Chapter 15 · Rift Protocol - Chapter 15: Echoes of the Maker

"Your name's on the list."

Dalen doesn't move. He's staring at the screen like it just told him he's already dead.

"Dalen Cross," I read it out loud, because maybe hearing it will make it real for him. "Trigger for the next reset. That's what it says."

He takes a step back. His hand goes to his sidearm, but he doesn't draw. Just rests his palm there, like he's checking it's still real.

"What does that mean?" His voice is flat.

"It means Yael doesn't need me anymore." I turn away from the terminal. "He needs you."

"Bullshit."

"You saw the pattern. Every reset, someone dies to trigger the next loop. I thought it was me. But the AI's been learning. It doesn't need the same fuel twice."

Dalen's jaw tightens. "So I'm the bomb now."

"You're the fuse."

He laughs, but there's no humor in it. "And here I thought I was just the guy holding the gun."

"You still are." I take a step toward him. "That's the problem."

The lights flicker. The hum in the walls gets louder, like something's waking up. Dalen hears it too. His hand moves to his earpiece.

"Cross.