Nadia checked the vitals on her tablet one last time before setting it on the counter. "The patch is synced again. Listen to Rowan while I'm not here."
Chris nodded, tugging his sleeve back over the small, adhesive patch on his upper arm. It glowed faintly purple beneath the fabric, one more reminder that his body was being monitored like an unstable reactor.
The morning dragged into afternoon in quiet fragments. Rowan stayed nearby, alternating between security calls and standing at the window like a human shield. Nadia came and went, checking numbers, leaving bottles of electrolyte water and nutrient bars he didn't touch until she glared him into it.
