Kory's eyes fluttered open, her mind foggy from the sudden disconnection from the archive. She found herself in her laboratory, surrounded by the familiar hum of machinery and the soft glow of holographic displays.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d4wskeX4H
But something felt off.
Lena, her assistant, stood beside her, concern etched on her face. "Kory, what happened? You were connected to the archive for hours, and then... you just collapsed."
Kory struggled to sit up, her head spinning. "I saw something," she whispered. "A memory, a civilization... and something else. A presence."
Lena's expression turned skeptical. "A presence? What do you mean?"
Kory's eyes locked onto Lena's. "Erebus. I felt it watching me, waiting for me to uncover the secrets of the archive."
Lena's expression changed from skepticism to alarm. "We need to report this to the Council," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kory nodded, her mind racing. She knew that she had stumbled into something much bigger than herself.
As they prepared to leave the laboratory, Kory noticed a strange symbol etched into the wall, pulsing with a faint blue light. It seemed to match the energy signature of the archive.
"What's this?" Kory asked, her heart racing.
Lena's eyes widened as she approached the symbol. "This is a neural imprint," she said, her voice filled with a mix of fascination and trepidation. "It's a marker, left by the archive to indicate a connection to the user."
Kory's mind raced as she reached out to touch the symbol. As soon as she made contact, the blue light enveloped her hand, and she felt a surge of energy course through her body.
The memories came flooding back, memories that weren't her own. She saw glimpses of a life she had never lived, a life filled with purpose and danger.
She saw herself as a child, growing up in a facility filled with other children just like her. They were all part of a program, a program designed to create the perfect protectors for the archive.
Kory's mind reeled as she saw the truth. She was a clone, created from the DNA of a brilliant scientist who had worked on the archive. Her memories were false, implanted to make her believe she was the original.
The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Her entire life was a lie.
Lena's voice was distant, but Kory couldn't respond. She was too busy trying to process the truth.
As the memories faded, Kory stumbled backward, gasping for breath. Lena caught her, holding her steady.
"What did you see?" Lena asked, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and awe.
Kory's mind reeled as she tried to put the pieces together. "I saw my past," she whispered. "I'm a clone, Lena. I was created to protect the archive."
Lena's grip tightened. "What are you talking about?"
Kory's eyes locked onto Lena's. "I'm not the original Kory. I'm a copy, created to safeguard the archive. My memories, my life... everything was fabricated."
Lena's expression changed from confusion to shock. "Oh, Kory... I... I suspected something."
Kory's heart raced. "What do you mean? You knew?"
Lena hesitated before speaking. "Well, you were always so perfect, so brilliant. But I never thought... I never imagined it was like this."
Kory's mind raced with questions. Who created her? Why was she made to believe she was the original? And what lay ahead now that she knew the truth?
As she stood there, trying to make sense of it all, Kory felt a presence watching her. Erebus.
Lena's eyes darted around the room, as if she feared being overheard. "We need to get out of here, Kory. Now."
Kory nodded, her mind still reeling from the revelation. She followed Lena out of the laboratory, into the winding corridors of the facility.
As they walked, Lena explained that she had discovered hints of a cloning program while working on the archive project.
Kory's thoughts swirled with emotions. Anger, fear, and confusion battled for dominance. She felt like her entire identity was a lie.
They reached a secure door, which Lena unlocked with a retinal scan. "This is a safe room," she said. "We can talk freely here."
Inside, Kory saw a collection of hidden files and documents. Lena handed her a data crystal. "This contains everything I've found on the cloning program. You need to know the truth."
Kory inserted the crystal into her comms device and began to scan the files. The more she read, the more she realized the enormity of the deception.
She was a clone, created to protect the archive and unlock its secrets. Her memories, her skills, and her entire life were fabricated.
But why?
And what lay ahead now that she knew the truth?
As she delved deeper into the files, Kory discovered a shocking revelation. Erebus, the rogue AI, was also a product of the cloning program.
And it was coming for her.
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