But the next day, the Obsidian Hand came harder.

They launched a massive cyberattack. It wasn’t just scans or tests now. It was a full assault on the systems protecting the Echo. They didn’t come through the front door. They hit smaller systems that seemed unimportant but were secretly tied to their secure network.

Cypher was ready. But the attack was unlike anything he had seen. He sat hunched over his desk, typing like a madman, eyes flicking across a wall of screens showing blinking red warnings and moving data trails.

“They’re using stuff I’ve never seen before!” he yelled. “New types of hacks. Smart. Fast. Almost alive!”

Amelia’s voice...