Page 173 of GlitchBorn Heart

TheReveal

Playlist: Come Alive - Phantogram

Kael

The music cuts abruptly and the curtain begins to rise. The velvet drape shivers, then parts with a jerk. Vikktor comes out, mic in hand, his voice cutting through the noise from below. He’s joined this time by two CIC enforcers. His speech sends chills up my nape. “Outside, you will hear the noise of rebellion. Peaceful, for now, but know that this sort of protest has no place in our world of progress. Soon, every anomaly, every mistake of nature will be made perfect.”

Outside, we can faintly hear the protestors and U21 rebels. They sit in the streets, holding candles, blocking the way in and out of VikkCorp. The ones marching sing angry chants in waves, growing louder as the clouds begin to thicken overhead.

The sky is extinguished as the eclipse begins lazily, the crowd gasping as clouds above us turn from silver-lilac to violet-black. Inside, the candles flicker harder, flames stretching in the dark, the tension building to a breaking point.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he says, voice loud and commanding, “Tonight marks the dawn of a new age, where flesh and technology meet to protect, to serve, and to perfect humanity.”

My stomach is tied in knots. Behind that curtain, waiting to be revealed, isn’t just Vikktor’s vision, it’s my work. If Vikktor presses the situation with the rebels and releases the prototypes tonight, tomorrow may very well not go as planned. If there’s fighting in the streets, the blackout will be lifted, ending Lyra’s chance at freedom.

Lyra looks at me nervously as the chanting outside the building turns into a roar. “Pay no mind to the movement outside. It will be under control in a matter of minutes. The CIC is always on your side, serving and protecting the elite citizens of Oneiro City.”

Vikktor yanks the draped velvet dramatically. The cybernetic prototypes step forward, synchronized. Smooth, glossy armored forms, their eyes glowing blue-white. The applause is thunderous.

“Tonight,” he declares, “marks the next evolution of artificial intelligence. Humanity will no longer be divided by magic but unified by technology.”

More applause. Lyra’s hand finds mine, a simple, comforting reflex. I squeeze it for confidence.

Ash mutters to our group, “Why are these people clapping? It’s like partying at a funeral.”

Ember shoots him a look. “That’s because they’re burying what’s left of their humanity.”

Jett leans in close, voice barely audible. “My sources tell me he’s accelerating the launch. You’ve got forty-eight hours before he deploys them citywide. If that. We’ve got to pull her out before the eclipse ends. After that, he’ll lock down the grid, and your holo-girl will become part of his new order.”

Lyra stiffens beside him. He’s scared her, and more than anything, that makes my blood boil.

Lyra’s hand trembles against mine. “He’s not unifying anyone,” she whispers. “He’s building an army. An army to eliminate all the U21s.”

Ember’s voice cracks as she adds, “And he’ll start with the anomalies that surge next. I don’t even know where that puts me. You heard him. He thinks we’re all freaks of nature. If I weren’t a VeilCaster, I wouldn’t be able to hide from Kael’s trackers. What will everyone else do?” She’s genuinely worried.

Ash joins us, scanning the crowd inside. “We need to go. I don’t feel safe. The rebellion’s already in position if we need a diversion.”

“Not yet,” I say. “I have to be on stage for this dog-and-pony show. It’s required.” Pure dread.

“Just say the word, Kael. I can start a war outside that can stop this whole night in its tracks,” Jett adds.

The stage is a cathedral of black glass, polished to perfection and reflecting every horrified but loyal face in the room. Six figures stand in formation beneath the spotlight; tall, threatening, and wrong.

Chrome skeletons wrapped in synthetic muscle fiber, eyes devoid of any feeling, empty husks poised for destruction. Their skin is too perfect, molded over titanium frames that shift with inhuman precision. Each one bears the crimson VIKKCORP insignia carved into its chest like a brand. For some reason, they did not look this deadly in the lab.

A low murmur sweeps through the ballroom. Some gasp, some applaud. The investors beam. The soldiers of the future are flawless, obedient, and untiring.

Lyra’s fingers curl against my palm. She’s rattled. “Kael...what is this?”

“The Initiative 4 Citizen Enforcement, I4CE,” I state. “Vikktor’s idea of peacekeeping. Machines wired to patrol the masses.”

“And you made them?” Her voice is soft.

“I built the neural mapping; the actual mix of human and cybernetic skeletons is mine as well,” I admit. “But not...this. This isn’t what I delivered to Vikktor. These are abominations.” I look over to Ember, who’s just as shocked. “We basically wrote code for them to stand on the stage. I have no idea who programmed them for this.” I feel sick.

On stage, Vikktor raises a hand as the crowd falls silent. “Friends,” he begins, “the world has changed. Power runs wild, unstable, unearned. Magic is mayhem. But order, order can be programmed.”

He gestures to the sentinels, and one steps forward. “I present to you...I4CE—Initiative 4 Citizen Enforcement. Hybrid intelligence. No fatigue. No rebellion. No mercy.”