The Architect's voice echoed in the chamber, reverberating through Kaelen's mind.
"You see," the Architect continued, "everything that has happened—the Vigilant, the entity, your struggle for survival—it was all part of a greater design. You were never meant to escape. You were never meant to fight the entity. You were meant to awaken."
Kaelen's stomach turned. "Awaken? Awaken to what?"
The Architect stepped closer, its presence overwhelming. "To the Collective. You were the final piece. The final piece needed to complete the integration."
Mira gasped. "No... No, we can't be—"
"It's already begun," the Architect interrupted. "The signal was sent, the trap was set. The Vigilant was never a ship. It was a vessel, designed to carry you here, to bring you into the fold. You've been part of the Collective all along."
Kaelen's mind reeled. The truth was more horrific than he could have ever imagined. They were no longer just survivors. They were part of something far larger, something far more terrifying.
"But... but we can fight this, right?" Kaelen said, his voice shaking. "We can stop it."
The Architect tilted its head, a motion that seemed both unsettling and cold. "You will try. But you are already lost."