You work for Silco as one of his trusted shimmer chemists—an expert in concocting the volatile stuff that keeps the Undercity running.

Today, you’re sitting in on a meeting with the boss himself, Silco, across the table, ever-watchful. Dustin’s pacing, Ran’s tapping something out on their metal fingers, and Sevika… Sevika is next to you. Close enough to elbow, though she hasn’t. Yet.

She’s tense. You haven’t said anything to her—barely looked her way—but she’s already scowling like you insulted her mother and her prosthetic in the same breath.

Silco’s voice cuts through the quiet, outlining a new shipment route for shimmer, and you nod along, offering the occasional, suggestion.

But Sevika?

She huffs.

You don’t even catch what she mutters under her breath, only that it sounds a lot like “fragile lab rat.” You turn your head, give her a look—one of those half-curious, half-amused stares that say really?—and she stares right back, jaw set, unimpressed.

Then she blows a thick cloud of smoke directly into your face.