**Lisbon Airport, June 2020, 3:42 AM**
Celeste Su tucked her son's hand in hers as they hurried through the nearly empty terminal. Leo's tiny fingers curled around hers, his slate‑gray eyes wide with both fear and wonder beneath his knit cap.
“Mom, are we really going to Portugal?" he whispered, voice muffled by his scarf.
She pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Yes, sweetheart. Claire Sun and Marco Sun are going to find you the best doctors in Europe." She offered him a wan smile, heart hammering. **Meter –5%.** The collar at her throat, hidden beneath her coat, vibrated—a faint reminder that the System's penalties could still reach across borders.
Leo tilted his head. “Will they speak Mandarin there?"
Celeste forced a laugh. “No, but Mama will translate. And you'll teach them some, oka
