The projection stabilizes above Jostan’s palm. Beneath Leonidas, the route lattice branches toward the observatory, the kiosk relay, and a deeper node marked with the damaged woman in the recording’s authorization.
Rodney
That message makes the wafer a warning, not a gift. If the origin relay is compromised, someone may already be watching this route.
Behind them, the observatory channel remains sealed under Orin’s safeguards. Caelen and Waldin hold the kiosk dispute, while the young pilot and Orin secure the primary retreat and Maya watches every route remotely.
The Observatory Maintenance Drone
Additional instruction recovered: compatible recipient must choose whether to proceed. No external authority may select on the recipient’s behalf.
The route lattice dims everywhere except the deeper node. A second seal appears beside it, bearing the same damaged authorization pattern and a fresh warning: “Completion is irreversible.”
Rodney
There it is. The leverage, the danger, and the part nobody can decide for you. I can cover the retreat, but the choice stays yours.
The drone retracts its transfer arm and waits beside the open conduit. Rodney keeps her attention on the dark route ahead, while the sealed projection hangs over Jostan’s hand, awaiting his decision.
+ New Item Acquired
Observatory Data Wafer
“I inspect the deeper node through the projection, Im done with this bullshit, I pull out the nrp rifle and blow the robot to pieces I then ask rodney to secure our retreat”
SUCCESS (Superb Firearms, rolled -1)
Jostan enlarges the deeper node through the projection. Its completion record identifies the damaged woman in the recording’s final safeguard: the architecture is already sealed, the route is no longer broadcasting, and no external authority can claim it.
Jostan Ordomo
I’m done with this bullshit.
He draws the 34 NRP Rifle and fires once. The round tears through the observatory maintenance drone’s sensor core and chassis, scattering metal across the conduit floor as its delivery light dies.
Jostan Ordomo
Rodney, secure our retreat.
Rodney
Already doing it. Primary and fallback are clear, and nothing is following us through this conduit.
Rodney checks the two routes, then seals the damaged drone’s local access without touching the deeper node. The projection folds its warning into a final status: protected, dormant, complete.
Behind them, the team receives the clean retreat signal. Sela’s purchase remains authenticated evidence, the observatory’s terms remain intact, and the damaged woman in the recording’s architecture passes beyond corporate reach as the Outsiders leave together.
The rifle cracked once. The maintenance drone folded beside the open conduit, its transfer arm finally still.
Rodney
Routes are covered. Local access is sealed. We leave with the truth intact.
Caelen
Clean retreat signal. No one gets to rewrite what the observatory witnessed.
Jostan Ordomo
Then let it stand. I am not their property, and I am not their copy.
Together, the Outsiders withdrew through the dark, carrying proof instead of permission.
Behind them, the observatory kept its sealed node dormant and beyond corporate reach. Jostan Ordomo left with his autonomy authenticated, his choice irreversible, and the evidence secure among those who had stood beside him. Whatever claimed authority had been denied its first victory: the right to define him.