OREN VALE answered on the third call.
He was out of breath.
That was wrong before he said a word.
Medics learned to spend breath like money. Oren had spoken through blood, smoke, and panic at North Rail without wasting any of it. Now the channel caught him running.
"That request is not mine," he said.
Rina had the false request pinned beside his live channel.
REQUESTING PARTY: OREN VALE.
WANTED DIRECTION: CLEAR ALL OBSTRUCTION FROM NORTH RAIL EVACUATION PATH.
The phrase looked harmless until the city put weight behind it: clear all obstruction.
Sefa read it and went pale.
"That is sorting language."
Tali was already marking North Rail.
"Evacuation path runs through platform three, the freight stair, and the Bay Twelve access ladder. Obstruction includes wreckage, barricades, stalled gurneys, route workers, survivors waiting to be counted, anyone standing where the path algorithm wants empty floor."
"Children," Iris said.
No one corrected her.
