*** Sector 4 — Mali Orbital Station *** Dr. Alonso Quentin The jump had burned out half their systems. Alonso nursed the dying transport into Mali's orbital traffic pattern, praying the ancient ship would hold together long enough to dock.

Nigel works through the night analyzing organism data. He discovers structured signals broadcasting from deep space—hundreds of nodes in a galactic network. After failing to convince Captain Okoro, he calls Chelsea, who confirms the signals are from the active organism network.

Petrillo cooks his grandmothers pasta for the team. Each member shares what they were before the supernatural war. Abigail admits she never had a before. Arthur reveals he had a wife and daughter named Margaret. Abigail touches his scar in a wordless gesture of shared understanding.

Haatim lies face-down in the dirt, the channel still pulsing through him. Emma's NOW call triggers simultaneous action: Niccolo shatters a focal stone with raw faith, Petrillo drives his blessed blade into another, Arthur strikes the stress point of a third. Abigail pulls with everything she has.

Rylee commands fleet operations in the aftermath of Kate's sacrifice. Processes casualties, coordinates Dominion surrender, orders fruitless search for Kate. Grief conveyed through physical showing - frozen face, thumb tracing railing crack, inability to feel.

Abdullah eats with enlisted men, discusses deployment with Eddie. Eddie advises execution for the rape trial. Abigail and Jamir visit with food and warmth. Jamir guides Abdullah through Socratic questioning to understand his subconscious decision.

72-hour institutional build of the Integration Oversight Commission. Victoria and Brimstone develop consent protocols. Mirael negotiates Heavens participation.

Thomas explores surface hospital, witnesses patient transformation, escapes psychiatric ward. In fourth-floor research lab discovers five-level underground layout. Harrow warns destroying the Heart may annihilate trapped souls. Thomas displaced to manor grounds.

Abdullah strode through the empty Command Deck, his heart thumping against his ribs like a caged animal. His stomach churned with a mixture of anxiety and disbelief, and his legs turned to rubber beneath him.