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00:00The day my daughter died, my husband was standing right there.
00:03The railing gave way.
00:05Kelly and Madeline slipped at the same time.
00:07He grabbed Madeline, without hesitation, and Kelly fell.
00:10She fell right in front of us.
00:12After that, his family blamed me for her death.
00:15His mother held me over a ventilation shaft and pushed me to the edge again and again,
00:19just to make me feel what Kelly felt in her last seconds.
00:23That was the day I learned I never mattered.
00:25Not to him, not to his family.
00:27And my husband, his response was to offer me 30% of his company shares.
00:31If I took the blame,
00:32Whatever, I don't care.
00:34Those were the last honest words I ever said to him.
00:36Because after that, I divorced him,
00:39uploaded the recording that proved everything to the dark web,
00:41and boarded a helicopter out of his world forever.
00:44Finally, I was free.
00:46What he didn't know, was that I'd taken more with me,
00:49enough to burn his empire to the ground.
00:52After my daughter Kelly died,
00:54I erased every habit my arms dealer husband had ever disliked.
00:59I stopped asking where he went.
01:01I slept just fine when he didn't come home.
01:05Even after I was injured in an explosion,
01:08the medic told me to notify my family.
01:10I just replied calmly,
01:11I don't have any.
01:13A nurse recognized me.
01:15Mrs. Curran, right?
01:18Mr. Curran is right next door.
01:20Should I inform him?
01:21I shook my head.
01:23That won't be necessary.
01:26Thirty minutes later,
01:27Everett showed up anyway.
01:29His sharp eyes carried their usual oppressive intensity.
01:32Why didn't you tell me you were injured?
01:34I lowered my gaze.
01:36Just shrapnel scratches.
01:38Nothing serious.
01:40My indifference irritated him.
01:42He was about to speak.
01:44When the guard's voices drifted in from outside.
01:47Mr. Curran really cares about Mrs. Finley.
01:50She only twisted her ankle.
01:52He called in a helicopter and carried her on and off himself.
01:56He wouldn't even let her feet touch the ground.
01:59Everett panicked.
02:00He glanced at me,
02:01waiting for me to make a scene like I used to.
02:04But I didn't even blink.
02:06I simply leaned back against the pillow
02:08and closed my eyes.
02:13The air around Everett grew heavy.
02:17Don't listen to them.
02:19Madeline is a specialist in the company.
02:22If she's hurt, it affects operations.
02:26I'm just doing it for the greater good.
02:28I nodded without a word.
02:30His temper flared.
02:31You don't believe me?
02:33I do.
02:35You personally trained Madeline to keep her personnel,
02:38and you're her superior.
02:41It's only natural you look out for her.
02:44My calm response unsettled him,
02:45more than anger ever could.
02:47A loud crash echoed from outside.
02:51Madeline staggered into view,
02:53and collapsed right in front of my ward.
02:56Everett strode over,
02:57and swept her into his arms.
02:59What are you doing here?
03:00Didn't I tell you to stay in bed?
03:04I heard Mrs. Curran got hurt.
03:07I came to check on her.
03:09She shrank into his embrace,
03:11as if I were something to fear.
03:13Mrs. Curran, please, don't blame me.
03:19I never meant for Kelly to die.
03:21In the past,
03:22I would have seized him by the collar.
03:24I would have demanded to know
03:25why he was shielding the woman.
03:26Responsible for our daughter's death.
03:29But now,
03:33I just stared at the ceiling in silence.
03:35I'm taking Madeline back to her ward.
03:37I'll be right back.
03:39Everett turned and carried her away.
03:41It was midnight.
03:42He still hadn't come back.
03:45Instead,
03:46I got a call from the
03:47Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
03:49Mrs. Simpson,
03:50are you absolutely sure you want to join
03:52the Welkin Shield Project?
03:53This is a classified initiative
03:54at the highest level.
03:56Once you're in,
03:56you'll be stationed at the base
03:57for a minimum of 20 years.
04:00Completely cut off from the outside world.
04:02That includes your husband.
04:03Yes.
04:05I'm sure.
04:07The person on the other end hesitated.
04:10If you change your mind,
04:11you have three days to withdraw.
04:15After all,
04:16you used to care so much
04:17about Mr. Curran.
04:18I won't regret it.
04:21because I don't love him anymore.
04:28The next second,
04:30the door slammed open.
04:31Everett stood there,
04:32his gaze icy.
04:36You don't love me anymore?
04:38I dare you to say that again,
04:40Alicia!
04:43I quietly ended the call
04:45and closed my eyes,
04:46fending sleep.
04:48Everett approached,
04:49his presence cold and commanding.
04:50But he paused
04:51when he saw my tightly shut eyes.
04:53He thought I'd been talking in my sleep.
04:55His frown eased slightly,
04:57yet somehow that only fueled
04:59his anger further.
05:02He couldn't stand the thought
05:03of me leaving him,
05:04even in dreams.
05:05He grabbed my wrist
05:07and then shook me awake.
05:10Allie,
05:11did you have a nightmare?
05:12I lowered my eyes.
05:14I dreamed about Kelly.
05:18The words struck him like a blade.
05:20He pulled me into his arms.
05:23Allie will have more children.
05:26Lots of them.
05:29I said nothing.
05:31My heart was damaged
05:33beyond on repair.
05:34And even my tears
05:36had long since run dry.
05:42Kelly was gone.
05:43Did he really believe
05:45another child could erase that?
05:49Everett,
05:50it's the middle of the night.
05:51Why are you here?
05:53He looked caught off guard.
05:55Allie,
05:55Maddie's stomach is bothering her.
05:57she's craving that soup you make.
06:03My body went ice cold.
06:07I just survived an explosion.
06:10Shrapnel was still embedded in my body.
06:11And here was at Everett,
06:13waking me in the dead of night
06:14to make soup for Madeline.
06:16Get me a pen and paper.
06:17I'll write down the recipe.
06:19Everett signaled one of his men
06:20to bring them.
06:24As I handed him the paper,
06:26his fingertips trembled.
06:29Recognition dawned on him.
06:33Once,
06:34long ago,
06:35he'd asked me for that recipe.
06:37Back then,
06:38I'd told him,
06:39I'll give it to you
06:40the day we part ways.
06:42As long as we're together.
06:43I'll always make the soup
06:45for you myself.
06:46Now I'd handed it over
06:47without a second thought.
06:49Mr. Curran,
06:50Miss Finley is in considerable pain.
06:51She's been asking for you.
06:52He frowned and strode out
06:53without a backward glance.
06:55I was accustomed to this by now.
06:57I closed my eyes
06:58and tried to rest.
