​Intermission 2. Michael

Gabe’s thoughts entered Michael’s mind in a single instant — silent, compressed. Zero latency, almost. Not words, but pure information, folded into a tight packet.

> Signal stable. The sensors are tracking movement and recording audio.

Michael replied the same way — a blunt impulse, lacking even the pretense of subtlety.

> Energy signatures?

> Present. They don’t match any known model, none of the known ones. A unique pattern. Great Rift signature. The packet carried an echo of dry satisfaction. The entity is unstable, shifting like a living organism.

Michael processed the stream. A good result. He felt no joy—just professional interest.

> The agent?

> Operational, yes. Didn’t expect such willingness to cooperate. It’s driven by guilt.

> Guilt is a lever, Michael thought, the echo following. Until it breaks.

> It won’t break, Gabe replied instantly. It will follow orders. For now.

> The source?

> Identified. The data signature matches. This is the anomaly. She is the key.

> Then she’s exactly what we need. But this is only the beginning.

> And after? Gabe asked. The anomaly is my interest. What’s your plan?

> The connection between Eliza Dahmer and Lily Thorne. Dahmer knows Lanier and has ties to BioTech. If we confirm it, Lily gets compromised and removed from her chair.

> And then the Committee hands BioTech over to our control, Gabe added.

> Precisely. Her link to Dahmer is our opportunity.

The connection severed. The entire exchange — less than a second.