The morning light in the off‑site facility was pallid, filtered through reinforced glass. Aurora Jin stood before the stainless‑steel operating table, gown tied tight at her waist, eyes locked on the surgeons prepping Xander Reid. He lay supine, half‑dosed for a “preparatory surgery," tubes snaking from his wrists to infusion pumps. His face was pale, pain evident even beneath the antiseptic mask.
Dr. Landon Grey hovered at the head of the table, clipboard in hand. “Ensure the subject remains sedated until the asset disposal protocol executes," he instructed the lead surgeon, Dr. Marian Ortega. “Then we proceed with the transplant evaluation."
Aurora's heart thundered. “Dr. Grey—" she began, but Grey cut her off with a raised hand.
“Miss Jin, your role is observing infusion metrics only
