The clock’s ticking.”

Commander Uncle led me through the base with quiet urgency, his eyes scanning every corner as if we were already being hunted. I could feel the weight of his words pressing on me, the knowledge that this was no longer just about finding my parents—it was about protecting everything they had uncovered and stopping whoever was after it.

We reached a small, unmarked room deep within the base, tucked away behind layers of security I hadn't even known existed. He punched in a code on a keypad, and the door slid open with a faint hiss. Inside, the room was a mess of computers, maps, and various scientific equipment I couldn’t even begin to identify. But one thing stood out: a large digital display on the wall, showing coordinates and lines connecting several locations across the globe.

“This is where it all started,” Commander Uncle said, his voice low and tense. “These are the places your parents were researching. They found anomalies—spots on Earth where the fabric of reality is thinner, places where these portals might open. But they weren’t just searching for any portals. They were looking for one specific place—one specific doorway.”

I glanced at the coordinates, my mind racing. “And you think it’s here? That’s where the next portal is going to open?”

“I do,” he replied. “But it’s not just about finding it. It’s about controlling it. The group that’s after your parents—they’ve been trying to open a portal for years. And now they know that the key to it is you.”

“Me?” I repeated, feeling a chill spread through me. “Why? What makes me the key?”

He turned to face me fully, his expression grave. “Your parents believed that the key to controlling the portal wasn’t just about the technology—it was about the bloodline. They knew someone with the right DNA could stabilize the portal. They thought it might be you, Niya. They never told you because they didn’t want to risk you getting caught in the crossfire. But I’m afraid it’s too late.”

I took a step back, trying to process the bombshell he had just dropped. “So… my parents were trying to manipulate the portals, and now they’ve left it to me to finish their work? How am I supposed to do that if I don’t even understand what they were doing?”

Commander Uncle’s face softened, just a little. “You have everything inside of you, Niya. The instincts, the intelligence, and the training. You’re more ready than you think. We just have to get to that portal before anyone else does.”

I nodded slowly, but doubt gnawed at me. Was I really ready for this? Was I ready to face whatever waited on the other side of the portal? The idea of stepping into a new realm, a place beyond anything I could imagine, was both terrifying and exhilarating. But one thing was clear: I couldn’t back down. My parents had sacrificed everything to uncover this truth, and now it was my turn to finish what they started.

“Where do we go from here?” I asked, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me.

He turned to the map, tapping a few buttons on the console, bringing up a set of new coordinates. “This is where your parents were last. The research site they were working on. They were close to activating the portal when they disappeared. But there’s something else—something your parents never had a chance to tell you.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering to the map. “The portal isn’t just a doorway between worlds. It’s a doorway between times.”

My mind reeled. “What do you mean, times?”

He turned to look at me, his face tight with concern. “It’s not just other realms, Niya. Your parents discovered a way to open a gateway to different points in history. Past and future. And there are people who will stop at nothing to control that power.”

I stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. A portal not just to other worlds—but to other times. Past, future… it was more than I could wrap my head around.

“Then we have to stop them before they open it,” I said, a new fire burning in my chest.

Commander Uncle nodded. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do. But we’ll need to move fast. The group after your parents has already started tracking the portal, and if they beat us there…” His voice trailed off, but the implication was clear. If they got there first, they could change everything. Control the past, the future… everything.

We didn’t have much time.

I felt a sense of urgency pulse through me, but also a deep sense of purpose. I wasn’t just some kid anymore. I wasn’t just a daughter looking for answers. I was part of something far bigger than I could’ve imagined. And whatever this portal was—whatever my parents had unlocked—I was going to find out the truth. Even if it meant stepping into a place beyond the limits of reality itself.

“We leave now,” I said, my voice unwavering.

Commander Uncle gave me a sharp look, surprised by my resolve. But then he nodded. “Let’s go. The clock’s ticking.”

We gathered what we needed, and as we made our way to the transport vehicle, I knew one thing for sure: whatever happened next, I wasn’t going to let my parents’ legacy fall into the wrong hands. I was going to protect the truth—no matter the cost.

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