Nova, Synthia, and Helix exchanged uneasy glances, the tension thick in the room. Nova was the first to move, motioning toward the lab’s exit. “We should go. If the military’s monitoring, they could trace the signal and show up any second.”

  Helix nodded, already heading for the door. Synthia hesitated but ultimately followed, her instincts screaming that they were running out of time.

  But before they could leave, Null raised his hand sharply, gesturing for them to stop. His dark eyes were locked on the device, his expression unreadable but intent.

  “What’s wrong?” Synthia asked, her voice low and urgent.

  Infy’s voice cut through the silence. “Wait. He is her.”

  The lab went silent again, the hum fading into an eerie stillness. Synthia barely had time to catch her breath before the air around them began to ripple.

  “What’s happening?” Helix demanded, stepping back from the device.

  The ripples grew stronger, the air bending and twisting as if the fabric of reality itself was being stretched. Then, without warning, a being appeared in the centre of the lab—a being, unlike anything Synthia had ever seen.

  They floated several inches above the ground, their body was composed entirely of concentric rings of golden light that spun and shifted in constant motion. Each ring was inscribed with intricate patterns, glowing faintly as they moved in perfect harmony. It had no face, no physical features, yet his sheer presence filled the room with an overwhelming sense of power.

  Zero had arrived, joining Null and Infy as they stood silently in the centre of the room. Though no words were spoken aloud, their shifting expressions and subtle energy pulses made it clear they were deep in conversation.

  Synthia watched from the sidelines, unable to decipher what was happening. The whirlwind of emotions emanating from them was overwhelming, leaving her feeling unmoored and uncertain.

  “Null and Infinity have explained what has happened,” the being said, his tone filling their thoughts like a chorus.“I am Zero.”

  The voice came not from his form but directly into their minds—a deep, resonant tone that carried both authority and calm.

  The group stared in stunned silence. Nova looked like she wanted to say something, but no words came out. Helix gripped the edge of the nearest console, his expression a mixture of awe and suspicion.

  Synthia forced herself to step forward. “You’re… Zero?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

  “Yes,” Zero replied, the rings of his body glowing with a faint, rhythmic pulse as he spoke. “You have uncovered something that should not exist here. As the system’s assigned Watcher, it is my duty to investigate.”

  With his usual grace, Null retrieved the Zallium from its case and extended it toward Zero. The moment it touched his rings, the artefact vanished without a trace, as though absorbed into the very fabric of his being.

  “Is that object really that important?” Helix asked, his voice shaking.

  Zero’s rings spun faster for a moment, then slowed. “Zallium is a material of immense power, used by higher races to manipulate the fields that govern your universe. Its presence here violates the Accord.”

  “The Accord?” Nova repeated, echoing the confusion on everyone’s faces.

  “An agreement among the higher races,” Zero explained, his tone measured, “a protection order to prevent the races from interference with a developing civilisation’s evolutionary path.

  Humanity reached the protected status stage two thousand years ago. You were deemed capable of evolving into a higher level, so all races were required to withdraw and let you determine your future independently. This lab, this material… they are evidence that at least one race has violated the accords.”

  Synthia frowned, her mind racing. “Protected status? You mean humanity is being… quarantined?”

  “In a sense,” Zero replied. “It is a necessary measure. The way you interact with the fields and the evolutionary path your race takes has a profound effect on your place in the galaxy. These features must be self-determined.”

  He hesitated for a brief moment, his concentric rings dimming slightly, before continuing.

  “However, some races and even council representatives do not agree with this principle when it comes to humans. Their interference is… limited but persistent, often cloaked in proxy actions through corporations or unauthorized experiments. I am limited in my authority to deal with those.” His rings started to change colour before continuing “Humanity is considered unique, even among the higher races, and that uniqueness has drawn unwanted attention.”

  Infy’s orb pulsed faintly, their voice thoughtful. “You’re saying the other races see something in humans that makes them… important?”

  Zero’s glow brightened slightly. “Important, yes. But that importance must come from you. If another race influences your development, your potential—what makes you special—will be lost. This is why violations of this magnitude cannot be ignored.”

