Silas rotated the model until the collar filled the display.
The burn pattern ran beneath the throat guard and down into the upper spine channel. It looked like a failed circuit at first glance. The longer Elias's stolen suit stayed on screen, the less it resembled equipment and the more it resembled a body that had been taught to pretend it was clothing.
"The fail-safe spared the rig by failing its own purpose," Silas said. "It should have self-destructed when the upper channel collapsed, but the blast diverted into the mesh instead. That leaves enough structure for me to learn from."
Rirana's eyebrows lifted. "A lucky failure is still a failure."
"Yes, but I prefer useful failures."
He pointed to a line of pins beneath the collar and chest segments.
"These connect to major output routes in the body. Movement, intent, pain response, all of it feeds the suit at the same time. It does not run on a clean battery system; it pulls from the wearer and calls that synchronization."
