Rejected by the Alpha, Claimed by the Beast
"About three hours. If the Seed isn't planted by then, the orbital lasers will turn this wasteland into a glass marble."
---
### The Ghost of a Garden
We reached the base of the Apex Tower. It was a terrifying spire of black glass and chrome, piercing the clouds like a needle. There were no guards. No sirens. The silence was more frightening than a war.
"The Editor is at the top," Sterling said. She was beginning to fade, her edges becoming transparent as the violet light within her grew. "I have given you the path. But I cannot enter the Apex. My 'Asset Tag' is still active. If I enter, I will be automatically deleted."