"Let me save us all some time," Atlas replied, leaning back with a casual confidence that belied the tension thrumming through his body. "Yes, our names are falsified. No, we're not actually cousins. And yes, we were in Shanghai during the... incident."
A ripple of whispers spread through the dining hall. Director Li's eyes narrowed, but something like satisfaction flickered across her face.
"Honesty at last," she said, lowering the pendant which continued to pulse with golden light. "Though I suspect we've only scratched the surface of your deceptions."
Sarah's scientific mind calculated their options in milliseconds. The direct approach had become their only viable strategy. "We came here for information, Director Li. Information about the void and its counterpart."
"Information thou
