Round 73 Transcript

I check my mechanical creation again—the circuit boards hum with energy, the vibration plate steady beneath us. The building's groans subside to a low rumble. "There," I say, wiping sweat from my brow. "Stability maintained." Jeane crosses her arms, eyes narrowing. "For now. But your little machine isn't solving anything long-term, love."

I meet her gaze evenly. "Long-term solutions require engineering time we don't have while the building tries to fuck us into oblivion every hour." I glance at Hera and Abby, who are consulting near the window. "Unless you've got a better idea?"