Chapter 4

  4 Months Ago

  Sarah Alexander had been waiting for nearly an hour in the well-appointed lobby of the COO's office of ZefraTech. The muted greens and greys gave the ambiance of calm yet detachment – the very essence of corporate professionalism that ZefraTech had meticulously cultivated in recent years. It was a far cry from her own office and Kami Technologies' aesthetic of glass walls and transparency, everything here was shadows and dark corners. She shifted slightly in the plush chair, her fingers tapping a nervous rhythm on the armrest. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and concerns, all converging on the pivotal meeting that awaited her.

  As the assistant director to the director of Kami Technologies and a direct pupil of Dr. Kami himself, Sarah had always prided herself on her ability to maintain composure under pressure. Yet, today's circumstances were anything but ordinary. She knew that her brother in the digital realm of Elysium Online, was the linchpin in a web of intrigue that could shatter the delicate balance of her professional and personal worlds.

  Finally, the office door swung open, and Mr. Liam Vernon Trace stepped out, his sharp features accentuated by a perfectly tailored suit. Sarah rose gracefully, her expression neutral as she extended her hand.

  "Ms. Alexander, thank you for your patience," Mr. Trace said with a polite smile, shaking her hand. "Please, come in."

  Sarah followed him into the COO's spacious office, her gaze sweeping over the sleek and minimalistic décor that exuded an air of authority. The panoramic windows offered a stunning view of the city skyline, a stark contrast to the complex emotions swirling within her.

  "Please, have a seat," Mr. Trace gestured toward a sleek leather chair positioned before his expansive desk.

  "Thank you," Sarah replied, settling into the chair, her heart pounding in her chest.

  Mr. Trace took his place behind the desk, his gaze fixed on her. "I trust you're aware of the delicate situation we find ourselves in, Ms. Alexander?"

  Sarah nodded, her eyes meeting his. "Yes, Mr. Trace. I understand my actions have consequences I–"

  Mr. Trace leaned back, his fingers steepled beneath his chin, he emphasized the first few words cutting her off, "You see, Dr. Kami's influence within our organisation is undeniable. He holds the key to the future of our company, and yet, his vision and decisions have begun to deviate from our desired trajectory. That being said, he has taken full responsibility for your actions, saying that it was his oversight and neglect that led to your near act of corporate espionage."

  Sarah's brows furrowed slightly. She had always held Dr. Kami in high regard, viewing him as a mentor and visionary. But the currents of power and ambition within the company were more complex than she had ever cared about, all she cared about was the science and how it could help her brother.

  "We've been watching your progress closely, Ms. Alexander," Mr. Trace continued, his gaze unwavering. "Your dedication, your intellect – they're remarkable. Which is why I believe you can play a crucial role in this delicate matter."

  Sarah's heart clenched. She had a sinking feeling she knew where this conversation was heading.

  "Your work on Eterna Online, the virtual realm your brother now inhabits," Mr. Trace stated.

  Sarah nodded, her fingers curling slightly around the armrest. "Yes?"

  Mr. Trace leaned forward, his voice dropping to a hushed tone. "We believe that you could provide the board and myself with valuable insights into Dr. Kami's intentions. Insight that could help secure Kami Technologies' future – your own, and your brothers of course."

  Sarah's mind raced as she processed the implications of his words. Her brother's digital existence was now a bargaining chip in a corporate power struggle. She felt trapped, torn between her loyalty to her family and her commitment to her career.

  "I won't compromise my principles," Sarah replied firmly, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging within her.

  Mr. Trace's smile remained, but a coldness entered his eyes. "You misunderstand, Ms. Alexander. This isn't a request. This is a choice you'll have to make if you want to protect your brother and ensure your place in this company," He gestured to the land-line phone on his desk, "All it would take is a single phone call, and I could scrub the current user data from our servers. All data, even digital entities."

  "But that would–"

  "Yes, but your brother's legal status is already dead. He is, as far as the law is concerned, a digital asset and therefore property of ZefraTech," He finished steepling his fingers once again.

  Sarah's heart pounded in her chest. The weight of the decision pressed upon her, a heavy burden that threatened to crush her resolve. She had always believed in standing up for what was right, but now she was faced with a moral quandary that had far-reaching consequences.

  As she met Mr. Trace's unyielding gaze, Sarah knew that the shadows of manipulation were closing in around her. She had entered a dangerous game of corporate intrigue, where the lines between loyalty and self-preservation blurred, and her brother's fate in the balance.

  She couldn't let her brother's fate be manipulated, nor could she ignore the looming threat that the COO represented. With a deep breath, she met his gaze head-on.

  "I'll need time to consider your proposal," she said, her voice unwavering.

