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“I don’t know.”

His brow furrowed.

Kesta resisted the temptation to fill the silence with speculation. “It may alter fear, aggression, territorial response and other physiological states. That does not mean it can manufacture a complex thought or force a specific action. I won’t claim abilities I haven’t observed.”

Dreven’s attention sharpened. “But it can influence behavior.”

“Yes.”

“How strongly?”

“I don’t know that either.”

The muscles along his jaw tightened.

Kesta recognized the frustration. Dreven preferred threats he could put on a map, assign a patrol to, and hit if necessary. A machine that might change what someone felt without announcing when it was working was exactly the kind of enemy he would hate.

He leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. “Then we scan everyone in Ash Camp.”

“No.”

His silver eyes moved to hers.

This time Kesta did not mistake the look for anger. It was disagreement, plain and immediate.

“Explain,” he said.

“Your scanner barely survived Horan.” Kesta nodded toward Tavi. “And before you object, kicking it does not count as routine maintenance.”

Tavi lifted two hands. “We disagree on terminology.”

Kesta ignored him. “More importantly, forcing several hundred people with prison scars through a medical scanner because we suspect the empire altered some of them would cause panic. We don’t know what patterns we’re looking for beyond Horan’s specific implant, and we could miss another design even if it was directly in front of us.”

Dreven’s tail moved once beneath the table. “Waiting for another person to collapse is not acceptable.”

“I agree.”

That stopped him.

Kesta continued before he could decide she had surrendered the argument. “We offer examinations voluntarily, beginning with anyone who has unexplained surgical scars, episodes of lost time, seizures, sudden behavioral changes, or injuries around known implant sites. We train Sera’s staff to recognize the signs and build a record. If we find enough patterns, then we know what a broader screening program needs to look for.”

The reptilian elder flexed his neck frills. “People will refuse.”

“Some will.”

“And if the device inside them threatens everyone else?”

Kesta considered that before answering. “Then we deal with the threat we can demonstrate. I’m not saying privacy matters more than contagious disease or immediate danger. I’m saying fear alone isn’t a diagnosis.”

Dreven looked toward Horan’s image.

His expression remained unhappy.

Good.

Kesta did not want easy agreement from him. She wanted him to understand why she was right when she was right—and to tell her when she wasn't.

“How long before you can establish useful markers?” he asked.