Jérémy Chapi :
At last, we had arrived in Atlantis.
I had only one desire left: to get off this plane and resume the next steps of my project.
A car was already waiting for us.
I spotted Natali — perfectly herself — hanging up her phone.
Vivian, still carrying the suitcase I had entrusted to her, watched me out of the corner of her eye as I carefully unloaded the server, the fresh breeze helping despite the high sun.
The car drove us into the heart of the military base, partially embedded in the mountain.
Someone brought me a trolley to transport the server.
"Follow me, please," Natali said in her usual firm tone, leading me through long, white, sterilized corridors.
Almost oppressive.
Enormous doors lined the walls, wide enough for a truck to pass through.
"Where are we going?" I asked, intrigued.
Being deprived of light or isolated didn't bother me… but why go so deep into the mountain?
Could I really be a prisoner?
I forced the thought aside.
"You'll see soon enough," she replied vaguely — deliberately vague — which only put me more on edge.
We reached a massive elevator door — a freight lift, judging by its ridiculous size.
Natali placed her fingerprint, swiped a card, then entered a code.
The mechanism unlocked.
Everything was under maximum security: cameras, airlocks, sensors… nothing was left to chance.
Inside, there were no buttons, no indications.
Fully automated.
When the doors closed, I felt us descending even deeper.
A single narrow window revealed the rock sliding by.
"Are you planning to lock me inside the depths of this mountain?" I half-joked.
"Not exactly," Natali answered, her tone still neutral.
"Rumor has it no one ever comes back from wherever she's taking you," Vivian added playfully… or so I hoped.
I glanced at the server and at the Evangelyne Ring.
I hope I made the right choice, I murmured.
At last, the lift stopped.
A new door opened into another corridor.
The complex was even larger than I had imagined.
Natali opened yet another door.
A massive room lit up gradually.
Brilliant white walls.
A gray concrete floor marked by tire tracks.
But what froze me in place…
…was the silhouette of the Liberty, standing in the center of the chamber.
And on a workbench… Adamaï.
"Happy birthday!" Vivian said with a teasing grin.
"It's not my birthday, but… thank you," I replied, stepping closer to the ship.
I placed my hand on the hull.
Burnt paint, sabotaged engines… part of the cockpit destroyed.
My chest tightened.
"I never thought I'd see it again," I whispered.
Natali explained:
"Many wanted to dismantle it. We declared that the power source had been destroyed in the fire. Only a handful of people know it's here."
Vivian set the suitcase down and stepped away.
"Why all of this? What is my status? Am I a prisoner?" I finally asked.
"You are a political refugee," Natali replied, handing me an access card and a phone.
"This entire facility is reserved for you.
You are free inside.
Your fingerprint is already registered.
You'll find everything you need here."
"You could've added my number too," Vivian complained jokingly.
"Why?" I asked, still cautious.
Natali stepped closer, her gaze sharp.
"The President holds you in high regard.
You seem to share a connection with him through this Séléné.
Believe me, I should be the one feeling unsettled here."
Was that… jealousy?
"I'm just as lost as you are," I admitted.
"None of this makes sense to me either."
Vivian cut in:
"Alright, calm down, both of you."
"What do you want me to do?" I asked.
"What you intended from the beginning: give humanity hope," Natali declared.
"Then I'll need help.
And a powerful computer."
Vivian and Natali left the room, leaving me alone.
I discovered three additional rooms:
WC, a luxurious bathroom, and a simple bedroom with a wardrobe.
After a shower, I returned to the Liberty.
The pain in my arm intensified again, but I ignored it.
I examined the ship's damage — impacts, burns.
"What a shame…" murmured Adamaï.
"I didn't really have a choice."
The large door suddenly opened.
Vivian entered with two soldiers pulling a gigantic computer tower behind them.
"Where do you want this?" she asked.
I pointed to a corner of the workshop.
"Here, thanks.
And… Natali still hasn't returned.
I hope I didn't upset her."
"Don't worry, she's survived worse," Vivian replied.
Once the soldiers were gone, I gathered my courage:
"This has been bugging me for a while… but can we drop the formalities and use first names?"
Vivian burst out laughing.
"If you want, but you might regret it, sweetheart."
She suddenly stepped forward, pinning me lightly against the workbench, her leg sliding between mine.
I looked away instantly, face burning.
"Natali isn't as cold as she seems.
And I'd like to get to know you better," she whispered.
I placed a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back.
"Sorry… my heart already belongs to someone."
Vivian stepped away, embarrassed.
"Sorry… I was crossing a line.
Let's stick to being friends then."
I sat down.
"You must know my life by heart from your report, so… where do we start?"
Vivian gave a faint smile.
"Reports don't say anything about the heart.
Losing your family, your grandparents…
that feeling of abandonment…
I can see it in your eyes.
I understand why you want to build your own family."
I lowered my head.
She continued:
"Be careful, Jérémy.
One day, your wings may melt if you fly too close to the sun."
"It's a risk I accept," I answered.
Vivian blushed lightly.
"My turn.
I can't reveal everything — it's classified.
But Natali and I have been friends since before the army.
We're part of the LADA, an elite unit.
For this mission, I was your bodyguard.
And… my mission ends today."
A sting of sadness hit me.
"Will we see each other again?" I asked.
She gave me an enigmatic smile.
"Yes.
But before I leave… someone wants to meet you."
I smiled back.
"Good.
Because I also have someone I want you to meet."
I placed my hand on the giant computer tower.
"Now that you've brought me this…
I can finally show you something important."