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Whatever else Dreven might believe about protection and responsibility, that principle already belonged to him.

Sera moved to Horan’s side and checked his pulse again. “He is coming around.”

Dreven approached the treatment table but stopped beyond arm’s reach. He waited until Horan’s dark eyes opened before speaking his name.

“Horan.”

The patient blinked sluggishly. His translator crackled before producing a weak response. “Commander.”

“We found an imperial device inside you.”

Fear crossed Horan’s face.

Not surprise.

Fear.

Dreven saw it too. Kesta watched the subtle change in his expression—the slight narrowing of his eyes, the way his shoulders became more rigid beneath the armor.

“How long have you known something was there?”

Horan turned his face away.

Dreven did not repeat the question. He did not issue an order or invoke his rank. He simply waited.

The silence stretched long enough that Kesta heard the scanner cycle into its cooling mode.

Finally Horan whispered, “Since intake.”

Kesta moved a little closer. “Did they tell you what it was supposed to do?”

His breathing quickened. Sera placed one steady hand on his shoulder.

“They said it measured aggression.” Horan swallowed with visible difficulty. “They said if I behaved, they would remove it before transport.”

Tavi let out a soft, bitter sound.

“They sent you here with it.”

Horan closed his eyes.

“They sent everyone with something.”

The words settled over the room.

Dreven’s face changed in a way Kesta had not yet learned to read. It was not shock exactly. More like the confirmation of something he had feared for years and never been able to prove.

“How many?” he asked.

Horan opened his eyes again. “I don’t know.”

Dreven stood beside the table for several moments before turning to Keth. “Council in one hour.”

Kesta frowned. “Horan needs rest, not questioning.”

Dreven looked at her. His expression did not harden, but she saw the familiar flicker of irritation that came whenever she assumed the worst interpretation before he had finished speaking.

“Horan will not attend unless he chooses.”