Chapter 13 - THE LAST STERLINGThe countdown began.
36:58.
36:57.
Elena looked at Julian.
“Do something.”
Julian stared at the screen.
Authorized parent.
Sterling blood.
He suddenly understood.
His grandfather had designed the system around one unavoidable fact.
Julian could renounce the family.
But he couldn't renounce his son.
The computer didn't care about his name.
Only his blood.
Adrian ran to a terminal.
“There's a shutdown protocol.”
“Do it.”
“It requires two signatures.”
“Whose?”
Adrian looked at Julian.
“And Elena.”
She stepped forward.
“What do I do?”
“Blood sample.”
Julian took the syringe from Daniel.
“We use this.”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because that liquid is concentrated Genesis material.”
Julian froze.
Daniel's voice echoed in his memory.
Your son's blood after exposure.
An antidote.
He had misunderstood.
It wasn't medicine.
It was a trigger.
“What happens if we inject it?”
“His DNA could change.”
“Elena?”
She looked at Daniel.
Her baby.
Her newborn son.
Three hours ago, she had only wanted to protect him.
Now she was standing inside a laboratory built around his existence.
“I'll do it.”
Julian looked at her.
“No.”
She stared at him.
“No?”
“I won't risk him.”
“You have another idea?”
He didn't.
The countdown reached 28:14.
Chloe watched them.
“You can't stop this.”
Julian turned.
“Why are you doing it?”
Chloe looked almost bored.
“Because I spent fifteen years preparing.”
“For what?”
“To become Sterling.”
Julian laughed.
“You never loved the money.”
“No.”
She touched her chest.
“I wanted the power.”
“Who trained you?”
Chloe hesitated.
“Your grandfather.”
Julian went still.
“He raised me.”
“What?”
“He found me when I was thirteen.”
Elena stared.
“He used orphaned girls.”
Chloe's smile disappeared.
“He taught us everything.”
“Everything?”
“How to lie. How to manipulate. How to seduce. How to destroy.”
Julian looked at her.
“And he chose you.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I never felt guilty.”
The countdown hit 20:00.
Adrian suddenly shouted.
“I found the second signature.”
Everyone turned.
“What?”
Adrian pointed to the screen.
“Marianne.”
Julian stared.
“She died.”
“Her genetic access profile is still active.”
“Can we use it?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Adrian smiled.
“That's the problem.”
A door opened behind them.
Margaret stepped inside.
Everyone turned.
She was holding a small blood-stained key.
“Use mine.”
Adrian stared.
“You aren't Marianne.”
“No.”
Margaret looked at Julian.
“But I am her twin.”
The system recognized her.
STERLING MATERNAL LINE DETECTED
The countdown stopped.
Julian stepped forward.
Margaret placed her hand against the scanner.
“Do it.”
The system demanded a second signature.
Elena stepped forward.
She placed her hand beside Margaret's.
The screen flashed.
GENESIS OVERRIDE AUTHORIZED
Chloe screamed.
“No!”
The laboratory exploded into chaos.
The machines began shutting down.
The Vault interface opened.
Files started deleting.
The entire Sterling archive began to disappear.
Chloe ran toward the console.
Julian tackled her.
They crashed into the wall.
She punched him.
He caught her wrist.
“You ruined my life.”
“You ruined your own.”
“You destroyed Elena.”
Julian slammed her against the wall.
“No.”
His eyes filled with rage.
“You tried to kill my son.”
Chloe smiled.
“Your son will never be free.”
Then a gunshot rang out.
Chloe collapsed.
Julian turned.
His grandfather stood in the doorway.
Ninety years old.
Holding a pistol.
Daniel stepped into view behind him.
“You're too late,” Daniel said.
The old man looked at the screens.
“Then kill the boy.”
Daniel raised his weapon.
“No.”
His father smiled.
“You were always weak.”
Daniel pulled the trigger.
The old man's gun fired at the same moment.
Two shots.
The old man's bullet struck Daniel.
Daniel's bullet struck his father.
Both men fell.
Elena screamed.
Julian ran to his father.
“Dad.”
Daniel coughed.
He looked at Julian.
“Take him.”
Julian knelt.
“You're bleeding.”
“I know.”
“Stay with me.”
Daniel smiled.
“I stayed alive long enough.”
“No.”
Daniel looked at Elena.
Then Daniel.
“Protect him from the name.”
Julian shook his head.
“You're not dying.”
Daniel whispered:
“You already gave up Sterling.”
Julian's eyes filled.
“That was for him.”
Daniel smiled.
“Then it was worth it.”
The lights went black.
The Genesis system shut down.
May you like
The Vault sealed forever.
And in the darkness, Julian heard a newborn laugh.