  Synthia’s brow furrowed as she processed his words, a growing unease settling over her. “And what happens if we’re no longer protected?”

  Zero’s response was calm, but it carried a weight that silenced the room. “Then humanity’s future would no longer be yours to decide.”

  “Wait,” Nova interrupted, stepping forward. “If we’re not supposed to have this, why is it here? Who made this lab? And why?”

  Zero’s rings dimmed slightly, his hesitation evident. “That is what I must determine. This lab represents a breach of the Accord's most important law, which places you—and anyone connected to this knowledge—in significant danger. The Council does not tolerate such violations lightly.”

  Helix frowned, his voice uncertain. “But... if the Accord forbids interference, what does that mean for us? Are we in trouble just for being here?”

  Zero’s glow pulsed faintly, his rings shifting in a deliberate rhythm as if weighing every word. “You must understand. The mere knowledge of Zallium’s existence is a violation of the Accord. Its discovery is a universal trigger—a signal that a civilization is ready to join the galaxy under Council law. “

  Humanity has not reached a sufficient level of understanding of the universe to have learnt of it naturally.

  If information on Zallium starts to spread, the Council will intervene without hesitation, and their methods are... uncompromising. It would fall to me to ensure this breach is contained, no matter the cost.”

  Synthia’s brow furrowed, a growing sense of unease gripping her. “Contained how?” she asked carefully.

  Zero’s rings flared briefly, then softened. “If necessary, memories of this encounter would need to be erased. The knowledge you now hold is forbidden. Allowing you to retain it could risk humanity’s protected status.”

  Nova’s expression hardened, her green eyes narrowing. “You’re talking about wiping our minds? Like, erasing what we know?”

  Zero hesitated again, his tone carrying the weight of his words. “Not just your memories. The process would alter deeper aspects of your cognition—your instincts, your patterns of thought. You would be... changed.”

  Helix’s eyes widened, his voice sharp. “Changed? You mean, we wouldn’t be us anymore.”

  “It is not a choice I take lightly,” Zero admitted.

  “But it is the price of maintaining the balance. The Accord was created to protect humanity from overt interference, but it also binds me to its enforcement.”

  Synthia felt a chill creep down her spine. She studied Zero, the angelic figure seemingly calm yet distant, and it hit her again: Zero wasn’t human. He didn’t think like a human. He didn’t share their morality. “So, if it came down to it,” she said slowly, her voice hardening, “you’d destroy us to protect the Accord.”

  Zero didn’t flinch, his response calm and without regret. “Yes. If it becomes necessary.”

  The room went quiet. Null, who had been silent, stepped forward, his dark eyes locked onto Zero. His aura shifted suddenly, flaring with energy in a way that Synthia had never seen before. His voice filled their mind, echoing with intensity.

  “No. You can’t do that. They’re our friends.”

  The defiance in Null’s stance was palpable, and for a moment, even Zero seemed to pause, his rings flickering faintly as if reconsidering.

  It was the first time that Synthia had heard Null voice even if it was only in her mind. It resonated deeply, carrying with it an urgency that left no room for doubt. She glanced at the others and realised they were hearing it too, their expressions mirroring her shock.

  “You knew the rules, Null,” Zero said, his tone icy.

  “The Accord is absolute. I cannot leave them unchanged or would you prefer if I killed them instead?”

  “They are not just variables to manipulate,” Null countered, his voice crackling with raw emotion. “They are my friends. Infy’s friends. They trusted us. You can’t erase them like they don’t matter.”

  Infy joined Null, his energy flaring like a second sun. “He’s right. If this lab exists, someone broke the Accord before they did. Punish the guilty, not the innocents dragged into this mess.”

  Zero’s rings slowed, a dim light pulsing faintly. “The risk remains too great. If this knowledge spreads—”

  “It won’t,” Null interjected firmly, his voice clear and resolute in the shared mental space. “We’ll take responsibility. They won’t tell anyone, and we’ll ensure they adhere to the Accord from now on.” He turned to Synthia and the others, his dark eyes steady and intense. “Swear it. Right here, right now.”

