Mindspace Interior Sector: Node Corridor 9B – Red Null Designation
The static came first.
Not loud. Not chaotic.
Just a low hum vibrating under Lucas's teeth—like the world was holding its breath wrong.
He blinked hard as the simulation space resolved around him. Data shimmered along the periphery of his vision, the system loading in textures, light refractions, ambient motion. Too perfect. Staged.
[REWRITE INITIATED]
[ZONAL STABILITY: INCOMPLETE]
[REGION: NULL-COMPLIANT TERRITORY – ALERT]
[ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY GRANTED – LUCAS BAI]
[AVATAR CODE: LIVE]
[ERROR: REGION RESISTANT TO FULL SYNC]
Lucas's system pinged again—soft but urgent.
Ava's voice cut in via link.
[AVA: You're drifting into dead sectors. This isn't just redlined. This is straight rogue.]
[LUCAS: That's why we're here.]
[AVA: You sure it's not bait?]
[LUCAS: Almost certain.]
Pause.
[AVA: That's not how certainty works.]
He cracked a half-smile.
