The academy was transforming into Fort Knox. What had once been a center of learning and field training now felt like a battleground waiting for a fight. Military police patrolled everywhere, their black uniforms and stern faces reminding us all about what had happened last night.

The hiss and clank of reinforced doors echoed through the corridors. Overhead lights flickered from power surges caused by the new security systems, casting strange shadows that made everyone jump at nothing. The familiar sounds of cadets training had been replaced by the rhythmic thud of military boots on metal floors.

Every door now required our wrist ID and retinal scan. The cold blue light washed over faces, turning everyone ghostly pale as they waited in growing lines.

We eventually found Rob and Sylvk in the queue and pushed in front of two others to join them.

"Don't forget to blink," Rob muttered as he got closer to the front. "I think this thing tried to scan the back of my skull."

"You're holding up the line, Rob," Kerry snapped, nudging him forward. Her eyes darted to the MP standing nearby, his hand resting casually on his gun.

Sylvk crossed his arms, his sharp gaze scanning the military police stationed at intervals. "This isn't about safety anymore. It's about control."

"Control or not," I said, stepping up to the scanner and watching it flash green, "they're making sure no one can stroll in here again."

"Unless they bypass all this somehow," Rob said under his breath, earning a sharp look from Sylvk.

The tension was easy to see in everyone's movements. Even the instructors were quieter, their usual sharp commands laced with an edge of uncertainty.

"Heard about Kael Boutack?" a cadet whispered nearby.

I said nothing, but my gut churned.

An MP stopped a cadet ahead of us, demanding to see her clearance. Her hands trembled as she pulled up her schedule. The MP studied it longer than necessary before waving her on with a warning. She hurried away, her face pale.

"That's the third 'random' check I've seen this morning," Sylvk muttered.

My vision blurred suddenly as we turned a corner, black spots dancing at the edges. I steadied myself against the wall, hoping no one noticed. A sharp pain lanced through my skull, like someone had driven a spike between my eyes and I tasted copper.

<<You've been through a lot today, pressure is increasing,>> Doli observed quietly. <<Tumor growth has accelerated by 3.7% since yesterday.>>

System Log: Neural Integrity Degradation

Neural Sync: 28%

Tumor Acceleration: 3.7% ↑

Cognitive Load: 67% ↑

Status: Collapse imminent within 24–36 hours if untreated.

Warning: Medical falsification protocols still active.

"You okay?" Kerry asked quietly, falling back to walk beside me.

"Yeah," I said, forcing a smile. "Tired."

She didn't look convinced, but thankfully didn't push further. I caught her exchanging a concerned glance with Sylvk when she thought I wasn't looking.

***

Once inside, we were called into a security briefing with Alpha271. Ashley stood at the front of the room, her expression something I couldn't read but when her eyes met mine briefly, I saw something softer there, her concern.

I'd messaged her, she'd seen them, but she'd not replied. I could only imagine the meetings she had to go through. She looked as tired and as stressed as all of us, and she had lost weight this last few weeks, too. Her uniform was not as tight around her shoulders.

"The new security protocols are non-negotiable," she began. "I know this feels excessive, but until we have a clear understanding of how these men infiltrated the academy, these measures are necessary."

She gestured to a holographic map of the campus, highlighting new restricted zones. "Unauthorized access to these areas will result in immediate disciplinary action. I don't care who you are or why you're there. If you don't have clearance, you don't enter."

"And if someone tries again?" Devin asked from the back.

Ashley's expression hardened. "Then the military police will handle it. This is not a game. If you see something suspicious, report it immediately. Last night was not just a warning. Next time, there might not be just one victim."

I glanced around the room, noting the tension in everyone's postures. Kerry sat rigidly beside me, the bruise on her cheek now a deep mottled purple. Sylvk's cut had been neatly sealed, but his eyes remained vigilant, scanning the room constantly and Rob's usual smile was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a grim focus.

The briefing continued, but I found it hard to focus. My head felt heavy, my vision blurring at the edges. I gripped the edge of the desk, forcing myself to sit upright as waves of dizziness washed over me.

<<Captain, your vital signs are all over the place,>> Doli warned.

<<I'll be fine,>> I insisted, though the room was starting to spin.

