At 00:00:01, the planet seemed to hesitate. For a decade, the timer had hovered over every channel …

… “One minute. That is all you have.” Kunle’s pulse thrashed in his ears as the bomb …

… Behind the glass, something twisted. Not an echo. A presence. Code stuttered across the interface, lines …

… “Good. It worked,” the voice said, calm but laced with exhaustion. “I don’t have much time, …

… Ava looked up, synthetic eyes glinting faintly in the dim light. “That’s the idea.” “Your boss …

… “It’s derelict tech. Abandoned,” he said, brushing her off. “Could be a lost prototype.” …