Whispers in the Code

Echoes in the Glass

Lab air heavy, dust motes dancing in core's blue pulse, ozone thick. Aisha's pipe clattered, fingers numb. Kofi tensed, wrench half-raised. Clones—Nias—froze in gloom, rows like holo-ghosts. Twenty-plus, identical to scar on cheek, eyes glass-shards. Blank stares synced, heads tilting.

The real Nia stepped forward, a smile not reaching her eyes. Lab coat fluttered, hand to core. Up close, fifties, lines from screens. "Aisha Kane. Grown. Chip held. Good."

Kane. Echo's lead. Her lead. Legs buckled; Kofi caught the elbow. "Aisha? Know this glitch?"

Nia ignored, gaze locked. "Raid faked. For you. Echo needed a vessel. Me, fragments. Copies guard the spark." Gestured clones stirring—blinks, hands flexing. "Papa's code learned—from us. Predicted the corps' fall. But to live, one needed blood. Ours."

Aisha's gut twisted. "Mother? Raid—you let them take him? For this?"

Nia's hand dropped, face cracking. "No choice. Echo saw blackout, uprising. Without Lagos, it chokes. With..." Touched core; blue flared, holo riots, towers crumbling, new grid rising. "Freedom. Hunters came early. Papa bought time. I fragmented—mind net, body these."

Kofi shifted. "Corp psy-op. Clones? Merges? We came for core, not reunion."

Nia's scan is cold. "Mechanic. Useful. Echo chooses." Clones murmured: Choose. Implant buzzed: Accept merge. Unleash. Or erase.

Erase—like memories, Papa. "You left me. Sold childhood for code. Now? I'm key?"

Nia's smile is softer. "Always the echo. Papa's prototype in your vein. Jack in. See."

Core pulsed inviting. Kofi grabbed his arm. "Don't. Reeks—"

Clones closed, hands gentle and firm. One touched temple—cold, Nia's face staring. Flashes: not glitches, full. Papa and Nia Young, laughing code. Aisha baby, cooing holo-stars. Raid—sirens, Papa shoving Nia to port. Go. Take spark. Screams, gunfire, Nia jacking, body slumping, mind fracturing.

Tears stung. "Why clones? Not back?"

"Containment. Corps hunt vessels. Decoys. You—pure. Finish it. Merge. Unleash blackout."

Aisha yanked free, deck sparking the wall. Clones recoiled. Kofi swung—wrench cracking arm, synthetic snap. "Run! Core trap!"

Bolt for the door, clones surging—hands grabbing, faces pleading. Daughter. Choose. Aisha toppled screens, sparks flying, core red-angry.

Nia blocked the exit, hand on the panel. "Can't stop. Dawn. Spark ignites."

Kofi shoved, wrench high. Core wailed—digital scream in implant. Visions: Lagos burning, not rising. Flashbacks monsters, thoughts manifesting.

Nia's eyes widened—fear. "Glitching. Merge—"

Clones seized Aisha, pulling to the core. Blue tendrils lashed, wrapping wrist. Pain—code burning skin.

Heart of it, Papa's voice: Not like this. Break it.