Before Alex can close PHLAK, a woman appears at the far end of the records corridor. Rachel Mercer is a lean young adult with dark skin, tightly braided hair, and a charcoal office jacket over a pale blouse; her employee badge swings as she advances.
Rachel Mercer
Step away from that terminal. You are accessing my account without authorization, and I want to know who gave you permission.
Daniel moves between Rachel and workstation twelve, one hand hovering over the terminal controls. He blocks the automatic report while keeping the preserved evidence open.
Daniel Cho
Rachel, stop there. The report is being contained, not erased. Your account authenticated after your scheduled departure.
Marjorie remains beside the bolted door, watching Rachel rather than the screen. Her fingers tighten around the paper ledger as the corridor falls quiet.
Marjorie Vale
You heard the finding. Explain the second token, Rachel. Do not make this about the visitor when the timestamps are yours.
Far beneath the Dev Null Cafe, the therapist, child, and famous client remain concealed and waiting. Here, Rachel stops several paces from Daniel, her badge still visible.
✓ Quest Accepted
End the conversation and leave
“You rise, having done your job. Now, it was up to Daniel and Margaret to handle Rachael. "You know how to reach me if you need my services again," you say, keeping up thee freelance professional act.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +1)
Alex rises from workstation twelve and removes the worn PHLAK drive, leaving the preserved evidence and masked destination visible on the audit screen.
Alex Mishyma
You know how to reach me if you need my services again.
He keeps the tone of a freelance professional, neither lingering nor claiming credit. Daniel steps aside, and the corridor remains open toward reception.
Marjorie Vale
We do. The Dev Null Cafe, I assume. Thank you, Alex. You protected the child without burying the evidence.
Daniel Cho
I will preserve the logs and notify the appropriate investigators. Your work will be documented accurately.
Rachel Mercer
Leaving does not make the second token disappear. I will answer for my account, and whoever used it will answer too.
Alex passes through reception and exits North Harbor Family Services with the copied findings secured. Behind him, Daniel seals the workstation record while Marjorie faces Rachel across the corridor.
Quest Complete
End the conversation and leave