"Well, well," Alexander said smoothly, his voice like a warm breeze laced with quiet menace. "What a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect you to arrive this early… but I suppose you've always had a habit of rushing things, Mark."
He stood in the center of the chamber like a host greeting late guests to a private gala. The overhead lights flickered gently, casting sharp shadows across his tailored suit.
Behind him, figures emerged from the darkness—six of them, cloaked and silent. Their movements were unnaturally graceful, too controlled. Though their faces were hidden, the air around them shimmered faintly, warped by a strange, volatile energy.
Not natural. Not stable.
Maya's fists tightened. Her eyes scanned each one, alert. "How did he…?"
Ezra's voice crackled in through the comms, sharp with disbelief. "This doesn't make sense. The external feed was looped. Internal scanners bypassed. You were in stealth. How does he know?"
