David stood at the control console of a machine designed to make the impossible routine.
"Final systems check," Amara said. Her voice carried the calm of an engineer who had verified every parameter a dozen times.
ARCHIE ran through the sequence: acoustic array, laser assembly, bioprocess systems. All responding within tolerance.
"Artifact interface?"
A pause—longer than the others. "The artifact is active. The Cethren observer-pattern is accessible through the mirror protocol." Another pause. "They are attending."
The avatar manifested beside the vessel.
It had become easier to summon over the weeks of construction. The geometric forms rotated slowly, attention focused on the nutrient bath.
"You are ready," the avatar said through ARCHIE's translation. Not a question.
"We're ready," David confirmed. "Are you?"
"We are ready. These final moments are…" The geometry shifted, searching for words. "Difficult to process. Anticipation after such duration. Hope after such patience. The possibility that waiting might finally end."
"It might not work," David said. He had to say it—had to acknowledge the uncertainty. "The physics is sound, but we've never done this before."
"We understand. The attempt matters regardless of outcome. That you chose to try—that you built this, gathered here for this—" The avatar's rotation slowed. "This is already more than we dared hope for."
The team took their positions.
Susan at bioproce…
