The room inside the archives was colder than the rest of the lab. Rows and rows of memory cylinders glowed faintly in the dark, like tiny stars trapped in glass.
Ava's hands trembled as she held one of them.
Her father's name was written on the label.
For a moment she couldn't breathe.
"Go on," Julie said softly behind her. "We're here."
Nick stood right beside Ava, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his shoulder. He didn't say anything, but his presence alone made her feel stronger.
Slowly, Ava slid the memory cylinder into the scanner.
The machine hummed.
Then suddenly the room filled with light.
A holographic image appeared in front of them.
A man.
Ava's heart nearly stopped.
"Dad…"
The hologram flickered, but the voice was clear.
"If you're seeing this, Ava… then it means the truth has finally reached you."
Tears filled Ava's eyes. She hadn't heard his voice in years.
Nick gently touched her arm, grounding her.
The hologram continued.
"Your mother and I created the clone system to protect humanity… but powerful people wanted control over it. They turned our invention into a weapon."
Julie and John exchanged shocked looks.
Ava clenched her fists.
"So the clones weren't meant to replace people…" she whispered.
The message continued.
"Ava, you are the key. Your DNA is the only thing that can shut the system down. That is why they hunted us… and why they will hunt you."
The room went silent.
Nick spoke first.
"Wait… you're saying Ava can stop the entire clone army?"
The hologram flickered again.
"Yes. But doing so will activate the Core Tower. The most dangerous place in this city."
John stepped closer to the projection.
"The Core Tower… that's the control center for the entire system."
Ava's heart raced.
Everything suddenly made sense.
Her parents didn't die in an accident.
They were murdered for trying to stop this.
Suddenly—
BOOM.
The entire lab shook violently.
Red alarms started screaming.
Julie ran to the door.
"We've got company! A LOT of clones!"
Outside, heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Dozens of them.
Maybe hundreds.
Nick grabbed Ava's hand instinctively.
"We have to move. Now."
But Ava didn't move.
She looked at the hologram of her father one last time.
Her voice was steady now.
"No more running."
Everyone turned to her.
"They took my parents. They ruined this world."
She looked at her friends.
Julie.
John.
Nick.
Her team.
"We're going to the Core Tower," Ava said.
Nick smiled slightly.
"Finally. I was hoping you'd say that."
Another explosion echoed through the lab.
The clone army was getting closer.
Julie loaded her weapon.
"Well then," she said.
"Let's start a revolution."
The four of them ran toward the exit together.
Behind them, the hologram of Ava's father slowly faded away.
But his last words echoed in the dark room.
"Be brave, my daughter."
And Ava was ready.