When you touch the summit… the summit begins erasing its footprints.
In a secluded wooden cabin deep within the forests of Oregon, Daniel Cross sat across from Ian Vale.
The fire in the fireplace burned low.
The night was silent.
Cross spoke quietly.
"Who are you… really?"
Ian met his gaze.
"I'm the person who died eleven years ago."
And then he told him everything.
The lab.
The assassination.
The serum.
The flash drive.
The corporation.
The network.
Cross didn't interrupt.
Every suspicion he had carried for years now aligned.
"So they're not just a company," Cross said at last.
"No."
"They're a network."
Ian nodded.
"And now you're part of the picture."
Cross hesitated briefly.
"We expose them."
"Yes," Ian replied calmly.
"But intelligently."
Cross explained what happened at his office.
The seizure of evidence.
The federal takeover.
Ian listened.
"I expected that," he said.
Cross looked at him.
"How?"
"They're not easy to corner."
Silence lingered.
Then Cross said suddenly:
"I can access the department's main server."
Ian lifted his head.
"No."
"I can retrieve what they took."
"You're already targeted."
Cross smirked faintly.
"I survived wolves. I survived a sniper."
"And that," Ian replied quietly,
"is exactly why they'll try harder."
But Cross wasn't convinced.
"If we wait… we lose everything."
Ian exhaled slowly.
He reached into his pocket and removed a small communication module.
"If you're going to do it… use this."
Cross took it.
"What is it?"
"A back door."
Later That Evening – Department Headquarters
Cross returned to his division as if nothing had happened.
He didn't mention the mall incident.
Walked the halls calmly.
Exchanged greetings.
Waited until most of the staff had left.
Near 8:00 PM
He moved.
The corridors were nearly empty.
He knew the camera angles.
Reached the server room.
Swiped his access card.
Entered.
Closed the door behind him.
Connected the small module to the primary system.
A tiny indicator blinked.
He whispered,
"Let's see…"
Before he could disconnect
Voices outside the door.
He froze.
Recognized his division chief.
And the two federal agents.
No time to escape.
He slid behind a large server cabinet.
The door opened.
One of the federal agents spoke:
"Mr. Edward Lindsay appreciates your cooperation."
The chief replied in a low voice:
"I didn't have a choice."
"Today's files must disappear."
One agent sat at the main console.
Began deleting specific directories.
The other added:
"We won't allow a repeat of what happened."
The chief hesitated.
"And Officer Cross?"
Cold response:
"He'll be handled."
In the darkness, Cross's jaw tightened.
Minutes passed.
The three men left.
Cross remained still until silence returned.
Then slowly emerged.
He looked at the server console.
Some files were gone.
Erased.
But the module had completed its task.
He unplugged it.
Left the building quietly.
----------------------------------------
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