Before boarding, I severed every encrypted channel tied to Vespertia, dismantled the communication module, and threw it into a disposal chute in the terminal.
On the surface I was an ornament in the ancient castle. In reality, I was also the chief architect of Austeris's premier AI base.
Once the first-class cabin door closed, the project lead beside me handed me a non-disclosure agreement.
"Everything over there cut off?" he asked. "This project will be developed in total isolation for three years. No backing out halfway. Will your neural injuries hold up under that?" he added.
I signed and handed it back. "No problem," I said. "The moment I land I'll get my neural interface repaired. For three years, I want absolute technical control."
Over ten hours later, the flight arrived in Aus
