— Kai —
The connection finally went through.
The screen in front of Kai lit up, revealing Colonel Voss. No greetings. His eyes immediately searched for answers, as if he already knew something was wrong before Kai even spoke.
"What happened, Major?"
His tone was firm, but not entirely cold. There was something behind it — concern he couldn't fully hide.
Kai didn't answer right away. He studied the screen for a few seconds, choosing carefully where to begin.
"Are you aware that Leon Archer is alive?"
Silence fell instantly. Voss's expression shifted — brief, but noticeable.
"What do you mean?" his voice lowered. "He's dead."
Kai gave a faint smile. Not because it was amusing. Because he expected that answer.
"Are you sure, Colonel?"
Voss's gaze hardened.
"Stop circling, Major. Tell me what happened."
Kai finally spoke. Not like a report. Not in a clean sequence. More like fragments that only now made sense — too late.
"That night, there was no operation," he said quietly. "Captain Hart left the base without authorization."
A pause. His jaw tightened slightly.
"I only realized it… when it was already too late."
Voss didn't interrupt. And that made the next words heavier.
"I should've stopped her before she left."
Kai didn't look at anyone when he said that. As if the statement wasn't meant to be answered.
"When I found her, she was already outside. In pursuit."
He paused briefly.
"Volkov's men were already there."
Silence lingered. Kai let it. As if giving space before reaching the part that changed everything.
"And in the middle of that situation…" his voice dropped slightly, "…she wasn't alone."
Voss narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
Kai didn't look away.
"Leon Archer was there."
The words finally landed.
"And he was the one who got Captain Hart out."
No immediate response. Just silence.
"Leon Archer is dead," Voss repeated, but this time not as firmly.
Kai shook his head.
"He's alive."
A brief pause.
"And he's protecting Captain Hart."
This time, Voss couldn't fully hide his reaction. Something shifted. Kai caught it.
"Do you know Leon Archer's background?"
Voss paused before answering.
"He's the son of my wife's friend."
The answer felt… too simple.
"You knew his parents?"
"He lived with his mother growing up."
Kai nodded slowly. And that was exactly where something didn't add up.
"Something doesn't match," he said.
Voss looked at him.
"What?"
Kai exhaled slowly.
"Commander Crowe."
That name alone changed the air.
"When I reported that Leon Archer is alive, he immediately shut down the operation. No explanation. All old data access was locked."
A pause.
"As if he doesn't want this investigated."
Voss studied him more closely.
"Are you sure?"
Kai didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Silence returned. Heavier this time.
"I'll look into it," Voss said finally.
Kai nodded — but he wasn't done.
"There's one more thing."
Voss's gaze sharpened again.
Kai continued.
"Captain Hart."
"What about her?"
"Her family."
A pause.
"You knew them."
Voss's expression changed. Deeper this time.
"Liv is my friend's daughter," he said. "She stayed with me after her father died."
Kai nodded.
"That's what the report says."
Voss looked at him.
"Then what are you asking?"
Kai paused. The question had been there from the start. And now he couldn't hold it back anymore.
"Who is Liv's father?"
Silence.
Voss didn't answer immediately. And in that silence — Kai already had his answer. This was never meant to be known.
Kai signaled without looking.
"Everyone out."
The room cleared without protest, leaving only Kai in front of the screen.
Only then did Voss speak.
"Emanuel Hart."
The name fell quietly.
"He was a system architect. One of the best."
A pause.
"And before he died… he was involved in something that never made it into official records."
Kai didn't interrupt.
"Eclipse Order."
That one name was enough. And suddenly, everything began to connect.
Eclipse Order. Alexander Darx. Leon Archer… now Darx. And Liv — the one being hunted.
None of it stood alone. Everything was connected.
Kai's gaze sharpened.
"Do you know what they want from Liv?"
Voss shook his head.
"I don't."
The answer was honest. And that made it more dangerous.
Kai exhaled slowly.
"Then this is bigger than we thought."
A brief pause.
"Can you find out if Commander Crowe is involved?"
Voss's expression hardened again.
"I'll look into it."
The connection stayed for a few seconds longer. Nothing else needed to be said. Then the screen went dark.
Kai didn't move. His mind wasn't empty. Quite the opposite. Too many things were starting to connect.
Volkov was part of the Eclipse Order. Hunting Liv was his assignment. That part made sense.
What didn't — why was Leon Darx protecting her? If he was part of the same circle — he should've handed her over. Not pulled her out. Not stood between her and those hunting her.
And the most unsettling part — why did he ask Kai to find Volkov… to return Liv?
Kai stared ahead. The paths were opening. But the direction was still unclear.
Leon Darx… The question was no longer whether he was alive. The real danger was — which side he had chosen.
And this time… Kai wasn't sure Liv was on the same side as him.
—