Soren lay on the recovery cot in the residual-shielded bay. The walls were thick enough to damp most of the second current, but not all of it. The lag sat in his chest like a low pressure that refused to clear.
Medical had logged it as elevated and mandatory. Extended recovery. Next residual-heavy contingent on baseline return. That was the deal.
The door seal clicked. Ryn stepped in without asking. Residual weather only, no full interface. Protocol preferred separation during lag recovery. She ignored it and sat against the opposite wall, knees up, arms loose.
"You're still carrying the segment," she said. "I can feel the lag settling in the second current like a bruise that hasn't decided if it's going to spread."
Soren kept his eyes on the ceiling monitors. "Medical said the lag is logged. Extended recovery is mandatory. Next residual-heavy is contingent. That's the deal I accepted."
