Isaiah laughed despite himself. "That's very on brand for Miller."
The screen shifted again, this time showing leaked footage from inside the VHC medical bay. Someone with access had filmed through a window, catching a brief glimpse of Satori in a hospital bed. Celeste sat in a chair beside him, holding his hand while he slept.
The image quality was terrible. The angle was worse. But the intimacy of the moment was unmistakable.
"That," Sterling said flatly, "is going to cause problems."
"Already has," Hyun-Jae confirmed. "President Vance's office issued a statement three hours ago. They're calling it a friendship forged through shared trauma. They're emphasizing Celeste's gratitude to Nakano for protecting her during the crisis."
"And absolutely no one believes it," Isaiah finished.
