Chapter 9 Unveiling The Scars

• The security parameters of the Redwood residential sector were designed to monitor external movement, but they were less effective at registering exits or entries that utilized the blind spots of the physical architecture. Elena sat at her desk, her computer displaying the updated patrol log from the afternoon skirmish. She was cross-referencing the personnel list with the designated guard sectors to identify any anomalies in her father's defensive layout.
• At twenty-four minutes past twenty-two hundred hours, a slight vibration in the window frame indicated that the exterior latch had been disengaged from the outside. Elena did not reach for a defensive implement. She had calculated the probability of this occurrence based on the unresolved tactical outcomes of the afternoon. She stood and assisted in opening the window, allowing Tahlia to enter the room.
• Tahlia’s entry was inefficient. Her left arm was held rigid against her torso, and her movement was compromised by a physical imbalance. She did not assume her usual upright posture; instead, she immediately occupied the chair near the desk, her breathing irregular but controlled.