Chapter 34 · Mira stepped closer to the glass

"I know."

"Do you?"

Mira stepped closer to the glass. "You built this place. You buried the files. You let everyone think I killed the test team and ran. Then you woke up three years later with my life in your hands."

"I didn't bury anything."

Mira laughed once. It sounded bad. Dry and empty.

"Your name is on every authorization."

"My name was used."

"By who? Your mother?"

The interface flashed.

MEMORY CLUSTER STABILITY: 21% PURGE RECOMMENDED

Celine forced herself to stand. Her knees wanted to fold, but she grabbed the edge of the console and stayed up.

"The network is collapsing," she said. "If you keep it open, the remaining minds will fragment."

"And if I purge it, they're gone."

"Yes."

Mira's hand tightened over the switch.

"You say that like it's clean."

"Nothing about this is clean."

"No. You made sure of that."

Celine looked at the twelve dots. One pulsed faster than the others.

DIVER LINK DETECTED.

Her heart kicked.

"Ethan," she whispered.

Mira saw the change in her face. "What?"

"One of them is connected to Diver."

"You're sure?"

"The interface says so."

"Your interface lies."

"It hasn't lied about the timer.