A shadow moved behind Director Mercer's eyes. Not guilt... just simple calculation.
"They go in the same columns as the ones who live."
Of course, her creature murmured. He is honest. Numbers first. Lives second. Feelings never.
Sera nodded slowly. "Efficient."
"I prefer functional," Mercer replied. "Efficient sounds like a sales pitch."
Lachlan huffed. "You don't really have anyone left to sell to."
Mercer ignored him again.
His gaze moved over all five of them in one smooth pass. Sera, Zubair, Lachlan, Alexei, Elias. Then Luci.
"You walked through infected territory to get here," he stated. "You lived long enough for my scanners to complain. That makes you interesting. Interesting things are dangerous. Dangerous things get looked at very closely before I decide if they are an asset or a problem."
