Lyra stared at the complex equations of Project Phoenix, her mind racing as she recognized her own work. It was surreal to see it from this angle—as if she were a stranger examining her own creation. She couldn't reveal she already knew the solution. That would raise too many questions.
"I'll need some time with this," she said, keeping her voice neutral.
Kian nodded, impressed by her confidence. "Take your time. No one expects miracles."
Thirty minutes later, Lyra had worked through the equations, deliberately taking longer than necessary. She approached the problem from a different angle than Dr. Payne would have, creating an elegant solution that looked like a fresh discovery rather than prior knowledge.
"I think I found something," she said, handing her work to Kian.
He scanned her notes, his eyes widening. "This is... wait, let me check the calculations."
