The center tried to swallow the claim.
Mina Cho's name flickered on Rina's tracker, green to white, white to green, as if something had taken it between teeth and failed to bite through.
PUBLIC MEMORY CLAIM INITIATED.
EXTERNAL RESPONSE REQUIRED.
The screen above V-07 added a third line.
CONTAINMENT FILTER ACTIVE.
Soma made an ugly sound.
"That is how cowards spell panic."
The woman in the chair looked at him.
"Containment protects unverified persons."
Sam lifted the Record. "Mina verified herself."
"Internal verification cannot create external standing."
"Watch us."
Page Zero warmed under his hand.
Caleb felt Sefa's light ring tighten around his wrist.
The silver under his skin leaned toward the tracker, toward the claim, toward the invisible route leaving the room.
Route.
He held that word carefully.
"No intake," Caleb said.
The ring stayed outside his skin.
