Chapter 3 - THREE DAYS BEFORE THE ATTACK
Maya had worked in Dr. Victor Lang’s neuroengineering laboratory for almost two years.
Lang treated her differently from the other students.
He praised her discipline.
He introduced her to donors.
He told faculty members she had the instincts of a future medical researcher.
For Maya, his approval mattered.
She had grown up listening to Frank say that talent meant little without integrity. She believed Lang represented both.
The laboratory’s largest project was called Aegis.
Aegis used electrical nerve stimulation to help injured veterans regain movement in damaged limbs.
The university promoted it as revolutionary.
Apex Defense Systems funded the research.
Retired Colonel Daniel Ward, the university’s director of security and veterans’ programs, helped secure the contract.
Ward had once commanded Frank overseas.
He attended Maya’s high school graduation.
He wrote her university recommendation.
He called her “the daughter of the regiment.”
Maya trusted him almost as much as she trusted her father.
Then she noticed a number that did not belong.
One test subject’s neurological response had been labeled successful in the published report.
The raw data showed a seizure.
Maya checked another file.
Then another.
Adverse reactions had been deleted from every summary sent to Apex.
Three student veterans had suffered serious complications.
One of them, Jordan Ellis, had died six months earlier.
The university claimed Jordan overdosed after leaving the trial.
But his bloodwork showed no illegal drugs before his collapse.
Maya copied the files onto an encrypted drive.
She took them to Lang’s office.
“There are missing adverse-event reports.”
Lang closed the door.
“You should not be accessing those folders.”
“I’m assigned to data verification.”
“Not historical review.”
“Jordan Ellis died.”
Lang’s face hardened.
“Jordan had personal problems.”
“His final scan shows the same neural pattern as the other subjects.”
“You are making connections you are not qualified to make.”
Maya placed the report on his desk.
“The data was changed.”
Lang leaned back.
“You have an exceptional future here. Do not destroy it because you misunderstand administrative corrections.”
“Were the volunteers told about the seizures?”
“That is not your concern.”
“It became my concern when you used my analysis in the safety report.”
Lang’s expression softened again.
That frightened her more.
“Go home, Maya.”
She gathered the papers.
At the door, he said, “Your father understands classified work. Ask him what happens when inexperienced people expose information without context.”
Maya turned.
“This isn’t classified.”
Lang smiled faintly.
“Not yet.”
That night, Maya received an anonymous message.
STOP LOOKING AT JORDAN ELLIS.
She forwarded it to Ryan.
He replied immediately.
SAVE EVERYTHING TWICE.
It was the same lesson Frank had taught them both.
Maya created an automatic upload folder on her phone.
The next morning, her laboratory access was suspended.
By evening, someone had entered her apartment without forcing the lock.
Only one thing was missing.
May you like
The printed copy of Jordan’s medical report.
👉 Maya realized the people changing the research data also had access to her home—and one of them knew exactly what evidence she had taken.