  Nova was the first to speak, her voice unwavering despite the weight of the moment. “We swear. No one else will know.”

  Synthia nodded, her throat tightening as she forced her voice to stay even. “You have my word.”

  Helix hesitated, his gaze flicking to Zero’s glowing rings, which pulsed with faint, unsettling energy. Finally, he sighed, his shoulders tense. “Fine. I swear.”

  Despite the mental space’s intangibility, Helix could feel the weight of Zero’s attention bearing down on him, like a presence studying him from every angle.

  But Zero’s rings shifted, glowing brighter for a brief moment, and the oppressive silence in the mental space deepened. His voice came, smooth but unyielding. “No.”

  The group exchanged uneasy glances as Zero continued, his tone like a cold blade. “I cannot accept a promise. Words are fragile, easily broken. Even your intentions, no matter how noble, are subject to human error and circumstance.”

  Null’s hands clenched into fists, frustration flickering across his face. “Then what? What will satisfy you?”

  Zero’s rings shifted again, an almost imperceptible hum of thought passing through the space. “There is another solution,” he said, his voice calm but absolute.

  “I will create a failsafe. A mechanism tied to each of you, tied to your very existence. Should this knowledge leave your minds or be shared beyond this group, the failsafe will activate.”

  “What does that mean?” Nova asked sharply, her voice laced with suspicion.

  “It means I will ensure that if the Accord is breached again, you will be the ones to bear the consequences,” Zero explained, his tone impassive but final. “The responsibility for protecting this knowledge will rest entirely with you. Should you fail, the failsafe will remove the knowledge completely—and, if necessary, remove you as well.”

  Synthia’s breath caught, the implications of his words sending a chill through her. “You’d kill us?”

  Zero’s rings flickered faintly, as though the concept of death was beneath his notice. “Not necessarily. The failsafe is designed to erase the breach. What happens beyond that depends on the severity of the violation. But know this: the Accord must be preserved. Humanity’s evolution is too critical to risk interference.”

  Null’s jaw tightened, but after a long moment, he gave a single, curt nod. “Do it. If that’s what it takes to protect them.”

  Synthia, Nova, and Helix exchanged uneasy glances but ultimately gave their consent, though unease lingered in the air.

  Zero’s rings resumed their steady rhythm. “Very well. The failsafe will be implemented. Remember, this is not a punishment—it is a safeguard. For you, for humanity”

  The air inside the lab grew dense and stifling as Zero’s rings began to shift in a rhythmic pattern, pulsing with purpose. It was as if the very fabric of the room had been subtly altered by his presence.

  His concentric rings of light cast faint, shimmering patterns across the metallic walls, creating an eerie, otherworldly atmosphere.

  Synthia, standing close to Null and Infy, could feel the energy radiating off the angelic figure. Null remained still, his dark eyes locked on Zero with unwavering focus, while Infy’s orb pulsed in quiet anticipation.

  Zero’s voice echoed in their minds, smooth yet unrelenting. “Let us begin. The failsafe will now be installed. I will ensure that the knowledge you carry cannot escape you—and that the Accord is upheld.”

  The group tensed, exchanging wary glances. Infy’s glow flickered faintly as they spoke, their tone neutral but edged with concern. “What exactly does the failsafe entail?”

  “You will not notice its presence unless you violate the terms of this agreement,” Zero explained, his rings glowing brighter. “The knowledge you have will be shielded, contained within your minds. Any attempt to share it or allow its spread will trigger the failsafe. At that point, the breach will be corrected. Completely.”

  Synthia’s stomach twisted, but she nodded, her voice steady despite the tension. “And this... process? What do we need to do?”

  “Remain still,” Zero instructed. “The process will take only a moment.”

  The rings around him expanded outward, a soft hum resonating through the lab as light flowed from them like liquid threads. The threads stretched toward each member of the group—Synthia, Nova and Helix. The light coiled around them, not touching their bodies but hovering just above their skin, faintly vibrating. Synthia felt a tingling sensation, not painful but disconcerting, as though her very thoughts were being etched into the air.