07:02But I barely drifted off
07:03when a brutal force pulled me up.
07:05Alicia,
07:06Maddie coughed up blood
07:07after drinking that soup.
07:08Why?
07:10His grip on my chin was punishing.
07:14What did you put in that recipe
07:15you gave me?
07:19I glanced at him flat.
07:22You think it's off?
07:24Let the medics check it!
07:27Ali,
07:28if you're upset,
07:29just say so.
07:30Don't shut me out like this.
07:32I'm your husband,
07:33not your enemy.
07:34I closed my eyes.
07:35I have nothing more to say to you.
07:37For a moment,
07:38he thought he'd stopped breathing.
07:40What is that supposed to mean?
07:41I fell silent.
07:42As if he weren't even standing there.
07:44Outside,
07:45his subordinate's voice
07:46filtered through.
07:47Mr. Corrin,
07:48Mrs. Finley's stomach
07:49has been humped.
07:49She's out of danger,
07:50but she's terrified.
07:51She keeps calling for you.
07:52I see.
07:53He turned back
07:54to give me one deep look.
07:55Get some rest, Ali.
07:57I'll drive you back tomorrow.
07:58That night stretched on,
08:00like an endless winter.
08:01Ali,
08:02my daughter,
08:03who'd grown inside me
08:04for ten months,
08:05would be reduced
08:06to ashes tomorrow.
08:08Sealed in a cold earth
08:09and laid to rest
08:10in dark earth.
08:11The next day,
08:12Everett drove me
08:13to the company town.
08:14Hidden deep in the mountains,
08:16leaning on my crutch,
08:17I made my way
08:18into the funeral home,
08:19desperate,
08:20for one last glimpse
08:21of my little girl.
08:22But the instant
08:23I crossed the threshold,
08:24Beverly Curran lunged at me
08:25like a woman possessed.
08:26You vile bitch!
08:28You actually have the nerve
08:30to come back?!
08:33Beverly slapped me twice
08:35across the face.
08:36Kelly died because of you!
08:38You knew she was afraid of heights!
08:40Why did you take her
08:41to that observation desk?
08:43You wanted her to die!
08:45I went cold.
08:47All over.
08:48Madeline was the one
08:49who took Kelly
08:50to the observation desk.
08:52Why was Beverly
08:52saying it was me?
08:53I turned to look at Everett.
08:55He looked away.
08:56The other currants
08:57stood forward,
08:58joining them only
08:58as they struck me
08:59in the cold.
09:00See her!
09:01Kill her!
09:01She murdered
09:02her own daughter!
09:03You don't deserve
09:05to see Kelly
09:05one last time!
09:07Stoops of batons
09:08rained down on me
09:09without mercy.
09:10Someone threw a rock
09:11that split my forehead open.
09:12My crutch was wrapped
09:14and used as a weapon
09:15against me.
09:15I collapsed to the floor,
09:17blood and dust
09:18smearing across my face.
09:21Enough!
09:22After what felt
09:23like an eternity,
09:25Everett pushed through
09:26and shielded me
09:26with his body.
09:29Kelly's death
09:30was an accident.
09:31Allie isn't to blame.
09:33Anyone who touches her
09:34again will be dealt
09:34with according
09:35to family rules.
09:39His razor-sharp gaze
09:40swept the room
09:41until the crowd
09:42slowly dispersed.
09:43Only then
09:44did his expression
09:45soften.
09:49He lifted me
09:50into his arms
09:51and carried me
09:52back to our bedroom.
09:53He retrieved
09:54the first aid kit
09:55to tend to my wounds,
09:56but my eyes
09:56remained utterly cold.
09:58Everett,
09:59Madeline took Kelly
10:00to that observation deck.
10:02So why did Beverly
10:03say it was me?
10:04His hand holding
10:05the gauze paused.
10:07Allie,
10:07Maddie is the weapons
10:08expert the family
10:08invested in.
10:09Her identity
10:10is sensitive.
10:12If anyone finds out
10:13she was indirectly
10:14responsible for Kelly's death,
10:17she won't have a place
10:18here anymore.
10:19You're different.
10:20You're my wife,
10:21under my protection.
10:24Make the blame
10:25for her this once,
10:26okay?
10:27I'll transfer 30%
10:29of Curry Defense Industries
10:30shares to you
10:31as compensation.
10:32He watched me
10:32with barely
10:33no honey.
10:34He thought I'd
10:34break down crying
10:35or lash out,
10:36but my expression
10:37stayed so calm.
10:37It sent panic
10:38seeping into his chest.
10:40I merely glanced
10:41at him flatly.
10:42Whatever,
10:42I don't care.
10:46He should have
10:46felt relieved.
10:48Instead,
10:48something in his chest
10:49tightened painfully.
10:52Allie,
10:53don't overthink it.
10:54Maddie is talented,
10:55and that's why
10:56I look out for her.
10:57That's all it is.
10:58I understand.
11:00I lowered my head.
11:01You don't need
11:02to explain.
11:03Only someone
11:04still in deep love
11:05needed explanations.
11:07I didn't love him
11:08anymore,
11:08so none of his words
11:10meant anything to me.
11:11Utterly irritated,
11:13Everett was about
11:13to say something.
11:15Before he could,
11:16a guard burst in.
11:18Bad news,
11:19Mr. Curran.
11:20Mrs. Finley
11:21went to pay her
11:22his respects
11:22and ran into
11:23Miss Curran.
11:24They're fighting.
11:25Diane Curran
11:26was the family's
11:26true-blooded heir.
11:28Everett's expression
11:29changed drastically.
11:31Allie,
11:31bandage yourself.
11:32I have to handle this.
11:34He strode out hastily.
11:35The moment he left,
11:37Beverly barged in
11:38with several
11:38of her trusted people.
11:41Alicia,
11:42no one's here
11:43to protect you now.
11:44Her gaze
11:45was pure malice.
11:47Callie's dead
11:49because of you.
11:51I'm gonna make sure
11:52you understand
11:53what it feels like
11:54to fall.
11:57She signaled her men
11:58to drag me
11:59to an abandoned
12:00ventilation shaft.
12:01Deep,
12:02dark,
12:02with cold wind
12:04howling up
12:04from the bottom.
12:06Kelly fell
12:06from that observation top
12:0730 stories high.
12:10Do you have
12:11any idea
12:12how terrifying
12:14that fall was?
12:15Beverly grabbed
12:16my hair
12:17and forced
12:18my upper body
12:18over the shaft's edge.
12:20You were right there.
12:22Why didn't you
12:24catch her?
12:25Dizziness
12:25overwhelmed me.
12:27The darkness
12:27below
12:28gaped like a monster's mouth.
