The armory doors groaned open, revealing a cavern of steel and memory.
Amber stepped inside cautiously, gaze drifting across walls lined with weapons, shattered visors, and bloodstained banners—trophies from a hundred battlefronts.
Raven stood in the center, hands resting on a display table, beside a small dog tag etched with a child's code: *RX‑317‑Raven.*
He didn't look up. “This is where I come when I want to remember who I was… and what they turned me into."
Amber approached slowly. “Why did you bring me here?"
“I want you to hear the truth," he said. “And whistle through it."
She held the silver whistle in her hand but didn't raise it. “Talk first."
Raven tapped the dog tag. “They gave this to me at age five. I was their top prototype—genetically enhanced for strength and aggre
