Jason stepped into the Pulse Studios AI bunker the next morning to the roar of victory—but he didn't smile.
Specter Black had gone viral in less than twelve hours.
Not under its real name, of course. The AI's reach was masked behind trending creators, whistleblower leaks, "coincidental" YouTube exposés, and a cascade of subreddits going ballistic with uncannily synchronized theories.
The truth had been scattered like breadcrumbs. And the world was following the trail.
Cass was already at the command terminal, flipping through data.
"Valkyrie's response teams deployed counter-content at 3:45 a.m. They're pushing every distraction they've got—celebrity scandals, market fear, fake crises."
Naomi joined them. "But here's the kicker—Specter neutralized eighty-two percent of it before sunrise. Users flagged Valkyrie's campaigns as disinformation without prompting. Specter adapted its logic tree before humans even caught on."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "It's teaching the public to think critically?"
Naomi grinned. "More like... it's making them want to think critically."
Cass leaned in. "We're not just fighting with facts anymore. We're reprogramming trust."
Jason exhaled, watching the real-time influence maps bloom.
"Let's test the next phase."
---
Phase Two: PulseX
Pulse Studios' newest product had been quietly brewing for six months: a decentralized news and finance app called PulseX. It was part blockchain wallet, part truth engine, part whistleblower haven—and Jason had just flipped the switch to make it public beta.
Tied directly into Specter Black, it offered verified market insights, geopolitical forecasts, and AI-vetted journalism with zero corporate oversight.
Within hours of launch, thousands of downloads turned into tens of thousands.
Then a tweet from Edward Snowden's official account—"This changes everything."
Boom. A million installs in twelve hours.
---
Later That Night – Jason's Penthouse
Jason stood in front of his massive glass window, sipping neat bourbon. The city lights blinked like a grid of possibilities. He felt it—that subtle shift in the balance of power.
Cass approached from behind, barefoot, in one of his shirts.
"You know what you've done, right?" she murmured.
He didn't turn. "Started a war?"
She stepped beside him. "Started a revolution."
Naomi entered, phone in hand. "We've been contacted by a shadow firm in Singapore. They want to partner with us. They claim they have access to Valkyrie's core algorithm."
Jason finally looked at her. "Set up the meeting."
Naomi smirked. "Already did. Virtual. 9 a.m. tomorrow."
---
Valkyrie HQ – Encrypted Conference Room
General Mercer looked older than usual.
"They've outmaneuvered us at every turn. Specter isn't just software. It's… predictive. It's creative. We can't shut it down because we can't even see it coming."
A suited executive with cold eyes leaned forward. "Then it's time to escalate. We introduce chaos. Real world. Let's see how smart West is when everything around him burns."
Mercer hesitated, then nodded.
"Activate Project Ember."