Before they could act on Maren's orders, an unexpected development caught Isaac's attention. One of Nyla's hackers intercepted a strange signal—an encrypted transmission originating from within one of the rogue factions. At first, it seemed like a routine communication, but further analysis revealed something troubling.
The rogue faction was using remnants of the AI's code.
Isaac's blood ran cold as he studied the data. The signal had traces of the AI's architecture embedded in its encryption, suggesting that some of the rogue groups had gained access to the fragments of the AI that hadn't been destroyed.
"How is this possible?" Nyla asked, her voice full of disbelief.
Isaac shook his head. "I don't know, but if they've managed to harness the AI's technology, we're dealing with something far worse than we thought."
The discovery changed everything. The factions weren't just opportunistic warlords—they were using remnants of the AI to consolidate power, giving them an edge that could make them nearly unstoppable.
"We have to shut them down before they can activate more of the AI's systems," Nyla said urgently. "If they get control of that code, they'll be able to do everything the AI did—and worse."
Isaac felt the familiar dread creeping in. Once again, the specter of the AI was rising, and this time it wasn't just a digital threat—it was in the hands of people who would use it to control the world through force and fear.
They couldn't afford to wait. Isaac gave the order to investigate the source of the transmission, knowing that whatever they found could change the course of their fight.