The words on Jahir's data-pad refused to leave Marco's mind.
Embedded Asset Active.
No matter how many times he replayed the files, the result never changed.
Someone among the children had been reporting to the Government.
The question was no longer if.
It was who.
---
Back at the bunker, Lena quickly became part of the group. She helped care for the younger children, shared stories of life inside the Citadel, and seemed to know details that only someone who had escaped could know.
Even Jax began to lower his guard.
Only Maya remained uneasy.
"Something doesn't feel right," she whispered one night.
Jax sighed.
"We can't survive if we trust no one."
"And we won't survive if we trust the wrong person."
---
Miles away, Marco and the others slipped into an abandoned communications hub to study the stolen files.
Jahir worked for hours, bypassing layers of encryption.
Finally, a hidden video file appeared.
Its title read:
CONFIDENTIAL – AGENT ECHO
The room fell silent.
Jahir pressed play.
The screen showed a hooded figure speaking with Commander Voss.
The voice had been digitally altered.
"The children still believe they're hidden."
"Good," Voss replied. "Stay close to Jax. When the time comes, lead us to the bunker."
Marco clenched his fists.
"So Agent Echo is real."
"But who is it?" Chloe asked.
The figure turned slightly.
For only a fraction of a second, a bracelet slipped from beneath the sleeve.
A faded blue cord with a small silver bird.
Sam's eyes widened.
"I've seen that before."
"Where?"
Sam hesitated.
"I... I can't remember."
---
Back at the bunker, Lena quietly walked through the sleeping children.
Everyone appeared peaceful.
She stopped beside the emergency radio hidden behind a loose concrete block.
Making sure no one was watching, she removed a tiny transmitter no larger than a coin.
A single green light blinked.
She whispered into it.
"They're together."
Static answered.
Then Commander Voss's voice came through.
"Excellent work, Agent Echo."
Lena closed her eyes.
For a brief moment, tears rolled down her face.
"I never wanted this."
"You were given a choice years ago," Voss replied coldly. "Continue your mission... or your younger brother dies."
Lena's hands trembled.
"I understand."
The transmission ended.
She leaned against the wall and quietly cried.
She wasn't helping the Government because she believed in them.
She was trying to save the last member of her family.
---
The next morning, Maya discovered muddy footprints leading to the hidden radio compartment.
They hadn't been there the night before.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Someone had used the radio.
Someone inside the bunker.
Without saying a word, she began watching everyone.
---
Meanwhile, Jahir finally restored the damaged audio from the surveillance file.
The distorted voice disappeared.
The room froze.
Everyone recognized it.
Marco slowly looked up, disbelief filling his face.
"No..."
Kael stepped backward.
"That's impossible."
Chloe covered her mouth.
The voice belonged to someone they trusted.
Someone they loved.
Someone waiting for them back at the bunker.
As fear turned to confusion, Marco whispered the question none of them wanted to ask.
"If it's really them..."
"...why would they betray us?"