Sunday – 8:45 A.M. | Outskirts of Eden Terminal (Abandoned Zone)
Mist hung thick over the overgrown ruins of the facility known as Eden Terminal — once a cutting-edge neural research base, now a decaying scar on the Earth.
Rick stood at the rusted gates, staring at the sealed perimeter.
Ava walked beside him, silent. Kael hovered behind, fingers twitching with nervous energy.
"It still smells like burnt metal," Rick murmured.
"Like it never left me."
Ava reached out.
"We don't have to go inside if—"
"I do," Rick said, voice firm.
"This is where I lost everything… including myself."
Flashback – Two years Ago | Eden Terminall: Observation Chamber
Rick stood in a white lab coat, arms crossed, eyes tired.
Test Subject 42 convulsed in a glass chamber, screaming as neural wires embedded into his skull glowed violently.
The lead scientist, Dr. Marrik, shouted over the alarms:
"We're pushing the synaptic limit! Shut it down!"
But Director Widow's voice rang through the intercom.
> "Let it run."
Rick had slammed his fist on the emergency override.
Too late.
The subject died.
Then the next one.
Then a chain reaction of neural echo across the facility's AI grid — over 2,000 minds linked. Fried.
Present – Eden Terminal: Central Vault
Kael decrypted the vault door while Ava watched the skies.
"Surveillance drones passing in two-minute intervals. We've got a window."
With a hiss, the vault opened.
Inside were shelves of old servers — brittle, humming faintly. Rick stepped forward.
"This is where she started REVERB. Where she learned how to clone consciousness."
Kael pulled a data chip and inserted it into his device.
The file popped up: "PROJECT: SPARK"
He opened it.
PROJECT: SPARK – Summary Excerpt
> "Initial experiments with consciousness imprinting through synthetic echo pulses proved promising. Test Subject 00 displayed emotional resonance and biological mimicry of Rick Fyer's core neural map."
> "Results consistent with early clone stability."
> "Subject 00: Self-aware. Refers to original as 'Brother.'"
Kael looked up.
"There was a first clone. Even before REVERB 09."
Rick's fists clenched.
"And they didn't destroy him."
Unexpected Discovery– Inner Vault Room
They stepped into a dark chamber where a single capsule pulsed slowly. Inside lay a boy — younger than Rick — eyes closed, unconscious, breathing.
"Subject 00…" Ava whispered.
Suddenly, Rick's hands began to shake.
Memories flooded back. The whisper of a voice…
> "I'll protect you, little brother…"
Kael grabbed Rick's shoulder.
"We need to go. Widow's pinged this place."
Ava triggered a remote upload of all remaining data to their satellite channel.
"This isn't just your past anymore. It's the proof we need."
Final Scene – Hollow Bridge Council Room
Director Widow stood before a council of high-ranking officials.
One held a datapad, playing Rick's earlier broadcast. Another reviewed leaked Eden Terminal files.
"Director," one asked slowly, "is any of this true?"
Widow didn't blink.
"None of it matters. Because the public doesn't need truth—they need stability."
Behind her, Clone Rick stood motionless.
Eyes locked on the image of the unconscious Subject 00 now flashing across every underground network.
And something flickered in his gaze.