Chapter 9: Chapter 9 – Collision of Paths

Eve Larkin adjusted the lapel of her white lab coat as she stepped onto the stage of the Geneva Biotech Summit. The hall was cavernous, its vaulted ceiling draped in spotlights that glinted off crystal chandeliers. Rows of investors and scientists whispered among themselves, phones poised, eyes flicking toward the gleaming podium.

“Good afternoon,” she began, voice steady despite the familiar tingle of nerves. “I’m Dr. Evelyn Lin—Eve Larkin in this context—chief researcher at Horizon Labs. Today, I’m proud to present our prototype Recursion Chip…”

Behind her, a holographic schematic of a microdevice hovered in mid‑air: gold-plated contacts, neural‑interface leads, and a transparent polymer core. She tapped a control wand; the image rotated. “This chip not only halts neurodegenerative progression but actively repairs synaptic pathways through closed‑loop empathic feedback.”