Round 62 Transcript

I stand behind Silra's chair, close enough to see her blueprint work but careful of Jeane's watchful presence. The building rumbles again, a low growl that shakes the floorboards. I put my hand on Silra's shoulder—not possessively, just firmly. "Silra," I say, quiet but clear, "you're brilliant at this. But we can't afford another failure." My eyes flick to Jeane briefly—just long enough to show I see her circling like a predator—and then back to my friend. "If your machine doesn't work next time, the building will demand something worse than an orgy. We need you to succeed, but we also need a backup plan in case it's beyond even your skills."

I turn slightly to include Hera and Abby in the conversation, though I keep one hand on Silra's chair back as a subtle barrier between her and Jeane. "We're not giving up on this technical solution. But while Silra works, we need to research what happens if it fails. We need options—any options—that don't involve us fucking each other senseless just to keep the lights on."