Lucen raised an eyebrow. "You mean a drift."
"I mean a drift where the core's never been recovered and people stopped logging attempts after the fourth team stopped coming out."
Lucen set the drink down slowly.
"Now we're talking."
Varik added, "No official clearance. No guilds. Just you. Maybe a tracker. I want to see what happens when things don't play fair."
Lucen didn't blink.
'Finally.'
"Tier five?"
Varik nodded once. "South corridor. Unmarked. We go tomorrow."
Lucen leaned back slightly. "And if I say no?"
"You won't."
Lucen gave him a dry look. "That confident in me?"
Varik looked straight at him. "No. Just confident you're not dumb enough to let someone else get there first."
Lucen grinned. Barely.
Then said, "You're staying for dinner or breaking in just to monologue?"
Varik stood up. Walked past him toward the door.
"I have food at home," he said.
Lucen muttered, "Bet it's labeled and everything."
The door hissed open.
Varik paused halfway out.
