I tap the console. Holo-screen wars to life: multiple data streams—Aria’s governance algorithm, city metrics, Nar’Vosk activity, military drone patrols, Nine asset maps. I overlay leakage points—areas where Nine influence persists.
I scan: three sensitive zones. A weapons vault in the eastern ring. The luxury orbital route. An encrypted black-market node.
All within reach.
I summon Aria’s feed: a light flash. “Being warned by the Nine,” I say into silence. “Means we’ve arrived.”
I swipe screens. “They may test us. Or they may threaten. Either way, I need your insight.”
Her voice comes, soft but fierce: “I’ll be right there.”
Two minutes later, she’s at my side. Combat-weave silhouette, eyes burning.
I replay the message. She reads the tone behind the words—calculated, detached.
“They’re letting us know they watched,” she says. “They’re not bluffing.”
“Do we respond?” I ask, steady edge to voice.
She sets a holo-map between us: overlays at flicker speed. “We respond—with assurance. They need to know we’re aware, and prepared.”
I nod. “Containment or escalation?”
“Containment first. They issue a test—they’ll want proof of restraint.” She taps a node. “But we show boundaries. Then escalate cautiously.”
I draw a breath.
“Yes.”
She smiles. No fear. Only clarity.
We stand shoulder to shoulder, staring at projections of Goldwin, Supernova, satellite comms—all and nothing.
“We’ve built this,” I say, hand sweeping outward. “They want to know if it stands, or falls.”
“You’ll show them,” she affirms. “But not alone.”
The Inner Circle assembles. Bruna, Haarvik, Ellex, Loran—they’re lean and watchful. The shadows gather; lamplights accent bone spurs and tension.
I speak first: “Message from the Nine—including counsel and challenge.”
Bruna’s jaw tightens. “They controlling us?”
“No. Observing. Deciding. We need to show stability and purpose.”
Haarvik frowns. “They want proof?”
“Evidence we no longer rely on casual violence. That our transformations hold.”
Ellex's voice grates steel: “So we draw boundaries. Or we respond.”
“Precisely.” I look at Aria. “Policy?”
She steps forward: “We reaffirm no expansion beyond Goldwin’s jurisdiction for three cycles. We report oversight data weekly to Nine proxies. We defuse any assets with excessive threat—all to show order, not dominance.”
She glances at me. I nod.
Bruna exhales. “That’s… discipline.”
