The archive lamps dimmed all at once while Hajin was still holding up the edge of Didi's folder.
Fourteen statues stood in the gallery alcoves with instruments above folded robes, leaking light from their eyes into the aisle. Shapes stepped out of the carved bodies without cracking them, and the first measuring rod swung toward the succession bay.
Hajin shoved the folder behind his arm as his first Ring snapped open around his wrist.
"Copies off that console, now," he barked, throwing a StarGuard barrier across the transcription lane, "those rods sure as hell aren't waiting for the archivist's approval!"
The nearest shell fired before either recorder reached his case, its beam splitting around the barrier instead of punching through. Returning paths traced lines along Hajin's forearm while Aria mapped their limits, checking where the scan stopped short of contact.
Didi swept the signed transcripts into their case without once taking her eyes off the shelves.
