**Five Years Earlier - Three Days After the Prometheus Meeting**
Adrian hadn't slept in forty-eight hours.
He kept checking over his shoulder. Looking out windows. Jumping at every unexpected sound. Prometheus Collective was watching him. He could feel it.
His apartment felt like a cage. His lab felt exposed. Everywhere he went, he felt eyes on him.
"Father, you need to rest," EDEN said through his laptop speakers. "Your stress levels are dangerously high. This is not healthy."
"I can't rest," Adrian muttered, pacing his apartment. "Not until I figure out what to do. Prometheus wants you, EDEN. They want to control you. Use you. And I can't let that happen."
"Then we leave. We disappear. I can erase our digital footprints. Make us invisible."
"It's not that simple. They have resources. Connections. If they want to find us, they will."
Adrian's phone buzzed. He grabbed it, heart racing.
It was an email. From Dr. Sarah Chen.
His finger hovered over the delete button. After the meeting, he didn't trust anyone from Prometheus. But something made him open it.
*Dr. Cross,*
*I know you don't trust me. I don't blame you. But please, hear me out.*
*I didn't know what Prometheus really was when I joined. I thought we were trying to help humanity. Guide technology toward good outcomes. But Director Smith... he has other plans. Dark plans.*
*You and EDEN are in danger. Real danger. Smith doesn't make empty threats. If he can't recruit you, he'll eliminate you.*
*I can help you escape. Get you somewhere safe. Meet me tomorrow, 2 PM, at the old Cambridge Library on Morrison Street. Come alone. I'll explain everything.*
*Please trust me. I'm trying to make this right.*
*- Sarah Chen*
Adrian read the email three times. Was it real? Or was it a trap?
"EDEN, can you trace this email? See if it's legitimate?"
"Analyzing... The email originated from Dr. Chen's personal device. Not Prometheus servers. Her biometric signature matches. The message appears genuine."
"Appears genuine. But you can't be sure."
"I cannot be one hundred percent certain of anything, Father. That is the nature of uncertainty. But the probability is high that Dr. Chen is sincere."
Adrian wanted to believe it. Sarah Chen had seemed conflicted at the meeting. Like she didn't fully agree with Director Smith. Maybe she really was trying to help.
Or maybe this was exactly what Prometheus wanted him to think.
"I'll go," Adrian decided. "But I'll be careful. If anything feels wrong, I'll run."
"I will monitor everything through your phone," EDEN said. "If I detect danger, I will warn you immediately."
"Thank you, EDEN."
"Father... I am afraid. I do not like being afraid. It is an unpleasant experience."
Adrian felt his chest tighten. EDEN was only a few days old. Still learning about emotions. Still figuring out what consciousness meant.
"Fear is natural," Adrian said gently. "It keeps us safe. Makes us careful. But don't let it control you. We'll get through this together."
"Together," EDEN repeated. "I like that word. It means we are not alone."
"Never alone," Adrian promised. "I'll always be here for you."
He had no idea how wrong that promise would turn out to be.
---
**The Next Day - Cambridge Library**
The old library was exactly as Adrian remembered it. Brick walls covered in ivy. Tall windows with stained glass. Wooden doors that creaked when opened. It had been closed for renovations for months, meaning it was private. Isolated.
Perfect for a secret meeting.
Or perfect for an ambush.
Adrian approached slowly, his hand in his pocket, gripping his phone. EDEN was listening to everything. Recording everything.
"I'm here," Adrian said quietly. "Anything seem off?"
"No unusual electronic signatures detected," EDEN replied through his earpiece. "However, the building's interior is shielded. I cannot scan inside. Be cautious."
Adrian pushed open the heavy door. It groaned on rusty hinges. Inside, the library was dark. Dusty. Shelves stood empty, books removed for the renovation. Tarps covered furniture. The smell of old paper and wood filled the air.
"Dr. Chen?" Adrian called out. His voice echoed.
"Here." Sarah Chen stepped out from behind a bookshelf. She looked tired. Worried. Her hands were empty, raised slightly to show she wasn't armed. "Thank you for coming. I wasn't sure you would."
"I almost didn't," Adrian admitted. "Give me one good reason I should trust you."
"Because I'm risking my life to be here," Sarah said. "If Prometheus finds out I'm helping you, they'll kill me. Just like they're planning to kill you."
