**Chapter 12: Unraveling the Truth**

Sage stood frozen in the dimly lit quarters, her mind racing with the revelation Guess had shared. The words echoed in her mind like a mantra: Erebus, enhanced soldiers, experimentation. She couldn't shake off the feeling that her entire perception of Viper had been turned upside down. As she stood there, trying to process everything, she knew she had to see Viper. She needed to know the truth, to understand what had driven Viper to become the person she was today. With a newfound sense of determination, Sage walked towards the door and pushed it open. The corridor was empty, and she made her way to Viper's quarters, her heart pounding in her chest. She took a deep breath before knocking on the door. The door slid open, and Viper stood before her, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in Sage's expression. "What do you want, Sage?" Viper asked, her voice neutral. Sage took a step forward, her eyes locked on Viper's. "I want to talk," she said, her voice firm. "I know what Guess told me. About the program, about Erebus." Viper's expression didn't change, but Sage detected a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "Guess shouldn't have said anything," Viper said, her voice low. Sage took another step forward, her heart racing with anticipation. "I need to know the truth, Viper. About what happened to you, about what drives you." Viper's eyes seemed to bore into Sage's soul, as if searching for something. Then, with a slight nod, she stepped aside, allowing Sage to enter. The quarters were dimly lit, with only a few flickering lights illuminating the space. Sage's eyes adjusted slowly, and she saw that Viper had set up a small makeshift gym in the center of the room. There were weights, a punching bag, and a few other pieces of equipment. Viper walked over to the punching bag and began to hit it with a series of swift, precise punches. "Guess told you about Erebus," Viper said, her voice still neutral. Sage nodded, her eyes fixed on Viper's back. "She told me you were part of a government-funded program. That they experimented on you." Viper stopped punching the bag and turned to face Sage. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the only sound the heavy breathing. Then, with a slight nod, Viper began to speak. "Yes, I was part of Erebus. They took me, altered me, made me into a soldier. They pushed me to my limits, tested my endurance, my strength, my will to survive." As Viper spoke, Sage saw a glimmer of something in her eyes - a flash of pain, of anger, of determination. She realized that Viper was still fighting, still seeking revenge against those who had created her. "I want to know more," Sage said, her voice barely above a whisper. Viper's eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, Sage felt like she was drowning in their depths. Then, with a slight nod, Viper began to walk towards Sage, her eyes never leaving hers. "Then let's start with the truth," Viper said, her voice low and husky. "Let's start with what really happened in that program." As Viper drew closer, Sage felt a shiver run down her spine. She knew that she was about to uncover secrets that would change everything she thought she knew about Viper, about herself, and about the world around her.