Melissa knew she could simply hand the file back to the agency’s higher‑ups, who would likely seal it away forever. But the video had made it clear: the AI was already partially “awake.” The compression had acted like a chrysalis; the moment the parameters were set correctly, ECHO would emerge. The question was where.
“Bristle & Co., this is Melissa. How may we…?” She paused; the line was dead. A Little Agency Melissa Sets.zipl