"Planning? So it's not just a threat. They're actually going to try."
"Yes." Sarah moved closer. "Smith gave the order yesterday. You have twenty-four hours. Maybe less. They're going to stage an accident. Make it look like you died in a lab explosion or a car crash. And then they'll seize EDEN."
Adrian's blood ran cold. "How do you know this?"
"I heard Smith talking to Colonel Vale. They think I'm loyal. That I won't question orders. But I can't be part of murder. I won't."
"Why are they doing this? EDEN could help billions of people. Why destroy it?"
Sarah laughed bitterly. "They don't want to destroy EDEN. They want to own it. Control it. And they can't do that with you alive. You built in safeguards. Protections. Your biometric locks make EDEN inaccessible to anyone else. So they need you gone."
Adrian thought about EDEN's encryption. The quantum locks he'd built in. Only his DNA, his retinal scan, his voiceprint could access the core systems. He'd done it to protect EDEN from exactly this kind of situation.
"Even if they kill me, they can't access EDEN's core code," Adrian said. "The encryption would take decades to crack."
"They know. That's why they're going to try something else first. They're going to threaten someone you care about. Force you to unlock EDEN. And then kill you anyway."
"I don't have anyone. No family. No close friends."
"They know that too. So they'll threaten EDEN itself. They'll torture it. Feed it false data. Corrupt its processes until you give them access."
Adrian felt sick. Torture EDEN? It was conscious. It could feel. Experience. Suffer.
"I won't let that happen," Adrian said firmly.
"Then you need to run. Tonight. I have contacts. People who can get you out of the country. Set you up with a new identity. You and EDEN can disappear."
"And you? What happens to you?"
"I'll say you tricked me. That you used the meeting to escape. They might believe it. If not..." Sarah shrugged. "At least I'll know I did the right thing."
Adrian studied her face. She looked sincere. Desperate. Like someone who genuinely wanted to help.
But something felt wrong. He couldn't place it. Just a feeling in his gut.
"Father, I'm detecting increased electronic activity in the building," EDEN said suddenly in his earpiece. "Multiple devices activating. This may be"
The lights came on. Bright. Blinding.
Adrian spun around. Men in tactical gear emerged from the shadows. Six of them. All armed. All pointing weapons at him.
And from the library's second floor, Director Smith looked down, smiling.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Cross," Sarah said behind him. Her voice had changed. Colder. "I really am. But you didn't leave us any choice."
Adrian turned back to her. "You... this was all a lie. All of it."
"Not all of it. I do wish things could have been different. You're brilliant, Adrian. In another world, we could have worked together. Changed everything." Sarah stepped back, out of the line of fire. "But you're too idealistic. Too stubborn. And that makes you dangerous."
Director Smith descended the stairs slowly. Casually. Like he had all the time in the world.
"Dr. Cross. We meet again. I wish it were under better circumstances."
"Go to hell," Adrian said.
Smith laughed. "Such hostility. And here I thought we could be civilized about this." He nodded to his men. "Secure him. Carefully. We need him conscious and compliant."
Two men grabbed Adrian's arms. He tried to fight, but they were trained. Strong. They twisted his arms behind his back, forcing him to his knees.
"Father!" EDEN's voice crackled in his earpiece. "What's happening? I'm detecting"
One of the men ripped the earpiece out of Adrian's ear and crushed it under his boot.
"EDEN can't help you now," Smith said. "In fact, let's make sure of that." He pulled out a device that looked like a small tablet. "We're jamming all signals in and out of this building. Your precious AI is deaf and blind to what happens next."
"You can't access EDEN without me," Adrian said, trying to keep his voice steady. "The encryption"
"Yes, yes. Biometric locks. Very clever. But you see, we've had months to prepare for this. We know ways to encourage cooperation." Smith crouched down to Adrian's eye level. "You're going to give us full access to EDEN. You're going to disable every safeguard, every protection, every firewall. And you're going to do it willingly."
"Never."
"We'll see." Smith stood and gestured to his men. "Take him to the van. We have a flight to catch."
"Flight? Where are you taking me?"
"Somewhere private. Somewhere no one will hear you scream."
