The pulse under Teren Vale's ribs did not become louder, but every person who saw Nox turn toward it moved anyway. The command hall had been crowded a moment before; then people backed from the young man until the medical mats lay empty around him.
"Nobody run. You are not surrounded by enemies yet," Nox said, keeping both hands visible while he walked toward Teren.
Teren laughed once without humor and looked toward the outer gate. The white hospital referral was still crushed in his fist, and the red light beneath his coat beat at a slow interval against the cloth.
"My mother and sisters are outside. They said I walk in, wait for the signal, and then they get moved to a shelter," Teren said.
Vasa had already cleared a route from the hall to the old chemistry isolation room. She did not touch the boy or reach for the core at his ribs, because Appraise had detected the device but had not told them what made it trigger.
