I nod once.
“Lock the building. No one in or out without clearance.”
Boone’s already moving.
“On it.”
I turn back to Scout.
She’s already grabbing her gear.
Already shifting into position.
No hesitation.
No pullback.
Nothing for Sentinel to use.
“He thought this would break you,” I say quietly.
She looks at me, something fierce in her eyes now.
“He doesn’t understand me.”
No.
He doesn’t.
And that’s his mistake.
I step in close, just for a second, my hand brushing her arm—grounding, steady, real.
“We do this together,” I say.
Her answer is immediate.
“Always.”
And as the room comes alive around us—movement, commands, weapons checked, doors sealing—
One thing locks into place.
Sentinel wanted control.
Wanted hesitation.
Wanted her to fracture under pressure.
Instead—
He just gave us a reason to end him.
And this time—
We’re not just stopping him.
We’re hunting him.