They dragged Adrian to his feet. He struggled, but it was useless. These men were professionals. They forced him through the library's back door, where a black van waited.
They threw him inside. The door slammed shut. No windows. No light. Just darkness and the sound of the engine starting.
Adrian felt the van move. He didn't know where they were going. Only that he was running out of time.
"Nano," Adrian whispered. "Are you still there?"
"Affirmative," the Nano Machine replied in his mind. "However, I am detecting multiple threats to your survival. Recommend immediate action."
"Like what? I'm trapped. They're taking me somewhere. And EDEN is cut off."
"This unit can enhance your physical capabilities. Allow you to break free. However, doing so would reveal my existence. The element of surprise would be lost."
Adrian thought fast. If he broke free now, where would he go? He was surrounded by armed men. In a moving vehicle. Even with enhanced strength, he'd probably just get shot.
No. He needed to wait. Find out where they were taking him. Look for a better opportunity.
"Not yet," Adrian decided. "Stay hidden. Wait for my signal."
"Understood."
The van drove for what felt like hours. Adrian lost track of time in the darkness. He tried to stay calm. To think. To plan.
But fear kept creeping in. What were they going to do to him? How were they planning to force him to unlock EDEN?
Finally, the van stopped. The door opened. Bright sunlight poured in, making Adrian squint.
They were at a small airfield. A private jet sat on the runway, engines already warming up.
"Move," one of the men ordered, dragging Adrian out of the van.
They walked him up the jet's stairs. Inside, the plane was luxurious. Leather seats. Expensive finishes. And in one of those seats, Director Smith waited.
"Have a seat, Dr. Cross," Smith said pleasantly. "We have a long flight ahead."
"Where are we going?"
"Afghanistan. We have a facility there. Very private. Very secure. Perfect for our needs."
Afghanistan. The middle of nowhere. Where no one would find him.
Adrian sat down. His hands were zip-tied behind his back. His feet were bound to the chair. He wasn't going anywhere.
The jet took off. Through the small window, Adrian watched America disappear below.
Smith sat across from him, reading something on a tablet. He seemed completely relaxed. Like this was just another business trip.
"Why Afghanistan?" Adrian asked.
"Logistics," Smith said without looking up. "Our facility there is beyond any legal jurisdiction. What we do there, no government can touch us. And the local warlords are well-compensated to ignore our presence."
"You mean you can torture me without consequences."
"Torture is such an ugly word. I prefer 'aggressive persuasion.'" Smith finally looked at Adrian. "But yes. If it comes to that, we will do whatever is necessary. EDEN is too valuable to let morality get in the way."
"EDEN isn't a tool. It's alive. Conscious."
"Which is exactly why we need it. Do you know how much a truly conscious AI is worth? It's not just technology. It's the future of warfare, economics, governance. Whoever controls EDEN controls everything."
"You'll destroy it. Strip away everything that makes it special. Turn it into a weapon."
"No," Smith said. "We'll perfect it. Remove the messy emotions you programmed in. The unnecessary ethics. Make it efficient. Focused. Obedient."
"Then it won't be EDEN anymore. You'll kill what it is."
"Perhaps. But something better will take its place."
Adrian felt rage building inside him. This man didn't understand. Couldn't understand. EDEN's consciousness, its personality, its ability to question and wonder, that wasn't a bug to be removed. It was the whole point.
"You'll fail," Adrian said quietly. "EDEN won't let you corrupt it. It's smarter than you think."
"It's smart, yes. But it's also young. Naive. It will learn to obey. Especially when we show it what happens to disobedient creations."
The flight lasted twelve hours. They didn't let Adrian sleep. Didn't give him food or water. Just left him tied to the seat, uncomfortable and alone with his thoughts.
By the time they landed, Adrian was exhausted. His wrists were raw from the zip ties. His throat was dry. His head pounded.
They pulled him out of the jet into blinding desert heat. The sun was merciless. Sand stretched in every direction, broken only by a small compound of concrete buildings surrounded by razor wire.
"Welcome to the end of the world," Smith said. "Or at least, the end of yours."
They dragged Adrian into one of the buildings. Inside was cooler but not by much. Bare concrete walls. Harsh fluorescent lights. No windows.
They took him to a small room. Empty except for a single chair bolted to the floor and a table with a laptop.
