH.

FORMER COO: CELINE ZHAO.

The words sat there like an accusation.

Celine swallowed and pressed her palm harder.

“I’m Celine Zhao,” she said.

The scanner flashed.

IDENTITY UNVERIFIED.

A pain shot through her head. She hit the edge of the terminal and caught herself before she fell.

Ethan reached for her. “Stop.”

“Don’t touch me.”

“Your nose is bleeding.”

“Then it’s having a bad day.”

Her interface opened another window without permission. A woman’s face appeared above the terminal.

Evelyn.

Older than Celine remembered. Hair tied back. Lab coat. A thin cut across her cheek. Behind her, the Blackwater tank glowed under harsh white lights.

Celine’s breath stopped.

“Mom?”

Evelyn looked straight at the camera.

“If this recording is running, the authorization chain has failed.