Chapter 21 - The Keeper's Recognition
The metallic strands stopped only inches from Marta.
None of them attacked.
Instead, they circled her carefully, almost curiously.
The ancient system emitted another calm mechanical voice.
"Genetic confirmation complete."
"Primary Keeper located."
Marta instinctively stepped backward.
The cables followed.
Vale shouted,
"Don't let them bond with her!"
Too late.
One strand gently touched the palm of Marta's hand.
A brilliant flash filled the chamber.
Images flooded her mind.
Cities.
Mountains.
Ancient tunnels.
Generations of engineers standing inside the very same chamber.
None of them wore Meridian uniforms.
The memories shifted again.
She saw people much older than any modern civilization carefully lowering the glowing crystal into the earth.
One elderly woman spoke clearly.
"It is not a weapon."
"It is a lock."
The vision disappeared.
Marta gasped for air.
Henrik caught her before she fell.
"What did you see?"
She looked around slowly.
"Meridian didn't build this place."
Victor nodded.
"I suspected that."
"It inherited it."
Anton smiled sadly.
"Exactly."
Vale slammed his fist against the console.
"They filled your head with myths."
Marta looked directly at him.
"No."
"I remember."
The metallic strands withdrew.
The system announced another message.
"Keeper memory restored: Four percent."
Everyone exchanged confused looks.
Robert frowned.
"Four percent?"
"How many memories are there?"
No one answered.
Before Marta could speak again, the crystal suddenly dimmed.
The countdown stopped.
Every display across the chamber changed to the same warning.
SECONDARY KEEPER DETECTED.
All eyes turned toward Iris.
She slowly removed the golden bracelet from her wrist.
The bracelet began glowing.
"So..."
she whispered,
May you like
"It finally knows I'm here."
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