In the waiting room outside of Cassandra's office, Kai noticed Sarah's concern had grown since her offer to engage Cassandra for help. But Kai was wrestling with his own daemons. There were so many factors leading to the collapse of the TruthGate. The devastation it caused made Kai's head spin. While Maya and Ava may both have contributed to the overload, ultimately it was his responsibility. He was the one to use the Abacus, and he was the one who proposed the mission in the first place. To reclaim funds seized from the underground had been a top priority for the underground. Now, he had to understand how his proposal resulted in hundreds of deaths, soon to be thousands. Especially difficult now, in the quiet when his mind stretched to dark corners.
Kai looked around to distract himself. Marcus was studying his presentation, he was worried about presenting but Kai suspected Marcus was most worried about Jo and Anya. Marcus led with strength significantly improving the emergency response, but needs grew rapidly by the day. Jo insisted Marcus give the presentation and she promised to focus on removing blocks and ensure training therapists continued to train. Marcus resisted but knew its futility, he had worked with Jo for several years. Kai worried Jo's plate was too full. Still, she transitioned from stranded runners to a stranded district in a heartbeat. Kai had no doubt Jo had the strength to do it. Somehow, he thought.
As his thoughts returned to Marcus, Kai was confident in the presentation's comprehensive delivery. Cassandra's support was the mission, and Marcus had improved his presentation anxiety and knew the material. His daily commitment to running the hospital was impressive. They needed Cassandra's support but Quantum Collective needed it far more.
This waiting room should distract me, Kai thought. Cassandra had done very well for herself since he first met her twenty years ago. Then, a curious and smart intern. Twenty years, Twenty in Hebrew numerology for judgment, he thought. He had a habit of searching for meanings in numbers and he pulled his focus back to a young Cassandra. She had impeccable fashion back then and a unique sense of presence. She was capable of designing this room back then too, he thought. The design was vibrant, giant bands of colors drew the eye toward her office. Colors went from soft hues into subdued primal colors until they transformed again into rich blends. On the far wall behind a glass desk sat a beautiful receptionist. The receptionist reminded him of a rising Veridian fashion model. She probably is that model, he thought to himself, knowing her. The colors culminated into a landscape spanning the entire wall. The receptionist appeared to float in a visual illusion in front of abstract mountains under a blue sky. In turn, Cassandra's office beyond floated in the clouds.
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The receptionist had finished looking at her fingernails, looked up, and smiled at Kai. Almost instantly, her face turned to practiced disinterest. With perfect posture, she emanated confidence. Kai straightened as he looked away and straightened. He examined the floor to avoid being drawn to follow the art back to the receptionist. After several moments his thoughts returned to the Abacus explosion again. Not going there again, he said to himself to avoid the creeping darkness.
He turned to Sarah, sitting to his right. She was deep in thought and flawlessly still. Kai stopped fidgeting. If she noticed him, it didn't show. Her navy suit, pristinely tailored, seemed more like battle armor than business attire. He noticed small tells invisible to others - the slight clench of her jaw, the way her fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around her leather portfolio. If she was preparing for war, he thought, it was the kind fought with razor-sharp intellect.
Kai admired Sarah since they met, about ten years ago. Ten years, Ten in Hebrew numerology was divine order, he thought. He reminded himself to take a break from numbers. Repeating Numbers, numbers as a message from the. The frequencies on the abacus, the device on its last activation, the shift during Maya's diagnostic, and frequencies from Lou's notebooks. He had become engrossed in numbers, searching, seeking, like a child reading a fairy tale.
Sarah's superpower was adapting to situations. Her brilliance was more than innate talent; it was a product of her unique perspective, shaped by years of overcoming challenges and breaking barriers. After her PhD, she became a formidable advocate against injustice. He recalled her election to the underground council. She wore a sleek, knee-length black dress then, accented by a tailored burgundy blazer, exuding modern elegance. As her sponsor, he was proud to see her rise to a position of influence. In the underground resistance, her versatility ensured survival.
But here, in the heart of Veridian Central's power, every aspect of Sarah's appearance - from her understated jewelry to her practical shoes - was calculated. In Cassandra's world, appearance was currency, and Sarah had to play her game if they had any hope of securing the resources they needed. Her outfit was designed to project an image of professional competence and unflappable composure. But Kai knew it was a facade.
He wished he could offer her support, a reassuring touch, or a word of encouragement. But he knew such gestures were unwelcome in this place where every interaction was watched and analyzed for weakness. Instead, he sat in silent solidarity, his own understated charcoal suit and gray tie a mere shadow in front of the colorful waiting room walls.
When the receptionist stood and extended her arm towards Cassandra's office, Sarah rose with an effortless grace. She met Kai's gaze for a fleeting moment, a silent acknowledgment of the challenge ahead. With a subtle straightening of her shoulders, she strode forward into the lion's den, ready to face whatever laid in wait. Marcus noticed and followed Sarah.
Kai watched them, a mixture of pride and trepidation swelling in his chest. The game was on, and the fate of Veridian hung in the balance.