“She knew,” I continue, my voice low, tight. “She knew exactly what this would do.”
Vihl exhales sharply, dragging a hand through his hair.
“Tyrok—”
“Where does it lead?” I cut in.
“External docking routes,” the officer answers. “Maintenance access. Emergency exit paths.”
Escape routes.
My claws dig slightly into the edge of the console.
“She’s removing herself,” I say.
The words settle with finality.
“She’s fixing it,” Vihl mutters.
“No,” I correct, my voice dropping into something colder. “She’s trying to.”
I straighten slowly, the tension in my body coiling into something sharper, more focused.
“Get me every exit vector,” I order. “Every possible route she could take.”
The crew moves instantly.
But I already know.
I already understand.
And I already feel it?—
The moment where this stops being something I can control.
“She did this without telling you,” Vihl says quietly.
“Yes.”
“And you didn’t see it coming.”
I don’t answer him.
Because I did.
I just chose something else.
And now?—
Now I’m paying for it.
I turn toward the exit, already moving.
“Lock down all external access,” I snap. “Now.”
“Already too late if she’s ahead of the seals,” Vihl says.
“I didn’t ask for probabilities,” I reply.
