2024-09-17 23:35:28
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THE ECHO PROTOCOL
Jayden stood quietly by the back door of the transport van. The sky was grey, and the wind carried a strange smell—like metal and burned plastic. Ten of the Orion Dynamics staff were being moved today. Each of them had been affected by the hex. They weren’t screaming or shaking. No, it was worse than that. They were too quiet. Eyes open, but blank. Like the lights were on, but no one was home.Two security bots carefully lifted one of the staff members onto a hover-stretcher. The man’s name tag said “E. MARGO,” but he didn’t blink, speak, or move. His body was stiff. His fingers were curled like he was still typing something on a keyboard that wasn’t there.Jayden turned to the medic. “How many more?”“Two inside the east wing,” the man answered. “They’re not violent, just... not right.”Jayden nodded. “Get them all scanned. Full neurophase run.”The mental health facility was only a few miles from the Orion Headquarters. But the ride felt long. Jayden sat in the front of the van, s
ECHOES OF THE DEAD
The dining hall had grown quiet. The music had stopped. Even the floating servers stood still, like they were waiting for what came next.Daniel leaned in closer. His glass was untouched now. His eyes were focused only on Vincent.“What do you mean?” he asked.Vincent didn’t speak right away. His fingers tapped lightly on the edge of his plate, his eyes staring into something far away.Then he said slowly, “When I was under Jayden’s Synapticore hypnotic spell… I couldn’t fight him physically. I couldn’t speak or move.”“But I could still think. And I could still… search.”Daniel frowned. “Search?”Vincent nodded. “Inside his mind. I sent a part of myself in. A small thread—just enough to look around. Just enough to see who he really was.”Daniel’s voice was now cautious. “And what did you notice?”Vincent looked at him with calm, pale eyes.“I noticed similar thought patterns… patterns I’ve seen before.”Daniel narrowed his eyes.“Whose patterns?”Vincent didn’t hesitate.“Marvin Rich
WHISPERS OVER WINE
The grand dining hall of the Richmond Estate sparkled like a galaxy of gold and crystal. Long chandeliers hung from the high marble ceiling, pouring warm light over a giant table carved from dark oakwood. Soft classical music drifted through hidden speakers, and the air smelled of sweet wine, roasted meat, and fresh roses.The plates were silver. The glasses shimmered. The food? It was luxury on every level.At the head of the high table, two men sat like kings.Daniel Richmond, the young head of the Richmond family, was dressed in a navy-blue designer tuxedo. His black hair was slicked back, and a subtle diamond pin glowed on his chest. Though only in his mid-twenties, Daniel looked as calm and sharp as a seasoned emperor.Beside him sat Vincent Arceneaux, leader of the mysterious and now extremely wealthy Arceneaux family. He wore a dark brown suit with golden embroidery that caught the light every time he moved. His eyes were pale gray, and his face—though handsome—still held s
THE EYES BEYOND THE GATES
Jayden’s boots pounded against the steel floor as he rushed toward the emergency control panel. His breath came fast and shallow. Every second counted now.He reached the red-framed console near the elevator—an old-fashioned security system built for total emergencies. He slammed his palm against the ID scanner. A small light blinked green.“Activate lockdown protocol,” he ordered. “Full internal seal. Limit access to Level Three clearance or higher.”The AI voice replied calmly:“Confirming identity. Jayden Cole. Clearance Level: Director. Confirm lockdown?”“Yes,” he snapped. “Lock the damn building and premises down!”“Lockdown initiating.”All across the facility, heavy blast doors began to slide into place with loud clanks. Lights turned red. Sirens gave short, sharp warning tones. The intercom buzzed with a robotic message repeating in cycles:“Attention: Facility lockdown in progress. Please remain in your current zones until further notice.”Jayden leaned against the wall, his
MINDFALL
Jayden narrowed his eyes as the secretary stood before him, panting like she had run all the way from the lower floors.He stepped around his desk. "What is it? Why do you look like that?"The young woman pressed a hand to her chest. "Sir… there’s a big problem."Jayden’s eyebrows furrowed. A sharp sense of dread hit his stomach. "What problem?"She looked up, her voice was shaking. "The staff… they’re leaving. Many of them. Right now."Jayden blinked. "What?" he asked, clearly shocked. "What do you mean?""I mean—" she said, breath catching, "they just stood up and started walking out of their duty posts. No permission. No orders. They just… left. Like something pulled them away.""That doesn’t make any sense," Jayden muttered. "Why would they do that?""The Chief Production Officer reported it to me just a few minutes ago," she said. "He’s an Orion too. He seemed confused—frustrated. He left to go down there himself and try to settle things."Jayden didn’t wait. He brushed past the
UNSEALED AND UNWATCHED
Jayden sat behind the large black desk in the executive office, the sealed folder from Benny was still resting beside his hand. The city skyline stretched outside the wide glass windows behind him.He leaned back in the tall chair, his thoughts were still spinning from the news. CEO. He never imagined this. Not now. Not like this.But what could he do other than adjust so he could mentally fit into this new role he found himself?His desk phone lit up, buzzing once.Jayden pressed the speaker button. “Yes?”“Mr. Cole,” the assistant’s voice came through, polite and quick, “you have a scheduled call with Supervisor Malric Kendo from Jebbah. He’s on the line.”Jayden sat up straighter. “Put him through.”There was a brief click, then a new voice filled the room.“Jayden, my friend!” Malric’s voice was smooth and cheerful, with a thick Jebban accent. Malric was of dual citizenship. His father was of the federation, an Orion in fact, while his mother was a Jebban. “Congratulations on the
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