He sat behind his desk, back straight, eyes on the file in his hands. Same posture. Same gray undershirt and sleeveless black vest. No rank pins. No ceremony.
The room was no different than last time—plain walls, matte black floor, lights slightly too dim. A single chair positioned in front of his desk. The second one had been removed.
He gestured without speaking.
Elias stepped forward and sat first. Kikaru followed. Paul stood for a moment longer before taking the last seat, jaw clenched tight.
The door slid shut behind them.
Still, Geras didn't speak.
He turned one more page in the file, then closed it. Folded his hands over it. Let the silence sit.
Then, finally:
"You were there," he said. "You saw how it ended."
No one answered. Not right away.
Geras leaned forward. His knuckles tapped once on the file.
"I want each of you to say it. Out loud. What you saw. What it meant."
Elias didn't look away. "Randalp is dead."
Geras didn't react. "Continue."
