Lost & found: A Sister Reclaimed
That was the fracture widening, spreading through the architecture like cracks in ice.
My voice dropped slightly, became more intense. "You built a system that depends on you being perfect. On making optimal decisions under all conditions, on never being wrong or uncertain or compromised."
Hale's eyes hardened, something defensive showing for the first time. "I am."
I smiled—soft expression, but absolutely dangerous in its implications.
"No one is. Not consistently. Not across all scenarios and time horizons. Perfection isn't achievable in complex adaptive systems."
The words landed like a blade, clean, surgical, unavoidable.