They departed precisely at five thirty. Michael opened the gate for them, watched them exit onto the street, then closed the gate behind them.
He then went up to the watchtower and tracked their movement on the pulse as they headed northeast toward the eastern district.
They moved smoothly as a team despite being unfamiliar with each other. Cole led confidently, and Yuna kept pace effortlessly, mirroring the calm, precise movements she used when arriving at the building two days earlier.
They navigated block by block, carefully respecting the unspoken rules of the city's open streets, which offered no leniency.
Michael observed their signatures on the pulse, performed a sweep, tracked everything around them, and waited.
---
Inside the building the morning moved normally.
