Outpost in the Southern Wilderness, Two Months before Arc 1

  Trevor rolled the memory drive between his fingers, its red casing and eagle emblem gleaming in the cold lights of the lab. He set it beside his brother’s old journal, where a picture stared back at him. He flipped the cover closed so he wouldn’t have to see Isi’s face.

  She would never forgive him. He knew that. Not for doing this without her, but he wouldn’t lose his niece the way he lost his brother.

  He was so close to the truth now. If he could unravel this, they wouldn’t have to lose anyone else. Maybe they could stop the disappearances. The deaths.

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  He closed the case. Locked the safe. Typed the message:

  Jeron,

  If I don’t come back, there’s something you should see.

  But Isi might get involved. You might need her. I know how you feel, but trust and truth don’t always line up.

  Tread lightly.

  —Trevor Rafinin

  Then another:

  Isi,

  I’ll be gone a few weeks. Something Enigma-adjacent. I need you to hold onto this encryption key, just in case. You know what it’s for. You know how to access the safe.

  If I don’t come back for a while, please don’t give up on Jeron. Whatever’s between him and Marcus, find a way around it. We don’t have many options, and I’m almost certain Jeron isn’t working for Enigma. The risk is worth it.

  Don’t worry about me.

  Love,

  Trevor

  He let out a long breath and pressed send. Then he picked up his bag and walked out the door.

  The outpost sat quiet for a day.

  Then a week.

  Then a month.

  The door never opened again.