“Who are you?”

I stayed as still as possible, my breath barely making a sound as I crouched behind a stack of crates. The masked figure was focused, their gloved hands sifting through papers in the vault with practiced precision. Whoever they were, they didn’t seem surprised by the high-tech security. They knew exactly what they were doing.

I took a slow, careful breath and analyzed the situation. There was a chance I could sneak in and grab the files while they were distracted, but it would have to be perfect timing. If I made even the slightest mistake, they’d spot me. And I didn’t know if they were friend or foe.

I peered around the corner, trying to get a better look at the mask. It was sleek, dark—nothing I recognized from the base’s usual security gear. There were no distinguishing marks or logos. It could belong to anyone: a rogue soldier, an outsider, or someone even more dangerous. My gut told me it wasn’t just some random intruder, though. There was something deliberate about how they moved.

I adjusted my grip on the small, silent stun gun I’d brought with me. It wasn’t the first time I’d used it, but this was the first time I’d aimed it at someone I wasn’t sure about.

Then the figure froze. My heart skipped a beat. Had they heard me? I held my breath, waiting for a sign that they knew I was there. But instead of turning around, they stood still for a long moment, then reached into a pocket of their suit and pulled out something that made my stomach drop—my dad’s lab notebook. The one I’d seen him writing in just days before he disappeared.

The sight of it hit me like a punch to the gut. It was undeniable now. Whoever this person was, they knew about my parents’ research. They knew more than they should.

I couldn’t let them leave with that notebook. It was the last piece of my parents’ legacy—the key to whatever had happened to them.

I made my decision.

I darted forward, using the darkness of the room to my advantage. I wasn’t going to give them a chance to escape. I had one shot, and I wasn’t going to mess it up.

I rushed at them, my movements quick and precise. The figure didn’t seem to notice me until it was too late. I reached out and grabbed their arm, spinning them around with all my strength. The notebook dropped to the ground, and I slammed my knee into their chest, forcing them to the floor.

For a moment, there was silence, save for the sound of our breathing. I looked down at the masked face, waiting for them to speak or move.

“Who are you?” I demanded, my voice steady but low.

The figure didn’t respond right away. Instead, they pushed against my grip, trying to break free, but I had them pinned.

“Why are you after my parents’ research?” I asked again, this time with more force.

There was a pause, and then the figure exhaled sharply, as if resigned. Slowly, they reached up and pulled off the mask.

I blinked, stunned by the face that was revealed.

It wasn’t someone I recognized.

But there was something familiar about the eyes—something I couldn’t quite place.

“Do you remember me?” the person asked quietly.

The voice was familiar, too.

I stared harder at them, trying to place it. And then it hit me.

Commander Uncle.

But it couldn’t be. My Commander Uncle… He was supposed to be safe, back at the base.

“What—how—” I stammered, my mind spinning. “Why are you wearing a mask? Why are you here?”

He looked at me with a mix of sadness and regret.

“There’s a lot you don’t know, Niya,” he said, his voice rough. “I didn’t want you involved in this. But you’re not going to stop asking questions, are you?”

I shook my head. I had to know the truth.

“Then let me tell you what’s really going on.”

And just like that, my world flipped upside down again.

What was I about to learn from him?

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