“Why do you need a Level 7 biometric key, Dr. Wynters?"
Aria glanced at Viktor—the six-foot-three slab of muscle and silence assigned as her security escort. His tone was flat, but his hand hovered near the firearm holstered at his side.
“I'm reclassifying access to optimize Prototype-Ø's control data," she lied. “Cross-referencing historical test logs might reveal alternate receptor patterns."
“Voss approved this?"
“He delegated all experimental autonomy to me after the rooftop gala. You can confirm."
Viktor didn't move. Then his commlink crackled—Dominic's voice, terse.
> “Let her through."
The biometric scanner clicked. The steel door slid open.
Aria exhaled slowly, stepping into the sub-level archive room.
The temperature dropped. Rows of cryo-tape storage glowed dimly behi
