System Check-In: Private Jet — Airborne
Location: Airspace over D.C. – Strategic Positioning Protocol Active
Check-In Reward: $2,500,000
Bonus Item Acquired: "The Whisper File"
– A redacted archive containing the first ever reference to the Check-In System.
– Partial Name: "Project Godseed"
– Architect Alias: "The Architect of Phantomfire"
System Prompt:
You may now begin tracing the origin of your Check-In System.
Caution: This thread may unlock truths that threaten all current structures.
Back at Black Tower — Elina's Discovery
She stood inside an old sub-basement, hidden behind a biometric lock coded to Eleanor Black — Damon's mother.
Inside:
– Journals
– DNA trials
– Military enhancement records
– A video file labeled: "For Damon."
She didn't open it yet.
Not without him.
But one name flashed in every file:
"The Phantomfire Initiative"
→ "Bloodline-triggered systemic intelligence distribution. Controlled evolution through engineered chaos."
Across the Country — Senator Harold Kline Prepares to Go Live
Topic: "The Phantom Threat: Is Damon Black a Danger to America?"
He sat in makeup. Smiling. Smug.
Until his assistant rushed in, pale.
"Senator… your hedge fund just lost $84M in offshore holdings."
"What?"
"It… it says the CEO of the investment firm just pulled all backing… after a call from Damon Black."
His face collapsed.
"Cancel the segment."
System Event: Political Suppression – Tier I Complete
– Damon now has blackmail-grade leverage on two U.S. senators
– Reputation stabilized
– Bonus: $6.4M in reputation bonds deposited
Note: Your enemies can no longer use the public stage without risking instant collapse.
Final Scene — Jet Descending Over New York
Damon sat in the leather seat. Elina across from him. Zeke monitoring five screens.
Nova silent but near.
And ARCHAIOS whispered into Damon's ear:
"You've built an empire, Sovereign.
But something else built you."
Damon opened the Whisper File.
One line glowed:
"The System lives… and it remembers."