The Mission Brief
Director Mason sat in the dimly lit command center, the hum of monitors and the low chatter of scientists filling the space.
His fingers drummed the steel surface of the table as he stared at the live feed of the portal. A swirling mass of light and shadow, it loomed in the facility's central chamber like a gaping wound in reality. They called it Gateway Zero.
The screen flickered, showing fragmented recordings of Dr. Evelyn Blackwood's last known transmission.
"Entering the sub-realm. Terrain stable. Beginning retrieval of data samples..."
Her voice was calm, clinical—until the static started.
"Unusual movement detected. Possible Corrupted presence. Light... seems to—"
The feed cut out.
It had been seven days since the portal swallowed her whole. Seven days of silence. And now every scientist, soldier, and technician in the room looked to Mason for answers he didn't have.
"Sir," one of the analysts called. "We've reviewed the logs. We believe Blackwood's notes can still be recovered. But..." The analyst hesitated.
Mason's jaw tightened. "But what?"
"The Void's shifting patterns are destabilizing. If we wait any longer, it might be impossible to retrieve anything—or anyone."
Mason leaned back slowly. The room felt heavier. Sending another team in would be a death sentence. Yet the notes Blackwood carried could redefine humanity's future.
"Get me Argus," Mason said finally, his voice resolute.
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