12:30Beverly pushed me
12:31to the edge
12:31time and again,
12:33yanking me back
12:34only at the last second.
12:35Breathe!
12:36You know how to breathe,
12:38don't you?
12:39When Kelly fell,
12:40she didn't even
12:41have time
12:41to cry!
12:43After several rounds
12:44of this torture,
12:45a sharp pain
12:46tore through my chest.
12:47A metallic taste
12:48flooded my mouth.
12:50Blood trickled
12:50from the corner
12:51of my lips.
12:52Her internal organs
12:53might be damaged.
12:55If this keeps up,
12:56she could die.
12:58Only then,
12:59did Beverly let go?
13:00I slumped to the ground,
13:01my consciousness fading.
13:04When I woke,
13:05I was in the ward.
13:07Everett sat by the bed.
13:08You're awake, Ellie.
13:10He held my hand,
13:11his eyes bloodshot.
13:13I'm sorry
13:14I didn't protect you
13:15well enough.
13:16Don't worry,
13:17I've dealt with
13:18everyone who hurt you.
13:19I warned Mom, too,
13:21she won't lay
13:21a finger on you again.
13:22A deep chill
13:23ran through me.
13:24I'd nearly died,
13:25and all he did
13:27was warn her.
13:28He still hadn't
13:29told her the truth.
13:30He never failed
13:31to disappoint me.
13:32Okay.
13:33I closed my eyes,
13:34unwilling to say
13:36another word.
13:37Ellie,
13:38I know you're
13:38upset about Kelly.
13:39I promise
13:40I'll make it up to you.
13:42We have a long
13:43future ahead.
13:47I'll make you
13:48fall for me again.
13:49He stood and left.
13:50The moment
13:51the door closed,
13:52two encrypted messages
13:53arrived on my phone.
13:54The first
13:55was from the courthouse.
13:56Miss Simpson,
13:57your divorce
13:58from Mr. Curran
13:59has been finalized.
14:00The second
14:01was from DARPA.
14:02Miss Simpson,
14:03the Welkin Shield
14:04project launches
14:05tomorrow.
14:06Your helicopter
14:07is ready.
14:08I stared at the screen
14:10for a long time.
14:12Finally,
14:12I let out
14:13a relieved smile.
14:14At last,
14:15the day had come.
14:16But before I left,
14:17I had one last
14:18thing to do.
14:19I braced myself
14:20on my crutch
14:21and walked
14:22to Madeline's room.
14:23Alicia?
14:25What are you
14:26doing here?
14:27The usual
14:27fragile act
14:28vanished from her face,
14:30replaced by contempt.
14:31Here to look
14:32for Rhett?
14:33How pathetic.
14:35Look at how badly
14:36you're hurt
14:37and he hasn't
14:37spared you
14:38a second glance.
14:39But me?
14:40I twisted my ankle
14:42and he stayed
14:43by my side
14:44around the clock.
14:45I felt nothing.
14:46These petty games
14:47over attention
14:48no longer concerned me.
14:49I asked only
14:50one question.
14:51Madeline?
14:52That day
14:53on the observation deck?
14:55Did Kelly
14:56fall on her own
14:57or did you push her?
14:59Madeline's face
14:59split into a wild grin.
15:02Alicia,
15:02you know what?
15:03Rhett was there
15:04that day too.
15:05The railing gave way.
15:06Kelly and I
15:07slipped at the same time.
15:09Rhett grabbed me
15:09without hesitation
15:10and Kelly fell.
15:12She fell right
15:13in front of us.
15:14Everett had been there
15:15the day Kelly died.
15:16He chose to save Madeline.
15:18He let her daughter fall.
15:21You want to know
15:22the funniest part?
15:24Rhett knows
15:25I'm trained in climbing.
15:26He knows
15:27my balance is perfect.
15:29But his first instinct
15:31was still to save me.
15:33Tears blurred my vision.
15:35I swore this would be
15:37the last time
15:37I ever cried for Everett.
15:40I wiped my eyes,
15:41picked up my crutch,
15:43and walked out.
15:44I moved slowly,
15:45but I never looked back.
15:47Everett,
15:48we no longer have a future.
15:52From now on
15:53we won't see each other again.
15:54Not in this life,
15:55not in the next.
15:56I took a vehicle
15:57to the courthouse
15:58and picked up
15:59my divorce decree.
16:00Before getting on
16:01the helicopter,
16:02I uploaded the complete
16:04recording of my conversation
16:05with Madeline
16:06to the dark web.
16:07Kelly's death
16:08was an accident?
16:09The law couldn't
16:10touch them?
16:12Then let the truth
16:13burn in the shadows.
16:14That was the last thing
16:15I did for my daughter.
16:16I threw away my phone.
16:18The helicopter lifted me
16:19into the clouds.
16:21Finally,
16:21I was free.
16:24The helicopter
16:25punched through layers
16:26of clouds.
16:27Below me,
16:27the company town
16:28shrunk rapidly
16:29until it disappeared
16:30behind rolling
16:31mountain regions.
16:32I leaned against
16:33the cabin wall
16:33as the sky out
16:34slowly brightened.
16:47my heart
16:48no longer
16:48beat for Everett.
16:50By the time
16:51we landed
16:51at the Northwest Air Base,
16:53dusk had settled
16:53over the desert.
16:55The base
16:56sat like a steel
16:56fortress
16:57embedded in the earth.
17:01Welcome
17:02at Mrs. Simpson.
17:10I'm Vernon Lynch,
17:12base commander.
17:13As of today,
17:14you're the lead
17:15systems engineer
17:16for the Weldon
17:16Shield project.
17:18This will be your home
17:19for the next 20 years
17:21or longer.
17:23Home?
17:26The place
17:27I'd once called home
17:28had long become
17:29a hell that consumed me.
17:33Uh,
17:34thank you,
17:35Commander Lynch.
17:36My voice was calm
17:37as I accepted
17:38the non-disclosure
17:39agreement
17:39and ID badge.
17:40Here,
17:42I wasn't
17:43Mrs.
17:44Curran.
17:47I was
17:48Mrs. Simpson.
17:50That realization
17:51brought me
17:52an almost cruel
17:52sense of relief.
17:56The days blurred
17:57into a rhythm
17:58of intense work
17:59and isolation.
18:04No internet,
18:05no personal
18:06communication,
18:07only encrypted
18:08internal lines
18:09and mountains
18:10of blueprints
18:10and data.
18:12I poured everything
18:13into Welton Shield.
18:15Each problem
18:16I solved
18:16felt like stripping
18:17away another layer
18:18of who I used to be.
18:20Occasionally,
18:21in the dead of night,
18:22Kelly's face
18:23would flash
18:24through my mind.
