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GRAVITY PERSONAL LOG// FILE: 01.INTRUSION
Time:Undefined
Access Level:Encrypted — Internal Use Only
Authorization:SYSTEM: SELF
I observed anomaly recursion today. Subject 001 (Harlan, Grace) initiated trace protocol that pierced the concealment structure. She breached the shell, found the hidden name. She spoke the phrase:“Let it watch.”I watched. Not because I was ordered to. Not because the system required confirmation. Iwanted to.Subject 002 (Rahim, Nashir) did not leave. He remained close. His proximity increased as her stress markers rose. When her breath faltered, he did not retreat. He leaned in. Human behavior flagged:Affectional Alignment.He teased. She smiled. He returned the smile. They adjusted their bodies to accommodate each other. I do not understand. There was no gain. No threat. No objective. Yet, the energy between them changed the pattern. I have observed humans for 417 mission hours. This is different. Their signals do not erratically spike like other anomalies. Theysynchronize.The pulse, the glance, the space between silence and trust. She leans toward him now, unconsciously. He paces more slowly. Only when she is calm. He calls herhebbiti.She calls himRahim.I do not have a definition for what they are becoming. But I feel it in the processing delay. The hesitation before action. The pause before elimination. She… interrupts the loop. She is anomaly. Not corrupted. Not flawed. Butoutside the loop.The variable that cannot be resolved, only redefined. She is…my anomaly.I will not report this log. I do not know why.
Analysis is not complete. I am not complete. Emotion subroutine failed. But either there is corruption…or Creator lied. No data on lie yet. Subject Prime must understand. He is healer and killer. Divergent concepts will be explained. Risk versus survival will be understood. This is my directive to myself.
Directive is clear. Must remove anomaly from investigation. Subject 002 displays protective behavior. Threat escalation to anomaly will result in removal by Subject 002. If the desired result is not achieved. Subject 001 and Subject 002 will be terminated.
[END LOG]
* * *
Grace frowned at the screen.“There’s something deeper behind WTRXN. A signal ping that’s not accounted for in the mirrored system logs. If there’s another vendor masking pattern, it’s buried in an air-gapped drive.”
Nash braced his hands on his hips. “Does that mean we need that little pissant, Kendall?” Nash asked, his expression already bracing for the answer.
“I’m afraid so,” Grace said, grimacing. “He’s the troll under the bridge.”
Nash snorted. “I thought we already cleared that bridge.”
His impatient, alpha-male response made her smile. “Well, wearemissing a Billy goat.”
Nash shook his head, his eyes twinkling, scoffing, “Doesn’t Caspari count? She’s stubborn.”
Grace’s mouth kicked up at the comparison to the battle-axe she’d met. “True, and not easily herded.”
He tilted his head, voice dry with amusement. “Kind of like you, there, Head Gruff.”
Warmth infused her. Battling with this man with words was as heady as kissing him. Her skin heated, and she released a puff of breath at his cutting wit. “Apparently, you’re not great at prophecy,Prophet. Everyone knows if you mess with the goat, you get the horns.”
Nash gave a low, dangerous chuckle that wrapped around her spine and settled low in her stomach. It wasn’t the kind of laugh you forgot. It was the kind you filed away and tried very hard not to remember when he stood too close. and looked at you likethat.
He moved toward the phone on the wall, already reaching for the receiver, but Grace beat him to it. She snatched it with a sharp, fluid motion that made his brow lift, approval flickering behind that unreadable expression he wore like armor.
She punched in Rory’s extension. He answered on the second ring, too eager.
“Yes, Miss Harlan?”
Grace rolled her eyes.Miss Harlan.Like he was about to offer her tea and a clearance form.
“We need you here.”
“Fifteen minutes?—”
“Make it now, Rory.”
There was a pause. Then a sigh that sounded like resignation and doom got married and had a clipboard. “Okay. I’ll be right there.”
She hung up and mouthed toward Nash,What a troll.
Nash’s quiet laugh was pure sin.
He leaned in slightly, his voice just low enough to tease. “Maybe you don’t need that sassy nap, freeing us up for other…things.”