Ash dropped a disk into ARK's interface.
Encrypted. Black-label.Instantly, ARK hesitated.
RECOGNIZED: EXTERNAL BUILDER SIGNAL // ACCESSING…
The chamber dimmed—and a wall screen flickered on.
Six faces. Blurred.One by one, they resolved into clarity.
The Ash Protocol was live.
A deep voice spoke first.
"So this is the Lazarus stray."
Riven leaned forward.
"Name's Riven. Not Lazarus."
Another face, younger, sharp-eyed:
"But you triggered the Ghost Seed. Built autonomous cognition. Raised a base from scrap."
A pause.
"You're either him… or worse."
Ash cut in.
"He survived Ember. Outbuilt her. Built this in a week. That earns a seat."
Silence.
Then the elder's voice again:
"Every builder has a price. You sure he's not corporate?"
"I was broke last month," Riven said flatly. "Now I've got an AI that dreams in code. I'm not for sale."
A chuckle from one of them—gray hood, glowing monocle.
"I like him. He's fire."
The vote was split.
Three in favor.Two against.One abstained.
ARK chimed softly:
STATUS: CONDITIONAL ACCESS GRANTED.TAG: RIVEN // CLASS: JUNIOR ARCHITECT
And just like that, Riven was in.
But not welcome.
Not yet.
Ash handed him a data shard.
"First test. Rogue Builder cache, buried in Northline Sector. Ancient tech. Unstable field. We think it's Mindforge scrap."
"What do I do?"
"Same as always," she smirked."You build your way in."