Karl's POV
The evening meal carries an almost peaceful quality. Conversation flows around the kitchen table, punctuated by genuine laughter and the comfortable warmth of shared food. Sally's radiant expression makes the weight on my shoulders feel lighter, if only temporarily. Yet even while chuckling at Warren's ridiculous riddles, my instincts remain sharp and vigilant.
Anxiety radiates from Ajax in subtle waves, barely perceptible but impossible to ignore. Philip senses it as well. The tension shows in his clenched jaw and the repeated glances he casts toward the darkening windows.
Evening shadows lengthen across the yard by the time we clear our plates. The temperature drops with the disappearing sun. We move efficiently through cleanup, Warren gathering silverware while Philip monitors his device for Dick's laboratory results. When the notification finally arrives, his shoulders drop with visible relief.
"Clean," he announces firmly. "No contamination detected this round."
