CHAPTER 6 — THE CHOICE
Smoke filled the bunker.
Alarms screamed.
Nathan and Evelyn fought their way through narrow service corridors as loyal security personnel held back Holloway's soldiers.
They finally reached an emergency elevator leading to the surface.
Nathan leaned against the wall, breathing hard.
"I failed you."
Evelyn looked at him for a long moment.
"You believed what they wanted you to believe."
"That's different."
He shook his head.
"It doesn't feel different."
She handed him the encrypted drive she had quietly taken during the chaos.
Nathan stared at it.
"When did you—"
"While everyone was looking at you."
Despite everything, he almost smiled.
"Still faster than me."
She looked toward the elevator doors.
"This drive isn't just about Project Vulture."
"What is it?"
"It contains every order... every transfer... every person who kept the program alive."
Nathan understood immediately.
"If this becomes public..."
"It won't erase the past."
"But it will stop someone from building another Vulture."
The elevator doors opened.
Outside, helicopters circled above the base as military police secured the area.
General Holloway emerged at the far end of the runway with armed guards.
He lowered his weapon.
"It's over."
Nathan stepped forward.
"No."
He raised the encrypted drive where everyone could see it.
"It's finally beginning."
Around them, dozens of soldiers hesitated.
They weren't choosing between two commanders anymore.
They were choosing between blind obedience and the truth.
For the first time in decades, Evelyn no longer felt like Asset V-3147.
She was simply Grace Cross.
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And whatever happened next...
It would be by her own choice.