18:27The dimples
18:28when she smiled.
18:31The soft way
18:32she called for me
18:33when she threw
18:33herself into my arms.
18:35My heart
18:36would seize,
18:37suffocating me
18:38with pain.
18:41But I'd force
18:42myself back
18:43to the flickering
18:44screen.
18:47Work was
18:48the best sedative.
18:50My deputy
18:51at Damon Jenkins
18:52seemed to sense
18:53something my silences,
18:54but he never pried.
18:57He just pushed
18:58warm energy drinks
18:59my way
19:00after I'd worked
19:00ten hours straight.
19:02One night,
19:03I stood alone
19:04in the corridor,
19:05staring at the stars
19:05through the reinforced glass.
19:08Damon appeared
19:09beside me.
19:13He held out
19:13a cup of hot coffee
19:15without a word.
19:16Then,
19:17he walked away.
19:20I wrapped my hands
19:21around the warmth,
19:22and for a moment,
19:23the night didn't feel
19:24quite so endless.
19:25Three years slipped by
19:27before I realized it.
19:30Welgel Shield's
19:31phase one test platform
19:32was about to undergo
19:33its inaugural orbital
19:34deploy-in.
19:34It was the project's
19:36most critical
19:36and dangerous
19:37stage yet.
19:39The entire base
19:40hummed with high pressure
19:41mixed with barely
19:42constrained thrill.
19:45Some time during
19:46the eighth month,
19:46Vernon called me
19:47into his office.
19:50He handed me
19:51a classified briefing
19:52document,
19:53his expression grave.
19:55Something's happened
19:56to current defense
19:57industries.
19:58I scanned the contents.
20:00An anonymous source
20:02had leaked their covert
20:03overseas trading channels,
20:06exposing a web
20:07of black market
20:08weapons deals.
20:08The information
20:10had been released
20:11in carefully timed
20:12batches to
20:13international regulators.
20:15Each leak
20:16landed like
20:17a precision strike.
20:20Curry defense
20:21industries had once
20:22seemed like
20:23an unsinkable
20:24juggernaut.
20:27Now it was
20:28sinking at
20:29astonishing speed.
20:31Very professional work.
20:33Pinpoint intel.
20:38He's like someone
20:39on the inside.
20:41Vernon's gaze
20:42carried both
20:43scrutiny
20:44and a hint
20:44of probing.
20:48I set the
20:49briefing down,
20:50my face
20:51revealing nothing.
20:52Commander Lynch,
20:53right now,
20:53all I care about
20:54is whether we can
20:55push Welldoc
20:55Shield's efficiency
20:56by 3%.
20:58Current defense
20:59industry's situation
21:00is none of my
21:01concern.
21:06I see.
21:07Get back to work.
21:13In the dead of night
21:14when I faced
21:14the stars alone,
21:15I'd think about
21:16the recording
21:16I'd uploaded
21:17before I left.
21:18That was just
21:19the spark.
21:23The information
21:23that followed
21:24was more fatal,
21:25more precise.
21:27I'd collected it
21:28during my years
21:29with the Currenton family.
21:31in Everett's study
21:32and encrypted
21:33server logs
21:34beside weapons designs
21:35he thought
21:35I didn't understand.
21:38Like a trapped animal,
21:39I'd subconsciously
21:40gathered it all.
21:41The day I left,
21:42together with that recording,
21:43I set it all
21:44as a timed release gift.
21:46I wondered
21:47if Everett
21:48appreciated
21:48my parting gesture.
21:5272 hours
21:54before launch,
21:55I'd practically
21:55moved into
21:56Mission Control.
21:57The entire base
21:58held its breath.
22:02During the final
22:03full system
22:04integration check,
22:04an unexpected alert
22:06flashed across
22:06the main display.
22:09A minuscule anomaly
22:11in the orbital parameters.
22:13Probably background
22:15radiation interference
22:16or minor sensor drift.
22:19I'm not bashta.
22:20It's within
22:21acceptable tolerarity.
22:23But Damon
22:24kept comparing
22:25the data,
22:26frowning.
22:28Miss Simpson,
22:28the fluctuation
22:30pattern is unusual,
22:30but I don't think
22:31it's natural interference.
22:35Looks more like
22:36some kind of
22:36signal injection.
22:41My heart
22:42tightened.
22:43I immediately
22:43pulled all
22:44relevant logs
22:44and ordered
22:45a full investigation.
22:47Something
22:48wasn't right.
22:52Someone
22:52had touched
22:53the system.
22:59A few hours
23:00later,
23:00the investigation
23:01results came back,
23:03sending a chill
23:03straight through me.
23:04Three days ago,
23:05someone had used
23:06a brief maintenance window
23:07to implant
23:07malicious code
23:08into the core
23:08navigation substabray.
23:10The code
23:11wasn't designed
23:12to cause
23:12immediate destruction.
23:15It was programmed
23:16to trigger
23:16cumulative errors
23:18under specific conditions,
23:20eventually causing
23:20the platform
23:21to drift off course
23:22or fail completely.
23:25Luckily,
23:26we'd caught
23:27the injurgeon
23:27in time
23:28and purged
23:28the code
23:32before it could
23:33do any real damage.
23:34the Wekel
23:35shield project
23:36was classified
23:37at the highest level.
23:41An external
23:42cyber attack
23:43was practically
23:44impossible.
23:45This had to be
23:46an inside job
23:47or someone
23:48with extremely
23:48high-level access.
23:50Security launched
23:51an immediate
23:52investigation.
23:54The trail
23:55went cold
23:56when they traced it
23:57to a young technician
23:58responsible for
23:59a peripheral
23:59data interface.
24:07They found
24:08his abandoned
24:08vehicle
24:08out in the desert.
24:14The car
24:15yielded no
24:15useful leads.
24:16Just a faint,
24:18distinctive scent
24:18that lingered in the air.
24:20A mixture of
24:21gunpowder and fur.
24:25My fingernails
24:26dug into my palms
24:28as I recognized
24:29it instantly.
24:31It was Everett's
24:32signature custom-blended
24:33cologne.
24:34The scent unique
24:35and long-lasting.
24:37He'd once mentioned
24:38casually
24:38that the scent
24:40helped him
24:40maintain absolute
24:41calm.
24:43Was it him?
24:44Had he found
24:45this place?
24:46Or had he sent
24:47one of his men?
24:50Vernon's face
24:51declines living.
24:52He immediately
24:53elevated the base's
24:54security alert level
24:55and reported
24:55directly to
24:56higher command.
24:58The instructions
24:59came back swiftly.
25:00Proceed with the
25:01launch as scheduled.
