The soldiers spread across the room instantly.
Weapons glowing with temporal energy.
Their leader steps forward.
Cold.
Precise.
Jonas whispers.
"…that guy looks important."
The man removes his helmet.
White hair.
Sharp eyes.
"Identify the anomaly."
Aria steps back instinctively.
Kael stands in front of her.
The leader smiles faintly.
"Well."
"That makes it easy."
Seraphine watches calmly.
"You're late."
The man glances at her.
"…Seraphine."
Future Kael mutters.
"Great."
"Everyone knows everyone."
The man raises his weapon.
"My name is Commander Veyron."
He points the weapon at Aria.
"And she dies today."
Kael moves.
Fast.
But the soldiers surround them instantly.
Dozens of weapons aimed.
Jonas sighs.
"This is getting repetitive."
Seraphine speaks calmly.
"You really think killing her fixes anything?"
Veyron answers coldly.
"Yes."
The Observer's eye shifts again.
Watching.
Studying.
Then the creature whispers quietly.
"He is wrong."
Everyone turns.
The creature continues.
"Killing her now will accelerate collapse."
Veyron's expression darkens.
"Then we contain her."
The room grows silent.
Because containment might be worse than death.