The glass case waited under V-07.
Six green rings turned inside it, separate and close enough to hurt.
Rina knelt before the case.
Iharu knelt beside her.
Sam stayed standing because the Record needed both hands and because his knees had made no legal promises.
Caleb stopped three steps from the bed.
The screen above V-07 changed.
VESSEL PROXIMITY REQUIRED.
The silver in Caleb leaned forward like a starving thing smelling an unlocked kitchen.
Sam said his name.
That helped.
Tali added, "Recommendation. One step at a time. Vessel states intention before moving."
"Accepted," Caleb said.
The woman in the chair watched with her hands folded.
Kikaru stood between her and the bed.
"If you speak in sorrow," Kikaru said, "I will make a noise near your face."
The woman looked at her.
Kikaru smiled.
"Educational noise."
Soma crouched beside the case with his tablet angled away from the glass. "No scan. Still blanking optical capture."
"Then use your eyes," Sam said.
