Tessa brought the door to the meeting.
Not the door itself. She brought a photograph, the published exit plan and a copy of the timestamped message reporting that exit two would not open. She arranged them on the table before the organizers finished putting out water.
A committee official looked at the photograph and asked whether she wanted a larger display.
“I want someone who can answer for it.”
The official’s smile thinned. He went to find the operations representative.
Eli sat beside Kellan at the back. Juno had gone to prepare her analysis request for the recovered drives. Sera stood by the side wall, counting the routes from this ordinary meeting room to the street. Eli knew what she was doing because he had done it on entering. Three windows, one usable corridor, two chairs blocking the side door until a clerk moved them.
The trial director arrived with a revised schedule. He began by acknowledging the injuries and Dain’s death. Then he explained that the gates were becoming less predictable and that the Tower program offered information no ordinary guild could gather.
“Every week we postpone has consequences beyond this competition.”
