Circuit's Gambit

The hum of the servers was a low thrum against my eardrums, a constant companion in the quiet hours. Outside, the city slept, but in the confines of my makeshift sanctuary, the digital world was wide awake, a tempest of data and algorithms. Anya’s visit had rattled me, not just because of the near miss, but because it had forced my hand. The carefully constructed illusion of control was fraying, and Thorne, that viper, was circling. It was time for more than just defense. It was time for a strike.

“Circuit,” I whispered, the name feeling more like a plea than a command.

A soft chime, barely audible, answered me. “Alex. You seem… agitated. Is everything within operational parameters?”