Boone slows the truck at a red light.
Then he looks over at me.
“Whatever you decide…”
“…you’re not doing it alone.”
“I know.”
“You’re thinking about the bigger picture.”
“Yes.”
“But there’s something else to remember.”
“What?”
“You saved a city.”
I smile faintly.
“With four minutes left.”
“That still counts.”
The light turns green.
We roll forward again.
The airport comes into view ahead.
Runways stretching across the horizon.
Boone parks near the small charter terminal.
The engines tick quietly as the truck stops.
I open the laptop again.
The command prompt is still waiting.
REQUEST: DIRECTIVE
Boone rests one arm across the steering wheel.
“So what’s the plan?”
I take a slow breath.
Then begin typing.
TEMPORARY AUTHORITY ACCEPTED
The system responds instantly.
COMMAND ACCESS GRANTED
Boone shakes his head.
