THE STARDUST FORTUNE

Chapter 29: Dangerous Discoveries

"Look at these," Luna spread holographic files across Alex's dorm room. "Every major terraforming project in the last decade. Moscow. Beijing. Dubai."

"All failures," Alex noted.

"Not failures. Sabotage." Luna's white glow pulsed as she connected to the collective consciousness. "I can see the pattern now. Drake Industries had people inside each project."

"That's circumstantial-"

"Then explain this." She projected another file. "Marcus didn't just get reassigned. He's gone. Completely erased."

Alex's throat tightened. "What do you mean erased?"

"Every trace. Like he never existed." Luna pulled up more files. "Just like these scientists. All working on competing projects. All vanished."

"Like my father?"

"Alex..." Luna hesitated. "There's something else. About your father's lab."

"What?"

"The readings I got before Eleanor's security blocked us out? They weren't just seismic. They were..."

A knock at the door made them both jump.

"Alex?" Eleanor's voice. "We need to talk."

Luna's light