The ventilation duct was a hell of dark metal and stale air. Logan crawled blindly, followed closely by Paul.
—Left at the next intersection! — Fay's voice sounded urgent in his communicator —. ¡They're sealing all the exit points!
—Didn't you say you knew a way out? — Logan gasped, scraping his knuckles against the metal.
—I knew a way out — corrected Fay —. Now I know three blocked ones. Progress, how joyful!
Finally, a grate gave way and they fell into a service alley. Logan landed on the hard asphalt, coughing, his formal suit irreparably ruined. Paul came out behind him, helping Elena, whose breathing was labored.
—We have to move — urged Paul —. The reconnaissance drones must already be on us.
The escape van appeared as if by magic, and they got in just as the first Uranus drones flew over the alley. Inside, the silence was more eloquent than any reproach.
The escape van appeared as if by magic, and they got in just as the first Uranus drones flew over the alley. The vehicle started with a soft roar, blending into the night traffic.
Inside, the silence was more eloquent than any reproach, broken only by Elena's ragged breathing.
—Well — said Paul, finally breaking the tension while checking a tablet —. On the positive side, we got our faces on every screen in the city. That's more exposure than most influencers get in their entire careers.
Elena didn't take her eyes off the window. —My sister... the last time I saw her with those eyes was the day our father...
—No — Logan interrupted firmly —. Those weren't your sister's eyes. Those were the eyes Uranus gave her. — He reclined in the seat, feeling the weight of failure —. And we, in our brilliant strategy, gave them exactly what they wanted: a public enemy.
—And now? — asked Paul.
—Now — sighed Elena — we go into hiding. Uranus will have half the city looking for us by morning.
—Statistically speaking, it's about 73% of the city — corrected Fay's voice in Logan's ear.
Logan ignored the comment, his eyes fixed on the city speeding past the window. Something had broken in him during the transmission, something deeper than fear. A cold determination was beginning to take shape.
—No — he said quietly —. We're not hiding.
Elena and Paul looked at him.
—Then? — asked Paul.
—Then — Logan sketched a bitter smile — we play their game. But this time, we learn the rules before we sit down at the table.
---
45 minutes later, the atmosphere in the safe apartment was funereal. Elena remained standing in front of the screens, watching as the news repeated Uranus's official version of a supposed "terrorist attack," although for some reason they didn't reveal the attackers' identities.
—Paul — Elena looked at the consultant — Come with me. I need your help with something.
When the door closed behind them, Logan was left alone in the silent room. Fay floated in front of him.
—Well, "Supreme Emperor" — she said softly —. Now what?
At that moment, all the screens turned on. Clara appeared, her eyes shining with a feverish light.
—Logan Flux — she said in a disturbing voice —. Thanks to you I've realized something. Things need a radical change. That's why Uranus has been thinking, I have been thinking that we need peace. In 24 hours, you will learn about our Harmony Protocol, the one that will bring that eternal peace. And you... you, dear Logan, will be the first to witness it.
The message cut off. At that moment, Logan felt the fear he felt gradually turning into determination.
—I'd love to shut that emo businesswoman's mouth — he murmured — But we have no allies... I don't see a way...
The system responded instantly.
[Activate latent ability: GEMINI LEGACY?]
[YES/NO]
— Gemini Legacy? — Logan looked at the floating notification, the name felt strangely familiar.
— Yes — responded Fay, her hologram flickering in blue tones — You haven't tried the reward for completing the mission, right?
— You're right... but now it's very...
[Activate Gemini Legacy?]
[YES][NO]
— Very...
[YES] [NO]
— Ah, to hell with it!
Logan pressed [YES] decisively.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the air began to vibrate. A bluish light sprang from Logan's chest, expanding like ripples in water. The objects in the room lost substance, becoming translucent.
— What the hell is happening!? — Logan barely had time to blink when an unusual sensation ran through him: it was as if his consciousness was splitting.
In front of him, a silhouette stood, defining itself with each passing second.
The outlines became solid, the colors took shape, and suddenly there was another him. Exactly identical, down to the smallest detail of the formal suit and disheveled hair.
The clone looked at his hands, then looked up at Logan with an expression that mixed curiosity and some mockery.
—Uff — said the clone, with his same voice but with a more casual tone —. Honestly, I expected to be more handsome.
Logan instinctively recoiled with his eyes wide like saucers.
—What the hell...?
— Well... it seems we're twins — continued the clone, touching his cheek with curiosity — How charming! — His gaze scanned Logan from head to toe — And you're the original? What a... disappointment.
The smile the clone sketched was identical to Logan's, but with a nuance of sarcasm that the original had never had. Or maybe he had, but he had never dared to show it so openly.
—Fay... — Logan looked alternately between his clone and the hologram.
—Don't look at me — said Fay, whose hologram was flickering erratically —. I didn't even expect this!
—How long... How long do I have to put up with this jerk? — Logan managed to articulate.
— Well, that's what I say every time I see you haha — responded Fay, smiling.
Then, she coughed and regained her composure.
— Mmm.. from what I see, its estimated duration is 15 minutes. And it consumes 40% of your energy. So, you can't just use it willy-nilly.
The original Logan cautiously approached his clone. It was like looking in a mirror, but as if that reflection had its own personality.
—This... this changes everything — he whispered.
— Yes, especially my conception of existence. Which, by the way, is temporary. Thanks for reminding me — said the clone, looking at his hand which was beginning to become slightly translucent.
—Fay — said Logan — This stays between us. No one else can know about a Logan two point zero.
—Obviously — responded Fay —. If Clara finds out you can make artificial twins, the joke tells itself...
— Well, before I vanish into energy particles... — said the clone — does anyone want me to sign an autograph? It's now or never.
The original Logan couldn't help but smile at the joke, so very Logan.
—It seems my time is running out — said the clone with a surprisingly serene tone —. It was... interesting, to exist.
Logan stood up and a strange pang went through him.
—Take care of that suit — was the last thing the clone said before disintegrating into a swirl of blue light particles that dissipated into the air —. It looks... good on you.
---End of Chapter 14---