My Twin System Activated

Chapter 10: Operation Reset

Chapter 10: Operation Reset

For the first time in weeks, Rowan felt a shift in the air. Not power. Not pride.

Paranoia.

His system had been silent all night, too silent. It was strange

No pings. No updates. No environmental scans.

‘System Sync: 29.8% – Functional. Background processes stable.

Recent scans: 0 anomalies. No external threats.’

It was lying.

He could feel it.

Something was off.

He glanced around the floor, his staff moved about like normal, but their eyes lingered longer than usual. Whispers died when he walked past. Emails stopped mid-typing.

A tension you could cut with a glass shard.

And then, Steven, his assistant, rushed towards him.

“Sir, there’s someone here to see you. He insisted.”

Rowan looked up.

“Who?”

She swallowed. “Mr. Kane Stormont.”

Rowan’s blood ran cold. He didn't really know the man, but he didn't have a good feeling about him

***

Kane sat at the head of the table in the conference, legs crossed, fingers laced. As always, he was too calm. Too collected.

Rowan didn’t sit.

“Hello Nephew”. Kane said,adjusting himself on his seat,with a smug smile on his face

“You’re not welcome here,” Rowan said plainly.

Kane smiled. “And yet I’m here.”

Rowan narrowed his eyes. “What do you want?”

“To talk. Like family.”

“ I don't think you know the meaning of that word.”

Kane stood, brushing invisible lint off his sleeve. “You think you’ve made it , don’t you? Flashy suits. Public sympathy. Press conferences.”

“You sound bitter.”

“I’m patient,” Kane corrected. “Because I know something you don’t.”

‘System Alert: Emotional Pattern Reading Failed.’

Rowan stepped closer. “Whatever game you think we are playing, I want no part in it. But if you insist, then I’ll end it.”

Kane's grin widened. “Son... I started it.”

Rowan flinched.

Then Kane’s tone dropped into something far colder.

“You think Raven's the only problem? Aria's the only mystery? You're not even looking at your real enemy.”

“Then who is it?”

Kane walked past him, leaning close. “You’ll find out Rowan. Just not in time.”

He left with a faint whistle.

Rowan stood in place for a long moment, breathing hard.

“I don't like that man’

‘System Alert: Nervous system irregularities detected. Stress levels elevated.’

***

LATER THAT DAY

Raven stood by the glass railing, sipping something green and overpriced. She watched the city like a queen surveying her territory.

Rowan stepped up beside her.

“You fired Valeria without a second thought,” he said. “Was that necessary?”

“She was a risk. She made you vulnerable.”

“You’re enjoying this too much.”

“I’m not enjoying anything, Rowan” Raven snapped. “I’m surviving. Something you’ve never had to do.”

“Are you sure?” he said darkly. “Because every step I’ve taken to get here was a fight.”

She looked at him, really looked.

“Do you ever feel like we’re fighting the wrong war?” she asked softly.

“Every single day since I got here” Rowan said.

“Where have you been before all this?” Rowan asked, he has been curious for a while now.

“I don't want to talk about it now. But know that it wasn't anywhere fun”. She replied calmly, looking straight ahead

System Alert: Twin Sync Surge Detected. Stability Returning.

They didn’t speak after that.

***

Mr Cooper stood over a virtual map of the Stormont Corp building.

Peter Brown stood beside him, arms folded, face shadowed with vengeance.

“The server room,” Peter said. “Third floor. Left wing. No additional biometric lockouts—Rowan hasn’t upgraded since the breach.”

Mr Cooper nodded.

“We won’t need to destroy anything. Just plant the trojan, and let the system eat itself.”

Peter smirked. “And if we’re caught?”

Mr Cooper’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“We won’t be. The distraction hits tonight.”

LATER THAT EVENING

Aria orchestrated a surprise lunch party in the employee café for ‘stress relief week.’ Staff buzzed around with mini cakes, stupid party hats, and confetti poppers.

Raven sat at the back, clearly unamused.

Rowan was roped into a hot-sauce tasting contest by the interns.

He nearly died on the third spoon.

Valeria, who was technically fired, showed up anyway, daring Raven to say anything and went ahead to hand Rowan some milk.

He coughed, laughed, and glared at her. “You like watching me suffer.”

“You make it fun,” she said, smirking.

Aria stood nearby, watching them all interact, her smile fixed. Too perfect.

***

The party has ended and Everywhere has gone quiet.

Rowan was leaving late.

Everyone else had gone home.

The garage was quiet. Dimly lit. Too quiet.

He unlocked his car with a tap, but something buzzed in his system.

‘System Alert: Unknown Surveillance Detected.

Location: Parking Level C – Camera Loop Active.’

Rowan stopped mid-step.

“System override surveillance loop. Show me feed.”

The screen blinked inside his lens interface.

Grainy footage. Flickering light.

A dark shape moved behind one of the concrete pillars.

Then cut to static.

“System, identify subject.”

No data found.

He turned slowly, his senses flaring.

That’s when the pain hit.

Something sharp. Fast. Injected in his neck.

He gasped, staggered,

‘System Warning: Neural Disruption Detected. System Access Terminated.’

He collapsed against the hood of his car, clutching his neck.

Everything blurred.

Lights. Sounds. Footsteps.

A figure approached slowly.

Rowan tried to lift his hand, but it dropped uselessly.

Then...

Darkness