For several seconds, no one spoke.
Jessica stared at the monitors surrounding the room, each screen
displaying the same three words in cold white text.
SIGNAL RECEIVED
The letters didn't flicker.
They didn't scroll away.
They simply remained there, steady and patient, as if whatever
had sent the message knew it no longer needed to hurry.
Across the chamber, Dr. Adrian Kessler slowly lowered his hand
from the keyboard he had instinctively reached for.
His confident posture had shifted.
For the first time since Jessica had met him, he looked unsettled.
Jessica felt her phone vibrate again.
Micah.
She glanced down.
JESSICA I'M SEEING THE SAME MESSAGE IN THE NODE
Her pulse quickened.
"Inside the system?" she whispered under her breath.
YES
Jessica looked back at the glowin
