“Wren McKay,” she says, looking past the rifles.
Wren steps forward slightly beside Boone.
“You built the second command node.”
“Yes.”
“You’re Sentinel’s successor.”
Her lips curve faintly.
“Not successor.”
“Evolution.”
Boone studies her carefully.
“You’re about to shut the system down.”
The woman smiles softly.
“Oh no.”
Her eyes flick to the countdown timer on Wren’s screen.
0:31:08
“I’m about to turn it on.”
River’s voice hardens.
“You’re done.”
She laughs quietly.
“You still don’t understand.”
Wren’s fingers move across the keyboard.
Trying to access the network.
Trying to interrupt the command pathways.
But the woman watches her with amusement.
“You won’t stop it from there.”
Wren’s eyes narrow.
“Why?”
“Because the system already transitioned to autonomous control.”
Boone glances down at Wren.
“What does that mean?”
Her voice tightens.
