LUNA HELEN

  I reached out my arm toward her, but pulled it back before touching her.

  There was nothing I could say or do in that moment.

  I couldn’t… and I didn’t want to… forgive her so easily.

  Not after turning my brother into a laboratory rat in such a cold and inhumane way.

  I turned toward Erick’s cell.

  He was there, covered by a hospital sheet, his back to me.

  — Erick?

  There was no immediate response.

  — Brother…

  — Please, talk to me. I came for you, I—

  — Go away. There’s nothing you can do for me.

  Erick’s words sounded empty. Their weight sank deep into my chest.

  I didn’t know what to say. I had been so anxious to see him, but I never knew what came after that…

  But I was tired of doing nothing.

  Even if it cost me my life.

  — OPEN THE CELL!

  — My brother is leaving with me.

  I walked back toward Helena and grabbed her by the shoulder.

  — He won’t be your experiment anymore. Not for you, not for anyone.

  As I spoke, tears streamed down my face. My body was tense, my hands clenched.

  I was using every last drop of courage I had, even knowing that with a single command, she could end me.

  — Open it?

  Helena said.

  — What are you talking about?

  She pointed at the door.

  — The “cell” only has a mechanical lock, which he could easily open… well, while he’s still human.

  Since I don’t believe one of those things would have enough intelligence to do it.

  — How…? Erick, but… why?

  I didn’t understand. I couldn’t believe it.

  — Well, you don’t believe me. So see for yourself.

  Doubt began hammering inside my mind. That couldn’t be possible.

  I went back to Erick’s cell. I searched for a moment for the mechanism… and there it was.

  I unlocked it easily, and the door opened.

  Why?

  What was the point of this?

  ERICK HELEN

  Of everything I had been through in the last few days, nothing compared to this.

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  Luna wouldn’t understand why I stayed… not even I fully understood it…

  But maybe… maybe I could do more for all of us.

  I was ready for any sacrifice.

  But now… I wasn’t so sure anymore.

  My heart raced when I heard Luna’s footsteps approaching.

  — Erick?

  I felt her arms wrap around my body over the sheet.

  I stayed still, not knowing what to do.

  I knew she wouldn’t leave if I asked… and I no longer had the strength to fight everything.

  We stayed like that for a while, until I decided to turn around.

  Her eyes were red, tears streaming down endlessly.

  — Luna… you should leave…

  She shook her head before answering:

  — Whatever you’ve chosen, we’ll go through this together, you idiot. We’re siblings, remember?

  — Mom and Dad always said we had to take care of each other.

  — Well, sorry to interrupt the siblings’ reunion, but since you decided to stay, come here. I need to show you something.

  Helena’s robotic voice echoed through the room, reminding me she was still there.

  — I’m coming.

  Luna stood up. I realized I was still holding her hand.

  I was afraid Helena was planning something.

  — Be careful.

  Helena nodded and turned toward the exit.

  LUNA HELEN

  After leaving the room, I felt calmer.

  Erick was there, and so was I. Whatever it was, we would face it together until the end.

  I approached Helena.

  — Look at this.

  She showed me a panel. It was a digital reconstruction of Erick’s body.

  His entire spine and brain glowed with golden points…

  But the rest of his body was overtaken by crimson vines.

  — This is what’s happening inside your brother.

  Whatever that bastard did is, in part, slowing the advance and preserving Erick’s consciousness.

  I need to find a way to enhance this… and replicate it.

  If I succeed, we’ll still have autonomy to react.

  — But what’s missing for you to be able to do that?

  Helena shrugged.

  — Technological bottleneck.

  — Lack of decent test subjects.

  — Research.

  — Or complete ignorance of the materials that make up the golden compound.

  — Feel free to choose any of those.

  I took a deep breath.

  — Then use me as a test subject.

  — Well… maybe that could work.

  — Luna, no. You can’t do this.

  Erick said.

  — I saw what happened to the other test subjects.

  — Erick, it’s fine… I can handle it.

  — You don’t understand. Show her!

  Erick’s voice was desperate. A subtle fear crept into me.

  — Ah, damn it… come on.

  I followed Helena into another room.

  The scene that followed made my stomach churn.

  Rats.

  Pigs.

  Dozens of them.

  Mutilated. Dead.

  — What happened to them?

  — The reaction is more intense when the compound comes into direct contact with the bloodstream.

  But even when I apply it directly into the cervical area… after a while, the same thing happens.

  She stared at me.

  — So… will you still go through with it?

  — This is madness… I… I don’t know…

  All that certainty I had… now the images were far too brutal.

  Would I just become another body in that pile?

  — Luna, give up. You don’t need to do this.

  I looked at Erick, at his body.

  I couldn’t imagine everything he was going through.

  I remembered all those men and women I had seen perish.

  Now I am a doctor.

  And I swore I would save as many lives as I could.

  Even if it cost me my own.

  — I accept. Let’s do this.

  — Good girl. Now I see how much you’ve grown.

  That strange smile again. It really got under my skin.

  DR. LUCIUS VARELA

  The systems were on the brink of collapse.

  Well, I wish it were just them.

  A large portion of the newly recruited soldiers were already wounded or dead, all in just over a month.

  I never imagined I would survive the Fragmentation War only to die like this.

  As I drifted in thought, I heard the sound of the transmitter, pulling me back to reality.

  — Crox? Sir, what happened?

  — Lucius, we have a problem. Have you finished repairing the drones?

  — What is it? I’m doing my best, but most of this is nothing but scrap.

  We’ll be lucky if a dozen even power on.

  — The sensors went off about ten minutes ago… Something big is coming…

  If it’s something regular soldiers can’t handle, we’re all doomed…

  His voice was devoid of hope…

  — Have you spoken to Helena? How is the research with the boy going?

  — She said she’d bring news soon and cut the call right after.

  — I hope the kids are okay…

  — I believe they are.

  Luna hadn’t activated the fail-safe.

  So…