“Stop the merge field collapse.” Aiden’s voice cut through the silence like it still had authority.
But nothing responded. Not the system, not the reflection, and not the space Adrian had been pulled into.
Only instability answered. The screens flickered once. Then again. Then broke into scattered fragments of light.
The reflection didn’t move.
That was what made everything worse.
Because stillness now meant control.
Aiden stepped closer, eyes locked on it. “You said he was inside the merge field. Bring him back.”
The reflection blinked slowly. “You are assuming retrieval is still possible,” it said. The second figure shifted behind them. “Is it? The reflection tilted its head. “Not in the original state.”
Aiden’s jaw tightened. “Define original state.” The reflection smiled faintl
