Nathan, Sera, and Nira hide in a medical supply room. Nathan manages to sit up against the wall as Sera peeks through the door glass to check if they were followed.
Nira sits on the floor quietly, trying to process what she just saw.
"Sera… what are those things, and why do they look like Nathan?"
Sera explains everything that happened so far. Nira is shocked and covers her face with her hands.
"Ok—ok, but they can't get out of the room, right? If they try to, they'll just disappear… right?"
Nira asks, expecting a positive response. But Sera doesn't say anything. Nira's heart sinks.
"Sera—"
"I'm sorry to say this, but yes. They can move around the building freely."
"But—how? I thought the machine was what projected them in the room."
"It does," Sera says, "but we upgraded all the lights in the building to support hard-light projections and holograms. It was meant mainly for presentations and future projects."
Nira looks even more devastated, then suddenly realizes something.
"Hold on. If those things are Nathan's emotions, why do they look like that? None of the other tests I saw were anything like this."
"I was afraid this would happen," Sera says, pacing. "Nathan isn't wearing the neurocrown, and the machine malfunction must've accelerated their deterioration."
"So you knew something like this could happen."
"I wanted to contain them before, but Nathan insisted they weren't causing trouble. I thought we had enough time to find the entity that escaped."
Nathan hears this and feels like everything happening is his fault. Which it is.
"Is there any way to fix this? Maybe turn them off?" Nira asks.
"We can't turn them off," Sera says. "But we can stabilize them."
"How?" Nira and Nathan ask at the same time.
"It's not that complicated. We modify the neurocrown, have Nathan wear it, and link the emotions back to his neurowaves. That should also stop your headaches, Nathan. The unstable connection is causing feedback in your brain."
"Alright then," Nathan says, managing to stand. "We need a plan."
"That—that was it," Sera says. "You modify the neurocrown."
"So… we just charge back into the lab?"
"Exactly."
"I don't like that idea—the charging part, that is."
"So we just wait here?" Sera snaps, frustrated.
"That's not what I'm saying," Nira starts—
"Rushing in seems risky," Nathan cuts in.
"Didn't stop you from using the machine, though."
"You won't let it go, would you?"
Sera and Nathan continue arguing. Nira notices someone's feet under the door—just standing there.
"Um… Nathan? Sera?"
They keep arguing.
"SOMEONE'S AT THE DOOR!" Nira shouts.
Their blood runs cold as they slowly turn.
"Hey, Nathan. Sera. Everything okay?"
They recognize the voice. It's Jace.
"I lost the Nathan imposter a few halls back," he says. "I heard noise and came to check."
They all sigh in relief as Nira opens the door.
"So what now?" Jace asks.
"We go to the lab and modify the neurocrown," Sera says.
"We have to be careful," Nathan adds. "They might still be in there."
"Alright then. Sounds easy enough," Jace says. "Let's go."
They head toward the lab, Jace and Nira staying close to Nathan in case he gets dizzy again.
When they arrive, the lab door is wide open—broken.
They hesitate, then move quietly. Jace signals them to stay back and peeks inside before waving them in.
Some of the lights are flickering.
Sera rushes to the control panel, then checks the machine. Both are intact. She sighs in relief.
The neurocrown lies on the floor beside the panel, still connected to the mind capsule.
She picks it up.
"Alright. We got it. Nathan, you're up."
Nathan tries to walk over, but a sharp headache hits and he nearly collapses.
"Careful," Nira says, helping him to a chair.
"I'll bring it to you then," Sera says—but stops.
"The cable's too short."
"Then you'll have to disconnect it," Nathan says. "I'll guide you."
She exhales. "Alright. What do I do first?"
"Flip the switch on the neurocrown to disconnect the first cable."
"I see it." Click.
"Good. Now turn the second cable anticlockwise."
"Done."
"Put it on the scanner, then flip the switch again. That'll activate wireless mode."
She does. The neurocrown hums. The control panel beeps.
"Activation successful. Default regulation activated," the AI says.
"Finally," Sera mutters, placing it on Nathan's head.
It hums softly. Nathan relaxes slightly.
"How do you feel?" Sera asks.
"Better. But something's not right."
"What?" Sera and Nira ask together.
"I don't know. I can't explain it."
Jace, standing watch, suddenly stiffens.
He hears footsteps.
He grabs what's left of the door to block the entrance.
"What is it?" Nathan asks.
"I saw one of them," Jace says. "One of you."
"Oh no," Nira whispers. "What do we do?"
"It's fine," Sera says. "We can stabilize them now."
"What if it does that thing that made me cry?"
"Then we stabilize it before it can."
The footsteps stop.
A figure peeks into the room.
"Hey, guys. I knew you'd come back," it says.
It's Joy.
They all stare.
"What's wrong?" Joy asks. "Don't tell me you're scared."
"I'm not going to hurt anyone," he says, glitching slightly. "None of us want to."
He exhales.
"You know, Nathan… we were looking for you. We're hurting too."
His voice drops, serious—but he's still smiling.
"Oops," he adds lightly. "Didn't mean to scare you."
Nira steps behind Jace.
"If that's true," Nathan says, "we'll help you first. Then you'll lead us to the others."
"Fine by me," Joy says.
Nathan activates the neurocrown's resonance sequence.
UNSTABLE LINK DETECTED.
He hesitates. Takes a breath. Then proceeds.
Light flashes. Joy glitches, muttering unintelligibly.
The beeping stops.
"I… I think it worked," Joy says. His form stabilizes.
They all sigh in relief.
Nathan stays quiet.
"Something wrong?" Joy asks.
"No," Nathan says. "Let's get the others."
Joy nods and walks ahead.
Sera lags behind, thoughtful.
Nira slows to match her pace.
"Something on your mind?"
Sera shakes her head. "How did they gain awareness? They're memories… yet look at them."
Nira doesn't answer.
"Never mind," Sera says.
They leave the room.