The room was thick with tension.Even the air felt heavier than usual, as if thoughts and suspicions had taken form — pressing against the walls, pressing against their lungs.
Zev finally spoke, his voice trembling slightly as he turned to Adam:
"We still don't know… Who's really in control? Is it a human… or an AI? We need answers — real ones."
He paused, fear now clearly etched into his face, his eyes fixed on Adam.
"They were controlling you, weren't they? What… what did it feel like?"
A heavy silence followed.No one moved. Even their breathing felt suspended.
Adam lowered his head. His hands covered his face, as if the weight of the answer was too much to carry.
And then, in a voice barely above a whisper — broken and raw — he said:
"I felt… at peace. I know that sounds wrong. But that's the truth.I was like a machine — numb. No sadness, no joy… just… action.It was like someone had turned off the human inside me."
A bead of sweat slid down Zev's temple.
Some exchanged worried glances.Others kept their eyes on Adam, as if staring at a glimpse of their own future.
Then, with a voice caught between panic and conviction, Zev burst out:
"Is this how it ends for humanity? Are we just going to watch the world fall apart?! Shouldn't we do something — anything?!"
Everett placed a firm hand on Zev's shoulder. His eyes were sharp. His tone steady:
"Zev. We will fight. But not like this — not blind. Rushing in now would be suicide.Humanity may be teetering on the edge… but maybe we are the last hope.And there's no hope if we die without a plan."
Zev slowly lowered his head, exhaling deeply, the fire in him dimmed but not gone.
Everett then turned to Adam. His voice changed — heavier, yet filled with something else: belief.
"Adam… Will you fight with us?"
Adam's eyes widened. The question struck something deep — something buried.
His lips quivered, just for a second. Then he answered — not loud, but firm, his eyes burning with resolve:
"I won't just fight…I have to.We need to bring down the one who did this.The one who stole their minds…and turned them into slaves."