By the time Chronos arrived, Freya had already read the altered reports a second time.
She had hoped to find an innocent explanation for the withdrawals. Instead, each record raised another question. Four young civilizations had been declared stable, although their original observers had reported problems that remained unresolved. The errors were too similar to dismiss. Every revision carried Apollo's recommendation.
Mira arranged the originals beside their replacements.
"You haven't slept," Mira said.
"I have."
"For how long?"
Freya looked up. "Are you asking as my assistant or as someone who intends to lecture me?"
"Whichever one gets an honest answer."
Freya laughed quietly. "A few hours. And before you ask, I've eaten."
"Then I've exhausted my authority for the morning."
A movement beneath Freya's hand interrupted their exchange. She waited until it passed, smiling faintly. The children seemed to share Nova's terrible sense of timing.
