They came for Nia during the fourth audit cycle.
I saw her through the transparent wall of the observation room, walking between two calibration attendants.
She was making jokes. I could not hear the words, but one attendant looked embarrassed. Nia grinned at him.
Her sleeve was rolled up again.
The punctures around her arm glowed white.
“Where are they taking her?” I asked.
The room interface displayed no answer.
I pressed my cuff to the administrative field. “Request audit clarification.”
Halden appeared on the wall screen.
“You are scheduled to rest,” he said.
“Is Nia undergoing successor calibration?”
“A compatibility process was scheduled before your filing.”
“Cancel it.”
“You do not have authority over another candidate’s voluntary assessment.”
“Did she volunteer?”
“Th