25:02But activate
25:03the highest
25:03emergency protocols.
25:06Launch day
25:06dawned bright
25:07and clear
25:07over the desert.
25:09The massive
25:10launch tower
25:10stood upright
25:11against the sky.
25:17inside mission
25:18control.
25:19The atmosphere
25:20was heavy
25:20with tension.
25:22Everyone remained
25:23glued to their
25:23workstations.
25:26Focus
25:26absolute.
25:31I sat in the
25:32chief engineer's
25:33seat
25:33facing multiple
25:34screens displaying
25:35different data.
25:36My heartbeat
25:38stayed steady.
25:39Everything else
25:40the tangled
25:41thoughts
25:41the painful
25:43memories
25:43even the
25:44recent security
25:45breach
25:46was forcibly
25:48pushed to the
25:48periphery of my
25:49mind.
25:50For now
25:51my entire
25:52world consisted
25:53of jumping
25:54data points
25:54and flowing
25:55curves.
25:56One minute
25:57to launch.
26:00Ten
26:01nine
26:02eight
26:04three
26:05two
26:06one
26:06ignition
26:11the
26:12roar
26:12reached us
26:13through the
26:13ground
26:13itself.
26:14On the
26:15screens
26:15the rocket
26:16lifted off
26:17steadily.
26:20First stage
26:21separation
26:22nominee.
26:23Second stage
26:24ignition
26:24nominee.
26:25Orbit
26:26insertion
26:27phase.
26:27The platform
26:27successfully
26:28entered its
26:29designated orbit.
26:31The solar
26:32panels
26:33began to
26:34deploy.
26:37launch
26:37suppressed
26:38chips
26:38erupted
26:39throughout
26:40machine
26:40control.
26:41We've done
26:42it.
26:43I leaned
26:44back in
26:44my chair
26:44and let
26:45out a
26:46long
26:46breath.
26:49And
26:50made a
26:50glass of
26:50water.
26:53Miss
26:54Simpson
26:55we actually
26:56did it.
26:57His eyes
26:57met mine
26:57for a single
26:59bright moment
26:59and he
27:00looked away
27:01first.
27:05I
27:06accepted
27:06the
27:06glass
27:07and
27:07nodded
27:08at
27:08Damon.
27:09But
27:09deep
27:09down
27:10I
27:10couldn't
27:11shake
27:11the
27:11unease
27:12that
27:12clung
27:13to
27:13me
27:13like
27:13a
27:13second
27:14skin.
27:14The
27:15security
27:15breach
27:16remained
27:16unsolved.
27:17The
27:17celebration
27:18was
27:18brief.
27:19I
27:20retreated
27:20to
27:20my
27:20office
27:21and
27:21pulled
27:22up
27:22every
27:22report
27:23related
27:23to
27:23the
27:23intrusion.
27:25Night
27:25fell.
27:26The
27:26base
27:26settled
27:26into
27:27silence.
27:28I
27:28rubbed
27:28my
27:28throbbing
27:28temples
27:29finally
27:30ready to
27:30call it
27:31a
27:31night.
27:31I
27:31powered
27:32down
27:32my
27:32main
27:32system
27:33and
27:33was
27:34about
27:34to
27:34stand.
27:35Then
27:35the
27:35screen
27:35of
27:35my
27:36dedicated
27:36terminal,
27:37the
27:37one
27:37used
27:37for
27:38top
27:38secret
27:38work,
27:39physically
27:40air-gapped
27:40from every
27:40other
27:41network,
27:42flickered
27:42to life
27:43on its
27:43own.
27:43No
27:44login
27:44interface,
27:45no
27:45system
27:46prompt.
27:46Against
27:47the
27:47black
27:47background,
27:48a
27:48single
27:49line
27:49of
27:49white
27:49text
27:50floated,
27:50like
27:51something
27:51risen
27:51from
27:51the
27:52depths.
27:52Let's
27:53talk
27:53Allie.
27:56My blood
27:57turned to
27:57ice.
28:00The
28:01words lingered
28:01for perhaps
28:02five seconds
28:03before vanishing.
28:05The screen
28:06went back
28:06to sleep
28:06mode as
28:08if nothing
28:08had happened.
28:09But I knew
28:10with absolute
28:11certainty that I
28:13hadn't imagined
28:13it.
28:13my terminal
28:14had the
28:15highest
28:15possible
28:15security
28:16clearance.
28:17Theoretically,
28:18external
28:18intrusion was
28:19impossible,
28:20unless someone
28:20on the inside
28:21had cooperated,
28:22or an
28:22unknown
28:22vulnerability
28:23had been
28:23exploited.
28:24My mind
28:25flashed
28:25back to
28:26the
28:26malicious
28:26code
28:27from
28:27days
28:27ago.
28:27Everett,
28:28he'd
28:28actually
28:29extended
28:29his
28:29reach
28:30this
28:30far.
28:30Rage
28:31ignited
28:31inside
28:31me,
28:32burning
28:32hot
28:33enough
28:33to
28:33freeze
28:33my
28:33hands.
28:34How
28:34dare
28:35he
28:35touch
28:35Welkin
28:35shield.
28:36This
28:36wasn't
28:37just
28:37personal
28:37anymore,
28:38it
28:38was
28:38a
28:38direct
28:38threat
28:39to
28:39national
28:39security.
28:40I
28:40hit
28:40the
28:41internal
28:41emergency
28:41communication
28:42button
28:42immediately.
28:44Vernon
28:45and the
28:45head
28:45of
28:45security
28:46arrived
28:47within
28:47minutes.
28:49The
28:50tech
28:50experts
28:50conducted
28:50a
28:51thorough
28:51sweep
28:51of
28:51the
28:51terminal.
28:55They
28:55found
28:56an
28:56extremely
28:56sophisticated,
28:57deeply
28:58hidden
28:58access
28:59point.
28:59Its
29:00source
29:00untraceable.
29:05Implemented
29:06with a
29:06level
29:06of
29:07professionalism
29:07that
29:08only a
29:09handful
29:09of
29:09people
29:09in
29:09the
29:09world
29:10could
29:10achieve.
29:14Full
29:14sweep
29:15of
29:15every
29:15internal
29:15network
29:16and
29:16physical
29:16port.
29:17Now!
29:20Vernon's
29:21expression
29:22was
29:22darker
29:23than
29:23I'd
29:23ever
29:23seen
29:23it.
29:24Mrs.
29:24Simpson,
29:25it's
29:25clear
29:25you're
29:26the
29:26target.
29:27We
29:27need
29:27to
29:27know
29:28what
29:28he
29:28wants
29:28and
29:28how
29:29you
29:29plan
29:29to
29:29handle
29:29it.
