Meanwhile, Kairo stood in another part of the Sync Research Center, speaking with his mother, Ariane. He was older than Zola by a couple of years, but seeing what he had seen had changed something inside him.

"I want to join the SCD," Kairo said, his tone steady but his eyes full of resolve. "I can't just stand on the sidelines anymore. I want to make a difference."

Ariane smiled softly at her son, understanding the gravity of his decision. "The SCD works directly for the Aetherion Council. If you want to join, you'll have to go through the military first. It's not an easy path, Kairo."

"I know," Kairo replied. "But after what I saw... I can't live with myself if I don't do something."

Ariane nodded, her heart swelling with pride. "I'll help you in any way I can. But remember, it's a long road, and there's no turning back once you start."

Kairo accepted that, the determination in his heart solidifying. He would do whatever it took to protect the people he cared about, and to make sure no one else had to experience the terror they had gone through.

As Ariane watched her son walk away, her thoughts drifted to the Aetherion Council. They wouldn't be happy with the incident, she knew that much. But for now, her children were safe, and that was enough.

Back in the room with the others, Lily leaned against Amy. The only reason she had been able to relax was because Vas had finally texted her. Over the years, she had come to see him as a brother—the brother she never had. She'd even fought with Madeline about it at times. Madeline knew Vas's situation, knew how he was seen as a social pariah. She had tried to forbid them from interacting in public, but now that school was over and Lily's social standing was solid, there was no reason to keep their friendship hidden anymore.

Anya had also found some peace after Vas reached out, letting her know he was safe. For now, that was all they could ask for.

The group in the room sat in a circle, the weight of their shared experience heavy but comforting in a way. They had been through hell, but they had each other now. And that, somehow, made it all a little easier to bear.

Abigail stood quietly beside Celine while Lorraine conducted a series of tests on Octavia. The air was thick with unspoken emotions, but Lorraine's calm focus kept them grounded.

"She's physically fine," Lorraine said, stepping back to check her readings. "She should wake up soon. The main issue was the drugs Sigdra had her on, but we've purged them from her system."

"Thank you, Lorraine," Celine replied, her voice low but filled with gratitude.

"Don't mention it," Lorraine answered with a small smile before turning back to her work.

Abigail, watching her daughter, couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure about this, Celine? About… adopting her?"

Celine shook her head. "It's not really an adoption, Mom. She was built from my and Luther's genes. By all accounts, she is my daughter."

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Abigail's eyes softened with concern. "Are you sure you'll be able to handle it? Her existence was the result of… a violation. You didn't ask for this."

Celine's jaw tightened, her voice unwavering. "It doesn't matter how she came to be. She's here now. And I'm not going to abandon her."

"Well, technically," Lorraine interjected, "she's more of a clone than anything else. It's not like she—"

"I know what she is," Celine cut her off, her tone firm but not unkind. "But she deserves a chance at something good after all of this."

At that moment, Octavia stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and she slowly sat up on the examination table. She looked around, her expression unreadable. "So… they failed," she muttered, her voice soft but clear. "I no longer have a reason to exist."

"Do you know who we are?" Abigail asked gently, leaning in.

Octavia nodded, pointing at Celine. "She is the genetic base for this body."

Lorraine stepped forward, curiosity piqued. "Do you understand why you were created?"

Octavia's eyes darkened. "I was meant to serve the true gods as their high priestess."

Abigail exchanged a look with Celine before speaking firmly. "Well, from now on, you're a member of the Hek family."

Octavia blinked, tilting her head. "And what does that entail?"

"Just be a normal kid," Celine said softly, stepping closer to Octavia. "Does your body grow like a normal human?"

"Yes," Octavia replied, her voice still robotic. "My growth was accelerated to pre-teen form for the ritual. Without the drugs, I'll grow normally now."

Celine knelt beside her, her voice trembling with emotion. "Do you mind if I become your mother? I know we aren't exactly the same, but… I consider you just as much a victim of those people as I am."

Octavia stared at her for a long moment. She had spent her entire existence in a sterile lab, nothing more than a tool for a fanatical cause. She had seen glimpses of the outside world, of children laughing with their families, but had never believed such a life could be hers. Now, the impossible stood before her, offering her something she never thought she'd have.

"I… agree," Octavia finally said, though her tone was still formal.

Lorraine let out a soft laugh, breaking the tension. "We've got some work to do. 'Agreed' is definitely not something a pre-teen says. We'll teach you how to act your age."

Celine smiled, warmth spreading through her as she looked at Lorraine. "So, you're on board with this?"

Lorraine grinned. "Well, you're about to be a single mother. Of course, I'm not letting my best friend do this alone."

Abigail cleared her throat, her eyes flicking toward Octavia. "She has her family to support her."

Lorraine's expression turned serious. "Let's not pretend everything's perfect. I've seen how Vas is treated. I'm not letting that happen with this kid."

The mention of Vas hit Abigail harder than she expected, stirring a memory deep within her. The way the hooded figure had moved... it reminded her of something she couldn't quite place. She needed to speak to her husband, to confirm her suspicions.

"I'll be back," Abigail said abruptly. "If anything happens, contact me immediately." With that, she quickly left the room, her mind already racing.

Meanwhile, Clara sat alone in the waiting room, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her comm device buzzed, and she glanced down. The caller ID made her stomach flip—it was the Supreme Leader of Kadmon, the mysterious figure known only as the Kadmon Primal.

She answered the call, her voice steady despite her nerves. "Yes, sir?"

The Primal's voice was calm, almost soothing. "Clara, congratulations. You handled this situation well. You didn't flee when things got difficult, and that is why you are being promoted."

Clara's heart raced as she listened, stunned by the news.

"As of today, you hold the title of Kadmon Arcanum," the Primal continued. "You will oversee operations like this one across the entire solar system."

Clara swallowed hard, her mind reeling. She had worked for this moment for years, but the weight of the responsibility hit her all at once. She was now part of the Kadmon inner circle, a group shrouded in power and secrecy.

"Thank you, Primal," she finally managed to say.

"Don't thank me," the Primal said softly, his voice almost a whisper. "Just make sure you continue to earn it."