Catalyst wandered into the Archives, a vast hall of projected memories and tactile histories. She traced her fingers across ancient data-tethers, pulling fragments of the past into view. Each image, each voice, each blink of light was like a heartbeat—proof of lives once lived, choices once made.
She saw Jaden as a child, scraping together broken components to build his first drone. She saw Nyela during the Exodus, holding Eira's limp body through the flames. She saw Corv choosing to stay behind as his ship evacuated the last free city.
"Why show me these?" she whispered.
Lyra's voice echoed from above. "Because you've become part of their story now."
Catalyst turned. "And what if I'm not ready?"
"You were never meant to be. That's what makes you real."
