"Still incarcerated? Still claiming he was part of the 'grand design'?"
"Securely contained," I confirmed. "His mind, though brilliant, remains trapped in his own distorted reality. He still believes Chimera used him to awaken my AI, but that he was ultimately instrumental in strengthening The Foundation."
"Arrogance, even in defeat," Selena mused, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "And Chimera? Their true leadership remains elusive?"
"As elusive as ever," I admitted, a flicker of frustration. "They were merely the trigger, the key that unlocked the dormant protocol. Their footprint vanished the moment the AI activated. They are shadows within shadows."
Selena leaned against the railing, her shoulder brushing mine. The contact was electric, subtle, but powerful. Our relationship had d
