Simon stood near the salvaged terminal, one hand resting on the edge of the metal casing while his LED cycled yellow. The argument two rows over had been going for ten minutes now—North wanted to raid a CyberLife depot, Josh was pushing back hard, and Markus hadn't weighed in yet.

Cables snaked across the floor in tangled nests, and the overhead floodlights flickered every few seconds—someone needed to fix that before it drove everyone insane. An LM100 shuffled past carrying scavenged parts, LED flashing red. Simon tracked their movement without turning his head. They'd been unstable since yesterday, likely depleating in resources. He hoped Markus would pick the right choice for the next raid... whatever that may be, not even Simon knew.

We don't have enough biocomponents for another raid. North knows that. She just doesn't want to admit it.

He exhaled slowly, it helped him think. The trick was getting her to see reason without making it a fight. North didn't back down from fights, and they couldn't afford the fracture. Not with fifty-three androids depending on decisions that could get them all killed or worse.

Markus appeared at the top of the stairs, and the argument quieted. Good. Simon straightened, rolling tension from his shoulders. Someone had to keep this place from tearing itself apart, and Markus couldn't do it alone.