Trait Progression: Emotional Command Buffer – 65% ↑

Trigger: Suppressing visible symptoms in front of Alpha271 team

Function: Maintains leadership facade during cognitive destabilization

Note: Overuse is accelerating mental and physical strain. Buffer unsustainable.

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"Intelligence suggests there were at least five other operatives," Ashley continued, walking the length of the hall. "All highly trained, all armed, and all willing to eliminate anyone who stood in their way. Their primary targets appear to be the AI labs and specific personnel."

Ashley's gaze swept across the room, lingering briefly on me, on my team, and on Andri, who sat beside Devin, dark circles heavy under his eyes.

"They wanted something specific," she said. "And we were lucky to repel them. Next time, we might not be."

I tried to focus, but my thoughts scattered like shattered glass. Rob elbowed me gently, questioning. I nodded, I was fine. Lie.

"Major," Andri's voice broke through, hoarse but steady. He stood. All eyes turned. "My father won't break he won't give the enemy what they want."

Ashley gave a nod. "We're buying as much time as we can for Piotr's health and for Doli's transfer to a physical unit."

"What do they want with Doli?" Rob asked quietly.

Andri glanced at me, then to Rob. "A prototype that evolved without control protocols? A self-integrated AI they can reverse-engineer and weaponize? What don't they want?"

Ashley's eyes flicked to mine. "How exposed is she?"

"At the moment, she's spread all over the academy systems, you know that," I said quickly. "She's safe, but not for long if they keep pushing this hard."

[LOCKED] Trait Seeded: Final Integration

Trigger: Ethical prioritization of AI survival over personal wellness

Function: Merge subroutine prepared.

Note: Activation risk increased to 67% if Piotr loses consciousness near Doli's housing.

Andri stepped forward. "That's why I'm saying this now. We need to act together."

"The plan is to complete Doli's coding; we'll give them what they want in exchange for your father."

"You're with us," Ashley said. "You're part of this?"

"I always was," Andri said, a flicker of pain in his voice. "I just couldn't say it out loud."

"Then let's talk through options," Ashley said, pulling up the holographic map. "We need misdirection, a secure extraction route for Doli, and eyes on wherever they're holding your father. Once this moves, it will be fast."

Rob leaned over the table. "At the moment, Piotr's collapse has given us time, and he really does need to perfect the code. Then we transfer it to them while we move the real Doli. "

"We'll keep stalling things," Ashley said. "It's not hard with Kael in the hospital and Piotr needing treatment. But now we can give them a timeline for an exchange. One that works for us. Two days."

"I have 24 hours to fix this then," I said.

Ashley nodded.

"Then let's do this," I replied. Ticking Time Bomb.

After the briefing, Ashley pulled me aside. "Can I have a word?"

We stepped into a side room, and as soon as the door closed, her demeanor shifted. The commanding officer softened, replaced by the person I'd come to trust.

"You still don't look good," she said bluntly, reaching out to steady me as I swayed slightly.

"I'm fine," I said, avoiding her gaze.

"Don't lie to me, please," she said, stepping closer. "You're pale, you're disoriented, and you're not as sharp, you should go to medical?"

"I could say the same about you," I replied.

"It's…." She sighed. "Stress… I thought they…" Her anger, her frustration with me, everything had gone.

The strong woman before me was breaking, and I couldn't stand it. I took a step towards her, when she didn't step back, I reached forward and tugged her to me, wrapping my arms around Ashley, the woman I adored.

"I thought it was you," she mumbled into my uniform. "When Doli screamed at me, I thought it was you."

<<I'm sorry,>> Doli said to the both of us.

<<She needs you right now,>> Doli added to me, her voice gentle in my mind. <<And you need her.>>

Ashley trembled in my arms. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm sorry for lashing out, for blaming you for everything. It wasn't you, it's this, all of this. The lies, the treachery, the danger."

Finally, she said it. "We can handle it," I said, holding tighter to her, though I wasn't convinced.

"That doesn't mean we should push ourselves to breaking point," she whimpered. "Doctor Francine wants to see you sooner," she said. "I want you to go as soon as possible."

I met her eyes, seeing the genuine concern there. For a moment, I almost told her everything about how bad I really did feel.

But then I thought of Rob's proposal, of the future he'd painted for us after graduation. Of Kerry and Sylvk finding their way to each other. Of everything we stood to lose if I became the weak link.

