Chapter 17 - The First Order
Claire stared at the screen.
CHOOSE THE FIRST ORDER.
Five words.
No explanation.
No instructions.
Just a list.
ORDER ONE: RELEASE.
ORDER TWO: PURGE.
ORDER THREE: TRANSFER.
Claire looked at Mercer.
“What does each one mean?”
Mercer didn't answer.
“What happens if I choose release?”
“Everyone sees the archive.”
“And purge?”
“The archive destroys itself.”
Claire looked at the third option.
“Transfer?”
Mercer said:
“The network transfers control.”
“To whom?”
Mercer's eyes met hers.
“To whoever you designate.”
Claire felt sick.
“So my mother created a system where I choose who controls this.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she believed someone eventually would.”
Daniel stepped toward the screen.
“This is wrong.”
Claire nodded.
“It is.”
She looked at Richard.
“Did Mom really want this?”
Richard shook his head.
“She wanted you to have a choice.”
Claire stared.
“That's different.”
“Yes.”
A gunshot exploded.
Mercer dropped.
Claire spun.
Keller was standing behind him.
He lowered his weapon.
“I had to.”
Mercer clutched his shoulder.
Keller looked at Claire.
“Don't trust him.”
Claire stared.
“He says he recruited Daniel.”
“He did.”
“He says Noah is alive.”
“He is.”
“He says my mother knew everything.”
“She knew enough.”
Claire turned toward Keller.
“Who are you?”
Keller smiled bitterly.
“Another person who lied to you.”
Before Claire could answer, Mercer fired from the floor.
Keller fell backward.
Daniel shouted.
Ethan returned fire.
The room erupted.
Soldiers scattered.
Hart disappeared behind the control station.
Claire dropped behind the table.
Daniel crawled toward Keller.
“Stay with me.”
Keller looked at him.
“Get Claire out.”
“Not without you.”
Keller grabbed his sleeve.
“Listen.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“The person who killed your mother is here.”
Daniel froze.
“Who?”
Keller's eyes moved toward Hart.
Daniel turned.
Hart was gone.
Claire saw him too.
“Where did Hart go?”
Richard pointed.
“The archive room.”
Claire ran.
She reached a narrow corridor.
At the end, a door slammed shut.
She opened it.
Inside was darkness.
A single light illuminated a table.
On it sat a tape recorder.
Claire stepped closer.
The recorder clicked on.
Her mother's voice filled the room.
“If you've reached this room, then someone has already tried to make you choose.”
Claire stopped breathing.
Elizabeth continued.
“Do not choose release.”
Claire looked at the terminal.
“Why?”
Her mother's voice continued.
“Because the archive is contaminated.”
Claire's eyes widened.
“Someone changed it.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Elizabeth paused.
“The person who believes he is protecting you.”
Claire thought of Hart.
Then Daniel.
Then Mercer.
The recording continued.
“They are all telling partial truths.”
Claire whispered:
“Mom.”
“If they tell you there are three orders, there are actually four.”
The recording clicked.
A hidden screen illuminated behind the table.
ORDER FOUR: RETURN.
Claire stared.
Her mother's voice continued.
“If you select Return, the system will locate the person who carries the original authority.”
Claire's heart pounded.
“Who?”
Elizabeth's voice became softer.
“Not your father.”
“Not Daniel.”
“Not Noah.”
Claire stepped closer.
“Then who?”
The answer came in a whisper.
“Me.”
Claire stopped.
The recording continued.
“I am not asking you to believe I survived.”
Claire's eyes widened.
“But I did.”
The room seemed to disappear.
“No,” Claire whispered.
Elizabeth continued:
“If you're hearing this, then I have been dead to the world for years.”
Claire's hand went to her mouth.
“Mom.”
The recording ended.
The door behind Claire locked.
She spun.
A figure appeared in the observation window.
Adrian Cole.
Noah.
He was staring at her.
Claire approached the glass.
“You're alive.”
He nodded.
“Why did she say she's alive?”
Noah looked at her.
“She is.”
Claire's breath caught.
“Where is she?”
Noah didn't answer.
Claire slammed her palm against the glass.
“Where is my mother?”
Noah's face hardened.
“You need to choose first.”
“No.”
“The system won't hold.”
“I don't care.”
“You should.”
“Noah!”
He looked at her.
“Your mother built this system because she knew one day someone would force you to choose between exposing the truth and saving the people you love.”
Claire stared.
“And you?”
Noah said:
“I was told to protect the choice.”
“By whom?”
Noah looked away.
“By Elizabeth.”
Claire shook her head.
“Then take me to her.”
“I can't.”
“You're her son.”
“So are you.”
Claire froze.
Noah's voice lowered.
“That's why I couldn't.”
“Couldn't what?”
“Come home.”
Claire felt tears fill her eyes.
“You've been watching us.”
“For years.”
“You watched Dad.”
“Yes.”
“Daniel?”
“Yes.”
“Me?”
Noah's expression softened.
“Especially you.”
Claire stared at him.
“Then tell me one thing.”
“What?”
“Did you kill anyone for her?”
Noah remained silent.
Claire understood.
“Who?”
Noah stepped closer to the glass.
“Not tonight.”
Behind Claire, the terminal beeped.
The system had begun to count down again.
01:00.
Noah looked at the screen.
“It's starting.”
Claire turned.
A new message appeared.
ORDER REQUIRED.
Then another line.
FAILURE WILL INITIATE AUTOMATIC TRANSFER.
Claire looked back at Noah.
“To whom?”
May you like
His answer came quietly.
“To Hart.”
