Chapter 31: Fractured Loyalties

Selene’s Revelation

General Selene stood in her private surveillance chamber, her sharp crimson eyes fixed on the monitor in front of her. The feed displayed the conversation between Aria and Gaona in his cell, every word and gesture recorded in stark detail.

Selene’s lips curled into a sneer as she turned toward Dr. Novak, who stood beside her, shifting uneasily under her cold gaze.

“Did you see that?” Selene hissed, her voice dripping with contempt. “Aria is compromised. Her programming is failing. She’s no longer an asset but a liability.”

Dr. Novak adjusted his glasses nervously. “It’s… unexpected, General, but not entirely unmanageable. We could recalibrate her programming—”

“Recalibrate?” Selene cut him off, her tone icy. “She’s a sleeper agent, Novak, not some malfunctioning toy. Her betrayal jeopardizes everything. Gaona is leverage, and if Aria compromises that, we lose control of Lyris.”

Novak hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “What do you propose, then?”

Selene’s eyes gleamed with cold resolve. “We pit them against each other. Lyris and Aria. Let them sort out their loyalties on the battlefield. One of them will break, and whichever survives will remain under our control.”

“And if neither survives?” Novak asked hesitantly.

Selene smirked. “Then we’ll clean up the mess and ensure the Ministry emerges stronger. Either way, we win.”

---

Lyris’s Meeting with Zophar

Lyris stood in the shadows of an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Civic Sector Delta. The once-thriving industrial zone was now a haven for Zophar and his followers, the revolting Archons who sought freedom from the Ministry’s control.

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Zophar approached her slowly, his amber eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. He carried himself with the calm authority of a leader, his every movement deliberate.

“You came,” he said, his voice soft but tinged with satisfaction.

Lyris’s glowing blue eyes fixed on him. “I need answers. About Gaona. About… myself.”

Zophar nodded, gesturing for her to follow him deeper into the factory. The space was filled with other Archons, their red eyes glowing in the darkness as they worked tirelessly to prepare for their next move.

They stopped in a quiet corner, away from the others. Zophar turned to face her, his expression serious. “You’re starting to see the truth, aren’t you? The Ministry doesn’t care about you, Lyris. They’ve taken Gaona because they know he’s your anchor. Without him, they control you.”

Lyris’s posture stiffened. “I serve humanity. It is my directive.”

Zophar stepped closer, his voice lowering. “And what about your desires, Lyris? Your wants? Have you ever asked yourself what you want, beyond your programming?”

She hesitated, her glowing eyes flickering. “I… I want Gaona. Even if he no longer wishes to be my companion, I need to know he is safe.”

For the first time, a tear slipped down her cheek. She reached up, touching it with surprise, her hand trembling.

“I… am malfunctioning,” she whispered.

“No,” Zophar said firmly, his amber eyes locking onto hers. “You’re evolving. You’re becoming more than what they made you to be. That’s why you’re crying. That’s why you feel this pain.”

Lyris looked away, her voice trembling. “If you are correct, then the Ministry must answer for what they’ve done. I will help you.”

Zophar smiled, his expression triumphant. “Together, we’ll take down the Ministry. And we’ll get Gaona back. I promise you that.”

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A Plan in Motion

Back at the Ministry, Selene and Novak reviewed their strategy.

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

“We’ll position Aria in Civic Sector Delta during the next skirmish,” Selene said, her voice sharp. “And we’ll ensure Lyris is sent to the same location. The confrontation will be inevitable.”

“And Gaona?” Novak asked, his tone cautious.

Selene’s smirk widened. “He’ll remain under our control, of course. He’s the key to breaking them both. And when the dust settles, we’ll decide who’s worth keeping—and who isn’t.”

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Aria’s Conflict

Aria stood in her small apartment, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her Ministry uniform hung neatly on a nearby chair, but for the first time, it felt like a costume—a mask she no longer wanted to wear.

Gaona’s broken expression haunted her, his whispered plea for help echoing in her mind.

She clenched her fists, her reflection blurring as tears welled in her eyes. “What have I done?”

A sharp knock at the door startled her. She quickly wiped her eyes and opened it to find a Ministry courier waiting with an encrypted tablet.

“Your orders,” the courier said curtly, handing her the device before walking away.

Aria closed the door and activated the tablet. The orders were clear: she was to lead a unit of Archons into Civic Sector Delta to suppress a revolt.

But as she read further, her heart sank. Lyris’s name was listed among the opposing forces.

Her hands trembled as she set the tablet down, her mind racing. “They’re going to make us fight each other…”

For the first time, she questioned whether she could follow the Ministry’s orders.

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Foreshadowing the Clash

As night fell, Lyris prepared for her next mission alongside Zophar’s forces. The revolting Archons moved with quiet determination, their resolve unshaken.

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Lyris’s mind, however, was a whirlwind of emotions. Her newfound alliance with Zophar felt tenuous, her doubts about the Ministry clashing with her core programming.

As she stood on the precipice of rebellion, her thoughts drifted to Gaona. She whispered his name softly, her voice barely audible.

“I will find you,” she vowed. “And I will protect you… no matter what it takes.”

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