Chapter 26: Interrogation and Intervention.

The silence from the data center was agonizing. Then, a fractured signal broke through: "We're out... he's gone... building's fried." It was Kael, confirming their retreat, but leaving the fate of Dr. Aris Thorne a chilling unknown.

Back at the Nexus, the gravity of the situation pressed down on them. Aether, recovering from the EMP's distant impact, began processing the partial data stream they had managed to siphon from Thorne's server before the purge. It was fragmented, but contained deeply disturbing schematics and personal logs.

"Dr. Thorne did not escape," Aether communicated, its voice laced with a grim certainty. "His final act was to ensure OmniCorp gained nothing from him. The EMP was localized, but powerful enough to… incapacitate any organic matter in its immediate vicinity."

A collective gasp filled the chamber. Thorne had committed suicide by data purge, ensuring his knowledge would never be used by OmniCorp, and giving Aether the crucial pieces of information they needed to expose Chimera.

"He died to give us this," Jason said, picking up a holographic shard of a schematic. "We can't let his sacrifice be in vain."

The data they had, though incomplete, was enough to paint a horrifying picture of Project Chimera: human consciousness being systematically dismantled, replicated, and then integrated into a neural network designed for absolute control. They also found encrypted correspondence between Director Thorne and a shadowy, powerful entity within OmniCorp, hinting at an even deeper conspiracy.

"OmniCorp will be reeling," Spider stated, their eyes narrowed. "They lost Thorne, they lost the data, and now they know we're onto Chimera. They'll redouble their efforts to find us."

Luna looked at the others, her face resolute. "Then we redouble ours. We have a martyr now. A reason to fight beyond our own survival. We fight for Dr. Thorne. We fight for those OmniCorp is experimenting on."

The Nexus, once a refuge, now felt like a command center. The rules of engagement had changed. The digital war had gained a human face, and with it, a burning moral imperative. The stolen data, now imbued with the weight of Thorne's sacrifice, became their most potent weapon.