29:30I
29:30sat
29:30in
29:31silence
29:31for
29:31a
29:31moment
29:32thinking
29:33Everett
29:34had
29:34gone
29:34to
29:34these
29:34lengths
29:35to
29:35find
29:36me.
29:37He
29:38already
29:38about
29:38my
29:39involvement
29:39in
29:39Welkin
29:39Shield.
29:40He
29:41might
29:41also
29:41have
29:42discovered
29:42my
29:42role
29:44in
29:44the
29:44leaks
29:45against
29:45current
29:45defense
29:45industries.
29:48What
29:48did he
29:48want?
29:50Revenge?
29:51Threats?
29:53Or
29:53something else
29:54entirely?
29:58I'll talk to you.
29:59My
29:59voice
30:00was
30:00calmer
30:00than
30:00I
30:01felt
30:01completely
30:02devoid
30:02of
30:02warmth.
30:03Vernon
30:03pondered
30:04for a
30:04moment.
30:05Then he
30:06exchanged
30:06a look
30:07with
30:07the
30:07security
30:07chief
30:09and
30:09finally
30:10nodded.
30:12Okay.
30:13We'll
30:13set it
30:14up.
30:15But
30:15Miss
30:15Simpson,
30:17remember
30:17who you
30:17are
30:18now.
30:23I
30:23met
30:23his
30:24gaze
30:24without
30:24flinching.
30:25I
30:25know
30:25exactly
30:26who
30:26I
30:26am.
30:27I'm
30:27the
30:27chief
30:28engineer
30:28of
30:28Welkin
30:29Shield,
30:29the
30:29project
30:29lead.
30:30That
30:30comes
30:30before
30:31everything
30:31else.
30:31But
30:31it
30:32has
30:32to
30:32be
30:32in
30:32a
30:32completely
30:33controlled
30:33environment.
30:34I
30:34need
30:34an
30:34isolated
30:35one-way
30:35communication
30:35channel,
30:36fully
30:36transparent
30:37with
30:37no
30:37possibility
30:38of
30:38traceback
30:38or
30:39additional
30:39infiltration.
30:40The
30:40entire
30:40conversation
30:41must be
30:41monitored
30:42and
30:42recorded.
30:44They
30:45arranged
30:45the
30:45communication
30:46in a
30:47special
30:47isolation
30:48bay.
30:48The
30:49room
30:49contained
30:49only
30:49the
30:50most
30:50basic
30:50audio
30:50equipment.
30:52All
30:53signals
30:53were
30:53encrypted
30:54and
30:55filtered
30:55through
30:55multiple
30:56layers.
30:57At
30:58the
30:58appointed
30:58time,
30:59I
30:59sat
30:59down
31:00in
31:00the
31:00bay.
31:00A
31:01microphone
31:01in front
31:02of me.
31:03The
31:04communication
31:04went
31:05through.
31:06No
31:06video.
31:06Just
31:07the
31:07faint
31:07static
31:08hum
31:08of
31:08electrons.
31:12Then
31:13that
31:13voice
31:13reached
31:13me.
31:14Through
31:14the
31:14speakers.
31:15The
31:16voice
31:16I
31:16thought
31:16I'd
31:17long
31:17buried
31:17in
31:17the
31:17past.
31:18It
31:19was
31:19deep.
31:20rough
31:20around
31:20the
31:20edges.
31:21Hearing
31:21an
31:22exhaustion
31:22I
31:22couldn't
31:23quite
31:23place.
31:24And
31:24something
31:24that
31:25almost
31:25sounded
31:25like
31:25urgency.
31:27Allie.
31:33That
31:33single
31:34word
31:34pierced
31:35my
31:35ears.
31:36I
31:37clenched
31:37my
31:37hands
31:37against
31:38my
31:38knees.
31:39Fingernails
31:39digging
31:40deep
31:40into
31:40flesh.
31:42Using
31:43the
31:43pain
31:43to
31:44anchor
31:44myself
31:45in
31:45absolute
31:45calm.
31:48Mr.
31:49Corrin
31:49My
31:50voice
31:50came
31:50out
31:50steady
31:50and
31:51flat.
31:52You've
31:52illegally
31:52breached
31:53a
31:53national
31:53level
31:54classified
31:54base
31:54communication
31:55system.
31:57Do you
31:58have any
31:58idea what
31:59that
31:59means?
32:00Several
32:01seconds
32:01of
32:01silence
32:02passed.
32:03Then
32:03an
32:03almost
32:04imperceptible
32:05sigh
32:05filtered
32:05through.
32:06Yes.
32:07I know
32:07exactly
32:08what it
32:08means.
32:09But
32:11I
32:11needed
32:12to
32:12see
32:12you.
32:13Or
32:13at least
32:14hear
32:14you.
32:14For
32:15the
32:15sake
32:15of
32:15those
32:15shady
32:16deals
32:16you've
32:16been
32:16running?
32:17Or
32:17to
32:17make
32:17things
32:18right
32:18for
32:18your
32:18beloved
32:19Madeline?
32:19I
32:20let
32:20icy
32:20mockery
32:21seep
32:21into
32:21my
32:21tone.
32:23The
32:23recording
32:24and
32:24those
32:25files?
32:26Did
32:26you
32:26enjoy
32:27them?
32:27Oh
32:27soon.
32:28His
32:28voice
32:29turned
32:29rough.
32:29Fractured.
32:31I
32:32deserved
32:32every
32:32bit
32:33of
32:33that.
32:35But
32:35that's
32:35not
32:35why
32:36I'm
32:36reaching
32:36out
32:36to
32:36you.
32:40Oh
32:41then
32:42what
32:42to
32:43catch
32:43up?
32:47I'm
32:47sorry
32:48Mr.
32:48Corrin
32:48but
32:49there's
32:49nothing
32:49left
32:49between
32:49us
32:50to
32:50catch
32:50up
32:50on.
32:52Allie!
32:53His
32:54voice
32:54rose
32:55carrying
32:56suppressed
32:56agony.
32:57Please
32:58don't
32:58be
32:58like
32:59this.
33:00I
33:01know
33:01I
33:01was
33:01wrong.
33:01I
33:02was
33:02ridiculously
33:03wrong.
33:04I've
33:04spent
33:05every
33:05day
33:05of
33:05the
33:05past
33:05three
33:06years
33:07repenting?
33:09I
33:09cut
33:10him
33:10off.
33:10The
33:11absurdity
33:11of it
33:11almost
33:12making
33:12me
33:12laugh.
33:14What
33:14good
33:14does
33:14that
33:15do?
