The early morning light spilled over the city, but inside the sprawling mansion, tension thickened the air like a storm waiting to break. Number 0 stood by the window, watching the bustle of the world beyond—a world unaware of the fragile web of time that balanced precariously on their choices.
His mind churned with calculations and possibilities, but none could quiet the gnawing loneliness that accompanied his growing power.
(The more I control, the more I lose.)
The family meeting had been scheduled, reluctantly agreed upon after weeks of silence and distance. The siblings gathered in the dimly lit sitting room, faces worn and wary. It was clear the fractures between them had deepened.
Luther was the first to speak, voice heavy with accusation. "We've been fighting battles you've chosen to watch from a distance. We're breaking apart, and you're nowhere to be found."
Zero met his stare steadily. "I've been building what we need to survive. Strength isn't just muscle or fire—it's strategy, influence."
Allison's arms were crossed, eyes sharp. "You think wealth and control fix what's broken between us?"
"No," Zero admitted. "But they buy time. And right now, time is our most precious commodity."
Vanya's gaze was distant, flickering with uncertainty. "I don't know who you are anymore."
Zero's throat tightened. (She's right. I'm slipping into a shadow I barely recognize.)
"I'm still your brother," he said quietly. "But maybe it's time I stop hiding behind the number."
Diego paced restlessly, the tension in the room crackling. "You can't just play god and expect us to follow."
"Gods fall," Zero countered. "I'm trying to prevent that."
Klaus's voice was low, tinged with bitter irony. "Funny, I always thought the 'forgotten' one would be the one to save us. Didn't expect him to turn into the most untouchable."
The conversation spiraled, voices rising, old wounds tearing open. But beneath the anger was fear—the fear of losing each other to time's relentless march.
Zero stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "We can't afford to fall apart. The Commission won't wait for us to be ready. They're coming, and they're more dangerous than ever."
Five nodded grimly. "We need to be united. Not just for us, but for the world."
Later that night, Zero retreated to his private planet, the only place where time bent to his will and silence ruled supreme.
There, he reflected on the rift growing between him and his family.
(Power isolates. But it also reveals what truly matters.)
He vowed silently to bridge the gap—to find a way to be the brother they needed, not the ghost they feared.
Back on Earth, the Handler's machinations tightened like a noose. Her agents moved unseen, ready to strike.
Zero knew the battle for time was far from over—and the next move would determine everything.