Page 165 of Aaron


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Overlay them with global crisis events.

Policy changes.

Public sentiment spikes.

“They needed the world afraid enough,” I continue.

My hands move faster now.

Not searching.

Exposing.

“Afraid enough to accept what comes next.”

I start listing them.

Because I have to.

Because if I don’t say it out loud—

it might not be real.

“Permission to monitor.”

A new data layer lights up.

“Permission to predict.”

Another.

“Permission to preempt.”

The room tightens.

“Permission to control.”

Silence crashes in.

Heavy.

Suffocating.

I close my eyes.

And for a second—

I let myself feel it.

The betrayal.

The violation.

The truth.

“They didn’t steal my system,” I say.

My voice breaks—