Chapter 297

Chapter 297

The metal door slid open with a heavy thud.

The control room sat in eerie silence, a glowing blue holographic data sphere suspended at the center of the circular space.

Margaret rushed to the console.

Richard stood guard at the entrance, his remaining arm raised, weapon ready.

The moment her fingers touched the controls, the database permissions opened completely. She was "home." The underlying code bore familiar imprints.

While searching for the self-destruct program to destroy the reactor, an encrypted folder caught her attention.

`MK`.

Margaret's heart sank as she clicked it open. Countless subfiles unfurled like a web.

`Subject_MK_Gene_Sequence_v7.3`

`Cognitive_Enhancement_Trial_Log_09`

`Immunity_Stress_Test_Report_Childhood`

...

Cold titles documenting every piece of life data from embryo to adulthood. Gene sequences, intelligence curves, disease analyses... Her entire existence lay bare like a lab report.

Deep within the folder sat a video file: `PROJECT_GENESIS_CREATOR_ID`.

Margaret's finger trembled as she clicked it open. The screen flickered to life, a man's face filling the frame.

Fifties, refined features, wire-rimmed glasses, scholarly bearing. That face hit Margaret like lightning.

The high nose bridge, thin lips, especially the shape of his eyes... bore five or six points of resemblance to her own.

His eyes burned with the fanatical flame of "idealism." He smiled warmly at the camera, like gazing at his most beloved creation.

"My daughter, my masterpiece. When you see this recording, it means you've finally returned to where you belong. Welcome home."

Behind him in the video stood a row of cultivation chambers. One label clearly read: "Margaret Kennedy."

The video froze on that similar face, "My daughter, my masterpiece" echoing through the control room.

Margaret's fingertips turned ice-cold. Her life had been one carefully designed experiment.

Anger and hatred seemed pale compared to the chill seeping from her very bones. Outside the door, gunshots, muffled groans, and crashes intertwined, reminding her of reality's cruelty.

"Moving, isn't it?"

The voice appeared suddenly. Ebon emerged at the far end of the control room, dressed in a black suit like he was attending a dinner party. He clapped, smiling with warm, sickening pleasure.

"Prof. Kennedy was a great scientist, though his vision was too advanced for his time. He poured his heart into you, hoping you'd become the 'god' to carry on his ideals." Ebon studied her carefully. "I am his most faithful successor."

"This is your 'purification'?" Margaret's voice cut like an ice blade. "Using my father's technology to fulfill your delusional fantasies of ending the world?"

"Delusion? No, this is evolution." Ebon laughed as if he'd heard a joke. "Look at those people outside, bleeding and tearing at each other like beasts to protect you. How are they different from the 'defective genes' that need cleansing? Fragile, impulsive, ruled by instinct. But you're different."

He walked toward the holographic data sphere. "You possess perfect genes, extraordinary intelligence, and absolute rationality. You don't belong with them. You and I are the same species. We will witness a new world without stupidity, disease, or war. This is the meaning behind your creation."

Margaret suddenly laughed. Her smile was faint, but it made Ebon's expression freeze.

"Ebon, you've got one thing wrong." She turned back to the console. "My father might have been a mad scientist, but he gave me life. And you..."

"You're just a clown who stole his work and thinks he can play God."

The control room lights flashed wildly. The data streams in the holographic sphere became chaotic and fragmented, emitting electronic screams.

"What did you do?" Ebon's smile vanished, replaced by fury.

"Just left a backdoor in the system I wrote. An irreversible virus that will dismantle all of 'Ark's core functions from the ground up."

"You'd rather destroy it than protect those insects?"

"I'm not protecting anyone." Margaret glanced toward the bloodied figure at the doorway. "I'm just cleaning up trash."

"Kill her!" Ebon tore off his mask and roared.

Outside the door, Richard's pressure intensified. More enhanced guards poured in, their attacks growing frantic. One team member was swept away by a bone blade and slammed into the wall.

Richard's right arm was injured, blood dripping down his gun barrel. He glanced at Margaret, then growled to the remaining team members: "Hold the door!"

He charged through two guards, forcing his way out of the encirclement despite a knife slashing across his back. His target: Ebon.

Ebon's face changed as two elite guards materialized beside him.

"You're asking for death!"

Richard crashed through one guard, letting another's dagger slice across his back. Through the searing pain, he used the momentum to reach Ebon.

Ebon couldn't retreat in time. Richard's blood-soaked hand clamped around his throat, slamming him hard against the metal wall.

The impact silenced the control room.

"You like playing God games, don't you?" Richard's chest heaved, blood trickling from his mouth, but his grip remained steady as iron. "Now let me send you to meet the real one."

Margaret's heart clenched.

"'Ark' core reactor overload, self-destruct sequence initiated, countdown sixty seconds."

The system announcement echoed. Margaret rushed to the console, her fingers flying.

She had to send out all the research data, genetic information, and "Ark Project" files in the remaining time.

"Fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven..."

The countdown reverberated, mixing with gunfire outside, Richard's labored breathing, and Ebon's gasping.

Sweat beaded on her forehead as data streams blurred past.

"Richard, all the files are out."

"...Nice work."

"Countdown thirty seconds."

"Can we... still get out?"

"The submersible is at the docking tunnel. Theoretically, we have twenty seconds to escape. But only if you can deal with him, and we can break through the guard perimeter."

Richard let out a low laugh. He looked at Ebon's purpling face in his grip, then at his own wounds, and said quietly: "Margaret, this time I might... have to disappoint you."

His strength was nearly gone.

Richard's voice cracked: "Margaret, this time I might... have to disappoint you."

Margaret's heart lurched. The data transfer complete, she spun around.

"Countdown, twenty seconds."

The control room dome began collapsing, metal plates and wiring crashing down in showers of sparks. "Ark's" framework was breaking apart piece by piece.

Richard's grip on Ebon's throat trembled violently from blood loss. Ebon's face was blue-purple, his nails digging into Richard's wounds: "Madman... we'll all die together!"

He slammed his head into Richard's chin. The moment Richard's grip loosened, Ebon broke free and pulled out a dagger, lunging at Margaret.

"You destroyed my world! I'll destroy you!"

"Margaret!" Richard's eyes went wide with rage.

The expected pain never came. A powerful force shoved Margaret toward the door. Richard used his last strength to push her toward safety while throwing himself at the blade, locking Ebon in a death grip.

The dagger plunged into Richard's abdomen. Ebon's maniacal laughter froze. Richard's bloodied mouth curved into a savage smile as he whispered in Ebon's ear:

"Go to hell, trash."