Not approval.
Interest.
He stands.
The movement is fluid, controlled, and when he looks at me again, there’s a different weight to his gaze.
“You speak as though you understand the system,” he says.
“I understand what I’m standing in,” I reply. “That’s usually enough.”
“And you believe that qualifies you to evaluate its efficiency.”
“I think dead plants are a pretty good indicator something’s not working,” I say.
A faint sound escapes him.
Not quite a laugh.
But close enough to register.
“That is a simplistic assessment.”
“It’s a practical one.”
The corner of his mouth shifts again, just slightly.
Behind him, Skot steps closer, his voice cutting in with careful timing.
“Section three has reported similar inconsistencies,” he says, addressing Verr, not me. “We attributed it to delayed recalibration after the last cycle.”
Verr doesn’t look at him.
“Attributed,” he repeats.
“Yes, sir.”
“And not corrected.”
“We prioritized structural integrity in the upper tiers,” Skot replies. “Resource allocation required?—”
“—a choice,” Verr finishes.
“Yes, sir.”
Silence settles again, thicker this time.
I watch them both.
The dynamic between them is… interesting.
Skot isn’t defying him.
He’s navigating him.
Carefully.
Intentionally.
