He leans into that gentle squeeze. Stratos is going to get Terentius. Felix will be taking the lead further in. Felix is so determined, so much more fierce in his commitment than Jim expected of him. He's proud even as fear settles heavy in his stomach.

"Not usually this kind of fear. I rarely get to know what's out there. But the ideal is the same." This place tried to claim Felix once. Not again. "It comes with the chair."