The city was quiet.
I stood on the roof of the safehouse, looking out over the Warrens. The streets were peaceful, the people calm. The network was pulsing in the back of my mind, its energy vibrant and alive. The unified consciousness was whole, its connections strong and stable.
But something felt wrong.
"James," Freya said, appearing beside me. "I've been monitoring the network. There's something you need to see."
I followed her to the lab, my heart pounding. She pulled up a holographic display. The network was a web of light, its connections pulsing with energy. But there were dark spots—areas where the light was fading.
"What is it?" I asked.
Freya shook her head. "I don't know. But it's spreading. Slowly. Almost imperceptibly. If I hadn't been looking for it, I would have misse
