Chapter 13: Uncovering the Conspiracy
The academy's quiet halls buzzed with the low hum of fluorescent lights as Ethan and Lila crept toward the restricted archives. It was well past curfew, and any cadet caught wandering would face disciplinary action—or worse, if they discovered what Ethan and Lila were planning.
Lila's fingers danced across the tablet she carried, the screen glowing faintly as she bypassed the academy's security protocols. "Almost there," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the soft clicks of her typing.
Ethan kept watch, his senses heightened, a side effect of the system's passive enhancements. His heart pounded in his chest, but he couldn't let fear get the better of him.
"This better be worth it," he muttered, glancing down the dark corridor.
Lila didn't look up. "It will be. Trust me."
---
The restricted archives were housed in a secure wing of the academy, behind a series of locked doors and biometric scanners. Breaking in would've been impossible for most cadets, but Lila wasn't most cadets.
She grinned as the final lock disengaged with a soft hiss. "And… we're in."
The heavy door slid open, revealing rows of servers and terminals. Ethan followed Lila inside, the cool air and dim lighting making the room feel like a tomb of secrets.
---
Lila connected her tablet to one of the main terminals, her eyes scanning the streams of data that poured onto the screen. "Alright, let's see what they've been hiding."
Ethan hovered over her shoulder, his jaw tightening as file names appeared: Subject Trials, Bio-Enhancement Protocols, Neural Interface Research.
"This is it," Lila said, opening the first file.
Ethan leaned closer, his stomach churning as he read the contents. The academy wasn't just training soldiers—it was using them as test subjects.
---
Subject Trial #47:
Objective: Evaluate the effects of neural synchronization on squad efficiency.
Status: Failure. Subjects experienced neurological degradation.
Subject Trial #51:
Objective: Integrate bio-enhancements with baseline cadet physiology.
Status: Partial success. Side effects include aggressive behavior and reduced cognitive function.
---
"This is insane," Ethan whispered, his fists clenching. "They're experimenting on cadets like lab rats."
Lila's expression was grim. "And it gets worse. Look at this."
She pulled up a video file labeled Project Overseer Briefing. The screen flickered to life, revealing a man in a crisp military uniform addressing a group of scientists.
"The goal of Project Overseer is to create the ultimate soldier," the man said, his voice cold and commanding. "Our current methods have proven effective, but the success rate remains low. We will continue to refine the process until perfection is achieved."
Ethan's blood ran cold.
---
As the video ended, a new notification appeared in Ethan's mind.
---
System Update:
Hidden Function Unlocked: Synchronization
Description: Temporarily enhance the abilities of squadmates by sharing system resources.
Warning: Excessive use may strain the host's neural pathways.
---
"What the…?" Ethan muttered, the interface flashing before his eyes.
Lila noticed his sudden distraction. "What is it?"
"The system," Ethan said, his voice uneasy. "It just revealed something new. A function called Synchronization. Apparently, I can share its abilities with others."
Lila's brow furrowed. "That's… incredible. But it's also suspicious. Why would it unlock now?"
Ethan shook his head. "I don't know. But it feels like the system is tied to all of this." He gestured to the files on the screen. "The experiments, the enhancements—it's connected somehow."
Lila nodded, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "If we're going to figure this out, we need more data. Give me a second."
---
Minutes later, Lila unearthed another file, this one labeled Subject 001: Ethan Cross.
Ethan's breath hitched as the file opened, revealing a detailed profile of himself. Genetic markers, performance metrics, even psychological evaluations—it was all there.
"They've been monitoring me since I got here," Ethan said, his voice laced with anger.
Lila's expression darkened. "No, Ethan. They've been monitoring you before you got here. Look at the dates."
Ethan stared at the timestamps, his heart sinking. The file predated his enrollment at the academy by years.
---
The pieces began to fall into place. His parents' involvement in the system's creation, the academy's secret experiments—it wasn't a coincidence.
"They planned this," Ethan said, his voice low. "They've been watching me my whole life."
Lila placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ethan, this isn't your fault. You didn't ask for any of this."
"I know," Ethan said, his jaw tightening. "But I'm not going to let them control me."
---
Before they could dig deeper, an alarm blared, the room flooding with red light.
"Damn it!" Lila hissed. "They've detected us."
Ethan's mind raced. "Can you erase our tracks?"
"I can try," she said, her fingers flying over the keyboard.
The system's interface flashed in Ethan's mind again.
---
Mission Update:
Evade Detection
Objective: Escape the archives without being caught.
Reward: +50 XP.
---
"Great timing," Ethan muttered, adrenaline surging through him.
---
Lila disconnected her tablet, stuffing it into her bag. "Let's go!"
They bolted from the room, the sound of boots echoing in the distance. Security personnel were closing in, their voices shouting orders.
Ethan's enhanced reflexes kicked in, guiding him through the maze-like corridors. Lila struggled to keep up, her breath ragged as they rounded a corner.
"Left!" Ethan called, his instincts guiding them.
---
They skidded to a halt in front of a ventilation shaft. Without hesitation, Ethan ripped the grate off, gesturing for Lila to climb in.
"You first," he said.
Lila hesitated. "What about you?"
"I'll be right behind you. Go!"
She nodded, scrambling into the narrow space. Ethan followed, pulling the grate back into place just as the guards stormed past.
---
They didn't stop moving until they were far from the archives, their hearts pounding in unison.
"That… was too close," Lila said, her voice shaky.
Ethan nodded, his mind still reeling from what they'd discovered. The academy's experiments were worse than he'd imagined, and his own connection to the system ran deeper than he'd ever realized.
"We're in over our heads," he said quietly.
Lila met his gaze, determination flashing in her eyes. "Maybe. But we're not backing down now."
Ethan took a deep breath, nodding. "No. We're not."
As the first rays of dawn broke over the academy, Ethan made a silent vow: he would uncover the truth, no matter the cost.