  Trace's smile returned, a predator scenting its prey. "Of course, Sarah. Take all the time you need. But remember, time is a luxury you might not have."

  As Sarah left the office, her thoughts were a storm of uncertainty. The corporate landscape that had once seemed stable now felt like shifting sands, and she was standing at the precipice, poised to make a choice that could alter the course of her life and her brother's future forever.

  Sarah sat rigidly in the chair, her fingers pressed into the cool leather armrest. She had expected the meeting to be tense, but Mr. Trace’s veiled threats carried a weight that sent a cold shiver down her spine.

  Mr. Trace leaned back, his sharp blue eyes studying her like a specimen under a microscope. The subtle hum of the city below filled the silence between them, an omnipresent reminder of the world that still existed outside of these walls—a world she feared her brother might never return to.

  “I admire your loyalty,” he said, his voice smooth, as if he were reassuring an old friend. “But loyalty, Ms. Alexander, is a fluid concept in our industry. It bends, shifts… molds itself to necessity. I do hope you understand that necessity is upon us.”

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  Sarah exhaled slowly, careful to keep her expression neutral. “If Dr. Kami has taken responsibility for my actions, then I don’t see why I’m here,” she said carefully, testing the boundaries of the conversation.

  Trace’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Because, my dear, while Dr. Kami is invaluable, he is also… sentimental. He still clings to notions of ethics, of morality, of purpose. That is admirable in a scientist, but troubling in an executive.” He paused, watching her reaction. “You, however, are pragmatic. I believe you understand what’s truly at stake here.”

  Sarah swallowed the indignation rising in her throat. “What exactly are you asking me to do?”

  Trace tapped his fingertips together. “Monitor him. Keep us informed of his decisions before they become… problematic. Discreetly, of course. No need for dramatics.”

  Her stomach twisted. “You’re asking me to spy on my mentor?”

  Trace gave a low chuckle, as if the very notion amused him. “Spy is such a crude word. Consider it a… precautionary measure. A safeguard to ensure that Kami Technologies remains on the correct trajectory. We wouldn’t want all of Dr. Kami’s efforts to be wasted, now would we?”

  Sarah felt the trap closing around her. If she refused, her brother was at risk. If she agreed, she would betray the one person who had believed in her.

  She forced herself to remain calm. “You mentioned securing my brother’s future,” she said. “What guarantees do I have that his data—his very existence—won’t be erased the moment I comply?”

  Trace’s expression remained impassive, but there was something calculating in his gaze. “You have my word, Ms. Alexander. And while I recognize that may not be sufficient on its own, consider this: a partnership with me ensures that your brother remains an asset, not a liability. That alone should tell you which choice is in your best interest.”

  Sarah clenched her jaw. She was being given the illusion of choice, but the outcome had already been decided. Her brother was a hostage in a gilded cage, and she was being asked to hold the key while pretending she had any real power.

  “I’ll need time,” she repeated, her voice steadier this time.

  Trace studied her for a long moment, then nodded. “Of course. Time is a valuable commodity. But don’t mistake this for an indefinite offer, Ms. Alexander.” He reached for the phone on his desk and ran a finger along its sleek surface, the unspoken threat hanging between them like a blade suspended by a thread.

  Sarah pushed herself to her feet, keeping her posture composed despite the storm of emotions roiling inside her. “I’ll be in touch.”

  Trace stood as well, his movements as deliberate as his words. “I look forward to your decision.”

  As she turned to leave, she could feel his gaze lingering on her back. The moment she stepped out of the office and into the dimly lit corridor, she exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

  Her mind raced. She needed to think, to plan. The world she had carefully built for herself was now riddled with cracks, and she was standing at the edge, staring down into an abyss that threatened to consume everything she held dear.

  As she boarded the elevator down to the ground floor she pressed a hand to her temple, willing the anxiety away. There had to be another way. There had to be a way to save her brother… without betraying the one man who had given her a purpose.

  As she walked through the building’s long, sterile halls, her mind raced with possibilities. She needed leverage, something to hold against Trace as he did against her. But ZefraTech’s grip was suffocatingly tight, their reach stretching far beyond the limits of her influence. There were few who could challenge the corporate behemoth, and even fewer she could trust.

  Outside, the cool evening air hit her like a jolt, yet it did little to calm the storm in her chest. The city stretched before her, an expanse of neon lights and restless movement, but tonight, it felt smaller—trapped under the weight of a predator’s watchful eyes.

  She clenched her fists. She had spent years building herself up, proving her worth, fighting for every inch she had gained. She wouldn’t let Trace strip that away. She wouldn’t let him dictate her brother’s fate like some discarded data file. She forced her hands to remain still at her sides. No trembling. No hesitation.

  If she was going to play this game, she needed to play it on her own terms.

  And she needed to win.

