The image of Soren's face filled the screen.
Vance stared at it, his mind reeling. The Architect stood beside him, his expression grim.
"Soren is the real enemy," the Architect said. "He's been manipulating everything from the beginning. The Collective, the Omega Initiative, the First Order, the Phoenix. All of it was his design."
"Then who are you?" Vance asked.
"I'm the one who's been trying to stop him. Your father and I were allies. We built the Phoenix to fight Soren."
"Then why did my father work with Soren?"
"Because he had no choice. Soren had leverage. Your mother. Your family. He threatened to kill everyone your father loved if he didn't cooperate."
Vance's blood went cold. "And you just let him?"
"I tried to stop him. But Soren was always one step ahead. He always had a
