“Make it seventy seconds,” Vanessa’s voice snapped.

“Julian is getting impatient.”

“And he doesn’t care much about the girls’ lungs.”

I felt Emma shudder against my side.

I pulled her closer, rubbing her arms to keep her warm.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” I whispered in her ear.

“Daddy is working.”

Nathan’s fingers flew across the keys, his movements silent and precise.

On the screen, the progress bar for Claire’s framework was moving slowly.

*22% completed.*

The storm outside seemed to redouble its strength, shaking the heavy concrete walls.

A thin line of dust drifted down from the ceiling seam.

Nathan stared at the progress bar, his teeth clenched.

“I’m initiating the transfer protocol now,” Nathan said into the microphone.

“You should see the handshake signal on your receiver.”

“Checking,” Vanessa said.

A long, agonizing silence followed.

We could hear the sound of typing from her end, accompanied by the low rumble of the wind.

“I see the connection,” Vanessa said, her voice cautious.

“But the data stream is encrypted.”

“Of course it is,” Nathan said.

“It’s the Caldwell core.”

“The keys are at the end of the packet.”