“She already launched Phase Three.”
River steps forward.
“You’re lying.”
The woman gestures to the screen.
Traffic systems begin flickering.
Hospital alerts flash.
Emergency routing delays appear across the map.
Tiny failures.
Spreading.
“Just the beginning,” she says.
Gage mutters under his breath.
“Jesus.”
Wren’s hands move faster now.
Searching.
Breaking.
Trying to reach the control root.
The woman studies her with interest.
“Sentinel was right about you.”
Wren freezes for a split second.
“What?”
“He said if anyone could understand his architecture…”
“…it would be you, or Scout Fallon.”
Boone’s jaw tightens.
“Funny way of showing admiration.”
The woman smiles.
“He admired intelligence.”
She glances around the room.
“But he despised weakness.”
River’s patience ends.
“Step away from the console.”
