She didn't know if it was from the cold… or from everything else.
I loved him, she thought.
Beyond the plexiglass, Torv's eyes widened. His grip tightened around the rifle, arms tense, sights locked on the containment zone. His legs shifted into firing posture, but the barrel twitched slightly—uncertainty creeping in.
Beside him, Mira's hand pressed firmly to his forearm. "Wait," she said, voice low, her braid swinging as she leaned toward the main terminal. "Let's not jump."
A loud chirp blared from the central console. Motion detected. Integrity breach confirmed.
Lykos tapped his earpiece, voice gravel-thick and flat. "Commander's en route. Hold your ground."
The containment chamber's curtains parted a second later.
