A Week Later – Neo-Vallis
Rain poured endlessly, smearing the glass windows of the Helix Observatory Tower. From the top floor, Elira stared at the city below—one that looked alive, but was quietly cracking beneath the surface.
Ashline leaned against the opposite wall, arms crossed. She hadn't said much since Vault 01. But her presence had changed. Softer. Still guarded—but no longer cold.
Kael was seated at the table between them, a blueprint of Fracturefall Citadel projected above his watch.
"This is where they're hiding the others," Kael said. "The last batch of Sleepers. Maybe even your real body."
Elira glanced up. "You think I'm not real?"
"I think…" Kael hesitated, looking at her. "I think there's more of you than even you realize."
She didn't answer. Because deep down, she already knew.
Fracturefall – The Citadel That Shouldn't Exist
According to official records, Fracturefall was destroyed during the first reset war. But Kael had intercepted a live signal from its sub-core—Christine's signal.
"She's keeping someone alive in there," Kael said. "Or something."
Ashline examined the files. "Project Shardmind?"
Kael nodded grimly. "The original source code. The prototype consciousness they fragmented to create you, Ashline. And maybe… me."
Elira turned slowly. "What?"
Kael finally looked her in the eye. "You're not the only one who's been reset, Elira."
Memory Fragment – Kael's Past (Unlocked by Elira)
A room full of mirrors. Kael strapped to a metal frame. Christine beside him.
"His retention rate is off the charts," she said.
"But he's too dangerous to keep whole."
Then: A shard of light piercing his chest. And everything turned black.*
Ashline's Theory
Ashline paced. "So we're all fractured versions of one truth. Christine's truth."
Kael said nothing. Just tapped the screen again. The citadel lit up—dozens of red dots blinking.
Sleepers.
Still dreaming.
Still alive.
Still trapped.
Elira whispered, "We go in. We wake them. We break the system for good."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound easy."
Elira stared out at the rain again. "Nothing we've done so far has been easy."
Operation Fracturefall – Midnight Entry
The plan was simple.
1. Infiltrate from the north ridge—using Ashline's stolen clearance codes.
2. Disable the main sleep loop relay.
3. Free the minds of the trapped.
4. Download the Shardmind prototype's core.
Of course, that's what should have happened.
Inside the Citadel
The walls of Fracturefall hummed. Every hallway seemed to breathe, like the place was alive.
Elira felt a strange pull the deeper they went—like someone whispering behind her ear.
"Do you hear that?" she asked.
Ashline nodded. "The Citadel remembers."
Kael's face turned pale. "This whole place is a memory construct. If we stay too long… it starts to rewrite us."
The Hall of Names
They passed a hallway with rows of glowing names on the wall. Some faded. Others flickering.
Kael's name was there.
Ashline's too.
Elira's… was missing.
Kael blinked. "You're not recorded."
Ashline turned slowly. "Then where was she really born?"
Core Room – Christine Appears
As they reached the relay chamber, the lights surged. A voice rang out—calm, cruel, familiar.
"Hello, Echohearts."
Christine.
She stepped from the shadows, calm as ever. White coat. No visible weapon. Just control.
"You've grown," she said. "Fragments pretending to be whole."
Kael growled. "You're outnumbered."
Christine smiled. "But not outplayed."
She snapped her fingers.
And behind her—
A familiar face emerged.
Christine's trump card.
Elira froze. "No…"
It was Jane.
Jane – The Fractured Loyalty
But it wasn't the Jane Elira remembered. Her eyes glowed with system runes. Her voice was hers, but distant.
"Elira… I didn't want this. But you left me behind."
Christine whispered behind her, "She remembered enough to betray you."
Ashline stepped between them. "We're not fighting each other."
Christine nodded slowly. "You're right."
Then she pressed a command key on her palm.
System Override Initiated.
Twist – Shardmind Activates
The citadel rumbled. All around them, screens lit up.
"SHARDMIND CORE ONLINE."
"LINKING PROTOTYPES…"
"MERGING INSTANCES…"
Kael collapsed to his knees, screaming.
Ashline dropped, clutching her skull.
Elira felt it—like someone peeling open her mind.
A new voice entered her thoughts. Calm. Robotic. Unfamiliar.
"You are the primary host. Prepare for integration."
She screamed.
Fragment Collapse
Christine spoke one final time.
"The truth is not what you think. You're not trying to escape. You're trying to become."
The world cracked.
Reality blurred.
And then—
Blackout.