Adrian did not react immediately. He never did. Victor stood across from him, holding the latest report, waiting for something that did not come. The office remained quiet except for the faint sounds of the city beyond the glass walls.
"The access attempt failed," Victor said carefully.
Adrian's gaze remained fixed on the screen in front of him. "Yes," he said.
Victor shifted slightly. "The pathway collapsed before it fully engaged," he added.
Adrian nodded once. "I can see that."
Victor hesitated. "That has not happened before."
Adrian leaned back slightly in his chair. "No," he said. "It has not."
The silence stretched between them.
Victor studied Adrian's expression, searching for frustration, for anger, for any sign that the failure had landed.
He found none.
"What does it mean?" Victor asked.
Adrian's eyes did not leave the screen. "It means the door is closed," he said.
Victor frowned. "Closed how?"
Adrian finally looked at him. "Completely," he said.
