“This is Marcus Vance from the *Bay Area Chronicle*,” she said, her voice dropping into her formal society tone.

“Marcus, these are my brilliant children, Dr. Sarah Mitchell and Derek Mitchell, MBA.”

Marcus smiled, his eyes scanning our dark, cluttered lobby with professional curiosity.

“Nice to meet you both,” Marcus said, offering a hand. “Your mother spoke very highly of what you’re building here.”

I looked at my mother, whose smile was tight, her eyes locked on mine with a warning intensity.

“Mom, this isn’t a good time,” I said quietly. “We have a critical system offline.”

“Nonsense,” she whispered, leaning in close enough for me to smell her mint throat lozenges. “This is the perfect time.”

She turned back to Marcus, her smile returning instantly.

“They are so dedicated,” she told him. “They would work through a hurricane to bring clean energy to the world.”

Marcus raised his camera, the lens clicking as he adjusted the focus in the dim yellow light.

“It certainly makes for a dramatic story,” Marcus said. “The sibling duo saving the city’s power grid from their own headquarters.”