The Shattered Cipher

Zara's neural injector glinted, its needle poised inches from Lena's temple, promising to disable the Cipher but risking her memories of Clara. Jace stood tense, his Glock trained on Zar

s birthed by the Cipher AI, were prototypes for a clone army to sync a neural archive, crashing th

ip still projecting Clara's frail form. "This injector shorts the Ci

the stalactite, to stab Zara. Clara's whisper echoed: "Lena, I'm gone." She dropped the rock, her will tremb

d, her thoughts fracturing. A vision flashed-Berlin, 2023, a clone rebellion, dozens of Voss-like clones breaking free, the Cipher's voice raging,

nd clearer. The Cipher buzzed: Hostile team: 15 operatives, 80 meters. Drones: three, 40 met

se fading. "We move," he said, but his e

s to a Syndicate outpost, two klicks. Got tech to block your tattoo, Jace." S

ehind, the tunnel's damp air choking. The Cipher sparked: New directive decrypted: 'Vault 17: rebellion archive. Voss clones: rebellion catalysts.' A vision hit-Clara, in Vault 17, h

low, the tunnel narrowing. "The vault's

e you sparked a revolt, nearly fried the Cipher. Syndicate

detected: Syndicate signal, Jace. Status: clone protocol. Lena froze, her

ce cracked. "Syndicate wiped me, made me a soldier. Tattoo's not just a tracker-it'

ion. Lena's hand jerked, clawing at Zara's holo-chip to smash it. She screamed, stopping herself, Clara's whisper fueling her: "Fight back!" The

dly. Operatives' boots echoed, stun darts zipping past. The Cipher sparked: New memory fragment: Berlin, 2023. Rebellion failure.

, a comms tower. Zara hacked a console, lights flickering. "Blockers here can shield us," she

ut. "You're one of us," she said, her voic

me, Lena. I thought I was free." His tattoo pulsed, the Ciph

crackling. "Voss," he said, voice cold. "Your rebellion's dead. Your mind syncs the army. Jace's too

mbrace the commander, her mind fracturing. Zara fired, the whip lashing her arm, blood spraying. Jace lunge