The first blackout lasted only nine seconds. Long enough for the room to inhale darkness, for every screen to flicker into silence, for the hum of power to choke mid-breath. When the light returned, the map of operations that had once pulsed confidently before Alexander was blank white static crawling across it like frost.

He stared, motionless, fingers hovering above the keyboard. In the reflection of the darkened glass wall, he saw Amelia’s outline move slowly, her eyes narrowing at the ...