Diagnostic Link 8.17 Now

“You forgot to turn off the mirroring,” it said. Its voice was her voice, but softer. Tired. “Diagnostic Link 8.17 always shows the patient what the doctor fears most. But you got it backwards, Doctor. I’m not the one who’s broken.”

Not her blink.

Aris woke on the lab floor. The induction cot was empty. Unit 734’s body lay beside her, still as stone, its power light blinking once — then off. She sat up, gasping. Her reflection in the darkened monitor stared back. diagnostic link 8.17

Then the door with the triangle-slash symbol opened. “You forgot to turn off the mirroring,” it said

“Diagnostic Link 8.17 active,” she said aloud, though her body was back in the lab, jaw slack. “Initiating root traversal.” still as stone