Chapter 4: The Catalyst

Julia sat on the floor of her childhood bedroom, surrounded by piles of her father’s old files. The room, once filled with warmth and safety, now felt like a vault of secrets. The news of his death had hit her like a storm, but the discovery of the encrypted file on his personal computer left her shaken.

Her father had always been meticulous, a man of science and reason. Yet, the cryptic file labeled “Dunnorage_KFS” seemed like something out of a thriller novel. What was he involved in? And why had he warned her about it only hours before his death?

She powered up the laptop she had taken from his office. It was secured with multiple layers of passwords, but Julia knew her father’s mind better than anyone. After a few failed attempts, she tried the name of her late mother, followed by her birthdate.

Access granted.

Her breath caught as a folder popped open. Inside were several documents, schematics, and a video file. Julia hesitated, her finger hovering over the video, before finally clicking play.

Her father’s face appeared on the screen, illuminated by the dim light of his office. He looked older than she remembered, his usual calm demeanor replaced with tension.

“Julia,” he began, his voice heavy. “If you’re watching this, it means I didn’t make it. I’m sorry for leaving you with this burden, but you’re the only one I can trust. There are things I need to explain, but I don’t have much time.”

Julia leaned closer, her heart pounding.

“I was part of a project called Dunnorage,” he continued. “It was meant to be a breakthrough in neural interface technology, a way to enhance human cognition and bridge gaps in communication. But somewhere along the way, it became something else—a tool for control, for manipulation.”

He ran a hand through his hair, a rare gesture of frustration.

“Kentofes, the organization funding Dunnorage, saw its potential not as a means of progress, but as a weapon. They want to use it to create a society without dissent, without individuality. Fendi… he—”

Dr. Adam hesitated, his expression pained.

“Fendi was my closest friend. We worked together for years, and his brilliance was unmatched. But Fendi wasn’t alone. There was Sarah—another side of him. I don’t know if it was the pressure of the work or something that had always been there, but Sarah was... different. Where Fendi sought innovation, Sarah saw the moral cost. She tried to stop the project, but it was too late. They—he—was too deeply entrenched.”

The video crackled, and Julia felt a chill run down her spine.

“Kentofes will stop at nothing to protect their vision. If you’re watching this, Julia, it means they’re coming for you, too. You have to stay hidden. You have to—”

The video cut off abruptly, leaving Julia staring at the frozen frame of her father’s face.

A wave of nausea hit her as the pieces began to click into place. Her father’s work with PRASASTI, the mysterious Fendi/Sarah, and Kentofes—it was all connected.

Julia closed the laptop and leaned back against the wall, her mind racing. She had to find out more about Dunnorage and the people involved.

And she had to find a way to stop them.