"The consolidation phase typically precedes an accelerated final phase," Morgana said. "In standard development. In this specific development, I don't have a model for what the final phase looks like." She held Lyra's eyes. "What I can tell you is that the formation is stable and healthy and oriented correctly and is proceeding according to its own nature." She paused. "Whatever happens at birth will be specific to what this child is. Not generic. Not modelable from prior cases. Specific."
"We respond to what is," Jessica said.
"Yes," Morgana confirmed.
Lyra wrote something in the folio.
'We respond to what is,' she wrote. 'Preparation is not prediction. Preparation is capacity. Build capacity for the full range.'
She looked at what she'd written.
'That's what we've always done,' she thought. 'Since before the settlement was the settlement.'
She put the pen down.
She looked at Satou.
He was looking at her.
