The silence after that voice felt heavier than any explosion.
"I'm here."
That simple sentence hung in the air.
But its meaning ran far deeper.
Daniel stepped closer to the core.
Carefully.
As if afraid a single step could destroy everything.
"Ethan… can you see us?"
The blue light inside the core pulsed gently.
More stable than before.
More… orderly.
The answer came.
Not loud.
Not weak.
But clear.
"I can feel you all."
Leonard Graves let out a long breath.
"Good. At least you haven't turned into a radio signal yet."
His casual tone returned.
But no one truly felt at ease.
Richard Blackwood stood right in front of the core.
His eyes were sharp.
Observing.
Assessing.
"Full control?" he asked bluntly.
A few seconds passed.
As if there was a pause.
As if something was being processed.
"Mostly," Ethan replied.
Daniel frowned.
"What do you mean 'mostly'?"
The light inside the core trembled slightly.
As if in response to the question.
