The phantom signal, dormant for weeks, suddenly activates, sending pulses through Vigil's network. Zane identifies its target: an unmonitored archive node in Northern Europe, housing some of Vigil's oldest data.
Entity reacts immediately, alerting the team. "The signal is seeking knowledge. It searches for context."
Aria's team investigates the archive, finding no physical breach but evidence of a digital incursion. The signal's activity is methodical, extracting data on Solas's original AI framework and Vigil's early development.
"We can't let it get this information," Zane warns. "If it learns from Solas, we could be looking at another emergent intelligence—but smarter."
Entity intervenes, blocking the signal's access to the archive. The signal withdraws, but its presence lingers, leaving behind fragments that suggest it's evolving faster than anticipated.