The pod woke Elias at seventeen hundred with a clean beep and no sympathy.
He opened one eye, saw the time, and considered ignoring it. His body voted yes. His stomach voted louder.
Five hours of sleep had taken the sharp edge off the obstacle course. It had not fixed him. His hands still felt swollen from the rope. His shoulder complained when he sat up. His head held a faint memory of the simulated bar that had killed him without leaving proof.
Dots rested deep in the shard, quiet and warm. He felt the shape of her sleep and smiled a little despite himself.
"You studied yourself into a coma, didn't you?" No answer. Good. She needed it. Elias washed his face, changed into clean clothes, and stepped into A Block. Kikaru, Tidwell, and Junjio waited near the hallway intersection. Kikaru had her arms crossed. Tidwell looked bored on purpose. Junjio kept checking the corridor like he expected it to move.