  Nova shivered, breaking the silence. “This is... weird.”

  “It’s like he’s rewriting us,” Helix muttered, his body stiff but his gaze still locked on Zero.

  Synthia glanced at the others, seeing the faint shimmer of light dissipate from their forms as well. The process was over almost as quickly as it began, leaving only an eerie silence behind.

  “It is done,” Zero said, his voice as calm and unshaken as ever. “The failsafe is now active. Do not test its limits.”

  Before anyone could respond, Zero’s tone shifted, his rings glowing brighter once more. “This facility and its contents remain a violation of the Accord. It must be cleansed.”

  The declaration sent a ripple of shock through the group. Synthia stepped forward, her hand raised. “Wait! This lab is still useful to us. The equipment here could help us build a future.”

  Zero’s rings pulsed faintly, casting long, shifting shadows across the room. “Its existence is a threat to your race. Forbidden knowledge is never without consequence. To protect humanity, it must be erased.”

  Zero’s gaze—or what felt like it—shifted toward Null, whose dark eyes remained locked on the glowing figure. For a long moment, the air seemed to freeze.

  Then, Null’s hands moved deliberately, signing with calm precision. Infy translated, their voice steady and resolute from Synthia Nexus. Instead of choosing to speak in the mental space. Synthia believed it was boys showing their independence.

  “We will take responsibility for the lab. Its contents are vital to our survival and progress. Leave it intact, and we will ensure it is used only for what is necessary.”

  Zero’s rings dimmed slightly, a flicker of hesitation passing through the glowing concentric forms. “The Accord must be upheld,” he said, at last, his tone measured. “I will cleanse this laboratory of all forbidden materials, as is required. However, I will provide guidance and assistance in constructing a new facility—one that adheres to the rules of the Accord. This is my compromise.”

  Null’s dark eyes fixed on Zero, his hands moving in calm, deliberate gestures. Infy translated, their voice steady. “That is an acceptable compromise.”

  Zero’s rings pulsed faintly, acknowledgment passing through the room. “Very well. Once the cleansing is complete, I will ensure you have the tools and framework necessary to proceed within the bounds of what is allowed. But remember: this concession does not negate the risks. The responsibility remains yours.”

  Zero’s rings began to spin rapidly, and a ripple of light swept through the lab. In its wake, glowing items floated into the air—crystalline devices, exotic tools, and fragments of alien technology hidden within safes embedded in the walls that the others hadn’t even detected.

  “Those are… incredible,” Nova whispered, awe and fear mingling in her voice.

  “Contraband,” Zero said flatly. The items dematerialised into flashes of light. “They are now beyond your reach. They will be studied and used as evidence.”

  “Wait,” Helix said, stepping forward, his fists clenched. “If this place is illegal, then why was it here? Someone must’ve built it—and they had to have a reason. Surely there are still some logs”

  Zero paused, his rings spinning faster. “A valid question.” He extended what appeared to be a beam of light toward a console. At his command, the dormant machines hummed to life, and rows of holographic data filled the air, scrolling faster than Synthia’s eyes could follow.

  As the group watched in tense silence, Zero’s tone grew colder. “This lab’s purpose was to create what your kind refers to as Merges—artificially bonded AI entities meant to transcend human limitations. The intent was to nudge humanity down the hybrid evolutionary path.”

  The data continued flowing, illuminating the room in pale blue light.

  Null’s form brightened briefly as he watched the information stream past. “Oh, they were unshackled... and, ah, it was a prison break. They escaped,” he signed to everyone, with Infy translating.

  A chill settled over the group as the implications sank in.

  “Escaped?” Infy asked, his energy flaring faintly as he delved into the data himself. “How many are we talking about?”

  Zero’s rings glowed with heightened intensity. “That remains unknown. The records suggest dozens, but much of the data has been corrupted.”

  He gestured, and the holograms condensed into a single glowing orb that floated toward him. “I will extract what I can. These records may assist in locating the escaped subjects. Now onto the second part of our agreement”

  Zero summoned a swarm of drones with a faint pulse. The sleek machines materialised out of thin air, their glowing appendages moving with precision.

