Chapter 12 - The BetrayalThe first missile struck the eastern runway.
We barely escaped the blast.
Reed led us through underground tunnels while military forces closed in.
“Who is attacking?” I asked.
“Helix.”
“How many?”
“Enough.”
We reached a secure operations room.
Satellite images filled the wall.
Cities.
Ports.
Military bases.
All under threat.
Reed connected Omega.
Daniel worked beside him.
Vivian sat quietly in the corner.
My father was nowhere to be found.
I asked.
“Where's Father?”
Nobody answered.
Then his voice came over the speaker.
“Elena.”
I turned.
A live transmission appeared.
My father stood in an unknown room.
Behind him were armed men.
Cross stood beside him.
My blood froze.
Father looked at me.
“I didn't want this.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You always say that.”
Cross stepped forward.
“Your father finally understood.”
“Understood what?”
“That control is temporary.”
Cross looked at the camera.
“What matters is survival.”
“You murdered people.”
“States do that.”
“You erased your own child.”
“Families do worse.”
My father flinched.
I stared at him.
“Dad.”
He looked at me.
“I am sorry.”
The words sounded foreign.
I had imagined hearing them a thousand times.
Now they meant nothing.
Cross raised a pistol.
“We have one hour.”
“For what?”
“For surrender.”
“And if I refuse?”
Cross smiled.
“Then your father dies.”
I looked at Father.
He shook his head.
“Don't.”
I understood instantly.
He didn't want me to surrender.
For the first time in my life, my father was asking me to choose myself.
I smiled sadly.
“No.”
Cross frowned.
I looked directly at him.
“Kill him.”
Father's eyes widened.
“What?”
I continued.
“You heard me.”
Cross smiled.
“Your mother was right.”
“You think sacrifice is weakness.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“It's choice.”
I turned away.
“Launch Omega.”
Reed hesitated.
“Commander…”
“Do it.”
Daniel hit the command.
Nothing happened.
An error appeared.
SECONDARY AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED
Reed cursed.
“Someone has locked the system.”
I looked at Vivian.
She stood.
“I can open it.”
Everyone turned.
“How?”
She touched her neck.
“The interface.”
“No,” Daniel said.
“It will kill you.”
Vivian smiled sadly.
“For the first time, I'll get to decide what my life is worth.”
I wanted to stop her.
She shook her head.
“You saved me at the gala.”
She looked at the scars on my back.
“I think it is my turn.”
She activated the interface.
The system opened.
Omega began transmitting.
10%.
25%.
40%.
Then an alarm sounded.
HELIX COUNTERSTRIKE
Reed stared at the screen.
“They're attacking every major data center.”
Daniel shouted.
“How much time?”
“Seven minutes.”
I looked at Vivian.
She was shaking.
“Don't stop.”
“I can't feel my hands.”
“Keep going.”
65%.
Then another explosion.
The ceiling cracked.
Dust fell.
70%.
A figure appeared at the doorway.
My father.
He had escaped.
Blood covered his face.
He looked at me.
“Finish it.”
I nodded.
Cross's voice came over the speaker.
“You'll all die.”
Father looked toward the camera.
“No.”
He smiled.
“For once, my daughter will survive.”
Then he drew a gun.
He shot the camera.
The transmission died.
I stared at the black screen.
My father had finally chosen me.
Too late.
But not completely.
85%.
Vivian collapsed.
I caught her.
“Stay with me.”
She looked at me.
“Am I your sister?”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
90%.
She closed her eyes.
“Then that's enough.”
95%.
I screamed at the system.
“Come on!”
98%.
The building shook.
99%.
Then:
OMEGA DEPLOYMENT COMPLETE.
Every screen went black.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then every Helix network on Earth collapsed.
The system that had predicted lives.
Controlled governments.
Manipulated corporations.
Tracked soldiers.
Was gone.
Reed exhaled.
“We did it.”
I looked at Vivian.
She wasn't moving.
“Vivian?”
No answer.
My heart broke.
Then her eyes opened.
She smiled weakly.
“Still here.”
I laughed through tears.
But before anyone could celebrate, one final screen activated.
A message appeared.
HELIX WAS ONLY PHASE ONE.
Beneath it:
PHASE THREE REQUIRES ELENA VALE.
I stared.
Reed whispered:
“No.”
“What?”
He looked at me.
“The entire operation was designed to reach this moment.”
“Why?”
He pointed to the final line.
THE TRUE SYSTEM IS ALREADY INSIDE YOU.
My blood turned cold.
And I remembered the scars on my back.
May you like
Not all of them had come from the ship.
Some had been there before.
