The night settled over the estate, but sleep didn't come easily. Even Nova, heavy-lidded and warm in Samantha's arms, seemed to sense that the universe wasn't done speaking with them. The air buzzed faintly, a subtle vibration beneath the ordinary hum of crickets and wind-chimes.
Marcus paced the living room, notebook in hand, murmuring theories about the Archive's behavioral shift. "It's… unprecedented," he said again, though none of them could fail to hear the awe in his voice. "It's rare enough to perceive the Archive, but to negotiate with it? And successfully? I'd need centuries to calculate the ramifications."
Kai flopped dramatically across the couch, hands behind his head. "I don't care about ramifications. I care about cookies and ice cream. And also… the fact that I just witnessed our daughter verbally—and visually—dominate a cosmic entity." He smirked at Samantha. "Are you proud, or terrified?"