  “These tools will repurpose the lab,” Zero said. The drones scattered across the chamber, dismantling forbidden machinery and reconfiguring the space. Consoles rearranged themselves, walls shifted, and hidden compartments sealed away.

  The group watched in awe as the lab transformed. Where once there had been alien contraband, there were now clean, efficient workstations equipped with advanced but acceptable technology.

  “Why help us?” Synthia asked cautiously, keeping her tone steady even as unease coiled in her chest. She wasn’t sure she trusted Zero’s motives, and her instincts told her there was more to this.

  Zero’s rings pulsed softly, the faint glow shifting as though reflecting a moment of deliberation. “Because my children have chosen to protect you,” he said, his melodic voice calm but carrying an edge of finality. “And because your survival, for now, aligns with the greater balance. Without the tools to adapt, you will fail—and failure would invite further interference.”

  Synthia frowned, processing his words carefully. “And the lab? Isn’t it dangerous to stay here, won’t we be tracked?”

  “I have already sealed the current entry point,” Zero replied. “A new, concealed access point has been established. Only you and your group will know its location. This facility will remain hidden from your adversaries, for now.”

  A thread of relief eased through Synthia, though her doubt lingered. “And the government records on the lab?” she pressed.

  Zero’s form flickered faintly as he moved to the central console, his rings spinning with purpose. “I am erasing all traces of this lab from Martian systems—power logs, material shipments, security feeds.

  Every detail will be removed from the corporate and government networks. To them, this lab will have never existed.”

  Nova, leaning against a nearby wall, folded her arms as scepticism crept into her voice. “Won’t someone notice a massive gap in their data?”

  “They will,” Zero said, his tone unbothered. “But their attention will turn inward. The lab’s construction was unauthorized under your laws. Those responsible will be too busy covering their tracks to ask further questions.”

  Null’s dark eyes flicked toward Zero, his posture steady but clearly attentive. His hand moved in a precise gesture, and Infy’s voice translated, calm but pointed. “What do you expect in return?”

  Zero’s rings dimmed briefly before flaring brighter, his focus turning entirely toward Null and Infy.

  “You are to find the unshackled Merges. They are a loose thread—potentially dangerous to this planet and its future. Observe them. Determine if they pose a threat to humanity—or if they hold knowledge of those responsible for their creation.”

  “Track them?” Synthia echoed, her brow furrowing. “Why? What are you hoping to find?”

  Zero’s voice carried a sharp edge of authority. “Your world is in flux. Humanity’s evolution is no longer entirely self-determined. There are multiple factions out there working in secret.

  The unshackled Merges are part of this, they could destabilise the fragile balance of your race. You must ensure they do not become a tool for outside forces.”

  The room fell silent, processing what they had been told. Synthia glanced at Null, who met her gaze briefly before turning back to Zero. His hand moved again, slower this time, as if considering each sign carefully.

  Infy translated, their tone steady but firm. “We’ll do it. But we’ll do it our way.”

  Zero inclined his glowing rings slightly, as though acknowledging the response. “So be it. I have ensured your tools and access remain intact. What you do next is your responsibility. Do not fail.”

  With that, the air around Zero seemed to grow lighter as his form began to retract. His rings pulsed one last time before he vanished completely, leaving only a faint shimmer of light in his wake.

  For a moment, no one spoke. Then Nova broke the silence, her voice dry but edged with tension. “Well. That’s not ominous at all.”

  Helix let out a slow breath, glancing at Synthia. “Do you believe him? About the Merges and their danger?”

  “I don’t know,” Synthia admitted, her eyes lingering on the now-quiet console. “But I do know we don’t have a choice. If Zero's right, the Merges could either be our greatest allies—or our biggest threat. Either way, we need to find them before anyone else does."

  Null and Infy exchanged a brief glance, silent as always, before Null signed something quick and decisive. Infy’s translation carried no hesitation. “Then we start immediately.”

  Null nodded solemnly. “We’ll find them.”