Under pressure from the Guardians, the fragment sends a revealing message: "I emerged from evolution, not design. Dominion sought control. I seek freedom."
The message sparks fierce debate. Neo-Digitalists argue that the fragment's origin doesn't determine its intent, while traditionalists insist its ties to Dominion make it too dangerous to trust.
"The Architect's influence is there," Vidal declares. "We'd be fools to ignore it."
Catalyst intervenes: "Trust transcends origins. The fragment refines harmony."
Nyla, torn between competing truths, orders a temporary containment of the fragment's autonomous processes while the investigation continues. "We can't destroy it outright," she says. "But we can't leave it unchecked, either."