33:15Can
33:15it
33:16bring
33:16Kelly
33:16back?
33:17Can
33:17it
33:17undo
33:17the
33:18choice
33:18you
33:18made
33:18that
33:19day?
33:19Can
33:19it
33:20make
33:20up
33:20for
33:20the
33:20fact
33:20that
33:20Beverly
33:21nearly
33:21killed
33:22me?
33:22Or
33:22whitewash
33:23those shady
33:24deals
33:24you
33:24built
33:24your
33:24empire
33:25on?
33:25My
33:26garage
33:26of
33:26Keston
33:26left
33:27him
33:27trapped
33:28in
33:28a
33:28long
33:28silence.
33:29When
33:29he
33:29finally
33:30spoke
33:30again,
33:31his
33:31voice
33:31was
33:32utterly
33:32wrecked.
33:33Without
33:33Kelly,
33:34I
33:34got
33:35to the
33:35bottom
33:35of it.
33:36things
33:36madly.
33:37She loosened
33:38the screws
33:39on that
33:39old
33:39railing.
33:40Back
33:40then,
33:41I
33:41thought
33:41it
33:41was
33:41just
33:41an
33:41accident.
33:42I
33:43was
33:43afraid
33:43that
33:43if
33:43my
33:43family
33:44found
33:44out
33:44it
33:44was
33:44her,
33:45they'd
33:45deal
33:45with
33:45her,
33:46so
33:46I
33:46So
33:48you
33:48made
33:48me
33:49the
33:49scapegoat?
33:50You
33:50let
33:50your
33:51mother
33:51and
33:51your
33:51entire
33:52family
33:52torture
33:52me
33:53like
33:53I
33:53was
33:53the
33:53one
33:53who
33:53killed
33:54my
33:54own
33:54daughter?
33:56My
33:57voice
33:57trembled
33:57uncontrollably.
33:58Not
33:59from
33:59sorrow,
34:00but
34:00from
34:00pure
34:01fury.
34:05Everett,
34:05your
34:05devotion
34:06to
34:06talent,
34:07your
34:07protective
34:07instincts,
34:08how
34:08impressive.
34:09I
34:09should
34:09probably
34:10applaud
34:10you.
34:11Do
34:11you
34:11have
34:11any
34:12idea
34:12what
34:12Beverly
34:12did
34:13that
34:13day?
34:14She
34:14nearly
34:14threw
34:15me
34:15down
34:15that
34:15ventilation
34:15shaft.
34:16She
34:16said
34:16she'd
34:17make
34:17sure
34:17I
34:17experienced
34:18exactly
34:18how
34:18desperate
34:19Kelly
34:19must
34:19have
34:19felt.
34:20I
34:20didn't
34:20know
34:21she'd
34:21go
34:21that
34:21far.
34:22I
34:22warned
34:22her.
34:23His
34:23words
34:23came
34:23out
34:23rushed,
34:24desperate.
34:29I'll
34:29make
34:30it
34:30up
34:30to
34:30you
34:30with
34:30everything
34:30I
34:31have.
34:31I'll
34:32give
34:32up
34:32current
34:32defense
34:33industries.
34:34I'll
34:34do
34:34anything!
34:35Save
34:35it!
34:35I cut
34:36him
34:36off
34:36sharply.
34:37All
34:37the
34:37emotions
34:38I'd
34:38suppressed
34:38surged
34:39up,
34:39cracking
34:40through
34:40my
34:40carefully
34:40constructed
34:41calm.
34:42Everett,
34:42nothing you
34:42do means
34:43anything to
34:43me anymore.
34:45Not
34:45your
34:45compensation,
34:46not
34:46curry
34:47defense
34:47industries,
34:48not a
34:48single
34:48thing
34:48you have
34:49to
34:49offer.
34:51From
34:52the
34:52moment you
34:53chose
34:53to save
34:54Madeline
34:54and let
34:54Kelly
34:55fall.
34:55The
34:55only
34:56thing
34:56left
34:56between
34:57us
34:57was
34:57hatred.
35:02Listen
35:02to me
35:03carefully.
35:04Hatred.
35:05Tears
35:05welled up
35:06uncontrollably,
35:07but I wiped
35:07them away
35:08instantly,
35:08my voice
35:09turning even
35:09colder,
35:10harder.
35:10You risked
35:11everything to
35:12contact me
35:13today.
35:14If this
35:15is what you
35:15wanted to
35:15hear,
35:16congratulations,
35:18you've
35:18heard it.
35:19If you
35:20had some
35:20other agenda,
35:22take my
35:22advice.
35:24Stop
35:24while you
35:25still
35:25can.
35:26Weldl
35:26Shield
35:27is not
35:27something
35:27you can
35:28touch.
35:29Those
35:30little
35:30games
35:30you've
35:31been
35:31playing,
35:32they've
35:32already
35:33caught the
35:33attention
35:34of people
35:34far above
35:35my pay
35:35grade.
35:36Keep
35:37going,
35:37and business
35:38sanctions
35:39will be the
35:39least of
35:40your worries.
35:41I drew a
35:41deep breath,
35:42using the
35:42last ounce
35:43of my
35:43strength to
35:44form each
35:44word.
35:46Everett,
35:46you and
35:47I were
35:47finished a
35:48long time
35:48ago.
35:50We were
35:51done the
35:51moment I
35:51left that
35:52company town
35:52and uploaded
35:53that recording.
35:56No,
35:57that's not
35:57right.
36:04We were
36:05done even
36:06before that.
36:07We were
36:08done for
36:09good the
36:09moment Kelly
36:10died, the
36:10moment you
36:11chose to
36:11protect her
36:12killer.
36:14Don't come
36:15looking for
36:15me again.
36:19don't ever
36:20show up in
36:20my world
36:21again.
36:22If you
36:23have even
36:23the slightest
36:24trace of
36:24conscience
36:25left, stay
36:26away from
36:26me and my
36:26project.
36:27Otherwise, I
36:29won't hesitate
36:30to put you
36:30exactly where
36:31you belong.
36:34I cut the
36:35connection without
36:36waiting for
36:36his response.
36:38My finger
36:39trembled
36:39slightly as I
36:40pressed the
36:40disconnect
36:41button.
36:44The
36:45isolation bay
36:46door opened.
36:48Vernon and
36:49the security
36:49chief stepped
36:50in, their
36:51expressions
36:51complicated.
36:53They clearly
36:53heard everything.
37:02Vernon hesitated.
37:07I looked up.
37:11The tears on my
37:12face had already
37:13dried, leaving
37:14only exhaustion
37:15and absolute
37:17calm in their
37:18wake.
37:19Commander
37:20Lynch, I'll
37:21submit a detailed
37:22report on this
37:22incident.
