Chapter 127

The Phoenix Grid control room hummed with activity. Massive screens displayed real-time data from thousands of connection points throughout the city. Engineers moved between workstations, checking and rechecking every system.

Hannah Zhao stood in the center, tablet in hand displaying the master checklist. Three days until the official launch, and the pressure weighed on her shoulders.

“Junction forty-three, status?” she called.

“All green,” came the response. “Power flow nominal, security protocols active, redundancy systems standing by.”

Hannah marked it off her list. They had been working for twenty hours straight, methodically testing every component. The sabotaged systems that Walsh had compromised required particularly careful attention.

Camille entered, immaculate in a tailored suit despite the early hour. Only the shadows under her eyes betrayed her exhaustion.

“Progress report?” she asked, moving to Hannah’s side.

“Eighty-seven perce