Kunle sat at his workstation, pretending to be engrossed in his tasks. The lab’s usual hum of activity felt distant, drowned out by the hammering of his own thoughts. Ogundele’s words from earlier replayed in his mind: “There are layers to this facility you don’t understand. The less you know, the safer you are.” The warning had been clear, but Kunle couldn’t let it go. The encrypted message on the data chip, the images of memories—they gnawed at his curiosity like a persistent itch.

As the day wore on, Kunle noticed subtle changes in the atmosphere. The usual banter among the interns had quieted, replaced by a tense, almost wary silence. Security personnel roamed the lab with more frequency, their sharp eyes scanning every corner. It was as if the facility itself was on edge, though no one seemed willing to address it directly.

By late afternoon, Kunle’s opportunity came. Most of the interns had left for a scheduled briefing, leaving the lab unusually empty. Kunle stayed behind under the guise of finishing his diagnostics. The moment the door closed behind the last of his colleagues, he pulled out the data chip and inserted it into a secured terminal. His heart pounded as he entered a series of bypass commands, praying the system wouldn’t flag his actions.

The screen blinked to life, revealing a fragmented log file. Lines of corrupted text scrolled across the monitor, interspersed with snippets of what appeared to be a personal journal:

"Day 247: The memories are becoming harder to suppress. I see their faces when I close my eyes. The coalition promised us control, but this… this is something else."

Kunle’s pulse quickened. The entry was dated three years ago, but there was no name attached. He scrolled further, uncovering another fragment:

"True Genesis reached out again. They claim to know the truth about the overrides. If they’re right, then… no. I can’t think about that now. They’re watching."

The name “True Genesis” sent a chill down his spine. He’d heard whispers about the group before, dismissed as a fringe faction of anti-engrams activists. But this… this was something deeper. Before he could process the implications, the terminal emitted a sharp beep, and a red warning flashed across the screen:

"Unauthorized access detected. Logging incident."

Kunle’s blood ran cold. He yanked the chip out of the terminal and powered it down, his hands shaking. Footsteps echoed in the hallway outside, drawing closer. He barely had time to compose himself before the door opened, and Seyi stepped in, a mischievous grin on his face.

“Relax, it’s just me,” Seyi said, leaning against the doorframe. His eyes flicked to the powered-down terminal. “What’re you up to, Kunle?”

Kunle forced a chuckle. “Just wrapping up some diagnostics.”

Seyi raised an eyebrow. “Diagnostics, huh? Funny, because it looked like you were poking around in restricted logs.”

Kunle’s stomach dropped. He opened his mouth to deny it, but Seyi held up a hand.

“Relax. I’m not here to snitch,” Seyi said, his tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “But if you’re digging into stuff like that, you should be more careful. People around here don’t take kindly to curiosity.”

Kunle frowned. “What do you know about True Genesis?”

Seyi’s grin faltered. He glanced over his shoulder to ensure the hallway was empty before closing the door behind him. “You’ve heard of them?”

Kunle nodded. “Barely. Just whispers. But they’re connected to something big, aren’t they?”

Seyi sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, I’m not supposed to talk about this. But yeah, True Genesis is more than just some rebel group. They’ve got people on the inside. Scientists, technicians, even some of the security staff. They’re trying to expose what the coalition doesn’t want anyone to know.”

“What are they trying to expose?” Kunle asked, leaning forward.

Seyi hesitated, his eyes darting to the terminal. “The engrams. They’re not just about skills and knowledge. There’s… there’s something else. Something the coalition is hiding. I don’t know the full details, but True Genesis claims the engrams can do more than just enhance people. They can control them.”

Kunle’s breath caught. The memory fragments, the cryptic warnings—it all started to make a terrifying kind of sense. “Why would the coalition do that?”

“Power,” Seyi said simply. “Control. Isn’t that what it’s always about?”

Kunle leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. If what Seyi said was true, then the implications were staggering. The coalition wasn’t just building a better world; they were building a controlled one.

Before Kunle could respond, an alert sounded over the lab’s intercom.

“Attention: All personnel report to central briefing room. Attendance is mandatory.”

Seyi grimaced. “Looks like our chat’s over. Be careful, Kunle. And if you find yourself in too deep, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

With that, he slipped out of the room, leaving Kunle alone with his thoughts. The intercom’s announcement repeated, urging him to leave. Reluctantly, he powered down his station and joined the stream of staff heading to the briefing room.

The central briefing room was a large, circular space designed to accommodate the facility’s entire staff. Monitors lined the walls, displaying the coalition’s emblem and the motto: “Nothing New Under the Sun.” Kunle found a seat near the back, his nerves still on edge.

Ogundele stood at the front, his expression as stoic as ever. Beside him was a woman Kunle didn’t recognize. She wore a crisp black suit, her sharp features framed by sleek, shoulder-length hair. When she spoke, her voice carried the kind of authority that demanded attention.

“Good afternoon,” she began. “My name is Dr. Morayo Onifade, and I’m here on behalf of the coalition’s oversight committee. Recent events have necessitated a review of our security protocols.”

Kunle’s stomach churned. Recent events? Did they know about the data chip? About him?

Dr. Onifade continued, “As you all know, the coalition’s mission is to ensure the safety and progress of our society. However, there are those who seek to undermine that mission. Groups like True Genesis.”

The room stirred at the mention of the rebel group. Kunle kept his expression neutral, but his mind raced. This was no coincidence. They were closing in.

“To address this threat,” Dr. Onifade said, “we will be implementing enhanced surveillance measures. All personnel will undergo additional screenings, and access to restricted areas will be further limited.”

Kunle’s heart sank. This would make it nearly impossible for him to continue his investigation. He needed to act fast.

As the briefing ended, Ogundele’s gaze swept the room, landing briefly on Kunle. The look wasn’t accusatory, but it wasn’t reassuring either. Kunle felt like a mouse under the watchful eye of a hawk.

Later that evening, Kunle found himself back in his dormitory, the data chip burning a hole in his pocket. He knew he couldn’t risk accessing it on the facility’s network again. He needed help, someone he could trust. His thoughts turned to Aisha.

He’d seen her around the lab, always focused, always meticulous. She was new, but there was something about her—a quiet determination that set her apart. If anyone could help him piece this puzzle together, it was her.

Taking a deep breath, Kunle grabbed the chip and headed for her dorm. The halls were quiet, the facility’s usual buzz subdued under the weight of heightened security. When he reached her door, he hesitated. This was a gamble, but it was one he had to take.

He knocked softly. A moment later, the door opened, and Aisha’s curious eyes met his.

“Kunle? What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice low but not unkind.

“I need your help,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. “It’s important.”

She stepped aside, letting him in. “What’s going on?”

Kunle handed her the chip. “I found this in the logs. It’s connected to something big. Something dangerous.”

Aisha examined the chip, her brow furrowing. “Does this have anything to do with the new security measures?”

“I think so,” Kunle said. “But I can’t make sense of it on my own. Please, Aisha. You’re the only one I trust.”

She looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. “Alright. Let’s figure this out.”

As they began to work, Kunle felt a flicker of hope. He didn’t know where this path would lead, but for the first time, he wasn’t walking it alone.