It’s been a month since Agent Shadow lost his partner—Agent Blair. He hasn’t been able to forget the last moment he saw her. The image of her begging him to leave so he could escape with the intel they had gathered. The way she used herself as a shield for him. Those memories linger, haunting him even in his sleep.

Today is no different. He wakes from the same nightmare again, his chest tight with regret. He wishes things had been different—that he had saved her instead of escaping like a coward. His gaze shifts to a message from the Robotics and Information Department. It’s unusual. They rarely contact him, let alone summon him directly.

Without hesitation, he gets dressed and heads straight there. The facility feels cold and unfamiliar as he steps inside. His eyes immediately land on the head of the department—standing in front of something that makes him freeze.

Agent Blair.

Or at least, something that looks like her.

She stands motionless, her body connected to a network of machines and wires. For a moment, his mind refuses to process what he’s seeing. He takes a step closer, his body trembling as confusion and dread settle deep in his chest.

The explanation comes, but it does little to ease the growing unease within him. A replica. Recreated with her memories. Preserved so her abilities wouldn’t be lost.

Turned into an AI.

The sight of her makes him nauseous.