Chapter 49
CHAPTER 49 — THE SOLE SACRIFICE
Claire rushed to the terminal, her fingers flying across the keys, but the system was locked.
BIOMETRIC INPUT REQUIRED TO ABORT TERMINATION SEQUENCE. CHOOSE RESCUE TRUST O01 OR LIQUIDATION.
She slammed her palm onto the glass scanner.
ERROR: TWO-GENERATION AUTHENTICATION REQUIRED. SECOND SECTOR LIFT COMPROMISED.
"Mommy!" Lily’s voice cut through the alarms.
Anna had carried the little girl into the vault, dragging a semi-conscious Alexander behind them. The fire was right at their heels, the concrete floor beneath them beginning to crack and tilt into the abyss.
"Lily, come here!" Claire screamed, tears streaming down her face. "Touch the screen with me! Right now!"
Lily ran forward, her small hand pressing onto the glass next to her mother's. The terminal let out a long, harmonious chime.
AUTHENTICATION ACCEPTED. ABORTING TERMINATION SEQUENCE.
The countdown vanished, replaced by a single, bold line of text that sent a physical shiver through Claire’s spine:
ALL ASSETS EXTRACTED. THE MONARCH GRID RE-ROUTED TO SECURE STORAGE FACILITY: DA NANG, VIETNAM.
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Claire stared at the screen in absolute disbelief. Vietnam? Why would her grandfather hide the ultimate control sequence on the other side of the planet?
Before she could process the thought, the floor beneath them gave way completely.
