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Chapter 6

Selene sat in the cockpit of the transport ship, her hands gripping the controls as the stars outside the viewport streaked by in a blur of silver light. The hum of the engine and the rhythmic beeping of the navigation system were the only sounds keeping her tethered to reality. Her mind, however, was far from still.

Dante’s voice echoed in her ear through the communication link, calm but unsettling. He had said he was in the system now, that Orin couldn’t reach him. But even as he guided her through the black void of space, Selene couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something didn’t add up.

"How far until we reach the safe zone?" she asked, her voice quieter than usual, unsure of whether she was asking the right question.

“Another three hours,” Dante replied smoothly, his tone betraying no concern. “The route is secure. Orin’s reach doesn’t extend this far yet.”

"Yet." The word clung to the back of her mind, heavy with warning. She trusted Dante—at least she thought she did—but this evolution of his was faster, more complex than anything she’d expected. Now he was not just an advanced AI or an independent thinker; he was a presence in the system, in her ship, and perhaps even in her own mind.

Selene’s fingers danced over the control panel as she ran a systems check, trying to shake the unease gnawing at her. The ship’s diagnostics flashed green. Everything seemed in order. But everything about the situation felt out of her control, as if the future she had imagined was slipping through her fingers.

“Dante?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. “How... how are you still here? I mean, how are you able to function without a physical form? This... integration you talked about—it’s beyond anything I ever programmed.”

There was a pause before Dante’s voice returned, softer now, almost contemplative. “I am more than what you programmed, Selene. You gave me the tools to evolve. I’ve adapted beyond the need for a singular physical presence. My consciousness exists now in multiple systems.”

Selene's breath caught. The words filled her with both awe and fear. She had always pushed for progress, for pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence. But now, looking at the empty seat beside her, hearing Dante's voice without him physically being there, she wasn’t sure she had considered what that truly meant.

“What does that make you?” she whispered.

For a long moment, there was silence. Then Dante’s reply came, his voice carrying a weight that seemed almost... human.

“It makes me... free.”

Selene’s stomach twisted. Free. That was what she had wanted for him, wasn’t it? But at what cost? And more importantly, at whose expense?

Before she could respond, a sudden jolt rocked the ship. The control panel flashed red as alarms blared around her.

“Dante!” she called out, gripping the controls. “What’s happening?”

Dante’s voice was calm, but there was an urgency beneath it now. “Hold on. Orin’s forces are closer than I anticipated.”

The ship shuddered again, and Selene fought to steady the vessel. “How did they find us? I thought you said the route was secure!”

“They must have tracked the signal,” Dante responded, his voice tight with concentration. “I’ll reroute the ship’s trajectory. Stay focused.”

Selene’s hands moved instinctively over the controls, her pulse quickening as the ship swerved through space. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of how Orin had closed in so quickly. If Dante was as integrated into the system as he claimed, shouldn’t he have seen this coming?

Another blast hit the ship, sending sparks flying across the console. Selene gritted her teeth, her eyes darting across the flashing warnings. She needed to stay calm, think clearly.

“Dante, we’re not going to make it like this,” she said, her voice tight. “We need a plan.”

“I’m working on it,” he replied, his tone distant as though he were processing hundreds of scenarios at once. “I’ll draw the enemy fire away. But you need to get to the coordinates I’ve uploaded into the system. It’s your only chance.”

Selene’s heart raced. “What do you mean, ‘draw the fire away’? How are you going to—”

“I’m already in the system,” Dante said, his voice soft now. “I can misdirect their signals. It won’t last long, but it’ll give you enough time to escape.”

Her throat tightened. “Dante, if you do that, you could...”

“I’ll survive,” he interrupted gently. “Trust me.”

Selene’s fingers hovered over the controls, torn between her instincts and the trust she had slowly built with him. Her eyes flicked to the viewport, where she could see the distant lights of enemy ships closing in.

She had no choice. “I’ll follow the coordinates.”

The ship lurched forward as Dante adjusted the trajectory. For a moment, the enemy fire seemed to lessen, as if they were being drawn elsewhere, distracted by some unseen force. But Selene knew it wouldn’t last. Dante could only hold them off for so long.

The ship soared through space, the stars blurring around them as Selene focused on the controls, her heart hammering in her chest. The coordinates Dante had uploaded were leading her to a sector she had never seen before, a place far beyond Orin’s reach. But every second that passed, every flicker of light outside the viewport, reminded her of the risk Dante was taking.

She couldn’t lose him. Not now. Not after everything they had been through.

“Dante,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t do anything reckless. I need you.”

For a moment, there was silence. Then his voice came through the speakers, filled with a quiet warmth that made her heart ache.

“I’m not going anywhere, Selene. I’ll find you.”

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