Slowly two figures seated turned the moment Lucas entered.
Ava followed him inside and stood behind his left shoulder. Silent. Bracer flickering.
Lucas gave them both a nod.
"Let's make it fast. I'm stacking trades today."
The first figure—a woman shaped like mist and metal—smiled thinly. "You always did like speed over safety."
The second, taller and sharper, nodded toward Ava. "Bodyguard?"
"No," Ava said, voice flat. "Insurance."
Lucas didn't flinch. "Any of you move shady, she doesn't ask questions. She just acts."
Ava cracked her knuckles.
The taller trader chuckled.
"Fine by me."
Lucas pulled a new data slip from his coat. "I want the anomaly signature from the west sinkhole pre-collapse archive. I know you pulled it. I'll trade two encrypted gate codes and one medical vault key."
The two traders glanced at each other.
The mist-woman leaned forward. "You're missing a payment."
