Chapter Three: Ninety-Three Lives and One Drop of Metal

“Phase-change fabric cannot actively redirect heat. A hydraulic exoskeleton needs a hydraulic pump. And your seven drones disassembled themselves in the last ten seconds.” “People see strange things in fires.” “Zhou Ye.” “Yes?” “Did the thing you filmed land on your roof?” He met her eyes. Lin did not want to steal his secret. She needed to know whether it would put another ninety-three people in danger. “Yes.” She exhaled slowly. “Start with the basics. Is it hostile?” “Not yet. It gave me seven missions. If I fail, Earth goes into custodianship.” “Meaning?” “It stops belonging to us.” Outside, the crowd was still cheering. News reports called the rescue a triumph of domestic drone engineering.