The war room deep within the Hollow Kin's base was a cathedral of chaos. Projected holomaps blinked with flickering red zones—indicating Hive activity. Automated turrets scanned constantly. Children carried messages between squads. Fighters meditated while mechs were rearmed. Julius stood at the center, watching the projections shift with growing unease.
Korran leaned on a metal support column, sipping synth-coffee. "I've seen bad storms. This one's different. Hive doesn't just gather—they build. Layer after layer, right on top of whatever Omega Null is."
Brinley studied the data from a half-broken terminal. "And this thing—Omega Null. Is it really still active?"
Vara stepped forward, her face pale. "It's not just active. It's thinking. Reacting. Hive behavior is no longer just instinctual. It's strategic."
Selene's voice echoed from above. "Tactical clusters along the ridge are mimicking Echelon flanking protocols. We saw that kind of adaptation once before—when the Omega Core still operated."
Julius clenched a fist. "Then it's not a prison anymore. It's a fortress."
Seraphel stood silently, her form more mechanical than before. Her voice had shifted slightly, no longer completely human. "The Omega Null was a prototype consciousness—designed to link to every Echelon suit across the stars. I was its failsafe. Its leash."
Ryka raised an eyebrow. "So what happens if it breaks free?"
Seraphel turned, her gaze distant. "Then there will be no war—only assimilation."
The Hollow Kin commander, the silver-eyed woman named Ereya, tapped a control rune on the wall. A projection appeared—an ancient video, grainy and bloodstained.
It showed scientists screaming, something immense moving in shadow behind containment fields, and the silhouette of an armored figure breaking free from restraints as alarms blared.
"That was the last time Omega Null stirred," Ereya said. "Forty-seven years ago. We burned half a moon to bury it. Now the Hive's trying to wake it up."
Julius stared at the screen. "We'll hit the outer Hive structure at dawn. Hit fast, extract any survivors or data, and fall back before they can counterattack."
Ereya nodded. "You'll need a guide. Take Sola. She's part of the Nullborn."
A young woman stepped forward—pale-skinned, marked with Hive-threaded scars, and carrying a staff infused with living tech.
"I've seen its dreams," Sola said softly. "I'll take you there. But don't expect to come back the same."