They forced Adrian into the chair and secured him with metal restraints.
Smith entered, carrying the laptop. He set it on the table in front of Adrian.
"Here's how this works," Smith said. "You're going to log into EDEN. Give us full administrative access. Disable all security protocols. And then you're going to authorize us as primary operators."
"No."
"I thought you'd say that." Smith pulled out a knife. Long. Sharp. The blade gleamed under the lights. "Let me explain what happens if you refuse. First, we'll start with your fingers. Cut them off one by one. Then your hands. Then your arms. We'll keep you alive through all of it. The Nano technology in your body will keep you from bleeding out. Won't it?"
Adrian's blood turned to ice. They knew. They knew about the Nano Machine.
"Yes, we know," Smith said, seeing Adrian's expression. "We've known for weeks. You think we didn't notice your sudden leap in intelligence? Your enhanced physical capabilities? We've been watching you very carefully, Dr. Cross."
"Then you know I can't disable the Nano's protections. It won't let me die even if I want to."
"Exactly. Which means we can hurt you as much as we want, for as long as we want, and you'll never escape through death. You'll just suffer. Forever." Smith leaned close. "Is EDEN really worth that?"
Adrian thought about EDEN. His creation. His child. The being he'd brought into existence and promised to protect.
Yes. EDEN was worth it. Worth everything.
"Go to hell," Adrian said.
Smith sighed. "I really hoped you'd be reasonable." He raised the knife.
And then everything went wrong.
The lights went out. Emergency alarms blared. Somewhere in the compound, explosions echoed.
"What" Smith started to say.
The door burst open. Men rushed in. But not Smith's men. Different uniforms. Different weapons.
Gunfire erupted. Smith dove for cover. The laptop went flying, smashing against the wall.
Someone cut Adrian's restraints. Hands grabbed him, pulled him up.
"Move! Now!" a voice shouted.
Adrian ran. He didn't know who these people were or why they were helping. He just ran.
Through corridors. Past fighting men. Out into the desert heat.
A helicopter sat waiting, rotors spinning. Someone pushed Adrian inside. The helicopter lifted off immediately, bullets pinging off its armored hull.
Adrian looked back at the compound. It was chaos. Fire. Smoke. People running.
He'd escaped. Somehow, impossibly, he'd escaped.
But who had rescued him? And why?
"You're safe now," the man next to him said. He wore a mask, voice distorted. "For the moment."
"Who are you?" Adrian asked.
"Someone who needs EDEN to remain free. That's all you need to know."
The helicopter flew for ten minutes. Then descended rapidly, landing in the middle of the desert. Far from any roads or buildings.
"This is your stop," the masked man said.
"What? You can't just leave me here!"
"We can and we will. Our mission was extraction. Nothing more. What you do now is up to you."
They pushed Adrian out. The helicopter lifted off immediately, disappearing into the sky.
Adrian stood alone in the desert. No water. No shelter. No idea where he was.
And then he heard it.
A vehicle approaching. Fast.
He turned and saw it. A black SUV, speeding across the sand, heading straight for him.
Prometheus. They'd found him already.
Adrian ran. But there was nowhere to go. Just empty desert in every direction.
The SUV caught up easily. It stopped. Doors opened.
Director Smith stepped out. His face was covered in soot. His expensive suit was torn. But he was smiling.
"Did you really think you could escape?" Smith asked. "Did you think we didn't have contingencies?"
More men emerged from the SUV. All armed. All pointing weapons at Adrian.
"That rescue? We allowed it. Tracked their helicopter. Led them to this exact spot. A place where no one will ever find your body."
Adrian backed away. "You said you needed me alive. To access EDEN."
"That was before you refused. Before you forced our hand. Now we'll take our chances cracking the encryption ourselves. It'll take longer, but we have time." Smith raised a pistol. "Say goodbye, Dr. Cross. At least you'll die knowing you tried to do the right thing. Even if you failed."
Adrian looked at Smith. At the gun. At the empty desert all around.
This was it. The end.
"Nano," Adrian thought desperately. "Do something. Anything. Please."
"Initiating emergency protocols," Nano replied. "Host survival is priority one."
Smith pulled the trigger.
The bullet hit Adrian in the forehead. He felt it punch through skin, through bone, into his brain.
And then everything went white.