The cabin lights are bright now.
The laptop still sits open on the kitchen table.
The map fills the screen.
Nodes blinking across half the western United States.
Miles whistles softly.
“That’s new.”
“Phase Two,” Wren says.
Adam studies the screen.
“You said there’s a countdown.”
“Yes.”
She taps the keyboard.
The screen shifts.
The timer appears.
11:21:37
The seconds tick downward steadily.
Russ leans closer.
“What happens when it hits zero?”
“I’m still trying to figure that out.”
Adam’s gaze moves across the map.
“Those indicators weren’t active earlier.”
“No.”
“Meaning something triggered them.”
“Yes.”
I step beside Wren.
“What kind of trigger?”
She hesitates.
Then says quietly—
“Systemic stress indicators.”
Adam frowns.
“Power grid fluctuations.”
