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“In exchange for completion of your assignment.”

There it was.

The same thing dressed in cleaner language.

I looked at her.

She had returned to the terminal.

Not because she did not care.

Because she had learned not to build her future around what I might choose.

That hurt.

It was supposed to.

I faced the screen. “No.”

The handler did not respond immediately.

I heard my own breathing.

Nothing else.

Then: “Clarify.”

“I refuse.”

“Ghost.”

“No.”

The word felt different the second time.

Not defiance.

Choice.

“You are not in a position to negotiate.”

“I am not negotiating.”

“You are choosing operational termination.”

“Possibly.”

“You understand what follows.”

“Yes.”

“And you are still refusing.”

“Yes.”

The silence stretched.

I waited without fear.