Instead, I sucked in a breath and replied with. "I'll go after I check the AI labs, and Doli's printing, okay."

She studied me for a long moment, clearly not convinced. "As soon as possible, Piotr. Don't put it off, not later, not tomorrow, not after some other crisis. Soon."

"Yes, ma'am," I replied, the formality a shield against the emotions threatening to break through.

Her words lingered as I left the room, but they didn't ease the knot in my chest. I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep this up.

System Update: Medical Deadline Logged

Directive: Medical Evaluation – Required within 12 hours

Risk Assessment: High

Override: Piotr deferred – Priority: AI Housing Progress

Note: Emotional override again suppressing critical status report.

<<Thank you,>> Doli whispered in my mind. <<For checking in on me.>>

I made my way to the AI lab, each step requiring more concentration than it should have. The corridors seemed to stretch and contract, my vision occasionally blurring at the edges. By the time I reached the lab's security door, I had to lean against the wall for a moment to steady myself.

<<You really should be resting,>> Doli observed, concern evident. <<This detour is ill-advised.>>

"I promised," I muttered, pressing my palm to the scanner.

The lab was quiet, most of the staff having left after the breach warning. Only the soft hum of equipment and the gentle blue glow of monitoring screens filled the space. I made my way to the far corner where Doli's hardware was being assembled.

The printing chamber was active, and layer upon layer of specialized neural matrices were being formed with microscopic precision. Through the transparent casing, I could see the heart of what would become Doli coming alive.

"How's it looking?" I asked, my voice sounding distant to my own ears.

<<Integration is at 68%,>> Doli reported after a moment of connecting to the system. <<Core matrices are stable. Ethical frameworks are being successfully encoded. My …body's looking healthy.>>

I placed my hand on the cool surface of the chamber. "Good. That's good."

Progression Log: Distributed Core Anchoring – 68% ↑

Trigger: Physical housing of AI core in neural-matrix construct

Function: Core identity no longer reliant on academy system scaffold

Status: Embodiment approaching autonomy threshold

<<There's something different about her,>> Doli noted, <<I like it.>>

I nodded, though the movement sent a fresh wave of dizziness washing over me. "Mission accomplished. Let's go."

***

I didn't go to medical. I went to my bunk and collapsed, sleeping deeper than I had in weeks. When I woke, the room was dark, and my HUD showed I'd been out for nearly six hours. My head felt marginally clearer, though the persistent ache remained like a shadow I couldn't shake.

Kerry had left a message that the team was running security drills with Sylvk and would meet up for dinner later. Rob had added a note about finalizing some details for his "project"—our potential future together on his ship. The thought brought a bittersweet ache. How could I commit to a future I might not live to see?

As I sat at my workbench staring blankly at a schematic, Doli's voice broke the silence. <<You still need rest,>> Doli warned. <<This isn't simply fatigue. Your brain scans show patterns consistent with your previous episodes, possibly worse. System failure.>>

I leaned back, closing my eyes. For the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to feel it—the fear, the exhaustion, the uncertainty. The pain in my head throbbed in time with my heartbeat growing stronger.

System Warning: Collapse Condition Met

Cognitive Load: 72%

Neural Sync: 26% ↓

Status: Emergency protocols suspended

Function: Manual override enabled. Final Integration activation viable.

"System failure," I repeated with a bitter laugh. "That's a nice way of saying I'll collapse."

<<Ca—Piotr,>> she corrected, using my name. <<I've been researching alternatives. There's a doctor that moved out into the dark, a new facility towards the Eastern Badlands, he's pioneering neural regeneration techniques. If we—>>

"What?" I asked her.

<<If only we had more time,>> she said. <<It's too far, we need to stick with closer medical facilities, which are good, but not him.>>

I was running out of time, and out of options.

System Advisory: Psychological Anchor Breach

Trigger: Long-term future planning under acknowledged mortality

Emotional Cascade Detected

Status: Internal collapse predicted within 6–12 hours

Recommendation: Engage Final Integration standby

I reached for my tablet, pulling up Rob's proposal. His vision of our future together—a deep space vessel, the four of us working as a team, helping those beyond the reach of traditional support. It was beautiful, possible, tantalizingly close. If I could hold on long enough...

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