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Sliding into the shadows, he crossed his arms over his massive chest, silent and watchful.

Eyes on each individual who filed in.

From doctors and specialists to surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, specialist nurses, and hematologists. Each with expert insight into all the varied races and species of the galaxy.

Also scattered among the group were social workers, physiotherapists, and dietitians.

They all filtered in, finding their places in the gallery setting.

Some faces were familiar, others new.

His penetrating gaze missed nothing.

He studied them, noting their demeanor, presence, confidence, or lack thereof, because a leader was only as strong as his team.

If he wanted his surgical department to run the way he envisioned, he had to understand the caliber of whom he was working with.

Just then, a figure slipped into the amphitheater, and he knifed up, sucking his teeth.

Flashing celestial eyes, golden curls pulled back in a loose bun, with a few defiant tendrils framing her high cheekbones.

Her white medic coat was open over a dark-fitted jumpsuit.

Her gait was effortless, exuding an easy, unbothered ease.

She slid into her seat with casual authority, nodding at her colleagues while setting up her case file.

Ki’Remi’s eyes narrowed.

She glanced around, then twisted in his direction as if sensing his scrutiny.

He sent out a meta-shield, and she relaxed and turned away, not seeing him.

Sawa.

He wanted to keep monitoring, unseen, from the shadows.

He flicked a command to his neural node, which lit up a data file uploaded into his neuro-vision.

His eyes swept across the interface, flipping through a growing catalog of case history records.

Each bore the same name stamped at the top in a tidy font:Dr.IssaElaris.

He narrowed his eyes.

Her recovery stats were immaculate. Not just impressive, impossible.

He parsed over lists of patients listed as terminal, their cases complicated and beyond hope. Yet still, somehow, every single one was discharged within days.

Renal shutdowns reversed.

Massive internal hemorrhages stabilized.

Tumors that seemed to evaporate between scans.

He tapped a knuckle against his lip, jaw ticking.

It didn’t add up. Not by a long shot.