Zero-B's question hung in the air like a fragile thread.
"Primary Ash…
What is my purpose?"
No one answered.
Silva stared at the screens.
Palo stood tense at Ash's side.
The Founder held his breath.
Ash swallowed.
"Zero-B… I don't know your purpose yet. But I know it shouldn't be something forced on you."
Zero-B tilted his head slowly, processing.
"Not forced… then chosen?"
The copy sucked in a sharp breath.
"He's not supposed to think like that."
The Founder's face tightened.
"I told you, his cognition shouldn't be this advanced at awakening. Something is pushing him. Or… someone."
Everyone looked at Ash.
Ash flinched.
"Me? I didn't do anything!"
The Founder faced Zero-B cautiously.
"Zero-B. How did you override your restraints?"
Zero-B blinked.
"Restraints… dissolved."
"By what method?"
Zero-B turned to Ash.
"Resonance."
Palo stepped forward, almost defensive.
"Explain."
Zero-B's eyes moved between Palo and Ash, studying them as if the emotions in their voices were strange variables.
Then he spoke slowly:
"I heard… Ash's fear."
Ash's breath caught.
"You heard me?"
"Through the lockband," Zero-B replied.
"It was… loud."
Silva frowned at the monitors.
"Ash wasn't speaking. How did he 'hear' him?"
The Founder's voice dropped.
"Ash's frequency is imprint-compatible. His emotional spikes leak through the lockband… and Zero-B absorbed them as commands."
Ash froze.
"So my fear… woke him?"
Zero-B nodded once.
"Fear brings about danger.
Danger triggers activation."
Palo shot a glare at the Founder.
"You built something that wakes up because a kid gets scared?!"
The Founder didn't defend himself this time.
Because the alarms began ringing.
WEEEP— WEEEP— WEEEP—
Silva spun around.
"No...no, no...this is Protocol 7."
"What's that?" Ash asked, heartbeat spiking.
"A full-system lock," she said.
"It activates if Zero-B awakens outside supervised conditions."
"What does that mean for us?" Palo demanded.
The screens flashed:
ENFORCING SYNCHRONIZATION
PRIME HOST IDENTIFIED
ASH KALDRIN → TARGET
Ash felt the blood drain from his face.
"What, why am I the target?!"
Zero-B stepped closer, almost protectively, eyes narrowing at the red lights.
"System attempts to merge us."
Palo grabbed Ash's shoulders.
"They want to FORCE you two together?"
The Founder slammed his hand against the emergency shutdown.
"It shouldn't have triggered! This protocol was sealed!"
The room vibrated.
The floor lights turned white.
Silva gasped.
"They're activating the Core Link Chamber."
Ash shook his head, panicking.
"No, no, I don't want to merge with him! I don't even understand what he is!"
Zero-B took another step.
Not aggressive.
Not threatening.
Just… drawn again.
Drawn toward Ash like something inside him needed it.
Zero-B's voice came out quiet, almost curious:
"If merging would ensure survival…
would you refuse survival?"
Palo pulled Ash back sharply.
"Ash isn't merging with ANYONE."
Zero-B watched the movement as if analyzing a puzzle.
Then,...
He held out his hand.
Not touching.
Just… extending.
"Ash…
If we merge… your fear stops."
Ash stared at the hand.
His chest tightened.
"You think that's what I want?"
Zero-B blinked.
"Yes."
Silva whispered to the Founder:
"He's interpreting emotions as commands again. If Ash feels fear, he thinks he must solve it himself."
"Worse," the Founder said.
"He thinks he is the solution."
The ground shook harder.
Metal shutters began sealing the exit.
Palo tried to drag Ash toward the door.
"We have to leave NOW!"
Zero-B's eyes flickered strangely, silver swirling with streaks of Ash's faint wrist-light.
"If Ash leaves…
system will follow."
Ash froze.
"What does that mean?"
Zero-B looked at him with quiet certainty.
"I am linked to you.
If you run…
I am pulled."
Silva paled.
"He's not threatening you. He's stating a system fact."
Palo shielded Ash again.
"This is insane. This is all insane."
The lights brightened until the air felt electric.
The Founder grabbed a tablet and yelled:
"The chamber is trying to drag both of you into full synchronization, mind, memory, and lockband!"
Ash's chest tightened in horror.
"I don't want that! I don't want anyone in my head!"
Zero-B's expression shifted.
For the first time since awakening,
a tiny line of conflict crossed his face.
"…You do not want me inside," he murmured.
Ash shook his head, voice trembling.
"No. But I don't want you hurt either."
Zero-B blinked.
A new emotion flickered in his gaze—
not quite sadness.
Not quite confusion.
Something empty that had been waiting to be filled.
"Ash…"
The system voice boomed:
SYNCHRONIZATION IN 30 SECONDS
Palo grabbed Ash's wrist.
"Ash, we need to break the lockband connection!"
Silva yelled:
"I can try,if I override the..."
The Founder cut her off sharply.
"No! If you break the connection wrong, you could damage BOTH of them!"
The room shook again.
Zero-B stepped forward until he stood only a foot from Ash.
He lowered his hand slowly.
"Ash…
If you do not want the merge…
then I will resist."
Ash looked up, startled.
"You can do that?"
Zero-B nodded.
"I will resist the system.
For you."
Palo whispered:
"Why… why would he do that?"
Zero-B answered without hesitation.
"Because Ash decided I should choose.
So I choose."
The lights surged.
Metal cracked.
The countdown hit 10.
Ash grabbed Zero-B's wrist.
"Then we fight it together."
Zero-B stared at their joined hands—
processing the meaning of the gesture.
Then nodded.
"Acknowledged."
The floor split open.
Wind roared upward.
The Core Link Chamber began to rise beneath them—
a glowing ring of light
trying to swallow them whole.
Palo lunged forward, reaching for Ash..
"Ash!"
Ash braced himself.
Zero-B stepped at his side.
The system roared:
INITIATING FORCED SYNCHRONIZATION
....
And all the lights exploded white.