A heartbeat. A diagnostic. A love that refuses to power down.

Mara wept. She turned to thank the car, but the dashboard was already fading. The words on the screen were softer now, almost human.

The Ferrin’s engine roared. Not with aggression—with purpose. Rosalind was offering a pact. Mara would have to connect Elara’s nervous system directly to the car’s diagnostic core. It was impossible. It was insane. It was the only way.