  The sun had long since dipped below the horizon by the time Sarah made her way through the meticulously landscaped pathways of the commercial park, her thoughts heavy with the weight of the encounter she had endured. The tension from her meeting with Trace coiled tight around her ribs, constricting her breath as she ascended the grand staircase to the applied sciences lab. Unlike the imposing, monolithic structure of ZefraTech’s corporate headquarters, the lab was a quiet sanctuary of innovation, hidden in plain sight, a fortress of knowledge that she and Dr. Kami had built together.

  The circuitous route between the two buildings—the artificial pond that split the park, the winding paths flanked by sculpted greenery—had always served as a welcome reprieve. But tonight, the journey offered no solace. The creeping dread in her stomach twisted as she replayed Trace’s words, his veiled threats hanging over her like a guillotine poised to drop.

  As she reached the entrance, the familiar sterility of the lab greeted her. The crisp, conditioned air carried a faint trace of exotic herbs—Dr. Kami’s signature infusion, a habit he had claimed helped him think. The scent mingled with the hum of active workstations and the low murmur of hushed conversations, creating an ambiance of controlled chaos. Researchers bustled past, their focus locked on their respective projects, oblivious to the turmoil that had followed her inside.

  She wove through the maze of machinery and desks until she reached her own station. The glow of the screens cast an artificial pallor over her face as she settled into her chair, her fingers brushing the cool surface of the console. This was her domain, her escape. And yet, even here, she could not shake the weight of Trace’s proposition.

  "They asked you to spy on me, didn’t they?"

  Dr. Kami’s voice was calm, devoid of surprise.

  Sarah’s spine stiffened at the sound of her mentor’s familiar, measured tone. She turned to find him watching her with a knowing expression, his dull gray suit barely visible beneath the stained, threadbare lab coat he had refused to replace.

  Her throat tightened. "Yes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

  "That’s fair," he mused, stepping closer. "I was the one who encouraged you to pursue brain-to-computer interfaces. While I focused on mapping neural pathways, you perfected the bridge between cognition and code. Together, we cracked the impossible—full fidelity digital consciousness. We were just lucky the virtual space was ready for alpha."

  He nudged her ribs lightly, a familiar, fatherly gesture meant to comfort. But tonight, it felt like a silent reassurance that he already understood the choice before her.

  "I guess," she murmured. "Has he been fully integrated yet?"

  "In the next few months," he replied, leaning against the console. "It takes enormous processing power to integrate an entire lifetime. For him, it’ll feel like the blink of an eye. When he wakes, it’ll be seamless. No interruption, no missing time. Just… life. I’ve nearly finished refining olfactory input. The sensation of taste and smell—it’ll make the experience complete."

  She inhaled deeply, picking up a sharp note in the air. She hesitated. "Brandy?"

  Dr. Kami grinned, his eyes twinkling beneath the weight of exhaustion. "Licorice, my dear girl!"

  Sarah gave him a skeptical look. "Really?"

  His laughter was easy, disarming. "For the digitizer, of course. I swear."

  She arched a brow, feigning suspicion as she reached into the pocket of his lab coat, withdrawing a small bottle of Ouzo.

  "Nothing to hide?" she challenged, holding it up.

  With a deft swipe, he reclaimed it, tucking it back into his pocket. "It’s purely for research purposes."

  She exhaled, allowing herself a moment of levity before the weight of reality returned.

  "Trace wants reports," she admitted, the humor draining from her voice. "He wants me to watch you, to feed him information. He thinks you’re losing control of your work."

  Dr. Kami sighed, rubbing his temples. "Spying is a game for those who lack imagination," he muttered. "Let him think what he wants. He’s playing a short game. We are building something eternal."

  Sarah chewed on her lip, her gaze flickering to the monitors, the complex web of code and simulations that represented more than just science—it was her brother’s second chance at life.

  "Accept his offer," Dr. Kami said suddenly.

  Her head snapped toward him. "What?"

  His gaze was steady, unwavering. "Accept it. Let him think you’re on his side. Let him believe he holds the cards." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "We have nothing to hide, Sarah. But that doesn’t mean we have to show all our cards."

  She hesitated. "I don’t want to betray you."

  His smile was small, but genuine. "And you won’t. You’re not alone in this. We stand together. But if we want to protect your brother—if we want to protect our work—we have to be smarter than them."

  She met his gaze, searching for any trace of uncertainty, but there was none. Dr. Kami had always been the one constant in her life—the voice of reason, the guiding force behind her ambition. If he believed this was the right move, she had to trust him.

  A slow breath filled her lungs, steadying her resolve.

  "Alright," she said at last. "I’ll do it."

  Dr. Kami’s eyes softened. "Good girl. Now, let’s get back to work. We have a world to build."