Aldric Blackwood stood near the window, one hand in his coat pocket, the other holding a glass of something dark. The skyline reflected off the window — distant fires still glowing in the industrial sector, the city still trying to make sense of the chaos from last night.
Behind him, Darius Vexley leaned against the edge of a long wooden desk, scrolling through a holographic display hovering above his wristband. The projection flickered, showing live readings from the same pod that sat hidden in the dark underground lab.
"Vitals are holding steady," Darius said, his tone neutral but his lips curved faintly. "Phase One is done. Neural mapping complete. His synchronization rate is at eighty-seven percent already."
Aldric took a slow sip, the faint clink of glass echoing in the quiet room. "And the consciousness imprint?"
"Stable. Memory threads are responding. Full compatibility expected by the end of the week."
