days

Starbucks, h

tem had suggested he familiarize himself with the

of his latte.

item, but the System had hinted that its effects could have "ripples.

hone

wn Nu

smi

it ring

el

ant. "It's Victoria. From t

eping his voice calm, warm.

. "Look, this is incredibly forward, and I'm sorry to bother you,

d back in

w a bi

defrosting, the security system is beeping, and the building super s

pa

w who else to call. I remembered you said you worke

ecked t

on: Probability Ri

Circuit Failure (T

t was the echo of the l

Duke said. "I'm actua

she breathed. "Th

uke stood in the lobby

uspiciously but let him up

ned directly int

a was w

pants and an oversi

n the vast, open spa

e said, usher

t was a muse

s. Floor-to-ceiling wind

t fel

er

ped into

of men's loafe

n's

of revulsion, but

breaker box

oset, down the hal

ed th

lway wa

e caught the scent

e and

pped at

re," s

back to le

asn't m

to squeez

shed against

sharp intak

sto

ed down

at him, her eyes wi

ond, nobo

ctricity that had nothing

e," Duke

d into th

ned th

al wiring. But he didn't need to. The System pro

just a tripped breaker

ide: Flip

wed the in

the break

un

e hallway flicke

of the ala

ctoria cheered f

turn around

the data scrolling

on: Electronic Sur

rce: Maste

rce: Guest

: Living Room

ed to f

aker," he said. "Pr

ria said. "Can I... can I ge

d be great,

d back to

gleaming with

ed him a glas

ng slightly as she

taking a sip. "Hu

counter. She crossed her arms, a de

said. "Being alone

ooked arou

quiet," sh

uke said softly. "It gives

ooked at h

do you

the gla

oice. "That sometimes, silence hi

step clo

couldn't say he saw it with a

s fixing the fuse...

ace p

ha

the circuit was weird. It was drawing power f

ed w

the hallway leadi

s drawing power from t

d her in

check the smoke