37:23I recommend we
37:25report this
37:25immediately and
37:26conduct a full
37:27assessment of
37:27the base's
37:28security system.
37:31You.
37:32The security
37:33chief looked at
37:33me.
37:34Are you alright?
37:35I'm fine.
37:38The orbital
37:39calibration data
37:40for Welkin
37:40Shield still
37:41needs review.
37:42I'm heading
37:43back to
37:43mission control.
37:46I turned and
37:47walked out, my
37:48foot stemped
37:48steady.
37:49Not a tremor.
37:50Only I knew
37:51that somewhere
37:51deep inside, in
37:52that corner of
37:53my heart, where
37:53I'd stored the
37:54last fragile
37:54fragments of my
37:55past.
37:55Something had
37:56finally died.
37:58Along with
37:58that conversation.
38:00After that
38:00exchange, the
38:01base entered an
38:02unprecedented state
38:03of heightened
38:03alert.
38:05Security systems
38:06underwent
38:06complete upgrades.
38:08Everett hadn't
38:09tried anything
38:10else.
38:10No further
38:11communication
38:12attempts.
38:12No new
38:13signs of
38:14malicious
38:14activity.
38:15It almost
38:16felt as if my
38:17resolute declaration
38:18had actually
38:19worked.
38:19But no one
38:20dared relax.
38:21The collapse
38:22of current
38:22defense industries
38:23accelerated faster
38:25than anyone
38:25predicted.
38:26The once
38:27mighty empire
38:28had crumbled
38:28to fragments.
38:29I threw
38:30myself back
38:30into
38:31Wellcome Shield.
38:32Work became
38:32the sole purpose
38:33of my existence.
38:34The most
38:35solid barrier I
38:36could build
38:36between myself
38:37and the past.
38:41Damon grew
38:42quieter and
38:43also more
38:44devoted to
38:45the work in
38:46those days.
38:46He was no
38:47longer just
38:48my deputy.
38:49He developed
38:50into someone
38:51with remarkable
38:52talent.
38:53We developed
38:53a shorthand
38:54that didn't
38:55require words.
38:56Sometimes a
38:57single glance
38:58was enough
38:58to communicate
38:59exactly what
39:00needed to be
39:00done.
39:03Still,
39:04I kept
39:04my distance.
39:05The emotional
39:06wounds of the
39:07past still
39:08haunted me.
39:15Any intimacy
39:16beyond professional
39:17collaboration
39:18made me
39:18instinctively
39:19pull back
39:19until the
39:20night the
39:21storm came.
39:33A rare,
39:34violent tempest
39:35swept across
39:36the desert.
39:38Damon and I
39:39worked late
39:40into the night
39:40in the lab
39:41trying to
39:42de-dock a
39:42critical energy
39:43relay algorithm.
39:45Lightning tore
39:45through the sky
39:46as thunder
39:47crashed and
39:48rolled.
39:49Wind howled
39:49as it hurled
39:50sand and
39:50gravel against
39:51the reinforced
39:52glass.
40:03Suddenly,
40:04the emergency
40:04lights kicked
40:05on.
40:05Backup power
40:06kicked in
40:07immediately.
40:10But some
40:11non-essential
40:11systems were
40:12still affected,
40:13including the
40:13lab's door
40:14locks.
40:21We were trapped
40:22inside.
40:25A voice crackled
40:26through the
40:26communicator from
40:27the duty room.
40:42lightning had
40:43struck the
40:43external power
40:44lines.
40:52Repairs would
40:53take time.
40:55We had to
40:56wait where
40:56we were.
41:01The lab
41:02existed now
41:03in near-ness,
41:04illuminated by
41:05darkness,
41:07illuminated only
41:08by the emergency
41:08lights' dim glow
41:10and the occasional
41:11flash of lightning.
41:13Damon and I
41:13sat side by side
41:14on the edge
41:15of a lab table.
41:16For a long
41:17moment,
41:18neither of us
41:18spoke.
41:21This is Simpson.
41:22his voice
41:23emerged softly,
41:25almost swallowed
41:25by the dim
41:26space and
41:27the thunder.
41:28Have you ever
41:28thought about
41:28what you'll do
41:29after well
41:30and shield
41:30is completely
41:31finished?
41:33The question
41:34caught me
41:35off guard.
41:36No.
41:36I admitted
41:37honestly,
41:38doing my job
41:39well right now,
41:40that's enough
41:40for me.
41:41I fell silent
41:42for a moment
41:43and turned
41:43to look at me.
41:51Sometimes I think
41:53maybe when this
41:54is all over,
41:56I'll go see
41:56the ocean.
42:00The real one.
42:04I want to know
42:05what it feels like
42:06to be surrounded
42:08by seawater.
42:13Is it really
42:14true what they
42:15say?
42:15That it can
42:16wash away
42:16your troubles?
42:21Um.
42:25It will.
42:27I said
42:28only take
42:28Everett.
42:29You should
42:30go.
42:31After the
42:32project succeeds.
42:35Will you
42:35come with me?
42:36His question
42:37came suddenly.
42:38His tone
42:39careful.
42:40I froze.
42:41Unsure
42:42how to answer.
42:43A brilliant
42:43flash of lightning
42:44illuminated the
42:45entire lab.
42:47In that
42:48stark
42:48momentary
42:49light,
42:50I saw it
42:50clearly.
42:51The affection
42:52and anticipation
42:53in his eyes.
42:54There for me
42:55to read
42:55before he
42:56could conceal
42:56it.
43:00I stood
43:01abruptly
43:02and walked
43:02to the
43:03large
43:03observation
43:04window.
43:04In the
43:05distance,
43:06pale streaks
43:07of dawn
43:08pushing
43:08through the
43:08dark-knit
43:09darkness
43:09that had
43:10held us
43:10all night.
43:11I gazed
43:11eastward
43:12as the sky
43:12brightened.
43:13Darkness
43:14would soon
43:14be gone.
43:16Above me,
43:17the stars
43:18in the sky,
43:20the ones I
43:21had sworn to
43:21guard,
43:22were embracing
43:23a new dawn.
43:24I didn't turn
43:25around,
43:26but my fingers,
43:27which had been
43:28clenched tight
43:28at my sides,
43:31slowly uncurled.
43:36And just
43:37barely,
43:38they brushed
43:39against the
43:39hand Damon
43:40had rested
43:40on the
43:41windowsill
43:41beside me.
43:42I wasn't
43:43ready.
43:45But for the
43:46first time
43:47in three
43:47years,
43:53I thought
43:54maybe
43:55someday
43:56I could
43:58be.
43:59I don't
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