Varos remained silent long enough for Damon to realize that the information had genuinely affected him. He did not seem to be trying to decide whether he believed Aurelia. He seemed to be mentally reviewing years of orders, meetings, and procedures, trying to determine how many things suddenly made sense if Serik was not merely a man.
"Explain," he said.
Aurelia looked at Eir before answering. "My family's records were incomplete. I saw the name Serik twice. Both times, it wasn't listed alongside researchers or commanders. It appeared with preservation protocols."
"Preservation of what?"
"Standardization."
Aria had already opened her notebook. "The alterations Eir just showed us?"
"Probably."
