The door sealed behind her.
And the voice that followed was not recorded.
It was real.
"I've been waiting, Architect Zhang."
Ava stood rigid.
She didn't know this woman.
But she knew what she was.
High command. The kind of operative that didn't exist on paper. The kind who didn't sit in war rooms—they built them.
"You're not with Zhao's command," Ava said slowly.
The woman gave a faint smile.
"I outrank Zhao."
Her voice was even. Elegant. Like a blade being drawn from a velvet sheath.
"You can call me General Rei."
Ava's eyes narrowed. "Angle worked for you."
"She served a purpose. Briefly."
General Rei steepled her fingers on the table.
"I admit, I thought she might beat you. She was...persistent. I admire persistence, even in the mad."
"She was a copy of a soul shoved into broken code."
Rei nodded. "And you? You're the original. The final backup. The last viable architect with an active node."
Her voice sharpened just slightly.
"You're mine, now."
