"Okay," Julian whispered, a soft, genuine smile returning to his face. "Okay, Elara. I understand the parameters. He is maintenance. But I am the system override."
Elara's internal warning sirens immediately silenced. The thermal anomaly pulsed happily.
"Yes," Elara confirmed softly. "You are the override."
Julian leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. "Then from now on, you don't need maintenance from the Vanguard. I will handle all of your... stress relief."
Elara's eyes widened slightly as her processors calculated the implications of his statement. A sudden, highly illogical spike of heat rushed to her pale cheeks.
Before she could process the biological response, the heavy doors of the war room slammed open, bypassing Ken's perimeter entirely.
### The Emperor's Math
Samuel wheeled himself into the room.
