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Chapter 26: The Core Breach
Eliot and Savannah burst into the chamber, weapons raised—only to freeze at what they saw.
Rina and Lena.
Kneeling side by side.
No blood. No blades. Just understanding.
"She stood down," Rina said softly. "She chose free will."
Lena looked at Eliot. "You're the one they warned me about."
He nodded. "And you're the one we hoped was still human."
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Minutes later, they reached the facility's heart: the Kane Corp central core.
A sphere of humming quantum drives, pulsing with light and encrypted voices.
"This is it," Savannah said. "All of Kane's projects. Their AI networks. Blackmail files. Power plays. Everything."
Eliot handed Rina the drive.
"Upload the virus. Then run."
But as Rina approached, the lights flickered.
A voice echoed overhead.
> "You think it ends here?"
Kane.
Live. Watching.
"You've triggered Phase Omega," he said.
Lena's eyes widened. "No. That protocol—"
The floor shook.
Self-destruct initiated.
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"You've got sixty seconds," Savannah said.
Rina stared at the console. "I can still upload the virus."
"But you won't get out in time," Eliot snapped.
She looked at Lena.
Then at Eliot.
"I have to finish it."
Lena stepped forward. "No. We finish it."
Together, they plugged in the drive.
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Outside, Eliot dragged Savannah through collapsing corridors.
Alarms blared.
Snow fell.
And then—silence.
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Author's Note:
One core down. But who made it out? If you're locked into the chaos and courage of Rina's world, don't forget to add Billionaire in Disguise to your library. Every collection helps carry this story forward. Thank you for staying with us.
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