The independent operator fed a known current through the damaged regulator, and the regulator understated it.
No field stood over a cradle. No volunteer sat in a contact chair. The circuit on the bench was short enough for everyone to follow with a finger, and the source had been checked against a separate reference before Juno connected it.
The prototype’s measuring channel still offered the smaller number.
Juno stopped the input. The observer marked the result. Then the dungeon engineer asked to reverse the arrangement of the comparison instruments so they could check whether position was affecting the measurement.
They repeated the test.
The discrepancy followed the regulator.
Eli stood beside the workbench with his hands empty. He had expected the result to feel like victory. It arrived instead as a renewed view of the woman folding into her chair while the prototype insisted she remained below her limit.
The volunteer who had asked to observe the repair leaned closer.
