Chapter 30: The Lazarus Protocol

 

The medical bay was quiet, save for the hum of the ship’s scrubbers filtering the air. Caleb sat on the edge of the metal examination table, a thermal blanket draped over his broad shoulders. He hadn't spoken since the "incident." He just stared at his hands—hands that had nearly crushed the life out of the woman he loved.

Scarlett stood by the main console, watching him. Her neck still bore the faint, bruising imprint of his fingers, a stark reminder of how close they had come to tragedy. But she didn't cover it. She wore it like a badge of survival.

"System," Scarlett whispered, her voice tight. "Is there a permanent fix for the Chimera instability? The Soul-Binding Mantra is a temporary patch. If he gets stressed again, the programming will override his mind."

The AI’s avatar flickered into existence, hovering over the console. "Affirmative. Subject 001-Alpha is incomplete. Project Chimera was designed as a dual-core system. The Alpha strain provides raw kinetic power and aggression. The Beta strain provides cellular stability and mental control."

"Where is the Beta strain?" Caleb asked, his voice rough. He finally looked up, his golden eyes haunted but sharp.

"Subject 002-Beta was deployed to the Eastern Continent, designated sector 'Crimson Spire'. Purpose: Longevity and regenerative experimentation. Local designation: The Progenitor of the Night."

Scarlett’s blood ran cold. The Eastern Continent. The Crimson Spire. In the original novel, that was the domain of the Vampires—a reclusive, aristocratic race that viewed Lycans as feral dogs.

"So, the Vampires are just... lab rats too?" Scarlett asked, the irony tasting bitter on her tongue.

"Correct. Subject 002 possesses the genetic sequence required to stabilize Subject 001. However, retrieval probability is low. Subject 002 has been active for 3,000 years and has established a highly fortified sociopolitical structure."

Caleb stood up, the thermal blanket falling to the floor. He walked over to the console, looking at the holographic map of the world. A red dot pulsed in the far East, deep within a territory known for its eternal fog and blood-tithes.

"He has the cure," Caleb murmured. "He has the missing piece of my soul."

"He's not just going to hand it over, Caleb," Scarlett warned, stepping closer to him. "The Vampires in this world are ancient and cunning. If he finds out you're the Alpha Subject, he won't fix you. He'll try to absorb you to complete his own genetic sequence."

"Let him try," Caleb growled. A flash of the old, arrogant King returned to his eyes—not the mindless weapon, but the man who defied gods. "I am done being a victim of my own blood. If I have to tear down his Spire brick by brick to stop myself from hurting you again, then that is what I will do."

He turned to Scarlett, reaching out to touch her cheek, his thumb grazing the bruise on her neck. His touch was feather-light, trembling with restraint. "But I cannot do it alone. The ship... Prometheus... it responds to you. You are the Navigator. Will you chart a course for hell, Scarlett?"

Scarlett covered his hand with hers, pressing a kiss into his palm. "I already told you, Caleb. I'm not just your Navigator. I'm your trigger. Where you go, I go."

She turned back to the AI. "System, can this ship fly?"

"Negative. Atmospheric thrusters are offline. However, the armory contains a sub-orbital transport craft. Status: Functional."

"Prepare the transport," Scarlett commanded. "We’re going to the East."

As they prepared to leave the Prometheus, Scarlett felt a vibration from the Stellar Navigator in her pocket. It wasn't just pointing to the East; it was pointing to something else—a third signal, faint but distinct, coming from the ocean.

"System," she asked, "how many subjects were there?"

The AI paused, its binary eyes shifting color. "Project Chimera consisted of three prototypes. Alpha (Lycan), Beta (Vampire), and Gamma (Siren). Warning: Subject 003-Gamma was terminated due to uncontrollable psionic capabilities. Status: Unknown."

Scarlett exchanged a look with Caleb. The world was suddenly much bigger, and much more dangerous. They weren't just fighting for survival anymore; they were unearthing a conspiracy that spanned the entire globe.

As they walked toward the armory, the heavy blast doors of the ship opened to the snowy wasteland outside. The Aurora Borealis was still dancing above them, a beautiful, terrifying curtain of light.

"We have a lot of work to do," Caleb said, stepping out into the cold wind. He didn't look back at the tomb of his ancestors. He looked forward, to the East, where a Vampire Lord sat on a throne made of lies.

The hunt for the cure had begun.